15 TV Breakout Characters of 2012-13

Though HBO's fantasy drama is full of shrewd operators, none of them are as young and wily as Margaery, a teenage noblewoman with a knack for marrying kings. Her engagement to Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) has put Margaery in the spotlight this season, emphasizing her aptitude for manipulation — and making us wonder what Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn could have accomplished on The Tudors if she hadn't lost her head. —Hillary Busis

Triple threat Ike Barinholtz is not just wacky Morgan Tookers on Mindy Kaling's brainchild The Mindy Project, he's also a writer and story editor on the freshman show. So those super awkward scenarios aren't just coming from the writers — it's actually him. Morgan might sport a stomach tattoo that says ''No More Stealing Cars,'' but he's definitely stealing scenes. Plus, whether it's interrupting a business lunch at a medical conference or coming up with wacky ideas for Mindy's Halloween costume, the ex-con nurse always has his friends' best interests in his odd little heart. —Laura Hertzfeld

A former surgeon-turned-sober companion, Lucy Liu's Joan breaks the mold of the normal Sherlock-Watson dynamic — and not just because she's a woman. Yes, her chemistry with Jonny Lee Miller's Holmes is electric, but Watson's own toughness and vulnerabilities make Sherlock — and us — care about her journey, and not just whether or not she'll eventually hop into bed with him. —Denise Warner

The grumpiest loftmate (Jake Johnson) has been at the heart of the Fox hitcom's dynamic four since season 1, but his developing romance with Jess (Zooey Deschanel) has turned up the heat this year. Nick has moved from a one-dimensional curmudgeon to a fully fleshed-out leading man. Witness: His moving eulogy in ''Chicago'' and his silent smoldering over ''roomfriend'' Jess. Show us the New Girl fan who didn't rewind the final scene of ''Cooler'' over and over again, and we'll show you a liar. —Lanford Beard

She looks like your kind-hearted grandma. But was your grandma willing to get her face smashed into a bloody pulp just to protect the KGB? Played with phenomenal old-tough-broad gusto by the great Margo Martindale, Claudia's that rare character who rules like a dictator (''You can't wait for the laws to give you your rights!'' she commands. ''You have to take them!'') and still manages to come off like a total underdog. She looks so weak compared to Kerri Russell's crazy-kickboxing Elizabeth, you'll find yourself rooting for her. Even though she's bent on destroying your people. —Melissa Maerz

Rep. Peter Russo — played by Corey Stoll (known previously only for his brief appearance as Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris) — is the ultimate political pawn. He's toyed with like a chess piece in Francis Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) Washington game, and ultimately it costs him his life. But not without a few hookers, coke binges, and upset shipyard workers along the way. And yet, somehow we still have a bit of a crush on the dashing, bare-head Philly congressman. —Laura Hertzfeld

The outspoken rapper initially drew the ire of Idol watchers when her beef with fellow judge Mariah Carey overshadowed the contestants. But she's evolved during the live shows into the most intriguing voice on the panel. Love her or hate her, Minaj speaks her mind with ridiculous metaphors (like her comparison of Kree Harrison to a buttery, syrupy waffle) and marketing savvy (Minaj often remarks about Amber Holcomb and Angie Miller's ''legs for days''). She's not always as vocally astute as her fellow judges, but her unpredictability is refreshing. —Grady Smith

He wasn't what we were expecting, this ex-junkie and OG gangster who had an escort business as an exit strategy and made his entrance banging Gemma (Katey Sagal). In the hands of Jimmy Smits, Nero can be disarmingly sincere and vulnerable, and still, there's an innate strength that makes him solid and unpredictable. The recurring guest role became one of the most full-bodied characters on the show, which is why he'll back for season 6 this fall. —Mandi Bierly

Nashville's resident DIVA (all caps!) is a total brat and at first seemed a pretty one-dimensional Taylor Swift-type with a nasty mean streak. But as the season went on, we started to see the cracks courtesy of Hayden Panettiere's layered performance. A messy childhood is certainly to blame for her defensive behavior and attraction to all the wrong men, but her willingness to reconcile with her now-recovering addict mother gave us a reason to sympathize with Juliette — though it's not always easy. Sure, Juliette's tough to love, but it's getting harder to hate her, too. —John Mitchell

A smooth-faced killer who we first see posing as one half of a smooth-faced gay couple. It was quickly revealed ''Will Wilson'' is Jacob Wells, a twentysomething devotee of Joe Carroll's cult of mysticism-cum-nihilism. Nico Tortorella's appeal was as dependent on his vulnerability as his menace, a paradox epitomized by a romance with the man he was already pretending to kill with — and love. —Adam Carlson

The raccoon-eyed, deadpan, deceptively dim-witted Dalia has always been more than a standard high school mean girl. But this year, actress Carly Chaikin's blank stare and razor-sharp timing really stood out against the increasingly cartoonish backdrop of ABC's ''stuck in the suburbs'' comedy. Note to the network: Save this show! Dalia deserves to reign over Chatswin for seasons to come. —Hillary Busis

Leslie Knope's first year as a City Councilwoman wasn't easy, and she can pretty much attribute all of her adversity to Councilman Jamm (dude, even tried to ruin her wedding). Jamm was the perfect example of what was corrupt about city government, but star Jon Glaser brought a hilarity and lightness to every scene as this terrible dentist. With catchphrases like ''you just got Jammed,'' it's clear this dope is no match for Knope, but that makes his character all the more fun. He's an adversary that Leslie will trounce again and again. And we can't wait to watch. —Sarah Caldwell

The producers have all admitted that IT whiz Felicity was never meant to last on Arrow. Still, it's hard to imagine a first season without her, and the sparks of sarcasm and semi-romantic feist she throws off — especially as the moody vigilante drama piled on the double-crossings and conspiracies. As ever, Felicity was a novelty to cut through the murk. —Adam Carlson

The Good Wife's interminable brush with bankruptcy could often feel circuitous (realistic but boring), but the plot did build to greatness in the form of Nathan Lane's Clarke Hayden, a court-appointed accountant sent in to manage the firm's morally hazy and financially questionable decisions. Clarke was detailed. Clarke was smart. And he took a much-needed scalpel to the tangled Lockhart/Gardner ecosystem. — Adam Carlson

On a mega-hit drama with plenty of desperately anxious characters, Michonne (Danai Gurira) stands as the epitome of cool. Walking softly and carrying a big katana, she has sliced, diced, and decapitated her way into fans' hearts and brains since she was introduced on The Walking Dead at the end of its second season finale, gradually ingratiating herself into Rick's group in season 3 without ever appearing like a single you-know-what was given. —James Hibberd