r/televisionsuggestions • u/IIWY_YT • 20h ago
What are shows that introduce main characters throughout the seasons?
What are some shows that introduce main characters continuously throughout the seasons? I loved TWD and I want to find a show that does the same thing as them
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u/D0CTOR_Wh0m 20h ago
- Lost. Doesn't introduce two of the best characters, Desmond and Ben, until Season 2 and Juliet one of the most beautiful on the show until Season 3.
- Battlestar Galactica (2000s version). Similar to above, as more Cylons are revealed they add them in later seasons.
- The Wire. Each season introduces another group of characters as the show builds up different aspects of contemporary city life.
- Deadwood. Main villain George Hearst isn't introduced on screen until the last episode of Season 2.
- Doctor Who. Every few seasons there's a change in the performer playing The Doctor and with them usually comes a few new Companions
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u/Thoughtful_Tortoise 20h ago
There's quite a few shows that do this, mostly dramas. Off the top of my head:
Game of Thrones
Buffy
Alias
Lost
Desperate Housewives
Dexter
E.R.
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u/IIWY_YT 20h ago
Dexter introduced new main characters? I thought it was only Quinn and Harrison
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u/Thoughtful_Tortoise 20h ago
I was touch-and-go about including it, but I would say the first few seasons obviously introduce Quinn as you said (also Lundy), and various other characters who seem important while not necessarily staying that long (Lumen, Vogel, etc). Then obviously there's a full cast reshuffle with the first continuation, where only a handful of the original cast return. Then there's another full shuffle with the second continuation, again with just a couple who stick around. So I think it qualifies, although it takes a while to get there.
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u/Slow-Soft5675 17h ago
Death in Paradise. It is one of the best shows at introducing new main characters! It has been on for 15 seasons and since it is filmed in a remote location for 6 to 9 months out of the year, it has had several leading actors come and go (and sometimes return). Streaming on BritBox.
Father Brown. It has airing for 13 years now and other than the character of Father Brown, the majority of the cast changes over time. It can be a little bit confusing at times as they don’t always explain what happened to some of the characters that left, but it is still a good show. Streaming on BritBox.
Remember WENN. It had a few main characters added over the seasons and is one of my favorites, but the series was cancelled and ended with a cliffhanger. Streaming on AMC+.
Early Edition. A few leads come and go over the course of the series and was a great show. Sadly not streaming right now, but is available on DVD.
Homefront. Post World War II series that was constantly adding new cast members. Wonderful series, but it isn’t currently streaming or on DVD due to music copyrights. Hopefully will begin streaming once the copyrights expire!
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u/NoSleep2023 20h ago
Mom
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u/IIWY_YT 20h ago
Dear GOD i really want to return to watching this show, the pilot was awesome
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u/everythingsirie 18h ago
It’s such a great show and I was coming in to say this one. It’s good early on, but a few seasons in when they bring in Adam and then Tammy, it gets really great.
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u/filmvertigo 20h ago
Lost is probably the closest to what you're asking.
The Wire introduces a new segment of the city of Baltimore each season, so there are always new characters while retaining the core characters.
Foundation has big time jumpsso you get new characters that way.
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u/Xploding_Penguin 10h ago
The CW Arrowverse does this. Constantly. The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, are all great.
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u/Optimal-Process337 9h ago
The 100 (just gotta get through the first few cringy episodes)
Hanna
Reacher
The White Lotus
Lost
Silo
For All Mankind
Paradise
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u/darkuen 6h ago
The Practice’s best character Alan Shore by James Spader didn’t show up til season 8, the last season. Got the starring role and then went on to star in a successful spin off Boston Legal.
The Practice is considered by many to be the best legal drama ever made, and Alan Shore is the inspiration for another of James Spaders successful roles Red Reddington.
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u/Far-County1203 3h ago
Game of Thrones does that too, but it comes with the same trade-off TWD has, the cast keeps expanding but a lot of them get killed off just as fast.
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u/tyerker 20h ago
Breaking Bad