Ever since she made her screen debut over 30 years ago,Gina Torreshas beenone of the most consistent actressesin both the movie and television landscapes. Her profile rose because of films likeThe Matrix ReloadedandHairshow,but it’s in the TV arena where she has truly made a mark.
Torres has been a go-to person for showrunners who are seeking talented individuals to play memorable supporting characters, though she has a few lead roles in her resume as well. Because Torres has a large body of work, each fan presumably has a different opinion about what her best show is.
After all, she has an eye for stable ships, and rarely jumps on anything that ends up flopping. Still, some of the projects she has worked on can objectively be singled out as superior when compared to the rest, becausethey have very few blemishes, and Torres does a commendable job on them. And even among these great shows, some rank slightly above others due to a variety of factors. Of all her TV performances, here are her 10 best, ranked.
10The Shield (2002 – 2008)
The Shield
The Shield is a gritty police drama starring Michael Chiklis as Detective Vic Mackey, the leader of a corrupt anti-gang unit in Los Angeles who breaks the law because he thinks it’s the only way to bring criminals to justice. The series ran for seven seasons on FX and received several nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods.
The Shieldcenters around an experimental LAPD department located in the fictional Farmington district (known as “the Farm”) of Los Angeles. Its key unit is the unconventional “Strike Team,” which operates out of an old church and uses illegal methods to get the job done.
Though the Captain is uncomfortable with their methods, he appreciates what they do, because their busts make him look good, and help boost his political ambitions.
A Complicated and Somewhat Baffling Spouse
Having earned six Emmy nominations during its run,The Shielddeserves its place amongthe greatest cop shops ever made, but it ranks lower on the list of Gina Torres hits, because she is restricted to the ‘lover’ role.
Her characterSadie Kavanaughhas a complicated marriage with Internal Affairs detective Jon Kavanaugh. Sadie isn’t likable either, with some of her baffling choices including accusing an innocent man of rape to get Jon’s attention after he leaves her, and seducing Jon’s colleague.
Stream The Shield on Hulu
9CSI (2000 – 2015)
CSIfollows a team of Las Vegas Police Department investigators as they attempt to solve crimes using physical evidence. So popular was the show that it birthed the spinoffsCSI: Cyber, CSI: Miami, andCSI: NY.Additionally, the parent show has recently been revived and now goes by the nameCSI: Vegas, to keep up with the city-naming trend that the franchise has adopted.
A Small Role as a Warden of a Prison
The long-running procedural’s brilliance cannot be questioned either, and over the years, many detective shows have tried to use the template that this particular series created. Its supporting characters tend to stand out too, hence the reason Torres’Warden Huttonis remembered.
The character appears in a few episodes as she helps investigators solve a homicide that occurred in her prison. Still, the actress is never allowed to express the emotional range that she is known for, so a lower ranking is appropriate.
Stream CSI on Hulu
8Castle (2009 – 2016)
Castle’s plot is a little too ambitious because it’s highly unlikely that a crime novelist will team up with a detective to solve crimes. Still, it makes for an interesting story, so the show follows the two as they flush out hoodlums in New York City. And in typical screen fashion, they end up sharing a kiss at some point, resulting in what is arguably one ofthe best television couples.
A Reality TV Star
The twists and turns might come off as excessive to some viewers, but the fact that each crime takes place within a particular milieu makes the show fascinating. Torres, for example, playsPenelope Forster, the star of the fictional reality show,Wives of Wall Street.
She is a skilled schemer, going as far as to set up an affair between her assistant and her husband to boost the fictional show’s ratings. Overall, Penelope is a great character, but her fans were presumably irked by the fact that her fate is left unresolved.
Stream Castle on Hulu
7Riverdale (2017 – 2023)
A darker take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends from the Archie Comics series, Riverdale is a CW supernatural mystery series that sees the group trying to illuminate the truth surrounding various strange occurrences and murders in the titular town. When a teenage girl is found dead in the once-quiet town, the event starts a series of ever-growing mysteries that ultimately lead to darker secrets in the town’s history. Led by Archie, the Riverdale gang will attempt to navigate their new normal while dealing with all of the drama that comes with being high school teenagers.
Based on the Archie Comics,Riverdalecenters around a group of teenagers as they juggle between school life and the mysteries happening in their small town. The show shares a universe withThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Additionally, it has a spinoff titledKaty Keene,which, regrettably, didn’t achieve the same level of longevity as its parent show.
Counseling the Troubled Students of Riverdale
Riverdaleis the kind of drama any actor would be proud to be a part of. It has been widely praised for subverting many teen show tropes, and for being creative with the source material. The outlandish plots make for great viewing, and in a universe where everyone appears to need advice, Gina Torres fits right in as Riverdale High School guidance counselor,Mrs. Burble.
Through her, fans get to learn many of the dark secrets that the students are hiding. The only disappointing thing is that Mrs. Burble appears very infrequently throughout the series.
Stream Riverdale on Netflix
624 (2001 – 2012)
24chronicles the adventures of members of Los Angeles Counterterrorist Unit (CTU), as they attempt to stop terrorist threats in the United States. At the center of the narrative is Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who is often forced to adopt extreme measures to deal with the stubborn baddies that he encounters daily. Events in each of the seasons happen within 24 hours, with each episode representing one hour.
Complex Power Plays in D.C.
Action-packed shows are rarely award magnets, yet24scooped a whopping 20 Emmys out of 68 nominations. The show has a lot to offer, ranging from great character development to a detailed exploration of religious extremism. Torres stars in Season 3, aka, Day 3, asJulia Miliken, the spouse of an influential presidential backer.
