'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMG/8QAIRAAAQMEAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQAEBQYSISIxUdL/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwC2C3DJ32bavm7+/beuWlJQ4XyrggR2cTIIJ6z5BrbI2TZuInJGY9p+KUqZr//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Some of TV's most unforgettable Underrated characters are never initially meant to be leads. Instead, they begin either as the side star, the quiet observer, or the seemingly insignificant minor character, only to gain exponential importance in the narrative. Their characterization deepens over time, their choices shape the plot, and they leave indirect but undeniable marks on the presence of the story.
While ones like Mike Ehrmantraut from Breaking Bad harbored deep suffering in silence beneath their horrifically stoic nature, Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones let loose one of the more emotional bits of redemption arcs in the whole show. Others are pure humanizing visions of the bigger-than-life conflict, such as Bubbles the Wire.
This is a list of 10 favorite but underrated drama show characters who started small and intensified into the essential fabric of each particular narrative. Some became underrated, while others made their incredible presence felt within the framework of the series even if they were never really seen as such. Such characters remind one that in great storytelling, no role is minor at all.
Disclaimer: The article is solely based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
1. Mike Ehrmantraut – Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul
On the surface, Mike Ehrmantraut was simply a stoic, no-nonsense fixer. Better Call Saul delved into his history, though, and found a heartbreaking origin story connected to the killing of his son. His growth from a bereaved grandfather into Gus Fring's fastidious enforcer was one of the most emotionally resonant in the Breaking Bad universe. Despite being a man of crime, Mike's code of honor and prudence made him irreplaceable. His paternal relationship with Nacho and subsequently Jesse Pinkman demonstrated his depth, and he is now one of the most important but underappreciated characters in both shows.
2. Nacho Varga – Better Call Saul
The Better Call Saul character of Nacho Varga is depicted, therefore, as another ordinary cartel hitman. His whole story, though, is transformed within the series. Like no one in his universe, he truly desired to be free from the cartel. The act of escaping the cartel is never easy. His confidential disloyalty to Lalo Salamanca and his desperate attempt to save his father made him the target of a lot of tension. His last season's self-sacrifice was among the most emotionally charged scenes ever in this series, displaying how vital he became to the big Breaking Bad storyline.
3. Bubbles – The Wire
The Wire had a full slate of indelible characters, but Bubbles' narrative was remarkable for its emotional authenticity. A recovering addict who moved through the streets of Baltimore, Bubbles might have been a forgettable side figure. But the show instead rendered his battle with addiction in unprecedented candor, and thus his ultimate redemption was one of The Wire's most redemptive storylines. His friendships with Kima and his status as an informant linked him to principal storylines. By the end of the final season, his transformation from misery to redemption was one of the most poignant in the series, demonstrating he was never more than a background character.
4. Vito Spatafore – The Sopranos
Vito Spatafore began life as a small background figure on The Sopranos, but his character came into focus when he was discovered to be gay. Where homosexuality was not spoken about and certainly not tolerated by the mob, his quest for identity became one of the series' strongest storylines. His failed attempt to leave and live openly in New Hampshire only to be pushed back into the life that frightened him was heartbreaking. His trajectory was innovative for television at the time, both the ugly realities of the mafia and the intensely personal toll of living a double existence.
5. Theon Greyjoy – Game of Thrones
Theon Greyjoy began as a cocky sidekick, but his descent into darkness and ultimate redemption was one of Game of Thrones' strongest arcs. Betraying the Starks to demonstrate his worth, he lost everything. His reformation under Ramsay Bolton's torture reduced him to "Reek," one of the show's saddest characters. But his redemption by escorting Sansa to safety, reclaiming his name, and fighting a final battle for Bran solidified his place in history. Theon was not only a lost Stark ward but evidence that even the most damaged characters can be resurrected.
6. Mr. Eko – Lost
Appearing in Lost's second season, Mr. Eeko was perhaps the show's most mysterious survivor. A once-drug lord turned priest, his rich spirituality and cryptic relationship with the island deepened the show's mythology. His encounters with the Smoke Monster implied that he was about to discover greater things, but his character was prematurely ended when he was written out too soon. Despite his premature departure, Eko's history, his dynamic with his brother, and his terrifying last encounter with the Monster left an indelible impression on Lost's rich story.
7. Tyrell Wellick – Mr. Robot
In the beginning, Tyrell Wellick was nothing more than a bog-standard corporate villain in Mr. Robot, but the arc he took became, shall we say, much darker. His infatuation for power and Elliot Alderson sent him spiraling into realms of complete insanity. Until the very end, he remained a temperament-hidden background man, getting only revealed when he became integral to the plans of the Dark Army, with his emotional conflict being a big question mark. For fans, his enigmatic last scene walking into the woods after a mysterious realization - had them debating his end.
8. Remy Danton – House of Cards
Offscreen, in its tottering cruelty of House of Cards, Remy Danton worked mostly from behind the scenes, but his influence was beyond denial. A lobbyist very close to Frank Underwood, Remy was shifting loyalties and a conflict with his inner self that made him far more than a side piece. His connection with Jackie Sharp and increasing discomfort with corruption in Washington City were other edges that made him stand apart from the megalomaniacs in the show. Unlike others, he sought ways out, one of the few characters ever to have a conscience.
9. Salvatore Romano – Mad Men
In Mad Men, Salvatore Romano was not simply another ad executive-his was one of the show’s most tragic tales. In the 1960s, a hidden homosexual, he struggled to make it both in his career and his private life, feeling all the weight of societal convention. His departure-well, to call it forced would be an understatement-after he resisted the advances of a powerful client reflected the brutality of that same era. Unlike other characters in the show who reinvented themselves, no one knew exactly what was in store for Salvatore, and that rendered him one of the most unfortunate, if not crucial, characters within the tapestry of Mad Men.
10. Toby Ziegler – The West Wing
Trending
Toby Ziegler was frequently eclipsed by the more charming inhabitants of The West Wing, but his integrity and commitment made him indispensable. As Communications Director to the White House, Toby was the administration's conscience, never shying from telling uncomfortable truths. His ultimate storyline of leaking classified secrets to uncover an issue of national security was inflammatory, but it solidified his position as the show's greatest idealist. Unlike some of his colleagues who had played the political game, Toby never sacrificed principle for power.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
