It kind of baffles me that the majority of the best female characters in fiction were written ten years or more ago as opposed to now. Back then, people didn't need to try to make female characters empowering--it just came naturally when they weren't trying so hard to be woke or feminist or whatever. I could name hundreds of solid female characters from movies, tv shows, comics, games, etc. that all have their place as excellent female protagonists without needing to shove their gender in everyone's faces.
But again, I guess those don't count.