Look, you watch enough of a show, you get to know the characters. Maybe you even care about them. Maybe you even love them. Or hate them. Or want to read tons of lists about them.

The People in Your TV

TV Characters

Unlike movies, TV shows have the opportunity to evolve over time as viewers react to the story, cast members <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sitcom-characters-who-were-unceremoniously-replaced/raelyn-giansanti">come and go</a>, and new writers are brought in to keep things fresh. In some cases, this leads to background characters being upgraded to series regulars. They may end up as fixtures within an ensemble cast like Gunther in&nbsp;Friends&nbsp;or become the focus of the show like Steve Urkel in&nbsp;Family Matters.&nbsp;None of the characters on this list were meant to be prominent. The Cigarette Smoking Man in&nbsp;The X-Files, for example, was only supposed to be an extra <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/making-of-classic-90s-sitcom-pilots/lily-mcelveen">in the pilot</a>, while Kirk from&nbsp;Gilmore Girls&nbsp;started as a minor character with a completely different name before the producers realized he brought something special to the show. All of these characters were upgraded due to their popularity with audiences or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-show-drama/jessica-defino">circumstantial changes</a> behind the scenes. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine the shows without them. Vote up the characters that deserved to become series regulars.

Background TV Characters Who Get Upgraded To Series Regulars In Later Seasons

Fictional Character

Lily McElveen

When you spend multiple seasons watching a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time">TV show</a>, you may start to feel like you know the characters personally. It's easy to watch a group of characters bond over many episodes and begin to adopt their catchphrases, imitate their games, or mimic their traditions. Groups may have a cool hangout spot, or wacky "rules" of conduct, which help them survive any ups and downs of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-about-best-friends/ranker-tv">the plot</a>.Whether you're lonely in real life, or you have your own friends but just want to imagine hanging out with these wacky characters, there are plenty of fictional cliques you can dream of being a part of. This list highlights the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-friend-groups-in-movies/adina-kruskal"> friend groups</a> from TV shows&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/90s-tv-best-friends/amber-hubert">old</a> and new that we most want to hang out with.

Fictional Friend Groups In TV Shows You Most Want To Join

TV Program

Adina Kruskal

Part of the TV circle of life is shows losing main characters as they get renewed for more seasons. Whether due to an actor wanting to move on to other roles, or clashes between the cast and producers, it's a common phenomenon for main characters to be written out. This often leaves a void in a show's ensemble, which writers tend to fill with a substitute that shares some qualities with the original character. Some replacements&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-characters-on-your-favorite-tv-shows/mick-jacobs">rub fans the wrong way</a> and turn them off of later seasons. Replacements can end up&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-tv-characters/matthewcoleweiss">hated</a> and replaced yet again by another new character. That's not a given, though; some replacements end up staying longer and becoming&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-breakout-characters-in-tv-history/ranker-tv">more beloved</a> than the original character they stepped in for. It's not always simple to decide which character was better or worse, which makes every case unique to consider. This list highlights the most notable cases of TV shows replacing a departing character with a substitute who fills basically the same role.

16 Times TV Show Characters Were Replaced With Basically The Same Person

TV Character

TV Characters Replaced With Similar Role

After spending so very many hours watching a TV show, we form strong attachments - and revulsions - to certain characters. Let's rank 'em.

TV Characters We Love & Hate

Some things are just more enjoyable with other people and right now there are so many television shows that are better because of how two characters interact. These famous duos make every episode twice as enjoyable or intense thanks to how they squabble, flirt or fight together.

Maybe these current tv characters have a bromance like Steve and Danno of Hawaii Five-0 or a plain old romance-romance (however tumultuous) like Betty and Jughead in Riverdale. There&#39;s even a combination of the two; Legends of Tomorrow&#39;s John Constantine and Sara Lance are demon-fighting friends first and sometime lovers when the time is absolutely the worst for it.

Soulmates, siblings and spirited rivals, from sci-fi shows to sitcoms, there&#39;s magic when two television characters have an undeniable chemistry. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-shows-on-tv-right-now/ranker-tv" target="_blank">Jokes are funnier</a>, the drama is deeper and how the duo grows together over the seasons is so irresistible <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-tv-characters-you-would-be-friends-with/anncasano" target="_blank">you wish you had friends like them</a>.

