Celebrities
Which TV characters belong on the naughty list?
We’re making a list and checking it twice to find out which TV characters deserve oodles of presents and which ones deserve a lump of coal in their stocking this year.
It’s easy to love a good baddie, especially if they’re considered an anti-hero — looking at you, Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) — but Santa’s lists aren’t always so cut and dry. Sometimes a villain can step up and be a hero, and sometimes the good guys can take a dark turn and commit some pretty awful deeds.
Find out if your favorite TV heroine or villain made the cut for the nice list this year, or if they’re destined to remain naughty…
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Mon-El, ‘Supergirl’
SUPER NICE. We were totally scared Mon-El (Chris Wood) would turn out to be a villain sent to ruin Kara’s (Melissa Benoist) life on earth, but he actually turned out to be a really cool dude. So far, he seems like a fun-loving, fast-talking, no-so-terrible alien with some pretty sizzling chemistry with Kara. Now if only he can stay that way — and come clean about why other aliens are hunting him down…
Ryan Booth, ‘Quantico’
VERY NAUGHTY! A loyal and dedicated FBI agent like Ryan almost always deserves a nice holiday season — but this year Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) swerved off his typical patriotic agenda and joined a terrorist group attacking the United States. The second he pulled off that mask and revealed himself to be one of the bad guys, he bought himself a one-way ticket… To the naughty list.
Phil ‘Tandy’ Miller, ‘Last Man on Earth’
ODDLY, NICE. Who knew, back in Season 1, that amid all the apocalyptic chaos, Phil “Tandy” Miller (Will Forte) would grow to be the giving leader he has turned out to be in Season 3? Yes, he still may be overzealous in his methods — and he’s still got his fair share of annoying quirks — but the man has a heart of gold, and has proven time and again to put the needs of others before his own. Tandy’s growth from the skunk we all knew in Season 1 deserves our holiday praise.
Barry Allen, ‘The Flash’
HI-SPEED NAUGHTY. It’s been a wild ride for Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) since getting his speedster powers on “The Flash.” Unfortunately, his biggest enemy seems to be himself — as he’s shown, time and again, that he’ll travel back to the past to change things with little regard to who it will impact. So Barry, you’re on the naughty list this year. We’re hopeful you’ve seen the error of your ways and can get back on the nice list next year, though.
Peter Hale, ‘Teen Wolf’
…NICE?! Uncle Peter (Ian Bohen) is a pretty terrible person 99 percent of the time, but this year he kind of redeemed himself. While escaping from the Ghost Riders mysterious train station prison, Peter decided to bring Stiles (Dylan O’Brien’s) car keys back with him to help remind his friends that he existed. That’s a minimal-effort good deed, but we’re fine starting with baby steps.
Ramsay Bolton, ‘Game of Thrones’
MONSTROUS NAUGHTY. No need to worry about what ends up in Ramsay’s (Iwan Rheon) stocking. He was so naughty this year that he ended up getting eaten alive by his own dogs at the end of “Game of Thrones” Season 6. Santa can skip this guy’s stocking and move right on to giving Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) tons of dragon plushes for being such a good girl this year.
The ‘Survivor’ Final Three
TRIPLE-NICE. “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” capped off an excellent season with an extremely likable Final 3. Ken McNickle, Hannah Shapiro and winner Adam Klein all played very different, but very solid games — and they all asserted themselves nicely at the final Tribal Council. It was great to see such an exciting season end with a mostly non-bitter jury, a good fight to the finish that didn’t have to turn ugly, and a deserving winner. Presents all around!
Killian Jones, ‘Once Upon a Time’
NICE! Everyone’s favorite pirate on “Once Upon a Time” has made such a turn-around since we first met him back in Season 2. He’ll never be perfect (*cough* Shears of Destiny * cough*), but he’s been a total rock for Emma (Jennifer Morrison) during her rough patch this year. Killian (Colin O’Donoghue) definitely doesn’t deserve coal in his stocking this year.
Octavia Blake, ‘The 100’
TOO NAUGHTY. We’d almost give Octavia a pass for killing Pike (Michael Beach) and then deciding to become a professional killer on “The 100,” given how the love of her life was brutally executed right in front of her. But we just can’t overlook the cold way she drove her sword through Pike’s stomach after fighting alongside him, sadly. Talk about friendly fire…
Hester Ulrich, ‘Scream Queens’
PERFECTLY NAUGHTY. It’s so much fun to watch you be so bad, Hester (Lea Michele). But that doesn’t mean Santa is filling your stocking with goodies this year. You’re a certifiable, homicidal nut who let the Green Meanie run rampant on a hospital full of innocent patients and now you’re off hunting tourists on Blood Island, “Most Dangerous Game” style. We hope to see you again in Season 3, but you’re definitely getting a lump of coal for Christmas.
Oswald ‘Penguin’ Cobblepot, ‘Gotham’
MOST TRAGICALLY NAUGHTY. Oh Penguin, what a year you’ve had. After realizing his own worth and becoming mayor of “Gotham,” we thought things were looking up for Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor). He even fell in love with his best friend, Ed Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), which should be a joyous occasion. Unfortunately, he followed that up with having Ed’s girlfriend killed and putting the blame on his former friend Butch (Drew Powell). For shame, Penguin. For shame.
Trish Murtaugh, ‘Lethal Weapon’
THE ULTIMATE NICE. Trish (Keesha Sharp) doesn’t get enough praise on “Lethal Weapon” and that’s understandable. On the surface, the show is all about the bromance between Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) and Riggs (Clayne Crawford). But if it weren’t for Roger’s wife, Martin Riggs might not have a place in their lives. She’s the one, after all, who originally invited him into their home for dinner: Her empathy and goodwill found the Murtaughs bringing Christmas to Martin’s trailer at one of his lowest, and loneliest, points. Trish’s mutual respect with her husband, and the ethics she’s teaches their children — along with the nonjudgmental care she doles out to Riggs — make her a television role model worth celebrating.
