The 2013-2014 television season is officially behind us.

Having already reviewed the best and worst of recent finales, it's now time to take a longer, more in-depth at the past few months of small screen action, specifically a handful of characters who captured our attention in unexpected ways.

The following men and women broke out in a big way this year, whether they were new to a series or simply given new material with which to shine.

Who exploded off the screen this season?

A vampire, a king, a clone, a superhero, a cop, a father and many more.

Did your favorite character break on through? Who did we miss? Who would you not have included as a surprise standout? Flip through the photos and sound off now.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film. Follow her on Twitter and email her here at TV Fanatic.