20 Most Dramatic Character Transformations In TV History, Ranked
20. Roy Kent – Ted Lasso
He’s here, he’s there… you know the chant. When we first meet Roy Kent, he’s a grizzled, grumpy footballer with the emotional availability of a brick wall. But beneath the scowl is a surprisingly sensitive soul. Over time, Roy opens up to Keeley, to his teammates, even to Jamie Tartt, the once-hated golden boy. His journey from hothead to heartthrob mentor proves that real masculinity can and should come with vulnerability.
19. Alex Karev – ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Once known as the resident jerk of Seattle Grace Hospital, Alex Karev undergoes a slow, steady, and genuinely moving transformation. From emotionally stunted and aggressively cocky intern to one of the most compassionate pediatric surgeons and thoughtful friend on the team, Alex’s growth is rooted in deep trauma and proves that even the most broken people can evolve with time, empathy, and second chances.
18. Fleabag – ‘Fleabag’
She was abrasive, bitter, and deeply wounded when we met her. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag begins the show emotionally numb and wracked with guilt. But as the walls come down and her fourth-wall breaks turn into cries for connection, we witness her reclamation. It’s a rare case where the transformation isn’t about fixing oneself for love, it’s about healing for your own damn self.
17. Jesse Pinkman – ‘Breaking Bad’
From slacker sidekick to tortured soul, Jesse Pinkman is the emotional anchor of ‘Breaking Bad.’ For a character who was about to be struck down in the first season only, his arc became heartbreaking and beautifully drawn—a young man constantly punished for having a conscience. Jesse stumbles, suffers, and survives, emerging from the ashes of Walter White’s empire as the series' true tragic hero.
16. Buffy Summers – ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Slayer, student, savior. Buffy’s arc blends monster-fighting with the horror of growing up. She starts out quippy and reluctant, but as the stakes rise (yeah, pun totally intended), she matures into a layered, burdened warrior. Her journey captures the painful beauty of leadership, loss, and the cost of power.
15. Don Draper – ‘Mad Men’
Don Draper is the American dream in a well-tailored suit until you realize it’s all a lie. As his carefully curated identity cracks, Don is forced to confront his past, his vices, and his emptiness. His journey isn’t linear or triumphant, it’s messy and ambiguous. And it’s exactly this that makes it feel hauntingly real.
14. Alexis Rose – ‘Schitt’s Creek’
From walking reality TV cliché to self-sufficient, emotionally intelligent PR queen, Alexis Rose had one of the most satisfying glow-ups in modern TV. What started as a running gag with the spoiled rich girl, became a masterclass in character development. Alexis chooses herself over romance (even if it’s the greenest flag, Ted), earns a degree, and builds a life with purpose. It is awe-inspiring!
13. Barry Berkman – ‘Barry’
Barry wanted out. So, this former Marine and hitman desperate to change his life finds an unexpected new purpose in acting. But escaping your past isn’t so easy, especially when you're good at killing. Barry's evolution is messy, chilling, and utterly fascinating. Even as he tries to be good, violence keeps pulling him back in. It’s character duality at its darkest and most memorable.
14. Steve Harrington – ‘Stranger Things’
Steve Harrington was the quintessential ‘80s high school bully. And then somehow, he babysat the kids. The unlikely hero arc of Steve to becoming the monster-slaying big brother won fans. His bromance with Dustin? Comedy gold. Steve may not have ended up with Nancy, but he absolutely earned the mantle of one of the best ‘Stranger Things’ characters.
11. Peggy Olson – ‘Mad Men’
Initially dismissed as the naive secretary in a male-dominated office, Peggy Olson clawed her way through the toxic world of 1960s advertising to become one of the show’s most formidable forces. Her evolution isn’t just a lesson in career success, it’s about self-worth, independence, and breaking free of societal expectations. Peggy rises through the ‘Mad Men’ ranks, sure, but she also redefines them.
10. Michael Scott – ‘The Office’
How did we go from cringing at Michael Scott to crying when he left? The man who once declared bankruptcy by shouting it becomes a beacon of unexpected wisdom and warmth. His journey isn’t about becoming less weird, it’s about becoming more human. And by the end, he’s not just a boss, he feels like family.
9. Zuko – ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’
Zuko’s arc is the benchmark for TV redemption. Cast out, filled with rage, and desperate for approval, Zuko chases the Avatar to restore his “honor.” But the real journey is inward—learning humility, choosing kindness, and facing his own demons. When he switches sides, it’s not a twist, it’s destiny fulfilled.
8. Jimmy McGill – ‘Better Call Saul’
Slippery lawyer, born grifter. Jimmy McGill’s descent (or maybe ascent) into Saul Goodman is television tragedy at its finest. We watch a man try and fail to escape his worst instincts, trading moral compromises for survival. But what makes Jimmy’s transformation devastating is how much we care for him, even when we know he’s heading straight for a crash.
7. Carol Peletier – ‘The Walking Dead’
Carol begins as a battered, soft-spoken survivor in ‘The Walking Dead.’ But trauma, grief, and the horrors of the zombie apocalypse forge her into a cold, cunning, and fearless warrior. She goes from baking casseroles to burning enemies alive without blinking. It’s a transformation rooted in pain, but tempered by love and quiet strength.
6. Jaime Lannister – ‘Game of Thrones’
He starts off as the Kingslayer—arrogant, incestuous, and borderline psychopathic. But after losing his hand and his pride, Jaime starts to reckon with who he is versus who he wants to be. His connection with Brienne awakens his better self, and we start to forgive him. And then… he throws it all away. His tragic, circular arc may frustrate, but it’s unforgettable.
5. Villanelle – ‘Killing Eve’
Villanelle is a walking contradiction. She is basically a psychotic assassin meets playful fashionista. But the more we watch her, the more we witness her twisted upbringing, her yearning for connection, her strange, obsessive love for Eve. Villanelle’s still lethal, but we start to understand her. That’s the magic trick of ‘Killing Eve’—you don’t root against her, you root for her chaos.
4. June Osborne – ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
June begins as Offred in the brutal society of Gilead—silenced, subdued, and terrified. But trauma gives way to fire. She becomes a fierce, unrelenting rebel who refuses to be broken by a world determined to erase women’s identity and autonomy. Her transformation isn’t just survival, it’s defiance made flesh. June may not always be “good,” but she’s always necessary.
3. Tony Soprano – ‘The Sopranos’
Tony’s transformation isn’t linear, it’s psychological. The mob boss who seeks therapy for panic attacks slowly reveals layers of vulnerability, emotional damage, and paradox. Sure, the man remains violent, manipulative, and cruel, but you also see the scared little boy underneath. His complexity redefined what television protagonists could be.
2. Daenerys Targaryen – 'Game of Thrones’
She was the breaker of chains…until she broke everything, including Westeros and fans’ faith in the series. Daenerys Targaryen’s shift from liberator to mass murderer was shocking and polarizing. But look closer, and the seeds were always there: entitlement, obsession, belief in her destiny. Love her or hate her, this character transformation set fire to the show’s legacy—literally and metaphorically.
1. Walter White – ‘Breaking Bad’
No other character better embodies the phrase “from Mr. Chips to Scarface.” Walter White begins as a desperate man doing a bad thing for a good reason. You know, for family and their security. But over time, we realize the truth: he did it for himself. The chemistry teacher’s descent into Heisenberg is slow, chilling, and utterly believable. It’s not just the most shocking transformation, it’s the blueprint for how to do it right.
