Fall finales are closing in on us quickly.
And we’re definitely still in our feelings about our favorite shows signing off so quickly.
But that hasn’t stopped us from finding Characters of the Week that have captivated us and are still living rent-free in our heads.
From Doc and NCIS: Origins, to Murder in a Small Town and Palm Royale, these characters kept us talking long after the credits rolled.
So, check out our list below!
And as usual, if you have some thoughts or suggestions for whom you feel we left out, please share them in the comments below!
Ann Holiday – Palm Royale
In a world dominated by drama and scandal, I have a soft spot for the quiet, smart woman who watches it all unfold.
Ann Holiday (Mindy Cohn) is not only the triumphant return of my favorite Facts of Life character, Natalie, but also conceivably the story of that aspiring young journalist from Eastland School.
As Holiday, Cohn insinuates herself into the high society glamor of the Palm Beach elite by writing the Shiny Sheet, the gossip page everyone from Tallahassee to Miami reads.
This week, we learn others tragically overlook her investigative reporter brains. When she demands that FBI agent Virginia deputize her so she can track down the real shooter from the Beach Ball, it’s clear she’s been dying to do something meaningful with her life and talents.
And it pays off big-time when she leads Virginia to the bootleggers’ tunnel entrance Mary used to escape justice. – Diana Keng
Jake Heller – Doc
Long-time Doc fans know how much we’ve been craving for some content and background on Jake Heller.
And it’s safe to say that Doc Season 2 Episode 8 didn’t disappoint, delivering another strong hour that filled in some of the gaps we had about the character and his relationships, and mostly reaffirming what an absolutely stellar person he is.
After learning about his fathers death — news delivered to him by his ex-wife, we could visibly see all the emotions flicker across his face: shock, hurt, sadness, and then a bit of resolve as he opted to return to work, determined to ensure that his patient, Dante, didn’t end up like his father — not getting to spend final moments with his own children.
We can usually expect Jake to be the calm in the storm, and a series of flashbacks that reveal his father’s clue into why Jake has always been that way. But in the present, we see this flurry of action, a man on a mission, using his grief to fuel him, as he fought on behalf of his patient until he orchestrated the happy ending he wanted.
And then, later, we saw the tender moments, Jake telling his daughter about the death, and finally breaking down tearfully in a single phone call with Amy that had Jamy fans everywhere deeply in their feelings.
Not only did the hour dispel any doubts about the depth of Jake and Amy’s love and their seriousness, but it also rounded out Jake in a compelling way. And Jon-Michael Ecker effortlessly captures all of this beautifully with a performance that only made us love the character even more. – Jasmine Blu
Chief Karl Alberg – Murder in a Small Town
We’ve gotten so used to seeing Karl question suspects at the precinct that going toe-to-toe with Tommy Cummins was such a treat.
Both Rossif Sutherland and Noah Reid brought their A game to this cat-and-mouse fight, and there aren’t many serial killers that get on Karl’s nerves like that.
Everything about Karl on Murder in a Small Town Season 2 Episode 8 was raw, emotional, and honest. He knew more about Tommy Cummins than anyone, as he realized Tommy wanted to take them on an exhibition.
Karl broke our hearts when he thought he might die and called Cassandra to apologize and profess his love. They might be different, but he loves her.
He’s usually so stoic, and I loved seeing this raw and human side that still fights the good fight. – Laura Nowak
Bernard “Randy” Randolf – NCIS: Origins
Randy is a light, and NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 6 beautifully highlights that in a centric that celebrates Randy’s birthday as much as it celebrates him as a character.
In a fascinating hour that had us questioning if someone so bright and positive can reach a breaking point, we saw a difficult case that threw everything at Randy, not to mention had Mike throwing Randy’s beloved Martha, destroying months of hard work.
But the hour wasn’t much about pushing Randy to a breaking point so much as about showcasing the roots of positivity and how it’s an act of perseverance rather than something put on or even spurred by tragedy. It’s so deeply ingrained in the character that there’s no risk of him ever losing that.
Randy’s brilliance, badassery, and ability to connect with people because of how well he understands them were highlighted well.
If you weren’t a Randy fan before, or were far dismissive of him as just a happy-go-lucky puppy with no real depth, the episode dispels that in a delightful way: with James Brown and Caleb Foote giving us a deceptively nuanced portrayal of an underrated character with more depth than meets the eye.
Emily Lane – Mistletoe Murders
All season, Emily Lane has impressed us, but Mistletoe Murders Season 2 Episodes 5 & 6 took the cake.
Emily seemed quicker to put the pieces together, and those fight moves! She surprised us all.
Let’s not forget how versed Emily was on Christmas, which helped Violet win trivia night. Our girl can do it all.
Besides showing what a badass she was and finding the killer, Sarah Drew played double duty, also portraying the younger Emily, aka Grace.
That version also impressed us with Intelligence, how she trapped Aaron, and then agreed to work with Intelligence.
No wonder Emily was so talented at solving mysteries.
Nile Jarvis & Agatha Wiggs – The Beast in Me
I mean, for starters, Niles and Agatha are played by Matthew Rhys and Claire Danes. For that alone, it’s no shocker that their characters would be positively riveting.
The Beast in Me is a fascinating story that delves into the human psyche, our darkest, deepest, basest instincts, and what happens when the intrusive thoughts win. It explores the monsters that live inside humans.
And Nile Jarvis? He’s unquestionably a monster. The entire series leaves you thoroughly creeped out by him — a dangerous man lurking beneath a rich, put-together veneer, but behind every charming grin you catch the gleam of his fangs — he’s a predator, you just never fully know to what extent.
And Aggie Wiggs is a dark character in her own right, deep in the trenches of a profound grief that seems unimaginable. But her grief is dangerous and destructive.
What should be a matter of oil and water mixing instead results in this deliciously complicated and twisted dynamic that often feels like Nile and Aggie are mirror images of each other on a crash course toward collision, because they SEE each other, and it’s unsettling.
Truthfully, it’s difficult to even dig into the full extent of why both characters, individually, as well as what they bring as a unit, are so fascinating without spilling too many spoilers for those who haven’t seen it, but trust us, these characters more than earned the spot (and your stream).
Not every show gets love, but we still cover them.
If you made it this far, you probably care too. Drop a note, hit share, and keep rooting for the little guys — us and the show.
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