It is always important for audiences to fall in love with, or at least be interested in, a show's main characters from the beginning. However, there are always new characters coming into the story as the show continues. And in some rare cases, these late-addition characters end up stealing the spotlight.
For any character added after the first season of the show, it is quite impressive if they are still able to connect with the established audience. But for these new additions to outshine the characters fans already know and love, it is truly impressive.
Erin Hannon (The Office)
After Pam left to join Michael Scott Paper Company in season 5 of The Office, Erin Hannon was brought in as the new receptionist. Though she was not a character who immediately took the spotlight from the likes of Michael and Dwight, she was a welcome new presence.
However, while the last couple of seasons of The Office are not well regarded, Erin was the highlight of them. She remained hilarious in her innocent way while her burgeoning relationship with Pete was charming.
Lalo Salamanca (Better Call Saul)
In a fun hint that only die-hard fans noticed, Lalo Salamanca's appearance in Better Call Saul was set up in the second season of Breaking Bad. Even still, Lalo didn't make his first appearance until season 4.
He proved to be worth the wait as Lalo quickly cemented himself as a funny, charismatic and terrifying villain. He adds an unpredictability to the show, even challenging characters like Gus Fring. Fans are eagerly waiting to see the mayhem he will bring to Better Call Saul's final season.
Oberyn Martell (Game Of Thrones)
Fans of Game of Thrones learned to not get too attached to characters as they might be killed off soon. Oberyn Martell was a great example of this lesson as he was introduced in season 4 and was dead by the end of the season.
However, despite his short time on the series, Oberyn stole the show. His revenge mission against the Lannisters immediately made him someone worth cheering for, but unlike some other heroes in the show, he was also a badass and a bit of an anti-hero which was very entertaining.
Ben Linus (Lost)
A good villain can really do a lot to elevate a show. Such was the case with Ben Linus on Lost. For the first season of the show, the plane crash survivors faced unseen threats on the island, but season 2 wisely gave them enemies a face with the introduction of Ben.
Throughout the show, Ben's position as ally or enemy was often hard to read which made him an extremely fun character to follow. He also revealed so much about the history of the island that grew the show's strange mythology.
Woody Boyd (Cheers)
Though Woody Harrelson is seen as a versatile and brilliant actor now, it is easy to forget his career started as a late addition to the iconic sitcom Cheers. Following the passing of actor Nicholas Colsanto, who played Coach, a new character of Woody the bartender was created.
While the character could have easily been seen as a lesser version of Coach, Harrelson brought so much charm and humor to the role, making him a beloved part of the show and its funniest character.
Leon Black (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
There are some characters who come into a show and completely change its dynamic. Such was the case with the character of Leon Black who was brought in for one storyline on Curb Your Enthusiasm and ended up just staying on the show ever since.
While she was mostly about Larry David's awkward and cringe-worthy social interactions, he now had someone he could bounce ideas off and Leon's eccentric view of the world made for some of the funniest moments on the series.
Lane Pryce (Mad Men)
Don Draper may have been at the center of Mad Men, but there were so many interesting characters that helped explore this period story. Lane Pryce was introduced in season 3 of the show and his journey to becoming an important part of the firm was a compelling one.
As the show went on, Lane became even more of a complex character as his family life and various struggles were revealed. Ultimately, he was a tragic figure whose final arc on the show was one of its very best.
Vince Howard (Friday Night Lights)
The sports drama Friday Night Lights was an incredibly touching show that explored the lives of the coaches and players on and off the field. One of the most memorable football players in the series was Vince Howard.
The young and troubled man was introduced in the fourth season of the show and quickly became one of the main focal points of the series. His journey to finding purpose and respect on the team was so rewarding and it was not a surprise when Michael B. Jordan ended up becoming a huge star.
Marlo Stanfield (The Wire)
Though The Wire was a rare cop show that blurred the lines between heroes and villains, it was not hard to identify Marlo Stanfield as one of the bad guys. He entered the show in its third season as the up-and-coming drug kingpin looking to take Avon Barksdale's position.
Marlo cemented himself as a truly ruthless and intelligent criminal who was terrifying in his seeming calmness. It is a chilling performance that made for one of the best and most grounded television villains of all time.
Frank Reynolds (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)
It's hard to even imagine It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia without Danny DeVito's Frank Reynolds. However, the first season of the show only centered around the original four main characters with Frank being introduced in season 2 as Dennis and Dee's father.
Frank not only fit in well as one of the members of the group, but he quickly became the most outrageous one. He is a disgusting and wild man who has delivered some of the most shocking and hilarious moments in the already out-of-control comedy series.