By Katrina Yang
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TV shows tell stories from different walks of life through characters. Each character's unique personality and background shapes their arc in the series. A single mistake could result in their entire character falling apart. Many great shows have thrilling stories but still mess up character arcs. Only a few have perfect character arcs that make no mistakes.
From Villanelle's soul-searching arc as an assassin in Killing Eve to Fleabag's grief arc in Fleabag, these series have a way of surprising viewers with excellent storytelling and nuanced portrayals of characters that get under their skin. Bigger franchises like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad are also known to produce perfect characters that exceed viewers' expectations. The best arcs are the ones that are authentic to the character's experiences, and they are not always easy to spot.
10 Fleabag Goes Through Grief
Something is clearly going on with Fleabag. Her world is falling apart, and no one seems to care. The Phoebe Waller-Bridge drama series seems to be about someone whose world is on fire. From endless hookups to her uncanny humor to the breaking of the 4th wall, Fleabag takes viewers down a wild ride that's a little too relatable.
However, at the core of Fleabag's Season 1 character arc is grief and its different stages, and she's been punishing herself for being the cause of her best friend's death. Season 2 sees Fleabag being in a generally good place, avoiding all the things that are broken until someone cares enough to ask. Fleabag goes through an emotional journey that examines what love is. The answer may not be what she's looking for, but it's exactly what she needs to hear.
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Fleabag
Fleabag’s power to move and captivate audiences from all nationalities is remarkable, and no series is close to taking that away. In each episode, there’s something new to love, hang on to, and applaud.
Fleabag is a tragic story of a sweet life gone sour. Phoebe Walter-Bridge, the writer and star artist, owns a guinea-pig-themed café, which all started with her friend Boo (Jenny Rainsford). Currently, she is with her creepy boyfriend (Ben Aldridge). Yes, the mysterious word perfectly suits him for loving anal sex and presumably for being so arrogant. Phoebe remembers her ex-boyfriend Harry (Hugh Skinner), who broke up with her for masturbating to Barrack Obama’s speeches. Sounds crazy, right?
There are many awful flashbacks from Phoebe related to meaningless sexual encounters she has ever had with terrible people. It’s a crazy and hilarious ride, and you must be yearning to see all the drama in action rather than on reading. Keeping up with a woman trying to heal is commendable, but the episodes pay off massively once you start watching.
You will find yourself being caught up by the strengths and pureness of the characters since they all got unexplored depths. They are all broken and defeated with all their energy deflecting on whatever life throws at them, which is amusing. Unless the last episode concludes with all characters driving off a bus to a cliff, you will excitingly watch them for days as they wallow into their miseries.
- Genre
- Comedy
- Language
- English
- Number of Seasons
- 2
- Debut Date
- July 21, 2016
- Studio
- Amazon Studios
See at Amazon
9 Villanelle Becomes a Tired Assassin in Killing Eve

Being an assassin has its perks. Villanelle starts Killing Eve as a skillful and flamboyant assassin, who seems to enjoy her deadly career. However, meeting Eve triggers something deep and soft inside her and makes her question everything she knows. The series follows Villanelle as she tries to settle down and seeks to advance herself in the organization.
She also explores her sexuality and goes back home, which leads to massive deaths. Every move Villanelle makes in the series hits hard. The series takes viewers on a painful journey that Villanelle goes through and even sees her trying for redemption. What makes her character arc flawless is the fact that it's tailored to her — a psychopath and a troubled young woman who was rejected and abandoned as a child.

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Killing Eve
8 Arya Stark Has the Best Arc in Game of Thrones

In a cruel world like Westeros, Arya Stark will either grow up to be someone's Lady or a fighter like Brienne of Tarth. Game of Thrones makes it even better by having her join the Hound before heading toward Braavos.
For a young girl who has a kill list, it almost seems hopeless for her to ever reach what she desires. However, Arya finds the Faceless Man to teach her how to become an assassin. She's told to forget her name and title, which she does, but serving the Many Face God isn't her calling. She finds herself in the end and heads back to Westeros to play her part in the war. Arya Stark's revenge on House Frey is one of the deadliest moments on Game of Thrones, but it's also one of the best.

