20 Unforgettable TV Villains

A hero is only as good as their villain, and TV has given us so many to choose from. Sometimes, they’re pure evil. Other times, they’re complex and nuanced.

Murder and destruction or run-of-the-mill workplace villainy can all make fantastic villains. Those closest to reality are those that are the most terrifying and easy to loathe. Whatever their background, villains are the reasons we watch so many of our favorite shows. 

We’ve compiled some of the most unforgettable villains that have graced the small screen. In no particular order, here is our list of 15 unforgettable TV villains:

1. Wilson Fisk (Daredevil)

Is there a villain with a better style than Wilson Fisk? Maybe, but he’s definitely up there. In a gargantuan franchise that struggles to keep compelling villains that aren’t killed off immediately, this character was no easy feat to do right. 

His tenures on Daredevil and Hawkeye were arguably all too short. Particularly in Hawkeye, his character wasn’t given a chance to fully develop. As Disney continues to work within the Netflix Marvel series, this is hopefully soon to change. 

What made Kingpin so captivating to watch was Vincent D’Onofrio bringing such a rich emotional depth to the character. Without this, Kingpin would have been indescribably evil with no purpose. 

2. Dan Scott (One Tree Hill)

One Tree Hill fans remember the visceral hate for this character in the best possible way. Even in a dream-sequence episode, Dan Scott was just the absolute worst in every way. 

Every interaction with his family was filled with angst and resentment. Although One Tree Hill was filled with moments of redemption, Dan Scott always remained the one character to root against.

The evil embodied by Dan Scott is a banal one. At his core, he was a neglectful father who displayed a stunning entitlement complex. He’s a perfectly ordinary villain (okay, aside from straight-up murdering his brother). We’ve all known a Dan Scott.

3. Moriarty (Sherlock)

Professor James Moriarty was a staple of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes anthology. Andrew Scott’s take on this iconic character in Sherlock was one for the ages. 

Sherlock‘s Moriarty captured the best parts of Conan Doyle’s original character. At his best, this character is an equal match to Sherlock Holmes’ mind. This battle of wills and constant push-pull translated particularly well in Sherlock. 

Scott’s Moriarty was just so delightfully bizarre. His humor and chaos balanced perfectly with the horror he created throughout the BBC ministry. Even when the rest of Sherlock felt stale, this version of Moriarty never did. 

4. The Boston Reaper (Criminal Minds)

It’s been nearly 13 years since Criminal Minds Season 5 Episode 9, “100,” first aired, and I personally still haven’t recovered. Trust me, I re-watched this recently, and it’s no less devastating. 

George Foyett went by a lot of names in Criminal Minds. In a show filled to the brim with psychologically twisted criminals, he was among the worst, which was a grim accomplishment.

Most of us will never know a villain like The Boston Reaper in real life. However, the destruction he caused fundamentally changed the course of Criminal Minds for the rest of the series run. 

5. Sue Sylvester (Glee)

I’m just going to say it; Glee as an entity was a villain. While that may be a separate discussion for another time, Sue Sylvester stood out as arguably the most unhinged character in a show filled to the brim with unhinged energy. 

A la Dolores Umbridge of Harry Potter infamy, we’ve all had that teacher who was just mean for absolutely no reason. Sue Sylvester continued that legacy. 

While the character definitely had moments of heart, they were never enough to outweigh the villainy she embodied. She wasn’t even fun to cheer (haha) for. She just made you sick when you remembered the teacher who had in out for you.

6. Darth Vader (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

The character of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader has truly gone on an epic journey. He went from terrifying small children in theatres everywhere to a whiny young adult complaining about the perils of sand.

In Obi-Wan Kenobi, this classic character is re-born. Hayden Christensen’s portrayal of Darth Vader re-contextualized this character, and his relationship with his former mentor, in such a way that made these previous versions more compelling.

Even with limited screen time, Obi-Wan Kenobi successfully showcased the best of this character. Watching Anakin go from being surrounded by love to being torn apart by rage and loathing is absolutely devastating and re-opens old wounds. 

7. Homelander (The Boys)

Is there a character that better embodies the concept of the United States of America than Homelander? The Boys represents so much of the chaos of the superhero genre. Nowhere is that clear than in Homelander.

