5. Dr Robert Chase (House MD)
Dr Gregory House is one of the most interesting and complex characters to have ever appeared on TV in my opinion so to upstage him takes something special. Because of how well this show was put together, the entire supporting cast were portrayed amazingly well. Everyone had an extensive character background, their own engaging storylines and conflicts. Despite his prominent billing and lead role, Hugh Laurie was never the only good thing about the show, but he was always the best thing - whatever might have happened to other characters. However, it took years, but as House made its way through eight seasons, Jesse Spencer's Dr Robert Chase became just as interesting if not more so for a large chunk of the later seasons. Determined to emulate House in every way, he became driven to match his level of intellect and understanding of the medical field. But it was his character's background and his actions on screen that really drew us in. We learn Chase only learned medicine because his abusive alcoholic mother used to lock him in his father's study for hours, where he had nothing to read but medical textbooks and journals. Chase's journey through his adult life is moulded by the time he spends at Princeton Plainsborough Hospital under house and we follow it as he progresses. One of the most captivating moments of this show's run is Chase's decision to fake a test so that an African dictator - responsible for all sorts of heinous things like murder and creating rape squads - would receive an incorrect course of treatment and die. The ensuing battle of conscience he goes through for the rest of Season 6 is incredibly well-performed and makes viewers wonder what they would have done in that situation, if they would have murder on their conscience to prevent genocide. This internal conflict makes Chase the most interesting character on the show for some time.