Characters of the Week: 9-1-1: Nashville, Boston Blue & More Explore Darkness and Depth

It’s another strong week in the land of television.

And we eagerly jumped at the opportunity to discuss the Characters of the Week who left a lasting impression via compelling character journeys, intriguing story arcs, and standout moments.

Check out our full list!

Amanda Wagner (Will Trent)

While I hate that Amanda’s best storylines always deal with emotional grit, Sonja Sohn has killed it every time and delivered a master class on the intricacies of PTSD.

Amanda struggled with healing from getting shot in the Will Trent Season 3 finale. She finally went out to buy new clothes, only to witness two robbers holding the store at gunpoint.

She froze because that brought back traumatic memories, and she thought she was going die again. The look of terror on her face as he held a gun to her head was riveting.

But as soon as the store owner’s child entered the scene, badass Amanda took over because she wouldn’t let those creeps hurt anyone else.

Even though Amanda saved the day, she focused on the fact that she froze because PTSD plays tricks on you.

I loved that Ormewood was the character who supported and comforted her because he’s been in the trenches and knew exactly what to say to help Amanda.

It allowed two characters to bond over a terrible experience, and I hope Amanda gets the help she needs. – Laura

Joy Kwon (The Pitt)

For much of The Pitt Season 2, we’ve witnessed an unspoken rivalry emerging between the “baby geniuses” of the bunch, Javadi and the incredibly polarizing Ogilvie. Both have a knack for trying to prove just how smart and capable they are.

But the sneak genius of the bunch who starts stealing scenes is clearly Joy. And The Pitt Season 2 Episode 8, perfectly captures what’s so appealing about her character.

As the hospital goes full-on analog, and Whitaker has yet another fumble, it’s Joy who reluctantly, casually shares that she can recite the entire board for memory because she has a photographic memory and proceeds to do so.

It’s her most standout moment, and impressive enough to get the attention of the attendings. But it’s how non-plussed and unfazed she is by the whole ordeal that’s the most amusing.

She’s also the one with the most entertaining quips and commentary as the younger students and doctors try to figure out the “old-school” methods of practicing medicine amid a cyberattack. – Jasmine

Det. Theo Walker (Law & Order)

I’ve always enjoyed Walker since he empathizes with some of the suspects and toes the line, but seeing him undercover on Law & Order explained why he’s a lone wolf and added needed layers.

While Riley does things by the book, Walker had connections to get them information about the Pleasant View Mafia, the gang that killed a young black teenager.

Seeing Walker undercover and interacting with JuJu added depth. He’s complicated and compelling, and he’s not afraid to get answers, but he had romantic feelings for her. We all know when that occurs undercover, things get messy.

I love how he admitted to the depths he almost went to in order to keep his cover a secret years ago.

He understood Book’s desperation about letting an investigation go, but they needed him to prosecute the murderer.

Walker finally emerged as a fully developed character. We saw his history, vulnerabilities, and why he clashed with Riley. – Laura Nowak

Jennifer Morales (The Hunting Party)

We’ve longed to see more of fierce Morales, and never dreamed she’d be in danger when Sara Garcia teased a chaotic command center arc.

However, Jennifer Morales has stepped up to the plate on The Hunting Party and often acts like she’s in charge more than Peck does sometimes.

I love the way she took command, trying to learn the mole, only to have it be Norm.

Morales had to be terrified with a gun to her head, but she’s learned from Bex and knew the most effective way to keep Norm calm was to play along.

I loved how she pretended that Cyrus was the truth, but she actually divulged that Cyrus killed Norm’s brother, turning on the broadcast so Norm could hear it firsthand.

It was a genius move, and she’d make an excellent crisis negotiator.

Don Hart (9-1-1: Nashville)

One ofthe most unexpected things about 9-1-1: Nashville‘s midseason premiere was that the hour did a good job of giving us the origin story of Don, Blythe, and Dixie.

It also filled in the blanks about Don’s tragic background, including the loss of his parents and baby sister, and just how much that shaped who he was as a young man, and even who he is now.

Flashbacks gave us a strong performance by Ben Winchell as a younger version of Don, and through those, we saw a man with a chip on his shoulder and pain in his heart. Learning about the man who killed his family left him with a desire for vengeance as much as justice.

And it’s a storyline that played well into the present as he battled panic attacks at the mere mention of the man.

But that devastating call that resulted in a woman forgiving the teen who killed her before she died, and a discussion with Dixe, prompted Don to face his familys’ killer and actually extend grace and forgiveness in a way that felt satisfying.

You could visibly see the shift in him, and now a burden was lifted — he was lighter and more willing to discuss everything he could remember about his family from the past with the present one, and it was a great mark of character growth for Don.

Jonah Silver (Boston Blue)

After a huge cliffhanger, Boston Blue Season 1 Episode 10 was a satisfying midseason premiere that had the series feeling very much like its predecessor, Blue Bloods.

Jonah had to grapple more with his mental health, how he processed his grief, and figure out what he’s capable of and how to ensure he doesn’t allow his grief to fuel him in dangerous, harmful ways.

For so long, Jonah has had lighter, at times sillier, story arcs, and this one allowed the series to explore Jonah’s layers and how tragedy and grief influence him.

It also allowed us to see different sides to his dynamics with his family, namely Lena, and his friend and partner, Sean.

The hour also marks Marcus Scribner‘s strongest performance of the season yet, as it allowed him to tap into his full range with more material to work with.

Bobby Trey (Cross)

It’s something about Bobby Trey that is too entertaining for words.

He’s had a strong presence during Cross Season 2, assisting Kayla with an off-books investigation into Bad Religion, and he’s provided a wealth of information, putting his particular skill set to perfect use.

But Cross Season 2 Episode 5 allows us to see glimmers of what may lie beneath the surface, especially when you sense how strongly he feels about experimentation on soldiers.

There’s a moment when you can see he’s on the cusp of exacting justice or vengeance on their behalf, even if it means taking out the person who hired him.

And that’s a fascinating thing to explore, given he’s a hired gunman who usually appears to have no limitations on what he’s willing to do or assist with.

But his potential to turn on Kayla is rooted in a moral code we didn’t initially see him possess, and it’s another layer to this fascinating character.

Also, as a total badass saving “Crossy-Cross” from execution, Bobby Trey is proof that even “baddies” can be heroes — and witty and hilarious to boot. – Jasmine Blu

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