TV’s most compelling characters aren’t the ones who always make the right choices, or the ones who are even good.
They’re the ones who surprise us with their complexity.
Perhaps that’s why we have a diverse list comprised of redemption arcs we didn’t expect and villains who exposed heartbreaking vulnerability.
We have familiar faces like old friends who made us emotional, and underdogs who became impossible not to root for.
It’s safe to say that our Characters of the Week left a lasting impression.
We have a stacked list from The Vampire Lestat and Ransom Canyon to All American and The Chi. Check out why we feel these characters deserved the spotlight.
And don’t forget to sound off with your own contributions below.
Paul de Pointe du Lac – The Vampire Lestat
Paul’s appearance during The Vampire Lestat Season 1 Episode 7 was both an emotional and genuinely pleasant surprise.
We’ve never heard Louis tell Lestat that he loves him, but Paul explains why and assures Lestat that Louis does. In what Lestat believes may be the final moments of his life, Paul gives him exactly what he needs to hear.
He also gives his approval of their relationship, telling Lestat that he loves his brother the way he should be loved.
Then, in typical Paul fashion, he follows that beautiful moment with, “I still wish you were a woman.” Funny, brutally honest, and completely Paul.
We only had him for a short time in Interview with the Vampire, but as the person Louis loved most in his mortal life, it felt fitting that Paul would be the messenger to the person Louis loves most in his immortal life.
The scene gave Lestat comfort, gave viewers some long-awaited reassurance about Louis’ feelings, and gave us more time with Paul.
And as a bonus, we finally found out Paul made it to Heaven. His mother had doubts, but now we know!
The Chi’s Returning Cast
Can we just talk about all the familiar faces that came back for The Chi’s series finale?
Seeing Nina, Dre, Smokey, Hannibal, Tracy, and so many others one last time was exactly what longtime viewers needed.
Emmett and Keisha’s wedding felt more like a family reunion.
Kevin’s return really brought everything full circle.
If you didn’t get a little emotional seeing him back, are you even a fan? – Tarcia Bush
Kit Russell – Ransom Canyon
I never thought I’d enjoy Kit Russell, but the writers highlighted his layers even more in Ransom Canyon Season 2.
His main goal has always been to better himself to protect Lucas, and they showcased that even more, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
I’ve never liked love triangles between brothers because it hurts them, but part of me wanted Kit and Lauren to actually get together because Casey W. Johnson played him so earnestly.
Kit has always been on his own, with no one to stand by him. This time we finally saw he’s not such a bad person. He’s layered and lost and wants someone to love, thus caring for the stray cat.
I rooted more for Kit every scene he was in, and that’s how I know he won me over. – Laura
Jordan Baker – All American
Can we just cry over Jordan’s biggest decision, including him talking to Billy on All American Season 8 Episode 3? Who else cried seeing that Billy cut out?
Jordan Baker has evolved so much, but he knew in his pivotal career moment that he needed his father’s guidance, and I appreciated that Jordan knew he’s more similar to Billy than he thought.
Jordan wants to be a head coach. It’s part of his blood and his legacy. He’s strived to feel Billy’s pride.
But Jordan also knows that family always comes first, and he and Cassius have built something together. He’s unsure he could morally take that job from his cousin.
That’s what makes him different from the Beverly boosters. Jordan may want it, but he has a heart and a conscience. – Laura
Kristen Dimera – Days of Our Lives
Everyone should be suspicious. Days of Our Lives‘ Kristen Dimera went around being extra nice on her emotional goodbye tour, apologizing, and telling her loved ones how much they meant to her.
Stacy Haiduk added depth to these scenes, and you could tell she was unsure when she’d see her friends and family again.
There was genuine care and remorse as she hugged Lani and Rachel goodbye. I’d never seen Kristen and Lexie interact until recently, and I actually believed Kristen wanted to develop a plan that would benefit both of them.
It was hard to watch her say goodbye to Brady. There’s so much history there and so much left to say.
It was a huge step for Kristen to trust him entirely with their daughter. – Laura Nowak
Armand – The Vampire Lestat
The Gremlin that is Armand truly emerged during The Vampire Lestat‘s twisted season finale. And he was as alluring as he was horrifying to witness.
Armand revealing his calculated long game to get back at Louis and ultimately, through graphic, horrific torture, force Louis to make amends was mesmerizing to watch in that way that only a gothic horror piece like this series can pull off.
Armand is stunning and terrifying at the butcher shop, making his “armends” along with violent threats against Regina, Louis, and anyone Louis could possibly care about.
On its own, the sequence is provocative and stirs up a myriad of emotions, with Armand steely and cold one moment and menacing the next.
But it’s when Louis finally does give, what, at least on the surface, feels like sincere acknowledgment and real honesty, speaking to the young traumatized boy within Armand, Arun, that the layers of this captivating character reach new depths.
He can barely contain the raw emotion and vulnerability that befalls him, for brief moments appearing like less of a monster and more of the sad, broken man, whom, as Louis eloquently puts it, “needs a love that’ll cradle him.”
And when he cracks, silently moved to tears as the camera closes in on him, you almost want to break down, too. Almost.
It’s stunning work from the sublime Assad Zaman and enough to make us wish we had just a bit more time with him this season. – Jasmine
Elias Voit – Criminal Minds: Evolution
The man. The Myth. The Legend. The redemptive serial killer.
We’ve certainly expressed our frustrations with Criminal Minds’ Voit obsession, and it was seemingly inevitable that they’d find a way to allow this prolific serial killer to redeem himself.
If you can ever really redeem yourself after slaughtering a bunch of people and inspiring many others.
Nevertheless, Voit has spent multiple seasons having to reflect on who he is, what he’s done, and whether or not he truly feels remorse, but Criminal Minds’s season finale left him confronting “The Fan,” a manifestation of what he inspired.
We didn’t so much see Voit as the thorn in the side of the BAU for multiple seasons but as a father who wanted to save his daughter, that deep, biological urge to protect his young, something that extended even further as he sacrificed himself to protect her even further.
When she murders The Fan, there’s a brief moment where you can see that Voit feared his daughter very well may have a spark of that killer urge that he does.
Voit does something noble, relatable, admirable, even: going to prison and covering for his daughter, and this time, it seems it’ll be for good. It marks the end of Voit, for now, at least, and a significant chapter of the series.
But the impact he leaves still lingers. – Jasmine Blu
Over to you, TV Fanatics! Sound off with your favorite characters of the week.
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