Who isn’t in perpetual crisis mode these days?
It’s such a resonant place, and we often see many of our favorite characters going through similar states of being.
Whether they are the first person you call when a crisis arises or they are constantly moving from one personal crisis or issue to the next, these roles are the definition of “crisis mode.”
So check out our list of permanent TV characters in Crisis Mode!
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Fiona Gallagher – “Shameless”
she always Move from one crisis to the next in Shameless.
We love (and are jealous of) how she pulls up her gorgeous long curls, secures it with some kind of elastic band, throws on some random clothes, and runs out of the house looking gorgeous.
She’ll either come back with a bunch of money, a new friend, or both.
Although Fiona makes it look glamorous and effortless, she running In addition to their terrible parents, she has always cared for her numerous half-siblings.
Did we mention her hair is amazing?
Colton Shaw – Tracker
In “Stalkers,” Colton Shaw’s life is an ongoing high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where the stakes are life and death.
On every case he takes on, he plunges headlong into dangerously dark depths, never knowing whether he’ll resurface.
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His keen intuition and survival skills are tested at every turn, and “crisis mode” becomes his default value.
Yet despite the chaos, Shaw’s unwavering sense of justice drives him forward, one crisis at a time.
Miranda Bailey – “Grey’s Anatomy”
Look, Miranda Bailey is the backbone of Gray Sloan Memorial, and if you disagree, you can argue with the walls.
It’s almost impossible for the characters on Grey’s Anatomy not to go through a lot of storms because there’s always something going on.
But Bailey has been at it for nearly 21 seasons, dealing with all the disasters wrought by patients, Gray Sloan Memorial, her own family, colleagues and, of course, shaping the minds of future doctors.
Whether she holds the title of “Chief” or not, she’s often at the center of every crisis and conflict, a little annoyed but constantly guiding everyone through it.
Melanie Pearson – “Neighbors”
Ever since Freevee resurrected Neighbors, one thing has happened to her.
She disappeared for two years before returning because she hid to avoid thinking she had killed someone.
After spending a lot of time pining for her ex, she was held hostage and needed someone to keep her company, and almost ended up with him.
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Soon after, she got caught up in a protest and someone accidentally knocked her down the stairs. Recently, she met another random guy brought to town who was stalking the late David Tanaka and trying to be with his husband.
There was always something about her, and it was hilarious how she could still be so innocent and trusting when every new person she met would cause her trouble.
Mike McLusky – Mayor of Kingston
In “The Mayor of Kingston,” Mike McCluskey’s life in Kingston is like a never-ending tightrope walk through a boiling pit of vipers.
As a power broker in a town rife with corruption and violence, he constantly shuttles between warring factions in an attempt to maintain a precarious balance.
His own moral compass is under siege as every decision he makes pulls him deeper into the abyss.
In a world where crisis has become the norm, Mike’s resilience is the only thing keeping an entire city from collapsing.
Jack Sheridan – Viking River
If we’re being honest, Mel and Jack probably should be on this list.
These two have been going through stuff like this all the time, and one of the reasons why they’re so well-matched is their ability to be in crisis mode 1,000% of the time.
That said, Jack is the go-to guy for everyone in Virgin River to turn to in times of need.
He was a port in a storm, and his restaurant even became a safe haven for their entire community.
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Yet despite his best efforts to solve other people’s problems, behind the smile lay a deep sadness, an abyss of unresolved trauma and grief.
Jack struggles most when he must reflect on himself and face post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, and trauma with nowhere to hide.
Beth Dutton – Yellowstone Park
Beth Dutton was like a human tornado, leaving emotional and physical wreckage in her wake.
She navigates boardroom battles, personal feuds and toxic family dynamics in Yellowstone with a devil-may-care attitude.
Yet beneath her ferocious exterior is a vulnerability that often reveals itself, enough to remind us that she’s forever battling her own inner demons.
Whether she’s taking down a corporate giant or clashing with her own loved ones, Beth’s life is a relentless storm.
Olivia Pope – Scandal
You can’t forever talk about a character in Crisis Mode without mentioning the most complex (and best-dressed) Restorer.
“It’s taken care of,” is Olivia Pope’s signature catchphrase in “Scandal.”
She applies this approach to every obstacle and problem she encounters while navigating the seedy, duplicitous underside of Washington, D.C.
She responds to any crisis with aplomb and strategy while fumbling her way through a chaotic romantic life and an ever-increasing personal life caused by parents who are the Mediator’s worst nightmare.
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She talks so fast that she can barely breathe and survives on popcorn and wine as she flits from one dramatic moment to the next.
It tells you everything you need to know about how this flawed bad guy manages.
Kim Burgess – Chicago P.D.
Seriously, could Kim Burgess take a break?
One of the Chicago PD’s main missions is to put this woman through pain at every imaginable moment, because she rarely has a moment of peace.
It is no exaggeration to say that no other intelligence service character took as many beatings as Burgess.
Of course, her job is to dive headfirst into crises, and she’s strong enough to face them all, but she moves from one to the next, which often spills over into her personal life as well.
From being beaten, shot, captured, and even miscarried, it’s no surprise that King’s default state is crisis mode.
But maybe we can’t expect anything from a passionate police officer and a mother who has never faced a crisis she couldn’t solve.
Dylan McKay – Beverly Hills 90210
Dylan is a high school student who lives alone in a hotel because his parents are divorced and he is self-centered.
Furthermore, his father was a liar who later allowed his son to witness his “murder” to obtain witness protection, without considering what impact seeing this would have on Dylan.
Over the years, Dylan struggled on and off with alcohol, drugs and a general inability to maintain romantic relationships.
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Then a con man stole his money and his wife’s biological father – the same man who tried to murder Dylan’s father – murdered her.
Although he tries to put on as calm a front as possible, he’s always a mess through no fault of his own.
Gabby Mosley – Discovered
Gabby is the person you call in a crisis and she prides herself on being a voice for the voiceless.
Gabby’s personal experience as a teenager, being imprisoned for a man she had a complicated relationship with, is at the heart of her advocacy on Found.
This makes her one of the most complex entries on this list.
There was no crisis that Gabby wouldn’t throw herself into, but she gave up on herself regardless of the consequences.
This is all a result of her own experiences and unresolved issues that she has yet to resolve.
Not only does she make it her career and mission to solve crises, but she’s also willing to integrate her biggest crises into her life and world, with her own monsters in the basement.
Harry Vanderspeigle – Alien
Harry Vanderspeigle, an alien masquerading as a small-town doctor, lives in perpetual existential crisis in Resident Alien .
His life is a comedic clash of otherworldly logic and human emotion, balancing a mission to destroy humanity with the unexpected connections he forms.
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Each encounter with the eccentric townspeople pushes him further into an abyss of chaos and moral dilemma.
For Harry, maintaining his cover is as challenging as understanding human folly, which makes every moment with him a cosmic disaster.
Kelly Seyfried – “Chicago Fire”
A running joke around the Chicago Fire is that Seyfried is a magnet for trouble, constantly embroiled in some traumatic experience or drama.
It is worth mentioning that, as a first responder, he is always at the deepest point of a crisis and is attracted to danger like a moth to a flame.
However, Seyfried’s personal life also often kept him in high gear.
His personal life is as demanding as his work, from losing friends to dealing with family drama, relationship woes, and the loss of loved ones.
Seyfried was a fighter in every aspect of his life, never finding a moment to rest. But no matter what, he won’t welcome it.
Over to you, TV fanatics. Let’s hear from you in the comments below!
