19 Most Compelling TV Villains of 2018
19 Most Compelling TV Villains of 2018 (continued):
11. The Whisperers (The Walking Dead)
When walkers begin to talk the characters assume the dead are evolving but the truth is much more sinister. Amongst the dead are survivors dressed in zombie skin-suits and nearly indistinguishable from the monsters surrounding them in more ways than one.
They speak in hushed whispers around the walkers — a trait that earns them their alias.
On the mid-season finale, The Whisperers announce their presence during a gruesome scene that ends the life of beloved character Jesus, as a walker impossibly dodges his attack and stabs him brutally in the back.
We don’t know much about The Whisperers yet, but we do know their introduction into The Walking Dead universe is one of the most horrifying entrances a group of villains has made on television.
12. Fred Waterford (The Handmaid’s Tale)
There are so many things that a viewer can find unsettling about The Handmaid’s Tale, but the stalwartness of Fred Waterford is amongst the scariest.
Throughout the thirteen episodes, Fred Waterford showed the dark underbelly of his beliefs. Including the not-so-understated hint that Commanders should be excused from the law.
Tensions reached a peak in the finale when Serena Joy advocated for allowing the daughters of Gilead to read The Bible, an offense which led to her pinky finger being cut off. The moments before she is taken away are chilling, and his calm demeanor when they come home even more so.
13. Jace Turner & the Purifiers (The Gifted)
The Gifted has people with every sort of ability, some turn everything, even people, inside out, others can get into your head and cause terrible things. But none of them are as insidious and terrifying as the Purifiers. Why? Because they’re real.
The writers have done a really good job with them and their plot can make anyone uncomfortable. Especially if you’re a person of color, an immigrant, someone from the LGBT community, anything other than a straight white male. Jace Turner is stroking on people’s fears about mutants. He focuses on violence, stereotypes, and extreme nationalism.
The Purifiers are terrifying because they’re not based on false abilities but because of their very real feelings and the way they act about them.
14. Shawn (The Good Place)
Even “The Bad Place” needs a bad guy!
The Good Place may center around a demon who has trapped humans in their perfect hell that masquerades as “The Good Place,” but Shawn is the entertaining big bad the show needs to keep things interesting.
At the end of Season 2 and the start of Season 3 he’s emerged as the true bad guy as Michael, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason try to become better people. The thing is, as much as we may hate him, we can’t help but love when he appears on our screens.
15. Philip and Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans)
Let’s get one thing straight: the Jennings were never heroes. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Philip and Elizabeth Jennings presented us with a compelling narrative for six years on The Americans.
The final season saw Elizabeth pushed to the brink, and Philip pulled back into the organization. It presented audiences with a wild ride as they navigated their final missions.
Season 6 also reminded us of a sobering fact: Philip and Elizabeth are spies, and while we liked watching their missions, they had to pay in some way. The Americans Season 6 Episode 10, “START,” gave us that conclusion in the most painful way possible.
16. Gordon Paige & Quovadis (The Resident)
The most despicable people are the ones who use their power to prey on the innocent. The Resident Season 2 introduced us to a medical technology company called Quovadis, but their miraculous devices aren’t all that they appear to be.
Before the winter finale, it was revealed that Quovadis, under the leadership of Gordon Paige, was importing devices from China and slapping a “Made in the USA” label on them to make them seem safer.
But the devices were already causing problems in patients and Jullian was catching on, ready to blow the whistle to the FDA.
17. The Government (Manifest)
Manifest has a villain that is particularly terrifying because it has no face. (Yet!)
The passengers of Montego Air Flight 828 are under constant observation from the government after their flight reappeared after being missing for five and a half years.
While the passengers seem to be hearing the same voice and following impulses that lead them to uncover several serious crimes, it looks like some less than altruistic forces are at work. Now bodies are starting to drop it looks like something or something is out to hide the truth.
NASA and the FBI were amongst the first on the scene, and Kelly Taylor’s body was reportedly taken by government officials. We may not have all the pieces yet, but it is starting to look more and more suspicious as the series moves on.
18. Robert Stahl (Shades of Blue)
FBI agent Robert Stahl on Shades of Blue quickly became a villain we loved to hate.
Portrayed by Warren Kole, Stahl’s obsession with Harlee spiraled to completely out of control, and in the final season, he showed his twisted nature more than ever and proved just how far he’d go to get what he wants.
19. Carol and Barb Denning (Orange is the New Black)
Carol and Barb Denning presented an interesting dynamic on Orange is the New Black Season 6. Carol and Barb are sisters who were incarcerated as teenagers for killing their youngest sister Debbie.
Known as “The Little Debbie Murderers” they’ve lived most of their lives behind bars in Litchfield Max, and their sibling rivalry has spread to the cell blocks. The childish feud escalates throughout the season, mounting tensions and putting some of our favorite Litchfield inmates in the crossfire.
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Who were your favorite villains from the past year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
*Additional contributions by Samantha Coley, Lacy Baugher, Sarah Fields, Charles E. Henning, Alicia Gilstorf, Ashley Bissette Sumerel, and Maii Trueba de Buen,
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.