20 Best Characters from TV Dramas in 2022

Dramas is always more entertaining when it is happening on our screens and not our lives. That is probably why we continue to tune in to watch those shows that keep us on the edge of our seats with their gut-wrenching storylines.

Within those stories, we find characters we end up loving or loving to hate. From characters that have been around for decades to characters returning to the screen after their show ended, they have all made us feel something.

Looking back on everything TV dramas gave us, these are our top 20 characters of 2022.

In no particular order, here are the 20 Best TV Drama Characters of 2022.

1. Kit Voss (The Resident)

Kit Voss joined The Resident as a guest star but we instantly fell in love with her. By making Jane Leeves a series regular, the show gave Voss the opportunity to shine, and she met everyone’s expectations.

CEO Voss has proven throughout 2022 that there is nothing that will make her back down or give up on her team. Surgeon Voss continues to prove she is a world-renowned doctor because of her talent and her skills.

And 2022 gave us wife Voss, proving no matter what happens she will remain loyal and have her husband’s back. As a complex character, she goes through every emotion and comes back stronger every time.

2. Blake Gallo (Chicago Fire)

Joining a large cast on its eighth season is not an easy task, but Blake Gallo made it look easy and earned a spot in all our hearts. Throughout the last few years, we’ve seen him grow and become a great firefighter.

During 2022, he particularly showed how much he has grown since joining Firehouse 51. Chicago Fire Season 11 Episode 8, “A Beautiful Life,” was a traumatic episode for Gallo. After losing someone on a rooftop, he doesn’t take it lightly and it affects his attitude and his emotions.

However, once more he proves to the team and to us that he isn’t a carefree kid. He actually gives a damn about what happens and is always willing to learn and continue to grow.

3. Hannah Asher (Chicago Med)

If we talk about comebacks, we must talk about Hannah Asher’s comeback to Chicago Med. After struggling with addiction and the lack of trust from her colleagues, 2022 definitely gave this doctor the space to show her worth.

Asher came back healthier, stronger, and more devoted to her work than before. In every case she has taken on in 2022, she has done so with professionalism and care for her patients without backing down when there was someone doubting her.

Her storyline is proof that all characters are capable of redemption.

4. Amanda Rollins (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

2022 has felt like a bittersweet year for Amanda Rollins as we prepared to watch her leave Law & Order: Special Victims Unit after 11 seasons. For over a decade, she has been everyone’s favorite southern detective.

We have watched Rollins unlearn unhealthy behaviors, become a mother, fall in love, and learn to trust her instincts. She has come full circle, and it makes perfect sense that this year we watched her find another passion.

After a traumatic event, we knew the end was coming. As sad as we are to watch her go, we have a feeling there is a long teaching career ahead of her that will make her goodbye worth it.

5. Uncle Clifford (P-Valley)

The representation of non-binary characters is usually lacking or doesn’t do justice to what these individuals go through in their lives. However, Uncle Clifford brings that representation to life in a way that does non-binary folks justice.

P-Valley has become a fan-favorite show that will luckily return for a Season 3. Throughout its first two seasons, Nicco Annan has brought Uncle Clifford to life with love, respect, killer makeup, and lots of glitter.

The owner of The Pynk has been one of the best LGBTQIA+ characters we have seen on screen in a while and definitely one of the best characters on our screens in 2022.

6. Anne Lister (Gentleman Jack)

If there’s anyone who fits the phrase “march to the beat of your own drum,” it’s Anne Lister. The real-life historical figure received a snappily dressed HBO adaptation in 2019 and stole hearts worldwide for providing LGBTQIA+ representation in a 19th-century setting.

Anne is the definition of tenacity. She refuses to cater to societal standards, especially for women, often subverting what’s expected of her in favor of remaining true to herself.

She marries the love of her life, Ann Walker, in 1834, and the pair take up residence at Shibden Hall. Living boldly and freely in a highly restrictive, oppressive, and discriminatory society is worthy of admiration.

