When rumors of an impending cameo by Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in the new Obi-Wan series hit, Star Wars fans rejoiced.
Great sci-fi franchises obviously rely on ensembles, but frequently feature a secondary character fans can't keep their eyes off. These characters often have followings bigger than the stars of the show, and it's not hard to see why they've endeared themselves to fans' hearts. They offer something unique to the series, whether it be side-splitting belly laughs or mustache-twirling evil.
Star Trek: Deep Space 9- Quark
The station's bartender, Quark, is an ambitious, charismatic businessman. Greedy but loyal, Quark is often forced to rise above his baser impulses, such as having to free his comrades from holding cells to help retake the station from the Dominion, or assembling a Ferengi infiltration squad to rescue his mother.
Quark can be a hero or a villain, depending on what the episode calls for, but his most sinister schemes occur early in the show's run. His storylines become intentionally more comical and lighter in tone as the series progresses. The show needs this, as the last three seasons are set against the dark backdrop of interstellar war. Quark provides an escape from that bleak reality, both to fellow characters and to viewers.
Star Trek: Prodigy- Jankom Pog
Jankom Pog is the chief engineer of the USS Protostar, but just barely. In his introductory scene, the rest of the crew has to pretend they don't want him aboard to goad him into joining. Thankfully for them he does, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, plus a mechanical arm.
Prodigy's writers made Jankom Pog a Tellarite, a species well-known for their argumentative style. This means he's always good for a laugh, but much more crucial are his engineering skills. Thanks to his transforming arm, Pog has technical abilities unmatched by anyone in the crew. This device is especially handy in a show geared toward a younger audience. It dispenses with the need for a ponderous scientific fix, and helps Pog turn possible disaster into triumph.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian- Peli Motto
Peli Motto works as a starship mechanic in Mos Eisley. She appears whenever the Mandalorian needs repairs, and sometimes has an odd job for the bounty hunter. Capable as she is sardonic, Motto has wit as dry as the sands of Tatooine, and an extensive inventory of parts and anecdotes.
Motto's role as Mando's mechanic is crucial: she keeps him (and the show) moving. Her repairs allow Mando to travel the galaxy, and consequently exposes the audience to some of the most spectacular landscapes seen in any Star Wars content. She also gets one of the best moments The Book of Boba Fett, riding into the climactic battle to reunite Grogu with The Mandalorian and turn the tide. Mando will need more of Motto's help to keep his new ship running in season 3 of The Mandalorian out later this year.
Star Wars: Rebels-Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka was the breakout star of the Clone Wars, but her appearance in Rebels has made Tano one of the most revered Jedi in the Star Wars franchise. Tano aids and teaches the young rebel cell, and even duels her old master, Darth Vader in one of most powerful moments of the series.
Ahsoka helps the setting of Rebels expand from the confines of one planet to a whole galaxy. As the faceless rebel agent Fulcrum, Tano gives Ezra, Sabine and the other rebels of Lothal off-world assignments. This builds the world of the show, and through Ahsoka the Lothal rebels meet key leaders of the Rebellion, such as Bail Organa and Mon Mothma. Because of Tano, the crew of the Ghost become some of the galaxy's biggest heroes in the fight against the Empire.
Battlestar Galactica-Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
Starbuck's position is a crucial one, responsible for defending the survivors of humanity as they search for the mythical Earth. Starbuck's turn from skeptic to fervent believer is one of the most compelling character arcs of the series.
Galactica sometimes struggled to find direction as a show, and Starbuck became a driving force for what writers settled on as the show's ending: the finding of Earth. Starbuck's conversion gives the audience a reason to think that Earth might be a real place in the Galactica universe. It pays off in the finale, when Starbuck jumps the Galactica to the planet viewers recognize as their own Earth, giving humanity a chance to start over after a cataclysmic war.
Loki- Mobius M Mobius
The agent assigned to Loki at the Time Variance Authority, Mobius is tasked with tracking down dangerous variants who could potentially damage time. Mobius's journey from loyal TVA agent to disillusioned freedom fighter is filled with heroism and sadness, and is one of the show's best storylines.
At first, the show tries to demonstrate the value of the TVA through Mobius's eyes. The writers want the audience to think the TVA is a benevolent force, using their power to alter time for the greater good of all beings. Judge Renslayer's attempt to "prune" Mobius and remove him from the timeline is a shocking revelation of just how far the TVA will go to achieve its goals, and prove to the audience that they are anything but benevolent. Mobius returns for season 2, but will he be the same?
Stargate SG-1-General Hammond
The leader of Stargate Command, General George Hammond is responsible for giving out diplomatic as well as military assignments that send his teams through the Stargate and across the galaxy. Announcing his presence on the battlefield with a "Yee-Haw!", Hammond is fiery but always reliable.
Stargate is a show that relies on action frequently, which is why General Hammond is so important: he gives context, a reason for SG-1 to be meeting new cultures or blowing things up. He's also instrumental in shielding them from outside interference, seeing the program as crucial for humanity's progress. SG-1 does most of the fighting and exploring, but the team couldn't exist without General Hammond behind them.
Stranger Things- Jim Hopper
Hawkins chief of police and adoptive father of Jane, better known as El, Jim Hopper's angry dad humor and bumbling attempts to win over Joyce Byers are fantastic comedy. But it's Hopper's devastating backstory and emotional journey with El that makes him so engrossing.
Against the backdrop of monsters running amok in Hawkins, Hopper's journey feels intimate and personal. The reveal that he lost his own daughter years before meeting El adds a tragic layer to their relationship, and gives Hopper motivation to do anything to protect El. His character arc gives older audience members a way to connect with the show, just as the kids' arc does for younger viewers. He nobly attempts to sacrifice himself to save his friends and family, but a post credits scene confirms Hopper lives and will appear in season 4.
WandaVision-Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness is an evil witch drawn to the magical energy of Wanda Maximoff. Agatha is the only character besides Wanda who is completely unaffected by the spell Wanda uses to create the fictional town of Westview. Her manipulation of the town behind the scenes serves one goal: take Wanda's magic and become the Scarlett Witch.
Agatha is a crucial element in the show: the one variable inside Wanda's illusion capable of affecting the illusion itself, causing a multitude of glitches and problems. She also reveals that Wanda is a more powerful magical being than she realizes, and forces Wanda to put aside her doubts and realize that power to defeat Agatha. This will have major repercussions for the MCU in the upcoming Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which will feature Wanda Maximoff in the aftermath of her powerful awakening.
The Umbrella Academy- Herb
Introduced as a minor analyst of the Temps Commission, an organization responsible for the proper flow of time, Herb becomes a huge catalyst for The Umbrella Academy. He may be small in stature, but his role in stopping the apocalypse looms rather large.
Season 2 follows the Hargreeves clan as they use their powers to attempt to avert nuclear war. Herb shows Diego specifically what events lead to the war in 1963, and helps Diego realize that the Umbrella Academy has been responsible for the disaster all along. They finally manage to avert that disaster, but without Herb's assistance they would surely have failed. Herb also sows the seeds for season 3, giving the Hargreeves' a briefcase that takes them back to the right year, but the wrong universe.