If the violence wasn’t enough, Homelander is a face of a corporation that makes a point of exploiting superhuman individuals. 

Though some heroes like Iron Man have oversized egos, they can still display massive heart in saving the world in their own ways. Homelander has the ego without any of the redeeming qualities, which is what makes him a delightful hate-watch.

8. The Cigarette Smoking Man (The X-Files)

In a show like the X-Files, the potential villains are limitless. One that stands out, however, was William B. Davis’ The Cigarette Smoking Man. He said a mere four words in the show’s first season and only got more villainous as the series continued. 

Even as more of his background is revealed, it never fully explains his motivations for becoming involved in the most notorious events of world history. His entire tenure revolves around keeping fans guessing.

A shadowy villain who operates in the shadows while causing chaos can always be magnetic to watch. His grip on power while everything crumbles around him is reason enough to keep watching through the destruction. 

9. The Daleks (Doctor Who)

There is no shortage of phenomenal villains fans have been introduced to in Doctor Who. From the Weeping Angels to the Cyber Men to the Master, really any Doctor Who villain would fit on this list. 

While they were staples in the classic series, they arguably came into their own when Doctor Who was revived. Despite the fact that they’re alien robots, they’re honestly downright human.

Doctor Who Season 3 Episode 4, “Daleks in Manhattan,” and Season 3 Episode 5, “Evolution of the Daleks,” really demonstrated a turning point in how dark and twisted these aliens could get. If you watch, you may catch a certain Amazing Spider-Man.

10. Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Not only was Cersei Lannister the mother of one of TV’s whiniest villains, but she was also a villain in her own right. Game of Thrones was filled with cut-throat schemers. No one played the Game quite like Cersei.

The conclusion of Cersei’s story in Game of Thrones was emblematic of everything wrong with how the series concluded. This was a character who was always many steps ahead of everyone, who never met a situation she couldn’t spin to her advantage.

It wasn’t only the fact that she used gratuitous violence to achieve the goals that made her so captivating to watch. It was how she used manipulation to her advantage and embodied the adage, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

11. Blaine DeBeers (iZombie)

A zombie series is a perfect opportunity to showcase any number of villains. iZombie took the assignment and ran with it. Blaine DeBeers kept fans guessing from the moment he was introduced.

Okay, maybe some altruistic motives can be shoe-horned into his storylines. The fact is that this character is an example of evil with essentially no redeeming qualities. He never met a vulnerable person he didn’t try to take advantage of.

Each time he appeared on screen, he inspired such a visceral sense of disgust, even when he wasn’t murdering people to eat their brains. Even when he ends up in a more legitimate position within the story, he never quite loses that veneer of chaos.

12. Yvonne “Vee” Parker (Orange Is the New Black)

If there was an over-arching villain in Orange Is the New Black, it was the American prison system. Any of the staff portrayed throughout the series could be held up as emblems of this oppressive system.

Orange Is the New Black Season 2, however, centered around arguably the most dynamic villain the show ever saw. Vee had Litchfield by the balls and never let them go. Watching her divide the prison before everyone turned on her was a masterclass.

It’s a shame this character was only around for one season. The constantly shifting dynamics she created among her fellow inmates would have served the series well for the rest of its run. 

13. Sarah O’Brien (Downton Abbey)

Any freedom-loving person will likely tell you that the true villain of Downton Abbey is the British Aristocracy, and they’d be correct. However, few were as detestable as Ms. O’Brien.

Was it the hair? The constant sneering? Or maybe the forever scheming? Really, it was all of this and more. Sure, her schemes got fantastical. But it was the everyday plotting that really made her villainous.

Ms. O’Brien was a villain with a heart. Although she could never keep out of other people’s business, the moments of connection, she had with her co-workers actually made her endearing. She was a woman containing multitudes. 

14. The Waterfords (The Handmaid’s Tale)

This is two-for-one, so it’s a bit of a cheat. It’s hard to imagine more topical villains than The Waterfords of The Handmaid’s Tale. At first, I was only going to include him for obvious reasons.

Really, though, few embody the unique villainy of white womanhood more than Serena Joy. Her continued support and upholding of the patriarchy are what allow the disgusting system to stay in place. All of us white women can see ourselves here.

