The Ultimate Steal: When Actors Absolutely Owned TV Shows in a Single Season

Summary

Short-lived TV show characters can steal the show with just a single season, leaving a lasting impression on other characters, the audience, and the stories themselves.

Pedro Pascal's Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones and Joseph Quinn's Eddie Munson in Stranger Things made a lasting impact on their respective shows, despite their limited screen time.

Despite their short appearances in Breaking Bad and Bridgerton respectively, actors Jesse Plemons and Regé-Jean Page received high praise for their outstanding performances that captivated audiences.

It is common for TV shows to rotate through various characters, but some short-lived ones completely captivate the audience in just a single season. Throughout the lifespan of television shows, numerous characters come and go, without making a lasting impact. Each season of a show usually focuses on a specific storyline and introduces new characters to serve this purpose. While many characters leave a significant mark after being introduced later on, a few manage to leave a strong impression before disappearing forever from the screen.

Even though these characters may only last for one season, they have a way of stealing the spotlight. Despite their limited time on the show, these characters often make a lasting impact - whether it is on other characters, the audience, or the overall narrative. Even if their on-screen presence is brief, these characters tend to leave the show in a better position than it was before they arrived.

10 Pedro Pascal - Game Of Thrones

9 Joseph Quinn - Stranger Things

Pedro Pascal delivered one of his most impressive TV show performances in Game of Thrones, portraying the character Oberyn Martell, also known as the Red Viper. His introduction in season 4 showcased his noteworthy portrayal of a character with fluid sexuality. Tragically, during his intense battle with Clegane, Oberyn's opponent brutally crushed his skull, resulting in instant death. Despite only appearing in one season, Pascal's standout performance outshone his fellow cast members.

Joseph Quinn, a British actor, played the role of Eddie Munson in season 4 of Stranger Things. Eddie is the leader of the Hellfire Club and a student at Hawkins High School. Devastated by the death of his friend Chrissy (Grace Van Dien), Eddie is determined to pursue justice. Despite the town's belief that their Dungeons and Dragons group had ties to devil worship, Eddie remains committed to running the Hellfire Club, hoping to connect with other teenagers who have experienced rejection and alienation.

Eddie Munson's presence on Stranger Things was confined to season 4, as the character met his end during a fierce encounter with Demobats. In his final moments, Eddie found solace in the arms of his dear friend Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Despite the tragedy, the town's perception of satanism remained unaltered. Mistaking Eddie's absence for his disappearance, the townsfolk decorated missing posters with satanic symbols. Despite only appearing in one season, Eddie left a lasting impact on the show and became a recurring subject of numerous Stranger Things memes.

8 Jesse Plemons - Breaking Bad

Plemons portrayed Todd Aquist in the final season of Breaking Bad, where he played the role of an employee under Walt (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) who had a dark, murderous side. Throughout his time on the show, Todd was involved in a train heist alongside the main characters, received meth cooking lessons from Walt, and even posed a threat to Skyler, among his numerous other criminal activities. Despite their previously amicable working relationship, Todd becomes too entangled with the duo and ultimately takes Jesse hostage, securing him to a wall with chains.

7 Regé-Jean Page - Bridgerton

Over time, Todd's loyalty to Walt and Jesse wavers as he becomes more entangled in their criminal endeavors. This gradual corruption forces Todd to reevaluate his priorities. Ultimately, Jesse takes matters into his own hands and kills Todd by breaking his neck with the shackles that bind him, in a desperate attempt to free himself from captivity. Despite Todd's brief appearance in Breaking Bad, Plemons' outstanding portrayal captivated audiences and earned him critical acclaim for his gripping portrayal of Todd Aquist.

Regé-Jean Page made the decision to leave Bridgerton after portraying the charming Duke of Hastings for a single season. As a beloved character among Netflix viewers, many were curious about his departure. However, since future seasons of Bridgerton will shift the focus to other Bridgerton siblings, Page's character has already reached a satisfying conclusion with Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor). Consequently, his presence may not be as necessary in the upcoming seasons.

6 Christopher Eccleston - Doctor Who

Christopher Eccleston, the first Doctor introduced to a new generation of Doctor Who audiences when the show was revived in 2005, played the Time Lord for only one season. Despite portraying the character to a positive reception, Eccleston passed the role on to his successor David Tennant. Critics highly praised his on-screen chemistry with co-star Billie Piper. However, Eccleston has expressed doubts about reprising the role of the Doctor on television again.

5 Andy Samberg - Cuckoo

In 2012, Andy Samberg took on the lead role in BBC's Cuckoo, but he could only commit to one season due to scheduling conflicts with Brooklyn Nine-Nine. To address this, the character of Cuckoo was written off the show, with his off-screen death occurring between the first and second seasons. The void left by Cuckoo's departure was filled by Taylor Lautner, who portrayed Dale, Cuckoo's lovechild. Surprisingly, the show continued for another four seasons without Samberg, ultimately concluding in 2018.

4 Olivia and Isabella Cohen - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

3 James Marsters - Torchwood

The introduction of Charlie Kelly's (Charlie Day) previously unrevealed sisters, Bunny and Candy, in season 16 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia surprised viewers. Prior to this point, Charlie's sisters had never been acknowledged, and even the long-time friends of Charlie had forgotten about their existence. Playing the roles of these sisters, Olivia and Isabella Cohen, real-life siblings, seamlessly blended in with the dynamic banter of the Paddy's Pub gang, despite only appearing in a single episode.

Renowned for his portrayal of Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel, James Marsters also captivated audiences as Captain Jack Harkness' (John Barrowman) former lover and nemesis, Captain John Hart, in the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood. Introduced in the second season of Torchwood, Marsters' character Hart left a lasting impact on the show's mythos and delved deep into the backstory of Barrowman's character. Following the destruction of Torchwood, Captain Hart embarks on a journey across Earth, and while his on-screen appearances are limited to three episodes, his influence remains prevalent in the Torchwood literature and audio dramas.

2 The Vicar - Fleabag

1 Chris Morris - The IT Crowd

Despite its brief two-season stint, the Priest, portrayed by Andrew Scott, emerged as one of the standout characters in Fleabag. Making his debut in season 2, Scott received acclaim for his portrayal of a conflicted religious man grappling with his feelings for Fleabag while navigating his connection with God. Although the character did not appear in season 1, the Priest remains one of Andrew Scott's defining roles, even as Fleabag concluded after season 2.

The character Denholm Reynholm, played by Chris Morris, was the unhinged and eccentric CEO of Reynholm Industries during The IT Crowd season 1. He only appeared in the first season, and the first episode of season 2 revolved around Denholm's funeral. Denholm, who was caught tampering with the company's pensions, tragically jumped out of the window to his death. This episode introduced Denholm's son, Douglas, portrayed by Matt Berry from What We Do In The Shadows.