32 Unforgettable TV Episodes Where Supporting Characters Steal the Show!

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always appreciated the main characters that drive classic stories. Yet, there are instances when it feels refreshing to change the narrative lens and delve into another character’s journey. This technique has become quite common in today’s TV landscape, with many beloved series granting supporting characters, or even new ones, the opportunity to shine for an entire episode. Here are some of the most memorable instances where this approach truly resonated with audiences.

“Lower Decks” – Star Trek: The Next Generation

TV Tropes calls episodes that focus on secondary characters as “lower decks” episodes, borrowing the name from a famous episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 7) titled “Lower Decks.” This episode revolves around a team of junior Starfleet personnel striving for advancement.

“Five-O” – Better Call Saul

Occasionally, a character captivates viewers to such an extent that they deserve their very own equally enticing spin-off show. For instance, the beloved character Jimmy McGill, also known as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad (portrayed by Bob Odenkirk), headlined the prequel series Better Call Saul. Even in its initial season, the AMC drama demonstrated that Mike Ehrmantraut (played by Jonathan Banks) had the potential to lead a show of his own, as evidenced by “Five-O,” which delves into his past as a former Philadelphia cop.

“Dear Sigmund” – M.A.S.H.

One trustworthy character from M.A.S.H. who often provided wise counsel is Maj. Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus), who shone particularly in a Season 5 episode titled “Dear Sigmund.” Directed by Alan Alda, this episode features the recurring character writing a letter to renowned psychiatrist Sigmund Freud while temporarily stationed at the 4077.

“Life Of Brian” – My So-Called Life

A notable ’90s television series that concluded prematurely was “My So-Called Life”, featuring Claire Danes in the critically acclaimed lead role as Angela Chase, a troubled teenager. One of the rare episodes not told from Angela’s perspective is the highly regarded “Life of Brian,” which primarily delves into the personal tribulations of her friend, Brian Krakow (played by Devon Gummersall).

“Musings Of A Cigarette Smoking Man” – The X Files

In the first installment of The X Files, titled “Musings of Cigarette Smoking Man,” David Duchovny’s character Fox Mulder is absent, while Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) appears only in fleeting archival footage from the initial episode. This Season 4 episode offers a revealing look into the enigmatic background of William B. Davis’ recurring character, painting him as a figure reminiscent of Forrest Gump, who seemingly played significant roles in key historical assassinations like that of JFK.

“The Zeppo” – Buffy The Vampire Slayer

In the third season episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” titled “The Zeppo,” it is Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), our main character, who finds herself in a secondary plot. The primary focus lies on Xander (Nicholas Brendon). He compares himself to Zeppo Marx, expressing feelings of insignificance within the group, until an unexpected situation arises where he alone confronts a gang of resurrected bodies planning to detonate his school.

“His Story” – Scrubs

As a dedicated Scrubs fan, I can tell you that there are instances where the storytelling baton gets passed from J.D., played by Zach Braff, to another character. One such episode is “His Story” from Season 2. This time around, it’s Dr. Perry Cox, portrayed by John C. McGinley, who takes center stage as he delves into his personal struggles with his therapist.

“How Your Mother Met Me” – How I Met Your Mother

In the Season 8 finale of How I Met Your Mother, we were introduced to Tracy McConnell, also known as “The Mother” (played by Cristin Milioti). We saw her interact with the rest of the gang and witnessed glimpses of her relationship with Ted (Josh Radnor) throughout Season 9. It wasn’t until the 200th episode that we truly got to know Tracy on a personal level. This episode, titled “How Your Mother Met Me,” covered the entire series timeline from her perspective, including moments of heartache, difficult choices, and The Naked Man. Many fans consider this one of the best episodes of How I Met Your Mother due to its unique perspective and emotional depth.

“Chapter 5: Return Of The Mandalorian” – The Book Of Boba Fett

Following Tamuera Morrison’s portrayal of Boba Fett in The Mandalorian Season 2, he headlined a seven-part spin-off titled The Book of Boba Fett. However, the fifth episode transforms this limited series into an extension of The Mandalorian Season 2.5, as it solely concentrates on Pedro Pascal’s character, Din Djarin. From thereon, Din Djarin takes center stage and becomes the main character of the show.

“Long, Long Time” – The Last Of Us

In HBO’s series adaptation of the acclaimed video game series “The Last of Us,” the episode that has garnered the most attention, titled “Long, Long Time,” devotes less screen time to our main characters, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). This Emmy-winning episode is unique as it’s the only one focusing on the characters of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). The story unfolds their heartwarming relationship that spans multiple years post the cordyceps outbreak.

