Top 10 female superheroes who deserve their own TV show

UNSPECIFIED – MARCH 03: Full shot of scared Linda Cardellini as Velma Dinkley holding opened book. (Photo by Diyah Pera/Warner Bros./Getty Images)

5. Velma Dinkley

Who she is: Most people know her from the 101 different Scooby-Doo cartoons that have been on the air for the past several decades, but she also has a comic book counterpart that makes her eligible for this list. Not to mention, she’s one of the greatest female detectives of all time. Many of Mystery Inc.’s cases revolved around petty crimes, but Velma Dinkley was a one-woman detective agency. As the most intelligent member of a group compromised of a “talking” dog, a stoner, a frat boy, and Vanna White, Velma put herself in harm’s way time and time again to solve a mystery. Usually, she figured it out fifteen television minutes before everyone else.

Why she deserves a TV show: Velma Dinkley is like Veronica Mars in an orange turtleneck. Of course, Dinkley predates Mars by a couple decades and her aesthetic is completely original. She’s just quirky enough to be irresistibly charming but has distanced herself from becoming any sort of traditional sex symbol. By putting such an emphasis on her intelligence and hard work, Velma Dinkley’s goals are realistic and completely obtainable. And that’s the kind of role model I’m looking for.

Who could play her: Linda Cardellini performed brilliantly in Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002) and its sequel. So, I believe an older actress captures Velma’s maturity best. Although, Hayley Kiyoko’s refreshing portrayal of the character in The Mystery Begins also proves that we can change the character’s ethnicity. If you have any doubts, just think of Lucy Liu’s stellar performance as Dr. Joan Watson on Elementary.

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