History CharacterGush / LiveActionTV

** Walter White, Say My Name! Also known as Heisenberg, is one of the most complex characters in fiction, the perfect example of the face-turn, Heisenberg is smart and just badass!!

* ''Series/AshesToAshes'':

** Everyone from this show, really. Of course the idea and show of Dead Like Me is good itself, but I am fully convinced the unusually strong characters are what makes the show so great.

** Kerr Avon. One of the finest deadpan snarker}}s in all of science fiction - a cynical, sardonic, amoral, silver-tongued {{anti-hero}}. Is it any wonder he became the star when Blake was gone?

* ''Series/FatherTed'': Father Dougal Maguire - so dense, yet so lovable.

** Jo Grant. Kind-hearted, sweet, good natured and always looking for the best in everyone, plus she's also willing to face the forces of evil and is always ready to help the doctor stand up to what ever dark being is here. She may scream when she see's monster, but that doesn't mean she's going to let it get her, she may get kidnapped, but if given enough time she'll get out on her own (or at least attempt to). She managed to defeat the Masters Hypnosis with nursery rhymes, caused the inspiration for the Devil to commit suicide through sheer purity and goodness, and she beat the doctor at draughts. Of all the companions, they were few that struck such a wonderful dynamic between sweet and awesome.
** Martha Jones: Deals with the doctor's initial (rather high handed) introduction by telling him that as far as she's concerned he has to earn that title. Intelligent, competent, determined, and understands that the doctor doesn't need her to hold his hand all the time. Put up with everyone's racist BS when trapped in pre-WWI england, because the doctor needed a babysitter. Spent a year in hiding, keeping TheResistance alive on Earth while Jack, the Doctor, and her entire family were being held hostage where she couldn't reach them or protect them. Chose her responsibility to her family, and her self-respect, over a life of excitement and adventure spent pining over a man who didn't want her back, and then went ahead and had a life of excitement and adventure anyway without his help.

* ''Series/BlakesSeven'': Kerr Avon. One of the finest deadpan snarker}}s in all of science fiction - a cynical, sardonic, amoral, silver-tongued {{anti-hero}}. Is it any wonder he became the star when Blake was gone?

** Castle himself. Starts off as a bit of a JerkAss, and definitely a guy with a bit of a Peter Pan complex, but under it he's brave and loyal, and he's willing to step back to see the woman he loves be happy. He's FunPersonified. He's JustForFun/OneOfUs. He's a freaking Shipper! He keeps the show light-hearted and a barrel of laughs. [[PapaWolf Unless you mess with his daughter, mother, or Beckett]]. In an era of overly dark, angsty dramas with {{Jerkass}} protagonists and constant hints of melancholy, the fact that Castle is a likeable NiceGuy who personifies AngstWhatAngst and keeps the tone light-hearted is what makes the show.

** Richard is also one of the nicely crafted characters. They managed to play the mysteries surrounding him fairly well. ** Charlie Pace is hands down one of my favorite TV characters EVER. His wit, his dedication to Claire and Aaron, his struggles and successes and losses and god fucking damnit why did he have to die? I have never sobbed so much at the death of any other character...ever.

* ''Series/TheAddamsFamily''
** Gomez. Quirky, enthusiastic, optimistic, and a father but not a BumblingDad.
** Morticia. She's very gothic, but not depressing, doesn't nag Gomez, and is a pro at crazy sports and crazy art.

* Series/BreakingBad:

** Have to agree, Michelle Trachtenberg is practically synonymous with "Pretty Girl".
** Also, a meta reason she's great, Dawn was written with Michelle Trachtenberg in mind, specifically because of the sisterly relationship she and Sarah Michelle Gellar had (offscreen) when they were both on "Series/AllMyChildren"

** There are few characters from M* A* S* H I do not like. Including Frank. This is partly because they dragged the show on so long they had ample opportunity to explore all of their personalities, inside and out. But, these analyzations did make for some of the best episodes. On the whole, I am particularly fond of Hawkeye, because even if he hadn't been placed in a hellish situation for 3 years, his mind still would have been going a million miles an hour, and still would have been slightly nuts. And I relate to that rambly intellectualliness.
*** Agreed. I am compelled to watch every rerun of M* A* S* H that comes on TV almost exclusively thanks to the Hawkeye-BJ duo. They complement each other so well. The more relaxed BJ, who sympathizes with the victims of the war and is disgusted by its unrelenting horror and stupidity but is also able to distance himself (the few times he does break down, its usually in response to something that happened back home, like the episode where he learns his daughter thought Radar was her daddy, which made me cry so hard). Compared to Hawkeye, who is extremely sensitive and passionate and too smart for his own good, unable to seperate himself from whatever is happening around him, dwelling on it and ''feeling'' it so much he drives himself insane. I've watched that episode "Hawkeye" (essentially a half-hour non-stop soliloquy) lord knows how many times and I still find it interesting! On a similar note, I also find the Margaret character compelling. A break away from the sexist norm, she's the fiercest and proudest character on the show. I only wish she didn't shriek at everyone so much (even normal talking from her sounds like screaming)!