Her husband opts for malice after learning she is having an affair with the President’s brother. From there on, everything goes south. Overall, Milliken is an amazing character who serves the purpose of showing how power games play out behind closed doors in Washington.
Stream 24 on Hulu
5Hannibal (2013 – 2015)
Hannibalserves as an unofficial prequel to one ofthe greatest ‘90s horror movies,Silence of the Lambs. In it, an FBI profiler is tasked with investigating a serial killer who is targeting victims in Minnesota. Because the investigation is proving to be a mental burden for him, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter is assigned to help out. It turns out that Lecter is a cannibalistic serial killer looking to manipulate the bureau to ensure he remains a free man.
A Cancer Patient Seeking Help
Hannibalis arguably just as good as the Anthony Hopkins movie that it sprouts from. Everything from horror and investigative elements to basic daily-life plots are neatly done, and the numerous accolades are proof of that. Torres playsBella Crawford, a cancer patient who goes to Hannibal Lecter for help regarding her increasing depression.
Through her, the show gets to highlight the tough challenges that cancer patients face. At some point, Bella loses hope to the point of becoming suicidal. In addition to that, Bella is accorded one of the most intriguing relationship arcs ever seen on television.
Stream Hannibal on Prime Video
49-1-1: Lone Star (2020 – present)
9-1-1: Lone Star
Most procedurals normally focus on one law enforcement area, but9-1-1: Lone Stargoes for variety by placing the spotlight on the police, fire, and ambulance departments of Company 126 in Austin, Texas. The term “Lone Star” is derived from Texas, which has always been known as the “Lone Star State.” The show is a spinoffof 9-1-1, which is set in the city of Los Angeles.
Going Above and Beyond as an EMS Worker
Creating a perfect spinoff is always a challenge, but9-1-1: Lone Starhas proved to be just as good as the parent show. It has many relatable characters, includingTommy Vega(Torres), who is forced to resume her job as an EMS captain after her husband’s diner shuts down because of low sales stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is a symbol of honor and duty, going above and beyond to ensure everyone gets justice. Vega’s powerful monologues also serve as a frequent reminder of how great the police procedural’s dialogue is.
Stream 9-1-1: Lone Star on Hulu
3The Legend of Vox Machina (2022 – present)
Based on theDungeons & Dragonsweb series,The Legend of VoxMachinafollows a group of eight heroes as they go on a mission to free the realm of Exandria from the grip of nefarious magical forces. However, the show’s first two episodes present a new story that mainly serves as a backstory for the characters before they embark on their main mission.
A Religious Mother Figure
Anyone would have to look hard to find a bad review ofThe Legend of Vox Machina. Reception to the animated show has been incredible, and it’s all thanks to perfect pacing and wonderful characters like Gina Torres’Keeper Yennen.
The priest is male in the source material, but here, she is an older woman. Yennen acts as a mother figure to some of the protagonists and helps accentuate the themes of religion and morality. Thanks to her presence, the series has turned out to be ideal for family viewing.
Stream The Legend of Vox Machina on Prime Video
2Firefly (2002)
Set in the year 2517, Firefly follows the crew of the Serenity, a smuggling ship operating on the fringes of Alliance space. Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is a veteran of a civil war, bitter about having fought for the losing side and now making his living as an outlaw smuggler out among the distant colonies forgotten and ignored by the Alliance. However, after taking on paying passengers, Mal finds himself caught up in a conspiracy likely to bring the whole Alliance military down on him and his crew.
There have beenrumors of aFireflyrevival, but nothing is concrete at the moment. The science fiction show deserves another chance, as it was quite brilliant, with excellent writing and incredible acting — yet it only lasted a single season.
Its plot revolves around the crew members of a “Firefly-class” spaceship named theSerenity,as they navigate a new star system in the early 2500s. In this universe, hundreds of planets have also been colonized and are now under one governing body known as The Alliance.
A Rebellious and Cool-Headed Browncoat
Torres’ role inFireflyis distinctive, because she doesn’t play action heroes too often. Here, her characterZoe Washburneis not only the ship’s second-in-command, but is also one of the crew members' best fighters. Known for her calm demeanor, she often dispatches baddies with ease, making life a lot easier for her friends.
Every other character on the show is brilliant too, as are the plots. Viewers and critics hardly found anything worth lambasting. And those who were disappointed by the sci-fi series’ abrupt ending have some consolation in the form ofSerenity,which is a feature-length film project that serves as a finale — as well as numerous comic books.
Stream Firefly on Hulu
1Suits (2011 – 2019)
Suitsfollows the formidable attorney duo of Harvey Spector and Mike Ross as they handle some of the toughest cases in New York City. However, the two are hiding a dark secret: Mike isn’t a qualified lawyer, and has cheated his way to the top.
Soon, the lie catches up with them, but they manage to overcome the storm. The legal drama also focuses on the complicated personal lives of the main employees of Harvey’s law firm.
A Cunning and Vivacious Firm Partner
Both casual fans and legal drama buffs loveSuits, so the show’s position in first place among the Gina Torres hits is undisputed. The actress was also granted more responsibility here than she was ever granted anywhere else.
Her characterJessica Pearsonspends most of her time in the series calling the shots, thanks to her status as one of the firm’s managing partners, before moving on to become the Mayor of Chicago’s aide. So good is Torres in the role that a spinoff centering around her character was green-lit. Unfortunately, it only lasted a single season.
