With Mamoudou Athie playing Ramsay Cole in Archive 81 as Dan Turner, digging into deep secrets and challenging what meets the eye.
Though the mysterious 2022 Netflix horror show did not get picked up for a second season, the first introduced an array of characters. Some were well-liked for their care for others, altruistic ambitions, and perseverance in the face of danger, while others were not very likable because they were cowardly and willing to endanger or even harm others for their selfish motivations. From start to finish, the character reveals were the most intriguing part of the show.
Cassandra
This uppity art collector seems innocent enough and she keeps to herself for the most part. And though Cassandra does have an eclectic personality, it could be written off as unusual more than suspicious.
However, Cassandra’s first meeting with Melody was awkward and dismissive. Then when Annabelle shows up, Cassandra shows a completely different side of herself: a manipulative and divisive one. And her interactions with Jess take a turn from neighborly to predatory. When all is said and done, there are not many redeeming qualities about Cassandra, she is just unlikable.
Samuel
At first glance, Samuel was an intelligent, charming, and thoughtful guy. He seemed to connect with Melody in an authentic and interested way, which was unusual for neighbors at the Visser. Once Melody discovered him leading a cult meeting in the community room at the apartment building he revealed his true character.
Samuel only played the part of a charismatic professor to disguise the evil done behind closed doors and obtain participation from whoever he felt necessary. He was controlling and determined to see his plans through, no matter who it might hurt. His blatant disregard for humanity was well cloaked, misleading many, from church to the police force. His selfishness and deception make him very unlikable.
Virgil Davenport
Dan's Fortune 500 employer, Virgil Davenport, plays things close to the vest from the inception of Dan’s hire. Virgil is clearly tied to the Visser in some capacity and employs Dan to uncover the secrets surrounding the fire that burned the building down in the 90s. This creates a suspicion regarding his motives and whether or not he was somehow involved in the fire.
Arsine or not, because Virgil was not upfront with Dan and had him work completely alone and isolated from civilization, he was less than trustworthy. His Big Brother-esque set up at the compound made his extreme need for secrecy obvious. And Virgil’s ties with the Visser actually being tied to Samuel automatically makes Virgil a threatening and therefore unlikable character.
Iris Vos
Iris is a magnetic character that easily persuades others to aid in her endeavor to follow in her father’s footsteps and awaken the demon Kaelego. Some go willingly and others don’t exactly know what they’re getting into, but all of them are so drawn to Iris that they don’t ask many questions.
Unfortunately for her newly hired housekeeper Rose, Iris is so determined to see her plan fulfilled she doesn’t mind getting a little blood on her hands. She even decides to let her beloved brother walk out of her life rather than stop killing people. Cold-blooded killers are not very likable, but because of Iris’ clear motivations and back story, she was a bit more sympathetic of a character than the others.
Father Russo
Father Russo is Jess’ trusted priest who is unconventional in his methodology with her. Melody is suspicious of him because of her personal biases against the church as a whole. However, after his death, Melody realizes what an ally he was all along.
Father Russo proved himself to be legitimately looking out for Jess. He was exhausting all of his occult knowledge and religious resources to put a stop to releasing the demon Kaelego. From the beginning, he gave everything to protect those around him, though it wasn’t always understood that way. And it ended up costing him his life. Father Russo’s determination and sacrifice made him a likable character.
Jess
Jess worked hard doing odd jobs for all of the neighbors to help her single mother. She was a well-known and well-loved girl by all. She befriended Melody right away and helped her get her foot in the door with the other tenants. Her smile and lightheartedness made her easy to be around.
Her loyalties appeared questionable at times. Jess could often be found with a package in hand to deliver, but not knowing the contents or their use, had her aiding in some dark work. Being young and naive made it difficult for her to discern who she could trust, but she showed her intentions to be pure and trustworthy every time. With the help of Melody’s cynicism, Jess survived long enough to prove that she would always make the best decisions a friend can make.
Melody
Melody begins her adventure at the Visser with the aim of finding her mother. However, as Melody makes mysterious discovery after discovery, she realizes there is more going on here than meets the eye. But she does not stop her investigating, whatever the personal risk.
Melody selflessly puts her own ambitions aside and comes to the assistance of those who need her help at the Visser. Each character she meets seems to present another challenge for her to help with, and she rises to the occasion, even if it means delaying her personal quest. Melody manages to get herself into some very precarious situations, usually by oversharing the truth. All the while, she presents her irable human qualities more obviously with each predicament. Melody is one of the most likable characters on Archive 81.
Dan
Right in line with his meticulous work recovering film, Dan's attention to detail makes him a fantastic detective. Being commissioned only for his archival gifts didn't keep Dan from using all of his observational and problem-solving skills to unravel this web of lies meant to hide years of psychic deceit. His openness to not only learn about Melody but also learn from her was the key to freeing her.
Dan never let his own safety get in the way of doing what was necessary or what he believed to be right. Whether a mysterious person was seeking him in the woods, or a dead person was reaching through the monitor to choke him, Dan was brave and relentless. Even when he realized his father had some level of involvement with Melody, the possibility of his discovery tarnishing his father’s memory didn’t stop him from pursuing facts. Dan was uncompromisingly out for truth and that is why he is such a great character.
Annabelle
Annabelle is the wild and free-spirited counterpart to the more tight-laced Melody. She says what is on her mind from the moment she steps foot at the Visser and there is not a single tenant that can make her feel uncomfortable enough to stifle that. She has an irresistible personality that draws Cassandra’s interest and threatens to entice her away from Melody.
Her character is creative and bold, in contrast with most everyone else who dances around their feelings and is in constant secrecy. Years later, when she meets Dan and Mark, she is still committed to rescuing Melody. She has her ups and downs, but at the end of the day, Annabelle remains loyal to her best friend. Because she is flawed yet remains devoted, she is one of the most realistic and likable characters.
Mark
Even when he has every reason to question Dan's theories, Mark gives him the benefit of the doubt and does most of the leg work for him while he’s working at the compound. Dan thought, at one point, that he was only involved with what he was doing to get material for Mark's podcast, but Mark was keeping everything confidential as he’d promised.
Dan's personal Google and confidant is the most likable character on the show because he is completely trustworthy, always reliable, and more than just comic relief. Mark always has Dan's back. Mark was willing to jump through hoops, even metaphysical ones, for his friend, against his best judgment. His constant sense of humor and grounding personality make the nearly unbearable uncertainty tolerable.