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Game Of Thrones
TV-MA
Drama
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Where to Watch
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- Release Date
- April 17, 2011
- Creator(s)
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Cast
- Kit Harington, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Iain Glen, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, John Bradley, Lena Headey, Liam Cunningham, Aidan Gillen, Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Rory McCann, Jerome Flynn, Jacob Anderson, Kristofer Hivju, Gwendoline Christie, Nathalie Emmanuel, Carice Van Houten, Natalie Dormer, Stephen Dillane, Charles Dance, charlotte hope, Michelle Fairley, Jack Gleeson, Richard Madden, Hannah Murray, Sibel Kekilli, Julian Glover, Brenock O'Connor, Rose Leslie, Michael McElhatton
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Seasons
- 8
- Creator
- Production Company
- Story By
- George R.R. Martin
- Writers
- D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff
- Number of Episodes
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
- Directors
- David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
- Showrunner
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Character(s)
- Jon Snow, Brandon Bran Stark, Sir Jorah Mormont, Tyrion The Halfman Lannister, Sir Jaime Kingslayer Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Samwell Sam Tarly, Cersei Lannister, Davos Seaworth, Petyr Littlefinger Baelish, Theon Greyjoy, Lord Varys, Sandor The Hound Clegane, Bronn, Grey Worm, Tormund Giantsbane, Brienne of Tarth, Missandei, Melisandre, Margaery Tyrell, Stannis Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Myranda, Catelyn Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Robb Stark, Gilly, Shae, Grand Maester Pycelle, Olly, Ygritte, Roose Bolton
7 Jesse Pinkman Deserves a Second Chance in Breaking Bad

In Breaking Bad, Walter is deteriorating in fear and greed, but Jesse Pinkman's arc is about making better choices and growing up. Jesse isn't a bad person. He's young and inexperienced. He made countless impulsive decisions without thinking through them, which landed him deeper and deeper into the criminal world. With everyone dropping like flies in the last seasons, it almost seems that Jesse isn't going to make it.
Jesse has endured a lot of bad things over the course of Breaking Bad due to Walter. If anyone deserves a second chance, it's Jesse, which is exactly what Breaking Bad delivers. After everything Jesse has gone through, he's able to be free and heal from the bad experiences.

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9
10
Breaking Bad
Crime
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
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- Release Date
- January 20, 2008
- Cast
- Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito, Steven Michael Quezada, Charles Baker, Christopher Cousins, Matt Jones, Michael Shamus Wiles, Lavell Crawford, Jesse Plemons, Ray Campbell, Tina Parker, Carmen Serano, Emily Rios, Krysten Ritter, Laura Fraser, Jeremiah Bitsui, Mark Margolis, Ian Posada, David House, David Costabile, michael bowen, Kevin Rankin, Aaron Hill, Harry Groener, Patrick Sane, Daniel Moncada, Luis Moncada, Marius Stan, Bill Burr, Todd Terry, Jessica Hecht, Tait Fletcher, Rodney Rush, Kaija Roze Bales, Matt Metzler, John de Lancie, Tom Kiesche, Jere Burns, Maurice Compte, Morse Bicknell, Nigel Gibbs, Tess Harper, Raymond Cruz, Max Arciniega, Cesar Garcia, Jesus Jr., Michael Bofshever, Julie Dretzin, Mike Seal, Christopher Dempsey, Javier Grajeda, Mike Batayeh, Chris Freihofer, Louis Ferreira, Gonzalo Menendez, Jason Douglas, Adam Godley
- Rating
- Seasons
- 5
- Website
- Franchise
- Cinematographer
- Creator
- Distributor
- Filming Locations
- Main Characters
- Prequel
- Producer
- Production Company
- Sequel
- Story By
- Vince Gilligan
- Writers
- Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, Vince Gilligan, George Mastras, Moira Walley-Beckett, Sam Catlin, Thomas Schnauz
- Number of Episodes
- Network
- AMC
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Franchise(s)
- Breaking Bad
- Directors
- Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren
- Showrunner
- Vince Gilligan
- Character(s)
- Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Hank Schrader, Marie Schrader, Skyler White, Walter White Jr., Saul Goodman, Mike Ehrmantraut, Gus Fring, Steven Gomez, Skinny Pete, Ted Beneke, Badger, ASAC George Merkert, Huell, Todd, Tyrus Kitt, Francesca, Carmen Molina, Andrea Cantillo, Jane Margolis, Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, Victor, Tío Salamanca, Brock Cantillo, Dr. Delcavoli, Gale Boetticher, Uncle Jack, Kenny, Jock, Dr. Chavez, Frankie, Leonel Salamanca, Marco Salamanca, Bogdan Wolynetz, Kuby, SAC Ramey, Gretchen Schwartz, Lester, Combo, Kaylee Ehrmantraut, Matt, Donald Margolis, Clovis, Group Leader, Gaff, Declan's Driver, APD Detective Tim Roberts, Mrs. Pinkman, Tuco Salamanca, Krazy-8, No-Doze, Gonzo, Mr. Pinkman, Pamela, Rival Dealer #1, Hospital Medic, ER Doctor #1, E.M.T, Juan Bolsa, Dennis Markowski, Dan Wachsberger, Declan, Detective Kalanchoe, Detective Munn, Elliott Schwartz
6 Jimmy McGill Was Born for the Criminal World

Jimmy McGill has always been a cunning lawyer, who walks a different path than his brother, Chuck. His character arc is about being authentic, and it does seem like destiny has a hand in shaping McGill's career. As a lawyer, Jimmy struggles to make ends meet. Unlike his brother, Jimmy didn't seem to be able to find success in normal jobs and fields.
Related
10 Best Saul Goodman Moments in Breaking Bad, Ranked
Saul Goodman has some of the best and most iconic scenes in Breaking Bad.
On the other hand, Jimmy thrives in the criminal world. He's not above pulling a heist or con or threatening someone to get the job done. Unlike those who have a conscience and genuinely regret what they've done, Jimmy doesn't. Jimmy may have gotten away at the end of Breaking Bad, but he can't find fulfillment in a normal new life. Jimmy still struggles. Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul work toward building his full character arc, and it's simply perfect through and through.

