TV Shows Where Black Leads Were Sidelined After Season One

It’s a common problem in TV history: shows often launch with promising Black characters who quickly become less important as the series goes on. These characters frequently start as central figures with plenty of screen time, but then end up playing supporting roles in stories focused on white characters. Viewers often point out that this practice squanders the talent of actors and the potential for rich, engaging storylines. The shows listed below are examples of this pattern, where Black leads or significant characters had their roles reduced after their first season.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (2013–2017)

Abbie Mills started the show as one of the main characters, grounding the supernatural stories in a modern context. Over time, the show’s focus shifted towards Ichabod Crane and his personal life, and Abbie’s role became more of a supporting one. This ultimately led to her shocking death at the end of the third season, a decision that was heavily criticized by both fans and reviewers who felt the main female character was unfairly removed from the story.

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Bonnie Bennett started as a strong witch and Elena Gilbert’s close friend, but the show often used her powers simply to solve problems for other characters, even if it meant she suffered. She’d frequently be sidelined or temporarily killed off to move the vampire brothers’ stories forward. Unlike the main characters, her own life and relationships weren’t explored much.

‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)

In the first season of the show, Pete Ross was Clark Kent’s closest friend and one of the few people who knew he was Superman. However, as new characters were added and the focus shifted to the Luthor family, Pete’s role became smaller and smaller. Eventually, the writers decided to have him leave town to safeguard Clark’s secret, as they couldn’t find a good way to include him in the ongoing storylines. Pete Ross is a classic example of how teen dramas often sideline or eliminate the best friend character.

‘Glee’ (2009–2015)

Mercedes Jones was a remarkably talented singer in the glee club, but she was often overshadowed by Rachel Berry. The show frequently used her as the target of jokes about her personality or eating habits, instead of giving her a more developed story. Despite her clear vocal ability, she rarely got opportunities to shine with solo performances, which frustrated many viewers throughout the series.

‘Supergirl’ (2015–2021)

James Olsen began as a main love interest for Kara Danvers and a talented photographer with ties to Superman. However, the show shifted away from their romantic storyline in its second season, and the writers had difficulty finding a strong purpose for his character. He later became the hero Guardian, but often felt separate from the central Supergirl stories. Ultimately, the actor departed the series because his character was repeatedly overshadowed by newer characters.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

In the first season of the show, Michael Dawson and his son, Walt, were key to the island’s central mystery. However, the actor playing Walt grew up quickly, forcing the writers to remove his character. Michael’s storyline then shifted, turning him into a villain who ultimately betrayed those closest to him before finding a path to redemption and being killed off. Sadly, the show cut short the potential of their father-son relationship and their struggle to connect.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

T-Dog was one of the original survivors in Atlanta when the show began. He spoke much less in the second season, and by the third, he often had very little dialogue. Although he died a heroic death, many viewers felt his character wasn’t developed enough beforehand. The show had a large cast, and unfortunately, T-Dog was one of the characters who didn’t get the attention he deserved.

‘Riverdale’ (2017–2023)

Josie McCoy and her band, the Pussycats, were initially a big part of the show, helping to launch the series and showcase the town’s vibe. However, as band members left, Josie’s role shrank to brief musical appearances. Surprisingly, her mother, who became the mayor, ended up with more screen time than Josie did as a student. After years of having a smaller part, Josie eventually left the main show to star in a spin-off series.

‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)

Tara Thornton started as the smart and questioning best friend to Sookie Stackhouse. However, the show’s writers repeatedly subjected her to intense trauma without giving her a chance to recover or evolve. She was turned into a vampire against her wishes and later killed off in a shocking scene that happened before the episode even began. Many viewers point to Tara’s storyline as an example of a character being made to suffer instead of being given meaningful growth.

‘Heroes’ (2006–2010)

D.L. Hawkins was a character who could walk through walls, but his story mainly revolved around his troubled marriage to Niki Sanders. He was killed off relatively early in the second season to allow Niki’s character and the storyline of their son, Micah, to progress. The show never really connected his abilities or story to the central plot about saving the cheerleader before he left.

‘Community’ (2009–2015)

Shirley Bennett, a member of the study group, often felt sidelined in the main storylines. The show’s writers tended to use her faith or role as a mother for simple jokes instead of developing her own unique story. She was usually there to help other characters grow, and her personal goals weren’t prioritized. After five seasons of having a smaller and smaller role, the actress decided to leave the show.

‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011–2018)

Sidney Glass seemed like an important character when he first appeared as the Magic Mirror, positioned as a rival to the Evil Queen. However, he disappeared for long periods and was eventually removed from the show without much explanation. This happened to other characters of color, like Lancelot and Rapunzel, who were initially presented with excitement but then quickly forgotten. The show consistently focused on the stories of Snow White and Prince Charming, prioritizing them over developing these more diverse characters.

‘Bridgerton’ (2020–Present)

Simon Basset was the clear star of the first season, leading the main love story. Because the show is based on a series of books with different couples featured in each one, his character was expected to have a smaller role later on. But many fans were surprised and disappointed by his complete absence in following seasons, especially since they had become so invested in his journey. The show explained he stayed home while his wife, Daphne, went to visit her family.

‘American Gods’ (2017–2021)

Mr. Nancy quickly became a popular character in the first season, largely due to his compelling speeches. However, the actor who played him, Orlando Jones, was fired before the third season, and he stated the new showrunner didn’t agree with the character’s themes. This led to his story being suddenly cut from the show, despite Mr. Nancy’s important role in both the original book and the show’s overall story. Removing such a key character caused a strong negative reaction from viewers.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–Present)

Lucas Sinclair was a key, questioning member of the group when they were searching for Will. Later seasons often separated the friends, and Lucas didn’t have as much focus as characters like Mike and Dustin. His story increasingly centered on his relationship with Max, shifting away from the central mysteries. Many viewers and critics have observed that, compared to the other boys, Lucas’s character wasn’t developed as deeply.

