The Chronic Quirky Super Heroine (TM)

Somewhere between me wiping Cheetos residue on my university sweatpants and searching for the next DVD box set of ‘GIRLS’, it hit me; television has introduced a new, more relatable, more independent female stock character to the bevy of cinematic archetypes. She is brass. She is clumsy. She has a normal BMI, and could probably be found in Romney’s binder full of women. Ultimately, she is a game changer. But she doesn’t have a proper label yet (and we know how society hates that), and so I am here to coin the term “chronic quirky super heroine.”

In the past few years, fictional characters such as Mindy Lahiri, Liz Lemon, Leslie Knope, Hannah Horvath and Annie Walker have been honored with golden globes, rave reviews and parody accounts on Twitter. No longer playing second fiddle to a blond bombshell or desperate housewife, the chronic quirky super heroine is having her cake and eating it too. (No, literally. A central conflict is always happening around a bakery or eatery of some sort on “GIRLS” and “The Mindy Project.”)

From flikr, by mokenilworth

Arguably, the most progressive quality of the chronic quirky super heroine (CQSH) is her ambition. She sees herself as a post-modern, liberated woman who can, and is trying to ‘have it all.’ Though often seen over scheduled and under appreciated, the CQSH strives to deliver excellence. (Even if only to be prove herself worthy of notoriety.) She may sleep under her desk or become dependent on caffeine pills in the process, but the CQSH is driven and determined in her career. She’s more interested in chasing her dreams than (er, at least in addition to) chasing a man. The CQSH is stimulating the status quo of the expected aspiring model, socialite and politician’s mistress. We can even see in reality shows that this woman is resenating with audiences; Bethenny Frankel, a neurotic yet savvy, sarcastic businesswoman has been the most successful of her “Real Housewives” peers receiving multiple spin-off shows and a talk show.

Not only is the CQSH making executive decisions, she’s making the audience laugh. No longer a soft sounding board for male leads, the show and its jokes are centralized around the CQSH. Liz Lemon takes up half of my Tumblr dashboard with hilarious gifs and memes. (The other half belongs to “Grumpy Cat” and John Green with his hurricane/drizzle quote.) The CQSH is typically witty and nimble. Though appearing unassuming and easily-amused, the dialogue she exchanges is smart and very, very quotable. Unlike the vampires and gossip girls on competing networks, people are remembering what the CQSH said, not what she wore. (But whatever she wore was probably embellished with polka dots, animals or an ironic logo.)

Of course, the chronic quirky super heroine isn’t free of blemishes and benders. (Hence, “chronic” and “quirky.”) Presumably, what makes her so enjoyable is how relatable and dorky she is. Unlike the Carrie Bradshaws of the past, our heroine wears Payless over Prada, and Mr. Big is probably Mr. Barely Average, if there is a Mr. Big at all. Stereotypically, she owns a collector’s edition of Scrabble, believes Kraft is the answer to every problem, and could benefit both mentally and physically from an intense yoga class. Essentially, she’s just like you and me. (Especially me.)

From flikr, by forom.com

The characters who fall under this umbrella don’t see themselves as heroines or even something to aspire to. Ironically, they at times envy the quintessential Mean Girl or Sunshine Barbie and their ability to charm the opposite sex and pull off crop tops. Though the CQSH can be consumed with self-doubt and vulnerability, she grows resilient with each obstacle or exaggerated break-up. She is unaware of her own strength, or that telling off color jokes in an interview is a bad idea.

Perhaps we, as a culture, are experiencing a third-wave of feminism. Or perhaps sitcom writing is just getting better. Personally, I’m happy that the chronic quirky super heroine is here to save gender roles represented on television. I feel like they’re giving the “cat lady” more of a (safe) sex symbol status. And at the very least making me feel better about my life decisions and crippling Internet dependency.

So, has the “manic pixie dream girl” found her arch nemesis or is she finally growing up?
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