“Teddy Perkins” – Atlanta

Without a doubt, one of the standout episodes in Atlanta is “Teddy Perkins,” where the narrative strays significantly from the usual focus on Earn and Alfred. Instead, this episode shines a spotlight on Lakeith Stanfield’s character Darius, as he attempts to purchase a piano from the enigmatic, eccentric Teddy Perkins. Interestingly, Glover plays Teddy Perkins in a completely different role, almost unrecognizable under heavy makeup, and it is revealed that his character has a deeply troubling secret hidden beneath the surface.

“Almost Got ‘Im” – Batman: The Animated Series

Amongst DC enthusiasts, there’s widespread agreement that the standout episode of Batman: The Animated Series is one that switches focus from Kevin Conroy’s Dark Knight to a quintet of his most infamous adversaries: Poison Ivy, The Penguin, The Joker, Two-Face, and Killer Croc. In “Almost Got ‘Im,” these villains assemble for a game of Poker, where they recount tales about the instances when they nearly triumphed over the Caped Crusader.

“Wilson” – House

It’s interesting that the central doctor character from House, portrayed by Hugh Laurie, shares similarities with Sherlock Holmes (as depicted in stories narrated by John Watson), but unlike Holmes and Watson, the series isn’t told from the perspective of the sidekick. This changes in Season 6 with the introduction of “Wilson,” focusing on Dr. James Wilson, played by Robert Sean Leonard, as he frantically works to save his friend Tucker (Joshua Malina).

“The Ricklantis Mixup” – Rick And Morty

In essence, this particular episode of “Rick and Morty,” known as “The Ricklantis Mixup,” stands out due to its extensive portrayal of the main characters, yet it’s unique because it’s primarily told from the viewpoints of their numerous alternate versions. This episode functions like a compact anthology film, unfolding on a single day at the Citadel of Ricks, offering diverse perspectives.

“Exposé” – Lost

Among the numerous plane crash survivors, only a select group were highlighted as the primary cast of Lost, yet an episode named “Exposé” delved into the pasts of two less prominent survivors, Nikki (Kiele Sanchez) and Paulo (Rodrigo Santoro). The story begins with their deaths discovered, followed by a recounting of their lives prior to the island and their time spent there.

“A Jury In Jail” – American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

In the eighth installment of “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” we continue to delve into the famous trial, primarily through the eyes of the accused ex-athlete, portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr., and his legal adversaries. Nevertheless, the narrative gradually concentrates on the jury members and their alternates as the rigors of sequestration start to take a toll on them.

“Beard After Hours” – Ted Lasso

In Season 2 of one of Apple TV+’s top original series, Ted Lasso, Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) decides to leave AFC Richmond following a difficult defeat by “Man City.” The subsequent episode, titled “Beard After Hours,” delves into his experiences after departure, depicting a dramatic, night-long odyssey filled with excess, self-reflection, and brushes with mortality.

“Pine Barrens” – The Sopranos

In the third season episode of “The Sopranos,” titled “Pine Barrens,” Tony, portrayed by James Gandolfini, and his strained relationship with Gloria serve as a secondary narrative. The main storyline revolves around Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and Paulie (Tony Sirico), who find themselves in a precarious situation after becoming lost while carrying out their task of collecting debts for the ailing Silvio, during which they almost freeze to death in the woods.

“Blink” – Doctor Who

One standout and both intriguing and chilling episode of “Doctor Who,” titled “Blink,” has minimal appearances by the show’s lead, David Tennant as the Doctor, or his companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), because they get trapped in 1969. Consequently, it falls on a contemporary woman named Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan, an Academy Award nominee) to thwart the menacing statuesque beings known as Weeping Angels from seizing control of the TARDIS.

“What Wood You Wear?” – Dave

In the TV show “Dave” on FX, the story is based on the real-life rise of Dave Burd, also known as Lil Dicky, who co-creates and stars in the series. However, unlike his larger-than-life persona, Lil Dicky didn’t monopolize the limelight during the first season. Instead, in episode 7 titled “What Wood You Wear?”, the focus shifts to Dave’s friend Elz, played by Travis “Taco” Bennett. This episode follows Elz as he DJs at a silent disco and develops a romantic interest in Emma, portrayed by Christine Ko.

“Live Bait” – The Walking Dead

In Season 3 of “The Walking Dead”, The Governor (David Morrissey) largely eliminated his team and fled with his remaining loyal followers, setting the stage for the revelations about his activities that unfold in the sixth episode of the fourth season titled “Live Bait”. This episode offers insights into what transpired after Woodbury’s downfall, depicting moments of potential redemption as he connects with a small family. However, it also hints at his continued slide towards insanity, ultimately culminating in an assault on the prison.