* ''Series/TheFlash'': Barry Allen is such an awesome character. He’s kind, adorkable, caring, and very much {{The Cape}}. We also see him grow and make mistakes, developing into a better hero along the way.In a superhero market full of serial killers and anti-heroes, it’s nice to have a hero you wouldn’t mind letting a kid watch.

** Castle himself. Starts off as a bit of a JerkAss, and definitely a guy with a bit of a Peter Pan complex, but under it he's brave and loyal, and he's willing to step back to see the woman he loves be happy. He's FunPersonified. He's OneOfUs. He's a freaking Shipper! He keeps the show light-hearted and a barrel of laughs. [[PapaWolf Unless you mess with his daughter, mother, or Beckett]]. In an era of overly dark, angsty dramas with {{Jerkass}} protagonists and constant hints of melancholy, the fact that Castle is a likeable NiceGuy who personifies AngstWhatAngst and keeps the tone light-hearted is what makes the show.

*** Plus, he's played by Masi Oka, who [[EverythingsBetterWithPlushies resembles a human plushie]] and [[OneOfUs is every bit the geek he pretends to be]]. {{Squee}}!

** Data. He's an inspiration to the awkward geeks who are looking for a way to fit in. He also gets a high number of moments of [[MomentOfAwesome awesome]], [[HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]], and even SugarWiki/{{Funny|Moments}} throughout his career, even before he has his emotion chip installed so he can appreciate these moments himself. Find an instance when Picard or someone tries to come up with a [[HumansAreSpecial definition of humanity that puts it in a positive light]]. Then compare that definition to the characters. Who fits it best? The answer is invariably Data.

* Spike is always entertaining and sexy. Even when he did his HeelFaceTurn and had a chip in his head, he was still hilarious and cool. Yes, there are some moments in Season 6 that [[FanonDiscontinuity we'd like to forget]], but over all he's a really fun character. And when he crossed over to ''Series/{{Angel}}'', he and Angel had great chemistry that made for some great Abbott and Costello antics, as shown in "The Girl in Question." Even though things got weird in Season 5 where the plot was concerned, their moments together make me wish the show had not been canceled [[ExecutiveMeddling for no reason]]. Oh, and the scene where he wrestles Puppet!Angel in "Smile Time" made my younger brother laugh for 20 minutes straight, qualifying as a CrowningMomentOfFunny.

** It continues with the most [[TheStoic stoic]] badass spy on television, Jack [[FanNickname "SpyDaddy"]] Bristow. How awesome is he? The list is ''way'' too long, but his TakingYouWithMe CrowningMomentOfAwesome in the finale to Sloane has to be entry #1.

** Ace. TotallyRadical teenager? Check. Anarchist extraordinaire? Double check. And she beat up a Dalek with a baseball bat. She ''inspired'' the CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'': Rio the Black Lion. Powerful, menacing and [[EvilIsCool evil]], but also [[PetTheDog honourable]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Wipes the floor with the Gekirangers]] more than once, but also willing to [[EnemyMine join up with them]] if a third-party threat rears its ugly head.

** Father Mulchahy. His [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments]] blow everyone else out of the water, he manages to keep up his job in a thouroughly unreligious community when it's a wonder he can even [[OnlySaneMan stay sane]] at the 4077th.

* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': Mork. Mork Mork Mork Mork... I know what you're thinking, "Oh, Mork's pretty funny, but he's not really awesome.". Let's see... Not only is he funny, he's sweet, he's kind, he's lovable, he's cute... [[BerserkButton and if you mess with Mindy]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yR6PcwZtB0 he will pwn your ass]], [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome giving awesome one-liners as he does so]].

** Holly, at least Norman Lovett's version, if only by virtue of the fact that he got most of the best lines. The practical joke about Lister's three-million-year-old sausage covering the Earth never fails to crack you up, nor does his opening narrations. Also, one word: [[AwesomeMoments Queeg]].

