Protagonist characters intelevision thrillersare not what they typically are in other genres. In a lot of instances, the creators of these shows challenge their audience on a moral level to root for characters who may do bad things. Almost every character on this list is a morally complex protagonist, and it is these deep layers that make them memorable. With decades of television to choose from, these are the ten best protagonists in TV show thrillers.
10Dexter Morgan - Dexter
The iconic Showtime series,Dexterwas a commercial success for the network during its seven-year, eight-season run. Michael C. Hall plays the titular character of Dexter, who works as a blood spatter analyst by day and moonlights as a vigilante serial killer by night.
Setting his sights onfellow killers who have evaded justice, Dexter justifies his killings by delivering the judicial justice the system failed to do. Despite his horrifying acts, Dexter is an easy character to like and root for thanks to the charisma and charm instilled in the character by Hall.
9Sydney Bristow - Alias
Along withFelicity, J.J. Abrams’first mainstream television project,Aliasintroduced the world to super spy and master of disguise Sydney Bristow. Played by Jennifer Garner for five seasons and over one hundred episodes, Bristow ranks on several top lists of fictional characters of the 2000s. Garner would win a Golden Globe and receive four Emmy nominations for her time as Sydney Bristow.
8Marshal Raylan Givens - Justified
Based on Western stories written by Elmore Leonard, Timothy Olyphant brings U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens to life in the FX-produced drama thriller,Justified. Playing a lawman with unconventional methods that border on making him an outlaw himself, Givens became one of the most recognizable and beloved protagonists during the five-year run of the series.
7Marty Byrde - Ozark
Ozarkquickly became a hit for Netflix upon its release in 2017. Starring Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde, a financial advisor who finds himself caught up as a money launderer for a drug cartel, the show very much takes inspiration and beats from similar successful shows likeBreaking Bad. A morally challenged character, who through writing and brilliant acting by Bateman, makes him one of the best and most rooted for thriller protagonists of all time.
Related:The Ending of Ozark, Explained
6Tommy Shelby - Peaky Blinders
Somewhat based on the gang that shares the titular name of the series,Peaky Blinderswas one of the most critically acclaimed series during its six-season run. The British period piece revolves around Thomas Shelby, the leader of the criminal gang Peaky Blinders, and is played by Cillian Murphy. Theunrelenting crime bossis played to perfection by Murphy, who would go on to win several British and Irish acting awards for his role.
5Special Agent Dale Cooper - Twin Peaks
By far David Lynch’s most successful run in television came in the form of the 1990 thriller,Twin Peaks. The show focuses on the investigation into the murder of high school student Laura Palmer in the eccentric fictional town for which the series is named after. Leading the investigation is Special Agent Dale Cooper of the FBI, played by Kyle MacLachlan. While the show was not a commercial success, much like many of David Lynch’s projects, itdeveloped a devoted cult following, with Dale Cooper becoming a fan favorite.
4Eve Polastri - Killing Eve
Sandra Oh broke new ground for actors of Asian descent with her portrayal of Eve Polastri in the acclaimed spy thriller seriesKilling Eve. Becoming the first actress of Asian descent to be nominated for a lead actress Emmy, Oh’s performance as the MI5 security operative is raw and captivating, making Eve Polastri one of the finest protagonists of all time.
3Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic - Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk brilliantly wears a few different hats in theBreaking Badspinoff,Better Call Saul. The former con man turned lawyer finds himself embroiled in the criminal underworld and would find himself in tangled webs throughout the six seasons of the show. An actor such as Odenkirk, known primarily for his comedic roles, takes a profound dive into the dramatic side of the series to great effect, earning several Emmy nominations in the process.
2Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad
Breaking Badvery much starts off as Walter White’s show, and the performance given by Bryan Cranston is second only to one, that given by Aaron Paul in the role of Jesse Pinkman, arguablythe best of the actor’s career. With arguably a broader story arc than Walter White, Jesse goes through a near complete transformation as the protagonist in the series and comes out the other end an entirely different character. The relatability portrayed by Aaron Paul is unmatched in this character piece-centered thriller.
Related:Breaking Bad: Walter White and Jesse Pinkman Statues Unveiled in Albuquerque
1Tony Soprano - The Sopranos
James Gandolfini rewrote the rules for what a television thriller protagonist could be, and arguably influenced every other role on this list that came after him. Tony Soprano remains, to this day, one of the most recognizable and popular protagonists in one of the most popular series of all time.The Sopranoscompletely changed the landscape of television thrillers, pushing the boundaries of scale and story for television programs while becomingthe most influentialtelevision drama ever.
