50 All-time Greatest Characters in Television History: #13-15

#15: Homer Simpson

Born: May 12, 1972

Where he is now: As of 2013, Homer's and Marge's relationship has finally ended after Homer blew the family savings on an underwater house. She started dating Krusty the Clown, and eventually, Homer fought him to win her back. Homer was beaten, but Marge still decided to go back to him.

While Homer’s stupid antics often upset his family, he has also performed various acts that show him to be a surprisingly loving father and hubby. For instance, he sold his cherished ride on the Duff Blimp and used the money to enter Lisa into a beauty pageant just so she could feel better about herself. He also stopped pursuing his opportunity for riches and power by allowing Maggie to keep a teddy bear she loved. If those are not enough, he also led an attempt to rescue Bart from a well he had fallen down into. This comes across to viewers as a major feat, given Homer’s disdain for physical labor.

#14: Dwight Schrute, The Office

Born: January 20, 1968

Where he is now: Regional Manager of DM; Married to Angela Martin;

If there is any TV character ever capable of being the idiot and making Michael Scott the occasional straight man, it’s Dwight Schrute. The funny thing is that we all know a Dwight in our own personal lives. You should comment and share some funny things your Dwight has done. Mine is my unnamed classmate, who stood up and interrupted a university class because the professor incorrectly identified Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle as a “gun.” The argument of who killed Kennedy never even came up, but instead, they spent the entire class arguing over whether a rifle is a gun or not.

Most defining moment: Dwight stages an unannounced fire drill by blocking all the exits and filling the office with smoke, resulting in Stanley having a heart attack. In the ensuing mandatory safety meeting, Dwight declares the mannequin dead and rips the chest open to preserve the “patient’s” heart. He also peels the face off the mannequin, wears it, and says, “Hello, Clarice” to the rest of the horrified workers.

                                    #13: Dexter Morgan, Dexter

Born: February 1, 1971

Where he is now: Most intelligent fans and critics say the show really died when the Trinity Killer did. As for Dexter, (sigh), I have to be true to the story. As of 3 months ago, he was still… He was still a l--, a lumberj-, I can’t even type it. But really, a lumberjack? A LUMBERJACK… UCCKKK.

Dexter considers himself emotionally separated from the rest of humanity; in his narration, he often refers to "humans" as if he is not one of them. That, really, is what we loved about Dexter…until the later seasons. In Seasons 1-4 Dexter was careful, listened to Harry, tried to honor his code, and kept viewers on the edges of our seats. Then Lumen happened. Then Dexter became careless, stopped listening to his hallucinations, abandoned the code, and flip-flopped around with his feelings at the expense of his audience’s sanity (and a few points in his ranking as the greatest TV character ever).

Most defining moment: Failing to plunge the knife into his adopted sister, Dexter fought and killed his biological brother, instead. This was the defining fork in the road for Dexter, as he began to explore his humanity after this.





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