3. CONFLICTED

Dr. Jennifer Melfi on "The Sopranos," played by Lorraine Bracco (pictured)

Her struggle with Tony Soprano was our struggle. She was disgusted and repulsed by him and what she knew of his lifestyle, and yet she was fascinated. In the unforgettable episode in which she was raped, she was even quite tempted to take advantage of Tony's violent vengeance. She helped us understand the way Tony's mind worked, which elevated the series from a mob action drama to one of TV's most incisive psychological portraits.