15 Best Character-Driven TV Drama Series

Over the course of entertainment history, many have been familiar with the plot-heavy drama. Epics with intricate attention to the plot, these series tend to highlight the sequence of events that take place, rather than the characters involved. However, there has been a burgeoning fascination with character-driven dramas.

As the plot’s time in the spotlight ebbs and flows, the characters themselves remain at the forefront of these stories, offering relatable and entertaining portrayals that forever stick with their respective audiences. At the turn of the century, newly crafted character-driven dramas broke through the mainstream and would go on to influence television for years to come.

Without further ado, let us dive into some character-driven dramas that have undoubtedly left an impact on audiences with their gripping journeys.

15 Yellowjackets (2021)

Yellowjackets is a dark, enthralling recollection of the past. The series follows a New Jersey high school soccer team moments before, during, and after a cataclysmic plane crash while flying to Seattle for a championship.

Split into dual timelines, Yellowjackets covers the time spent in the remote, Canadian wilderness, where the girls’ survival was put to the ultimate test. Concurrently, episodes seamlessly transition into the present where the survivors of the ordeal still have to face the lingering trauma of the experience.

A Fascinating Concoction of Intrigue and Trauma

The premise is strong on its own, but it’s truly the characters, namely Shawna (Melanie Lynskey), Taissa (Tawny Cypress), and Missy (Christina Ricci), that carry the mantle of the story on their backs.

From Shawna and Taissa’s respective relationships and the impact their trauma has on preserving those, to Missy’s overall awkwardness and manipulative tendencies, the various, distinct experiences each woman shares through the screens flow into one vast stream of profound storytelling that touches the various intersections of femininity and trauma.

14 BoJack Horseman (2014)

BoJack Horseman is a vivid, surreal dramedy that follows the titular star, (Will Arnett), an anthropomorphic horse whose time in the limelight has faded. Audiences follow along as he and his equally interesting companions attempt to make sense of their respective lives and work to rectify the harm they have committed.

A Surreal Look at Reality

While much of the focus lies on BoJack’s path towards redemption, characters like Diane (Alison Brie) and Todd (Aaron Paul) are given rich narratives that also speak to contemporary conversations about sexuality and mental health, the latter including a refreshing storyline that also concerns body image.

Much like its audience, the souls that make up BoJack Horseman are simply trying to survive just long enough to improve the lives of those around them and themselves, making for a gratifying story resting in the hands of the audience.

13 Sense8 (2015)

Released during the rise of streaming, Sense8 stands as one of the more exciting superhero tales, and it rests in its embrace of its various personalities and the assertions about life they carry with them. On a seemingly random day, eight strangers from across the world learn that they are “sensates” or people who share a mental and emotional connection like none other. After uniting, the group learns more about themselves, each other, and the worrisome truth about their origins.

An Epic Where Empathy Reigns

Penned by the Wachowski sisters, it does not come as a shock that Sense8 offers carefully constructed and riveting storylines that place queer folks and people of marginalized identities at the forefront. By embracing these distinctions as a symbol of humanity’s malleability rather than markers for demonization, the fascinating personalities that make Sense8 the stellar story that it is provide earnest reflections of life that audiences can resonate with.

12 Shōgun (2024)

Shōgun blossomed in 2024 as the year’s most exciting debut. Set in Japan during 1600, the series splits its focus between sharing the story of an ambitious English sailor named John Blackthorne (Cosmo Darvis) and the powerful daimyo Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), exploring the moment in which both men cross paths and the intriguing consequences that ensue.

A Gripping Reimagination of History

Led by calculated characters, both Toranaga and Jarvis produce compelling power plays that enrich the story altogether. Adapted from the miniseries of the same name and a 1975 novel penned by James Clavell, Shōgun taps into the untouched potential of the previous iterations, reaping the benefits of allowing their complex characters space to revel in their misery, envy, and desire for power.

11 Industry (2020)

Industry follows an eager class of recently graduated employees for a prestigious investment bank based in London. Harper (Myha’la), Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Gus (David Jonsson), and Robert (Harry Lawtey) serve as the main focus of the series.

Nevertheless, the series makes use of its large and talented cast, including Ken Leung and Sagar Radia. Industry is a fluid medium, mirroring life in its capturing of each hire’s life, background, and aspirations with a refreshing authenticity that earned the series favorable comparisons to Succession and Euphoria.

