Why We Need More Shows Like "Ride or Die"

For the past few weeks, a new show has been topping the charts. Soaring to number one on Amazon Prime after its release, Ride or Die has made a tremendous impact on critics and audiences alike. Taking on a classic spy narrative, the series centers on two best friends whose relationship heads into rocky territory when one discovers the other is an undercover assassin. Now on the run from both the police and the mob, they must work together to survive and uncover something that will change both of their lives forever. Although the plot itself may sound similar to other films in the genre, it's rare that we see such an action-packed plot assigned to two female leads, let alone two women in their fifties. The question is, why are these narratives so few and far between?

In the past, film executives have suggested that the reason for their lack of women-led casting was because media featuring women doesn't do well at the box office. Based on Ride or Die's almost instantaneous success, I can guarantee that this is simply not true. It seems that many are especially touched by the narrative and pleasantly surprised to see such a unique dynamic of friendship between two older women portrayed with such honesty.

The characters are not only relatable, but also provide a space for these conversations to exist. Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer play Judith and Deborah with such ferocity that you can't help but become enthralled by them. They don't act as a simple plot device built to introduce us to the next male character, but instead own the screen in a way that is both unforgettable and heartfelt. They aren't defined by their age or social status, but by the substance of their character and the choices they make throughout the series. Judith and Deborah are complex women with secrets and issues they have to tackle just like the rest of us. Their resilience is aspirational and teaches us all a lesson about living life one day at a time.

Starting over can be a terrifying idea to fathom. When every safe thing in your life begins to unravel, it's hard to pick up the pieces and move forward from the past. It's in between car chases, leaps off moving trains, and near-death experiences that we witness the journey of two women who choose to live again. This time on their own terms.

To put it simply, we need more shows like Ride or Die. Stories centered on middle-aged women's personal journeys are hard to come by and provide important representation for a huge part of a forgotten population of women. Women who have a life-time of interesting stories that should be written down. This show is just one example of the wealth of possibilities for women in entertainment, professionally and personally. There is a need for female-driven media in our society. I would go as far as to say that audiences yearn for it. It's time we rectify this issue and finally carve out a space for films and television shows like this to exist and create a safe space for the female gaze to finally thrive.