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For Sale Apr 11, 2026 at 7:01 PM

Main Character that is the most interesting character?

Posted by Lanky80

I’m on a Frasier rewatch and the discussion is always that Niles steals every scene he’s in. It got me thinking about sitcoms: family matters and Steve Uriel steals the scene, perfect strangers it’s Belky(but maybe he’s the co main?), Golden Girls probably Dorothy is the main character but Rose owns the show. Family guy, Peter is whatever and Stevie and Brian are the funny… Which shows have a main character that is actually the scene keeper and the most interesting? Maybe married with Children? Three’s company?
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flint_tower Apr 11, 2026 +36
Monk is a rare one where the title character is absolutely the most interesting person in the room. Every mystery is really just an excuse to watch Adrian spiral.
36
Naugrin27 Apr 11, 2026 +25
The leads in The Americans are outstanding from start to finish.
25
Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 +2
Agree.
2
ThreeHourRiverMan Apr 11, 2026 +59
House
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Low-Vehicle5458 Apr 11, 2026 +19
House is perfect example - he's both the main character AND the most compelling one, which is pretty rare Usually the side characters get all the best moments but Hugh Laurie just commanded every scene he was in
19
kleptorsfw Apr 11, 2026 +7
It helps that he's a phenomenonal actor, but it's also written that way too
7
ymcameron Apr 11, 2026 +25
Shawn Spencer in Psych.
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BryanDowling93 Apr 11, 2026 +8
You misspelled Ghee Buttersnaps. 
8
Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 +9
Maybe. But love Gus
9
Haikouden Apr 11, 2026 +11
I’ve heard it both ways
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0000000000000007 Apr 11, 2026 +5
YKTR
5
Keswik Apr 11, 2026 +4
Bruton Gaster?
4
Spaceballs_the_tag Apr 11, 2026 +2
Absolutely, he's aided by a stellar supporting cast that fills gaps, but JRR is just so damn good.
2
theriveryeti Apr 11, 2026 +27
Mad Men, there are a lot of interesting chars but not more than Don.
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neuro_space_explorer Apr 11, 2026 +3
I enjoy Pete’s arch a bit more, but it’s close.
3
The_Keg Apr 11, 2026 +6
THE KING ORDERED IT
6
Zeen13 Apr 11, 2026 +11
There is a school of thought that the main character needs to be the most relatable, while the side characters can then be allowed to be more interesting. I think Star Wars is a quintessential example of this and why Luke consistently acts like an 11 year old boy - the movie's prime demographic. However, it's not a hard and fast rule, but certainly really helps in sitcoms (which are all the shows you reference) since it allows the relatable character at the center to be a straight-man to the zanniness around him/her - I think of Ted Mosby and Jim Halpert as other prime examples, even Leonard in Big Bang Theory is the relatable one amongst his friends. If you're looking for a more interesting/flawed character in a comedy show, you'll have to venture into the dramedies, because merely exploring what makes them interesting rather than relatable makes the narrative more dramatic. A really good one is **Fleabag** \- probably the best comedy show of the century so far. Also stuff from Bill Lawrence - **Shrinking, Ted Lasso,** and **Scrubs.** I also remember reading an article years and years ago that talked about a weird phenomenon in sitcoms where the character's abundance catch phrases was directly proportionate to their popularity. "Legen-dary" "How you doin'?" "Bazinga" "Did I do that?" I don't know what that says about us as an audience, but it was interesting. Maybe even in our love of wild characters, we still love the comfortable, familiar and predictable.
11
Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 +2
Interesting.
2
retrosgrader Apr 11, 2026 +32
Eleanor from The Good Place - while the rest of the ensemble is superb, Eleanor’s meltdowns, her final moments, and her reaction to her mom cinched her ahead of the other characters
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SmallLetter Apr 11, 2026 +7
That is a defensible opinion but they literally all would be defensible. Each of the main cast does so well in that show, comedically and dramatically, even Jason.
7
Magic_Man_Boobs Apr 11, 2026 +4
Even the ensemble cast does an amazing job. Sean, Vicky, and the demons are all so well acted.
4
IdentityToken Apr 12, 2026 +5
Jason is the most interesting character? That hurts.
5
Denny_204 Apr 11, 2026 +10
I'd say Dexter.
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Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 +2
For sure
2
Square_Saltine Apr 11, 2026 +16
If we’re not limiting only to sitcoms Walter White
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Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 -12
Initial watch maybe. Rewatch and he’s outshined by everyone.
-12
Square_Saltine Apr 11, 2026 +13