An astute and entertaining commentary on hustle culture, mental health, and the myth of meritocracy, Industry is both biting and brilliant. Not only do the protagonists feel authentic, with their flawed lives, dubious logic, and pure ambition, but the same dedication to characterization can be found in recurring characters and guests, ultimately enhancing the viewing experience.

The genius of Industry lies in its precision. The meticulous plots are a feat of their own, but the true appeal of the series lies in its examination of its various characters, who immediately grab the viewer’s attention with their charisma and folly alike.

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Related: ​​​​Industry: Why You Should Be Watching the Series

10 Normal People (2020)

Normal People, based on the book of the same name by Sally Rooney, stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal as Marianne and Connell respectively, two Irish youths who become inextricably linked. Over the course of their adolescence, their burgeoning connection continues to grow and morph, resulting in a gratifying drama about the entirety of contemporary romance.

A Dark, Yet Holistic Romance

As the story persists, viewers learn intricate and private details about Marianne and Connell, offering fully realized characters that appeal to universal questions, values, and experiences that come to define the journey of maturity most people experience.

The romance in the series doesn’t exist in a bubble but instead, actively acknowledges Marianne and Connell’s distinctions, such as their respective social class, social standing, and experiences with mental illness. With much context about the characters provided, alongside sincere and strong portrayals, Normal People trusts its characters with essentially guiding the audience along a riveting tale.

9 The Bear (2022)

The Bear is a FX/Hulu collaboration following the inner workings and personal lives of chefs based in Chicago. Audiences are introduced to the fictional restaurant by way of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a hopeful yet tortured culinary artist who hopes to assist in revitalizing his family restaurant. However, an amalgamation of various intriguing personalities helps make the experience memorable, to say the least.

A Marvelous Mélange of Intricate Tales

From its character-centered episodes to the cinematography complementing each character’s unique tone, quirks, and gestures, The Bear is a recent success, both literally and specifically in the world of character-driven dramas. The series carries itself with a unique purpose that renders characters like Carmy, Sydney, Richie, and Tina everyday people who capture the aspirations and insecurities of the audience.

8 Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Orange Is the New Black is one of the earliest successes in the streaming era, and much of the acclaim lies in the depiction of its various characters. Following a recently incarcerated Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), the series offers in-depth chronicles of the people imprisoned in their totality.

A Human-First Narrative About Corruption and Community

The series continues to be cherished for its strong humanization of people who have been or still are incarcerated. With a range of women from many walks of life, Orange Is The New Black premiered at a time when people were more optimistic about streaming, and the series lived up to expectations by carefully crafting storylines that tackled overlooked stigmas towards those living with mental illnesses, neurodivergent people, and trans women. Instead of narrating their lives for them, characters like Suzanne (Uzo Aduba) and Sophia (Laverne Cox) tell their own stories, bringing often discarded nuances to the light.

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7 Barry (2018)

Barry is a stellar black comedy from the mind of Bill Hader. The titular character (Hader) is a former U.S. Marine-turned hitman who finds himself enrolling in an LA-based acting class. Throughout his tenure, he struggled to balance his previous responsibilities with a newfound path towards embracing the arts and forging new connections.

A Masterful Dramedy

Providing audiences with truly hilarious epiphanies as well as earnest depictions of anxiety, Barry metamorphizes from a compelling dark comedy to a fascinating look into one’s pivot towards safety and normalcy, and the many obstacles that stand in the way. While the spectacular nature of Barry’s predicaments is anything but understated, the characters tap into very real themes of escapism while also poking fun at the spontaneity of life during its brightest and dreadful moments.

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6 Big Little Lies (2017)

Big Little Lies focuses on the lives of five women in Monterey, California, navigating the intricate web of expectations propped up by societal expectations. Starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Zoë Kravitz among others, their respective portrayals and experiences are centered on the rich soil responsible for nurturing the greater story and its themes.

Secrets of Suburbia Unveiled

In moments of calamity and celebrations, the characters’ reactions aren’t merely spectacles to advance the plot but a gateway into allowing the characters themselves to authentically display actions that speak to universal truths centered around a developed desire to protect one another, especially in the midst of such chaos. With such bold, yet vulnerable personalities, Big Little Lies excellently chips away at the dull and draining housewife archetype.

