12 Favorite Characters from Sci-fi/Fantasy TV Series in 2024

Vampires, witches, and superheroes were among the most intriguing, enjoyable TV characters from sci-fi/fantasy TV series in 2024. Classic characters adapted from novels surprised us in new ways, and brand-new characters from freshman dramas won us over with ease, leaving us feeling inspired.

In no particular order, here are our favorite characters from Sci-fi/fantasy TV series in 2024:

1. Lestat de Lioncourt (Interview with the Vampire)

To say Lestat is the best thing to happen to TV in recent memory would be biased, but it’s also true. This ostentatious blonde terror helped usher in a vampire renaissance with his haunting, pitch-perfect performance throughout Interview with the Vampire’s run.

Lestat’s ability to be a terrifying villain and a vulnerable lover showcases the thrill of watching Sam Reid give himself entirely to this chilling, unpredictable performance. With his antagonistic persona and dramatic hair flips, nothing can stop Lestat from figuratively and physically chewing up all the scenery (and occasionally photographs).

Interview with the Vampire Season 2 allowed space for Lestat to be both a petty ex-husband and a grieving father, but Season 3 promises us Rockstar Lestat—an interpretation of the vampire that is sure to rock our world.

2. Louis de Pointe du Lac (Interview with the Vampire)

Interview with the Vampire Season 2 dove deeper into Louis’s story and allowed viewers to see the complexity of his character, including his grief over Claudia, his love for Lestat, and his relationship with Armand. Perhaps what makes Louis the most compelling is the level of growth he’s able to experience over hundreds of years, thanks to his immortality.

The story shows a version of Louis that allows us to see how much he’s evolved to the present time, where he allows himself to be vulnerable in new ways as he reflects on the story he once told Daniel Molloy, this time willing to go deeper and allow old memories to resurface, and to uncover new truths about his past.

Thanks to Jacob Anderson’s remarkable portrayal, this version of Louis de Pointe du Lac is one of the most fascinating characters on TV right now.

3. Agatha Harkness (Agatha All Along)

Agatha All Along gives Kathryn Hahn a series worthy of her magical onscreen presence.

Agatha Harkness, WandaVision’s iconic villain, rebrands herself as an equally loveable and beautifully flawed leading woman. Her spells have nothing on her ability to chew the witch’s road to pieces with a wicked comedic cadence.

Hahn’s ability to land every punchline with a villainous drawl and transform herself with a wonderfully witchy wardrobe makes Agatha a force for the multiverse to reckon with. It makes easy work of a successful Disney+ series too.

At the heart of Hahn’s distrusting, evil witch is a girl abused by her mother, a student abandoned by her teachers, and a mother who lost her son. It is a villain origin story rich with sickening irony and devastating performances.

And all that doesn’t put a spell on you; her poetic and incredibly hot romance with Aubrey Plaza’s Death is a perfect love potion.

4. Charles Rowland (Dead Boy Detectives)

There are very few characters like Charles Rowland. Fiercely loyal and protective with a dark background, Charles has a sunny exterior, acting as a counterpart to his detective partner Edwin’s moodier outlook.

He constantly fights on behalf of his friends to bring justice, but in the moments when he’s confronted with the harsh reality of failure or his mistakes, he reveals the sensitive underbelly that makes him a sympathetic character.

His smart quips and back-and-forth banter in Dead Boy Detectives really shape the show into a sensation. Charles may be the proudest of his endless bag of tricks, but his best qualities are his passion and his ability to capture the hearts of viewers.

5. The Doctor (Doctor Who)

This year, Doctor Who had another restart, with The Doctor taking the form of Ncuti Gatwa. With Russell T Davies returning as showrunner, fans got to see this beloved character exist without his years of heartache, trauma, and pain.

That’s not to say he doesn’t remember his history, just that the burden of it was no longer on his shoulders making him much more excitable, fun, and filled to the brim with hope and wonder.

Alongside his new companion, Ruby Sunday, The Doctor faced foes such as Goblins, The Bogeyman (along with some talking babies), Maestro, and Sutekh. He even took time for love and romance in a Bridgerton-inspired episode that starred Jonathon Groff as love interest Rogue.

For the first time in a while, The Doctor has become a fun and quirky character once more, and we can’t wait for more

6. Lilia Calderu (Agatha All Along)

Patti LuPone stepping into the world of Marvel is one of the highlights of the 2024 TV season. She may not entirely understand what this world is, but the truth is that Agatha All Along fans will never forget her heartfelt performance.

Lucky for us all, it was a performance that allowed her to sing and showcase the multitude of talents that have made her the legend she now is. Lilia Calderu is the perfect addition to Agatha’s coven.

