Joyce Smith (played by Chrissy Metz) is a protagonist in Breakthrough.
Joyce is John's adoptive mother and a deeply devoted parent. She fights relentlessly for his survival after the accident, clashes with medical professionals and Brian, then learns to surrender control and accept whatever outcome follows. Tommy Shine (played by Mike Colter) appears in Breakthrough.
Tommy is the rescuer who returns beneath the ice after hearing a voice tell him to try again. He brings John to the surface when others are ready to stop searching. Later, he tells John that the rescue changed his own beliefs about God. John Smith (played by Marcel Ruiz) appears in Breakthrough.
John is a fourteen-year-old Guatemalan boy adopted and raised by Joyce and Brian. After falling through a frozen lake, he survives prolonged submersion, awakens with full cognitive ability, returns to school, and later pursues a career in ministry. Dr. Garrett (played by Dennis Haysbert) appears in Breakthrough.
Dr. Garrett is the specialist consulted after John's transfer to a better equipped hospital. He initially offers little hope and warns of a possible persistent vegetative state, then explains that the coma medication is becoming toxic and agrees to stop treatment. Josh (played by Isaac Kragten) appears in Breakthrough.
Josh is one of John's friends who goes onto the frozen lake with John and Reiger despite a warning. He falls through the ice but reaches the surface and is rescued, while John's failure to emerge leads to the desperate search beneath the water. Reiger (played by Nikolas Dukic) appears in Breakthrough.
Reiger is John's friend and one of the three boys who venture onto the frozen lake. After falling through the ice, he swims to the surface and is rescued with Josh, while John's disappearance creates the central emergency and rescue effort. Joyce's friend #1 (played by Kerry Grace Tait) appears in Breakthrough.
Breakthrough (2019) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Joyce Smith
(played by Chrissy Metz) — protagonist
Joyce is John's adoptive mother and a deeply devoted parent. She fights relentlessly for his survival after the accident, clashes with medical professionals and Brian, then learns to surrender control...
Tommy Shine
(played by Mike Colter) — supporting
Tommy is the rescuer who returns beneath the ice after hearing a voice tell him to try again. He brings John to the surface when others are ready to stop searching. Later, he tells John that the rescu...
John Smith
(played by Marcel Ruiz) — supporting
John is a fourteen-year-old Guatemalan boy adopted and raised by Joyce and Brian. After falling through a frozen lake, he survives prolonged submersion, awakens with full cognitive ability, returns to...
Dr. Garrett
(played by Dennis Haysbert) — supporting
Dr. Garrett is the specialist consulted after John's transfer to a better equipped hospital. He initially offers little hope and warns of a possible persistent vegetative state, then explains that the...
Josh
(played by Isaac Kragten) — supporting
Josh is one of John's friends who goes onto the frozen lake with John and Reiger despite a warning. He falls through the ice but reaches the surface and is rescued, while John's failure to emerge lead...
Reiger
(played by Nikolas Dukic) — supporting
Reiger is John's friend and one of the three boys who venture onto the frozen lake. After falling through the ice, he swims to the surface and is rescued with Josh, while John's disappearance creates...
Joyce's friend #1
(played by Kerry Grace Tait) — cameo
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Dr. Garrett → John Smith
(Professional Physician And Patient)
After John's transfer, Dr. Garrett evaluates his condition, warns of the poor prognosis, and manages the medically induced coma.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Tommy Shine → John Smith
(Narrative Rescuer And Survivor)
Tommy Shine returns to the frozen lake after hearing a voice and lifts John from the water when other rescuers cannot find him.
Josh → Reiger
(Social Friend)
Josh and Reiger accompany John onto the frozen lake and both are involved in the rescue aftermath.
John Smith → Reiger
(Social Friend)
John goes onto the frozen lake with Reiger, identifying Reiger as part of his close peer group.
John Smith → Josh
(Social Friend)
John goes onto the frozen lake with Josh, showing that they are friends who spend time together.
Joyce's friend #1 → Joyce Smith
(friend)
Story Analysis
A boy's survival after a near-fatal accident transforms his identity, relationships, and sense of purpose.
