You've seen the grid. It’s usually a 3x3 square, sometimes larger, plastered across Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram. It’s got labels like "The Fan Favorite," "The Gremlin," "The One Who Is Just There," and, inevitably, "The Evil One." It's called the every show has one meme, and honestly, it’s taken over the internet for a reason.
Social media trends usually die in a week. This one didn’t.
Why? Because fandom is inherently competitive and collaborative all at once. We love putting things in boxes. We love arguing about why a secondary character from a sitcom that aired in 2004 deserves the "Pure Evil" slot more than the literal villain. It’s basically digital scrapbooking for people who spend too much time on Netflix.
Where Did This Grid Actually Come From?
The format is a direct evolution of the old-school "Alignment Charts" from Dungeons & Dragons. You know the ones—Lawful Good, Chaotic Evil, the whole bit. But those feel a little dusty now. They’re too rigid. The every show has one template is much more flexible because it uses vibes rather than moral philosophy. It’s more about how the audience feels about a character rather than their actual moral compass.
Take the "Fan Favorite" slot. That’s rarely the protagonist. In The Bear, it’s Richie. In Succession, it’s often Cousin Greg or Tom, despite them being objectively terrible people. We aren't looking for heroes; we’re looking for the character that makes us lean into the screen.
The trend blew up because it provided a low-friction way for communities to engage. It’s a prompt. It’s an invitation to fight—peacefully, mostly—about media. When a subreddit for a show like The Office or Stranger Things posts a blank grid, it guarantees nine days of consistent engagement. One day for each square. It’s a genius bit of organic community management.
The Psychology of the "Every Show Has One" Archetypes
There is something deeply satisfying about categorization. Psychologists often talk about "social identity theory," where we define ourselves by the groups we belong to—and by extension, the media we consume. When you fill out an every show has one chart, you’re signaling your expertise. You’re saying, "I understand the DNA of this show better than you do."
Let’s look at the "Gremlin" category.
This is a relatively new term in the fandom lexicon. A gremlin isn’t necessarily a villain. They’re chaotic. They’re messy. They probably haven't slept in three days. Think Charlie Kelly from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. By having a specific "Gremlin" slot, the meme acknowledges a character type that traditional TV tropes usually ignore. It recognizes the "weirdo" appeal.
The "No Plot, Just Vibes" Slot
Then there’s the "What's their name again?" or "The one who's just there" square. This is where the meme gets meta. It’s a critique of the writing. Every long-running show has that one character who stopped having a storyline three seasons ago but still shows up in the background of group scenes. In Grey’s Anatomy, this could be half the cast at any given time. Identifying this character is a way for fans to poke fun at the shows they love. It’s affectionate mockery.
Why This Meme Ranks So Well on Google Discover
Google’s algorithms, especially in 2026, are obsessed with "E-E-A-T"—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. But Google Discover is obsessed with relevance and interactivity.
The every show has one meme is a perfect storm for Discover because:
- It is highly visual.
- It generates massive comment sections.
- It’s refreshed every time a new show comes out.
If you’re a content creator, you’ve probably noticed that posts featuring these grids get way more "saves" and "shares" than a standard review. It’s because the grid is a tool. People want to download the blank template and fill it out themselves. It’s a "lean-in" form of content. You aren't just reading; you're participating.
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The Problem With "The Evil One"
The most controversial square is almost always "The Evil One."
In a show like Game of Thrones, that’s a crowded field. Do you pick Joffrey? Ramsey? Or the Night King? This is where the every show has one discussion usually hits a wall. The Night King is "pure" evil, sure, but Joffrey is the one we hate. Most fans end up voting for the character that caused them the most emotional distress, not the one with the highest body count.
That nuance is exactly why these posts go viral. They trigger "Corrective Comments." If you post a grid and put Skyler White in the "Evil" slot of Breaking Bad, you are going to get five thousand people explaining why you’re wrong and why Walter White is the actual monster. That engagement—even if it’s argumentative—tells platforms like Instagram and Google that your content is "important."
How to Create a Grid That Actually Goes Viral
If you're trying to use the every show has one format for your own brand or community, don't be boring. Don't pick the obvious choices.
The best grids are the ones that have at least one "Hot Take." Put a beloved character in the "Meh" category. Watch the chaos unfold. It’s about the debate.
- Start with a blank template. You can find high-res versions on Pinterest or Canva.
- Crowdsource the answers. Don't fill it all at once. Post one square a day. Ask: "Who is the Fan Favorite?" Use the most upvoted comment.
- Be specific with your show choice. Niche shows often have more passionate fanbases than massive hits. A BoJack Horseman grid will get more intense discussion than a Friends grid because the characters are more complex.
- Tag the actors. Surprisingly, many actors love seeing where fans place them. It adds a layer of "Official" energy to the meme.
Beyond the Screen: Games and Books
While it started with TV, the every show has one trend has jumped species. Gaming communities are using it for Genshin Impact or League of Legends. Booktok is using it for fantasy series like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
It works because every story relies on archetypes. Whether it’s a 100-hour RPG or a 500-page novel, authors tend to fill specific roles to make a story feel "complete." We need the moral center. We need the comic relief. We need the "Hot One" who has no personality.
The meme is just a mirror. It reflects our own patterns of consumption back at us. We realize that even though we think we’re watching something "groundbreaking," most shows are still playing with the same deck of cards. And honestly? That’s okay. There’s comfort in the familiar.
Actionable Steps for Joining the Trend
If you want to dive into the every show has one phenomenon, here is how you do it effectively without looking like a "fellow kids" corporate account:
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- Find a "Blank" high-quality template. Look for the 3x3 grid with the standard labels: Fan Favorite, Made to be Hated, The Hot One, The Only Normal One, The Gremlin, "What's Their Name?", The Evil One, Meanest Side Character, and The Straight-Up Loser.
- Pick a show with a deep ensemble cast. This doesn't work for shows with only three characters. You need a deep bench. Think Grey’s Anatomy, The Wire, Parks and Rec, or Modern Family.
- Respect the "Gremlin." Don't just put a villain there. A gremlin is someone like Danny DeVito in Always Sunny or Helga Pataki from Hey Arnold. It’s a vibe of unwashed chaos.
- Monitor the comments for "The Only Normal One." This is usually the hardest square to fill because, in good TV, nobody is actually normal. The debate over this square is usually the most interesting.
- Use the right hashtags. On platforms like X and TikTok, #EveryShowHasOne and #CharacterGrid are the primary drivers.
Don't overthink it. The whole point of the every show has one meme is that it's supposed to be a fun, slightly reductive way to celebrate the stories we spend dozens of hours watching. It’s a digital water cooler. Grab a template, pick a show, and let the arguments begin. It's way more productive than arguing about politics, anyway.