Characters of the Week: NCIS: Sydney, Tracker & Chicago Fire Deliver Emotionally Raw Moments

We are back with an all-new slate of characters who touched our hearts and had us glued to the screens this week!

Yes, we’re talking about our Characters of the Week.

And our list features some of the most compelling and standout characters from all across broadcast and streaming, who left us discussing their arcs and moments well after the credits rolled.

(Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+,Sergei Bachlakov/CBS, (Peter Gordon/NBC)

From Brilliant Minds to Chicago Fire, there are so many to choose from.

Let’s delve into them now.

And let us know if you agree or disagree with anyone. We love to hear from you!

Also, don’t forget to share your own in the comments below!

Dr. Josh Nichols – Brilliant Minds

(Pief Weyman/NBC)

I’ll shout it from the rooftops that Dr. Nichols shone on Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 5, and it was Teddy Sears’ best emotional work.

He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders as he tried to save two brothers, and that St. Christopher pendant only reminded him of that.

He wanted to bring the Torres family a miracle, but it wasn’t possible, and after 17 hours in the OR, he was exhausted.

I loved that the series examined how Nichols strives to save everyone, but we can’t. It was so emotional to watch Wolf silently comfort him as he helped mop up the blood.

While it’s probably not the first patient Nichols has lost, this one may haunt him for a while.

Elliot Gifford – Murder in a Small Town

(FOX/Screenshot)

I was blown away by how Elliot Gifford made me feel for him on Murder in a Small Town Season 2 Episode 5. That teenager didn’t trust anyone or the system.

He’d obviously been in foster care and been bullied far too long and thought no one cared about him. 

Jaden Rain portrayed that so realistically that I wanted to jump through my TV and comfort him.

I hated that the cops initially suspected him, even though he technically saved Jack Coutts’ life.

He portrayed the fine line that teenagers in the system have to walk, such as knowing when to walk away from bullies, protect themselves, and defend others. – Laura Nowak

Bluebird Gleeson – NCIS: Sydney

(Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+)

Since NCIS: Sydney‘s first episode, we’ve known that there is more to Bluebird than meets the eye, and we finally got the much-needed background on her character that many of us craved.

After a jaw-dropping finale, we caught up with Blue when Doc had the sound mind to search her place after she went radio silent for so long. And it opened the door to a riveting hour with NCIS: Sydney Season 3 Episode 2, revealing Blue’s background, her criminal past, and an eerie experience with a cult on a commune.

Aspira was the mysterious woman who lured Blue (or Faith) back to this commune, where she reunited with her twin brother, Eli. And from there, Blue went into overdrive, trying to save the community from Aspira and her nefarious plans, which included talking everyone into consuming poison so she could sell the land and take off.

There was such a genuine beauty to Blue as we saw her at her most vulnerable, her past laid bare to her colleagues and friends, and her desire to save her brother from brainwashing palpable. And she showed real resolve and quiet strength as she confronted Aspira and tried to save everyone.

Then, we got the softness as she united with her biological grandmother, whom she had never known, and reunited with Doc, who has become the closest thing to family she’s had in years.

While Blue’s future and fate at NCIS are up in the air because of her lies, it was easy to step away from the hour feeling much lighter on Blue’s behalf. She was finally free! – Jasmine Blu

Sophia Choi – Days of Our Lives

(Peacock/Screenshot)

For weeks, Sophia has been the character many Days of Our Lives fans have loved to hate.

However, as the baby story drew close to an end, Sophia couldn’t handle the stress any longer and suffered a psychotic break, showing how talented Rachel Boyd was.

Having everyone accuse her at once became too much for the teenager as she collapsed in Brady’s arms.

While many Salemnites were still furious with her, others felt empathy for her since they learned she gave birth alone and scared, choosing to give her baby to the firehouse.

Many still need answers, but Sophia has gone mute for now from the stress. I suspect she won’t pay for her crimes, except for a stint in Bayview, as most keep referring to her as a stressed-out kid.

Russell Shaw – Tracker

(Sergei Bachlakov/CBS)

Let’s be real, no one knows how to steal scenes quite like Jensen Ackles.

And that’s exactly what he manages to do by playing such a genuinely charismatic, humorous, and layered character like Russell Shaw.

We were eagerly awaiting what would happen when the Shaw brothers reunited again, especially in light of Colter learning the truth about what happened to his father. And Tracker Season 3 Episode 1 didn’t disappoint.

The fraternal dynamic was at its absolute best, and Colter shared the truth with Russell, then apologized for the horrible things he believed. Russell dropping everything to track down his brother was so quintessentially him and spoke to the love he has for his brother.

And the conversation between the two and all the things they said and what lay within the silent beats where they didn’t outright say anything at all was some of the most compelling work on the series to date.

Russell’s energy truly touched every aspect of the hour, as he validated his brother’s words, even as he used humor to deflect and cope.

He exuded all the grace, protectiveness, love, and humor of an eldest sibling who maybe saw more than Colter could ever know but wanted to keep him from experiencing the same things.

Through their interactions, we gained a much better understanding of their dynamic, and Russell understood his brother enough to lure him back into the reward game, with all the fun shenanigans and hilarious moments that the case, even with its darker moments, called for.

Russell’s fun, dynamic approach in the premiere and that effortless Shaw brother chemistry already have us clamoring for his return to the series sometime in the foreseeable future.

Brett Richards – Fire Country

(Sergei Bachlakov/CBS)

Richards may not be what Station 142 wants, but he certainly is what they need.

Maybe it’s the fact that Shawn Hatosy once again brings that likability, intrigue, and gravitas to another role, or perhaps it’s just that it is genuinely refreshing to have someone at the helm who isn’t entangled with other members of the firehouse via blood or “found family.”

But he’s there to right the ship, and he leads in a manner that the house commands, especially in the aftermath of Vince.

The other characters don’t have to like it, but we sure as heck do, because even though Richards seems like an antagonist on Fire Country, he’s proving to be anything but right now.

Christopher Herrmann – Chicago Fire

(Peter Gordon/NBC)

I still think it’s time for him to retire, but Herrmann was a standout this week on Chicago Fire. He brilliantly nailed the emotions of your house burning down.

At first, he had the fear of all parents: his daughter was trapped in the fire.

Even through the mask, you could feel the relief from him as he realized she wasn’t there, and it took a minute for him to get out. But then, he did one thing we all probably would: tried to get to the photos.

The loss of memories is heartbreaking, but Herrmann was also dealing with the fear that he was the reason for the fire.

While it turned out he wasn’t, I am a little mad at him for the electrical work he did. He should know better, and this is sure to lead to a lesson for him. – Alex Ingham

• Gripping, vulnerable, raw, and human, our Characters of the Week span Grey’s Anatomy, Murder in a Small Town, Boots, and more. Check it out!

• 25 Years is a serious milestone, and we’re celebrating CSI’s Anniversary by listing 15 of the series most memorable episodes,

• Our Characters of the Week are fierce, complex, and nuanced across Peacemaker, Chicago PD, and The Morning Show. Who made the list? Find out!

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