I think my posts are often too broad, so here's something mega-specific! This is a really difficult list, especially for me, since I watch so much TV!
10. Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner), Prison Break
10. Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner), Prison Break
William Fichtner's Sheriff Tom Underlay was the best thing about the short-lived series 'Invasion', and once again he proves he can handle a complex character with ease. Veering wildly between justice, vengeance and angry instability, Mahone was a man you wouldn't want chasing after you. Smart as hell, but also willing to kill in cold blood, he was the perfect anti-thesis to Michael Scofield.
9. Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Desperate Housewives
You've gotta love her don't you. She's the dappiest, ditziest person you'd probably ever meet, like a character out of a rom-com movie, extended for 8 seasons. Yes its true that she does a lot of conniving, manipulating things, and she's neurotic like no-one else, but these things just seem to round her off, and make her more loveably human!
8. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), House
All the fuss is on House, but only a few people stop to consider how important a character Wilson is. Wilson is the one that gives House contrast, be it by showing the complete opposite of the rule-breaking doctor, or by showing a lesser, more rationalised approach than what House would go for. The banter between him and House forms some of the funniest parts of the series, because Wilson is the one who allows House's true nature to shine through. He's the kind of friend that would have unending patience, a strong sense of ethics, but also a fun side as well, as proven by his numerous practical jokes.
7. Burt 'Sock' Wysocki (Tyler Labine), Reaper
Tyler Labine has played similar characters in most shows he's been in and there's a reason....he plays them better than anyone out there! And the best of all these characters is hands-down, 'Reapers' Sock. Loud, brash, lazy and stupid, yet loyal to a fault, funny-as-hell and always lovable, Sock is the best friend everyone wishes they had. Interestingly, there has been many a comparison between 'Reaper' and 'Chuck', since both focus on slackers working in large retail stores. As such, Sock's equivalent would be the Buy-More's Morgan Grimes, and while I think Chuck is overall a far better show, Grimes aint got nothing on Sock!
6. Meredith Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Stargate:Atlantis
McKay is one of those characters you love and loathe at the same time- no easy feat. A narcissistic egomaniac who is also an uncompromising genius, regularly saving countless lives, what makes him extra special is his ability to continue being arrogant and insulting throughout the entire run of the show, regardless of what situation he's in. His interaction with Radek Zelenka, another excellently understated and quirky character, is the perfect platform to show that the people that save us aren't always perfect, and often they're as flawed as we are. The reason Rodney rates above the others so far is that the premise works so well- McKay only shows his nicer side in small enough bursts to let you know he is overall a good person, but has still managed to maintain the purity of his characters flaws right to the end. Alas the show is no longer on the air, so we'll have to wait until the 'Extinction' movie is released [IF EVER!] to catch more of the doc.
5. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter
I love this character. I'm a huge fans of the books on which he's based, and that character comes across nicely in the show. I think we all acknowledge that we have very dark thoughts at times, thoughts we wouldn't want even our closest friends to know about. Dexter takes that to its extreme, and does the remarkable job of creating empathy. Dexter is a character we understand and relate to, even as he runs around tampering with evidence and looking for his next victim. I think the only reason he doesn't feature higher is that the character in the book is slightly more appealing to me. He's a bit more humorous and light hearted, which I prefer to Hall's Dexter, who always seems to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders despite being empty inside.
4. Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), Heroes
Hiro is a fan favourite, and for good reason. He displayed a child-like innocence which was nothing short of endearing, and a much needed antidote to the gloom surrounding the rest of heroes. Seeing the little guy scrunch his face up, shout 'Mr Isaac!' and mumble on about being a hero is exactly the sense of fun, wonder and excitement the show needed. As Heroes went on, I think they tried to darken his character considerably, by placing emphasis on the fact that Hero's often have to make hard decisions. But the relationship between him and his best friend Ando (another fantastic character, and a close contender for the list) really helped define Hiro, without him loosing the great idealism he embodies.
3. Johnny 'Drama' Chase (Kevin Dillon), Entourage
Drama should perhaps be a lot lower on the list but I'm really Loving Entourage at the moment, and its my list! The obvious choice from Entourage might be Ari Gold, always found running around the agency in panic screaming 'LLoyd!' but where as Ari gets a lot of the best One-liners, I think Drama's biggest attribute is the jokes he shares with the group. Entourage's best feature has always been the banter between the main 4, reminding any guy of the sorts of conversation they have with their friends. And in those conversations, its Drama that shines. Combining colossal stupidity with snipey comebacks/putdowns, and sometime a complete loss of reality, Drama is the lovable loser, devoid of shame. Dillon, being the less successful brother of a Hollywood star in real life, plays this to perfection, and we end up simultaneously laughing at Drama's expense, and rooting for him as the underdog.
2. Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson), Lost
Ben Linus is the most spectacularly slimey, weasely character is recent TV history. And that's what makes him so appealing. The man has almost no brute strength ,and little in the way of possessions. He's committed unspeakable acts and alienated everyone he knows, along the way creating some truly menacing enemies. But despite all that, somehow he always ends up alive, and its that facet of his character that creates such a warped fascination. Part of you wishes you were that clever, that skilled at manipulating people, and that prepared for any situation. Numerous flashbacks and scenes show he is only human, and just a simple man, but at every turn his actions seem to contradict this. As he says himself, 'How many times do I have to tell you, John? I always have a plan'. Chilling
.....and that takes us to my number one favourite character of the season.........
1. Jack Bauer ( Kiefer Sutherland), 24
Its a cliche I know, but who cares. Jack Bauer is the coolest man alive. We finally have a TV character not afraid to be a true bad-ass, to go to every extreme possible. A real, understated hero, sacrificing his conscience, maybe even his soul in the service of his country. All I can say is, it gives people hope to think men such as Jack Bauer might exist- if they did, the world would undoubtedly be a safer place.
And finally A few Honourable Mentions, who came close but didn't quite make it. In no particular Order...
Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory
Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) from Pushing Daisies
Wiliam Adama (Edward James Olmos) from Battlestar Galactica
Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland) from Friday Night Lights
Agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) from Chuck
Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) from Entourage
John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) from Lost
Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) from 24
Its interesting to see that quite a lot of shows I watch didn't have any characters make it to the list, while several shows had more than one. I suppose it goes to show, good characters really are the backbone of good shows.
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