“A Quick One, While He’s Away” – BoJack Horseman

In Season 6 of the popular Netflix animated sitcom “BoJack Horseman,” Will Arnett’s character, BoJack, is neither present nor named directly. However, the episode primarily revolves around characters who have been significantly impacted by BoJack’s actions, as suggested by their indirect references to him.

“Teacup” – Man Seeking Woman

In the absurd romantic fantasy satire, “Man Seeking Woman,” written by Simon Rich, the primary narrative is primarily seen through the eyes of the male character, Jay Baruchel’s Josh Greenberg. However, in Season 1’s episode titled “Teacup,” the perspective shifts, making Josh’s sister, Britt Lower (who later joined the cast of “Severance”), the main focus. Liz encounters the challenges of contemporary dating in an outrageously amplified fashion, such as feeling jealous of a group of girls who are married and significantly younger, even though they attend elementary school. In another instance, she attempts to create her ideal partner by Frankenstein-style methods, only to discover that he identifies as gay.

“Zuko Alone” – Avatar: The Last Airbender

One engaging method a TV show can add variety to its plot is by featuring its primary villain as the focus of an episode, like the “Zuko Alone” episode in Nickelodeon’s original Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the seventh installment of “Book Two: Earth,” we follow Zuko (voiced by Dante Basco) as he recalls memories from his childhood following his expulsion from his village.

“New York, I Love You” – Master Of None

In the Season 2 episode titled “New York, I Love You” from Netflix’s Master of None, the main character Dev (played by co-creator Aziz Ansari) and his friends are seen only at the beginning and end. Instead, the narrative concentrates on a diverse set of new, working-class New York City residents who haven’t been seen before, such as a doorman, a cashier with hearing difficulties, and a taxi driver. This group forms the primary focus of the story.

“Ballad Of The Lonesome Loser” – High Fidelity

Similar to Nick Hornby’s novel made into a movie in 2000, titled High Fidelity, the Hulu series version focuses on the romantic trials of record store owner Rob Gordon (played by Zoë Kravitz). However, in Episode 8, titled “Ballad of the Lonesome Loser,” Rob’s coworker and friend Simon (David H. Holmes) steps out of the usual narrative to talk candidly about his own romantic difficulties.

“The Algae’s Always Greener” – SpongeBob Squarepants

In several episodes of the popular cartoon series, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the character Plankton (voiced by Mr. Lawrence) has taken center stage, with one particularly entertaining episode being titled “The Algae’s Always Greener.” Frustrated by his ongoing failures to obtain the Krabby Patty Secret Formula, this tiny antagonist from Chum Bucket creates a unique gadget that enables him to live life through the eyes of his longstanding adversary, Mr. Krabs (portrayed by Clancy Brown).

“A View From The Gallery” – Babylon 5

Following the coinage of the term “lower decks episode” by “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, a science fiction series similar to the “Star Trek” franchise, namely “Babylon 5”, subsequently introduced one. Titled “A View from the Gallery”, this installment primarily follows the perspective of the staff who maintain the eponymous space station.

“Tarrare” – Atlanta

In the final episode of Season 3 titled “Tarrare,” we get a fascinating insight into Vanessa’s (Zazie Beetz) peculiar actions, revealing she’s assumed a strange secondary persona and has adopted a French accent during her time in Paris. The principal character, Donald Glover as Earn, makes an appearance later in the episode, but not until the decidedly odd post-credit scene.

“5 To 9” – House

In episode dedicated to Robert Sean Leonard’s character Wilson, the series House, in turn, focused on Dr. Lisa Cuddy, portrayed by Lisa Edelstein, during Season 6’s “5 to 9” episode. This installment offers a glimpse into the day-to-day life of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital’s Dean of Medicine and Chief Administrator.

“Symphony Of Illumination” – How I Met Your Mother

In the seventh season episode titled “Symphony of Illumination,” the character Robin Scherbatsky, portrayed by Cobie Smulders, from the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, steps in as the narrator. She shares with her future children (who turn out to be figments of her imagination) about an alleged pregnancy scare she and Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris) experienced. However, it is later revealed that Robin cannot have real children.

“Relevance” – Person Of Interest

In Season 2 of CBS’ series “Person of Interest,” a fresh character named Sameen Shaw, portrayed by Sarah Shahi, took center stage in many of the show’s action-packed scenes.

2025-02-27 01:39