** Vala Mal Doran. She's just so quirky and spunky. She's also determined, and an incredibly nuanced character behind her cheerful theif persona. Her character development is believable, and her introductory scene was [[CrowningMomentOfFunny HILARIOUS!]] She doesn't let her dark past bother her, and is one of the funniest characters after Jack O'Neill's sad, sad promotion. Also, seconding Ba'al, with his being a MagnificentBastard and AffablyEvil and pulling it off perfectly. And seconding Daniel Jackson's character development. Watch a season one episode, and then an episode from season ten, you'll be horribly confused and gaping at his badassery and sarcasm, and how he blends it with being a nerdy nice guy who'd rather talk it out. Watch all the episodes, it makes perfect sense.

** John Locke is one of the most wonderfully messed-up characters on television today. His arc can best be described as BadassDecay and tragic YouSuck done ''right''.

** Data. He's an inspiration to the awkward geeks who are looking for a way to fit in. He also gets a high number of moments of [[MomentOfAwesome awesome]], [[HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]], and even [[FunnyMoments funny]] throughout his career, even before he has his emotion chip installed so he can appreciate these moments himself. Find an instance when Picard or someone tries to come up with a [[HumansAreSpecial definition of humanity that puts it in a positive light]]. Then compare that definition to the characters. Who fits it best? The answer is invariably Data.

** The Doctor himself. Older than any human could ever be, and yet still learning, he is the core of the show. He's funny and serious and crazier than crazy but he will make you run in terror if you cross him. He's smart enough to save all of reality, and yet still knows the pain of loving and losing.

** Ace. TotallyRadical teenager? Check. Anarchist extraordinaire? Double check. And she beat up a Dalek with a baseball bat.

** Romanadvoratrelundar. If you can't pronounce her name, you can call her Fred. She's a [[BadassBookworm smart]], [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] Time Lady who ended up president of Gallifrey during the ''Time War''. Quite possibly the only companion completely on level (and beyond) with the Doctor himself.

** MagnificentBastard Mycroft Holmes: Why, yes - BigBrotherIsWatching, and he's another DeadpanSnarker in this WorldOfSnark.

* ''SexAndTheCity'': Of all the fine and foxy boyfriends the ladies of this show may have had over the years, Miranda's husband Steve Brady is my ultimate dream man. He's adorable in a down to earth way, sweet, funny, and the perfect foil for someone as emotionally guarded as Miranda. I absolutely love him, I love watching them interact, and he's just one of those guys a woman is extremely lucky to have in their lives.

** How do you follow up an act of such unvarnished badass that was James T. Kirk? You get '''Captain Jean-Luc Picard''', that's how. The man makes Shakespeare sound smoother than silk, makes Earl Grey look like the drink of kings, [[AnOfficerAndAGentleman has manners surpassed only by his unflinching courage]] and is one of the Trope Codifiers of being AFatherToHisMen. And he has some of the most classic lines in any timeline.

** [[CloudCuckoolander Volkoff]], [[LargeHam Volkoff]], [[MagnificentBastard Volkoff]], [[TimothyDalton Volkoff]].

* ''Odyssey 5'': Chuck Taggart. Pretty much everything he does or says is MadeOfWin. After the Earth implodes and the Odyssey crew gets sent 5 years back through time to try and stop it his favourite pastimes continue to be washing his car, doing his crossword puzzles, the occasional headbutt with Kurt and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick stealing moon rocks from secure NASA facilities]]. Exhibit A: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEAjY6Dybwg How Chuck Taggart orders his coffee]].

** Sebastian Smythe and Jesse St. James are MadeOfWin. Sebastian might be a snarky douchebag coming on to a taken man, but he's my (and the rest of his larger-than-you-think fandom's) snarky douchebag. And in On My Way, we see that he is a human being, a teenage boy caught unawares by the unforeseen consequences of his actions and who tried to make it up in his own way, and more Glee proof that people can change. His actor, Grant Gustin, has also stated that Sebastian ''does'' have feelings for Blaine, but has his [Sebastian's] priorites out of line.

** ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' gives us Kendrix Morgan, a scientist with enough [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal courage, compassion and conviction]] to [[spoiler: sacrifice herself, and she was the first Ranger in the franchise to do so.]]

** ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' gives us Kendrix Morgan, a scientist with enough [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal courage, compassion and conviction]] to [[spoiler: sacrifice her own life.]]

** PowerRangersLostGalaxy gives us Kendrix Morgan, a scientist with enough [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal courage, compassion and conviction]] to [[spoiler: sacrifice her own life.]]

* ''AmericanPickers'': Frank and Mike. Their enthusiasm for what they do is infectious, and they're very fair wheelers and dealers. They can get the most crotchety men, men who may rarely speak to even their neighbors, to like them.