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Better Call Saul
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Where to Watch
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- Release Date
- February 8, 2015
- Cast
- Adam Dorn, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Peter Gould, Rhea Seehorn, Stacy Keach, Thomas Golubić, Thomas Schnauz, Vince Gilligan, Dave Porter, Junior Brown, Rob Estrada, Gordon Smith, Michael McKean, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Tony Dalton, Giancarlo Esposito, Stoney Westmoreland, Alex Désert, Elisha Yaffe, Chris Mulkey, Jim Beaver, Raymond Cruz, Teddy Eggleston
- Seasons
- 6
- Story By
- Peter Gould
- Writers
- Ann Cherkis, Marion Dayre, Ariel Levine, Jonathan Glatzer
- Network
- AMC
- Franchise(s)
- Breaking Bad
- Directors
- Vince Gilligan, Thomas Schnauz, Peter Gould, Michael Morris, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, John Shiban, Michelle MacLaren, Melissa Bernstein, Larysa Kondracki, Terry McDonough, Gordon Smith, Minkie Spiro, Jim McKay, Daniel Sackheim, Andrew Stanton, Norberto Barba, Rhea Seehorn, Scott Winant, Michael Slovis, Keith Gordon, Deborah Chow, Giancarlo Esposito, Bronwen Hughes
- Showrunner
- Peter Gould
- Character(s)
- Self - Songwriter, Self - Mike, Self - Showrunner, Self - Kim, Narrator (voice), Self - Music Supervisor, Self - Co-Executive Producer, Self - Showrunner / Songwriter, Self - Composer, Self - Musician, Police Officer, Self - Writer, Gus Fring, Officer Saxton, Officer Baker, Lance, Billy Gatwood, Lawson, Tuco Salamanca, Mrs. Siemasko
- Producers
- Bob Odenkirk, Mark Johnson, Robin Sweet, Diane Mercer, James Powers, Alison Tatlock, Princess O'Mahoney, Stewart Lyons, Gennifer Hutchison, Nina Jack
5 Elsa Lived a Full Life in 1883

Death is the normality in 1883. Even though the journey is full of danger and hardship, Elsa grows up from a girl to a cowgirl while traveling across the Wild West. She meets and loses her first love on the road before meeting her husband, Sam, who's a Comanche warrior. Despite being the best rider in the migration group, Elsa meets her end as a warrior while protecting her family from an attack by the Lakota.
Her death is heroic, which sees her putting an end to a feud that originated from a misunderstanding. It costs Elsa her life, but she's able to save so many more. Her family wouldn't have survived if she hadn't tried to clear up the misunderstanding with the Lakota chief. While her character arc is only limited to one season, it's rich and meaningful.

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1883
Western
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- Release Date
- December 19, 2021
- Cast
- Isabel May, Tim McGraw
- Rating
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Ron Burkle
- Writers
- Ron Burkle
- Network
- CBS
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount Plus, Prime Video
- Directors
- Ron Burkle
- Showrunner
- Ron Burkle
4 Jessa Finally Stays in Girls

Growth is one thing that can't be forced. However, one's decision can be influenced by a single speech. Jessa is the ultimate cool girl in Girls, or at least that's how she appears to be in Season 1. As a person who has to disappear from her life and move to a new place all the time, Jessa has commitment issues. She also struggles with drugs, but she hides her issues away from her friends.
What's perfect about Jessa's character arc is that the series never tries to force a vulnerable moment on her, yet still is able to show her growth. There's always a sense of sadness and brokenness in Jessa, even though she tries to hide it. To fix herself, she has tried everything, including marrying a man she despises, disappearing and trying to stay with her friends. What's amazing about Jessa is that she never stops trying, even if it means sometimes, she can be wrong. The series also gives her character a suitable ending, having her end up with Adam and collaborating on a film. Jessa is a creative, and her experience as an artist is authentic.

