Characters who were better/more interesting than the lead?

[TheNameNerd]

I always wished that we could have learned more about Santiago in Interview with The Vampire(Book and film). He seemed so interesting from the few details we got and I'd rather have spent more time with him than Louis. I do like Louis but he can be a little tedious.

Which side characters did you prefer over the main characters?

Lesley May in the Rivers of London books.

Avon in Blake's Seven.

Apparently they were thinking of doing a remake and wanted to make Avon more PC. So no scathing remarks about Vila's incompetence or brain power and no sarcasm. Paul Darrow said he wouldn't do it in that case.

God, I had such a passion for Avon when I was young. I liked em feisty.

Pretty much every character in Orange is the New Black other than Piper

@Sandysandwich snap!

Olaf

Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim vs The World.

Almost every character in Harry Potter

Yes

If anyone is old enough - Dallas was originally focussed on Bobby and Pam, they didn’t even give JR and Sue Ellen background lines. Linda Gray said she and Larry Hagman had so much fun ad-libbing and became really popular with the audiences who loved their fighting/mud slinging.

My first thought was Rizzo and Kenickie!
Jessie and Slater in Saved by the Bell
Anyone other than Meredith and Derek in Greys.

Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
CJ & Toby in The West Wing
Doug in House of Cards

I’m sure there are more but generally, yes, the supporting characters are generally much more interesting than the (often more famous) lead.

This.

So many character’s they could have spun off.

The Weasleys, particularly Fred & George. Luna (yes, I know they did more in The Deathly Hallows. The fabulous Professor Snape. Professor McGonegall.

Twilight - The Cullen family were more interesting than Edward & Bella
Harry Potter - Luna Lovegood was more interesting than The Golden Trio

Signora Madeline Neroni in Barchester Towers. Escaped an abusive husband, may or may not have faked disability to avoid having to remarry, whilst remaining the centre of all social occasions, and ripped the piss out of every pompous man who crossed her path. Literally sang mocking songs at them as they left.

The main character is basically a standard virtuous Victorian wife, and comes across as a massive prig in comparison, a fact that Trollope seems well aware of.

Second one: Lady Audley, who is the villainess in Lady Audley’s secret (the hero is her dead husband’s best friend). She pulls herself up from poverty by her bootstraps, fights back when her abusive husband threatens her, unfortunately he ends up down a well, so she reinvents herself again. Then successfully pleads madness when caught. Clever, resourceful, and is obviously heavily punished for not knowing her place as a working class woman, or putting up with spousal abuse.

Agreed, although I think Serena is even more interesting! Especially in the TV series!

Smithy and nessa for sure.

Jerry and Margo Leadbetter

Girl interrupted - Angelina Jolie over Winona Ryder.

Samwise Gamgee over Frodo

Eric in Sex Education
Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter
Marianne Halcombe and Count Fosco in The Woman in White

Came on to say Marian Halcombe in TWIW all day long - although I think she sort of is the lead really.

@Taradiddled I agree about Fiona - she might work as a UN peacekeeper for all we know. I'd also happily watch the Gareth & Matthew prequel.

Definitely. Barbara & Tom bored me.

Definitely. She's great. Pity Isobel Archer wasn't on MN. It would be LTB every time.

Ellen Olenska over the insipid, pathetic Newland Archer. The Age of Innocence would have been better shared between May and Ellen; I get a real Elizabeth I/Mary Queen of Scots vibe from them.

@Taradiddled definitely Madame Merle. Isabel was so know-it-all yet undeveloped. And @Bideshi 😀 LTB Gilbert for sure, but she'd have loved MN.