TV Shows Where Black Leads Were Sidelined After Season One

Television history is filled with series that introduced compelling Black characters in their pilot episodes only to reduce their importance as the story progressed. These characters often start with significant screen time and agency before becoming supporting players in the narratives of their white counterparts. Audiences frequently criticize this pattern for wasting the potential of talented actors and complex storylines. The following list highlights shows where Black leads or major characters saw their roles diminished following their debut seasons.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (2013–2017)

Abbie Mills began the series as a co-lead alongside Ichabod Crane and served as the modern anchor for the supernatural drama. The writers gradually shifted focus to Crane and his family drama while Abbie functioned more as a supporting sidekick. This sidelining culminated in her controversial death in the third season finale. Fans and critics widely panned the decision to remove the primary female lead from her own narrative.

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Bonnie Bennett was introduced as a powerful witch and the best friend of the protagonist Elena Gilbert. The writers frequently used Bonnie solely as a magical plot device to rescue other characters at the expense of her own happiness. She would often disappear for episodes at a time or die temporarily to advance the storylines of the vampire brothers. Her personal life and romantic interests rarely received the same screen time or development as the other leads.

‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)

Pete Ross was Clark Kent’s best friend and one of the only people who knew his secret in the first season. His storyline became increasingly nonexistent as the show introduced new characters and focused on the Luthor family dynamics. The character eventually left town to protect Clark’s secret because the writers struggled to find a place for him. Pete Ross remains a prime example of the shrinking best friend trope in teen dramas.

‘Glee’ (2009–2015)

Mercedes Jones possessed one of the strongest voices in the glee club yet constantly played second fiddle to Rachel Berry. The scripts frequently made her the butt of jokes regarding her attitude or diet rather than exploring her life outside the choir room. She rarely received solo competition numbers despite her obvious talent and vocal capability. This disparity in treatment became a major point of contention for viewers throughout the series run.

‘Supergirl’ (2015–2021)

James Olsen started as the primary love interest for Kara Danvers and a successful photographer with a connection to Superman. The show moved away from their romance in the second season and struggled to find a consistent role for him moving forward. He became the vigilante Guardian to remain relevant but often felt disconnected from the main Supergirl plots. The actor eventually left the series after his character was consistently marginalized in favor of new arrivals.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Michael Dawson and his son Walt were central figures in the initial mystery of the island during the first season. The writers wrote Walt out of the show quickly due to the actor aging faster than the show timeline allowed. Michael was then turned into an antagonist who betrayed his friends before being killed off in a redemption arc. Their promising dynamic as a father and son struggling to connect was cut short prematurely.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

T-Dog was a core member of the original group of survivors in Atlanta during the debut season. His dialogue count dropped precipitously in the second season until he became virtually silent in many episodes. He eventually died a hero in the third season but viewers noted the lack of character development leading up to that moment. The show often struggled to balance its large ensemble cast and T-Dog was a notable casualty of that focus.

‘Riverdale’ (2017–2023)

Josie McCoy and her band were a major promotional element of the series premiere and the town culture. The Pussycats were slowly disbanded as members left and Josie was relegated to occasional musical performances in the background. Her mother eventually received more screen time as the mayor than Josie did as a student. The character eventually exited the main show to join a spinoff series after years of reduced relevance.

‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)

Tara Thornton began as the intelligent and skeptical best friend to Sookie Stackhouse in the first season. The writers subsequently put her character through a relentless series of traumatic events without allowing her time to heal or grow. She was turned into a vampire against her will and eventually killed off-screen in a controversial opening scene. Her arc is often cited as an example of character suffering replacing genuine development.

‘Heroes’ (2006–2010)

D.L. Hawkins was introduced as a major character with the ability to phase through solid objects. His storyline was largely isolated from the main cast and focused entirely on his marital issues with Niki Sanders. He was killed off early in the second season to further Niki’s development and the plot of their son Micah. The show failed to integrate him fully into the primary “save the cheerleader” narrative before his exit.

‘Community’ (2009–2015)

Shirley Bennett was a member of the study group who often received the least amount of focus in A-plots. The writers frequently relied on her religious background or motherly status for jokes rather than giving her complex individual storylines. She was often paired with other characters to support their growth while her own ambitions were secondary. The actress eventually left the show after her role continued to diminish over five seasons.

‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011–2018)

Sidney Glass appeared to be a major player in the first season as the Magic Mirror and a rival to the Evil Queen. The character vanished for long stretches of time and was eventually written out with little fanfare. Other characters of color like Lancelot and Rapunzel were also introduced with hype only to be discarded quickly. The show consistently prioritized the core family of Snow White and Prince Charming over diverse additions.

‘Bridgerton’ (2020–Present)

Simon Basset was the undeniable breakout lead of the first season and drove the primary romance arc. The anthology nature of the book series meant his character would naturally take a backseat in future seasons. However his complete absence from the screen in subsequent years felt jarring to fans who invested in his story. The show explained he was at home while his wife Daphne visited her family alone.

