Too often, stories about women fall into the same tired tropes: the search for a husband, children, and “having it all.” This month’s picks for web series and VOD highlight women who are forging their own unique paths. From saintly nuns to messy rock stars, these women are challenging what’s expected of narratives surrounding women.

The web series picks for this month tackle women in comedic settings. “Ladies Room” brings female voices to the usually male-dominated realm of toilet humor as two friends go to the ladies room to get high and discuss their myriad troubles. This raunchy duo covers everything from not wanting to get pregnant to finding the G-spot in this hilarious series that hopes to answer the age-old question of why women go to the bathroom in groups.

The star of “Maybe Sunshine” is coming-of-middle-age story about a 40-something rocker trying to make her way in the era of the millennial. She might be out of date, but her Gen X grumpiness and quirk helps her stand out, even if standing out means she upsets, angers, or alienates every one she meets.

This month’s VOD picks take a more serious look at women stepping outside what society expects of them. “Radical Grace” looks at three Catholic nuns who show their faith through fighting for social justice. Despite being condemned for being radical feminists by the Vatican itself, these women continue to fight for justice even though some might say there is no overlap between their feminism and their faith.

“Lola’s Last Letter” is Valerie Brandy’s directorial debut and follows a young ex-con who is struggling to find forgiveness from a young man named Henry who might be tied to why she went to prison. The film shines a spotlight on a group of women long neglected by both film and society as the titular character tries to rebuild her life as best she can.

Here are our picks for women-centric and created web series and VOD for September.

Web Series

By Kate Gardner

“Ladies Room” —Written by Ratnabali Bhattacharjee and Neha Kaul Mehra

Two friends Dingo (Saba Azad) and Khanna (Shreya Dhanwanthary) smoke, gossip, and puke their way through six different bathrooms in this series that distributor Y-Films called their raunchiest comedy yet. Writers Neha Kaul Mehra, who trained with Second City in Chicago, and multi-hypenate Ratnabali Bhattacharjee have created a hilarious and often crass series that lets women be as gross as the men are allowed to be. You can watch the series on Youtube.

“Maybe Sunshine” — Co-Written by Lisa Hammer

It’s not easy being a 40-something rock star who was a big deal in the 90’s but is now 20 years older, 40 pounds heavier, and recently divorced. Still, that’s not going to stop Lisa (Lisa Hammer) from making a comeback, even if she has to work her way up from the bottom all over again and finally learn how to tweet and hashtag her way to success. Plus, she has to navigate getting older while still trying to stay hip, even when people call her “ma’am.” You can watch the series on the show’s website, Funny or Die, Youtube, and VHX.

VOD

By Rachel Montpelier

“Radical Grace” — Directed by Rebecca Parrish

There’s a common, albeit not completely unfounded, stereotype that religion and feminism are contradictory at best and mutually exclusive at worst. To be fair, you’d be forgiven for thinking they are in two completely different realms considering Hobby Lobby and the continued fight against the ACA based on religious grounds. Lest we assume all spiritual folk are exactly the same, let’s consider Rebecca Parrish’s documentary “Radical Grace.” The film, as Parrish explained in her interview with Women and Hollywood, “shows a different side of religion — one that is inclusive.” “Radical Grace” follows three Catholic nuns — Simone, Chris, and Jean — who honor Jesus’s teachings via a fight for social justice. Despite the apparent simplicity of the sisters’ plight, their actions caused quite a stir in the Catholic community, especially before Pope Francis’s appointment. The Vatican condemned the nuns’ “radical feminism,” but the sisters held their ground and continue to fearlessly pursue their passions. One sister directly confronts the Catholic Church’s patriarchy; another counsels former prisoners; the third sister launches a Nuns on the Bus tour as part of the greater global movement “for justice and peace…economic and social transformation.” Visit iTunes or VUDU to rent or buy “Radical Grace.”

“Lola’s Last Letter” — Written and Directed by Valerie Brandy

If “Orange is the New Black” broke a barrier by shining a spotlight on and humanizing an ignored population — prisoners — then it’s probably safe to say Valerie Brandy does the same thing for ex-cons in her directorial debut. Brandy writes, directs, and stars in “Lola’s Last Letter,” a film about what happens after a prisoner has served her time. In this case, 22-year-old Lola (Brandy) is attempting to rebuild her life. She continues to complete her community service obligations, hangs out with her best friend, Ree (Annamarie Kenoyer), and takes it slow with a potential boyfriend, Sam (Travis Quentin Young). For the most part, Lola sounds like an average twenty-something; she works, goofs off with her bestie, and dates. You could almost forget that she is a convicted criminal, except that, throughout the movie, Lola films an apology video letter to someone named Henry. We’re not sure if Henry is part of the reason Lola ended up in prison or if she just needs to apologize to someone, even if it’s a complete stranger. What we do know is that Lola regrets her mistake, is truly sorry, and wishes to atone. Lola longs for forgiveness and, as Brandy and the film suggest, she deserves it. You can rent or buy “Lola’s Last Letter” on multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, VUDU, and Google Play.