Oz/Characters: Difference between revisions

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== Main Cast ==

 

 

A Harvard-educated lawyer who fell to alcoholism, killing a young girl while driving drunk. Spends the first season of the show being repeatedly raped by his cellmate, which he suffers without complaint due to his belief that he deserves to be tortured this way as punishment for his crimes. However, he ultimately stands up for himself and ends up spending the rest of the series fighting to survive.

* [[The Alcoholic]]: The whole reason he is in OZ.

* [[Badass Pacifist]]: Later on.

 

An [[The Irish Mob|Irish-American career criminal]] who serves as an Iago-figure, pitting the various gangs and cliques within Oz against each other for the purposes of surviving. The embodiment of the [[Magnificent Bastard]], ANYONE is expendable in the eyes of O'Reily; {{spoiler|even his brain damaged brother Cyril, who ends up in jail after [[Murder the Hypotenuse|killing a man for Ryan]], and later sentenced to death for killing another.}}

* [[Abusive Parents]]: His childhood was pretty horrible.

* [[Affably Evil]]

 

A prisoner who uses a wheelchair who also serves as the show's surrealistic narrator, breaking the fourth wall by talking to the audience about the themes of each episode (often serving as a vehicle for beliefs of the show's creator). He also introduces every prisoner, and informs us of their crime and sentence. Note that Hill the narrator is a separate entity from Hill the in-show character, as they apparently aren't the "same" person; as the last season implies that narrator-Hill is * {{spoiler|Hill's ghost, narrating the show from the afterlife after dying. In the final season, other deceased characters, including Dino Ortolani, Antonio Nappa and Jefferson Keane take turns narrating episodes as well.}}

* [[The Atoner]]

* [[Butt Monkey]]

 

The leader of the Black Muslims. Said starts out as a rabble-rouser, whose disdain for the poor treatment of blacks within society puts him at odds with the staff of the prison, but after triggering a riot that leads to many deaths within the prison, Said finds himself having to reconcile his beliefs with his faith and consequences of his shit-stirring.

* [[Achilles in His Tent]]: At one point, he actively mopes after turning to the dark side ("Adebisi Lives!"), and it takes a great deal of effort to get him back in the game.

* [[Affably Evil]]: Prior to his [[Heel Face Turn]].

 

The sexually sadistic leader of the Aryans, whose incredibly heated vendetta against his former rape victim Tobias Beecher drives a lot of the conflict during the show's run.

* [[And There Was Much Rejoicing]]: His death during the play is met with [[Crowning Moment of Funny|deafening applause]].

* [[Bald of Evil]]

 

A low-level gangster who through his friendship with Ryan O'Reily (and several deaths) takes over the main black gang within Oz. Originally amoral, Adebisi slides into total villainy after his attempts to reform are squashed by his underlings and he is framed for the murder of an elderly inmate he befriended. Soon enough {{spoiler|he begins a massive [[Plan]] to become the undisputed kingpin of the entire prison and pretty much succeeding until Said exposes his scheme and has to kill him}}.

* [[Affably Evil]]: Can be a pretty easy going guy if you don't get on his bad side.

* [[Ax Crazy]]

 

The main Latino prisoner of the show. A loser whose father and grandfather are both imprisoned in Oz, Alvarez spends most of the series being driven to madness by the prison staff via being put into solitary confinement (though he [[Asshole Victim|pretty much deserves it]], seeing as he {{spoiler|gouged out the eyes of a prison guard in a desperate bid to avoid being expelled from the main Latino prison gang, due to his light skin and semi-Caucasian looks.}}

* [[The Atoner]]

* [[Badass]]

 

The idealistic creator and manager of Em City, who strives for a perfect rehabilitation system without conflict or violence, despite the concerns of others who feel that that may be an impossible dream.

* [[Butt Monkey]]: Things just seem to conspire against him.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Its usually the only way he can keep his sanity.

 

The warden of the prison. Though presented as the fair and honest caretaker of the prison, over the course of the series Glynn goes slowly mad with power as his political ambitions, family crisises (most notably his daughter's rape), and various other conflicts pop up in his job as warden.

* [[Ambition Is Evil]]

* [[Badass in Charge]]

 

The prison psychologist and nun who runs the prison's drug rehabilitation program. Though a truly good person, she suffers from various crises of faith over the course of the show, over issues such as the death penalty and her personal life (mainly the unresolved mystery of the murder of her husband and, after several tense sessions with Chris Keller, her vows as a nun after Keller tries to seduce her).

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]

* [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!]]: The reaction of many inmates towards her. A small group actually voted her the hottest woman in the prison.

* [[Team Mom]]

 

 

== The Aryans/Bikers ==

 

A drug dealer, old friend of Schillinger and leader of the Bikers. He has a past connection to Wittlesy, and is disliked heavily by almost everyone.

* [[Anything That Moves]]

* [[Depraved Bisexual]]

 

One of the more prominent biker characters, he is often allied with the Aryans.

* [[Ax Crazy]]

* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]

* [[The Brute]]

* [[Hidden Depths]]: He dropped out of Harvard and comes from a very wealthy family.