‘American Gods’ (2017–2021)

Mr. Nancy burst onto the screen in the first season and became an instant fan favorite for his powerful monologues. The actor Orlando Jones was fired before the third season and claimed it was because the new showrunner disliked the character’s message. His storylines were abruptly dropped despite the character’s significance in the novel and the show’s mythology. The removal of such a vital voice sparked significant backlash against the production.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–Present)

Lucas Sinclair was a proactive and skeptical member of the core party during the investigation into Will’s disappearance. Subsequent seasons often split the group up and Lucas was frequently given less to do than Mike or Dustin. His storylines began to revolve almost entirely around his romantic relationship with Max rather than the main sci-fi mystery. Critics have noted that he often receives the least amount of character exploration among the four boys.

‘The Flash’ (2014–2023)

Wally West joined the series as the son of Joe West and eventually suited up as Kid Flash. The writers struggled to balance two speedsters on the same team and often sidelined Wally to keep Barry Allen as the hero. He was eventually sent away to other shows or off-screen locations because the show did not know how to utilize him. His potential as a legacy hero was largely squandered within the main flagship series.

‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)

Maya St. Germain was Emily Fields’ first girlfriend and a significant character in the first season mystery. She was sent away to a rehabilitation camp and then murdered shortly after her return to town. Her death served primarily to cause angst for Emily rather than concluding her own narrative arc satisfactorily. Fans were disappointed that the show killed off one of its few prominent Black characters so early.

‘Orange Is the New Black’ (2013–2019)

Claudette Pelage was a formidable presence in the first season and served as Piper’s roommate. Her storyline involved a heartbreaking hope for appeal that ended with her attacking a guard and being sent to maximum security. She was never seen or heard from again despite the show eventually moving the entire cast to the maximum security facility. Her sudden and permanent erasure from the universe of the show left a loose end.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Marcia Roy was established as Logan Roy’s powerful and mysterious wife who commanded respect in the first season. Her presence diminished significantly in later seasons as the plot focused more on the Roy siblings. She appeared only sporadically to negotiate financial terms or make brief cameos at family events. The intrigue surrounding her background and influence over Logan was largely abandoned by the writers.

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–2019)

Bonnie Carlson was a main character who committed the pivotal act that ended the first season mystery. The second season sidelined her for the majority of the episodes while she struggled silently with guilt. She was given very little dialogue compared to the other four women until the final episode of the series. Her internal struggle was often depicted through reaction shots rather than substantive scenes.

‘Charmed’ (2018–2022)

Macy Vaughn was the eldest sister and a scientist who anchored the magical trio in the reboot series. The actress Madeleine Mantock left the show after three seasons following reports of a difficult work environment. Her character was killed off and the show replaced her with a new long-lost sister to maintain the rule of three. Fans felt her departure marked a decline in the show’s quality and focus.

‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)

Walter Steele was a recurring main character in the first season as Oliver’s stepfather and CEO of Queen Consolidated. He was kidnapped for a large portion of the season and then left the show as a regular shortly after. His role was reduced to occasional guest appearances despite his importance to the family dynamic. The show replaced his business mentorship role with other characters as the seasons progressed.

‘Scream Queens’ (2015–2016)

Zayday Williams was the co-lead and the rational investigator during the Red Devil murders in the first season. The second season moved the setting to a hospital and reduced her role significantly in favor of the Chanels. She had less impact on the plot and fewer comedic moments than in her debut appearances. The character felt like an afterthought in the new setting before the show was cancelled.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

Victor Strand was introduced as a charismatic and enigmatic survivor who saved the initial group. His role fluctuated wildly in later seasons as the cast ballooned and new showrunners took over. He often disappeared into the background or was given repetitive villain arcs that isolated him from the group. The complexity of his season one persona was often traded for cartoonish antagonism.

‘Designated Survivor’ (2016–2019)

Aaron Shore began the series as the Chief of Staff and a key political player in the new administration. His importance dwindled as the show focused more on external threats and new advisors. He was shuffled through various job titles including Vice President but had little impact on the main plotlines. The character became a background figure in situation room scenes rather than a driving force.

‘Shadowhunters’ (2016–2019)

Luke Garroway was the father figure to the protagonist Clary and a leader of the werewolf pack. The show often relegated him to the role of a supportive cop who cleaned up the mess left by the younger Shadowhunters. His own storylines regarding the werewolf pack politics were frequently treated as B-plots or ignored entirely. He eventually left the show before the finale to join a different organization off-screen.

‘Titans’ (2018–2023)

Starfire was a central mystery of the first season as she woke up with amnesia and powers. Once her memory returned the show often prioritized the angst of Dick Grayson and the Bat-family drama over her development. She frequently lost her powers or was pushed to the side during major conflicts in seasons two and three. Fans consistently campaigned for her to have a narrative arc independent of her romance with Nightwing.

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006–2011)

Smash Williams was the star running back and a primary focus of the football drama in the early seasons. His character was written out in the third season after he graduated and went to college. While this fit the realistic nature of a high school show it removed one of the most charismatic leads from the ensemble. The show struggled to fill the void left by his departure with subsequent players.

‘Gossip Girl’ (2007–2012)

Vanessa Abrams was a series regular and Dan Humphrey’s childhood best friend who critiqued the upper east side lifestyle. The writers gradually turned her into a villainous meddler before sending her away to study abroad. Her screen time decreased significantly in later seasons until she was removed from the opening credits entirely. She returned only for a brief cameo in the series finale.

Tell us which character you think deserved a better storyline in the comments.