Many popular TV shows include side characters who only appear for a season or an episode, yet the audience desperately wants to see more of them. While this may lead to the character in question getting a bigger role in the show, in other cases, the writers only intended for that character to be a one-off or have recurring appearances. Yet some of the actors playing these supporting characters on TV shows are specifically famous for their performances.
Some supporting characters’ stories are missing elements, such as how they became the person they are in the present. In this scenario, their backstory might have been an interesting storyline for the show to explore. Occasionally, a TV character is so popular it sparks talk of a spinoff, without the showrunners having ever suggested it is a possibility.
15 Jean-Ralphio Saperstein
Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)
Despite only appearing in 20 episodes of Parks and Recreation, Ben Schwartz is known for his recurring role as Jean-Ralphio. One of the best recurring Parks and Recreation characters, Jean-Ralphio is Mona-Lisa’s twin brother and has many strange business ideas. However, the show’s creators do not think that Jean-Ralphio needs more screen time. When Schwartz was asked (via Thrillist) about the possibility of a Jean-Ralphio spinoff, he shared that Michael Schur told him, “there’s a reason why Jean-Ralphio is just in this show a little bit.”
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14 Margaery Tyrell
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Game of Thrones’ Margaery Tyrell steals every scene she is in. Margaery is fluttery yet shrewd and her goal is to win as much power for her family as possible by becoming the queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Margaery can play the “Game of Thrones” without being cruel, and she wins over Joffrey and the people of King’s Landing with attention and generosity. However, relatively little is known about Margaery’s motivations or her upbringing. While Margaery serves her family loyally, there are no flashbacks or conversations exploring the reason for this loyalty. Additionally, Natalie Dormer certainly would have dazzled audiences with any additional scenes focusing on Margaery.
13 Georgina Sparks
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Among the entitled upper-class teens on Gossip Girl, Georgina Sparks is one of the worst. While characters like Serena and Blair are humanized because they are the show’s protagonists, Georgina entertains by being a straightforward villain. The main characters even unite against her in the season 1 finale. If Georgina had appeared in more episodes, she would have been able to cause even more chaos for the Constance Billiard social scene. Georgina is also the only character from the original Gossip Girl to appear in the 2021 revival.
12 Yelena Belova
Hawkeye (2021)
Yelena’s arc in the Hawkeye miniseries suffers because she must share the antagonistic role with Maya Lopez and Kingpin. Yelena is an unrelated and quickly resolved conflict. Yet Maya and Kingpin are also compelling characters who also bring a lot to the show. Hawkeye might have benefited from a second season with more focus on Yelena. Yelena is an interesting character, while Florence Pugh is a talented actress. If there had been an additional season where she was the main threat, the writers could have made her a more developed antagonist.
11 Ruby/Little Red Riding Hood
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
Once Upon a Time’s twist on the Little Red Riding Hood story is that Red herself is the big bad wolf. In the real world, Red becomes Ruby, an independent and flirty waitress at Granny’s Diner. Ruby only got two episodes dedicated to her character development (season 1, episode 15 & season 2, episode 7) before actress Meghan Ory left to star on the TV show Intelligence. Ruby appears later and has a rushed romance with Dorothy Gale in season 5, episode 18. Ruby could have continued her complex character arc and had a better love story with Dorothy if the show had given her the necessary screen time.
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10 Susan Bunch
Friends (1994-2004)
Ross’ ex-wife’s partner Susan does not get her due in Friends. This is because she is defined by her antagonistic relationship with Ross. The show glosses over Susan, who is an openly gay woman in the 1990s with a successful career in advertising. With additional screen time, Susan could have been framed as a more empowering figure, especially since Chandler also eventually goes into advertising. Susan even makes the deadpan joke that she is “a lovely person” when Ross is surprised that she complimented him for being good with Ben in season 2, episode 2.
9 Lexi Branson
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Lexi is Stefan’s best friend who visits him in Mystical Falls in season 1, episode 8. Stefan’s brother Damon kills Lexi in the same episode. Damon does this so the Founder’s Council will believe Lexi is the vampire they were looking for and stop tracking Damon and Stefan. Lexi occasionally appears as a ghost and in some flashbacks throughout the show. She helps Stefan through his Ripper phase and encourages him to fall in love again after breaking up with Elena. Lexi is generally a fun and lovable character, and it would have been great if she’d had a larger role on The Vampire Diaries.