Anne’s a fast-talking, fast-walking, immensely brilliant woman who squeezes every drop out of life. She also pulls off menswear better than the men around her. What’s not to love?

7. Henrietta Wilson (9-1-1)

2022 was the year of growth for Henrietta Wilson on 9-1-1. She realized it is never too late to go after your dreams or to rethink what your dreams and goals are.

She went back to med school, became interim captain of the 118, struggled with burnout, and nearly lost the love of her life. But through it all, Hen remains true to who she has always been and continued to fight for what she believes is right.

In the end, it was nice to watch her choose to continue being a firefighter because her dreams are different now and her family (including her work family) comes first.

8. Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul)

For Kim Wexler, 2022 was the year when we finally found out what happened to her after Better Call Saul. With her character missing from Breaking Bad, we feared she’d died — luckily, that was not the case.

However, as happy as we were to see the character was still alive, we were disappointed to see she wasn’t the woman we remembered. Wexler showed behaviors her old self wouldn’t have been happy with.

Still, Kim Wexler continues to be a fan-favorite character because of her relationship with Jimmy McGill, but above all because of how strong and resilient she has always been.

9. Beth Dutton (Yellowstone)

Beth Dutton’s life has never been easy with tragic losses surrounding her. Nevertheless, she has persisted and became stronger than she may even realize.

Beth has come a long way on Yellowstone, proving why she is one of the show’s favorite characters. Season 5 shows how smart and conniving she is, handling business like a boss.

However, it is these characteristics that constantly put a target on her back. But if we have learned something, is that Beth Dutton will always be a resilient woman, not easy to get rid of.

10. Wendy Byrde (Ozark)

Ozark‘s Wendy Byrde is a complicated, cunning woman. Marty may be the brains behind the family’s money laundering dealings, but Wendy is the guts. She is driven by ambition the way Marty exercises caution, and she isn’t afraid to take risks.

Laura Linney embodied this bold, calculating character exquisitely across Ozark‘s four tension-filled seasons as she went toe to toe with drug lords, politicians, the FBI, and even the members of her own family.

Wendy changed a lot from that first episode, and the final season showcases this with Linney’s mind-blowing and memorable performance.

11. Shauna Sadecki (Yellowjackets)

Whether it’s the teenage version of Shauna played by Sophie Nélisse or the grownup version played by Melanie Lynskey, this character is one of the most amazing and intriguing ones we have seen in 2022.

Yellowjackets brings to the screen a long list of complex characters, and Shauna is definitely at the top of the list. Jealousy, rage, cheating, and regret are some of the tropes in the roller coaster of emotions this character goes through.

Shauna is the kind of character you don’t know if you love or you hate, but you are sure you will enjoy every time she is on screen.

12. Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

Law & Order: SVU Season 24 has brought back the Olivia Benson we have loved and admired for over two decades. The kind of woman who always puts victims first and advocates for survivors to get the justice they deserve.

Even though the show has been on the air for many seasons, this character continues to renew herself and come back with scenarios that we were not expecting. After watching her go through her own trauma, it is nice to see her be in charge of the squad and lead with experience and respect.

Olivia Benson continues to be a fan-favorite character for everything she represents and how safe she feels to viewers and survivors. Plus it helps that 2022 brought a more humorous side to a character that is usually solemn and serious.

13. Emily Prentiss (Criminal Minds: Evolution)

When Criminal Minds finished, we never expected to see some of our favorite characters back on our screens. But Criminal Minds: Evolution did the impossible in 2022 and brought back some of the best characters, including our favorite Unit Chief: Emily Prentiss.

Emily Prentiss is the kind of character everyone fell in love with because of the beautiful and strong female representation. She joined the BAU, faked her death, and then began running the show.

Luckily, 2022 brought Prentiss back exactly as we remembered her. Once more, we have a strong, capable, knowledgeable, and smart woman in charge.

