22 Marvelous Male TV Characters from 2016

19. Luke Cage (Luke Cage)

We finally got the chance to learn more about Luke Cage with the new Netflix original series, and it was worth the wait. The unbreakable superhero is one of the year’s most memorable characters.

20. Francis Underwood

Francis Underwood is so charismatic he makes you root for corruption. He’s currently facing his biggest struggle yet, and we’re excited to see how his scorched earth policy plays out on House of Cards.

21. Marcus Kane (The 100)

Marcus Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) was especially unforgettable this year on The 100. He showed strong leadership in the face of unthinkable acts and made incredibly difficult decisions, making sacrifices along the way.

22. Dean Sanderson (The Grinder)

Dean Sanderson, played by Rob Lowe, was arguably one of the funniest characters on TV this year. On The Grinder, Dean Sanderson was a former TV lawyer trying to be one in real life alongside his brother, who was an actual lawyer. Too bad the show was canceled after just one season. We’re still bitter.

Which of these characters was your favorite this year? And who’s missing from the list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and be on the lookout for more of our favorites from 2016!

*Additional contributions by James A. Windley, Nora Williamson, and Shabnaj Chowdhury

Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.