Summary
As there are so many incredible TV shows available to watch now, it’s not surprising to encounter two characters with surprisingly similar backstories. Whether they’re from thebest sitcom of all timeor a deep and dark drama, there are some TV show characters whose backstories provide a sense of de ja vu. In fact, some ofthe best character development in TV showshas influenced other titles and their respective personalities.
Despite inhabiting different fictional universes, some TV characters share strikingly similar origins and journeys. At a glance, these characters’ beginnings can be easily mixed up without specifying which show they are from. However, not every factor about these characters is the same. Their parallels may be executed or impact them in different ways. For example, there aresitcom characters with surprisingly traumatic backstoriesbut others who have uneventful pasts. Whether they are duplicates or simply coincidental, some TV show characters' backstories are suspiciously familiar.
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Suits
Cast
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
While they are two different shows,SuitsandCommunityshare a common factor in two of their lead characters.Although their first on-screen appearances start at different points in their character journeys,Community’s Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) andSuits’ Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) know what it feels like to hide a big secret for the sake of their careers. They both start in their respective pilots by showing off their legal prowess. However, the link between the two is that neither has the correct degree or qualification to practice law correctly or legally.
In theCommunitypilot, Jeff forces himself to attend Greendale Community College to get a degree in as little time as possible. He has no shame over his actions, pretending to have attended Columbia until being ratted out by a colleague and disbarred. In fact,Jeff is rather proud of his deception,as are his ex-coworkers. However, in theSuitspilot, Mike is desperate to keep his lies under wraps. He fears that he’ll be caught out and so goes to great lengths to keep his facade intact and avoid Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) discovering the truth.
The main difference between these two characters is how the fallout of their secrets impacts them. Jeff is determined to return to his stylish lawyer ways, but asCommunityprogresses with each season, he starts to see the downside to his past lifestyle.Jeff eventually becomes a Greendale teacherand reevaluates his priorities. Mike, however, doesn’t face the consequences of his actions until several seasons later.Mike Ross is jailed inSuitsseason 6, and after a stint in prison, he attempts to help people and become a real lawyer despite his fraud being public knowledge.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is a television series that premiered in 2009, focusing on Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in Pawnee, Indiana. She encounters various challenges from bureaucrats and citizens while striving to beautify the town through her role in the Parks and Recreation Department.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Sitcoms are no stranger to ridiculous characters, but some of the best also create hilarious alter egos in their respective shows. The two ideal examples of this are Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) fromParks and Recreationand Michael Scott (Steve Carell) fromThe Office.The pair are considered to be two of thebest TV characters of all time, and their title makes a lot of sense, considering the wild schemes that they and their fictional spy counterparts get into.Sometimes, it’s hard to tell when they are portraying their imaginary charactersand when they’re just being themselves.
Andy Dwyer’s Burt Macklinis an FBI agent who throws himself headfirst into any mystery. His love for law enforcement and justice is particularly favored by Andy’s wife, April (Audrey Plaza), and it also leads to a storyline in which Andy pursues a career as a police officer. Michael Scott’s Scarn, however, is a secret agent who tackles large-scale, nationwide espionage. However,both alter egos are sophisticated,confident, and heroic – three qualities that Andy and Michael often lack. The elaborate fantasies the two play out, whether it’s in their heads or for the entertainment of others, are always hilarious.
Michael and Andy’s alter egos are useful to them in times of hope. In the build-up toMichael’s exit inThe Office, Michael shows Holly (Amy Ryan) his Scarne movie as a reflection of his past. Holly’s bewildered reaction makes Michael realize that their future is more important than his movie dream. The same can be argued for Andy. While he struggles with being rejected by the force, his love for being Burt Macklin leads to his TV show in season 7, which includes not just the FBI agent but other characters from the depths of Andy’s mind.
4Walter White & Nancy Botwin
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Weeds
Weeds is a dark comedy-drama television series that follows the life of Nancy Botwin, a suburban mother who becomes a marijuana dealer after her husband’s sudden death. Starring Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy, the show explores the complexities of her new career and its effects on her family and community.
The TV showsWeedsandBreaking Badhave several similarities in terms of storylines, but their lead characters are what truly links them together.Breaking Badestablishes the story of high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who is diagnosed with cancer and gets involved in drug dealing for financial gain.Weedsintroduces Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), a broke mother who starts selling marijuana after her husband’s death. While the pair are on other sides of the narrative, with Walt alive and Judah Botwin (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) dead, their illegal actions are to support their families.
Neither character enters the world of drug dealing with any prior experience. However, Nancy and Walt both align with another character to help them navigate the industry – Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) inBreaking Bad,and Andy (Justin Kirk) and Conrad (Romany Malco) fill that type of role inWeeds. As each show develops,Nancy and Walt become consumed with power,and it eventually impacts their families despite that being the last thing either wanted to begin with. Each of them makes morally ambiguous decisions to hide their dealings and let them grow much larger than they initially planned.
