The most memorable TV characters of 2022

Television produced some truly incredible characters in 2022; characters who were crucial to their respective storylines and essayed by fantastic actors. So for today’s List hai toh hit hai podcast we are counting down the top ten most memorable TV characters of 2022.

10. Mark Scout (Severance)

Ben Stiller’s workplace thriller threw light to a dystopian future where data entry operator Mark S, an everyman character who acts as the guide into the world of Severance. Wanting to escape the trauma of the tragic death of his wife Gemma, he decides to make use of the severance program in Lumon industries. But soon the world of Lumon starts to invade Mark’s life noticeably as he figures that he won't be able to keep up with two different lives. While working on the severed floor, he gradually realizes the program is not just for maintaining work-life balance but its true purpose is to hide Lumon's reality. Adam Scott does a remarkable job of portraying this character playing the two personas of Mark perfectly to blend in with the subtlety of the show.

9. Vigilante (Peacemaker)

The future of DC films and TV shows is currently unclear with the arrival of James Gunn and Peter Safran as heads of DC. But one cannot simply ignore the success of Gunn’s TV show Peacemaker, a spin-off to his 2021 film The Suicide Squad. While John Cena managed to flesh out his character with a surprisingly incredible performance, it was Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase aka Vigilante who stole the show. Stroma’s comedic take on the character as a deranged vigilante who kills anyone who commits a crime contrasts with Josh Segarra’s more serious take on the character in Arrow. Stroma’s Vigilante forms an unlikely bond with Cena’s Peacemaker and he is pivotal to Peacemaker's arc in the narrative.

8. Lord Morpheus/Dream (The Sandman)

After decades of being stuck in production limbo, Neil Gaiman’s critically-acclaimed graphic novel was finally adapted into live-action in 2022. The Netflix series was well-received by critics and the performance of Tom Sturridge as the titular character The Sandman aka Lord Morpheus stood out. Sturridge perfectly captures the evolution of Lord Morpheus’s character from an omniscient being who is capable of travelling through people’s dreams, to someone who is more empathetic towards the plight of human beings. The series has been renewed for a second season by Netflix despite concerns about high production costs, and it would’ve been disappointing if we missed out on Lord Morpehues and Gwendoline Christie’s Lucifer Mornstar going to war against one another.

7. Wednesday Addams (Wednesday)

2022 has produced several memorable characters but few have managed to stir a global cultural impact much like Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday. A role previously immortalized by Christina Ricci in the 1991 film The Addams Family and its sequel, Ortega effortlessly eased into the character and gave it her own signature spin in this iteration of the grim teen with morbid hobbies. Wednesday’s dark sense of humour, her fascination for the macabre, and her deadpan expressions quickly turned her into an instant fan favourite. More famously, Wednesday’s iconic gothic dance moves, which Ortega choreographed herself, became an overnight sensation. Netflix is yet to officially announce the second season, but it's unlikely the streaming giant will choose to skip Wednesday and Nevermore Academy for a second season.

6. Syril Karn (Andor)

The Star Wars series, Andor, serves as the prequel to the 2016 Star Wars film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The main character happens to be a thief-turned-Rebel spy named Cassian Andor who eventually joins the rebellion. But the character of Syril Karn has captured everyone's attention. Karn is a devout believer in order and justice and strives to make a name for himself within the empire. He is not a typical Star Wars villain which is proven through his actions. Least to say fans are excited about the new developments in the Star Wars franchise.

5. Cassie Howard (Euphoria)

Euphoria took the world by storm upon its release back in 2019. The teen drama revolves around teens with rose-tinted glasses facing the consequences of their actions. One of those teens is Cassie Howard, whose transformation into Nate's "girlfriend" in season two took fans by utter surprise. In the first season, the audience sympathizes with her character, particularly since she faces much degradation. Her insecurity and naivety find her in a lot of trouble. In season two, her obsession with clinging on to Nate ruins several relationships, including the one she shares with her best friend Maddy. Becoming incredibly self-destructive, she proudly accepts being crazy and shows no remorse for having an affair with her best friend's ex-boyfriend.

4. Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul)

Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul has to be one of the most complex characters to have ever graced the small screen. Played by the inimitable Rhea Seehorn, Kim fills in as the show’s slippery lead’s love interest and moral compass in the initial seasons. But by the time the show folds in 2022, we’re introduced to many shades of Kim – the perceptive legal attorney, benevolent social worker and morally-ambiguous partner-in-crime. But what’s really remarkable about Kim is that she’s also silently persistent in all her endeavours and is abundantly hopeful for those she cares for. If you’re a Better Call Saul fan and were heartbroken that the show wrapped its final season in 2022, this probably had a lot to do with the fact that you won’t get to indulge in Kim Wexler’s life anymore. Rhea Seehorn fans, however, have much to rejoice. Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan has announced that Seehorn will be the lead in his next. The AppleTV+ series is yet to get a title, but the makers have confirmed that it’s a “blended, grounded genre drama”. We have our fingers crossed for this one.

3. Daemon Targaryen (House of the Dragon)

When British actor Matt Smith was cast in the role of HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon, there were concerns that he was too recognisable to play the part. However, once the series premiered it became abundantly evident that he was the best choice. After all, Smith completely immersed himself in the character and it was difficult to imagine any other actor slipping into the role with the same conviction. As an anti-hero, Prince Daemon of House Targaryen is capable of indulging in his worst instincts and committing horrifying acts, but also has the capacity to do good. Daemon’s suave and sophisticated demeanour has earned him a cult following online and he’s undoubtedly one of the best TV characters of 2022. It’s now obvious why George R R Martin, the author of the novels on which the series is based, considers Daemon his favourite character.

2. Soldier Boy (The Boys)

There is no shortage of compelling villains in Amazon Prime’s The Boys thanks to Anthony Starr’s Homelander, Aya Cash’s Stormfront, Giancarlo Esposito’s Stan Edgar, and several others. However, Jensen Ackles’s arrival as a parody of Captain America called Soldier Boy brought fresh impetus to the storyline and added another dimension to Homelander’s arc. His suave demeanour and macho man charisma is essayed to perfection by Ackles. Soldier Boy is undoubtedly a vile human being and he is a walking allegory of toxic masculinity. However, he has a warped set of moral principles by which he abides, making him a very complex villain and a sharp contrast to the psychotic Homelander.

1. Eddie Munson (Stranger Things)

Joseph Quinn’s character Eddie Munson is the heart and soul of Stranger Things season 4. Despite being introduced as a new character for the Netflix series, Eddie quickly became a fan favourite. His characters stole the show in the season finale with the unforgettable rendering of Metallica's Master of Puppets in the Upside-Down World and his ultimate sacrifice that helped save his friends and the rest of the town. And the iconic scene featuring Eddie rocking the guitar to the tune of Master of Puppets helped the song shoot to the top of the Billboard charts nearly 36 years since the record was first released.

Well thats the OTTplay List hai toh hit hai for today, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

- Written by Ryan Gomez