10 Most Iconic On-Screen Brothers In TV Show History

The focus of almost every modern TV show is romantic relationships and all the joy and woes that go along with them. However, sometimes these shows offer us a breath of fresh air in the form of an intriguing plot befalling a couple of protagonists that share the same DNA. And just sometimes, it’s really, really good.

Whether it is demons, zombies, or even each other they’re fighting, these iconic on-screen brothers never fail to entertain us. So, here’s a reminder about all of TV’s best and most memorable brothers that managed to capture our hearts through the small screen.

10 Zack and Cody Martin (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody)

The roles of these well-known troublesome twins living in the Tipton Hotel were embodied by Dylan and Cole Sprouse in the teen sitcom The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

The show aired on the Disney Channel for only 3 years, yet in that short time, it managed to acquire massive popularity thanks to this charming duo. Their playful yet vastly different personalities were a clear recipe for success, earning this show a sequel titled The Suite Life on Deck.

9 Malcolm, Dewey, Reese and Francis Wilkerson (Malcolm in the Middle)

…and Jamie! Although, the youngest member of the Wilkerson family didn’t receive as much screen time, having been too young to even deliver a line. In any case, Malcolm in the Middle became one of the most popular TV sitcoms for a reason, and it owes a big part of its success to the endless pranks and the dysfunctional yet loving relationship between TV’s most famous young hooligans.

And although they bully each other on a daily basis, the Wilkerson brothers suddenly unite when it comes to avoiding Lois’s harsh punishments or simply performing the next legendary prank that will get them in trouble. This is where Francis’s experience with Lois as the older brother comes to shine, serving as a role model and source of punishment-avoiding wisdom to his younger brothers.

8 Daryl and Merle Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Even before the apocalypse, The Walking Dead’s Dixon brothers always stuck together, having grown up without a mother and an extremely abusive father. As the oldest, the racist drug user Merle took Daryl under his custody, despite this well-known master of crossbow learning to take care of himself at an early age. Due to their frequent conflicts, it took a Zombie apocalypse for their complex relationship to really resemble a brotherly love, however, they undoubtedly always had each other’s backs (especially when a horde of Zombies was approaching).

7 Charlie and Alan Harper (Two and a Half Men)

Charlie was probably not the best brother to Alan growing up. We get this from the fact that he used to shave off his eyebrows while Alan was sleeping, frequently stuffed dog poop in his lunch, and once even tied him to a street lamp. In return, the submissive Alan kept being Charlie’s doormat forever. Harsh as that may seem, Charlie actually did care for Alan. In fact, he provided a roof for both Alan and his son Jake and was there to listen to all his complaints …whenever he had enough booze in the house, at least. Because of the hilarious relationship between the two, Two and a half Men was never the same after Charlie’s “death.” Grieving in his usual weird way, Alan would dress up and act like Charlie – his way of showing he always admired and loved him.

6 Stefan and Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)

5 Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows (Prison Break)

You always hear people saying they’d do anything for those they love, but we’re pretty sure most of them wouldn’t be even remotely capable of doing what Michael did to bust his innocent brother Lincoln out of prison. If you’re familiar with this brilliant tale of brotherly love, you probably know that Michael planned out a botched bank robbery so he could be locked up in the same jail with his brother before acting out his elaborate plan allowing them both to break out. All in the name of saving his older brother from an unjust fate – execution. And the rest is …all in the five seasons that followed. Someone give this guy a medal.

4 Raymond and Robert (Everybody Loves Raymond)

The timeless sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond has gotten its title from Robert, who frequently quotes it to express his discontent with all the attention his brother seems to be getting. And if you haven’t watched the show, they are both adults in their 30s. Nevertheless, Robert obviously didn’t get as much affection from their mother Marie as Raymond did, causing him to grow up bitter and resentful. His passive-aggressive nature and humorous catchphrases lend a very strong comedic element into the series, and indeed, Everybody Loves Raymond would be nothing without Robert there to remind everyone about it.

3 The Hound and the Mountain (Game of Thrones)

The sibling rivalry is taken to the extreme with Game of Thrones’ Sandor and Gregor Cegane. In the spirit of the series, these brothers’ relationship is as brutal as it is bizarre and began in their early youth. We’re sure most of you already know the story: Gregor finds Sandor playing with one of his toys in front of the fireplace and punishes him by burning half his face off.

The rest of their time together was spent by the physically and emotionally scarred Hound carefully and patiently planning his revenge. The chance presented itself only at the end of the series, when the entire city of King’s Landing was burning beneath the feet of Drogon, allowing us to witness the most violent brotherly fights in the history of television …but iconic nonetheless.

2 Will and Jonathan Byers (Stranger Things)

As opposed to the previous two, Stranger Things’ Will and Jonathan are the epitome of brother goals, and this much is obvious from each and every scene they share. They both love listening to the same music and every mixtape from Jonathan means a lot to Will. You see, it’s no secret that, ever since their dad left them in early youth, Jonathan has been a sort of a father figure to Will. That said, it’s endearing to see how protective Jonathan is towards Will, and there’s no doubt in our minds that he would do anything for his brother. This much is clear after he risked his life to save Will from the Demogorgon.

1 Sam and Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

There’s a massive reason why the series Supernatural has gone on to span as many as 15 seasons, making it one of the longest-aired TV shows in history. This reason is the brotherly chemistry between Sam and Dean Winchester that proved to be an inexhaustible source of entertainment. The thrilling and creepy plots with the classic good versus evil situations are only a bonus, given that the relationship and charismatic on-screen personas of the Winchester brothers is all the reason we need to watch Supernatural. And sure, they fight like any other siblings, but they also share unconditional love and respect for each other, with their differences perfectly complementing each other. Would you sell your soul to the Devil in exchange for your brother’s life? Well, Dean did, so there’s something to think about.

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