8 Underrated TV Characters (And Why You Should Love Them)

Somewhere hidden in the deep, dark abysses of fandoms, beyond the foreground where well loved characters stand tall and proud, loved and appreciated by the masses, touted by bloggers and journalists alike, there are the hidden gems of television shows — the characters who dwell in the overwhelming shadows of excellent main characters who live in the spotlight.

They are the underrated characters that we must protect and adore at all costs — and, my friends, today is the day when we give them their moment in the sun.

This is your time, sidekicks-who-don’t-get-enough-credit, main characters from lesser known series who just aren’t talked about enough — or, hey, maybe even the odd main character who just doesn’t get the recognition they deserve.

This is for you. Just a little reminder that we see you — and we love you.

Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) — Sanctuary

I know a lot of you may not be familiar with this Canadian Sci-Fi gem, but let me tell you this: Helen Magnus is everything I ever aspire to be as a mature, 162 year old woman. Helen, who has been gifted with longevity, is a Victorian era scientist who runs the global Sanctuary Network (hence the title), which is an organization whose purpose is to seek out what are known as Abnormals (supernatural beings) in order to protect both the Abnormals themselves and the human race from those who would wish to cause them harm.

She is compassionate, intelligent, bold, brave, and sexy. What’s not to love about a woman who has dedicated her entire prolonged life to the protection and preservation of those who are different?

Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) — The 100

I’m pretty disgustingly passionate about this one, so I’m really going to rein it in and try to keep this short and sweet: you sure do see an awful lot of articles that talk about all the selfless sacrifices Clarke Griffin has made for the hundred. Where are all my articles giving kudos to Bellamy Blake for putting his life on the line…?

Bellamy’s unwavering loyalty and dedication to his people is staggering — especially considering where he started in the series but, really, seeing him at such a low moral point shows us that he isn’t infallible and it makes him so much more relatable and interesting.

I like flaws in my heroes and this is something The 100 does very, very well. Bellamy isn’t a perfect but he is certainly a character worthy of admiration and acknowledgment.

C’mon, folks: give me some Bellamy love alongside all the well deserved Clarke love and I will be a happy fan.

Allison Argent (Crystal Reed) — Teen Wolf

Allison Argent is the culmination of so many of my personal views on the nature of female empowerment. I get all giddy just thinking about her.

Her powerful femininity is such a subtle aspect of her character that she often gets overlooked as an example of a strong female character but I, personally and honestly, believe that Allison Argent is one of the strongest female characters in teen television — certainly the strongest I’ve ever seen on an MTV series.

Allison is tough in the stereotypical sense: she can fight, defend herself, hunt werewolves and protect those who can not protect themselves but, more than that, Allison is also a real teenage girl. She is incredibly multifaceted: she gets overwhelmed, she is a victim, she is unsure, she is afraid, and she is emotional. She doesn’t need to be stoic and cold to be strong.

She is so real and genuine and beautifully imperfect — I could probably go on forever about Allison Argent.

There you have it! Honestly, It was way, way too hard for me to narrow this list down to just a few of my personal favorite underrated darlings. If yours didn’t make the list, let me know in the comments and we can rant and rave together!

Becky Peters

Becky is a television, literature, and pop culture enthusiast who spends more of her time exploring fictional worlds than she does living in the real one. Post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings are her kryptonite, and she has a strange soft spot for anything that involves the walking dead (the creatures themselves, not the show -- but the show is good, too). You can usually find her engrossed in shows like Preacher, The Walking Dead, Sense8, or any one of the many other series that tickle her fancy. Follow Becky on Twitter: @epic_bcky