Fierce, tortured, troubled, hilarious, and inspiring, there are so many characters of the week who stood out for us.
There are some true scene-stealers and show stealers, with some great first-time characters and many who have been around but still leave quite the impact.
Let’s dive into which characters of the week resonated with us most and left an incredible impression that stuck.
Ellen — Outlander: Blood of My Blood
The Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 finale had it all, but the best part? Ellen finally realized that her brothers would never change and took her fate into her own hands.
What followed was a wealth of karmic justice that left Colum and Dougal struggling to comprehend what came next.
Thankfully, Ellen has taken control of her story, and wherever she goes next, she’ll have Brian by her side.
I can’t wait to see what Harriet Slater brings to the table on Season 2 because she’s been flawless from start to finish on this prequel series.
Amelia Shepherd – Grey’s Anatomy
Is there anyone else in the Grey’s Anatomy Universe who has suffered quite as much as Amelia Shepherd? She has to be one of the top contenders.
The explosive season premiere had us all on edge, but Amelia bore the full weight of the events that had transpired, essentially blaming herself for how they ended up in this position in the first place.
Her fear, shame, and guilt were palpable, evident in every waver of her voice and tremble as she extended her efforts to help.
Amelia’s desperate attempt to provide some aid to Link, a man she deeply cares for and the father of her children, to the point where she had to be carried from the room, had me genuinely wishing I could reach through the screen and console her myself.
But it was that vulnerable expression of what this situation feels like for her as a woman whose entire life has been defined by loss after loss, and her deep desire to spare her own child and those she cares about from the same things that truly had Amelia stealing the entire episode.
Winston listened on with a sympathy and helplessness that matched my own. He doubled down on it when left to tell Amelia the devastating news about Monica — another blow, as one’s heart ached over this woman perpetually in the dark during the worst of moments.
It’s hard to envision how Amelia will get through more loss and tragedy, but we know that she will — somehow, against all odds, she always does.
Hicks – Boots
The new Netflix dramedy Boots boasts a wealth of interesting characters, but Hicks truly stands out.
What makes him such a pleasure to watch is that from the moment he appears on the screen, he commands it. You can’t help but pay extra attention to the show when he’s in a scene because he promises craziness.
The only lesson to be learned from Hicks is that no matter the situation, there is always some fun to be had. And always keep people guessing, that way they don’t think they have you all figured out. It makes life exciting.
Cassandra Lee — Murder in a Small Town
While Richard Bannister was the heart of Murder in a Small Town Season 2 Episode 3, Cassandra deserves recognition too because of how much she stood up for herself and Todd.
I love that Cassandra voices more of her opinion this season, and how she told off the cops as she talked Todd down after he had been bullied.
She was a stickler for community equality and not rushing to judgment.
Cassandra proved that she’s a badass in her own right, and she’s not a wallflower in need of protection.
I’m excited to see Kristin Kreuk shine this season, as she’s truly fierce.
Richard Barrister
We may as well go for a double hitter with Murder in A Small Town.
The hour also marked the final onscreen performance of the legendary, indelibly, and deeply, profoundly missed Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role as Richard Bannister, while smaller than we anticipated, still stuck with us.
Richard was such an incredibly protective father, fierce in his desire to keep his daughter safe, to the point where it briefly had him on the wrong side of a police investigation and the worst side of an assault from the actual killer.
It’s that protective streak, the ferocity of his love and dedication to his daughter, that settled deep in our bones and brought us to tears many times over. It was effortlessly one of the strongest episodes of the series to date as a result.
Dr. Van Markus- Brilliant Minds
Brilliant Minds hasn’t taken advantage of Van’s skills in Brilliant Minds Season 2 until he finally used his Mirror Touch Synthesia on Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 3.
Only Van could tell how overwhelmed Adam felt and what he needed to feel safe.
It went a long way in connecting with Adam, but Van also learned Adam’s secret way of communicating —he drew.
Van also gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for his ex-wife, Michelle, as he observed her in action, learning more about effective communication.
This was a fascinating look into Van’s life, and hopefully, we’ll get another glimpse into his talents, as he’s incredibly skilled at helping others.
Rudy Baylor — The Rainmaker
Rudy Baylor was bringing the emotions on The Rainmaker Season 1 Episode 9. He was standing there in that courtroom with everything stacked against him and still trying to play it straight.
Everybody else is lying, cheating, covering their tracks, and Rudy is still clinging to this wild idea that honesty’s gonna win the day. Aww. Bless his heart.
He was nervous, scattered, and running on fumes, but he still felt it. You could see it on his face when he looked at Dot or Deck or even Sarah, who has turned into the devil in heels.
He cares too much, and in this world, that’s practically a crime. But nobody who knows him would have it any other way.
Deck, who has been the most competent comic relief you could want, told Rudy he is the man Deck always wanted to be. It was enough to moisten your eyes, I tell you. And you could see Rudy’s brain short-circuiting trying to accept it.
When Bruiser showed up, she was straight to the point like always, saying the thing nobody else wanted to say: “You still think you’re one of them.” And she’s right. He’s still fighting fair in a rigged game.
But the man keeps going anyway. He’s idealistic, tired, and on the brink of breaking, yet he continues to push forward because the truth matters to him. That’s Rudy, and that’s why he’s my Character of the Week.
Leota Adebayo – Peacemaker
Peacemaker may be the main character of the show, but Leota was absolutely the beating heart of the finale.
Seeing Leota finally admit that what she wants means she can no longer be with her wife was a surprisingly emotional and touching moment, giving actress Danielle Brooks the chance to showcase her incredible acting skills.
Honestly, Leota’s character arc during the entirety of Peacemaker Season 2 was more compelling to watch than Chris’s, and the payoff from her character development was the best part of the finale.
Plus, her speech about friendship and keeping the 11th Street Kids together to combat government evil will definitely go down as a monologue to remember.
On the more humorous side, she also had some great moments, like using reverse psychology on Adrian to convince him to use his stockpile of money to bail Chris out of prison.
While fans may remain divided on whether the Peacemaker season finale was good or bad, we can all agree that Leota was the shining star of the episode and carried the season to the finish line.
Dante Torres – Chicago PD
No one will ever be able to say that Dante Torres doesn’t get viewers talking.
One of the series’s most tragic characters in the grand scale of things, Chicago PD Season 13 Episode 2 revisited the alarming mental health arc regarding this character, and it was viscerally challenging to bear witness to from open to end.
Torres is a fascinating character who carries so many secrets, the weight of heavy things he barely seems capable of carrying, and enough trauma, shame, and guilt to keep a therapist and a priest working for years.
But that’s what made his arc, arguably frustrating in many ways, but also compelling, so hard. Torres can’t seem to shake so many things: his grief over losing Gloria, his guilt over how his behavior impacted the team, and his shame over his actions, how they’ve affected others, and so much more.
It’s heartbreaking to witness this character continue to descend into such darkness, mental anguish, and self-harm. But it’s Torres’ alienation, how he’s pulled away from others, and the way he barely seems to have a grip on anything that made him such a true standout during a polarizing hour.
You made it to the end — and that means a lot.
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