The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #49-40

On January 10, 1999, a bathrobe-clad Tony Soprano first bent over to pick up a Star-Ledger in his driveway — and TV changed forever. We’re celebrating this new Golden Age of Television by paying tribute to our favorite TV characters who’ve debuted since The Sopranos premiered. No reality TV here, folks: just the 99 richest, most fascinating fictional characters from both comedies and dramas to grace the small screen over the past decade and a half. We love TV… and these people are the reason why.

49. Raylan Givens, Justified

The Stetson-wearing Deputy U.S. Marshal originated in the mind of Elmore Leonard, so of course he’s going to be cool. But Timothy Olyphant and the show’s writers found a singular, slow-moving swagger that never lets viewers forget that Raylan — while endlessly frustrated by the assorted criminals of Harlan, Kentucky — is also as amused by them as we are. To quote him in a recent episode, “Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden of a—holes.” They can also happen when you’re not afraid to give a lawman a weapon other than a gun (shovel, car) or a loving, adult relationship with his ex-wife. — Mandi Bierly

Related: Vote For the Best TV Characters of the 2000s

48. Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars

Trying to keep up with the whip-smart teen sleuth is some seriously fun mental exercise. Veronica can toss out witty quips, sly put-downs, and sassy flirtations without blinking an eye — all while expertly solving mysteries. After being ostracized in high school, Veronica becomes a champion of the downtrodden and bullied, and she’ll put herself in jeopardy to pursue the truth (a fact that father Keith and on-again/off-again boyfriend Logan don’t much like). In the world of Neptune, justice is a dish best served with a side of snark. — Kelly Woo

47. The Tenth Doctor, Doctor Who

Picking a favorite Doctor out of the 12 (and counting) Time Lords who have piloted the TARDIS can be a highly personal — and highly contentious — decision. But even if he’s not your No. 1, you’d have to be a real curmudgeon to argue against the overall excellence of David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor. During his five-year run, Tennant brilliantly fused the vintage whimsy of Tom Baker (Doctor No. 4) with the contemporary dramatic edge of Christopher Eccleston (Doctor No. 9). He’s an alien you’d want to follow to the ends of the Earth… and time itself. — Ethan Alter

46. Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock

Would Jenna be honored to be on this list, or insulted she’s not No. 1? This monstrously vain “ac-tor" made Liz Lemon’s life hell as TGS's resident diva, always whining for more airtime while pursuing big-screen fame in terrible films like The Rural Juror and the unauthorized Janis Joplin biopic Jackie Jormp-Jomp. (“Break another little chunk of my lung now, mister!”) Her insatiable hunger for the spotlight was actually a little frightening; you got the feeling she would go on a multi-state killing spree just so she could star in the Lifetime movie about her crimes. Of course she married a female impersonator who looks just like her. Of course. — Dave Nemetz

45. Stringer Bell, The Wire

Bell’s Michael Corleone-esque dreams of turning Avon Barksdale’s drug empire into a legitimate business set him apart in a series full of unique gangsters like Omar Little. Stringer took econ classes at Baltimore City Community College, looked to Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations for his business philosophies, organized his meetings around Robert’s Rules of Order, and saw real estate and schmoozing with powerful politicians as the path to a different life. Ultimately, he couldn’t avoid being outmaneuvered by his more violence-focused brethren. Still, his tips to police helped bring down the Barksdale organization, proving, even after his death, that his way might have been the best way for the gang to go. — Kimberly Potts

44. Borat Sagdiyev, Da Ali G Show

Yes, before he rocketed to fame in his own big-screen adventure, this gregarious journalist from Kazakhstan made his debut on Sacha Baron Cohen’s outrageous cringe comedy, where he hosted a guide to local traditions in Great Britain and “the U, S, and A.” Any frat dude can do a Borat impression (“Sexytime! Very nice!”), but Borat’s segments were actually sophisticated cultural commentary, as the correspondent used his own bigotry and misogyny as bait to expose the bigotry and misogyny in others. Plus, it’s just funny as all hell to watch his subjects try to maintain their composure as Borat tramples over any semblance of social decorum. — DN

43. Frank Underwood, House of Cards

Evil, cold, calculating, power-hungry, and homicidal are all accurate descriptions of Francis Underwood. But the fourth-wall-breaking POTUS somehow makes it all palatable with his charm, impeccable manners, and a honey-smooth Southern accent. That’s no small thing, for without Frank’s quotable asides to the audience, he would be just a cartoonishly over-the-top villain. By confiding in the audience, Spacey lets viewers know there are a few things Frank sincerely cares about: His equally Machiavellian wife; using his ill-gotten power to do some good; and, of course, Freddy the former ribs chef. — KP

42. Cristina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy

We met her as a Seattle Grace intern, but Cristina Yang paid her dues and later decamped to Switzerland to be a director of cardiothoracic surgery. Played by five-time Emmy nominee Sandra Oh, Yang was the tough-talking BFF of Meredith Grey, but she was a lead character in her own right. Forget a biological clock ticking; this career girl’s M.O. was “I choose medicine. I choose me.” And she did. Yang’s swan-song episode was big enough to warrant the return of Preston Burke (and fired cast member Isaiah Washington), a surprise that proved once and for all how much clout Cristina really had. — Victoria Leigh Miller

41. Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock

Even with a Sherlock Holmes on another network and Robert Downey Jr. playing him on the big screen, BBC’s take stands alone. The character will remain timeless as long as our justice system is based on reason and logic, but Benedict Cumberbatch radiates a particularly fearsome intellect that reminds us that cold empiricism untempered by mercy has its own pitfalls. Credit is also due to his Watson, Martin Freeman, whose warmth keeps the detective tethered to humanity. — Robert Chan

40. Rust Cohle, True Detective

Rust Cohle swears he’s a nihilist. A misanthropic philosopher who believes mankind should do the universe a favor and “walk hand-and-hand into extinction.” But for all his pessimistic bluster, Cohle — who became well-acquainted with the darkest parts of his soul after losing a daughter — is actually True Detective's most moral and humane character. Even as he disappeared into the life of a drunk drifter, the detective never stopped searching for Dora Lange's killer… not because he was driven by guilt or anger, but because he has hope. As he tells his partner Hart in the final moments of the season, “If you ask me, the light's winning.” — Kristen Baldwin

Previously:
The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #99-90
The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #89-80
The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #79-70
The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #69-60
The 99 Greatest TV Characters Since Tony Soprano: #59-50