‘The Flash’ (2014–2023)

Wally West was introduced as Joe West’s son and later became Kid Flash. However, the show’s writers had difficulty featuring two speedsters – Wally and Barry Allen – and often minimized Wally’s role to keep Barry as the primary hero. Ultimately, they didn’t know how to effectively use Wally, leading to him being written off the show or sent to appear on other series. This meant his potential as a successor to the hero was never fully realized in the main show.

‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)

Maya St. Germain was Emily Fields’ first girlfriend and played a key role in the mysteries of the first season. After being sent to rehab, she returned only to be murdered. While her death caused emotional turmoil for Emily, many felt her storyline wasn’t fully developed. Fans were particularly upset by the loss of one of the show’s few Black characters so early on.

‘Orange Is the New Black’ (2013–2019)

Claudette Pelage made a strong impression during the first season as Piper’s roommate. Her story centered around a desperate attempt to win her appeal, which ultimately failed when she attacked a guard and was transferred to maximum security. Despite the other characters later moving to the same facility, Claudette was never mentioned or seen again, leaving her storyline unresolved.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

In the first season, Marcia Roy was presented as Logan Roy’s strong and enigmatic wife, earning the respect of those around her. However, as the show went on, the focus shifted to Logan’s children, and Marcia appeared less and less. She mostly showed up to handle financial matters or make quick appearances at family gatherings. The writers ultimately didn’t explore the mystery of her past or her impact on Logan as much as they initially suggested.

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–2019)

Bonnie Carlson played a key role in solving the central mystery at the end of the first season. However, in the second season, she was largely kept in the background, quietly dealing with her guilt. Throughout most of the season, she had far less speaking time than the other main characters, and her emotional turmoil was mainly shown through her facial expressions and reactions rather than through significant scenes, until the very last episode.

‘Charmed’ (2018–2022)

Macy Vaughn, the oldest sister and a scientist, was a central character in the rebooted series. Actress Madeleine Mantock left after three seasons due to reports of a challenging work atmosphere, and her character was subsequently written off the show. To keep the dynamic of a trio, a new, previously unknown sister was introduced. Many fans believed Macy’s departure negatively impacted the show’s quality and direction.

‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)

Walter Steele appeared as a key character in the first season of the show, playing Oliver’s stepfather and the CEO of Queen Consolidated. He was kidnapped for much of the season and later stopped being a regular cast member, though he did make occasional appearances. As the show went on, other characters took over the role of business mentor that Walter had previously filled.

‘Scream Queens’ (2015–2016)

Zayday Williams played a key role as a logical investigator during the Red Devil killings in the first season of the show. However, the second season shifted the focus to the Chanels, giving Zayday a much smaller part. She had less influence on the story and wasn’t as funny as she had been before, ultimately feeling like an unnecessary addition before the series ended.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

I remember when Victor Strand first showed up – he was amazing! Such a smooth, mysterious guy who really helped the original group get their footing. But honestly, as the show went on and they added tons of new characters and different writers, he just…changed. He’d fade into the background for episodes at a time, or they’d give him these really predictable bad-guy storylines. It was disappointing because the complex, interesting character they introduced in season one was replaced with someone who felt more like a villainous caricature. It just didn’t feel right.

‘Designated Survivor’ (2016–2019)

When the show started, I really thought Aaron Shore would be a major player – he was the Chief of Staff and seemed incredibly influential. But as things went on, the focus shifted to bigger, outside problems and new people came in. They kept giving him different jobs, even Vice President at one point, but honestly, he didn’t really seem to do much. He ended up mostly just being in the background, like another face in the Situation Room, instead of someone who was actually shaping what happened.

‘Shadowhunters’ (2016–2019)

Luke Garroway acted as a father figure to Clary and led a pack of werewolves. However, the show often used him as a secondary character, mostly a police officer who resolved problems caused by the younger Shadowhunters. His own stories about the werewolf pack were usually less important or completely left out. He left the show before it ended to pursue other opportunities that weren’t shown on screen.

‘Titans’ (2018–2023)

As a critic, I remember being totally hooked by Starfire at the start of the series – the amnesia angle and her emerging powers were a really compelling mystery. But honestly, after her backstory came to light, the show seemed to lose interest in her. It kept shifting focus to Dick Grayson’s emotional struggles and all the drama within the Bat-family. And it became a frustrating pattern – she’d either lose her abilities or get sidelined whenever the big conflicts rolled around in later seasons. The fans, and I was among them, were constantly asking for her to get a storyline that wasn’t just about her relationship with Nightwing. We wanted to see her grow and develop independently, and it felt like that got lost along the way.

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006–2011)

I was a huge fan of Smash Williams – he really was the heart of the football storyline in those first couple of seasons! It made sense when his character ‘graduated’ and went off to college after season three, keeping things realistic for a high school show. But honestly, it left a big hole in the show. No one else ever quite captured that same energy or charisma, and I think the show really felt his absence. They just couldn’t replace him, in my opinion.

‘Gossip Girl’ (2007–2012)

Vanessa Abrams was a main character and a longtime friend of Dan Humphrey. Initially, she offered an outsider’s perspective on the wealthy world of the Upper East Side. However, the show’s writers later portrayed her as increasingly manipulative and interfering, eventually sending her away on a study abroad program. Her role became smaller and smaller in later seasons, and she was eventually removed from the opening credits. She only made a very short appearance in the final episode.

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

2026-01-02 16:48