13. The return of the Buffy-esque ass kicker — Late '90s programming was chock-full of superwomen — the kinds who didn't need a skin-tight leotard or a stronger male counterpart to swoop in and save her. Emily Thorne, Nikita Mears, and Lisbeth Salander are the Buffy, Xena, and Sydney Bristow of today, and TV shows that center around strong, complex female leads are helping us forget about the days of the one-dimensional supporting actress.

Photo: Courtesy of ABC