22 Most Underrated TV Characters of 2018
22 Most Underrated TV Characters of 2018 (continued):
9. Denise Christopher (Timeless)
Denise Christopher is the bunker mother for the Time Team.
She is the one that brought them all together and the one that keeps them from falling apart. She’s very protective over her team, even those she doesn’t always like (looking at you Flynn and Mason).
This year we got to see a lot more of Denise both in the present and in the past. We find out that she took her name from the officer that comforted her when her father was murdered. We see the normally strong leader terrified of losing her family.
Both Sakina Jeffrey and Karen David do a remarkable job of portraying this incredible woman.
We got to see a Denise that was barely starting off in her life. A Denise that was afraid to come out to her parents for fear of rejection. Who, thanks to Jiya and Lucy, gained the courage to tell her family the truth. Reminding all of us of the importance of being true to ourselves.
10. Fen (The Magicians)
All of the ladies of The Magicians are wonderful and they’re all worthy of praise. But while Margo, Julia etc. get mentioned quite a lot, poor Fen is left behind.
Which is truly a travesty as Fen is one of the best characters in the series. Ever since we were introduced to her she has been an intriguing character. As time went on the layers of her character were peeled back.
We got to know she was a revolutionary, a dutiful daughter, and one of the biggest hearts on the show. Of our main group, she is the only one that was born in Fillory which gives her a unique perspective.
She went through a lot this past season. She found out her “daughter” had grown up and we know she’s loved Fray as no one else had. Then she found out her real daughter had died and we saw her heartbreak, which Brittany Curran portrayed beautifully.
Fen’s large capacity for love was proven to be true. After all, she helped out the fairies that were enslaved even though they had caused her immeasurable pain. With the cliffhanger affecting everyone, she is now in Fillory as Acting High King Fen.
Can’t wait to see what she does!
11. Rafael Solano (Jane the Virgin)
Rafael, like many of the people in this list, has had a rough go at it. The man had cancer, became a father, lost his own father, fell in love, got divorced, went to jail, won it all, and lost it all.
Jane the Virgin is technically a telenovela so none of this is surprising, but that doesn’t make life easier for our leading man. Sadly, despite the fact that Rafael is the leading man he is still very much underappreciated.
Rafael has had a beautiful development over the course of the show’s history. Yes, he has screwed up a few times — some screw ups worse than others — but he’s learned from them. Sometimes he does lose sight of things but he always manages to get his feet back on the ground.
Justin Baldoni has done a fantastic job at portraying all of Rafael’s struggles. There has been the ongoing battle to find out who his real parents are and all the personal baggage that comes with that. There is also his complicated relationship with Jane. Thankfully they finally got back together and did it in a very mature fashion.
As the show states Rafael Solano is a flawed romantic hero but that just makes us love him all the more for it. After all, it’s better to admit you’re flawed and trying to grow as a person than pretend to be perfect.
12. Gideon (Legends of Tomorrow)
We don’t see her often but she’s always there — tending to the Legends’ wounds, keeping them fed, and every once in a while teaching them important life lessons.
Gideon is the backbone of the Legends of Tomorrow. It’s fair to say, and Gideon would absolutely agree, there would be no team without the Waverider’s stalwart A.I.
She’s their caretaker, protector, and best source of information. She’s also so much more than that. Gideon is part of the family. She knows each Legend better than they know themselves and is always ready to call them on their antics with some playful sarcasm or a perfectly timed quip.
Whether as a disembodied voice of the ship or those rare wonderful occasions when Amy Louise Pemberton brings her physical form to life, Gideon is as much a Legend as Sara, Ray, Zari, or any of our favorite gang of misfit chainsaws.
With wit, warmth, and an abundance of charm you just can’t help but fall in love with Gideon a bit more each week.
13. Henrietta Wilson (9-1-1)
For LAFD’s Henrietta Wilson life is spent in the background, changing lives but rarely getting recognition for it. She is the epitome of strength and poise in the face of danger.
In her long illustrious career Hen has never wavered from where she stands. She never compromises who she is in order to gain fame or become better in the eyes of others.
Many overlook her because to them she’s just another paramedic. What those people don’t realize is just how beautiful and wise Hen really is.
14. Claire Browne (The Good Doctor)
On The Good Doctor, Dr. Claire Browne is a fiercely opinionated female in a sea filled with men. She has to fight harder and stronger just to be treated as an equal to her peers and colleagues.
Claire never wavers, even when her focus and work ethic is called into question. Even in the face of the patriarchy telling her to sit down and shut up, she stands tall and speaks louder.
Her passion for her patients is unparalleled to the point of being completely inspiring. She gets overlooked many times as being emotional and weak. What others don’t realize is her perceived weaknesses are actually what makes her a phenomenal and caring doctor.
15. D’Avin Jaqobis (Killjoys)
D’Avin’s world completely changed in Season 4 when he found out he was going to become a father. This revelation made him a more developed character, gave D’Avin a new outlook on life, and ended up having a major impact on many of his relationships.
When this show first started, he seemed like no more than the hot brother with a troubled past who could easily beat people up; but over the years he has developed into a well-rounded and empathic man who loves his family and friends.
While the Season 4 finale left us all speechless with that cliffhanger, we are hopeful that D’Avin won’t become a distant memory. He’s come too far to be left in the dust in the series’ final season.
Regardless, we can’t wait to see what this holds for his fearless older brother and devoted friend.
16. Nicole Haught (Wynonna Earp)
The significant others of main characters rarely get complex storylines or satisfying moments, but Nicole Haught has broken that mold.
This season on Wynonna Earp, we finally got Nicole’s backstory and a look into how she is connected to the Ghost River Triangle, Bulshar, and our favorite retired sheriff Randy Nedley.
This was the year of growth for the hopeful new sheriff of Purgatory. Nicole had her personal demons to concur with girlfriend Waverly by her side and fought real demons by kicking butt next to Wynonna Earp.
She is not one to shy away from the hard stuff and cherishes every happy moment that she can. She’s loyal, resilient, empathetic, and full of heart. We can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for her!
Maii Trueba de Buen
Maii is a 28-year-old writer who can be slightly invested in characters and their stories. She tries to give credit where credit is due but isn’t afraid to be honest in her writing. It's probably best not to ask about Lucifer or A Song of Ice and Fire, because you'll never hear the end of it. She graduated in film and has a certificate/minor in Art History. She brings that into her writing because, well, she’s a nerd. The only thing that beats her love of writing is her love of Pandas.