Buck Vu of ‘The OA,’ and 10 other totally awesome transgender characters that rule TV

As Transgender Awareness Week winds down, and with the Transgender Day of Remembrance approaching Nov. 20, we’ve take a close look at the changing television landscape, and how trans characters have emerged on a number of popular shows.

There’s a long way to go for a true sense of the diversity and complexity of transgender characters, but we’re here to acknowledge where credit is due.

For our money, these 10 characters represent not only the best transgender characters, but some of the best characters on TV.

So, grab the remote (or at least your laptop), and settle in for our look at the 10 Best Trans Characters on TV.

1. Nomi Marks, Sense8

Perhaps because transgender sisters Lana and Lily Wachowski created her, the lesbian hacker Nomi Marks rules on Netflix’s Sense8. Cunning, funny and totally devoted to her longtime girlfriend Amanita, Nomi, as played by Jamie Clayton, represents the moral center of the series. That her chosen name “Nomi” might just be a reference to Showgirls also makes us happy. Netflix axed Sense8 earlier this year, though devotees of the show staged a coup and convinced the streaming service to bring the show back for at least one wrap-up movie.

2. Buck Vu, The OA

First things first: Netflix’s sci-fi mystery The OA is a very weird show. That said, the series which features talk of God, angels, and dimension hopping Tai-Chi (really) uses its premise to introduce one of the most interesting transgender characters on TV: Buck Vu, played by transgender actor Ian Alexander. The adolescent Buck, who oversees his own transition using steroids procured from a local drug dealer, shines light on the feelings of transgender teens in a beautiful and unique way.

3. Sophia Burset, Orange is the New Black

Though featuring a transgender convict of color may reinforce a negative stereotype or two, Sophia Burset still managed to emerge as the scene stealer of Orange is the New Black. Besides, anything that makes Laverne Cox into a full-fledged, Emmy-nominated star is ok by us.

4. Maura Pfeifferman, Transparent

The casting of Jeffrey Tambor, a cisgender man, in the leading role of Maura Pfeifferman on Amazon’s Transparent still meets with ridicule from commentators who feel only trans actors should play trans characters. Worse, the recent damning allegations of sexual harassment against Tambor do his casting no favors. That said, we’d be remiss not to include Maura Pfeifferman in our list here. Regardless of the actor playing the role, Maura the character represents one of the best (and best written) transgender roles to ever hit the screen, and literally change the way people think about the transgender community. Wise but naïve, pained but hopeful, Maura brings to light the struggles of older adults.

5. The Doctor, Dr. Who

Maybe we’ve jumped the gun on this one, but after ten series and a whopping 50 years on the air, the famed sci-fi time traveler comes into her own. Acclaimed actress Jodie Whittaker steps into the role of Dr. Who, the 13^th incarnation of the popular character. If nothing else, that makes The Doctor gender fluid. Here’s hoping the show uses the opportunity to explore some of the deeper issues of gender and sexuality. Either way, we love Doc.

Related: TV continually devalues queer diversity. These 10 pathbreaking shows buck the trend.

6. Ms. Hudson, Elementary

Elementary, the American reimagining of Sherlock, itself a reimagining of queer writer Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, updates the character of Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper with class and wit. This latter day Ms. Hudson becomes an expert on ancient Greece, played by transgender icon Candis Cayne.

7. Frankie Fox, Better Things

The aptly-named Better Things, created by lead actress Pamela Aldon, continues to enrich the fabric of TV by introducing the transgender moppet Frankie. As played by real-life transgender juvenile Hannah Alligood, Frankie embodies everything awful and awesome about being young and queer.

8. Cotton Brown, Star

Queer trailblazer Lee Daniels, the director behind Precious and creator of Empire struck another blow for diversity on television with Star and the character Cotton, the transgender daughter of Queen Latifah’s Carlotta. It helps too that Cotton is played by Amiyah Scott, the transgender bombshell that brings sass and tenderness to her role.

9. Davina, Transparent

Props to Transparent for creating a steadfast best friend for Maura in Davina, played by real-life transgender actress Alexandra Billings. Props to Billings too for becoming the first transgender woman to go full-frontal nude on television. After all, how many cisgender actresses wouldn’t do that?

10. Lola, Difficult People

Yes, Hulu just axed the snarky New York series Difficult People, featuring Shakina Nayfack as the transgender barista Lola. And it’s a shame. The show, a sort of spiritual successor to Seinfeld, featured some of the best queer characters on TV, chief among them, paranoid (and hilarious) conspiracy theorist Lola.

11. Taylor Amber Mason, Billions

While not exactly transgender, we also have to mention Taylor Amber Mason, the first nonbinary character ever on mainstream TV in the US. Played by nonbinary actor Asia Kate Dillon, Taylor has all the markings of a financial shark and a supergenius. We’re not sure if that makes her a hero or a villain exactly, but either way, she’s fascinating.

Did we leave out a character you love? Tell us in the comments…