Television has a strong track record of portraying intelligent main characters. While the professions and types of shows are typically similar, the characters are all vastly different in personality. A popular online forum discusses these characters with varied thoughts. Intelligence is also a relative thing and comes in various forms. From doctors to scientists to detectives, more than a fair share of incredible brainiacs grace our screens.

1. House M.D. (Dr. Gregory House)

In the history of medical shows, no other doctor holds a handle to Dr. Gregory House, played brilliantly by Hugh Laurie. He is a grumpy, sarcastic addict with a horrific bedside manner. But as the doctor whose task is to diagnose seemingly impossible-to-decipher symptoms, House is a genius.

1. House M.D. (Dr. Gregory House)

He always had a strong team surrounding him, but ultimately, House figured out what was plaguing each patient. As one fan accurately says, “House M.D. is like a medical version of Sherlock Holmes.” The show and the character are brilliant.

2. Timeless (Lucy Preston)

Timeless is a short-lived but engaging series about a group of time travelers who revisit great historical points to prevent them from changing, thus altering the world as we know it. One such person in this “time team” is Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer). She is a history professor whose superpower is her vast knowledge of American and World history. She is strong-willed and confident but also vulnerable and brave.

2. Timeless (Lucy Preston)

She knows dates and times, etiquette, events, and what should be appropriate attire. But her knowledge spans much farther to the most important thing about history- the people who shaped it. Understanding the thoughts and emotions of others makes Lucy unique.

She cares about the preservation of history but also the individuals that built the world we embody. Her book smarts and emotional intelligence make her an invaluable team member. Timeless is an endlessly entertaining show that many have yet to discover.

3. Elementary (Sherlock Holmes)

Fans of the classic detective stories of Sherlock Holmes, who enjoy fresh modern interpretations, will love Elementary. However, this take on the character is not your average one. Portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller, Sherlock is a brash, recovering addict who closes himself off from others.

3. Elementary (Sherlock Holmes)

What remains the same is his dazzling intellect and deduction skills. What's refreshing about this Sherlock is that as bold as his confidence is that no one is smarter than he is, he knows when to ask for assistance. His character grows in his emotional intelligence through his relationship with his partner Watson, in this series played beautifully by Lucy Liu.

4. White Collar (Neal Caffrey)

White Collar is a light but poignant heist/thriller series similar in tone and premise to the film Catch Me if You Can. However, this series portrays an incredibly smart man in many ways. Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is a charming thief who is released from prison when he agrees to assist the FBI on cases of fraud, and forgery, amongst other things. Neal's intelligence is vast but hidden behind a veneer of charisma.

4. White Collar (Neal Caffrey)

His skills in forgery are impeccable. Most impressive is his ability to copy masterpiece paintings. Not only does this take artistic talent but also knowledge of the painting and the artist's methods. His skills appear effortless, which makes it all the more captivating to watch.

5. The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Howard, Amy, and Bernadette)

For twelve seasons, audiences fell in love with the misadventures of a group of nerdy scientists on The Big Bang Theory. Besides being incredibly funny, what I love is that the characters grow. Additionally, while socially awkward, they have supreme intelligence in their fields.

5. The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Howard, Amy, and Bernadette)

These include theoretical physics, astrophysics, engineering, neuroscience, and microbiology. Through these genius men and women, The Big Bang Theory brings these complex sciences into our homes with heart and laughter. And it can make us all feel just a bit smarter.

6. Monk (Adrian Monk)

This drama follows former detective Adrian Monk who consults for the San Francisco Police Department. Though he struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, his ability to observe and solve homicides is uncanny. His intuitiveness and intelligence are unparalleled.

6. Monk (Adrian Monk)

You will enjoy every time he utters “he's the guy” because he sees what others overlook. The show runs for eight seasons, with the finale resolving the series-long mystery about the murder of Monk's wife, Trudy. These last episodes bring the series to a satisfying and poignant conclusion.

7. Bones (Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan)

Bones follows a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent who team up, along with a group of other skilled professionals, to solve crimes. Dr. Brennan lacks social skills but is a brilliant woman who often detects and sees things others do not.

7. Bones (Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan)

Her ability to look past the morbid side of her profession gives her a mature intelligence we don't often see in a female character. Bones is a long-running series with a whopping twelve seasons and 245 episodes, but worth the investment.

8. The X-Files (Agent Dana Scully)

The X-Files and the character of Dana Scully are landmarks in television history. The show about FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate the paranormal, is an influential masterpiece. But the character of Scully is even more so. She is a doctor and scientist.

8. The X-Files (Agent Dana Scully)

She is a skeptic but open-minded, remains calm under pressure, is endlessly courageous, loving, and above all else, genuinely brilliant. Female characters in her profession had rarely been seen in this light, so much so that she influenced an entire generation of young women to pursue careers in the STEM fields. This influence is known today as “The Scully Effect.”

9. The Mentalist (Patrick Jane)

The Mentalist is a captivating and poignant drama that follows Patrick Jane, a man with keen observational talents that allow him to consult on cases with the CBI and FBI. But throughout the series, the one looming case is the pursuit of the serial killer “Red John,” who murdered Jane's wife and daughter.

9. The Mentalist (Patrick Jane)

Jane's intelligence is much like Monk‘s in that he sees the small details and can solve puzzling cases. But as bright as he is, he is not infallible, which makes The Mentalist all the more compelling to watch.

10. Frasier (Dr. Frasier Crane)

Psychiatrists represent a unique kind of knowledge. Understanding the human brain to treat mental health is an invaluable profession. Although his brother Dr. Niles Crane is a practicing psychiatrist, Frasier and his brother are equally intelligent.

10. Frasier (Dr. Frasier Crane)

However, they may disagree on that fact. Their competitive nature, Frasier's radio show where he quickly gives advice and counsel, and their penchant for high-brow arts make the series one the funniest and most brilliantly written on television.

Source: Reddit.

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