14. Jet Slootmaekers (Law & Order: Organized Crime)

If 2022 has done one thing, it is to prove exactly why Jet joined the Organized Crime task force at the beginning of Law & Order: Organized Crime. At first, it was her tech talent and knowledge, but she soon proved to be more than that.

This year, she has gone undercover, fallen in and out of love, and opened up about her past in ways she hadn’t before. Through it all, she showed us how much she cares about the task force and how far she is willing to go for everyone on her team.

Jet is young but definitely wise beyond her years and that is exactly why we love her so much.

15. Adam Ruzek (Chicago P.D.)

Character development and growth are something we always look forward to, and Adam Ruzek has definitely delivered that in 2022 as his character matured on Chicago P.D.

Watching him become a father has been one of the most amazing journeys on the show. Ruzek no longer is the rebel cop who acted on impulse and didn’t think things through. On the contrary, he takes time to process what is going on and thinks before he acts.

Fatherhood has definitely shaped the kind of cop he is becoming which has allowed his life to change for the better.

16. Beth Pearson (This Is Us)

Family dramas on TV usually bring to life some of the best storylines and introduce us to great characters. Beth Pearson was one of those characters we couldn’t stop watching.

This Is Us Season 6 was particularly amazing for Beth as we watched her reach her goals and become a fulfilled version of herself. It is particularly her speech when she says goodbye to Rebecca that makes us love her even more.

Being Randall’s wife was never an easy task, but Beth Pearson proved she was up for it. A fiercely loyal wife and loving mother we won’t forget.

17. Kevin Pearson (This Is Us)

Kevin Pearson wasn’t always a lovable character. There were certain actions that kept us going back and forth between loving him unconditionally and disliking him. But 2022 was definitely the year of Kevin Pearson.

He stepped up to take care of his mom when needed even if that meant fighting his brother. He continued on his sobriety journey while becoming the best dad he could be for his twins. And when the time came to grow old, he did it proudly knowing he had done his best.

This Is Us ended with a Kevin Pearson we all love and will miss.

18. Roman Roy (Succession)

This year, we saw the complete breakdown of Roman’s more human side. His interest in Gerri started going beyond the occasional workplace flirting or inappropriate comment.

He went so far as to send her a dick pic during a meeting with his father and other executives, which accidentally went to his father. This was the final straw for Gerri, and she turned against him, which was Roman’s breaking point. He is at his worst without Gerri there to rein him in.

His spiral of low self-worth hits rock bottom during the Succession Season 3 finale when both of his parents betray his trust — his main motivation has always been their approval, namely from his father. Roman has been at his worst this year which, oddly enough, makes us sympathize with him more.

19. Bertha Russell (The Gilded Age)

Bertha Russell on The Gilded Age is the personification of resilience and never giving up. Even though society is set on keeping every door closed for her, she never backs down and keeps knocking.

Carrie Coon brings Mrs. Russell to life with the poise and elegance that represents the time period. As “new money,” she has to go the extra mile to be accepted and not show where she comes from. Bertha sure knows how to do this.

2022 gave us an introduction to who this woman is, and we are sure The Gilded Age Season 2 will continue to add layers of complexity to this character.

20. Thony De La Rosa (The Cleaning Lady)

Immigrant representation on TV is always tricky as most times foreign characters play the bad guys. The Cleaning Lady has a bit of everything and introduces a strong immigrant character: Thony De La Rosa.

Thony’s biggest motivation for anything she does is her son, and 2022 is further proof of that. She has always done what needed to be done in order to keep him healthy and safe, even if that meant going against the law.

It is interesting to watch an immigrant character continue to fight all odds to keep her family afloat. Thony is definitely a great example.

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Additional contributions from Mads Misasi, Melody McCune, and Erin Allen.

What characters did we miss? Who were your favorite TV Drama characters this year?

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