What current TV show duo is the most dynamic and makes for the best television today? If we forgot a famous current TV duo, be sure to add them to the list!

The 25+ Best Current TV Duos, Ranked

General

Ranker TV

What do we talk about when we talk about love? Perfect, sickeningly sweet, often unhealthy couples in film, TV, and other media who set up impossible standards to which our real-world flesh & blood relationships will never live up. Let's dissect 'em.

Love on Screen

Romance

No matter how many series have managed&nbsp;to get it right and stick the landing with their finales, there are so many TV shows that failed to live up to fans&#39; standards. That might come down to weird pacing, last-minute twists, or bizarre, unresolved cliffhangers &ndash; or, the problems could have to do with the romantic pairings. Few series finale decisions&nbsp;are quite as frustrating for viewers as seeing TV characters who chose the wrong partner in the end.

Whether it be through behind-the-scenes complications or genuine narrative fumbling&nbsp;by the creative team, there are many reasons why there are so many&nbsp;TV characters who ended up with the wrong person. But no matter what the excuse is, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-mismatched-tv-couples/ranker-tv" target="_blank">worst TV romances</a> always feel particularly annoying, especially for anyone who spent years staying up to date on the show.

Now, it&#39;s entirely possible this list could change in the coming years, if say, Meredith Grey&nbsp;ends up with someone other than the late, great Derek Shepherd. But for now, the absolute most&nbsp;disappointing TV couplings of all time consist of limp <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-will-they-or-wont-they-couples-in-tv-history/ranker-tv" target="_blank">will-they-or-won&#39;t-they</a> matches and problematic partnerships that can&#39;t live up to the standards set by the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-tv-couples/lisa-waugh" target="_blank">best couples on television</a>.

TV Characters Who Ended Up With The Wrong Person

12 TV Characters Who Totally Ended Up With The Wrong Person

Alex Welch

Entertainment

Villains are at their best when they get under your skin. Perhaps they make their mark by committing absolutely unthinkable evil acts,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/action-movie-villains-who-werent-wrong/jacob-shelton">making some surprisingly good points</a>, or from appearing out of left field. The scariest villains tend to be the ones you never see coming. Some may be allies of the protagonists who reveal they were working against them the whole time; others may have been hiding in plain sight with both the heroes and the audience unable to pick up on their concerning motivations until it's too late.Whether in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-protagonists-who-are-surprise-villains/alex-kirschenbaum">movies</a> or TV, a villain reveal that catches you off-guard is always a gut-wrenching and memorable viewing experience. Spoilers ahead, so be careful if you're afraid to find out some of the most shocking TV villains that had gasp-worthy revelations after sneaky starts!

The Most Shocking Villain Reveals On TV

Fictional Characters

Friendship is wonderful. Romance is wonderful, too. Most of the time, TV shows give us the best of both. Once in a while, a pair of characters shows up that, for whatever reason, remain just friends when there's definitely more potential there. These couples often drive fans crazy, making them beg the writers and actors for their beloved relationship to grow into something more, because while these characters make good friends, they also have enough obvious chemistry that they'd make a perfect couple, too!It's tragic to look at shows that have ended and see endless missed romantic opportunities. Rather than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-tv-couples/lisa-waugh">pairings that made us go gaga</a> with their actual romantic storylines unfolding before our eyes, this list highlights couples that&nbsp;should've happened at some point on our favorite TV shows.&nbsp;

TV Friends That Never Got Together, But Should Have

Introducing a television character to the audience for the first time is no simple task. Their role on the show, their personality, and even their style of humor must be clearly established off the bat. Of course, long-running shows tend to feature character development for the leads as they grow into different people, or even for villains who might come around and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tv-redeemed-villains/anncasano">redeem themselves</a>. Whether it's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-characters-with-heel-face-turn/josh-plainse">bad guys turning good</a>, good guys turning bad, or just a character taking themselves less seriously, it's amazing to watch characters settle into their true selves.Though some are fan favorites from their first second onscreen, this list reminds us that some characters take some time for both the actors and writers to figure out. Whether they took a few episodes or even a few seasons to reach the version that we know of them today, here are TV characters who started out different from the character they eventually grew into.&nbsp;

TV Characters Who Took A Couple Seasons To Figure Out

Although many on-screen parents and kids don't look at all alike, others appear so similar that we have to be convinced they're not related in real life. Kudos to the casting directors who found these genuine lookalikes to play <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tv-shows-about-parenting/ranker-tv">parent-kid combos</a> on TV shows present and past. Marvel at their ability to notice that these actors really could share the same DNA.

