Best of 2014: TV – Best Character

Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised  us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.

Click on the link to take you to the “Best of 2014” homepage.

Best Characters on TV

• Carol (The Walking Dead)
• Felicity (Arrow)
• The Inquisitor (Star Wars Rebels)
• Jax (Sons of Anarchy)
• Troy and Abed (Community)

WINNER – Troy and Abed (Community)

Yep, you read that correctly; Troy and Abed from Community are one. The connection these two have could send peanut butter and jelly to couples counseling. Before being canceled by the idiots at NBC, the same idiots that almost canceled Constantine not too long ago, Troy and Abed said goodbye to one another in one of the saddest moments of television I can remember. The series wasn’t over, but a part of the show’s spirit died a little when Troy boarded the Childish Tycoon with LeVar Burton and left Greendale. Gone are the pillow forts, Dreamatorium and tandem Halloween costumes. No one character is bigger than the show, but these two definitely were. – Sherif

Second Place – Carol (The Walking Dead)

Carol Peletier on The Walking Dead is a one-woman arsenal.  She blew up Terminus by herself!  She gunned down Denise Crosby with no qualms!  She shot Lizzie with some qualms!  Carol has had the most character development in the series, and between the end of season four and the beginning of season five, it has become clear that this is not the same women whose husband beat her in season one.  But Carol also revealed her sensitive side (to Daryl, of course), proving that she is more than a machine, she is a human. – Adrian

Third Place – The Inquisitor (Star Wars Rebels)

So everyone is making a big deal about the three pronged broadsword-lightsaber wielded by the mysterious dark figure in the recently released Episode VII teaser trailer.  That’s fine and all, but if anyone should be making a big deal about any lightsaber it should be The Inquisitor’s lightsaber.  Have you seen that thing?!  No?!  Google it right now!  DO IT!  Better yet, watch Rebels and tape your eyelids open during any moment The Inquisitor is on screen.  Talk about a lethal and lovable character.  Here’s a list of words and phrases that describe The Inquisitor: awesome, scary, charming, charismatic, powerful, limber, has really cool outfits/gear, deep understanding of the force, cunning, has really sharp teeth, good posture, and deadly with a lightsaber.  In many fewer words The Inquisitor is bad-ass.  His actions in just a few short episode of Rebels has firmly placed him as one of the coolest force-sensitive bad guys among the stars.  That’s why we nominated him for best character of the year.  Be afraid rebels.  Be very afraid. – Taylor

RUNNER UP – Jax (Sons of Anarchy)

From day one, Jackson “Jax” Teller has stay true to two things and two things only, his family, and his club. Although, he has constantly struggled with the angels and demons climbing up his shoulders, he would sooner meet the Reaper before allowing harm to come his “sons.” It has been poetic in nature to see Jax mature and grow through the years. Balancing between who he wants to be and who he truly is, regardless of where his character finished, his love was unwavering. No one through out the series has loved as hard as Jax, and it’s hard to believe anyone could ever match his level of love.  Jax was a bad man who loved hard, and followed his truths though thick and thin. – Evan

RUNNER UP – Felicity (Arrow)

Everyone loves Felicity. Sometimes I think fans like her more than they do Oliver. Hell, if it was just Felicity with her own show I would be all over that. Sometimes I fantasize she’s the Oracle and I get my Birds of Prey show. I mean, the show keeps highlighting the clock tower, Laurel is becoming Black Canary, so maybe we can redeem the Huntress and have a fucking awesome kickass female fronted superhero show.Also, I’m sorry but I have to talk about her fashion. Her dresses… I want them! Or rather I want her tailor. Anyway, I digress. I think the other aspect that so many fans are drawn too is the alternative to a strong female character. I like a woman who can kick ass along with everyone else, but that’s not me. I am the woman behind a computer who uses my words to fight, which is just as valuable if more than a pair of fists. For Felicity, her power is not what’s under her dress, nor in the shape of her fist but rather her mind and her intelligence. And that’s why so many of us want her with Oliver, because she the sidekick the one who saves him through her ingenuity. Not to mention she’s a role model for all the girl programmers out there who want to do what she does. The more we see these smart savvy women in media the more women will feel comfortable pursuing their dreams.  – Jené

Next Category: Best Anime

Best of 2014: TV – Best Sitcom

Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised  us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.

