Power Rankings Triathlon - Male TV Characters (Drama)

The Final Leg of the Power Ranking Triathlon is here -- and is perhaps the most pretentious topic thus far -- Male TV Characters in Dramas. These are the heaviest-hitting shows out there -- And if you've been keeping up with the previous 2 days of blogs, you know there will be no shortage of Honorable Mentions as well.

Notes off the top:

• I kept the rule of 1 character per show in the Top 10 -- but I had to break the rule for Game of Thrones once again. Made some brutal cuts to great characters because they were repeats, but there was no way I could cut 1 of the 2 GOT characters I picked.

  • If I didn't use this rule, the list would literally be 5 total shows -- so I think limiting repeats is just an opportunity to shine light on other shows/characters.

• No spoilers to the shows will be in this blog

• Let me know the characters I missed in the comments! There's tons of shows I haven't seen -- Lost, Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing -- let me know where the best characters are!

Honorable Mentions

Category 1: Other Character from their Show in the Top 10

Cousin Greg - Succession

Roman Roy - Succession

Logan Roy - Succession

Mike Ehrmentraut - Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul

Howard Hamlin - Better Call Saul

Coach Taylor - Friday Night Lights

Aberama Gold - Peaky Blinders

Alfie Solomons - Peaky Blinders

Upsetting cuts to make. The 3 Succession characters here could all be Top 10 (Cousin Greg - I'm so sorry. You deserved better), as could Mike with about 10 seasons of screentime between BB/BCS. Howard is an indispensable parts of the success of his show -- Coach Taylor is the perfect lead for FNL, and Alfie and Abbie are small but electric parts of a favorite show.

Category 2: Game of Thrones, The Wire, Sopranos Run-off

Tony Soprano - The Sopranos

Chris Moltisanti - The Sopranos

Silvio Dante - The Sopranos

Detective Bunk Moreland - The Wire

Stringer Bell - The Wire

Avon Barksdale - The Wire

Robb Stark - Game of Thrones

Tywin Lannister - Game of Thrones

I'm sick cutting these characters. But as I thought about it, The Sopranos and The Wire are great because of the sum of all parts, not because of any singular character to me. If this was best performance, Tony Soprano's a shoe-in. But this is about who's my favorite to watch on screen.

So as much as I love Chrissy and Sil, there's one character that just barely edges them out. Avon, Stringer, and Bunk are legendary TV characters, but there's one slightly above them for me. And I could've done 7 more GOT contenders, but Robb and Tywin were personal favorites.

Category 3: Personal Favorites

Billy Butcher - The Boys

Dr. Spencer Reid - Criminal Minds

Neil Caffrey - White Collar

Rishi Ramdani - Industry

Ben Davis - Ozark

Luthen Rael - Andor

Dr. "Robby" Robinavitch - The Pitt

Rust Coehle - True Detective

Mixed bag of personal picks -- Billy Butcher was my #11, just missed the cut. Reid in Criminal Minds was always my favorite, Neil is a niche one from a show few have watched but rocks, Rishi is a side character in Industry but has an all-time episode that's Uncut Gems-esque. Ben was Wendy's brother in Ozark. Obligatory placement for an Andor character, one season of Dr. Robby was enough for me, and Rust is the best True Detective character.

Category 4: Haven't seen Their Whole Show

Don Draper - Mad Men

Rip Wheeler - Yellowstone

Jim Hopper - Stranger Things

Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead

Jack Bauer - 24

Self-explanatory category, but the real miss here is Don Draper, as anyone that's seen all of Mad Men would likely have Don as a shoe-in for Top 10.

Category 5: Band of Brothers

Lynn Compton (Neal McDonough)

George Luz (Rick Gomez)

Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston)

Donald Malarkey (Scott Grimes)

Bill Guarnere (Frank John Hughes)

Last set of HM's for my 5 favorites from Band of Brothers -- one of the best single-season shows ever. There's 15+ great characters, these are my Top 5.

Top 10

#10 Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

Kicking things off with a character many people my age grew up with in Tim Riggins. Friday Night Lights generally, but especially the character of Tim, is an easy sell to anyone that played sports competitively in High School. And I thought Tim was the most relatable in his approach to football -- it's more about identity than glory, your team being your family, the sport being an escape from the real world. And he's relatable because he's a young kid who makes mistakes -- he makes bad decisions, is undisciplined, lapses in judgement (and he drinks too much clearly). He's flawed, but at his core, he's a good person that cares deeply behind his macho-man persona. And as much as I love watching him lay out a linebacker lead-blocking for Smash -- I love watching him come back to his friend (Jason Street) and stand up for his brother more. "Texas Forever" is more than just a catchy tagline for the show, it's what Tim cares about most -- Home and Family.