5 Succession (2019)

Succession follows the lives of the dysfunctional, extremely wealthy Roy family as each member attempts to consolidate as much power as possible following the family patriarch (Brian Cox) suffering a health scare. In four seasons, the series managed to explore the ramifications of intergenerational trauma while also discussing the consequences of the wealthy manipulating everything around them for their sole benefit.

A Poignant Drama Made of Serpentine Souls

Be it Kendall’s (Jeremy Strong) aspiration to live up to Logan’s ideal while dealing with addiction, Shiv’s attempts to maneuver an inherently misogynistic structure while dabbling in her own destructive schemes, or Roman’s (Kieran Culkin) inflammatory decision-making that reads as a call for attention, these characters bring uncomfortable truths about family, success, and trust in a cutthroat corporate environment to light.

At their most humorous and devastating moments alike, the characters of Succession transform the series from another workplace drama to an evocative snapshot of a modern, American dynasty in late-stage capitalism.

4 Mr. Robot (2015)

Mr. Robot premiered in 2015 to much fanfare. Following the online (and in person) exploits of one Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), the series confidently confronts the consequences of late-stage capitalism as well as the candid experience of those living with mental illnesses.

A Post-Modern Hero’s Journey

Between the creativity of creator Sam Esmail leaping onto the scripts and screens, and the gripping performance from Rami Malek, Mr. Robot echoes many sentiments everyday people have towards authority figures and corrupt establishments. Elliot’s relationship with his job, the ominous Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), and his family help contextualize his current predicament, ultimately creating an intricate, unique, yet relatable protagonist for audiences to admire and identify with.

3 The Leftovers (2014)

The Leftovers is a moving drama that follows the lives affected by a near cataclysmic event known as “The Sudden Departure”. Led by Justin Theroux, The Leftovers is supported by a cast of dynamic performers that prompt audiences to consider their own existence in the grand scheme of things.

A Gripping Tale of Grief and Perseverance

Depending on who is listening, The Leftovers built on existing existential dramas like Lost, while others would hail the series as one of the best series of the 2010s. Much of the celebration comes as a result of the show’s exemplary character development.

Characters like Kevin (Theroux), Nora (Carrie Coon), and Matt (Christopher Eccleston) embark on life-altering journeys that help make sense of their respective fate, faith, and periods of grief and self-loathing. In a way, the series crafts an earnest and touching foundation for exploring the human condition.

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2 The Wire (2002)

The Wire is a 2002 drama starring Dominic West, Idris Elba, and the late-great Michael K. Williams in a series that chronicles the daily lives of police officers, legal officials, and drug dealers in Baltimore. Unlike most police procedurals, the series, inspired by showrunner David Simon’s time as a reporter, paints an honest portrait of the corruption embedded in policing and the respective city’s bureaucracy.

America Beyond the Dream

Regarded as widely influential for its gritty storylines and placing more focus on the characters themselves, The Wire invites audiences into Baltimore of the early 2000s. Bouncing from the perspective of Baltimore law enforcement to that of the residents of over-policed neighborhoods, the series captures every moment of their character’s lives.

No one is protected from having their good, bad, or just plain ugly moments displayed, and thus, does away with the archaic, damaging notions that ultimately sustain corrupt legal systems and rob everyday folks of life-changing opportunities and necessities.

1 The Sopranos (1999)

Considered to be one of the most influential series in modern entertainment. The Sopranos is largely responsible for popularizing character-driven dramas, as well as shifting the expectations of a protagonist from the admirable leader to a darker anti-hero with a gritty past and a bleak future. Led by James Gandolfini, the ensemble cast included a bevy of identifiable souls who helped broaden the scope of the types of realities that television could display, and thus broadcast to unsuspecting audiences.

The Standard Character-Driven Drama, and the Best

When actors like Pedro Pascal exclaim that many of the shows, particularly the prestige series that sit in the balance of comedy and drama, would not exist in the same way without The Sopranos, he’s telling the truth. Related:The Best Episodes of The Sopranos, Ranked Be it through Tony’s therapy journey, the reactions to his double life from the perspective of each of his family members, or the ever looming question of whether Tony can have the best of both worlds, The Sopranos benefits from strong writing and collective creativity, resulting in well-structured arcs carried by compelling performances.