Click on the link to take you to the “Best of 2014” homepage.

Best TV Sitcom

• Big Bang Theory
• Brooklyn 9-9
• Community
• How I Met Your Mother
• Parks and Recreations

WINNER – Community (NBC)

Season five of what might be the smartest sitcom to ever appear on TV marks the return of Dan Harmon, the plucky creator and head writer. Perhaps one of the best things about this season is the reference to season four as the “year of the gas leak” – an effective way to signify to the audience that, yes, things ran poorly in Dan’s absence, but the guys that took over did things as best they could no matter how widely they missed the mark. Season five felt surreal: by far the darkest with episodes mimicking a David Fincher movie, a Logan’s Run style dystopia, a Waterworld style Floor is Lava world, not to mention the suspicious absence of Chevy Chase and Donald Glover’s departure from the show. But despite all that, it continued to be the smartest funny show, and the one show I eagerly anticipated every week. #sixseasonsandamovie – Cuyler

Second Place – Big Bang Theory (CBS)

This is a series that people say keeps getting worse, but I have to disagree; it really is more of the same, and I love it. I don’t know what more people expect from this show, it is as hilarious now as it was when it started six seasons ago. Through the various plot advancements to that ever-looming moment of Amy and Sheldon having coitus (not this season but it is coming), things are moving along nicely for the characters. Unfortunately, I can’t see it lasting too many more seasons so enjoy them while you can. – Robert

Third Place – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)

Fresh off winning two Golden Globe Awards early in the year, one for Andy Samberg as best actor and another for the series as best Comedy/Musical, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is at it again. Of all the funny shows that made our list this year, this is the only show that is still in its infancy, and only one other one will likely still be going in a year (Big Bang). It’s great to see a new sitcom take the spotlight for once and make me laugh in ways that other shows really don’t. Plus, the detective work by Samberg’s Jake Peralta is actually really interesting, putting it so far beyond stupid cop shows like Reno 911 or other parodies of the like. This show will be one to keep an eye on, as a cast and concept like this can only continue to blossom. – Sherif

RUNNER UP – Parks and Recreation (NBC)

I love everybody and everything!  That’s how Parks and Rec makes me feel.  It’s one of the most entertaining and feel good shows of the last decade.  Watching Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, Andy Dwyer and the whole crew manage the Pawnee Parks & Rec Department, political relationships and their lives was something I looked forward to every week.  This show exemplifies excellent comedic writing.  This was evident in how hilarious EVERY character is.  And I don’t just mean the primary cast.  The peripheral council members, auxiliary government workers, the town’s people (oh the town’s people!!) were all gut wrenchingly hilarious.  I was crushed at the end of the series not knowing what the future had in store for this corner stone series.  I was then uncrushed at the announcement of the final Season 7!  We were left with a bit of a teaser in the last 60 seconds of the season finale and I’m anxious to see how and if that sequence plays a part in the upcoming season.  What’s certain though is we’re set to have more great and hilarious times next year. – Taylor

RUNNER UP – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Oh how I miss this show! HIMYM is the only sitcom I’ve ever really gotten into. It’s the characters that make it so wonderfully engaging. Each of them are extremely dynamic with their own set of morals, motivation, and passion. Having been on the air for almost a decade, it was really hard to watch this show go in March. A big part of me wanted Ted to be perpetually single just so television wouldn’t lose such a brilliant, well-written, and beautifully executed show. With three Whedonverse actors, it’s no wonder this show lasted so long. It will be sad to start another year without the Five Brosketeers, but we are glad we had them for the time we did. – Charlotte

Next Category: Best Characters on TV