Ah ... I've never watched soap operas, so I can't really comment on their portrayal of women. It sounds like there is interesting territory for exploration....

Oooh, Dana Scully, I forgot to mention her. I liked Scully in the early seasons. I think her story got kind of weird in later seasons, but I was watching sporadically then so I can't really say for sure. (I remember lots of religion stuff and wasn't she pregnant or something?)

I should really watch Farcape.