2010-2011 Rank: Unranked
Richard Harrow is a war veteran who lost part of his face in World War I. After meeting Jimmy in an army hospital, the two began a friendship. Richard would work for Jimmy and grow emotionally close to Jimmy’s wife Angela. They were the only people who truly treated him like a man and not a freak. His sharpshooting skills have come in handy for Jimmy. Richard will not be a happy camper in season three with his only friends Jimmy and Angela both dead.
2010-2011 Rank: Unranked
Chalky is a leader among the African-American community in Atlantic City. Whoever gets his support gets the support of an entire community, which is why Nucky and Jimmy both try to keep him happy while they’re battling each other. Nucky has done his best to give Chalky everything he has needed, which is why he has stood closer to Nucky. Michael Kenneth Williams brings a quiet intensity to his portrayal of Chalky. One scene in particular accentuated this. While Chalky was in jail, a loud-mouthed man from out of town tried to aggravate and challenge him. Chalky never changed his demeanor and when the man reached a certain point, Chalky was happy to let him know who he is while the other men in the jail cell who appeared to be trying to stay away from the confrontation stepped forward as friends of Chalky and proceeded to beat the man. That man later worked for Chalky.
2010-2011 Rank: New Show
Elam is a recently freed former slave who works on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is implied that his father was his mother’s master and that his master/father secretly taught him to read as a child. Elam hates Cullen Bohannon at first but throughout the season begins to respect him and may even consider him a friend. Elam has gotten in many altercations over various things, but he always seems to find a way out of it.
2010-2011 Rank: New Show
Tor Gundersen, known simply as “The Swede,” is a towering Norwegian man who acts as the head of security for the Union Pacific Railroad. He is not liked by the people of Hell on Wheels, especially the merchants who he often threatens to receive a “security” fee from them. Throughout the season The Swede makes it his goal to figure out where Cullen Bohannon came from and try to get him into trouble. He eventually figures out that Cullen has been murdering former Union soldiers and wants to capture him to receive the reward. At the end of season one Cullen escapes Hell on Wheels before The Swede can do anything.
2010-2011 Rank: Unranked
Jimmy made a play this season to replace his former mentor Nucky as the most powerful man in Atlantic City. With his father’s help who used to run the town, Jimmy found ways to pull supporters from Nucky’s side and even plotted to murder Nucky. Things became increasingly difficult though. Jimmy tried to get Philadelphia gangster Manny Hurwitz killed, but Manny got away and eventually killed Jimmy’s wife Angela. Jimmy also ended up killing his father and it was revealed that when he was in college Jimmy slept with his mother one night which is what triggered him to leave school for the war. Jimmy’s battle with Nucky was tough as he battled with the idea of fighting someone he always saw as family and eventually tried to apologize. His attempt was unsuccessful as Nucky shot him in the head.
2010-2011 Rank: Unranked
Within the Braverman family Crosby has always been seen as the most immature of the adult siblings. Things were starting to improve when he found out about a son he didn’t know he had and became a good father. At the end of season two however he cheated on Jasmine, his fiancée and mother of his son. Season three became all about redemption and growing up for Crosby. He bought a music studio with his brother Adam and turned it into a relatively successful job. At the end of the season, Crosby won back Jasmine and they promptly got married. This is probably the best acting work that Dax Shepard has ever done.
2010-2011 Rank: New Show
When Detective Fusco first met John Reese, Fusco was working with dirty cops. Reese was able to blackmail Fusco into helping him get information for various cases. After some early issues between them, Fusco slowly started to enjoy being a good guy. Reese was able to get him promoted to the Homicide Task Force where Detective Carter works. Eventually both Fusco and Carter are helping Reese and Finch without knowing of their partners’ involvement, at least not until the end of the first season. Fusco was first a nuisance but has transformed into a great character that is quite likable.
2010-2011 Rank: New Character
One thing that can always be counted on with Justified is the show’s ability to create engaging and almost likable major villains. It all began with Boyd Crowder, Raylan’s childhood frienemy who has gone back and forth between good and bad. Then the season two long battle between Raylan and the Bennett family produced the Emmy-winning character of Mags Bennett. This past season brought on Robert Quarles, a representative of the Detroit mafia who was in Kentucky to make a fortune in illegal endeavors. What’s interesting about all these villains is their incredible gift of gab. Quarles has a likable personality, but he is sick and twisted on the inside. He carries a retractable gun in his sleeve just like Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle. He eventually makes enemies with everyone, including his Detroit employers, and becomes desperate. In a showdown with Raylan and Ellstin Limehouse, his gun wielding arm is severed by Limehouse using a cleaver. I believe it is assumed that Quarles is dead, though the scene is ambiguous.
2010-2011 Rank: 9 (-3)
If I was ranking male characters from drama shows that make me laugh the most, Mozzie would be at the top. Of course so would his other co-stars as White Collar is not a straight-forward drama but a fun one that does draw lots of laughs. Mozzie continues to be former thief-turned-FBI consultant Neal Caffrey’s best friend who helps the FBI from time to time while still dealing with illegal matters on the side. He has become close with Elizabeth Burke, Agent Peter Burke’s wife. Throughout last season Mozzie and Neal have been plotting to run away with a stolen treasure, but Neal’s attachment to the FBI and the friends he’s made in New York has made it difficult. It’s also important to note that though Mozzie dropped three spots since last year, it’s only because three incredible characters from new shows are above him.
2010-2011 Rank: 7 (-4)
This is where these rankings are becoming increasingly difficult. Tom Selleck is perfect as the police commissioner of New York City and patriarch of the Reagan family. Frank gets a lot of air time but most of the action goes to his detective son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg). Frank is constantly juggling various issues and sometimes has to choose between job and family, which includes two sons (a detective and a police officer and a daughter who works for the District Attorney). The Sunday family dinners, a staple of the show, is a great way to showcase the ensemble cast in one sitting who effortlessly resemble a real family.
21. Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) - Hell on Wheels
22. Ellstin Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) - Justified
23. Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) - Blue Bloods
24. Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) - Boardwalk Empire
25. Zeek Braverman (Craig T Nelson) - Parenthood