Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (television)

Why should we use (TV series) instead of (anime) for Japanese animation, where the latter is more known for being one for this MoS? This is the same case as with South Korean series when they're more known as drama. Has there been RfC regarding this? ⋆｡˚꒰ঌ Clara A. Djalim ໒꒱˚｡⋆ 15:30, 2 October 2025 (UTC)

There is a discussion over at Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (broadcasting)#TV channel/network disambiguations about network disambiguations which might be of interest to editors here. Gonnym (talk) 09:16, 4 February 2026 (UTC)

I wanted to start a larger conversation regarding the text of Wikipedia:Naming conventions (television)#List articles. This is stemming from this discussion at Talk:List of Daredevil (TV series) characters if the article should exist at List of Daredevil (TV series) characters or List of Daredevil characters. Part of the wording we have in the NCTV section is as follows: If the main TV series page title was disambiguated from other entertainment properties (e.g. other TV series, films, novels, etc.), related list pages may or may not need to be further disambiguated, depending on whether other list articles exist. Otherwise, the series title is sufficient. The point I think needs further clarification, guidance, and/or links to other MOS/guidelines, I have bolded in the previous text quote. This is largely in regards to character lists. I feel in many instances, extra disambiguation likely isn't needed for most TV series character lists. Take The Crown (TV series) and List of The Crown characters. There isn't currently anything else known as "The Crown" that would have characters, so no disambiguation would be necessary. The problem with our existing wording I think comes into play with TV series adapting IP from another media, such as comic book adaptations. As was brought up in the Daredevil example, List of Daredevil enemies and Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)#Supporting characters both exist and could be possible target points for "List of Daredevil characters" that a reader is looking for. In this specific instance, is the disambiguation in the title for the TV series necessary, or is it not and should hatnotes be used? Looking at say The Walking Dead (TV series), its character list exists at List of The Walking Dead (TV series) characters because List of The Waking Dead characters could mean the comics, video games, or spin-off TV show characters in that franchise. Seeing as our current examples are light on character list examples, I'm hoping there can either be some more clarity added to the wording, along with more examples and guidance on what to do in situations like this. Courtesy ping to @Adamstom.97, Trailblazer101, Gonnym, and Alex 21: who were involved in the Daredevil discussion. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 15:01, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

I think there is a good argument that List of Daredevil characters could be a disambiguation page pointing to the character sections of multiple pages listed at Daredevil, including other shows, films, books, etc. and if there was a primary topic it would likely be the comic book characters rather than the series list, which is just a split off section from Daredevil (TV series). I do think it would be good to get some consensus on this situation and maybe some updated wording, as there definitely isn't a consistent approach being taken here. - adamstom97 (talk) 19:46, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

List of The Walking Dead (TV series) characters exists where it does because List of The Walking Dead (comics) characters also exists, not because of the existence (or lack thereof) of List of The Waking Dead characters. That disambiguation makes sense. However, Wikipedia does not disambiguate where it is not necessary; we do not disambiguate for articles that may exist. Comparing List of Daredevil (TV series) characters and List of Daredevil enemies (again, not regarding the section non-article), these are two differently titled articles that do not require disambiguation. Compare List of The Flash characters and List of Flash supporting characters, neither of which require disambiguation and further use hatnotes; note further, that List of The Flash episodes and the characters article does not require the 2014 disambiguation from the 1990 article, because there are no separate articles for the 1990 series. We do not disambiguate List of FBI characters based on potential confusion with the real-world FBI. All of these examples ultimately conform with WP:SHORTFORM. -- Alex_21 _TALK 03:25, 13 February 2026 (UTC)

Our guideline should always be read with the context of other non-TV pages. The Daredevil example is an example of other pages that could use the list of characters redirect just as much as this page can. Alex's Flash example, is another one. The title List of The Flash characters is very ambiguous, and any reader that isn't looking for the TV characters will certainly feel WP:SURPRISE, since List of Flash supporting characters is not for the TV page, and especially when we have List of supporting Arrow characters, which is a TV list. Gonnym (talk) 11:09, 13 February 2026 (UTC)

Thank you all for the replies. Regardless of what is determined here, as I said initially, I think more wording is needed in this section as well as examples. Either outcome, something about hatnote use would be helpful, as well as this Daredevil and Flash characters examples saying explaining clearer why these exist at the titles they do. I'm hoping other editors will join to help in the discussion. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 16:39, 14 February 2026 (UTC)

I don't feel like this issue is tied closely to the TV subject area. Surely there are list articles associated with disambiguated articles throughout the wiki. If Wikipedia:Naming conventions (lists) doesn't cover this, perhaps it should, and then we don't need to to worry about conflicting with other subject areas (such as the TV vs comics examples above). -- Netoholic @ 18:06, 14 February 2026 (UTC)

Concerning articles for The Bear:

• Should Gary "Sweeps" Woods be located where it is, or at Sweeps (The Bear) or Gary Woods (The Bear)? I've recently moved Gary (The Bear episode) from Gary (The Bear) per WP:NCEPISODE (as Gary (The Bear) could also mean the character).
• Further, should Food of The Bear (TV series) exist at Food of The Bear per WP:NCTV#List articles? There is no need for the ending disambiguation.

-- Alex _talk 06:33, 10 May 2026 (UTC)

I don't have a problem with Gary "Sweeps" Woods, but see what others think. The Food of the Bear article is not a list article, so the guideline you cited doesn't apply. I know others will object to the unnecessary disambiguation. I would prefer Food in The Bear rather than Food of The Bear. It's not just a list of foods that appear in the show, but rather a discussion of the role food plays in the show's storytelling, so in not of.--Srleffler (talk) 15:53, 10 May 2026 (UTC)

I would support Food in The Bear as well, I see no issue with that. -- Alex _talk 21:19, 10 May 2026 (UTC)

Looking at the Bear (disambiguation), I think the disambiguation is required. I'll add that I think both titles aren't good. We don't have to be so precise that the title barely makes sense. Gonnym (talk) 16:41, 11 May 2026 (UTC)