Best TV show characters of all time

Are you a TV series buff? List of my favorite characters on TV shows

This is a compilation of some TV characters that have left a deep impact on me. The list will span across genres

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Guys if you do not know, if one has to give me a book and tells me to watch a good TV show, I would willingly choose the latter. I love watching good shows though I feel that 90% of what we see as shows o n any mainstream TV network is bull, including the ones on streamers like Netflix and Prime Video. I can still say that the ones I liked have left a deep impact on me. I wish I could rekindle these characters and share a few lines with you and talk about what draws me towards them. However, except for sitcoms in some cases even not, I prefer watching thrillers, and nonlinear plots on the screen. so here is my list:

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1. Bryan Cranston (Walter White aka Heisenberg) from Breaking Bad

Favorite Dialogue: “I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!”

Is there even a doubt that this man won’t take this easily? I don’t know I feel anyone who does not like Heisenberg either has poor taste or doesn’t know the ‘a’ of ‘acting’. Bryan Cranston killed this one and took one for the team. He was so poised, commanding, and strong as a character, and in the moments where he had to break down and literally show he is helpless he performed as a broken man. His deceptive aspects in acting were astute and clear.

Where he had to take reigns he did. Walter was a man that changed himself entirely 360 degrees because of his inner turmoil and regret of him dying of mundanity once being diagnosed with lung cancer. The moment he stopped caring about his ailment and started to think beyond and live beyond his cancer began disappearing. He enters into this cold-blooded territory of warring private militias/drug cartel members where he enters as a meth maker, and distributor, putting his knowledge of efficient chemistry to good use. In this case, making a whole lot of money.

Factors that make Walter White, ‘THE DANGER’…

1. He had the power to change his fate and went out pure berserk to live a life beyond certainties.
2. He enjoyed what he did and remained loyal to Jessie his partner in crime for a longer time span.
3. He beat lung cancer when he had a high of crime, drugs, and money.
4. At last, he accepted that what he said always “I am in the criminal world for earning enough to support my son who was physically challenged” was a hoax. He said he did it for himself and he was pretty good at it.
5. He confessed what he did was purely his own doing, he liked it, and he loved it. And knowing he spoke from his heart, his wife Skyler did not interrupt despite often interfering when he was high-on power pill.
6. He killed every other person at last who was a cartel member but ambushed him earlier, as they saw the money he had with him before killing Hank, who was a cop and husband of Marie, Skyler’s small sister.

In the same show, Jesse Pinkman and Saul Goodman were terrific characters. In acting same Aaron Paul and Dean Odenkirk nailed both these well-written characters.

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2. Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe aka Princess Consuela Banana Hammock) from Friends

Favorite Dialogue: “Oh My God, A Woman Flirting With A Single Man? We Must Alert The Church Elders!”

Everyone knows Lisa Kudrow, beyond acting I liked how Phoebe was written. She was brazen and tough, but had a fragile aspect to her, as a sexual person who enjoyed the fun time. I think Phoebe as a character is so well written in the way she interacts when she can be sexy, a maniac, a friend, and a person who can provide you with the best of advice makes her unique, Phoebe apart from having a deeper connection with the other girls on the show also shared good screen space with Joey and Ross. The way she indulges herself with these different personalities is a sight to see. Her confused demeanor criticized the organized corporate machinery, advising her friend Rachel to not take that free massage as the offer was from a big massage chain, to which Phoebe had strong opinions of the organized industry violations of human rights.

She ultimately was working for the same chain and when encountered with the question when she explains the situation to the front office of the establishment she was asked, “ But you work here?” Her reply was because here I have benefits like insurance and stuff. In a similar incident, she got a fur coat that looked really good but avoided wearing it as it would mean supporting the killing of Minks. later when she tried the coat on her she concluded that Minks are not very nice. But then she dropped the coat when she saw a Mink chilling near a tree. Showing innocence, and culpability and also giving in to the temptation to do the right thing after careful deliberation.

