Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso Season 2 Episode 1 pointing at the camera while smiling.
The 2020s have been a banner decade when it comes to television. TV shows are no longer second-string to movies. You'll find high-budget, thought-provoking, dramatic, thrilling, and hilarious shows of all kinds that rival the best two-hour films.
That's in part because TV shows can tell a slow-burning story and offer much better character development. This also means that there are fantastic TV show characters from this decade thus far that really stand out on their respective shows. Joel from The Last of Us, for example, brought the video game character to life on screen. Jenna Ortega's version of Wednesday Addams in Wednesday is perfectly Gen Z, while Dexter Morgan returning 20 years later, better than ever, in Dexter: Resurrection is a highlight. Let's not forget Vecna , who burst onto the scene in Season 4 of Stranger Things and displayed so many other layers as Henry Creel and Mr. Whatsit in the final Season 5. It's tough to name all the greatest TV characters of the 2020s, but a few have made an impression and have become household names, or at least should be. 12 Liz 'Shrinking' Liz might not even have a last name in the show, but she's one of the most hilarious characters on Shrinking. For a show that's about loss, grief, and coping, it needs a character that can bring humor into each scene. Every character manages to do this, of course, but none so much as Liz. She's confident and overbearing, but she also means well. Most people are afraid of her, yet she's loving and caring — just don't cross her, because she will come knocking. Liz, one of the best Shrinking characters, is like the neighbor you'd both want to have but hate having at the same time. Chrisa Miller fully commits to this role such that you truly believe she's a real person. 11 Deborah Vance 'Hacks' For four seasons , Deborah Vance on Hacks has graced the small screen as a veteran Las Vegas stand-up comedian who is set in her ways and refuses to believe that she needs to change them to keep audiences interested. Her dynamic with the young comedy writer Ava is what really shines, and there's a reason Jean Smart has won numerous awards for the role. She brilliantly portrays an older woman who was a legend, knows it, and refuses to accept that her career will ever waver from being as such. Seeing her explore new angles she arguably never would have before, while also giving sage advice to the new generation, makes Deborah oddly likable, despite her often arrogant attitude. 10 Matt Remick 'The Studio' Matt Remick, portrayed by Seth Rogen in The Studio, is the personification of a man in over his head. He has been promoted to studio head, and while he is more than capable of doing the job, he isn't quite as capable at dealing with the tough parts of it, like telling actors, directors, writers, or producers no. His desperate need to be liked, combined with his complete ignorance of how others view him and his deep desire to make movies that matter despite the reality that studios just want to make money, is deeply honest. He's at the center of a show that parodies Hollywood and all its stereotypes in the most hilarious way. 9 Juliette Nichols 'Silo' Juliette Nichols in Silo is a highly intelligent, fearless woman who stands up for what she believes is right, no matter the risk. In Season 2, especially, she's a role model for young girls who might feel as though pursuing a career in STEM isn't for them. The way she fashions a bridge to cross over to another side of an abandoned silo using her engineering knowledge is so inspiring. From her handling of Solo to her dedication to the people of her silo and her brave actions to rebuild a suit and go back home to save others, she's a modern-day hero in the sci-fi dystopian drama. She's one of the strongest female protagonists of this generation and the star of one of the most unforgettable Apple TV shows. 8 Carol Sturka 'Pluribus' Earning Rhea Seehorn a Golden Globe for the role, what makes Carol from Pluribus so great is not that she's flashy nor even emotive. She's far from it. It's that she's so real and honest, a cynical woman trying to get by in a world where every surviving human, now part of a cult-like hive mind, lives to serve her. Despite having every indulgence at her beck and call, she's most interested in ensuring that humanity and free thinking survive. Her bravery in pushing against the status quo and taking risks to get answers in every episode of Season 1 is admirable, even if it never works out in her favor. Based on the explosive cliffhanger ending in Season 1, something tells me she'll become even more badass in the confirmed Season 2. 7 Homelander 'The Boys' Homelander from The Boys is so deliciously evil, so desperately insecure, so seriously small despite being so physically powerful, that it takes a brilliant actor to pull off the performance. Starr does, making you absolutely despise Homelander and everything for which he stands. Tasked with protecting the people, he's more interested in raising his own profile, gaining more power, and flexing his muscles. Amidst a show like The Boys that is just as much political commentary as it is a gruesomely violent satirical superhero story, Homelander stands out as the biggest, baddest villain on television. It's not so much because of the power he wields, but because he's so unhinged — you never know what he's going to do next. Whatever it is, you always know it's going to be bad and serve absolutely no one but himself. 6 Mark Scout 'Severance' With two of the best season finales this decade, arguably ever, Severance is led by Mark Scout , a man grieving the loss of his wife . He decides to undergo a program that splits his brain in two so he can focus on his monotonous job without distraction during the day, then forget about work when he gets home and mopes at night. Where Scott shines as Mark, however, is in Season 2 when Mark's"Innie" begins to develop his own sense of self, despite technically being the same person. In essence, you get two characters for the price of one. Mark is subtle in the way he behaves so differently as each, which really draws you in and makes it all seem real. 5 Morgan Gillory 'High Potential' A breakout network comedy for this decade, High Potential is all about Morgan , who is described as a"one-woman hurricane." She possesses an incredibly high IQ, which leads to her being hired by the local police department's Major Crimes Division to help them solve cases. She doesn't pay attention to protocol, likes to do things her own way, and obsesses over the small details. It works in her favor because she's great at the job, but she's not always easy to deal with. Subscribe to the newsletter for TV character deep dives Join the newsletter for incisive breakdowns of standout TV characters—their arcs, performances, and the storytelling choices that make them unforgettable. By subscribing, you'll get focused, thoughtful analysis that helps you understand and debate TV's defining figures. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Her incredible foresight, tremendous trivia-like knowledge, and propensity for solving puzzles and recalling information are so fascinating. What's great about Morgan is that she isn't portrayed as this phenom alone — we get to see the other side of the coin, which is how her"gift" is anything but in her personal life. The layered aspect of the character is what truly sets her apart from other cookie-cutter procedurals with protagonists who have special skills. 4 The Ghoul 'Fallout' Every actor in Fallout does a tremendous job portraying characters from the video game franchise on which the show is based. But there's something extra special about Walton Goggins' portrayal of The Ghoul, along with his pre-apocalypse persona Cooper Howard. A once-famous Hollywood actor turned mutated, gunslinging, bounty-hunting ghoul, you can see the disdain for the world in his eyes and hear it in every word he speaks with the signature southern drawl. He's terrifying, as though he feels like he has nothing left to live for, yet he is fiercely dedicated to finding his wife and daughter. He helps others, even if often for selfish reasons, and his adorable relationship with his dog Dogmeat gives him a sense of humanity. It's evident that underneath the ghoulish surface and façade, Cooper is still in there somewhere. 3 Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto 'The Bear' Carmy from The Bear is so messed up, yet he's also self-aware, fully comprehending how he is and also why. His fractured family life and relationship with his mother, his brother's tragic death by suicide, and his treatment by mentoring chefs who broke his confidence all culminated in making him someone who both feels deeply unworthy yet strives to prove everyone, including himself, wrong. There are so many layers to Carmy that are explored through all four seasons to date, but mostly, it's about putting his head down and obsessing over the work. He cares about others even if he fails to show it at times. What he never wavers on, but for a few standout moments, is showing others respect and consideration. There's something likable about him despite all his flaws.
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