Beyond the finale: Which web series characters will haunt you in 2024?

The final credits roll, the screen goes dark, but the story isn’t always over. Some characters refuse to leave, taking up permanent residence in our minds. They are the ones we discuss with friends, the figures whose choices we debate late into the night, and the personalities who feel as real as people we know. In the ever-expanding universe of streaming, 2023 and the start of 2024 have delivered a powerful roster of such figures. These are not just heroes and villains; they are complex, flawed, and deeply human individuals who mirror our own anxieties and aspirations. This article delves into the characters who have transcended their series, whose stories will continue to resonate, challenge, and haunt us throughout the year.

The allure of the flawed protagonist

Long gone are the days of the perfect, unblemished hero. Today’s most compelling protagonists are often walking contradictions, and their internal struggles are what make them unforgettable. They operate in the grey spaces between right and wrong, forcing us to question our own moral compass. A prime example is Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto from The Bear. He is a genius in the kitchen, but his pursuit of perfection is fueled by deep-seated trauma and crippling anxiety. His frantic energy and internal torment are palpable. We root for him not despite his flaws, but because of them. His struggle to heal his family and himself through the brutal, beautiful art of cooking is a narrative that sticks.

Similarly, Joel Miller from The Last of Us presented audiences with an impossible choice. Throughout the series, he evolves from a hardened survivor into a protective father figure for Ellie. His final decision to save her at the potential cost of all of humanity is not a heroic act; it’s a selfish, loving, and devastating one. It’s a choice that isn’t easily categorized as good or bad, and that ambiguity is precisely why it will haunt viewers for years to come. These characters show that being flawed is what makes us human.

The power of quiet strength

Not every memorable character needs to command the screen with loud pronouncements or grand actions. Sometimes, the most powerful impact comes from a place of quiet, unyielding resilience. These characters embody a strength that simmers beneath the surface, a testament to the endurance of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. Ellie Williams from The Last of Us is the heart of this concept. While she is witty and capable of violence, her true power lies in her emotional fortitude. She navigates a horrific world, carrying the weight of her immunity and the grief of her losses. Her journey is a masterclass in showing, not telling, what true strength looks like.

On a different, yet equally potent, note is Amy Lau from Beef. Her resilience is a more fraught and recognizable type for many in the modern world. Trapped in a life that looks perfect on the outside, she is silently suffocating under the pressure of expectation. Her simmering rage, which finally boils over after a road rage incident, is a cry for help from a woman who has been quietly holding it all together for too long. Her struggle is a haunting reflection of the private battles many fight every day, making her profoundly relatable.

When the antagonist steals the show

A story is only as good as its villain, and modern television has elevated the antagonist to a complex art form. We are increasingly presented with “villains” whose motivations are so well-drawn that we can’t help but understand, and sometimes even sympathize with, their perspective. This doesn’t excuse their actions, but it makes them far more terrifying and memorable. Look no further than Homelander from The Boys. On the surface, he is a patriotic superhero; in reality, he is a terrifying, narcissistic sociopath. Yet, the show masterfully gives us glimpses into the laboratory-grown childhood and psychological manipulation that created the monster. He is a chilling commentary on celebrity, power, and the danger of loving a myth.

The concept of the understandable antagonist is further explored in Beef, where both Danny Cho and Amy Lau act as villains in each other’s stories. Danny’s deep-seated feelings of failure and desperation drive him to make increasingly destructive choices. He isn’t inherently evil; he is a man pushed to the edge by a world that seems designed for him to fail. We understand his rage just as we understand Amy’s. Their mutual antagonism is born from a place of shared pain, making their conflict tragic and their characters impossible to forget.

From the sidelines to the spotlight

Sometimes the character that leaves the biggest mark isn’t the lead. They are the supporting player who, through brilliant writing and a standout performance, captures the audience’s imagination and refuses to let go. These breakout characters often provide the emotional core of a series or a unique perspective that enriches the entire narrative. In season two of The Bear, Richard “Richie” Jerimovich underwent one of the most talked about transformations on television. Initially an abrasive and seemingly lost figure, his journey to find purpose and dignity, beautifully encapsulated in the episode “Forks,” was profoundly moving. He evolved from an obstacle into the show’s beating heart, demonstrating that it’s never too late to find your place.

Another character who stole the spotlight was Mobius M. Mobius from Loki. In a show filled with gods, time travel, and multiversal stakes, it was the humble, jet-ski-loving bureaucrat who grounded the story. His unwavering belief in Loki’s potential for good and his simple, earnest friendship provided an essential human element amidst the chaos. His fate and loyalty became a central pillar of the series, proving that even in the grandest stories, it’s often the most human characters that resonate the most.

In conclusion, the characters who will haunt us in 2024 are a testament to the golden age of television writing. They are more than just plot devices; they are intricate studies of the human condition. From the morally ambiguous anti-hero like Carmy to the quietly resilient survivor like Ellie, and from the understandable villain like Danny to the breakout supporting star like Richie, these figures are defined by their complexity. They stay with us because they challenge our perceptions and force us to look closer at their motivations, and in doing so, at our own. As we move forward, these unforgettable characters have set a new, higher standard for storytelling, ensuring they will live on in our collective consciousness long past their final scenes.

Image by: Sherman Trotz
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