One of the most enjoyable aspects of following a TV series is watching how characters change and develop throughout, although some characters have much more drastic arcs than others. Whether through an internal transformation that sees them question the very nature of their selfhood or exterior factors that cause them to reconsider the foundations of their identity,watching characters learn and grow adds depth to a series narrative. While certain genres, likeclassic sitcoms, are defined by characters resetting at the beginning of each episode, others have their cast members change drastically throughout the series run.
Many of thegreatest shows everfeatured extraordinary character arcs that helped turn the show from simply good to an all-time classic. Whether it is in animated series, supernatural stories, or intense dramas,a good character arc can make or break a show’s success, and strong characterization can be a defining factor in whether viewers tune in season after season. All of thesecharacter arcsoffered something special and represented a prime example of extraordinary television writing.
10Zuko
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - 2008)
While Aang’s journey to maintaining harmony among the world’s four nations was the narrative throughline ofAvatar: The Last Airbender, the most interesting character arc in the entire series was actually for the villainous Zuko. Asthe eldest child of the Fire Lord Ozai, Zuko’s status as banished prince meant he devoted three years of his life to capturing the long-lost Avatar and attempting to restore his honor among his people and, most importantly, his father. With actions driven not by personal desirebut a need for love from his dad, despite being a villain, Zuko’s motivations were incredibly human.
While this drive for acceptance laid the foundations for his character, throughout the three seasons ofAvatar, Zuko rejected these expectations and pushed back against his toxic upbringing. As Zuko struggled with his identity issues, he always had the guidance of his wise Uncle Iroh, the only figure in his life who appeared to treat him with decency and acted as an important mentor. With a transformation of character rooted in change and self-discovery, watching Zuko slowly realize he wasn’t so villainous after all made for poignant viewing.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Cast
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
9Willow Rosenberg
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)
Although it’s true that Buffy Summers went through an extraordinary journey as she discovered her destiny as the one true slayer tasked with saving Sunnydale from supernatural forces, it was her best friend and classmate, Willow Rosenberg, who went through an even more drastic change. From a meek and quiet teenager to a mighty witch, Willow also tapped into the supernatural as she assisted with stopping evil forces from wreaking havoc on their Hellmouth-adjacent town.
Not only was Willow’s character arc transformative from a narrative point of view, but it was also trailblazing for television as a whole, asher discovery of her LGBTQ+ identityand relationship with her girlfriend Tara broke down TV boundaries. While Willow was always a good-natured addition to the Scooby Gang, the untimely death of Tara led to another shocking change as she embraced evil and briefly turned into the season six antagonist, Dark Willow. As a character defined by change and trauma, Willow had one of Buffy’s most well-rounded character arcs.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
8Peggy Olson
Set in the male-dominated world of New York advertising agencies during the 1960s, the story of Peggy Olson was always one of the most fascinating aspects ofMad Men. As a characterintroduced as Don Draper’s secretaryin the pilot episode, Peggy quickly established herself as a creative force at Sterling Cooper who was more than capable of delivering work equal to or superior to her male counterparts. Peggy changes drastically throughout the show, and her journey represents the growing freedoms women gained amid the civil rights and rapidly changing era in which it was set.
Peggy’s naivety was on display right from the beginning as she found herself taken in by a misjudged brief affair with her colleague Pete Campbell, through which she fell pregnant and gave the child up for adoption. Challenging circumstances like this shaped Peggy’s character as she became increasingly willing to push back the expectations that society had unfairly placed on her.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
7Jaime Lannister
Game of Thrones (2011 - 2019)
To base the character of Jaime Lannister on just the first season ofGame of Thronesalone would reveal a morally corrupt and arrogant man whose main claim to fame was ruthlessly killing the king and pursuing an incestuous relationship with his sister. However, over time, Jaime’s callous exterior gave way to a character arc that revealed extreme emotional vulnerability and a kindhearted interior.
The catalyst for Jaime’s changing character was Brienne of Tarth, the female knight who vowed to return the captive Jaime Lannister to King’s Landing in exchange for Sansa and Arya Stark. The challenges these two faced together brought out Jaime’s buried humanity as he sought to defend the weak, questioned his loyalty to Cersei, and redeemed himself in the eyes of those who criticized him. ThroughoutGame of Thrones,Jaime turned from one of the most despicable characters in the series to among the most likable.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
6Jimmy McGill
Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022)
WhileBreaking Badviewers spend the entire show wondering where Walter White would end up,Better Call Saulinverted its character arc as audiences questionhow Jimmy McGill could possibly become Saul Goodman. This prequel series used the audience’s pre-knowledge to its advantage, as seeing Jimmy start off as a lawyer who genuinely wants to follow the letter of the law was disarming at first. AsBetter Call Saulprogressed, it was hard not to feel saddened at the knowledge of where Jimmy would end up and the soulless nature of his Saul Goodman persona.
