2. John Frobisher - Torchwood: Children of Earth
I am not as devoted to Torchwood as I am to Doctor Who, but this series is some of the best writing I've ever seen on television. 45 years after the British government makes a peace offering of children to an alien race known only by their contact frequency - 456 - the aliens return wanting much more. Torchwood is neutralised for reasons that we don't understand until mid-way through the story. The civil servants take point in contacting the aliens at the direction of a Prime Minister who doesn't want whatever happens on his resume. Running the proverbial show, therefore, is a "good man" from the Home Office named John Frobisher. He is the one who has been forewarned of the aliens' intentions, whose young daughters are caught up in the worldwide messages of the children of earth and who is asked to speak for the human race once the 456 arrive. Peter Capaldi's character is constantly torn in two directions. He is a man with a strong sense of duty who must practice deceit for the sake of his home nation. He is a patriot who is asked to do unethical things by his leader. In the end, the Prime Minister asks him to surrender his daughters to set the example for the rest of the human race, who are being asked to give up 10% of their progeny. He instead requisitions a gun and takes himself, his wife and his daughters out of the equation. This character is the primary reason that I was rooting for Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. I could absolutely see him playing the man who has twice had to sacrifice Gallifrey. I could see him as a man with infinite and tortured perspective.