Our Favorite TV Heroes of 2024

The past year has seen many new heroes take to our screens. Some have hailed from new worlds, while others come from somewhere more familiar, but many have taken audiences with them on a meaningful journey in 2024.

The definition of a hero can be complex, particularly on TV where there is often an ensemble of characters to invest in. Being a hero doesn’t mean the character is the epitome of good behavior. Sometimes it just means they are the perfect protagonist to follow in the world they are in. Other times they may be going on a redemptive arc or have more to their actions than meets the eye. Regardless, there were plenty of characters who stood out in their respective series this year and stole the spotlight.

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Neel – Skeleton Crew

Introduced as part of the ragtag group of kids swept up in a galactic adventure in the new Star Wars series Skeleton Crew, Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) quickly stole the hearts of audiences everywhere. The young alien is not only adorable with his blue elephantine appearance, but he is charmingly awkward and has the best intentions. Skeleton Crew is yet to end its season, so it’s unclear how Neel’s arc will be resolved, but so far, the endearing young blue alien has proven himself a loyal friend and to be truly brave in the face of danger. This has made him one of the breakout heroes on TV this year, if not in the Star Wars universe overall.

Teen – Agatha All Along

There was much speculation around Joe Locke’s mysterious new character in the Marvel TV series Agatha All Along. At first the character went by the moniker Teen, but Locke’s character was eventually revealed to be Billy Kaplan, a Jewish teenager who was nearby on the night that Wanda Maximoff ended her reality-altering spell on Westview. This transferred the soul of Wanda’s son, Billy, into Kaplan’s body, and years later he found himself searching for answers about his family and his powers on the Witches’ Road. On his journey, Billy proved himself to be a good-natured, caring, and powerful member of the coven. Billy suited up in his Wiccan attire in the finale in a moment fans have been anticipating for years and the character stood out among an ensemble of characters.

The Ghoul – Fallout

Walton Goggins’ Ghoul from Fallout is one example of a hero who does not follow the typical definition. Still, the character had good intentions despite his rough exterior. Once a renowned Hollywood actor named Cooper Howard, years of survival in the harsh wasteland of California turned Howard into an unrecognizable Ghoul. Unlike some others of his kind, Howard was still clinging to the remnants of sanity thanks to his vow to track down his family. The Ghoul is no doubt ruthless and is willing to resort to extreme methods to get his way, but he’s also easily one of the most badass gunslingers in the wasteland and one of the standout characters in the Fallout series.

Jinx – Arcane

Jinx may not be the immediate picture of a hero, but after going through a journey of self-discovery in Season 1 of Arcane, she evolves to become a different person in Season 2. Jinx has always been the product of her surrounding family, but in Season 2, for the first time, she is on her own. As such, she finds herself trying on the actions of a hero. Jinx becomes a beacon of resistance for those in the undercity after they are oppressed by the forces of Piltover and Noxus. She also forms a relationship with a young girl, Isha, who helps to bring out her heroic side. At one point in Season 2, after she rescues a group of Zaunites from Stillwater prison, Jinx admits to Vi that she’s a hero now, so it’s hard to argue with that logic.

Knuckles

The first spin-off from Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog films involved the echidna warrior Knuckles. While the TV series ended up mostly revolving around Wade Whipple’s journey to become a warrior, it would be nothing without the titular character himself. Idris Elba returned to voice Knuckles in the series and infused the character with a sense of charm, strength, and trademark blunt humor. Knuckles is not free of some of the shortcomings of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, and perhaps didn’t dedicate enough screen time to its main character, but it was an effective way to spotlight Knuckles and establish him as both a movie and TV hero.

Knuckles

Release Date

April 26, 2024

Finale Year

November 30, 2023

Cast

Idris Elba
, Adam Pally
, Jaimi Barbakoff
, Alice Wren Tregonning
, Tony Coughlan
, Colleen O’Shaughnessey
, Daniel Singh
, Alfredo Tavares

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

1

Writers

John Whittington

Directors

Jeff Fowler
, Brandon Trost

Showrunner

John Whittington

Where To Watch

Paramount Plus

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