Having a single protagonist lead a TV series is so last century. These days, shows featuring an ensemble cast are taking over the airwaves and provide even more reasons to tune in.
With so many rich characters on television, writers have decided to spread the love by having their series focus on a bunch of characters, rather than just one. The trend is making it even easier to get hooked on a new show, giving us so many more personalities to fall in love with and relate to.
A great example of this is Friends, whose six leads captured the hearts of the world and made the show one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. But so many more have followed in its footsteps since then, proving that the bigger the cast, the more there is to love about a show.
Here’s a list of recent shows that have captured our attention without having a main character to lead the way.
Game of Thrones
One of the most popular shows on this list also has one of the biggest casts. HBO has introduced us to a seemingly infinite number of characters trying to survive in Westeros since Game of Thrones debuted in 2011 and we’ve been tirelessly trying to keep up with them all ever since. And while Daenerys and Jon Snow have arguably emerged as stars of the series, each episode focuses on all the characters and their storylines, making it even more exciting to see who will ultimately make it onto the Iron Throne.
Modern Family
The bigger the family, the more chaos that ensues, and that’s exactly the approach that ABC took with its hit sitcom Modern Family. The long-running series focuses on the Pritchetts and the Dunphys, with an emphasis on unique family dynamics such as adoption, stepchildren, and same-sex parents. The show’s large cast allows for great opportunities to mix and match the characters each episode, pairing different people together for storylines that place a hilarious emphasis on their opposing personality traits.
This Is Us
This Is Us has become a massive hit for NBC since its debut in 2016 and its cast is a major reason why. The show about the Pearsons not only covers each member of the family but tells their stories throughout different periods of their lives. Viewers get the backstory about parents Jack and Rebecca’s past while also watching triplets Kevin, Kate, and Randall navigate adulthood in their present-day lives. The show is known for making its fans cry each episode, so with that many characters to fall in love with and care about, we suggest keeping a whole box of tissues by your side each week.
Stranger Things
Netflix’s original drama Stranger Things is a celebration of the science-fiction films that dominated the 1980s and that includes the time period’s popular trope of featuring an ensemble cast made up of children. The series not only follows the group of childhood friends as they explore the supernatural forces taking over their small Indiana town but also features storylines with their parents as well. Throw in the mystery of a young girl they call Eleven, and you have a sci-fi ensemble that fans instantly fell in love with.
Big Bang Theory
Sure, Jim Parsons has won four Emmys for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper on Big Bang Theory, but it’s the cast as a whole that has made this CBS sitcom last for so many seasons. The collection of science-loving nerds and the women that have come into their lives provides enough hijinx for an endless avalanche of episodes, helping the show get to 11 seasons and counting. When the series was recently greenlit for a 12th season, star Kaley Cuoco joked that the sitcom will outlive us all — and at this point she may be right!
Sense8
Diehard fans were devastated when Netflix canceled its original series Sense8 after two seasons, and the ensemble cast was a huge reason for all the uproar. The multinational cast members portrayed eight strangers from around the world who became “sensates,” or people who are mentally and emotionally linked. The series set out to explore subjects that are often ignored in science-fiction projects, including politics, sexuality, and religion, and its ensemble cast helped keep people interested in it all.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It may be hard to pick your favorite horrible character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but one thing’s for sure — the long-running FX comedy wouldn’t be the same without all of them together. The series had been confirmed for Seasons 13 and 14 before Season 12 even aired last year, and it’s the chemistry between the cast that has helped it survive for so long. The Gang’s questionable antics as they run Paddy’s Pub represent all our most primal, inappropriate instincts and we love every one of them for it.
