The world of Television offers some incredibly wise and thoughtful characters, whose profound dialogue can make a very real impact on viewers. The trope of the wise mentor character is nearly as old as fiction itself, with movies and TV offering many supporting cast members that fit this description. TV in particular can be a great medium for clever writers and showrunners to espouse some thoughtful words of wisdom to their viewers through the mouthpiece of beloved recurring characters.
Such poignant lines of dialogue sometimes come from unexpected sources. Of course, many of TV’s archetypal “wise” characters are indeed old men, mentors, and kindly teachers hoping to gently nudge their impressionable students (and viewers) in the right direction. Other times, characters who are more sassy and blunt can offer a surprising amount of solid advice in between bouts of verbal abuse and prickly insults. Whatever the case, all sorts of different genres of TV shows are capable of projecting some solid life lessons through the lens of these figures.
10
Uncle Iroh
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The first character many might think of when discussing the wisest to ever grace the small screen, Uncle Iroh is one of the most popular characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender for a good reason. Once a hot-headed Fire Nation general with a fearsome reputation as “The Dragon of the West”, by the events of the show, Iroh has chilled out into a tea-loving mentor for the vengeful Prince Zuko. After the heartbreaking death of his son in the war, Iroh joined the White Lotus in order to do his part to restore balance to the world of Avatar.
Having been through a lot in his life and studied all sorts of unorthodox sources of wisdom, Iroh’s life advice is the gold standard for TV characters. He’s able to assure Zuko that “Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source,” teaching him the value of the other elements by explaining the basis in waterbending for his technique of lightning re-direction. Iroh’s influence wound up being so instrumental that in The Legend of Korra, it’s revealed that Zuko ends up naming his son after him.
9
Dr. Cox
Scrubs
Opposite to Uncle Iroh’s kind demeanor and laid-back personality, the hot-headed Dr. Cox might not be the picture of a well-adjusted individual at first glance. Cocky, rude, and relentlessly mean to Zach Braff’s JD, Dr. Cox doesn’t appear to have the same kind of reverence and meditative worldview expected of a stereotypically “wise” mentor figure. In between his painful barbs and relentless sarcasm, however, Dr. Cox is an emotional man with some surprisingly sound life advice to offer in his rare moments of sincerity.
Early in season one, Dr. Cox gives a glimpse of his true colors, taking a shocking moment to reassure JD, telling him that he doesn’t have to impress Dr. Kelso or himself — “You only have to answer to one guy newbie, and that’s you.” Dr. Cox has also offered some prescient advice on maintaining emotional strength during the challenging moments of working in healthcare, possibly explaining his constant use of humor as a coping mechanism. Finally, despite his own heart having more than a few bruises, Dr. Cox has offered some alarmingly sound relationship advice to others.
8
Uncle Phil
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The breakout role that began Will Smith’s career, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air had a charismatic cast and a catchy theme song that keeps it a lasting cornerstone of pop culture even today. The moral anchor of the Banks family, Uncle Phil was always there to provide a strong moral at the end of the day, even if he sometimes could get fed up with Will’s antics. Suffice it to say, some of the best quotes of the lauded sitcom can be attributed to James Avery’s Uncle Phil.
Despite not being Will’s biological father, Uncle Phil truly stepped up to become one of TV’s best dads, offering some sound wisdom like any father would. Uncle Phil taught audiences that “To be a good friend, you have to risk losing a good friend,” emphasizing the importance of doing the right thing no matter what. Always a stern patriarch but ultimately supportive of his kids, Uncle Phil is the embodiment of the wholesome sitcom father despite his “Uncle” title.
7
Professor X
X-Men: The Animated Series
Professor X has the pedigree of being one of the wisest characters in Marvel Comics, carrying over his air of authority to the live-action movies thanks to Patrick Stewart’s excellent performance. However, an equally beloved TV incarnation of the character was his animated depiction in X-Men: The Animated Series, in which the beloved mutant leader got plenty of chance to prove his position as the moral center of the X-Men. There are few others who TV characters who can boast such a profound impact on the lives of their series as Professor Charles Xavier.
Fiercely adhering to his tenets of non-violence (unless when absolutely necessary), Professor X is a relentless champion for mutant-human relations. Though he laments that the “cruelty to creatures we do not understand seems limitless,” Xavier still ultimately chooses to believe in the best of humanity at any turn, desperately hoping to convince Magneto to see things his way. In the end, Xavier’s legacy is strong enough to do just that in the follow-up series X-Men ’97.
6
Master Splinter
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Across every version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the wise master splinter has remained a staple of the series. Though his origin differs slightly from version to version, Splinter is a loving father, studious sensei, and fierce protector to his reptilian sons in every iteration of the franchise. Over the years, the variety of takes on Splinter have been able to offer some sound advice to the impressionable turtles and their young viewers.