8 Mai
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Mai is Zuko’s girlfriend in Avatar: The Last Airbender. She has a cold, emotionless demeanor and is an expert at throwing stiletto knives. Mai could have had more character development than her brief moment of talking about her stifling childhood in season 3, episode 5. Mai rushes to Zuko’s aid in season 3, episode 15, without much context. An additional episode showing Main and Ty Lee in the Fire Nation after Zuko leaves would have better explained both of them betraying Azula.
7 Leslie Winkle
The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
Dr. Leslie Winkle is a fellow Caltech physicist who only appears in a handful of episodes of The Big Bang Theory. Yet all of her appearances are hilarious because she is possibly smarter than the main cast of male characters. Unfortunately, Leslie mostly disappears from the show after the first few seasons. While the show gives more attention to women in science with the additions of Bernadette and Amy to the main cast, Leslie also could have been a part of this. Additional appearances could have also given her a character arc outside her rivalry with Sheldon and brief romances with Leonard and Howard.
6 Faith Lehane
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Faith is a Slayer who serves as Buffy’s foil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Faith is initially an ally of the main cast, but she defects to the side of evil and redeems herself multiple times. She allies herself with the main villain of season 3, during which she has her longest arc. She appears for a couple of episodes in season 4 before surrendering herself to the police but returns in season 7 to wreak more havoc. Fatih Lehane is a constantly changing character and one of the most complex figures on the show – if any character could lead a Buffy the Vampire spinoff, it is her.
5 Jinx
Teen Titans (2003-2006)
Jinx is a redeemed villain on Teen Titans who briefly has a crush on Cyborg but ends up with Kid Flash. She believes that her power of “bad luck” made her destined to be a villain, but is pushed toward good by Kid Flash’s kindness and her former idol Madame Rogue’s insults. Jinx and Kid Flash join the heroes in the final battle against the Brotherhood of Evil. With a little more time and effort, Jinx could have had a redemption storyline like Prince Zuko’s character arc.
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4 Karen Filipelli
The Office (2005-2013)
Despite being the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica, most of Karen’s screen time is dedicated to her relationship with Jim and rivalry with Pam. She appears just after Jim confesses his love for Pam, providing more drama when Pam calls off her wedding, only to find that Jim and Karen are dating. They predictably break up so Jim and Pam can get together. Karen makes a couple of appearances in later seasons to reassure Jim and Pam that there are no hard feelings. Karen could have been given more screen time to show her in light of her successful career.
3 Kirk Gleason
Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Kirk, played by Sean Gunn, is one of the many strange residents of Stars Hallow. Kirk is a Gilmore Girls fan-favorite character with an off-beat sense of humor. Kirk is hilarious because he can be disconnected from the world but is always completely serious. He is always pursuing a different career path and irritating Luke – he even dresses up as Luke and sets up a rival diner at one point. Kirk could have been given a few more episodes for a more developed character arc and more humorous moments.
2 Oberyn Martell
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn Martell was sadly never going to be on Game of Thrones for long. Oberyn is the younger brother of the ruling Prince of Dorne, the partner of Elaria Sand, and the father of eight daughters known as the “Sand Snakes.” Oberyn volunteers to fight on Tyrion’s behalf in a trial by combat to determine if Tyrion is guilty of Joffrey’s murder. Oberyn is killed in this battle. Oberyn is shown to be more free-thinking than the rest of Westeros’ nobility and is built up to be a great warrior. Unfortunately, he did not have enough time to disrupt the kingdom’s politics or demonstrate his combative skills.
1 Ekko
Arcane (2021-Present)
Ekko is a childhood friend of Vi and Powder/Jinx who grows up to become the leader of the rebel group called the Firelights. Arcane season 1 does not show what Ekko is doing from the time Vi is arrested to when he meets her again. He is doubtlessly an interesting character and a skilled fighter, and hopefully, Arcane season 2 will dedicate some time to his backstory. While many supporting TV characters will never get the screen time they deserve, Ekko could still have a more developed storyline.
