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#4330978 - 01/24/17 02:48 PM "Morally ambiguous" tv characters  
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By "morally ambiguous" I simply mean characters that are not an outright villain or an outright hero. These are characters that definitely have a dark side to them but they will also do the right thing when push comes to shove. Which ones from TV have really stood out to you? I have 3


1. Gaius Baltar (reimagined BSG)


2. Lord Bailish/Little Finger (Game of Thrones)


3. Londo Mollari (Babylon 5)


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#4330986 - 01/24/17 02:55 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Pretty much the entire cast of Stargate Universe with the exception of Eli. Especially Dr Rush and Col Young.

Riddick. I guess he's not TV, but he's certainly been on TV enough with how old the films are now.



As for Petyr Baelish, I'm not sure he counts. He always does what is right for him, but his selflessness only ever extended to Cat and Sansa, and even there he betrayed Ned (which hurt both of them).



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#4330988 - 01/24/17 02:59 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Sgt. Schultz

#4330998 - 01/24/17 03:14 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: saghen]  
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Originally Posted By: saghen
Sgt. Schultz
LOL That's a creative pick. smile


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4331009 - 01/24/17 03:33 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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#4331011 - 01/24/17 03:39 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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I think Tywin Lannister might be the most morally ambiguous character in GOT. Sometimes he'll seem like a very hard, strict, but fair person (like Stannis Baratheon) and then do something that's not cruel but just shows his total indifference to everyone that's not a Lannister.


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#4331012 - 01/24/17 03:39 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Jaime Lannister. His popularity has been fluid, from being the bad guy who pushes little kids out of tower windows, to the hero who saves an enemy from rape.


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#4331013 - 01/24/17 03:40 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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I'll just say that if you believe for a second that Littlefinger in GoT is an "ambiguous" character, you lost the trail of bodies at some point. He has a very definitive goal and will do all it takes to achieve it. Just ask Ned Stark.

#4331017 - 01/24/17 03:47 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: Bib4Tuna]  
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Originally Posted By: Bib4Tuna

I'll just say that if you believe for a second that Littlefinger in GoT is an "ambiguous" character, you lost the trail of bodies at some point. He has a very definitive goal and will do all it takes to achieve it. Just ask Ned Stark.


Just ask Ros.


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#4331035 - 01/24/17 05:13 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Coming up with this list, it's interesting how not only the characters, but the actors that play them become fan favorites. They're always fun to root for and hope they do the right thing. Disappointing when they don't choose right, but it's always interesting no matter what.


SAMCRO. (Sons of Anarchy)
Very protective of their town, but they are definitely criminals. Just too stupid to see that they invite all the trouble and are the root of it.

Kublai Khan, on Marco Polo.
He's motivated by being progressive, fulfilling his grandfather's vision and wanting to unify Asia for peace and "freedom", but to him the end justifies any means.
He'll kill off a village but take in a child survivor and raise him with love as one of his own, not understanding why it ends in betrayal. BRILLIANTLY portrayed on the show by Benedict Wong. Check out his IMDB page, he's been right in front of us, a relatively unrecognized talent for a while now. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938950/?ref_=tt_cl_t2

Jayne, Firefly.
You could argue Mal too, but he's less ambiguous.
On one hand, he'll (Jayne) turn on a crew member out of habit for profit, but ultimately he does care and is fairly protective. (Ariel episode)

Spike, Buffy and Angel.
He had an interesting development arc on the shows. Gotta like James Marsters.

Methos, Highlander.
Fan favorite character for this very reason. Started out one of the Four Horsemen, the worst of the worst and the oldest immortal. Over time he changed to a pacifist. He develops during the time of the show, but is a reluctant to be a hero or to even help oftentimes since he feels guilty or that he'd return to his old ways.

The Punisher, Frank Castle on Daredevil.
He isn't so much a hero since he's motivated out of revenge and specifically targets organized crime rather than any criminal. Usually. In the end his hearts in the right place, but as with most, the end justifies the means. Usually with a lot of collateral damage.



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#4331039 - 01/24/17 05:18 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: Raw Kryptonite]  
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Originally Posted By: Raw Kryptonite
Gotta like James Marsters.



I've only seen him in Caprica but what I saw I really liked. He has that intangible "screen presence" that can't really be taught.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4331047 - 01/24/17 05:39 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Han Solo in SW Ep IV... until the special editions.

#4331051 - 01/24/17 05:47 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Han didn't just shoot first, he's the only one that shot, thank you very much Lucas! Han wasn't stupid.


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#4331071 - 01/24/17 06:30 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Can't think of any others to add. Sgt Schultz was a great pick !

As to Littlefinger....he is a rotten to the core bastage and admits it himself.....I hop one of Danni's dragons fries him......or Arya guts him biggrin


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#4331077 - 01/24/17 06:47 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: No105_Archie]  
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Originally Posted By: No105_Archie


As to Littlefinger....he is a rotten to the core bastage and admits it himself.....I hop one of Danni's dragons fries him......or Arya guts him biggrin


Yeah, I guess Baelish is more dark than light. I think his decision to help out Jon Snow at the battle of the bastards in season 6 made me a bit sympathetic to him.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4331079 - 01/24/17 06:55 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted By: PanzerMeyer
Originally Posted By: No105_Archie


As to Littlefinger....he is a rotten to the core bastage and admits it himself.....I hop one of Danni's dragons fries him......or Arya guts him biggrin


Yeah, I guess Baelish is more dark than light. I think his decision to help out Jon Snow at the battle of the bastards in season 6 made me a bit sympathetic to him.


He just had a very good excuse so the Knights of the Vale would be invited to occupy the Bolton's lands in The North.

It was no coincidence he arrived at the end of the battle...definitively it was not for dramatic effect. If Ramsey had won over John Snow's men, he would just had offered Sansa to him like ... hey dude..here, I found your lost Queen!

Last edited by Bib4Tuna; 01/24/17 07:27 PM.
#4331117 - 01/24/17 09:00 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Can't believe I forgot Jayne! blush Technically Mal was the same way, for people who weren't part of his crew. Of course, he was rather generous about who he called his crew. wink

It's been too long since I watched FF and Serenity last. Almost done with my B5 universe rewatch. Well, I'm almost done with the series, only Sleeping in Light left. I still have 4 TV movies (including Lost Tales) and Crusade to rewatch.

Maybe I'll rewatch FF before I dive into ST again.



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#4331130 - 01/24/17 09:29 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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#4331154 - 01/24/17 11:02 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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#4331155 - 01/24/17 11:06 PM Re: "Morally ambiguous" tv characters [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Don't forget Farscape Jedi, it's still one of the best. I doubt PM has watched it YET.
In fact, we could add Capt Crais to the list. You have to watch a few seasons in to see it though. Great character.


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