However, the genius of Jimmy’s character arc inBetter Call Saulwas that it retroactively added depth to his performance inBreaking Bad. Returning to both series with the full knowledge of Jimmy’s arc meant it was easy to see how his time assisting Walter White was informed by his complex relationship with his brother Chuck and estrangement from the love of his life, Kim Wexler. While audiences spent most of the show’s run waiting for Jimmy to turn into Saul, by the time it actually came, the character arc was so tragic they’d wish it had never happened at all.
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
5June Osborne
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 - Present)
The multiple names audiences know June Osborne as throughoutThe Handmaid’s Talewere a testament to the drastic nature of her character arc. From the meek servitude of Offred to the political alliances of Ofjoseph #2, June’s life under the totalitarian society of Gilead was one of perseverance, determination, and martyrdom. Based on the cult feminist novel by Margaret Atwood, this Hulu adaptation moved past its source material to depict June as not just a victim of Gilead’s oppression but as its potential savior.
When audiences first met June, she was a handmaiden who was stripped of her autonomy and forced to give up her body due to the laws of a corrupt government. However,June’s resilience and determination to reunite with her long-lost daughterand husband caused her to resist these oppressive forces and slowly build up a network of like-minded women willing to fight for their freedom. As a resistance icon and freedom fighter, June’s story saw her change drastically throughout.
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is a television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, released in 2017. It is set in a dystopian future where a woman is compelled to live as a concubine under a strict fundamentalist theocracy.
4Philip Jennings
The Americans (2013 - 2018)
Despite never gaining as much cultural relevance as some other shows that were on the air at the same time,The Americansquietly had some of the greatest characterizations on television. As a period spy drama set during the Cold War,The Americansfollowed Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet spies posing as an American married couple running a travel agency. As a character of deep convictions, it was thrilling to watch Philip’s identity unravel as he questioned the very foundations of his selfhood throughout the series of six seasons.
Philip went through many drastic changes throughoutThe Americans, such as his realization that his sham marriage to Elizabeth had transformed into a genuine love for his wife. This secret spy also found himself questioning the nature of his ideological stance as he grew to appreciate aspects of American culture and the family he had brought up within it.The Americanswas a thrilling series that tapped into themes of capitalism, identity, and romance, all of which were embodied through Philip’s engrossing arc.
The Americans
The Americans is a television series set during the 1980s Cold War, focusing on Soviet KGB officers Elizabeth and Philip Jennings. They pose as an American couple in suburban Washington, D.C., balancing their covert operations while Stan Beeman, an FBI Counterintelligence agent, lives next door.
3Kevin Garvey
The Leftovers (2014 - 2017)
The extraordinary HBO seriesThe Leftoverspowerfully dealt with themes of grief, religion, and identity in a manner unlike anything else on television. Focusing on the aftereffects of the global event known as the Sudden Departure, from which2% of the world’s population mysteriously disappeared,The Leftoversprimarily dealt with police chief Kevin Garvey, who was in the midst of an existential crisis following his wife’s leaving him behind to join a mysterious cult known as the Guilty Remnant.
Kevin’s journey throughoutThe Leftoverswas one of spiritual discovery as he grappled with the mysterious departure and descended ever further into psychological despair and self-doubt. Through several surreal and supernatural experiences, Kevin wrestles with his purpose, identity, and potential role as a savior of mankind while carving out a new relationship with the grieving wife and mother, Nora, who lost her husband and children in the event. With a lot to say about the nature of grief in all its forms, Kevin’s arc was truly fascinating.
The Leftovers
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
2Steve Harrington
Stranger Things (2016 - Present)
Based on justStranger Thingsseason one, it’s hard to believe that Steve Harrington would evolve into one of the most heartwarming characters in the show. Introduced as a stereotypical jock, Steve’s characterization initially leaned into 1980s high school movie tropes of typical bullies. Despite this initial introduction, as time went on, Steve’s arc took a positive turn, and he transformed from a self-centered teenager into a protective big brother figure toward the younger characters.
By looking past his own insecurities and remaining brave in the face of grave danger, Steve conjured levels of heroism he never knew he possessed, which gave him a new level of confidence in his everyday life. Without the insecurity need to prove himself by belittling those around him,Steve was able to shed his immaturityand reveal a kindhearted, loyal, and courageous personality. WhileStranger Thingswas packed with great characters, none of them changed for the better as drastically as Steve Harrington.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
1Walter White
The entire premise ofBreaking Badwas based around a character arc taking about as drastic a turn as one can imagine. This was perfectly encapsulated in Walter White, the mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who transformed into the most notorious meth cook New Mexico had ever seen.Watching as Walt’s timid demeanor gave way to the murderous ruthlessness of Heisenbergwas truly one of television’s greatest character arcs, as viewers have been eternally divided over the exact point audiences should lose sympathy for this divisive protagonist.
The Walter White audiences meet in the pilot episode is a million miles away from the sinister criminal who poisoned a child, plotted the death of Gus Fring, or orchestrated the deaths of ten men in prison within a two-minute window. Without following the series episode by episode, it would be practically impossible to even imagine how Walter became such a vindictive and egotistical maniac over the course of just two years within the show’s timeline.Breaking Badalways positioned itself as a show about change, and Walter changed more than anyone.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
