8 Best TV Characters Introduced In The Final Season

by

It’s surprisingly difficult, but sometimes TV shows introduce memorable characters late in the series – like Mike Hannigan from Friends or Gus Haynes from The Wire. The challenge is that by the final season, the show’s established relationships and storylines are already in place, and adding someone new means less screen time for the characters we’ve been following all along as their stories wrap up.

It’s tough for new characters to become popular late in a TV series, but it can work. The introduction of the ‘mother’ on How I Met Your Mother finally paid off after eight seasons of build-up. Other shows have also successfully introduced memorable characters near the end, like Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad and Boon in Justified.

Boon

Justified

The final season of Justified introduced Boon as Raylan Givens’s last significant adversary. Initially appearing as an assistant to Avery Markham, Boon quickly became his most trusted enforcer after Ty Walker’s death. Many viewers consider Boon to be the most intimidating villain in the entire series, making him a fitting final challenge for Raylan.

It felt right that Boon was both the last person to die on screen in Justified and the last person Raylan ever killed. He essentially acted as the final, major villain of the series, and fulfilled that role perfectly.

Mr. Kruger

Seinfeld

Throughout the series Seinfeld, George Costanza frequently changed jobs. While Jerry remained a comedian and Kramer’s income was never really explained, George held a variety of positions. His most memorable boss was probably George Steinbrenner, brilliantly portrayed by Larry David, but a close second would be the hilariously incompetent Mr. Kruger, president of Kruger Industrial Smoothing.

Mr. Kruger was incredibly unprofessional, which ironically made George seem competent by comparison. Whenever they worked together, George always had to take the lead and be the responsible one. The late Daniel von Bargen brilliantly portrayed Kruger’s incompetence with a completely serious demeanor. Though Kruger only appeared in four episodes, he was a standout character and really shone in that final season.

Frankie Dart

Community

Let me tell you, Paget Brewster is a comedic powerhouse. She has this incredible ability to walk onto any show – whether it’s a classic like Friends or something animated like BoJack Horseman – and instantly elevate it, even with a smaller part. That’s exactly what happened with Community. She joined the main cast as Frankie Dart in the final season, and honestly, she was a breath of fresh air. She just made the whole show even better.

Frankie played the role of the sensible one, keeping things grounded while everyone else created chaos. Brewster was perfect for this, delivering dry, witty remarks and responding to all the wildness with a straight face.

The Priest

Fleabag

Like many British TV series, Fleabag only had two seasons. So, when the second and final season started, the show was only halfway through its planned story. However, the first season immediately showcased a clear and confident creative direction. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s complex and relatable main character, along with the show’s unique and witty style of directly addressing the audience, were already well-defined by the time season two began.

Andrew Scott was a perfect fit as The Priest, Fleabag’s love interest. Like Fleabag herself, he’s funny, direct, and doesn’t shy away from strong language—an unusual trait for a priest. As a Catholic priest, he’s not allowed to have romantic relationships, but the chemistry and attraction between him and Fleabag are immediately obvious.

Gus Haynes

The Wire

Each season of The Wire focused on a different part of Baltimore’s system – like the police, schools, or docks – and brought in a new set of characters. The show’s last season is often debated, as the storyline about the media felt a bit over-the-top for a show known for its realism. However, it did introduce the fantastic character of Gus Haynes.

Like the legendary Bunk Moreland and Bunny Colvin before him, Gus stood for truth and integrity when corruption was rampant. While other news outlets crumbled and reporters started fabricating stories, Gus remained dedicated to real, honest journalism.

Mike Hannigan

Friends

Phoebe Buffay and Mike Hannigan are considered one of the best couples in sitcom history. Their relationship began playfully when Joey accidentally set Phoebe up on a blind date with a made-up man named Mike, and then quickly grabbed the first person named Mike he could find. Surprisingly, this Mike turned out to be Phoebe’s perfect match.

The cast of Friends is considered one of the best television ensembles of all time. Paul Rudd was perfectly suited to join the group in its final season—he was charming and friendly enough to fit right in without feeling out of place. His character, Mike, appreciates Phoebe’s quirky personality, and while he’s playfully silly himself, he also provides a sense of stability for her.

Todd Alquist

Breaking Bad

Throughout Breaking Bad, Walter White relied on Jesse Pinkman as a key accomplice, though Jesse’s conscience frequently interfered with Walt’s crimes. Jesse was also perceptive enough to realize when Walt was taking advantage of him. By the final season, Walt sought a new partner who wouldn’t pose those same problems.

Todd Alquist was easily manipulated and lacked a moral compass, which allowed him to accept Walt’s questionable decisions without hesitation. Jesse Plemons solidified his career playing unsettling characters, captivating audiences with his calm and mesmerizing performance as Todd in the final season of Breaking Bad.

Tracy McConnell

How I Met Your Mother

After eight seasons of anticipation, How I Met Your Mother needed to introduce the mother of Ted’s children. She had to be a character viewers would root for as his partner, even more than his previous love interests. She also needed to be funny, engaging, and have great on-screen chemistry with the existing cast so she could seamlessly fit into the group at the very end of the series.

Asking an actress to step into the role of Tracy McConnell was a big challenge, but Cristin Milioti handled it flawlessly. She was by far Ted’s most charming and compatible love interest, and quickly built wonderful relationships with the rest of the cast – particularly Lily. Despite nailing the casting of the mother, the show’s finale still didn’t quite work.

Read More

2025-12-07 14:00