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Girls
3 Sons of Anarchy Puts Gemma Through the Best and the Worst
Sons of Anarchy takes Gemma apart and puts her back together. As a biker's old lady, Gemma always seems tough on the outside. She's very skillful when it comes to getting men to do her bidding. At the same time, Gemma is ruthless and cruel. She's nosy and controlling. It almost seems that nothing could shake Gemma. Yet, the series finds a way to show her vulnerable side.
Gemma starts deteriorating when she's cut off from her family. The disconnection from her family has an effect on her that fans couldn't see up until the point she starts breaking down. It explains why Gemma does what she does in a way that doesn't break her character. Being able to get deep with a character who has a tough exterior isn't simple, but Sons of Anarchy did it well.

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10
Sons of Anarchy
Crime
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
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- Release Date
- September 8, 2008
- Cast
- Kim Coates, Charlie Hunnam, Theo Rossi, Mark Boone Junior, Maggie Siff, Katey Sagal, Tommy Flanagan, Ron Perlman
- Seasons
- 7
- Story By
- Kurt Sutter
- Writers
- Kurt Sutter, Chris Collins
- Number of Episodes
- Network
- FX
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Franchise(s)
- Sons Of Anarchy
- Directors
- Kurt Sutter
- Showrunner
- Kurt Sutter
2 John Dorian Remains True to Himself in Scrubs

JD is quirky and honest, like a walking mirror of his best friend, Turk. Scrubs begins on their first day working at the hospital. While JD is a physician, Turk is a surgeon. The series revolves around JD's growth as a physician and a person. He struggles to make an impression with his boss while being targeted by the janitor. JD deals with a lot of daily stressors, but he's taking everything in and learning from them while having fun.
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Every Scrubs Season Finale, Ranked
Scrubs is one of the most endearing and beloved sitcoms of all time that has managed to almost always stick the landing with its season finales.
JD's love life is a disaster at the beginning of the series. He is eventually able to figure things out with Elliot Reid, who walks a very different path from JD professionally. What makes JD's character arc the best is the fact that even though he's far from the person at the beginning of the show, he's still himself. His friendship with Turk didn't change. His quirky personality didn't change either. JD stays young in spirit and handles things well.

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Scrubs
Comedy
Drama
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- Release Date
- October 1, 2001
- Cast
- John C. McGinley, Robert Maschio, Donald Faison, Christa Miller, Neil Flynn, Judy Reyes, Aloma Wright, Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Sam Lloyd, Ken Jenkins
- Rating
- Seasons
- 9
- Creator
- Distributor
- Main Characters
- Production Company
- Number of Episodes
- Story By
- Bill Lawrence
- Writers
- Bill Lawrence
- Network
- ABC, NBC
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Prime Video
- Directors
- Bill Lawrence
- Showrunner
- Bill Lawrence
1 Neal Caffrey Walks Away as a Free Man in White Collar

Neal Caffrey is a skilled thief and master forger. While his skills are useful in the FBI, Neal will never be an agent. What drives him is the thrill of successfully pulling off a heist and not being caught. Neal is never going to be another Burke, but he's too talented to be locked up.
The series centers around a very delicate dance between Neal and Burke, the FBI agent who caught him in the first place. Together, they work on bringing many criminals to justice while Neal seeks to outsmart Burke. The push and pull between the two is the best, and once the series moves past the girlfriend arc, Neal's character is set free. He's cunning and charismatic, problematic, and morally gray, but still has a moral code.

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10
White Collar
TV-PG
Mystery
Crime
Comedy
Drama
Where to Watch
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- Release Date
- October 23, 2009
- Creator(s)
- Jeff Eastin
- Cast
- Matt Bomer, Tim Dekay, Willie Garson, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins, Marsha Thomason, Hilarie Burton, Diahann Carroll, Natalie Morales, Bridget Regan, Ross McCall, Gloria Votsis, Sheena Colette, Alexandra Daddario, Alex Kruz, Christopher Stadulis, Treat Williams, Mark Sheppard, Brian James Pepe, Judith Ivey, Gavin Lee, Noah Emmerich, Kelly McCreary, Piper Kenny, Steven Weisz, James Schram, Jayce Bartok, Charlie Hewson, Daralina Komar, Ryan James Nolan, Beau Bridges, Michael Crowe, Sprague Grayden, Eyas Younis, Isaach De Bankole
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Seasons
- 6
- Creator
- Network
- USA
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Dis, Netflix
- Character(s)
- Neal Caffrey, Peter Burke, Mozzie, Elizabeth Burke, Clinton Jones, Diana Berrigan, Sara Ellis, June, Lauren Cruz, Rebecca, Matthew Keller, Alex Hunter, FBI Agent, Kate, Paramedic, Sam Phelps, Curtis Hagen, Ellen Parker, Alan Woodford, Garrett Fowler, Yvonne, OPR Agent, Devlin, Blake, Office Receptionist, Agent Westley, Agent Kramer, Younger Ellen, Aubrey, Luc Renaud
- TV
- Game Of Thrones
- killing eve
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