27 Characters Who Took 2015 by Storm

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It's time for our best and worst lists of 2015! We'll have quite an array coming your way before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2015, so settle in and enjoy the ride. These are totally subjective. We're fanatics, dontcha know?!

Up first? Breakouts! These characters from 2015 were either new to the scene or had something to prove after being on the air for some time. But they made their mark.

You never know when a character is going to get their turn to shine, but it's always amazing to see when it happens.

Do you agree with our choices? What characters do you think took 2015 by storm? Hit the comments and share your own picks with us!

1. Lily Salvatore - The Vampire Diaries

Lily Salvatore. She walked the fine line of villain and hero, creating a character caked in grey who wanted what was best for her family... but who wasn't afraid to do some crazy $hit when need be. May she rest in peace.

2. Ravi - iZombie

Ravi from iZombie. As Liv's best friend and confidant, he has never judged her and has worked tirelessly to find her a cure. He's consistently hilarious and the banter between him and Liv is easily the best part of the show.

3. Oliver - How to Get Away with Murder

Oliver from How to Get Away With Murder. His relationship with Connor blossomed in a way that was unexpectedly sweet. When it appeared his life was in danger, fans freaked out at the possibility the one genuinely good person in the show would be killed off.

4. Brian Finch - Limitless

Brian Finch from Limitless. He is the perfect guy to be hooked on NZT and forced to work with the feds. Brian has a huge heart, a mischievous side, and a fantastic sense of humor. He breathes life into potentially boring cases. Plus he pulls off the grandpa sweaters, which takes skill, friends. He makes it impossible to wait for the next adventure of the Bruntouchables in Headquarters!

5. Jason Crouse - The Good Wife

Jason Crouse from The Good Wife. Is Alicia's new investigator a sociopath with anger issues? Is he secretly investigating her? Or is he just a good guy with a troubled past? We have absolutely no idea. The only thing we do know is that we want to see a lot more of Jeffrey Dean Morgan in this role.

6. Jennifer Goines - 12 Monkeys

The first breakout character that comes to mind is Jennifer Goines in 12 Monkeys. Brad Pitt's brilliant performance in the feature film was going to be a tough act to follow. So, the creators of the television series switched genders and hired Emily Hampshire. Not only does Jennifer steal every scene she's in, but the actress made the role her own playing crazy arguably better than Pitt. Throughout the first season, we met Jennifer at different points in her life and she always managed to engage and entertain us. Jennifer is a series regular in Season 2.

7. Jane Doe - Blindspot

Jane Doe on Blind Spot. Being able to show an emotional range from fragile and scared to ass-kicking and confident allows us to feel closer to Jane, and it is amazing how much Jaimie Alexander does this as Jane almost entirely just with her eyes and facial reactions.

8. Zelena - Once Upon a Time

Zelena on Once Upon a Time. Last season we had no interest in the Wicked Witch, but now we're completely intrigued. Suddenly she's a lot less whiny and has more of an edge, plus she's definitely inherited sister Regina's gift for sarcasm. Will her baby daughter change her? We're both hoping she does (and doesn't) but will definitely be watching to see what happens next.

9. Kathryn Kennish - Switched at Birth

Kathryn Kennish from Switched at Birth. Kathryn has always been the heart of the show, but this season she proved just how strong she is. Kathryn finally put her foot down when it came to John's antics and made him see how much he's lose if she ever went away. We can't wait to see what is going to happen next.

10. Laurel Lance - Arrow

Laurel seemed to have a rough start on Arrow, but proved that she's willing to rise to any challenge. When her sister first left Starling City, Laurel wanted to follow in her footsteps. When Sara died, however, there was no stopping Laurel. With the help of others and her unwavering confidence, Laurel soon earned the title Black Canary and a trusted role on Team Arrow.

11. Jessica - Jessica Jones

Jessica from Jessica Jones. We're pleasantly surprised at the layers of this character and the acting range of Kristin Ritter. She can play crazy, hilarious and serious all in a matter of scenes. She has a gritty "don't give a damn" attitude mixed with a lot of flaws and vulnerability. She's everything a female lead should be!

12. Chad DiMera - Days of Our Lives

Chad Dimera on Days of Our Lives. Once teenaged, Chad is all grown up and come into his own with the help of dynamic recast Billy Flynn. Despite being a member of Salem’s top crime family, Chad is on the verge being the town’s latest hero. Will he and Abigail be the show’s next super couple? If not, it won’t be from Chad’s lack of trying as he's the only person in Salem determined to save her from her psychotic fiance.

13. Hakeem - Empire

Hakeem really dragged himself out of the muck on Empire Season 2. It would be hard to imagine he was anybody's favorite character on Season 1, but suddenly he's strong, independent and is showing the same keen business sense that propelled his parents to the top. While they were still fawning over Jamal, Hakeem made a move that will change the landscape of Empire in 2016. Well, we were paying attention, even if they weren't!

14. Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett - Orange is the New Black

Pennsatucky from Orange Is The New Black. She spent all of season one as an insufferable villain, but in the third season, we saw a completely different side to her. The abuse she was forced to suffer at the hands of one of the correctional officers was incredibly difficult to watch, and her stoic reaction to it was heartbreaking. Taryn Manning did an incredible job of making this once hated character sympathetic.

