From Regina King to David Schwimmer: 20 Best HBO Series Performances of All Time, Ranked

Characters With Unexpected Depth

In Band of Brothers, David Schwimmer’s Captain Sobel is a demanding leader whose men resent him, though he genuinely cares about his unit. Schwimmer makes Sobel convincingly difficult to like before showing the character’s vulnerability when a prank costs him command.

Regina King gives Watchmen’s Angela Abar, also known as Sister Night, both physical force and emotional depth. The Tulsa police detective wears a nun’s habit and balaclava while fighting crime, but King’s performance reaches beyond the superhero persona.

Comedy Built On Distinctive Voices

As Jared in Silicon Valley, Zach Woods turns unexpected personal disclosures into a source of comedy. He brings commitment to the character’s offbeat moments, whether Jared speaks German in his sleep or struggles with panic in an office.

Rip Torn’s Artie is a forceful contrast to Garry Shandling’s Larry in The Larry Sanders Show. Artie’s bluntness and appetite for confrontation give Torn’s profane one-liners a sharp edge.

Frances Conroy anchors Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher, a grieving mother trying to build an independent life after her husband’s death. Conroy portrays Ruth’s emotional restraint alongside the character’s complicated humanity.

New Worlds And Familiar Heroes

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Peter Claffey plays Dunk, a hedge knight with a capacity for bravery, while Dexter Sol Ansell’s Egg stands out with sharp remarks and quieter, darker moments. The series takes a smaller-scale approach to the Game of Thrones universe, centering on the pair’s journey together.

Kyle Chandler’s portrayal of Hal Jordan in Lanterns is described as keeping the character’s arrogance while bringing him charm. The performance prompted a wish that Chandler had played Hal in Green Lantern movies over the previous 20 years.