The Most Uncanny Casting Of TV Parents And Kids Who Are Unrelated IRL

TV Parents And Kids Who Are Unrelated And Look Alike

Shane Fraser

Lists about and celebrating people of every kind.

Love Is Love Is Love

We&rsquo;re ranking the best LGBTQ+ TV couples of all time. Though their representation in the earlier days of television was somewhat lacking, the times - as they say - are a changin&rsquo;, and LGBTQ+ representation on TV has taken off with some of the best recent couples identifying as such.

Some of the best TV shows with gay couples include Six Feet Under, Modern Family, and Orange Is the New Black. David and Patrick from Schitt&rsquo;s Creek, Will and Vince from Will &amp; Grace, and Darry and White Josh from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend&nbsp;are a few of the best gay couples on TV.

Willow and Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Susan and Carol from Friends, and Clarke and Lexa from The 100 are some of the best lesbian couples on TV.

You&rsquo;ll find many great LGBTQ+ couples on this list, but feel free to add any that we may have missed. Other shows with gay couples on this list include The New Normal and Degrassi: The Next Generation. Read about more on our TV gay couples list, featuring our favorite LGBTQ+ TV couples.

Vote up the best LGBTQ+ couples on TV, and add your own favorites if they&rsquo;re missing from the list.

The 45+ Best LGBTQ+ Couples In TV History

The 45+ Best LGBTQ+ TV Couples Of All Time, Ranked By Fans

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

Lists about depictions of families and family relationships throughout film, TV, music, and more.

We Are Family

Fictional Families

Get ready to feel the love as we rank the greatest cartoon families in TV history! These memorable&nbsp;families can love, fight, and even deceive one another, but at the end of the day, you know they all love and support each other.

Whether it&rsquo;s the Griffins from Family Guy, the&nbsp;Belchers, the Simpsons, or even the Morgendorffers from&nbsp;Daria, these families consist of very different archetypes, but they&#39;re&nbsp;all dynamic, funny, and extremely memorable&nbsp;characters. These characters&nbsp;may be great when they&rsquo;re on their own or paired up in various combinations in storylines, but that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and they tend to shine the best as one cohesive unit.

From talking dogs and pet dinosaurs to genius babies and awkward grandparents, vote up your all-time favorite cartoon families. And if your favorite animated&nbsp;family is missing, go ahead and add them to the list!

The Best Cartoon Families In TV History

The 20+ Best Cartoon Families In TV History, Ranked

Fictional Relationships

We&rsquo;re ranking the best cartoon couples of all time. From Homer and Marge to Fred and Wilma, some of the greatest TV couples have been in toon form. What is the most romantic relationship featured in TV cartoons?&nbsp;

Who&rsquo;s your favorite cartoon couple? Mickey and Minnie were one of the first cartoon couples to charm&nbsp;audiences around the world, while&nbsp;Hank &amp; Peggy Hill were the low-key couple everyone seemed to love. This list includes&nbsp;characters&nbsp;from a variety of different backgrounds&nbsp;and timelines, such as&nbsp;long-standing classics like Popeye&nbsp;and The Jetsons to some of DC&#39;s newest animated series. Whatever the genre, make your voice heard below. From cute animated couples to famous cartoon romances, this list has them all!&nbsp;

Vote up your favorite cartoon couples, and vote down all the ones you don&rsquo;t like.&nbsp;

The Greatest Cartoon Couples In TV History

30+ Cutest & Famous Cartoon TV Couples Of All Time

Every show, big or small, always has <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-tv-characters/matthewcoleweiss">a character</a> or two that are either beloved by the fanbase or at the very least seems to get a shocking amount of screentime. But what about those of us who find the popular characters annoying to the point that they actually drag the quality of the show down?These are just some of the characters that managed to defy odds and become incredibly popular despite them not actually being awful.

