Five years after the release of the last Harry Potter film, most of us fans are still grieving. Sure, the sequel play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is currently in previews, but that's in London--too far away and too expensive for many of us. However, if you miss Harry's brilliant and brave friend Hermione Granger, there are plenty of female characters on TV who might remind you of her...and they might be found on a streaming platform near you!
1. Veronica Mars ("Veronica Mars")
Who She Is: The protagonist and titular of the teen noir series that ran on UPN and the CW from 2004-2007, played by everyone’s favorite sloth fanatic, Kristen Bell. Veronica works as a private detective in Neptune, California (a fictional suburb of Los Angeles), where she is a pariah among the children of billionaire software designers and even movie stars. She’s a silver-tongued heroine always fighting for the underdog, and even today, her romance with Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) makes fans’ hearts stop in their chests.
Why She’s Like Hermione: Veronica is easily the smartest person in all of Neptune, and like any "Harry Potter" fan is sure to tell you, Hermione is “the brightest witch of her age.” Veronica’s intelligence helps her to be the best sleuth around, allowing her to be one step ahead of everyone else when she’s on a mission. As an added bonus, her awesome best friendship with Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III) will remind you of Hermione’s close bond with Harry Potter himself.
2. Jane Villanueva ("Jane the Virgin")
Who She Is: The star of the CW’s comedy-drama, which was renewed for a third season coming this fall. Jane, played by Golden Globe-winning performer Gina Rodriguez, is a hard worker, a great writer, and she’s definitely the kind of friend you’d want on your side in any fight. She is fiercely loyal and very brave, and she has the strong, upstanding morals of a true Hogwarts Gryffindor.
Why She’s Like Hermione: You know how Hermione’s always a little wary of breaking the rules, but when the situation really calls for it, she’ll make an exception? And that’s what we love about her? Well, Jane’s the same way. She’d like to always follow the rules, but if she has to defend what’s right, she’ll take big risks.
3. Willow Rosenberg ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer")
Who She Is: The best friend and fellow apocalypse-preventer of the Vampire Slayer herself on the cult classic, which aired on the WB and UPN from 1997-2003. Willow is kind, independent and her skills with magic are almost always helpful in saving Sunnydale, California, from big bad villains and everything in between. The character, played by Alyson Hannigan, was also the first lesbian character on network television.
Why She’s Like Hermione: Willow always made learning and reading sound very cool, and while she was making the argument on TV, Hermione was making the same one in a book. She made being an intelligent girl seem worthy and powerful…powerful enough to change the world. Plus, they’re both the best at spells in their respective universes, so we have to applaud them for that.
4. Chloe Sullivan ("Smallville")
Who She Is: Allison Mack played Clark Kent’s best friend on the WB and CW series from 2001-2011, where she was the second-longest serving character. Interestingly, Chloe did not exist in any "Superman" comic books until her creation on "Smallville," but she’s become beloved in the "Superman" canon nevertheless.
Why She’s Like Hermione: According to "Smalleville," Chloe was the brainpower behind the start-up of the Justice League. Superheroes like the Green Arrow and the Flash would admit that they would be lost without her intelligence and guidance. Doesn’t that sound like Ron reminding Harry that they couldn’t last two days without Hermione? I thought so.
5. Olivia Pope ("Scandal")
Who She Is: She’s only one of the most famous Shonda Rhimes characters of all time! Kerry Washington has been nominated for one Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards for her performance as the quick-on-her-feet lawyer/crisis manager in Washington, DC. She’s probably the most valiant character on television to date.
Why She’s Like Hermione: You better believe that if Hermione Granger had been born a muggle, she would be using her smarts and her courageousness to her country’s hidden problems. If she couldn’t use her magic to save the world, she would rely completely on her brain, and she’d still be a hero.
