If the finale of “Mad Men” marked the end of one era in TV, let’s hope that shows like Lifetime’s “UnReal” mark the next great leap forward.

Don Draper — like Tony Soprano and Vic Mackey before him — helped cement the anti-hero as the great defining trope of TV’s so-called Golden Age — an elite club of repulsive-yet-relatable characters that precious few women characters have been able to match (Nancy Botwin in “Weeds” and Jackie Peyton in “Nurse Jackie” being notable exceptions).

But that’s starting to change.

Last week, Vanity Fair published an article declaring that Lifetime’s deliciously dark drama “UnReal” has finally given us TV’s first pure female anti-hero in the form of Rachel Goldberg — the manipulative TV producer played by Shiri Appleby.

In its first season, “UnReal” showed a refreshing disinterest in the likability of protagonist Rachel, who — behind-the-scenes of a “Bachelor”-esque dating show — employs a masterful duplicity to coerce her contestants into doing whatever will help spike the ratings. And though she goes through the motions at doing the right thing, she ultimately falls prey to the exhilarating power of controlling people.

Though Rachel may be more evolved in her moral bankruptcy, television has slowly started to unapologetically embrace the idea of women behaving badly.

“Homeland” anti-hero Carrie (Claire Danes) is as reckless in her quest to fend off terrorists as she is disinterested in motherhood. “The Americans” delightfully flips the gender norms for its KGB spy couple by making Elizabeth (Keri Russell) the more ruthless spouse, more purely committed to the cause than husband Philip (Matthew Rhys). “Orange Is the New Black” offers up an entire cast of flawed women who just can’t seem to escape their checkered pasts.

And, while Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) on “House of Cards” has morphed from anti-hero to outright villain, it’s his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), who’s become the more nuanced, interesting character. After realizing that years of blindly amassing her husband’s political power has left her with no influence of her own — “Without me, you are nothing!” Frank spits at her — she curtly walks out on him at the end of Season Three.

Television has slowly started to unapologetically embrace the idea of women behaving badly.

Having seen what evil deeds Claire will do for her husband, how much more ruthless will she be when it comes to realizing her own ambition?

Claire’s spurning of Frank tilts toward the growing feeling, particularly among TV writers and viewers, that the male anti-hero trend is growing tired. In a decade that’s given us Tony, Don, Walter, Dexter, Nucky and Vic — as well as their countless copycats — how much further can TV take this tired idea?

Look no further than the latest, much-maligned season of “True Detective” for proof that viewers’ appetites for brooding, demon-wrestling dudes has worn thin. While male-centered dramas like Showtime’s “Ray Donovan” and “Power” (Starz) have their fans, there’s a distinct feeling of been there, seen that.

The fresh depravity on “UnReal,” however, is just getting started (Lifetime renewed the series for a second season) — and that’s a good thing for the plight of female characters everywhere.

You’ve come a long way, baby.

Don’t stop now.