The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.

I am a big fan of BBCAmerica, particularly its science fiction. British series are often short like a mini-series. By and large, its sci-fi has been the most positive in its portrayals of women. Other genres are not so positive.

Survivors was a post-apocalyptic British series that started in 2008 but was recently imported to the United States. It is complete. It centers around the aftereffects of a pandemic that wiped out 99% of the world population. However, this series is NOT some Mad Max, I am Legend, or Postman. It is a basic day-to-day drama that deals with the realistic possibility of how humanity could cope. While the series admits that people will take advantage of other survivors, it also strives to see how humanity could unite and work together. It also has a lot of strong, empowered women and sensually-appealing men.

The main character is Abby Grant, the de facto leader of her group. Other people have natural immunity, but Abby is the only person to have become infected and recovered from the virus. She is willing to risk any danger to rescue the people she cares about. Anya Raczynski is a trained doctor who joins Abby’s group in the first episode. She is the practical voice of reason, and her skills have helped her group and others through the new threats brought by a post-apocalyptic world.

The series has a villainess in Samantha Willis, the sole surviving government official. At first, she is determined to restore government and society to its situation prior to the pandemic. However, with 99% of the population dead, there is simply no possibility for the civilization to continue as it was. Samantha Willis then becomes a tyrannical dictator. I thought she was refreshing as a villainess. She is wholly non-sexualized and always wears a pantsuit, yet she is perfectly evil and cold-blooded. Her main lackey is trigger-happy Dexter.

And regarding the men of Survivors, there is a man to please every type of woman. There is sweet and sensitive Al. There is also fierce and tough Tom. And there is Greg whose temperament is between the two; Greg can be a fierce fighter and also a sensitive man. Once I have a new job, I plan to buy the series along with the second season of RTD’s Doctor Who.