Picking out the best characters from Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora from Queens is likely harder than it is for most shows. There are fewer core characters than you get in a lot of series, with the show only featuring three people in its main cast and four as part of the recurring cast.
Everyone else is considered guest stars who only appeared in an episode or two, including characters played by Simu Liu, Natasha Lyonne, Jamie Chung, and Ming-Na Wen. Though there are only those seven key characters, it’s still tough to figure out which is the best based on their arc, comedic moments, performance, and more.
Doug
It seems a little odd that Doug (Jon Park) is listed as one of the show’s recurring characters. He has only shown up in four episodes and has barely been seen in season 2. That being said, Doug does serve a purpose as some more comedic relief whenever he appears and someone who helps give Nora the information she needs.
For example, his most memorable episode was likely “Vagarina.” In it, he’s the person who has the song featuring Nora’s vaginal injury on his phone and he’s the person to give her the idea to try and collect royalties from it. Doug may not show up in all of the episodes but you just know he’s nearby ready to pop up again.
Brenda
Of everyone in the main or recurring cast, it feels like Brenda (Jennifer Esposito) is the one to make the most of only a few opportunities to shine. She can actually feel like more of a plot device than a real person at times, often there to move Wally into something new for his life, like making a social media account or looking into online dating.
Still, Brenda comes across as a good person who genuinely cares for Wally. He was wrong to think that she was dating other people as her explanation behind her online profile existing was reasonable. In a world of wacky characters doing zany things, Brenda does feel more down to earth. That might be why things didn’t go so great for her and Wally’s daughter in “Nora Meets Brenda.”
Melanie
It’s quickly clear that Nora doesn’t have many friends. However, her best friend is someone she has known for years and she’s the one person who keeps coming back to her, Melanie (Chrissie Fit). At first, it seemed like Melanie might have things more together than her slacker friend but that wasn’t totally the case, which helped them bond.
Melanie hasn’t had a ton of time to develop much beyond being Nora’s friend but it’s a role she plays well. She represents a time when things were simpler for the two of them. Plus, Melanie gets points for her loyalty, as she stood up for New York and for Nora against their annoying old friend in “Charlie’s Angels.”
Edmund
Edmund (Bowen Yang) is mostly someone who starts off as a bit player on the show but grows into a larger role as things progressed. It really all started in “Grandma Loves Nora” when he began hanging around Nora’s house and grew closer to Grandma. That kicked off his relationship with Nora as partners on an app.
It became wildly successful and the two even moved to China for their new job. Of course, things don’t often go well for the characters on this show and that didn’t last. Edmund is funny and most of the time, his attitude and success rub Nora the wrong way, which makes for a hilarious conflict even though they’re related.
Wally
Nora’s dad Wally (BD Wong) is basically the definition of a guy who means well. He is surrounded by his wacky mother and his underachieving daughter, so at times, he has to remain the calming presence in the house. Through all of that, he shows them love and affection daily while struggling with putting himself back out there romantically.
Wally eventually meets Brenda and that helps open up a lot about his personality. He gets on social media, becomes more fun, and tries new things, which makes him a dynamic and fun character. Wally also never puts too much pressure on Nora, coming across as a supportive father rather than one who pushes her too hard.
Nora
The titular character, Nora (Awkwafina) is obviously at the center of almost every episode. There are times when it can be a bit hard to get behind her because she’s constantly making bad decisions but it’s all somehow still a part of her charm. There’s a relatability for many viewers in someone who isn’t sure of their place in the world yet.
There’s sympathy in watching Nora struggle as others her age find massive success and happiness. Nora is also the kind of protagonist who always gets into weird shenanigans and that includes not being afraid to make fun of herself. Along with her comedic chops and being relatable, Nora is clearly a good person who is just trying to do her best.
Grandma
It takes a lot to work on a show where Awkwafina is the star and end up as the scene-stealer and funniest person. Yet that’s just what Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) has managed to do. Living with her son and granddaughter hasn’t slowed down this elderly woman who is as lively as she likely ever was. It almost doesn’t matter what Grandma does because it’ll be hilarious.
From fighting with other older women over a public phone charger to arguing with her sister to recounting the story of how she met her husband (featuring a guest appearance by Simu Liu as “Garbage Boy”), she shines. Grandma is also a tender and caring woman who will seemingly do anything for Wally and Nora.
