10 Best Character Development Arcs in Sitcoms, Ranked by How Beautiful They Were

Character development is an important thing when it comes to serious stories and dramas, but when we’re watching a fun show we are almost okay with the idea that everyone will remain as they are. So when they do actually evolve into better people, it hits different.

Here are ten examples of exactly that.

10. Michael Scott

We don’t know about you, but when we watched The Office for the first time, Michael Scott struck us as the most unpleasant guy ever. He was fun to watch, but the very idea of having a boss like that sent chills down our spines. However, the man who came (that’s-what-she-said) to Dwight’s wedding as part of the “best prank ever” had us squealing with joy.

9. Sheldon Cooper

Throughout the course of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper has had quite a journey. Starting off as an unbearable know-it-all, Sheldon learned how to be a good (okay, a better) friend and even how to be in a healthy relationship. When he finally received his Nobel Prize alongside people he loves the most, we felt so very proud!

8. Haley Dunphy

When we first saw Haley in Modern Family, we never expected this straightforward, self-centered and cheeky girl to grow into this beautiful, self-aware and smart (yes, smart) woman. Although we did want to see her developing her own business rather than ending up in a stereotypical housewife scenario, if that’s what truly makes her happy – we’re happy for her, too.

7. Jake Peralta

There’s hardly a Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan who doesn’t love Jake Peralta for the goofball that he is. However, in the later seasons, he somehow managed to mature without losing the most adorable part of his personality. If that’s not a glow-up, we don’t know what is.

6. Eleanor Shellstrop

The Good Place is generally the show that suggests character development as a plot tool, because, you know, when the main character is a bad person who accidentally ended up in heaven, you’re bound to see some good character development. Eleanor Shellstrop did her best in doing better – and she also managed to not lose her spark.

5. Wanda Maximoff

Before you go into the “what?!” mode, a little disclaimer: we’re talking about Wanda in WandaVision, and it was technically, in part, a sitcom. In what is probably Marvel’s best experimental project, Wanda Maximoff has had quite a journey in terms of character development. While trying to cope with her grief in the most questionable ways, she managed to not cross the line… well, at least she managed not to do it in the show. Those who’ve seen Multiverse of Madness will agree this character development still has a way to go.

4. David Rose

Ah, Schitt’s Creek, the epitome of character growth! We met David Rose in episode 1 as someone too attached to material things and the tokens of his lost status. David also struggled to connect with people; well, the happier we were to see him in a happy committed relationship at the end of the show. Still in tears, by the way, thank you.

3. Chandler Bing

Friends fans believe that late Matthew Perry ’s Chandler had the greatest character development in the entire show, and no one could convince them otherwise. Will anyone even try, though? Chandler managed to transition from a sarcastic guy who used humor as a defense mechanism into a truly adult and self-aware person. His relationship with Monica helped him grow; in the end, we had the same Chandler we loved, but better – personally, romantically, and professionally.

2. Fleabag

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has not only managed to break our hearts in the cruelest way possible with THAT finale, but she also took us by the hand and guided us through a tough journey of her heroine and made it truly beautiful. Starting from a woman who uses humor and sex to shield herself from the dark realities of her own life, we found ourselves at that bus station saying goodbye to someone who has not particularly healed, but was ready to finally move on. Alone. Even without us.

1. Alexis Rose

But the true champion of character growth in sitcoms is this Schitt’s Creek girl. To this day, the character journey of Alexis Rose remains the most charming thing in the TV world, fight us. We were first introduced to someone who would bombard us with words “like”, “ew”, and “ugh” – only to wipe our tears at the sight of Alexis who had to painfully but respectfully end her first truly serious relationship because she understood it couldn’t work out.

We joined her as he struggled to finish high school at an unlikely age; as she slowly assembled her PR agency and learned the value of hard work; and as she gave her brother David away at his wedding, telling him how proud she was. From “you get murdered first” to that? Heart-wrenching, but absolutely perfect.