In every show, it seems, there are characters that always leave us wanting more. They are hidden gems of a series, or side characters who deserve more prominence and recognition.
Many of these characters are queer; the gay best friend, the lesbian cousin, or the partner of a beloved protagonist. They are often highlights of their respective shows, there to make us laugh and cry, and to improve the show in incalculable ways. And, they are often hugely underrated by viewers.
So, we decided to give them their time in the spotlight. Here they are; seven of the most underrated queer characters on TV.
1. Captain Ray Holt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
There's a reason Andre Braugher received back-to-back Emmy nominations for his role as the oft-robotic police captain who spends his days trying to keep the chaotic detectives of the Nine-Nine on track.
While season two seems to be giving us more Raymond Holt screen time, (including his continued Halloween rivalry with Detective Jake Peralta, and ongoing war with Madeline Wuntch) we certainly wouldn't turn down more.
At this point, we'd probably be happy just following him around for an entire episode.
2. Dr. Sadie, New Girl
June Diane Raphael has appeared in six episodes of this FOX hit, and has shined in every one of them. Her role as Jess's old friend/go-to medical professional has provided numerous opportunities for laughs, all of which Raphael has knocked out of the park. Her delivery is impeccable and her sass is captivating.
Not to mention that every scene she has with Schmidt (Max Greenfield) is golden.
3. Collette Kimball-Kinney, The Mindy Project
A new addition to season four, Collette is a beautiful soul just trying to find her way in the big city. Her coming out story was endearing and relatable, and her relationship with brother Jody is a strangely refreshing storyline for the Hulu series.
4. Oliver, How to Get Away With Murder
When thinking of queer characters on this ABC hit, Oliver is not the first that comes to mind. Most everyone is going to think of his boyfriend Connor, or — now that her bisexual storyline has been revealed — lead character Annalise. But Oliver is the true gem here.
In the current season, Oliver is really coming into his own. He's stepping up as a larger character, and in the most recent episode he finally met Annalise. And, in a shocking turn of events, she was actually nice to him.
With the recent cancelation of Looking, Oliver is also one of the only recurring HIV+ characters on scripted television. He represents a hugely underrepresented and misunderstood community, which is amazing and needed.
5. Hernando, Sense8
Honestly, the entire cast of Sense8 could be on this list. Writers and stars of the show have said that they consider all eight of them to be pansexual and, as the show is not nearly as popular as it should be, we consider all of them underrated. That said, Hernando is our pick for this list.
While not a main cast member of the show, Hernando stands out as a confident, sexy, kind, supportive, talented, and brilliant individual who takes care of partner Lito, and their live-in bestie Daniela. He's funny, hot as hell and he and Lito together are too adorable for words.
6. Ellaria Sand, Game of Thrones
After the (SPOILER ALERT) death of her love, Oberyn Martell, in season four, it would have been easy for Ellaria to head back to Dorne, never to be heard from again. Instead, upon her return to Dorne, she tried to provoke a war between two countries, and rounded up the "Sand Snakes" (three bastard daughters of her beloved) to plan their revenge; an assassination.
Indira Varma portrays Ellaria perfectly as a woman who saw the love of her life brutally murdered in front of her and, while killing an innocent child was definitely not the best way to avenge Oberyn's death, it does mean we'll likely see more of her next season, which is excellent news.
7. Nomi Marks, Sense8
OK, we lied. Hernando wasn't our only pick from this Netflix original. How could he be? How could we leave Nomi off the list?
The hacker extraordinaire brings so much life to the series. She's the brains behind the group, her strong and lasting relationship with girlfriend Amanita illustrates a truly beautiful partnership, and she's always there when another sensate needs care and attention.
Long story short: She's a gift to the show, and Jamie Clayton plays her stunningly.
So there you have it. Our list of underrated queer characters. Who would you add? Tell us in the comments!
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