Characters of the Week: The Heart, the Heat, and the Healing

We had some big premieres this week.

Apple TV+’s Smoke made its debut, and as you’ll learn from our Smoke Review, it’s a must-see series. Meanwhile, The Bear returned with a fourth season that already has us abuzz.

It’s no wonder characters from both series have resonated enough with us to grace our list of Characters of the Week.

It’s not just fictional characters who have stood out for us, but some reality stars as well.

Who made the cut? Check it out below!

And make sure you sound off below with your favorite characters across broadcast, streaming, and spanning all genres. We love to hear from you!

David Gudsen — Smoke

Apple TV+’s crime thriller, Smoke, just debuted this week.

And the series’ main character, Dave, is already fascinating.

He is complex as a person, arson investigator, and arsonist. Yes, arsonist.

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We’re only a couple of episodes in, and there’s already a great deal to unpack with the character despite him not being a likable one.

We have a feeling that in the coming weeks, he’ll make us laugh, cry, cringe, and more.

Watch Smoke Online

Amaya — Love Island USA

As the light in what has become an icky season, Amaya Papya (as her fans lovingly call her) has brought lightheartedness to the Villa and Love Island USA.

It was desperately needed!

While she has yet to be someone’s first choice, she has gained a legion of fans and has gone viral on TikTok with an unaired clip of a song she sang to herself while getting ready.

Love Island USA is not serving this season (although we can’t stop watching either way), but Amaya certainly is, and this week proved as much.

Watch Love Island USA online

Willow — General Hospital

Katelyn MacMullen has brought the emotions full circle for Willow on General Hospital.

Watching her fall apart after her kids were ripped from her custody was almost as if we were seeing a real human breakdown in real time.

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The almost-catatonic stare into space and her slow words as she walks through her new life have added another level to Willow.

And it’s something that’s stuck with us all week.

Watch General Hospital Online

Sydney – The Bear

The Bear Season 4 allows Sydney to shine in a gratifying way for fans of hers and the series. In many ways, she finally gets her proper due.

She feels less like a supporting character who gets sucked into the void that is Carmy and instead becomes an anchor for the other characters, the season as a whole, and even viewers.

Sydney gets to hold Carmy accountable all season, something that many of us have been craving, and she steps into her own as a firm, assertive, brilliant, and confident leader who centers those around her and commands the room.

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It’s an emotionally and narratively satisfying arc for her character. Her evolution takes the stage in subtle and more overt ways, including “Worms,” a culturally rich and brilliant love letter to the character and all that she represents, penned and performed by Ayo Edebiri herself.

We won’t reveal spoilers, but the emotional payoff for Sydney’s journey is one of the highlights of this season as she emerges as a standout.

Watch The Bear Online

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