Phoebe is FLAKY and she accepts that but what makes her stand out?…

1. She is honest and has a genuine heart and most times she wants good for people and fosters pure connections.
2. She is strong because she had a rugged past childhood.
3. She is easygoing and chill.
4. She has a temporary moral compass which is a little shaky but then she has one and tries out in itself is an achievement.

In the same show, Ross Geller, Joey Tribbiani, and Chandler Bing were amazing characters. Among the actors David Schwimmer playing Ross was exceptional.

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3. Jim Parsons (Sheldon aka Moonpie) from The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Dialogue: “She calls me moon-pie because I’m nummy-nummy, and she could just eat me up.”

Jim Parsons just nailed Sheldon in epic proportions he became that quintessential ass-biting pain for others. Sheldon a masterful Physicist with a brilliant mind had his own quirks and eccentricities. His egotistical proclamations, journey to civility, and constant bickering to achieve the status quo make him hateable. But beyond this extreme character arc, Sheldon had a heart that did beat for his buddy and their girlfriends. Sheldon’s lessons tend to neutralize his bad behaviors at last but Jim Parson’s gestures, hand movements, facial movements, restlessness, and pale aura make it one of the best comic acting performances of all time.

According to Sheldon, Physicists are better than Engineers, but how is Sheldon better than the rest of the TBBT crew…

1. Obviously, Sheldon has a high IQ intelligence.
2. His capacity to perform analysis, computation, and reasoning is insane. He is a prodigy.
3. Sheldon is a mama’s boy.
4. Sheldon saved Leonard from literally bursting into flames when Leonard build a rocket that went terribly wrong.
5. He also kept the secret that Leonard said all secrets to Joyce Kim who later turned out to be a North Korean spy.
6. Sheldon’s words mean a lot when he says something from his heart.

Some other exceptional characters the way it was acted /performed at a brilliant level were Amy Farah Fowler, Howard Wolowitz, and Bernadette Rostenkowski. Even the acting of all these characters was done spot-on in the same order of characters by Mayim Bialik, Simon Helberg, and Melissa Rauch.

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4. Julia Garner (Ruth Langmore) from Ozarks

Favorite Dialogue: “Tell me, why do rich folks need so much money spent on them before they’ll even think about going in their own pocket?”

Ozark is a very underrepresented series and in some parts has the pace of the Breaking Bad vibe. From Ozarks, I personally feel Ruth is the best actor Ruth also evolves with time for the better. Her acting the way her diction portrayed as this small girl who had an irresponsible father and was angry all the time, but when given an opportunity she proved herself.

Despite Ruth being a badass which is rightly referred to because she indeed is one, there is an innocence but also a devious intent behind her actions. Her proficiency and loyalty can be known when she killed her own uncles when they plan to kill her boss Marty Byrde. Julia Garner just spills magic in this show with her accent, and persona, a vulnerable person, losing her calm at the drop of a hat, but on the inner side, she was still a good person who later got killed by cartel members and her bosses could not protect her.

“If you’re a killer, then I’m Snow White, and I don’t see any dwarves around.” That’s the sassiness of Ruth…

1. Ruth is amazing, she is loyal, and she was loyal to Marty only going against him when she hears bad news.
2. She is a badass, she picked up on killing people quickly.
3. She wanted her cousins to have an education, especially Wyatt.
4. She always stood by the people, especially departed ones, and avenged most of their deaths.

Some other best characters I found in Ozark were Marty Byrde and Wendy Byrde, played by Jason Bateman and Laurah Linney. Their acting was also top-notch.

There are many other shows that have just fantastic characters, Andy Dwyer, Ron Swanson, and Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation. You have Barney Stinson from How I met your mother? You have Phil Dunphy, Gloria Pritchett, Mitchell Pritchett, and Cameroon Tucker as well. There is Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul. There is David Rose, Alexis Rose, Roland Schitt, and Moirah Rose from Schittz Creek. There is also Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones. These are some names that I like as far as good TV acting performances are concerned.

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