9 Supporting TV Characters Who Carried Their Shows (4 of 5)

Ron Swanson — Parks and Recreation

A libertarian running a government department already sounds like the start of a horrible joke, but Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson became the pyramid of greatness, and his sacred devotion to breakfast created a quote factory. Beneath the mustache, there was a surprisingly tender mentor who loved competence, privacy, and Leslie Knope. Oh, and don’t forget he’s also Duke Silver! If parks had mascots, his would be a bacon-and-eggs flag. All the eggs.

Saul Goodman — Better Call Saul

He started as comic relief in loud suits and ended as a tragic masterclass in choices, consequences, and cheap burner phones. Bob Odenkirk skillfully transformed Jimmy McGill’s hopeful scrappiness into Saul’s moral ambiguity, ultimately plunging further into Gene’s grayscale purgatory. The prequel risked being an unnecessary victory lap, but instead, it became an acting clinic that sometimes out-tensioned its parent show. The franchise now practically runs on “What would Saul do?” and fans don’t seem to mind.