* [[Sanity Slippage]]

 

 

One of the Aryan leaders and Schillinger's closest friend.

* [[Ascended Extra]]

* [[Asshole Victim]]: Quite literally.

 

An Aryan-Biker with a sadistic sexual appetite.

* [[Bondage Is Bad]]

* [[Politically-Incorrect Villain]]

 

Schillinger's youngest son and drug addict.

* [[Butt Monkey]]

* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: Delivered a devastating one to his father after kicking his drug habit.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Averted hard.

 

 

== The Homeboys ==

 

The original leader of the Homeboys. A deeply troubled man, he converts to Islam after meeting Kareem Said.

* [[The Atoner]]

* [[Being Good Sucks]]: Though his conversion to Islam brought him inner peace, it lost control of his gang to the maniacal Adebisi.

 

A 16-year-old inmate who quickly becomes a member of the Homeboys.

* [[Big Bad Wannabe]]: He tries to convince others to call him 'Bricks', acts like a big shot, and thinks he's a badass. In reality, he's a pathetic pawn of more powerful inmates.

* [[The Bully]]

=== Johnny Post ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Tim McAdams}}

* [[Defiant to the End]]

* [[Kill It with Fire]]

=== Malcolm Coyle ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Treach}}

* [[Bald of Evil]]

* [[For the Evulz]]: Why he committed the murders.

 

A high-ranked Homeboy who writes and performs poetry.

* [[The Cast Showoff]]: muMs the Schemer wrote every one of the poems his character recited.

* [[Chronic Villainy]]

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Michael Wright

''"I ain't no drug abuser. Truth is, I treat my drugs better than most."'' }}

* [[Butt Monkey]]

* [[Talkative Loon]]

 

A half-crazed Vietnam vet who ran the streets where Augustus Hill grew up in, and acted as a foster father to the boy. He eventually controls the Homeboys post-Adebisi. A lot of what befalls Augustus is Burr's fault.

* [[Affably Evil]]

* [[The Atoner]]: After {{spoiler|Augustus is killed.}}

* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: His attempts to get the Homeboys to stop selling drugs are a bit... extreme, to say the least.

 

 

== The Italians ==

 

A hot-tempered and self-destructive Italian who becomes Beecher's sponsor.

* [[Decoy Protagonist]]: Writer Tom Fontana had to argue for this, as it was unheard of to focus on one major character, only to kill him in the first episode.

* [[Hair-Trigger Temper]]

 

A mob boss and initial leader of the Italians.

* [[Affably Evil]]: He's quite polite and cultured most of the time.

* [[Cruel and Unusual Death]]: He inflicts these, and is also a victim of it.

 

The son of Nino, Peter is handed the Italian leadership but is unable to keep it.

* [[Big Bad Wannabe]]

* [[Break the Haughty]]

 

Replaces the Schibetta leadership, and is far more old-school and thoughtful than Nino or Peter.

* [[Affably Evil]]

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

 

The Italian muscle who slowly rises to become leader through circumstance.

* [[Affably Evil]]

* [[Ascended Extra]]: Went from being a heavy that followed Peter Schibetta around without saying much to a very prominant character.

* [[The Ditz]]: Noticeably less intelligent than O'Reilly or Adebisi.

 

 

== The Irish ==

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Scott William Winters}}

Ryan O'Reily's mentally-retarded younger brother, who suffered a head injury protecting Ryan and now requires constant supervision. An honest and good-hearted person, he is prone to outbursts of complete rage and is easy to fool -- a bad combo in a place like Oz, which is full of [[Manipulative Bastard]] types.

* [[Badass Long Hair]]

* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]: He's indearingly innocent most of the time. But when he goes off, its best to be somewhere else.

 

An Irish inmate who undergoes several religious conversions following a meeting with Jeremiah Cloutier.

* [[A God Am I|ADevilAmI]]

* [[Ascended Extra]]: Pretty much existed as an O'Reily subordinate who saw Shirley Bellinger's vagina before getting a major role in Seasons 4 through 6.

* [[Would Hurt a Child]]

 

 

== The Latinos ==

 

A legendary Latino gangster, he takes over the gang from Alvarez and immediately ostracizes him for his Caucasian-like features. He controls his third of the drug trade with a respected iron fist, but eventually lack of success in offing Alvarez gets to him, and he goes nuts.

* [[Badass]]

 

 

A highly intelligent and powerful inmate who quickly becomes the Latino leader.

* [[Affably Evil]]

* [[Badass in Charge]]

 

=== Carmen "Chico" Guerra ===

* [[Ascended Extra]]: The only other Latino character to survive all the way through the show, outliving several other extras with no lines.

* [[Flat Character]]: He pretty much exists to taunt Alvarez time and again, and cozy up to whomever is leading the Latinos at the moment.

 

 

== The Christians ==

 

=== Jeremiah Cloutier ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Luke Perry}}

* [[And I Must Scream]]

* [[Anti-Villain]]

=== William Cudney ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Will Cote}}

* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: O'Reilly is sickened by him.

* [[Holier Than Thou]]: Looks down on the inmates Gambling or lusting after women despite being a Child Killer.