#9 Louis Litt - Suits

I imagine I started watching Suits around the same time everyone else did -- when it got added to Netflix. I had never heard of it, just had seen the occasional reel on social media of a handsome lawyer belittling a short, rat-looking lawyer. That Rat turned out to be Louis Litt -- and while it was an extremely slow burn, by the time I got to Season 3 or 4, Louis was far and away my favorite character. In the beginning, he is essentially the villain against Mike and Harvey who they want you to hate. But as the show goes, Louis becomes more and more likeable, and is the most human/relatable character by a mile. Where Harvey and Mike almost seem super-powered, Louis has grinded his ass off to get where he is, and doesn't get the credit he deserves. Is he petty, harsh, insecure, vindictive? Absolutely. But he's also wildly intelligent, undyingly loyal once you earn his trust, and unabashedly himself. Incredible character arc for Louis Litt. And if you cross him, you're gonna get LITT UP.

#8 Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad

#8 and #7 on this list were characters I thought were shoe-ins for Top 5 spots when I had the idea for these rankings. But it's not for lack of loving them -- it's the fact that the Top 8 of this list are absolutely incredible characters that could be #1 any given day But #8 today belongs to Jesse Pinkman -- the burn-out turned emotional center of arguably the best show ever made. While he doesn't look like much on the outside, Jesse is a person who's been under-estimated his entire life. He's made bad decisions in life, leaving him with no family and few people in his corner. So his relationship with Walt -- starting as a business partnership -- really does blossom into true friendship for them both. But what makes Jesse so compelling is we start to see his true colors come through as he gets caught up further into this criminal world. He's not an evil guy -- he's someone with a conscience that wants to do good, caught in a world that punishes him over and over again. He's a tragic character that's deeply human, surrounded by inhumane monsters. An all-time character who came out of nowhere -- shoutout Aaron Paul.

#7 Paulie Walnuts - The Sopranos

Anytime someone asks me, "Hey Bean, what's your favorite show?" I always respond with The Sopranos. Which may be an odd choice for a 25 year-old -- but having watched a lot of it with my dad and college friends, the show means more to me than any other. And of all the memorable characters, the one I always come back to is Paulie Walnuts. Sure, Tony is the star, and Chrissy is Jesse-Pinkman-esque -- but with Paulie, I know what I'm getting every single episode. I think of him as not only the heart and soul of the show, but the embodiment of what I love about it. He's the funniest person by a mile -- one-liners, quotes, moments. He's wildly entertaining, whether he's hurling chairs at a psychic, or gnawing on frozen mustard packets lost in the woods. He's the perfect blend of comedic relief, but also fully personifies the old-school gangster. Stuck in the past, quick-tempered, status-obsessed, and a loose cannon. From the silver wings in his hair to the tracksuits, he not only has the persona of a gangster -- he looks the part too. RIP Tony Sirico who brought to life the most authentic and memorable character of a generation.

#6 Tyrion Lannister - Game of Thrones

The first of my 2 GOT characters in the Top 10 is the most famous imp in Westeros, Tyrion Lannister. Deciding my top 2 GOT characters was easy, but deciding where they rank in the grand scheme of the Triathlon was a challenge. I think Tyrion has the best personality of anyone in the show -- witty and knowledgeable, silver-tongued, sarcastic and hilarious, empathetic not cruel, insightful and wise, as savvy maneuvering politically and socially as anyone. As he himself says, his weapon is his brain. He can't wield a large sword or overpower foes, but he can use his brain and wit to get out of trouble. And a separator for his character is he's able to interact with a plethora of characters. Whether Jon Snow ("all dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes"), or Daenerys ("I'm the greatest Lannister Killer of all time"), or Sansa (“I won’t share your bed. Not until you want me to”) -- Tyrion is able to earn trust/relate to characters despite his Lannister name. He's able to play the Game of Thrones as well as anyone, and his charisma and wit make him as likeable as anyone. He also has, in my opinion, the greatest monologue in TV history during his trial.

#5 Toms Wambsgans - Succession

It took everything in my power not to rank Tom #1 on this list -- and I'm not kidding in the slightest. I wanted to do it. But I think some others ahead of him are more significant figures -- but as far as Bean's Blog is concerned, Tom Wambsgans is in the conversation of best character ever.

Tom's a goofball -- or at least that's the persona he wants to present. He wants to be under-estimated, overlooked. That way he can bide his time until the moment to strike presents itself. What makes you like him is he's so much more relatable than the core cast. He's a social-climber trying to scale the ranks of Waystar Royco -- from the family side (marrying Shiv) and the business side. I'd call him a wolf in sheep's clothing, but I think that's giving him too much credit. The true separators for Tom are this: 1.) he might be the funniest character I've ever seen on TV, and 2.) his relationship with Greg. Cringe humor, some of the most outrageously funny quotes in a drama show you'll ever see, and has a rolodex of legendary scenes -- Especially with Cousin Greg. I think Tom loves Greg more than he loves Shiv -- because it's a dynamic where he's the puncher, not the punching bag. I need to cut myself off, but I'll end on the funniest scene in the show where Tom sits down with the news anchor with Nazi connections:

"Have you ever read Mein Kampf?" - Tom

I mean yeah, a couple times. - Ravenhead

"Oh a couple of times? Were there Easter Eggs you missed the first time around?" - Tom

#4 Jimmy McGill (Saul Goodman) - Better Call Saul

A spin-off series that, in many ways, is better than it's predecessor Breaking Bad? Gen Pop isn't ready for me to fire off that take yet. Saul is an excellent character in BB, but I want to focus on the character I prefer: Jimmy McGill.

