# New characters that really added something to a TV series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601 "2014-09-15T21:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/101 "2014-09-20T15:54:47Z")
Ben Linus was only supposed to be in a few episodes of _Lost_, but his character was so well received, that the writers made him a central character. Which proves that they really DID have a plan for the entire show all along… ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/102 "2014-09-20T16:02:49Z")
On **Boardwalk Empire** , the character of Richard Harrow was only introduced in episode 7 of season 1, and only had a little screen time in the rest of that season. It wasn’t until after the first season had aired that the writers realized he was a fan favorite, and he became a series regular for seasons 2-4. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/103 "2014-09-20T16:09:14Z")
Still waiting for a contribution from baby Joe on _Modern Family_. Most of the time, he seems to be MIA–just a prop in the opening sequence. I don’t think he even attended Mitch and Cam’s wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/104 "2014-09-20T17:41:23Z")
If minor season 1 characters that go on to take a major role count then Dean Pelton on Community was a big addition. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/105 "2014-09-23T00:12:59Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > I feel like one of the very few people who just didn’t like Tara very much. She barely had any relationships with any of the other characters beside Willow. That was even the theme of an episode, where the rest of the gang had no idea what to get her for her birthday since she was pretty much just “Willow’s girlfriend” to them. I didn’t like Tara, either. She was _boring_. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/106 "2014-09-23T07:14:47Z")
In “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) was supposed to be a minor character but quickly rose to co-star status. Chatsworth Osbourne Jr (Steve Franken) on “Dobie Gilles” was the snotty, rich brat so effectively the producers limited his appearances to keep him from taking over. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/107 "2014-09-23T09:27:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think Dawn also added a dynamic to Buffy that was welcome. Dawn added not just a dynamic but an entire story arc and effectively transformed the overall narrative of the remainder of the series. Not to mention the way her advent was hinted at in dreams years before her actual appearance; has that ever been done in anything? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/108 "2014-09-25T14:05:11Z")
Adding Ice-T to Law & Order: SVU as Detective Odafin “Finn” Tutuol was a stroke of genius, and gave a new dimension to John Munch! I love the interplay between the two. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601.md?page=5)