=== Robert Sippel ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' David Lansbury}}

* [[The Atoner]]

* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Why would a child molester willingly come back to HIS OLD CELL just for a place to sleep? Sure enough, {{spoiler|the Aryans crucify him on the gym floor just hours later.}}

 

 

 

== The Others ==

''"At first I wanted unconditional surrender, then I wanted unconditional love."'' }}

A bisexual sociopath who is obsessed with controlling and manipulating others. Recruited by Vern, who he once had a sexual relationship with, to seduce Beecher for the express purpose of breaking his heart (and arms and legs). However, Keller ends up falling for Beecher and the two spend most of the series either together or apart due to Keller's possessiveness.

* [[Affably Evil]]

* [[Becoming the Mask]]: He just wanted to toy with Beecher but ended up falling for him.

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Kathryn Erbe}}

[[The Smurfette Principle|The sole female inmate of Oz]]. She sparks quite a few romance attempts, notably from Adebisi. Cunning and manipulative, she seduced many guardians to obtain small favors.

* [[Affably Evil]]: She's quite friendly despite being completely insane.

* [[Distaff Counterpart]]: Is pretty much this to all the other inmates.

 

An elderly inmate serving a life term after being convicted for murder committed in a fit of rage in the 1960s. As a survivor of a botched execution and prison veteran, he is considered to be quite wise and often provides fatherly advice to Beecher and others.

* Badass: How else can you describe a guy who spends everyday with the most vicious killers and never seems remotely scared?

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

* [[Cool Old Guy]]

* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: With Busmalis.

* [[Nice Guy]]

* [[Odd Couple]] (with Busmalis)

=== Agamemnon Busmalis ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Tom Mardirosian}}

* [[Adult Child]]

* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]

=== Yuri Kosygin ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Olek Krupa}}

* [[Hired Guns]]: The [[Career Killers]] version.

* [[Impossibly Cool Weapon]]: Making a shank out of the temple pieces of your glasses definitely qualifies.

'''Lenny Burrano''': ''Donald Groves. You killed your parents and ate them, right?''

'''Groves''': ''I only ate my mom. I was saving my dad for Thanksgiving.'' }}

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]

* [[I'm a Humanitarian]]

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]

 

 

== Prison Guards ==

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Edie Falco}}

The token good-guy prison guard who ends up involved in a relationship with Tim McManus. Was played by Edie Falco, who left the show to go onto "[[The Sopranos]]", resulting in her character being [[Put on a Bus]] at the start of season four, via an impulse marriage with a guard at Buckingham Palace. Her role as the good-guy prison guard was later filled by Sean Murphy.

* [[Blackmail]]: Is on the receiving end.

* [[Put on a Bus]]

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Kristin Rhode}}

A sexually aggressive and sadistic prison guard, who soon begins dominating and even raping the inmates.

* [[Abhorrent Admirer]]: Subverted. No one finds her attractive but she uses her position to get who she wants to have sex with her.

* [[Dominatrix]]

=== Sean Murphy ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Robert Clohessey}}

* [[Nice Guy]]

* [[Not So Above It All]]: {{spoiler|Cutting Morales' Achilles tendons}}

=== Karl Metzger ===

{{quote|'''Played By:''' [[Bill Fagerbakke]]}}

* [[Meaningful Name]]

 

 

== Prison Staff ==

''"Eternal rest grant unto him, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine down upon him."'' }}

A Catholic priest who was assigned to Oz as punishment for pissing off a high ranking Cardinal over church corruption. Along with Sister Peter Marie, Mukada provides spiritual guidance to the inmates, often serving as good cop to Sister Peter Marie's bad cop.

* [[Meaningful Name]]: Ray sounds like the Japanese words for both spirit and zero.

* [[My Hero Zero]]

{{quote|'''Played By:''' Lauren Velez}}

An accomplished Latina doctor who is the main provider of medical care for the inmates. Throughout the series, she develops a love-hate relationship with Ryan O'Reily, most notably when {{spoiler|Ryan becomes obsessed with Gloria and has her husband murdered so that they can be lovers.}}

* [[Hospital Hottie]]

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: Unleashed one on Dr. Frederick Garvey.

 

=== Governor James Devlin ===

''"[[Blatant Lies|Justice has been served!]]"'' }}

* [[A God Am I]]

{{quote|'''Devlin''': ''You've heard of Olympus, right? Mount Olympus, Ancient Greece, where the Gods lived?''

'''McManus''': ''Yeah.''

'''Devlin''': ''There was a hierarchy even among the Gods. Mercury was lesser than Apollo, Apollo lesser than Zeus. Now you run your cell block and you think you're a God. Glynn runs a whole prison, he thinks he's a greater God. Well, guys...[[A God Am I|I am Zeus.]] I am omnipotent. I must be obeyed...or my thunderbolts will strike.'' }}

* [[Hypocrite]]

* [[It's All About Me]]: He will do anything to further his own ambitions.

''"Don't fuck with Querns."'' }}

A prison unit manager who's not above cutting deals with inmates to maintain order.

* [[Bad Boss]]

* [[Tyrant Takes the Helm]]