It’s rare for there to be a TV show where every villain is great, but these series have gone down in history for the iconic antagonists that capture the audience’s attention from the beginning. The line between villains and TV anti-heroes we root for is blurry in many of these projects, as they purposefully explore the situations and events that lead people to the cruel and ruthless acts we love to watch unfold onscreen.
30 Rock (2006–2013)
When it comes to villains, we usually think of brutal, ruthless individuals in TV shows with high drama, but even sitcoms need great antagonists to propel the story and conflict. 30 Rock worked because it crossed the line into surrealism and absurdist territory, allowing the story to take shocking turns and bring unforgettable antagonists into the mix.
The best sitcom villains are the perfect blend of comically evil and often incompetent, and 30 Rock delivers on all fronts. From Jack’s rivals, like Devon and Kaylie, to the hilariously unfortunate Dennis, the characters that made life harder for the protagonists of 30 Rock are a large part of why we keep revisiting the show today.
She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power (2018–2020)
An animated kids’ TV show that’s a reboot of a 1985 series about a toy might not seem like an obvious choice for shows that feature television’s best villains. However, the complexities of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power are undeniable. Many of the themes in She-Ra revolve around friendship and the power of kindness, but these lessons come in interrogative packages.
Catra, She-Ra’s best villain, gets a legendary redemption arc, while characters like Hordak embody the struggle against injustice and totalitarianism. Conversely, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’s most insidious antagonist, Shadow Weaver, explores the cycles of abuse and how this is used to control others, like the show’s hero, Adora. The series will surprise audiences with just how layered these villains are.
Fargo (2014–2024)
The anthology crime drama series Fargo is based on the 1996 film of the same name, but the darkly comic show has expanded far beyond the scope of the movie, becoming something entirely its own. In each season, new villains are introduced, as well as characters that serve as our heroes, even though they’re often hiding just as much as the masterminds behind each installment’s crime and murders.
Though not every season of Fargo is created equal, no story fails when it comes to crafting unforgettable villains. Featuring performances from veteran actors like David Thewlis, Martin Freeman, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Fargo gives their villains a lot to work with thanks to the writing, which builds the mysteries and the characters with the same attention to detail.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
One of the best spin-offs within the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: The Next Generation, introduces some of the most iconic villains within the science fiction universe while further developing existing antagonists. The heroes aboard the Enterprise encounter many one-off monsters and aggressive lifeforms throughout their travels, but the most incredible antagonists stick out in the minds of audience members.
The Borgs are some of the scariest and important villains, as Picard goes toe-to-toe with them many times throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, characters like Moriarty and Q take things to the next level in every episode they appear in, as they push the crew to examine the nature of humanity’s exploration of the galaxy and the lasting impacts of their actions.
Invincible (2021–Present)
Based on the comic series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, the Invincible TV show begins with one of the story’s biggest twists: Omni-Man isn’t who audiences or characters believe he is. Much of Invincible revolves around the conflict that brews between Omni-Man and his son, Mark, the eponymous Invincible, but that doesn’t mean Mark has a shortage of antagonists to face outside his familial battle.
Though their actions are often played for laughs, the Mauler twins are a fun recurring villainous pair, and Angstrom Levy is one of the series’ more recent additions who pushes Mark further than ever. As Invincible progresses, and the story leans into darker, more morally ambiguous territory, even Mark’s moral lines become more flexible, making the audience question what fighting evil does to a person.
Doctor Who (2005–Present)
Throughout the many eras of the legendary science fiction TV show Doctor Who, many villains are introduced, whether this is in a single episode or across the seasons. Aliens like the Daleks, Cybermen, or the terrifying Weeping Angels are always welcome additions to any episode of the series, as they are worthy adversaries that the Doctor has to work hard to outsmart.
However, these creatures’ single-minded desire to conquer the world or sustain themselves is scary, but not the most emotionally compelling. Characters like the Master, whose personal connection to the Doctor is complex, make us invest in the story, while one-off monsters, like the nameless beast in “Midnight,” keep viewers up at night with their gripping powers.
The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
Widely considered to be the show that helped reinvigorate the post-apocalyptic and zombie genres on television, The Walking Dead used its lengthy and impressive run to introduce villains worthy of the series’ reputation. Characters like Negan might immediately come to mind, as he goes down in The Walking Dead history for committing one of the show’s most heart-wrenching murders.
However, there are plenty of other individuals just as shockingly cruel as Negan in The Walking Dead, as the show thrived on investigating the ways that humans were the true antagonists of this lawless world. People like the Governor and Simon, like Negan, use the chaos to grab power, and as an opportunity to let their most violent and sadistic sides out, shocking the protagonists and viewers.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008)
The powerful firebending siblings, Zuko and Azula, are the most incredible villains in the landmark animated fantasy series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. While Zuko’s redemption arc is one of the best in TV history, Azula’s calculating personality and slow loss of her grip on reality are the perfect foil to Zuko’s journey throughout the story.
These characters take center stage throughout Avatar, but even the villains who don’t get quite as much screentime are just as interesting. Of all the harsh realities of rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender, the villains and their arcs are not one of them. Firelord Ozai might be far away, but his shadow hangs over the series as a whole, and more ambiguous spirits like Koh, the face stealer, build the texture of the world.
Lost (2004–2010)
It could be argued that one of the biggest villains in Lost is the series’s never-ending plot twists that consistently confuse the audience. However, these surprises are part of why we still love Lost today, and it’s the complex characters– heroes and villains alike– that keep viewers anchored to the story. When it comes to antagonists, individuals like Ben or the Man in Black might immediately come to mind.
Ben is a standout villain, as his motivations are often nebulous and his actions unpredictable, making him all the more dangerous. However, Lost does a great job of using its intense survival situations to test the limits of its characters, demonstrating how these high-stakes moments will bring out the best and worst in people, changing who we see as the villain in an instant.
Deadwood (2004–2006)
HBO’s short-lived but well-remembered Western drama, Deadwood, has outlived its two-season-long run, becoming known as one of the best period dramas of the early 2000s. Set against the backdrop of the real Wild West town of Deadwood, South Dakota, the series follows its characters as they decide what lawlessness and rugged individualism mean to them as the encroachment of society rears its head throughout the story.
While historical figures known for their criminal activities appear throughout Deadwood, like Wild Bill Hickock, some of the most notorious villains on the show are unexpected. Al Swearengen and George Hearst are two ruthless men driven by greed, which is one of the primary forces that motivates many of the most cruel acts in Deadwood, as the series explores the way this corrupts people through the antagonists.