Respectfully, I would disagree
13
vanillawafah Apr 12, 2026 +1
A case can absolutely be made for a few other characters. I think I personally like Mike's arc and development more, but I have no negative concern for anyone who says Walt is the most interesting character to them
1
LostInStatic Apr 12, 2026 +2
You’ve upset a bunch of sensitive fanboys because Saul and Mike each seperately clear walt easily
2
BryanDowling93 Apr 11, 2026 +6
The Sopranos. Tony Sopranos is the most interesting character. His descent into full-blown monster is what makes the show so compelling. His actions, whether it be direct or indirect, affect every other character in the show.  Also Batman in Batman: The Animated Series. As well as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. 
6
justlookbelow Apr 11, 2026 +2
Great call. Not to mention Gandolfini's immense performance somehow rises above some phenomenal acting throughout.
2
starfleetwarrior Apr 11, 2026 +2
Tony Soprano is my answer, too. I'm doing a rewatch right now and just finished season 2. I also think that his mom should be up there when it comes to best antagonist. I completely forgot how insufferable she is and how much she fucks with Tony's life/head. She should get all of the hate that Skyler from Breaking Bad gets. Lol
2
Lanky80 Apr 11, 2026 +1
Agree on all counts.
1
Old-Meringue3590 Apr 11, 2026 +8
Hannah Horvath (Girls), Selina Meyer (Veep)
8
Disastrous_Wing7084 Apr 11, 2026 +5
I'd argue it's Shoshanna Shapiro in Girls and Jonah Ryan in Veep that are the scene-stealers
5
heykittygirl3 Apr 12, 2026 +1
I found everyone in girls more interesting than Hannah by the end. In s1 I might agree but they all grew and learned and changed and discovered that the world doesn’t revolve around them except for Hannah. Maybe it was because I was that exact age, living in the city, navigating similar relationships with friends and men when the show was airing but by s3 I was like girl grow up!!!
1
zendetta Apr 11, 2026 +3
Veronica Mars
3
sylveonce Apr 11, 2026 +9
Sitcoms: Leslie Knope, Parks & Recreation Other shows: Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
9
RoiVampire Apr 11, 2026 +2
Buffy is the best!!! One of my favorite characters in fiction. There are a lot of great characters in the show, Faith and Cordelia and Giles are all amazing but Buffy is the best for me.
2
neuro_space_explorer Apr 11, 2026
Leslie is far from the best character, I’d pick Ron and Andy over her any day.
0
anirban_dev Apr 11, 2026 +1
Ron Swanson is by far the most interesting character though
1
Disastrous_Wing7084 Apr 11, 2026 +3
The Doctor in Doctor Who
3
confusing_roundabout Apr 11, 2026 +6
Office US for sure. Steve Carrell is the best part of the show.
6
GarconMeansBoyGeorge Apr 11, 2026 +2
Bosch
2
Maverick916 Apr 11, 2026 +2
ITT: most main characters
2
spinereader81 Apr 11, 2026 +2
Punky Brewster
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Top_Condition_6390 Apr 11, 2026 +1
Captain Tuttle from MASH.
1
cardinalkgb Apr 11, 2026 +2
He is definitely NOT the main character, which was the question.
2
a-hthy Apr 11, 2026 +1
Blacklist
1
ScarletFire1983 Apr 11, 2026 +1
Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory Golden Girls was an ensemble with no distinct lead.
1
FX114 Apr 12, 2026 +1
Leonard is pretty clearly the main character, as much as an ensemble has one.
1
ScarletFire1983 Apr 12, 2026 +1
But he isn't the most interesting character.
1
FX114 Apr 12, 2026 +1
Right, OP wants someone who is both.
1
Cunari Apr 11, 2026 +1
24 and Supernatural. All the other characters die and the main characters do too but they come back
1
Sebscreen Apr 11, 2026 +1
24 had an excellent knack for really endearing us to supporting and guest characters. So that we were terrified every week at them possibly getting killed off.
1
SorenShieldbreaker Apr 11, 2026 +1
Jack, Sawyer, Charlie, Sayid, Kate, Hurley. Honestly the whole central group on Lost. They did such a great job of giving all the characters interesting back stories.
1
CokePusha69 Apr 11, 2026 +1
Literally the majority of most shows ?
1
WiillRiiker Apr 11, 2026 +1
All Bundy - Married With Children D*** Solomon - 3rd Rock From The Sun Doug Heffernan - King Of Queens
1
thesongsinmyhead Apr 12, 2026 +1
Peaky Blinders, but to be fair I haven’t finished it. Sitting on that last season.
1
DramaQueen428 Apr 12, 2026 +1
Your comments work for almost all sitcoms, OP, but not for other types of show. If the lead in a drama isn't the most interesting character there is usually something wrong. But for sitcoms: Larry David and Ricky Gervais are both exceedingly talented narcissists, who therefore managed to write sitcoms in which they remained the most interesting (if not the loveliest) character. Steve Carrell benefited from that in the US spinoff of The Office. Apart from those, you'd have to go back as far as Gomez and Morticia in the 1960s. (Still possibly the sexiest married relationship ever portrayed on TV, too.)
1
BlueRFR3100 Apr 12, 2026 +1
Monk
1
houinator Apr 12, 2026 +1
Reacher (Reacher).
1
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