My Top 10 Characters of 2014

Digital Spy did their Top 10 list yesterday and I've decided to do my Top 10 list of favourite characters from this year as well.

1: Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) - Gotham

If The Dark Knight blew people's minds with Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker, then Robin Lord Taylor has managed to do the same with his take on the Penguin in the space of ten episodes in Gotham's debut year. Playing a younger version of the character, it's been fun watching Oswald slowly but surely working his way to the top.

2: Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) - Doctor Who

The key to any good character is to be one that can provoke a strong reaction, whether it's love or hate. In Series 8 and Peter Capaldi's debut year as the 12th Doctor, Clara did exactly that as the school teacher proved to be a far more fleshed out character compared to her previous year. Whether or not Last Christmas will see the end of her remains to be seen, but it's hard to deny the impact Clara has had this year.

3: Dr Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) - The Flash

The one thing we can get clear is that not only is The Flash every bit as good as Arrow but it's almost arguably better than it's parent show. Not only do we have an exceptionally likeable leading man with Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash but amongst the superb cast we've also got Cavanagh's mysterious Wells, a man so delightfully unpredictable week in and week out.

4: Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee) - How To Get Away With Murder

I know most of these sort of lists would actually feature Annalise and while her character continues to fascinate me, I have to admit it's Connor who really fascinates me that bit more. He's not the nicest of guys at times but he's certainly one of the most amusing, most interesting gay male characters we've had in a while with a tiny bit of an edge too for good measure.

5: Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) - Game Of Thrones

It was nearly Oberyn for this list but much as I loved Pedro Pascal's performance, the fourth season of HBO's best show was easily the best for both Tyrion as a character and Dinklage as an actor with some genuinely sublime moments in the wake of Joffrey's much welcomed demise. Especially in the sixth episode and that unforgettable finale. Where the writers will go with Tyrion when the show returns in 2015, I cannot wait to see.

6: Melody 'Mellie' Grant (Bellamy Young) - Scandal

Truthfully, I'm more a recent convert to this show and having spent most of the last few months watching the third season on SkyLiving, Scandal is a show with almost too many interesting characters (Olivia, Cyrus, Quinn, Huck, Eli etc) but Mellie certainly managed to catch my attention that extra bit more. The fact that this show is able to make us sympathetic with her, Olivia and Fitz in equal measures is actually a good thing, especially considering what we learned about the character during the third year.

7: Cosima Niehaus (Tatiana Maslany) - Orphan Black

Ah, Orphan Black the series I don't think you're allowed to dislike, even if you want to. Just kidding. Seriously though, the second season managed to be as good as the first one and Maslany was on fine form again. When she wasn't handling new characters like Rachel and (briefly) Tony, she was perfecting her main four clones - Sarah, Allison, Helena and of course my personal favourite here, Cosima. Best actress on television at the moment.

8: Sara Lance/The Canary (Caity Lotz) - Arrow

Arrow has had it's fair share of brilliant female characters and while I was tempted to add Felicity to this list, Sara edged her out just a tiny bit though. As the Canary, she not only proved to be a good a hero as the Arrow but actually an even better one. It's a shame that the writers killed her off in the opening episode for the third season but at least the character's legacy will live on in Laurel. Yes, I don't hate Laurel, people.

9: Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) - Orange Is The New Black

This show has way too many great characters to pick from I could probably do a Top 10 list from it alone, but and maybe I'm being slightly controversial here, I decided to pick Piper as my favourite character, even if her role was a little smaller (though not by a lot) during the second season. Still however a fantastic, engaging, flawed protagonist as her relationships with Larry and Alex took decent turns as did her time in Litchfield.

10: Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) - Marvel's Agents Of SHIELD

It might have taken Agents Of SHIELD two thirds of it's first season to show audiences what it really could do as a series but when it got good, it really got good and even watching the second season, all of the main characters have improved for the better. Then there's May, who was just fantastic from the start and continues to be. Don't challenge her on that. It won't end well.

That's my list folks. So, what's yours?