For example, Nancy partners with Guillermo (Diaz), and Walt teams up withGustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), which allows them both to expand their operations.Both figures also lose the respectof their childrenas they learn the truth and brilliantly manipulate law enforcement. Walt keeps a close eye on his brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris), and Nancy marries Peter (Martin Donovan), both of whom are DEA agents who have moments of corruption. Althoughevery season ofWeedsandBreaking Badis quite different, both characters are greatly impacted by their mistakes, to the point that they are irreversible.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on June 27, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) fromThe Walking Deadand Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) fromThe Last of Usare similar because they are both complex main characters in post-apocalyptic worlds. Although the events that lead to their first on-screen appearances differ, the heart of their characterization and main motivators are the same.Both Rick and Joel are on a search for their child,biological or not,and to keep them safe from the surrounding outbreak. The two characters spend a lot of time fighting varying types of “zombies” in a destroyed society but wish for their child’s safety.
Joel unfortunately loses his daughter, Sarah (Nico Parker), at the beginning of the outbreak, making him a cold and pained character when he meets Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Rick, however, wakes up from a coma after everything turns to chaos and begins searching for his son, Carl (Chandler Riggs). When the pair finally cross paths with their offspring, their ultimate goal is to keep them alive. Along the way,Joel and Rick both find themselves pushed into leadership positions,whether reluctantly or confidently. The loss and trauma they face in their shows shape them and the parent-child relationships they have.
Rick and Joel’s protective instincts sometimes cause them to make morally questionable decisions. Being clouded by their love for their kids creates devastating results at times, too. Joel saves Ellie inThe Last of Usseason 1 ending, despite knowing that it’ll doom humanity’s chance for a cure. InThe Walking Dead,there are multiple occasions when Rick is ruthless for the sake of protecting Carl and the other survivors, such as his ambush of the Governor (David Morrissey) inThe Walking Deadseason 4. The pair are motivated by being parental figures, proving them to be rather dangerous individuals.
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Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it’s still just as chaotic as ever.
Young Sheldon
A spinoff of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows the youth and coming-of-age of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood in Texas as he pursues science and academia. The show also follows his parents, siblings, and Mee-Maw, painting a picture of the world where Sheldon grew up.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
Malcolm Wilkerson (Frankie Muniz) fromMalcolm in the Middleand Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) fromThe Big Bang TheoryandYoung Sheldonare both child geniuses. The two characters face tough expectations from their loved ones and peers, but they still manage to prove their smarts effortlessly.Malcolm and Sheldon’s out-of-this-worldknowledge sets them apart from other kids their age,but especially their families. Both characters have siblings that they consider to be less clever than them, especially Malcolm’s brother Reese (Justin Berfield) and Sheldon’s twin sister Missy (Raegan Revord). Their parents don’t always understand them but are supportive anyway.
While their intelligence isn’t an uncommon characteristic in TV show characters, there are several other contributing factors.Sheldon and Malcolm experience bullyingfor their social status and brain power but are often saved by Reese and Georgie (Montana Jordan), who are usually the ones to start it in the first place. The Wilkerson and Cooper families also live on limited funds, and althoughMalcolm in the Middlediscusses this more thanYoung Sheldondoes, money is often a stress. Another problem the two families have is that other siblings are frequently overlooked because Sheldon and Malcolm’s educations take precedence.
Although Sheldon is seen in his adult years inThe Big Bang Theory,Malcolm is yet to be introduced as an adult. How the child genius turns out is unclear, but it is anunanswered questionMalcolm in the Middle’s revivalcan tackle. The one major contrast between the two characters is that Malcolm is a lot more socially adept than Sheldon. Malcolm’s ability to communicate with others is something Sheldon doesn’t possess at any age. Despite the two interestingly sharing similar childhoods, it’ll be interesting to find out whether Malcolm’s bizarre coming-of-age story impacts the rest of his life.
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Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
Firefly
Firefly is a science fiction television series set in the year 2517, focusing on the crew of the spaceship Serenity. As humans inhabit a new star system, the renegade crew, led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, navigates conflicts and alliances while pursuing their own interests across lawless territories.
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) fromStranger Thingsand River Tam (Summer Glau) fromFireflyare both characters with special abilities who play important roles in their stories.The two are the results of government experimentsand brainwashing that give them supernatural capabilities,but how they are revealed differs. Eleven’s abilities are first seen in theStranger Thingspilot as she escapes the lab, but she is born with them. In contrast, River only gains hers after being sent to The Academy as a child prodigy. One common link between the two characters is that they use their strengths for protection.
In their first seasons, River and Eleven are on the run from the government and avoid being recaptured.The emotional distress they face is a direct consequence of their psychic abilities,especially as they struggle with their identities. For example, Eleven has yet to learn who she is outside of the experiments, so she seeks out her fellowStranger Thingsnumber experiment, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), or Eight.Firefly’sepisode “Objects in Space” focuses on River’s turmoil and how she feels unwelcome on the ship because of her powers. While their backstories are similar, the nature of their talents differs significantly.
Eleven uses telekinesis to move objects with her mind, such as closing the interdimensional gate to the Upside Down. She can also perceive the thoughts and memories of others using telepathy, which she demonstrates in interactions with Kali. River, however, is gifted with enhanced intelligence and extraordinary combat skills.River in theFireflymovieSerenityuses these skills especially well.She is also psychic, but it is not as developed or controllable as Eleven’s telepathy. Even thoughEleven’s powers inStranger Thingsare supernaturally related and River’s are more scientific, both are crafted by strange experiments that damage them permanently.
