TVholics: Sam Marquez
COOL OLD GUY
Expect him to be greying, a loud voice, but in peak physical condition and unafraid of anything. For reasons that should be clear enough, this trope frequently overlaps with Bald of Awesome.
I couldn't not include Ed Deline from Las Vegas for this. I mean, Sam would totally approve. :D The second one is Saul Tigh from Battlestar Galactica. Even if he this cap is a bit ironic for this trope.
THE CHESSMASTER
Chessmasters tug at their strings of influence, patiently move their pieces into places that often seem harmless or pointless until the trap is closed, and get innocent Unwitting Pawns to do all the heavy lifting. The best will also have layers upon layers of misdirection and backup plans in case some unexpected hero appears to gum up the works.
There are two main types. One involves the show actually using chess metaphors for the character and the other has no chess metaphors.
The first type is well represented by Nate on Leverage and the second by Veronica on Veronica Mars.
DOES THIS REMIND YOU OF ANYTHING?
Any situation which is made, sometimes for comic effect, sometimes for dramatic effect, to look like another situation - not in the sense that it is mistaken for that other situation by any of the characters, just in the sense that we the audience see the resemblance. The characters do not.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has some great examples. For instance, after Spike gets his chip he tries to bite Willow and can't. The scene is very obviously meant to look like he can't... perform in bed (to stay as PG as possible lol).
MR. FANSERVICE AKA ESTROGEN BRIGADE BAIT
This character has been given the role of the show's primary source of Manservice. If he's in a show that isn't already aimed at women, this can be an effective way of getting their attention. Expect to see at least one Shirtless Scene.
Devon (aka Captain Awesome) on Chuck was literally there at the beginning of the show to represent this trope. Wade on Hart of Dixie has a bigger role but that doesn't stop him from being shirtless like 70% of the time. Or even more. No one's complaining. :D
JERK WITH A HEART OF GOLD
A person you would expect to be a big Jerkass turns out to be the nicest person you've ever met, or at the very least has some redeeming qualities behind their tough demeanor. Occasionally, they'll actively try to make it a Hidden Heart of Gold.
Casey from Chuck is a perfect example of this trope. He belittles Chuck and Morgan all the time but he actually cares about both of them and would do anything for them.
ENSEMBLE DARK HORSE
The term is used to describe a side character making up part of the Ensemble, either a non-lead secondary character or a mere Flat Character, who can sometimes become unexpectedly popular with the fandom. (sometimes, even more than the lead characters)
Nolan on Revenge and Daryl on The Walking Dead were both meant to be secondary characters and are now both the most beloved characters among the fans of their shows.
EXPY
Short for "Exported Character", an Expy is a character from one series who is unambiguously and deliberately based on a character in another, older series. A few minor traits - such as age and name - may change, but there's no doubt that they are almost one and the same. Often seen in different works by the same writer(s) or production team.
Really one of the best examples because not only all of the above applies but the characters are even played by the same actress. Ellie Torres on Cougar Town. Based on Jordan from Scrubs.
ANTI-HERO
An anti-hero is a protagonist who has the opposite of most of the traditional attributes of a hero. (S)he may be bewildered, ineffectual, deluded, or merely apathetic. Often cynical, rarely speaks, a loner, either extreme celibacy or extreme promiscuity present... More often an antihero is just an amoral misfit.
Whedon loves his anti-heroes. All his shows are full of them, Firefly most notably because most of the characters fit. Jayne is one of them, of course. A somewhat different sort of anti-hero is represented by Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights.
BIG BAD
The cause of all bad happenings in a story. A Big Bad could be a character with Evil Plans or it could be a situation, such as a comet heading towards the Earth. The Big Bad can (and often does) exert effect across a number of episodes, and even an entire season.
Cole was the Big Bad on Charmed first as Balthazor and then as the Source. Alpha was the Big Bad throughout season one of Dollhouse.