These two are modern-day cautionary tales. What makes them so terrifying is that they are all-too-possible visions of what our society can become. 

15. Bob Kelso (Scrubs)

It wouldn’t be an unforgettable villain list without including at least one terrible boss whose villainy is far more banal. Dr. Bob Kelso of Scrubs certainly fits the bill. 

When he wasn’t being hilarious to make fun of, his unhinged energy really kept the show together. So many of us have had a boss that just stirred up trouble for the sake of it. It makes for a work environment that is never boring. 

He’s so unforgettable that even though his everyday villainy was a thorn in his employee’s sides, he was always looking out for what was best for his patients and staff. He always saw the bigger picture, even when no one else could.

16. Negan (The Walking Dead)

When we think of iconic TV villains, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan of The Walking Dead absolutely fits the bill. While the quality of the show has become…questionable, Negan is the constant that keeps this show together.

The Walking Dead has always made a point to feature human villainy, even in the midst of a society overrun by, well, the undead. It’s no easy feat to make a human being the symbol of evil in a Universe filled with zombies.

Everything about Negan makes him a compelling villain. His charisma and brutality are just horrifying enough to make viewers come back for more week after week, season after season.

He’s nothing if not complex in his motivations, which always keeps us guessing. At his core, no matter how brutal his actions are, he’s a bully. This grounds his character in a horrifying way, which makes him uncomfortably relatable. 

17. Gustavo Fring (Breaking Bad)

Let’s be honest, Walter White could have represented Breaking Bad on this list. White’s journey from hero to villain is the stuff of TV legend. We thought we’d shine a spotlight on the incredible performance by Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring.

Fring’s polite, professional exterior masks the dark and brutal chaos that comes out frequently. This makes him all the more terrifying. His calculating nature makes him impossible to look away from. 

Fring’s return in Better Call Saul gave fans an opportunity to explore this character further. He is truly the puppet master that is the most fearful of all. All of our favorite characters are at the mercy of a puppet master like this, which only keeps us guessing. 

18. The Trinity Killer (Dexter)

As a crime show, Dexter is filled to the brim with incredible villains. The Trinity Killer is one that deserves particular special mention. The main villain of the show’s Season 4 left a lasting impact on the show. 

Now, you might be thinking, wasn’t the real villain of Dexter the way the show itself ended? You’d probably be right. But watching John Lithgow in action almost makes up for the wild plot. 

In a show filled to the brim with villains, many of whom could have made this list, The Trinity Killer is a standout. The sickening way he lives his double life is a sobering reminder that really, can we trust anyone? Maybe a little extreme, but still.

The fact that the Trinity Killer operated with impunity for so long is truly a reminder that we have no idea what kind of villains are lurking in suburbia. This is what makes this character unforgettable.

19. Omar Navarro (Ozark)

Omar Navarro is another puppet master villain who deserves the spotlight. A late entry into the show, Felix Solis brings an entirely new dynamic that adds another layer to an already. 

It’s not difficult to have many villains in a show around money laundering for a drug cartel. Having a face to the villainous shenanigans ups the ante to the next level. A concrete villain somehow makes the rest of the show much more believable. 

Ozark is filled with solid performances. Felix Solis’ is one of them. What he’s done with the latter half of this show is a masterpiece. The way he makes use of each scene only increases viewer buy-in. As detestable as he is, he’s watchable.

20. Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)

In terms of classic TV villains, it’s hard to argue against a villain who eats people. A staple of the horror genre, Hannibal always delivered. In a discussion of charismatic villains, Hannibal is one for the ages. 

It’s frankly impossible to talk about Hannibal as a show and as a character without acknowledging the phenomenon that is Mads Mikkelsen. He made a cannibal weirdly and uncomfortably relatable. 

What made this villain so iconic was the fact that even though everything about who he is as a person elicits disgust, one can’t really help but want to see him succeed.

It makes for a fascinating dynamic that played out until the show’s premature cancellation. While we may not want to join this character for a meal, getting inside his head is a chaotic journey worth taking. 

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Who are your unforgettable TV villains? Let us know in the comments below! 

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