Iconic TV show villains aren’t just forced into the world of pop culture; they are born through the genius creatives behind the stories that gift them to the world of entertainment.
Popular TV shows may have their fair share of fan-favourite protagonists; however, antagonists also have their fair share of fans despite their many flaws.
To attest to that, TV fans recently took to an online survey to vote on which TV show villains should be ranked as the greatest of all time, with the results starting at number 11 with…
11/11 Arthur Mitchell
TV Show: Dexter
John Lithgow played him, and after first appearing in Season 4, he was often referred to as the “Trinity Killer.”
He was said to have killed 279 directly and 6 indirectly and was one of America’s most prolific serial killers for over three decades.
10/11 Kilgrave
TV Show: Jessica Jones
He is probably one of Marvel’s coolest yet underrated villains. Unless you’ve read the comics or watched Netflix’s Jessica Jones, you probably have no idea who he is.
Played by Scottish actor David Tennant, Killgrave’s parents experimented on him, which led to him being given the ability to control people’s minds.
He used this ability to mind-control Jessica Jones into being his girlfriend for months, all while he became completely obsessed with her.
9/11 The Governor
TV Show: The Walking Dead
The Governor, played by English actor David Morrissey, in the popular zombie TV show The Walking Dead.
He first appeared in Season 3 as the main antagonist and killed the much-loved character Hershel Greene, who was played by the late Scott Wilson.
8/11 Benjamin Linus
TV Show: Lost
Michael Emerson’s role as Ben Linus in this iconic TV show was simply amazing.
He fooled people into believing he was on the plane when, in fact, he was one of the “others”.
Linus didn’t care who he hurt; he only cared about Jacob, who he ended up stabbing to death.
He even got his own daughter killed, who wasn’t technically his daughter, as he stole her from Danielle, who crashed onto the island he called home.
7/11 Cersei Lannister
TV Show: Game of Thrones
The cunning and ruthless Cerseim, played by Lena Headey, from the popular TV show Game of Thrones is ranked at number 7.
Headey’s portrayal landed her an Emmy nomination, which proved her character was a force to be reckoned with.
6/11 Hannibal Lector
TV Show: Hannibal
There have been many renditions of the iconic Dr Hannibal Lector over the years, however, the one that stood out the most in recent years was actor Mads Mikkelson’s take on the character.
His ability to portray a man with such voracious greed for human flesh and a sinister ability to manipulate everyone around him landed him at number 6.
5/11 Ramsay Bolton
TV Show: Game of Thrones
The sadistic Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones had a habitual liking for physical and psychological torture, with many scenes that are tough to forget.
Played by Welsh actor Iwan Rheon, Ramsay’s viscous and cunning acts haunted many, landing him at number 5 on the best TV villains list.
4/11 Walter White
TV Show: Breaking Bad
From a humble chemistry teacher to a heartless corrupt drug kingpin… Bryan Cranston’s portrayal was nothing short of magnificent.
He gained significant recognition for the role, which earned him an Emmy award and definitely earned him the number 4 spot.
3/11 Negan
TV Show: The Walking Dead
This bat-wielding ruthless character portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan in The Walking Dead was hated by millions after his first debut, mainly for killing off Glenn and Abraham.
Although he later went on to redeem himself and even got a spin-off series alongside Glenn’s wife, Maggie, some people couldn’t ever forgive him, which earned him the number 3 spot.
2/11 Homelander
TV Show: The Boys
His lack of empathy, his full-blown narcissism and, don’t forget, his brutalness, he believes he is the best of all and no one can ever compare to him (in his eyes).
The only love he’s ever shown is towards his son Ryan even then it’s only for his own gain, Antony Starr plays him magnificently and earned Homelander second place.
1/11 Gus Fring
TV Show: Breaking Bad
Played by Giancarlo Esposito in an unforgettable performance, Breaking Bad‘s Gustavo Fring won the number one spot.
His calm and calculated demeanour was enough to make everyone feel uneasy, presenting himself as a composed and polite businessman.
Underneath that exterior was a highly dangerous drug lord, willing to do anything to keep his title and expand his criminal empire.
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