12 Popular TV Characters That Are Actually Awful

Jacob Bryant

There's nothing quite as frustrating as when a TV character's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-characters-who-should-have-stayed-deceased/jacob-shelton">heartbreaking death is reversed</a>. Not only does this completely change the stakes of the series, it makes the audience feel like they were tricked.Characters who should have stayed dead on television have been resurrected through a variety of means. Sometimes they're brought back through science, some of them were faking their deaths, and for a few of the characters, magic was involved - the most eye-roll-inducing version of a character resurrection.Many of the characters collected here are beloved, so don't worry if you love them, because we love them, too. We just think they maybe should have stayed in the ground.

TV Characters Who Should Have Stayed Dead

Jacob Shelton

There is a seemingly never-ending list of reasons why TV characters leave their shows. It could be the actor couldn’t agree to the terms of a new contract with the network. Other times, they may want to pursue other interests and roles. Maybe it’s not even the actor's choice at all, and their departure is simply fueling drama for the respective series.&nbsp;Whatever the case may be, fans oftentimes are forced to say goodbye to their favorite characters, only for them to show up again later. Reappearances, like departures, can happen for many reasons, but the most common is that the show suffered after they left. Whether they were one of the original cast members that made audiences originally buy in, or if they were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tv-characters-who-werent-in-the-first-season/randy-miller">newer additions later</a> on, long-gone characters find themselves back once again when the network is desperate for viewership.&nbsp;Sometimes there are wild explanations for their time away, while in other instances, a more casual or joking approach is used to acknowledge the absence. Whatever the case may be, there is always some drama or explanation that can be whipped up to take advantage of a character’s resurgence into a show they previously departed. Sitcoms, dramas, soap operas, and really any show that is on long enough will run into this issue, and it is up to them to decide how smooth the return will be.&nbsp;

12 TV Characters Who Left Shows Only To Reappear Down The Line

TV Characters Who Left Shows Only To Reappear Down The Line

Griffin Peters

Death

When it comes to “fake-out” deaths on TV,&nbsp;it’s pretty hard to fool story-savvy fans these days. With a few shocking exceptions that&nbsp;actually went through with&nbsp;the kill, television writers in recent years have opted to have fun with dramatic&nbsp;demises, using the device to bring complexity to series narratives - and, of course, to shock us and&nbsp;shake things up. This gimmicky move has upset fans at times, but when it's done with&nbsp;lead characters and cast&nbsp;favorites we all know couldn't possibly be kicking the bucket, it can be a&nbsp;delightful diversion - something to contemplate and invent theories around until the writers inexorably explain the character's return.This list examines&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-wanted-to-be-killed-off-tv-shows/alexandra-plesa">TV deaths</a> and cliffhangers&nbsp;of main characters that we all pretty much&nbsp;knew would definitely live another day sooner or later. Sadly, some of these famous fake-outs have, in fact, now bitten the dust for real (characters and real-life actors). Vote up&nbsp;the most memorable fake-outs you saw through all along.

12 Fake-Out TV Deaths That No One Bought For A Second

TV Characters You Knew Would Get Resurrected

Lina Lecaro

Lists about cartoon and real tv characters.

TV Character lists on Ranker

The Best TV Lists - Find or Make a TV Characters List  | Ranker  | Ranker - A World of Lists

Ron Swanson

Barney Stinson

Daryl Dixon

Michonne

Carol Peletier

Olivia Benson

Arya Stark

Jon Snow

Olenna Tyrell

Stewie Griffin

Detective Jake Peralta

Eric Cartman

Watchworthy

Who are the funniest current TV characters on air right this very moment? This is your chance to vote up the small screen characters you truly believe are the funniest on the tube in 2019-2020. Sitcom superstars like Sofia Vergara on Modern Family and Rachel Brosnahan&nbsp;on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel&nbsp;are represented by their respective characters, the hilarious Gloria Delgado-Pritchett and Midge. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-animated-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Current cartoon characters</a> like Eric Cartman from South Park and Pam Poovey from Archer are also included. In fact, other animated series have given us some of the funniest characters on television right now. For instance, Bob&#39;s Burgers brought audiences Louise Belcher, while Family Guy introduced the world to Stewie Griffin.