Splinter tries to do his best to curtail the worst of each of the turtles’ unique personalities, warning Raphael that “Rage is a fuel that burns quickly” while assuring Leonardo that his place as the leader was chosen carefully. Of course, it was Splinter’s martial arts training that was able to forge the turtles into the phenomenal fighting force they grow into, clearly indicating a different kind of wisdom Splinter uniquely inherits, as well. Whether fighting mental or physical battles, Master Splinter is an invaluable coach for any mutant crime fighter to have in their corner.
5
Mike Erhmantraut
Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul
Few TV characters have lived as many lives as Mike Erhmantraut. From a marine sniper to a dirty cop to a hit man and a loving father and grandfather, Mike has lived many lives throughout the runs of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Though he hasn’t had it easy, Mike’s cynicism and practical thinking have been able to come up with some surprisingly profound words for other characters in Vince Gilligan’s bleak universe to live by.
Mike never made any false assumptions about the glamor of a criminal lifestyle, frequently advising those he knew couldn’t handle it to get out while they could. His matter-of-fact delivery and refusal to mince words makes it clear that he’s always being genuine, if rough around the edges. Mike understands the complex gray area of moral framework he exists in, no better exemplified than when he explains “I’ve known good criminals and bad cops.”
4
Tyrion Lannister
Game of Thrones
The source of the famous line “I drink and I know things,” having since gone on to be plastered on T-shirts and coffee mugs everywhere, Game of Thrones’ Tryion Lannister is undeniably one of prestige television’s wisest characters. Though his own life may be chaotic and poorly-managed, Tyrion always seemed to be one step ahead of the political maneuvering of his opponents, at least in the earlier seasons of the show. An advisor to several of the series’ most powerful leaders, Tryion’s wisdom is highly sought-after for a good reason.
For one, Tyrion is a gifted tactician, single-handedly turning the tide at the Battle of the Blackwater after Joffery and The Hound crack under the pressure of Stannis Baratheon’s forces. On a more personal level, he’s also a great mentor to the likes of a young Jon Snow, relating his dwarfism to Jon’s struggle with being Ned Stark’s only bastard child. Turning his weaknesses into strengths, it’s a shame that Tyrion’s character, like many others, was decimated in the fumbled final seasons of Game of Thrones.
3
Jake The Dog
Adventure Time
Laid back and woefully immature, the talking magical dog Jake might not be the picture of wisdom in most people’s minds at first glance. Despite being his older adoptive brother, Jake is often the more childish one between him and Finn, frequently having to be motivated into action by his idealistic sibling. Yet it’s just as often Jake is Finn’s wise mentor figure, and for good reason. Despite his somewhat naive world view, Jake has his moments of shocking profundity.
Jake’s life advice for the growing Finn has been extremely helpful at times, assuring him that “Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something!” when Finn is discouraged. He’s also always Finn’s emotional rock in the boy’s turbulent love life, never as simple as Jake the Dog’s stable relationship with Lady Rainicorn. By the end of the series, Jake manages to achieve an almost buddha-like level of spiritual enlightenment, being one of the few denizens of the 50th dead world in Adventure Time: Distant Lands.
2
Chidi Adagonye
The Good Place
Each of the characters of The Good Place‘s charming cast have their moments of wisdom in the millennia the series spans across, but none can claim quite so much wisdom as Chid Adagonye. Having dedicated his life to studying ethics as described by all the great philosophers, Chidi is Eleanor’s go-to when it comes to learning how to be a genuinely good person deserving of her status as a citizen of The Good Place following a cosmic fluke. As the series progresses, so too does Chidi’s grasp of the universe.
Chidi is so knowledgeable about ethics that he’s entrusted to rehabilitate literal demons, applying human wisdom at a level far beyond his weight class. When confronted with the mind-breaking reality of the nature of the afterlife, Chidi is able to hold it together, comprehending even the stunning knowledge of the “Time Knife” without breaking. But the most touching moments of wisdom Chidi offers are within the final moments of his relationship with Eleanor, assuring her that “Life isn’t a puzzle that can be solved one time and it’s done. You wake up every day, and you solve it again.”
1
Winnie The Pooh
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Beloved children’s icon Winnie the Pooh might not be the smartest character in TV history, or even one with the most life experience. Yet it’s impossible to deny the wise charm of the Bear of Very Little Brain, haphazardly stumbling across philosophical epiphanies before nonchalantly returning to his cozy home in the Hundred-Acre Wood to eat another jar of honey. Even if the target audience of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and other shows featuring Winnie are aimed at children, they offer some thoughtful advice for viewers of all ages.
No matter what hardship Winnie the Pooh might suffer, he’s always happy so long as his friends are by his side, teaching that life is worth living so long as it can be shared with loved ones. Winnie the Pooh can acknowledge his own intellectual shortcomings, but always goes with the flow, emphasizing that “Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” Though he’s far from the smartest character in Television history, Winnie the Pooh’s poetical musings may just make him one of the wisest.