15. Gretchen - You're the Worst

Gretchen on You're the Worst has been consistently incredible during the depression arc. She's run the gamut of all the most painful and unglamorous human emotions and it's one of the most authentic and moving performances we've ever seen. The show and everyone on it is awesome and she's been the best part of it for at least half of this season.

16. Angus Leighton - Code Black

Angus Leighton from Code Black. He is always going to put the patients first, even if he has to step on some toes, usually Savetti's. Of the new residents, he is a standout.

17. Mitch Morgan - Zoo

Mitch Morgan on Zoo, played fabulously by Billy Burke. He was a secondary character who ended up completely stealing every episode with his dry humor and his sarcastic jabs at other characters. He didn't even have to say a word in his scenes; so long as the camera cut to him giving an exasperated look, he managed to say everything. By the end of the first season, we were way more invested in Mitch's side stories than the main character, Jackson...or even the animal epidemic! (Sorry James Wolk...better luck in Season 2?)

18. Chad Radwell - Scream Queens

Chad Radwell from Scream Queens. When Chad was first introduced at the beginning of the season, we had no idea that he'd be such a memorable, hilarious character. But Chanel's kinda-sorta boyfriend has stolen the show time after time with his amazing one-liners, rapid-fire delivery, and hilarious facial expressions. Also his collection of hats far trumps Grace's.

19. The Countess - American Horror Story: Hotel

The Countess on AHS: Hotel. When the announcement broke that she’d be replacing Jessica Lange on AHS S5, much of the fandom was somewhat displeased at losing such an amazing lead. BUT! Lady Gaga has shocked and surprised in all the right ways with the manner in which she portrays the Countess, a cold, calculated, immortal murderess who exudes sex and seduction with every bat of her over-mascara-ed eyelashes. Maybe she was born with it...

20. Lucien - The Originals

Lucien on The Originals. In pre-season interviews Yusuf Gatewood told us to watch out for Andrew Leeds and the energy he would bring to our fictional New Orleans. So far we’ve loved him, hated him, loved him again, and now a lot of us love to hate him. Given Lucien’s penchant for turning up the charm at all the right times, he’s definitely making a splash.

21. Lucy Elkins - The Knick

Lucy Elkins on The Knick. She was great on season one, but she's really come into her own this year. She's throwing off the strictures of her brutal upbringing, finding agency in her work, taking the upper hand in her new relationship, and generally stealing the show.

22. Donna Clark - Halt and Catch Fire

Donna Clark came alive on Halt and Catch Fire Season 2. When given the chance to break free and work with Cameron, she became the glue that held the fledgling upstart together. Joe's career took a backseat, and Donna not only moved forward with hers, but made surprising personal choices to ensure nothing would hold her back.

23. Tom Keen - The Blacklist

Tom on The Blacklist. After his return on The Blacklist Season 2, which wasn't a surprise, his arc just wasn't that interesting. It would have been fine if he sailed away and never came back. But his teamup with Harold, his desire to start fresh and his eagerness to help Liz at any cost on The Blacklist Season 3 has been a fantastic turnaround for his character. He's been far more exciting to watch, including his interactions with Harold and Ressler, and he's gotten some great quippy lines of dialogue in addition to getting to play a pretty cool off-the-books covert agent.

24. Leo Fitz - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Leo Fitz from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We all fell in love with Fitz as the awkward, gadget genius who is incredibly loyal to Shield and to his best friend, Simmons. But this year with Simmons' disappearance, we saw Fitz, the shy engineer become Fitz, the hero. Fitz never gave up on finding Simmons, even when his team did. Fitz is able to do what Hydra has been trying to do for centuries when he figures out how to rescue Simmons from the mysterious planet. But it's after he saves Simmons that Fitz shows his true heroism. Leo Fitz puts his love for Simmons aside while he works to save the "other man" that Simmons loves, Will, from the planet too.

25. Cat Grant - Supergirl

Cat Grant on Supergirl. Billed as the boss from hell, she's turned out to be a surprising mentor for Supergirl. Sure she's demanding, she always cuts through the BS and gives it to Kara straight. Her no nonsense advice on how to succeed as a woman playing in a man's world has made her a guru for girls everywhere.

26. Jenkins - The Librarians

Jenkins, The Librarians. This series doesn't get nearly enough love, and Jenkins is quite possibly the most entertaining part of it. The man who was once Sir Galahad of Camelot has evolved from an isolated, cranky researcher to the guy who will in one breath help with the Chupacabra jerky and in the next take advantage of his unkillability to save the Librarians from normally-lethal gas. John Larroquette brings humor, charm, and a quirky gravitas to the character, and it's hard to imagine how the Librarians would get on without him.

27. Mr. March - American Horror Story: Hotel

Mr. March on American Horror Story: Hotel. Every scene he's in sends the goosebumps rising. He's the creepiest of the creepy, grotesquely fascinating, and one of the most mesmerizing characters we've ever seen.

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Best/Worst 2015, Photo Galleries
Shows:
12 Monkeys, Zoo, Blindspot, iZombie, How to Get Away with Murder, Limitless, The Good Wife, Once Upon a Time, Switched at Birth, Days of Our Lives, Orange is the New Black, The Knick, Scream Queens, American Horror Story, The Originals, You're the Worst, The Blacklist, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Supergirl, The Librarians, Empire, Halt and Catch Fire, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow
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