7 criminally wasted sci-fi show characters

Sci-fi TV series feature interesting characters that capture our attention and emotional interest. However, some shows fail to develop characters, which disappoints the audience. Many characters with enormous potential are either wasted due to poor writing decisions — they are killed off or sidelined for the sake of more dramatic storylines. These characters could have brought depth, perspective, or an incredible arc to their respective sci-fi shows, but were discarded, taken off too quickly, or written out unjustly.

In this list, we have chosen TV characters we feel were criminally wasted. These characters from Lost to Stranger Things needed more attention and should have been developed in terms of larger screen time. Many fans continue to criticize their wasted potential long after these sci-fi shows have aired. Viewers still wish their stories were told in greater length.

**Disclaimer: This article is solely based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.**

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7 criminally wasted characters from shows

7. Kate Austen (Lost)

One of the earliest and key characters featured in Lost was Kate Austen (played by Evangeline Lilly). At first, she was exciting — a fugitive with a mysterious background, with survival skills and leadership tendencies. However, as the show progressed, her story became overly about her love triangle with Jack and Sawyer.

Kate did not evolve as a character. Instead, she bounced between lovers and did things that contradicted her qualities from previous seasons. Fans of this show were disappointed that she did not have a more profound and independent experience.

Kate had an elaborate background and could have been an intricate, fearless leader. However, the show invested too much time in her romantic relations, rather than allowing her to grow. After a point, she was merely used to create drama. Kate could have been one of the most memorable Lost heroes with better writing, but her abilities were never fully realized.

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6. Andrea (The Walking Dead)

Andrea, played by Laurie Holden, was a powerful and knowledgeable character in The Walking Dead who lost her sister early in the show. In the comics, she proves to be a skilled shooter and strong commander. However, Andrea's story was poorly narrated on television.

She made several weak judgments, including trusting the wrong people (such as the governor), which irritated fans. Instead of becoming stronger, she became more confusing and less important within the plot. Her death was quick and did not acknowledge what she could have been.

Andrea had the potential to be a strong and respected leader, as she was in the comic books. However, the show gave her horrible writing, bad relationships, and a poor finish. The writers failed to let her mature, and fans missed out on seeing what she could become. The early exit of the character eliminated a strong female persona in the story.

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5. Wally West (The Flash)

Wally West, played by Keiynan Lonsdale, is the brother of Iris West in The Flash. In the comics, he would occasionally surpass Barry Allen, or The Flash, in speed. His character did not, however, receive any significant development in the TV show.

Wally's character continued to be a prop even after gaining the power of speed. Even during Barry’s time being trapped in the speed force, Wally’s time as Central City’s primary speedster was skimmed over, leaving him with no opportunity to shine. He had sporadic appearances and was usually absent from important events such as the Crisis on Earth-X crossover.

Wally was underutilized in the Arrowverse, despite his talent and popularity in comics. The show failed to examine his growth, relationships, and heroism. Instead, he usually went missing when important things were happening. This indifference devastated his fans, who had hoped Wally would grow into the hero they knew from the comics.

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4. Clara Oswald (Doctor Who)

Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, is a character who travels with the Doctor in the British sci-fi story Doctor Who. She made her debut in 2012's Asylum of the Daleks, first as Oswin Oswald, a bright young woman who was transformed into a Dalek, and then again in 2012's The Snowmen as Victorian governess Clara. These moments over time were part of a bigger mystery, bringing everything together in the episode called The Name of the Doctor, where we find out that Clara ended up in different parts of time just to help the Doctor.

Critics claim that rather than being developed as a real person, Clara's character is largely a plot device and lacks depth. Her first showing on screen didn’t reveal much about her because the writers mainly wanted to make her seem mysterious instead of showing how she changes as a person. This approach led to some changes in her character that made it hard for people to relate to her.

Clara became stronger and more self-reliant with Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, but her character development was sometimes overshadowed by convoluted plots and storylines. Her relationships, including the one with Danny Pink, were shown but not given much explanation, which makes it hard for viewers to care about the emotions between them. Ultimately, Clara had a lot going for her, but the show’s writing often changed too much and wasn’t clear about what to do next, which made Clara a character that people either loved or weren’t so sure about.

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3. General Grievous (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

General Grievous is the evil cyborg commander for the Confederacy in Star Wars. The warrior was first built as a Kaleesh with a fierce and unrelenting hatred toward the Jedi. With the events of the shuttle accident behind him, he was equipped as a deadly war machine and kept fighting with stolen lightsabers.

In the series, he does not show the range of his talents. Despite his frightening and smart demeanor, he falls short since he lacks outstanding character attributes. The story portrays him as less threatening and simply uses basic, frequently similar fighting techniques, even though his appearance suggests he is much more serious. The series does not live up to the chances it had to fully exhibit the power of such an interesting enemy.

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2. Captain Philippa Georgiou (Star Trek: Discovery)

The character of Captain Philippa Georgiou (played by Michelle Yeoh) was introduced as a principled and seasoned Starfleet commander. Her early demise in the series was shocking, as her body was found consumed by Klingons. It was an unceremonious end for a revered character.

Although Yeoh's Georgiou reappeared as the Emperor of the Mirror Universe, this version did not have the depth and moral weight of the original. The inconsistent writing added to the character's drawbacks.

The potential of Captain Georgiou serving as the series's mentor and moral guidance was cut short. Even the Mirror Universe side made a different account, but it did not embody the integrity and leadership qualities of the original. Many viewers were upset by the choice to concentrate on the alternate version without making an effort to comprehend the original plot. They felt as though they were seeing the premature death of a promising figure.

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1. Barb Holland (Stranger Things)

In the first season of Stranger Things, Shannon Purser's character Barb Holland had little on-screen time, but she left a lasting impression. Barb was a devoted and sensible woman who was Nancy Wheeler's best friend. Her sudden disappearance and death in the Upside Down were almost unnoticeable to all other characters, which led to the fan-based #JusticeForBarb campaign. Barb's plot was never fully developed further in the remaining seasons, despite the show makers acknowledging her popularity.

Barb's character appealed to the audience because of her likability and truthfulness. Her out-of-the-blue disappearance from the series seemed to have little significance to her community and friends. It seemed like a wasted opportunity not to show how her loss affected her community and her friends. If the character had been explored more, it might have helped advance the show's plot.

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Ultimately, each of these seven characters was dropped from their respective sci-fi series, although they had the potential to become popular or important figures in the plot. The audience saw their strengths and related to them, but sub-par writing, lacklustre arcs, and early departures destroyed what could have been great storylines.

Kate Austen’s complicated history, Wally West’s comic book fame, or General Grievous's evil mind all were thrown overboard for the sake of drama or plot convenience. Even if the actors tried and delivered excellent performances, the characters never got the attention or respect that was needed to develop them.

Fans still recall them not for what they were, but for what they could have been. They were the missed potential marks and lost opportunities in TV storytelling. These characters will always be buried in the realm of what-if for devoted fans.