Funny characters <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-shows-currently-on-the-air?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">currently on TV</a> span from comedic network TV characters like Detective Jake Peralta (played by comedian Andy Samberg) on FOX&#39;s Brooklyn Nine-Ninge&nbsp;to <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-of-premium-cable-original-programming?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">premium cable</a> dramas characters like Jensen Ackles&#39;s Dean Winchester on The CW&#39;s Supernatural.

Which of these current TV show characters in 2020 do you think are the funniest and most laugh out loud hilarious? Cast your votes below and be sure to add any other funny television characters, provided they are on a current show (network or streaming).

Phil Dunphy

The Funniest Characters Currently On TV

The 50+ Funniest Characters Currently on TV

Exploring and ranking everything in HBO's epic fantasy series.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones Awards

Fantasy

Life is brutal in Westeros and Essos for the many characters of&nbsp;Game of Thrones. You have to be a cutthroat survivor just to live through a wedding in the Seven Kingdoms! But being strong on this dangerous continent doesn't always involve muscle and brute force. Sometimes the biggest badasses come in the smallest packages. Of all the Game of Thrones characters that grace your television screen each Sunday night, which is the biggest, most awesome, kickass badass?Is it the Mother of Dragons? Her Khal? Would you rather have Brienne of Tarth or the Hound fighting in your corner? What about the badass wit of Little Finger and Varys? The tiny might and badass wordplay that comes from Tyrion Lannister? On a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-game-of-thrones-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of Game of Thrones characters</a>, almost all meet the criteria of badass in some way - but who is the most all-around, big-time, super-duper badass character George R.R. Martin has thrust upon the world?Vote up the characters you think are the most badass in the Game of Thrones TV series and be sure to rerank this list so that Jon Snow knows once and for all what you think of him. Then, have your voice heard as far as GoT's<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-badass-ladies-from-game-of-thrones/ranker-of-thrones"> badass ladies</a>, the most <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-insults-from-game-of-thrones/ranker-of-thrones">epic insults</a> these amazing characters have ever uttered.

Jaime Lannister

The Most Hardcore Game of Thrones Characters

Game of Thrones Characters Who Are Badass | GoT Character List

Robert DeSalvo

Female Characters

Some of the greatest characters in this new <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-years-for-tv-shows/loganrapp?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">golden age of TV</a> are female right now, and their characters span centuries, cultures, and personalities of all types. The shows they're on range anywhere from fantasy to comedy to drama and everything in between. Which female characters are the best of the best on <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time">TV show characters</a> right now?Are you a Jess Day kind of person, or an Arya Stark lover instead? The choice is up to you. Vote up all of your favorite female characters currently on TV, and add any that aren't already on the list.

Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

The Best Female Characters on TV Right Now

Best Female Characters on TV Right Now 

poll

&nbsp;

When a television show first starts, the writers of the program already have the star in mind. They write for the characters they think the audience will relate to and like the most and design the show around those characters. However, once the show hits the airwaves, the viewers don&rsquo;t always agree. Sometimes the true star of the show is the unlikeliest candidate. The breakout character is usually a character who was introduced as part of the supporting cast, but for one reason or another became a fan favorite. This list of the greatest breakout characters in TV history includes characters from both comedies and dramas and has been ranked by the community.

The breakout character on a TV show usually becomes the most discussed and most loved part of the show. He or she has the funniest lines, the best stories, and is portrayed by the favorite actor. After a positive audience reaction, these breakout characters suddenly start to get more screen time and story lines. Characters like <a href="https://groovyhistory.com/aaay-fonzie-happy-days-stories" target="_blank">Fonzie</a> and Ben Linus were never meant to be huge parts of their shows, but after their introduction, it was inevitable that they&rsquo;d become pivotal to the show&rsquo;s success. Some breakout characters, like Frasier Crane, even go on to star in their own series.

&nbsp;

Who are the greatest breakout characters on TV? Vote up the best breakout television characters below or add the best breakout star if he or she isn&#39;t already on the list.