We're reintroduced to Saul under the name Jimmy McGill in Better Call Saul -- preceding the events of BB. We get to see Jimmy's life before Saul -- a life where he went from mailroom at his brother Chuck's firm, to a lawyer himself. He's a natural-born con-man who wants more out of life -- more than that, wants acceptance for the lawyer he is. Especially from Chuck, but his brother's rejection of his life is ultimately what sends him on the path to becoming Saul. Jimmy is a charismatic, charming, smooth-talker who can make conversation with a corpse. He's an extremely talented lawyer, but legally and morally, he makes many exceptions. His insecurity causes self-sabotaging behavior, which can be hard to watch and fuels the tragic character he becomes. What makes his character and the show as a whole so beautiful is that, even though you know how things will end up, you can't help but hope Slippin' Jimmy turns the corner. One of the most thorough character studies ever put to screen.

#3 Omar Little - The Wire

I think the term "Iconic" gets thrown around willy nilly when it comes to movie/TV characters. But when it comes to Michael K Williams' performance/characterization of Omar Little, Iconic is the only word to do it justice. Omar Little is a legitimate Icon in movie/TV history. For those less familiar, The Wire is based on the drug trade in Baltimore through the lens of both law enforcement and drug dealers. Omar fits into the puzzle as, essentially, a Pimp Robin Hood who steals from these drug dealers (but instead of giving to the poor, he gives to Omar). He's the Hood's Wild Card that struts around with his sawed-off and sends corner boys running just by whistling a tune. The courtroom scene, Omar getting grilled by a drug dealer's defense attorney, summarizes his character perfect: "I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase. It's all in the game though, right?" He's one of the most badass, swaggy, unapologetically original characters you'll see in a show. "You come at the King, you best not miss."

#2 Jon Snow - Game of Thrones

The King of the North is King of the GOT Characters in my eyes -- but I couldn't anoint him King of The Power Rankings Triathlon today. The #2 slot belongs to Jon Snow. I was later to GOT than most, but once I was in, I was as hooked as I've ever been on a show. And it was a slow burn at times, but Jon Snow was a character I was drawn to from S1-S8. The Bastard Son of, and raised by the Honorable Ned Stark, it should be no surprise Jon was instilled with principles and honor from a young age. When he joined the Night's Watch, we got to see him forge a path separate from 99% of the plot. Slow at times, we got to know the complex young man on a deeper level -- and see plenty of badass fights with the long blade. As the seasons go by, his character-arc picks up steam and his story gets more intriguing. He grows into the lead character of this massive ensemble -- and the ups and downs of his arc are the most emotionally-jarring. It's no secret the final season (and 7th season to me) fall off a cliff a bit -- but the Jon Snow we get from Season 1 through 6 is my favorite character ever put to screen. But akin to the show as a whole, I didn't love the last 2 for Jon Snow -- enough to knock him down to #2.

#1 Tommy Shelby - Peaky Blinders

I would say Breaking Bad, Sopranos, and Peaky are my 3 favorite shows. And I think a factor in that is all 3 leads -- Walter White, Tony Soprano, and Tommy Shelby -- are both the hero and the villain in their story. And to me, Breaking Bad and Sopranos build the better shows around those characters -- but Peaky created the best character in Tommy Shelby.

For starters, Tommy Shelby is an absolute baller. Smartest guy in any room he walks into. Cold and calculated is his mantra -- he also has the charisma to lull you into a trance listening to him speak. The Birmingham Brummie accent is equal parts soothing and sinister (or in my parents' opinion, impossible to understand. Subtitles people). But this calm, cool, and collected outward appearance disguises a haunted, damaged interior -- having fought in the World War as a "clay kicker" digging and fighting in tunnels. Not to mention the traumatic events he goes through during the show's run. But through it all, Tommy never loses that magnetism and hides his true emotions from the outside world. Family drives Tommy's decisions often -- but it's the balance of the family and his personal ambition that seesaws through the series. And despite the Peaky Blinders being the "family business," there's no doubt when you watch that this is the Tommy Shelby show -- and it's an incredible show to watch. Tommy Shelby has no limitations, and is an Icon in TV history.

No great funny quotes to end the blog with today, so my final note will be that the final sequence of the Season 2 Finale of Peaky Blinders is the greatest scene in television. Whole episode is great -- used to drunk-watch it after the bars with my college roommates -- but that final scene especially is my all time favorite scene.