Javier Bardem’s portrayal of a ruthless character in the latest adaptation of Cape Fear, Richard Gadd’s head-stomping antics in Half Man, and David Morrissey’s instigation of mob chaos in Tip Toe highlight the pervasive presence of villains in television. These performances prompted an examination of some of the most notorious antagonists in TV history.
In creating our rankings, we chose to exclude children’s programming, which presents its own unique set of villains. We also left out reality television figures, from Nasty Nick to Lisa Vanderpump, as well as talent show judges like Simon Cowell and Craig Revel Horwood. Our focus remained on scripted comedy and drama, where villainy reaches its most exaggerated form.
Among those who narrowly missed inclusion were Glee’s Sue Sylvester, Benjamin Linus from Lost, Black Jack Randall from Outlander, and Logan Roy from Succession. Various antagonists from Star Wars and Marvel series were also omitted, meaning characters like Wilson Fisk (Daredevil), Kilgrave (Jessica Jones), and Dedra Meero (Andor) did not make the list. We apologize to fans of those genres.
Below is our countdown of the top 20 television villains of all time, culminating in the ultimate antagonist. Feel free to express your thoughts and suggest your favorites in the comments section.
In the acclaimed series by the Duffer Brothers, two subjects from the covert Hawkins Lab experiments face off. On one side is Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), a gifted telekinetic; on the other is Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower), also known as One or Vecna, who relished in the psychological torment of his victims before inflicting physical harm. After killing his own family, the malevolent Henry was trapped in the Upside Down, where he underwent a horrific transformation and fused with the Mind Flayer, drawing inspiration from iconic horror figures like Pinhead, Pennywise, and Freddy Krueger.
Sally Wainwright’s crime drama, set in contemporary Yorkshire, features Sgt. Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as the determined law enforcer and Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) as the most notorious criminal. This vicious gang member and murderer believed himself to be a victim, even as he ensnared Catherine’s grandson Ryan into a twisted relationship, having fathered him through a heinous act against Catherine’s daughter. Their gripping three-season conflict culminated in a deadly showdown at a kitchen table, ending with Royce’s demise in a fiery flash.
In the early Netflix hit centered around women in prison, Yvonne “Vee” Parker emerged as a formidable antagonist in the second season, using manipulation and brute force to assert her dominance. Portrayed chillingly by Lorraine Toussaint, Vee was akin to a gang leader who exploited her adopted children, such as Taystee, as drug couriers. While incarcerated at Litchfield, she brutally attacked rival Red and cruelly played mind games with Crazy Eyes before escaping through a drainpipe. However, her freedom was brief, as she met her end at the hands of the vengeful Miss Rosa.
John Lithgow received acclaim for his role as Arthur Mitchell, a seemingly ordinary family man who led a double life as a notorious serial killer. By day, he was a church deacon and educator, but by night, he engaged in horrific crimes that left even Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) aghast. Before Dexter could exact his revenge, Trinity committed one final act of horror by murdering Dexter’s wife, Rita (Julie Benz), forcing their son Harrison to witness the atrocity and thus marking him with a legacy of violence.
For 25 years of sci-fi intrigue, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) contended with a scheming antagonist who manipulated events from the shadows while indulging in his smoking habit. This enigmatic figure and his clandestine Syndicate were responsible for concealing the truth about extraterrestrials and preparing Earth for an impending invasion. His dark legacy included the assassination of JFK and MLK, as well as involvement in the Roswell incident and the Moon landing cover-up.
In the sprawling superhero narrative of the 2000s, the chillingly psychopathic figure of Sylar emerged as a standout villain. Portrayed by Zachary Quinto, the son of a watchmaker, Sylar was fixated on being perceived as “special” and ruthlessly hunted fellow mutants to absorb their powers, with disturbing rumors suggesting he did so by consuming their brains.
The Doctor’s archenemy, the Master, is a fellow Time Lord and former classmate who misuses his brilliance for nefarious purposes. This character has been depicted by various actors, including Roger Delgado, John Simm, Sacha Dhawan, and the first female incarnation, Missy, played by Michelle Gomez. The Master seeks to dominate the universe while inflicting suffering on the Doctor, creating a conflict that spans time and space.
As the Master is to the Doctor, so is Moriarty to Sherlock Holmes — a classic adversary that embodies a dark reflection of the detective. In the BBC’s modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s works, Andrew Scott reimagined Moriarty as a contemporary psychopath, orchestrating elaborate crimes out of sheer boredom and developing a deadly obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes.
The boogeyman returns every thirty years, and in the latest Apple TV reimagining of the southern gothic thriller, Javier Bardem takes on a role that pays homage to the terrifying villains portrayed by Robert Mitchum and Robert De Niro in prior adaptations. As the vengeful ex-con Cady, Bardem’s character seeks retribution against the two lawyers responsible for his imprisonment seventeen years prior. With a keen understanding of the law, cunning instincts, and unpredictable behavior, Cady proves to be an elusive and formidable foe.