With her quirky ways, time-jumping moments, and knowledge of what will happen next, she is the odd motherly character who brings the coven together even though she understands that most will eventually die. Her persona adds a special spark to the show that keeps fans wanting to watch and learn more about her. After all, this is Marvel, and no one ever truly dies.

7. Rhaenys Targaryen (House of the Dragon)

Rhaenys Targaryen has the most devastating death of 2024. Watching her fall to her death with her dragon, Meleys is both heartbreaking and heroic.

One understands her death is a sacrifice she chose to make for the greater good, but it still hurts. The only upside is that she died how she wanted to and with the creature she loved more than anything.

Throughout House of the Dragon Season 2 (or the four episodes she is in), Rhaenys proves to the audience why she would have been the perfect queen. She never wavers or backs down from a fight or a confrontation, having Rhaenyra’s back no matter what.

Rhaenys, The Queen Who Never Was, was always much more than what the men around her made her out to be, and it is this season that proves that. Eve Best delivers the best scenes of the show, making her final episode the highest-ranked episode of the series.

8. Juliette Nichols (Silo)

When those in power struggle to retain their foothold, sometimes you need to push them down the mountain yourself. Juliette Nichols, the fearless and tenacious lead of Apple TV+’s Silo, makes waves in the Season 1 finale by venturing outside the titular Silo for a Cleaning.

However, her refusal to Clean is an act of rebellion, planting the seeds of a revolution in the minds of her fellow working-class engineers. Juliette didn’t intend to symbolize a much-needed fight for the truth, but she’ll do anything to expose Bernard Holland and Robert Sims’ lies—so long as she can protect her loved ones from their inevitable reprisals.

At the end of the day, the badass Juliette is someone you want leading you into battle as you fight tooth and nail to change the status quo.

9. Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Percy Jackson made his resurgence as an amazing sci-fi/fantasy character in the 2024 Disney+ series. He seamlessly blends modern-day relatability with timeless mythological heroism. As a demigod son of Poseidon, Percy navigates a world where he’s a bridge between two worlds.

His sarcastic wit, unwavering loyalty, and deep sense of justice make him an incredibly compelling character. Percy’s journey is not just about battling monsters but also about self-discovery and learning to embrace his flaws and strengths as he grows into a true hero.

His relatable struggles of balancing school, friendships, and destiny, mixed with his epic, action-packed quests, make him a standout in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, resonating with audiences of all ages.

10. Clark Kent (Superman & Lois)

Superman & Lois soared to new heights because of Tyler Hoechlin’s iteration of Clark Kent/Superman and every person behind the scenes who helped bring the iconic character to the small screen — and The CW — again. The character is a force for a reason, but the network’s final DC TV show brought new depth, levity, and heroism to both sides of the superhero’s coin.

During the shortened, 10-episode final season, Superman & Lois killed and revived and killed the titular hero, infusing new meaning into every moment it shared with him – and Lois. Because, let’s be honest, Superman & Lois‘s Clark Kent/Superman would be nothing without Elizabeth Tulloch’s take on the legendary Lois Lane.

The caped hero and incredible husband, father, and friend is already great (the show repeatedly proves that), but he’s better with and thanks to Lois. They’re an eternal team.

So, while Clark Kent certainly deserves a spot as one of this year’s best sci-fi/fantasy characters, he will gladly split that recognition with his equal half. Another reason to love him!

11. Annie January (The Boys)

In a show called The Boys, the presence of Annie January’s Starlight is integral to its success.

As the longest-standing woman on the show, Erin Moriarty alone bears the weight of the premise’s exploration of gender issues. She navigates this obligation with humility, frustration, and touching bravery at every turn.

Annie has undergone an incredible transformation, doubling down on her morals as everyone else sets them aside. She has learned to weaponize her public persona’s likeability to stand up to more powerful Supes. Even when she loses herself to the grief of playing nice in a losing battle of morality, Annie never stops fighting.

For equal screen time and a world where women can stand up to their oppressors.

12. Lucy MacLean (Fallout)

Though she’s somewhat inexperienced, her time in the Wasteland made her a genuine force of nature. Ella Purnell’s Lucy MacLean was not only a piece in Fallout’s larger puzzle but became a liberator (with the help of a few friends.)

Initially indoctrinated by Vault-Tec’s ideas, Lucy’s expedition to find her father gave her the renewed confidence she needed. The Ghoul taught her all the basics, and Maximus gave her an unbreakable bond, yet she still managed to stand out on her own. Even when her father, Hank, tried to manipulate her, Lucy’s true goodness held firm.

If you’re looking for someone who knows the ins and outs of survival while giving you the optimism you need, Lucy will always be there!

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Contributions by: Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Alicia Gilstorf, Mads Misasi, Shelby Elpers, Melody McCune, Lara Rosales, Gracie Lowes, and Christopher Gallardo.

 

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