AsAaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent so famously said inThe Dark Knight, “you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” It is an intriguing philosophy that suggests that, no matter the honorable intentions or moralistic qualities a hero may have, in time, and with prolonged exposure to corruption, power, and shifting circumstances, there will come a point where the principles that defined their nobility will compromise and collapse.
Perhaps no storytelling medium in the modern age is as adept at illustrating this point as television, with the extended narrative that comes with multiple seasons giving more range for characters to be explored in more detail, to be challenging in more ways, and, ultimately, to sway from hero to villain more completely. Ranging from well-meaning crooks whose ideals wither as ambition takes hold to great leaders who promise freedom but deliver destruction and tyranny,these TV characters serve as stunning explorations of morality and the fall from grace.
10Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman
‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)
GivenBetter Call Saulserves as a prequel toBreaking Bad, Jimmy McGill’s (Bob Odenkirk) moral descent into Saul Goodman may have been known from the outset, but that doesn’t make the corruption any less tragic, or compelling. InBetter Call Saul, audiences are introduced to McGill as a low-level public defender with a flimsy knowledge of the law and a past as a conman as he uses his shady skills to secure beneficial verdicts for people being exploited. As he falls in with a drug cartel, however, McGill’s ends-justify-the-means mentality gradually withers as he becomes a flamboyant and amoral criminal lawyer representing the drug trade.
He may have started as an antihero more so than an outright hero, butseeing him corrupted to the point where he is actively involved in cartel operations is a huge fallfrom the idealistic skullduggery he engaged in during the show’s earlier seasons. The moral erosion is handled magnificently by creatorVince Gilligan, who not only delivers a rewarding and meaningful spin-off, but imbues McGill with such depth and contradiction that many of the character’s scenes inBreaking Badare completely recontextualized upon rewatch.
Better Call Saul
9Shane Walsh
Not counting the multitude of spin-off series,The Walking Deadcame to an end in 2022 following 11 seasons and 177 episodes. It isfascinating that Shane Walsh(Jon Bernthal) stands as one of the series’ most compelling characters despite only featuring in the first two seasons. Established as Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) best friend and partner on the force before the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse, Shane’s initial qualities as a leader shine through in Season 1, where he saves a comatose Rick, rescues his family, and rallies a small group of survivors to seek refuge away from the city.
Season 2, however, sees Shane grow increasingly unstable. Envious of Rick as his obsession with his wife, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), festers,Shane becomes the season’s major antagonist as he grows aggressive, unpredictable, and murderously vindictive. His efforts to impose his will on Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) farm only endanger the group, as does his intensifying desire to kill Rick so he can take his family as his own. Shane’s descent, while it transpires in just 19 episodes, is a poignant illustration of the moral decline of the post-apocalyptic world ofThe Walking Dead, making one of the series’ greatest villains and most impactful characters.
The Walking Dead
8Morgana Pendragon
‘Merlin’ (2008–2013)
Following a young Merlin (Colin Morgan) as he learns his craft in secret while serving as the personal manservant to Prince Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James),Merlinthrives as a playful spin on the Arthurian legend that appeals to young viewers with its exciting and comical tone. However, that doesn’t mean it shies away from the story’s darker elements completely, with the villainous arc of Morgana (Katie McGrath) seeing her go from the king’s kind-natured and empathetic ward to a destructive enemy to the throne with plans to kill Arthur.
Stoked by her discovery of her own magical powers, Morgana’s initial sympathetic outrage at the kingdom’s outlawing of magic gradually grows into a malevolent rage as she seeks to overthrow Camelot and, by extension, devastate the people residing in the kingdom. Manipulated by Morgause (Emilia Fox), who preys on her vulnerabilities and frustration, Morgana’s admirable qualities descend into darkness and hatred.By Season 3, she is established as Merlin’s archnemesis and the series’ defining antagonist, albeit a somewhat sympathetic one given the injustice that motivates her.
7Powder / Jinx
‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)
A villainous turn that, in the presentation of the series, is as abrupt and striking as it is tragic,Arcanesees the young and enthusiastic though clumsy Powder (Ella Purnell) grow distanced from her scornful sister after a botched attempt to rescue their carer results in his death. Dubbed Jinx afterward by her sister, who all but abandons her, the well-meaning young rebel falls in with Silco (Jason Spisak), the selfish leader of the Chem-Barons, whom Jinx comes to view as her second adoptive father.
While she is torn between Silco and her sister, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld),Jinx ultimately makes the dark decision to persist with Silco’s mission to launch an attack against the city of Piltoverafter a complex scene in which she kills Silco over her own sister, only to then learn Silco truly cared for her despite his evil nature. WhileJinx does have something of a redemptionat the end of the series, her heinous acts and multiple murders without remorse establish her as a callous and cold-blooded villain.
6Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)
Following billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) through both his transformative tenure stranded on a deserted island and his return to Starling City years later with a mission to clean up the streets,Arrowfeatures many intriguing and complex characters who blur the lines between good and evil. Among the best of them is Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett). Introduced as a fellow survivor stranded on Lian Yu, Wilson teaches Oliver how to survive on the island while training him in combat.
Their relationship sours, however, with Oliver’s indirect impact on events leading to the death of Shado (Celina Jade).Spitefully vengeful, Wilson takes on the mantra of Deathstroke and arrives in Starling Cityhellbent on bringing about its destruction and weeding out Oliver by jeopardizing the lives of those he holds most dear, an action that leads to the death of Oliver’s mother. While the two highly-skilled warriors do make amends and even fight alongside each other as allies again, Deathstroke’s reign of terror over Starling City throughout Season 2 makes him one of the most memorable and impactful villains of the series, one that holds an added emotional weight given his and Oliver’s bond on the island throughout Season 1.
5Lex Luthor
‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)
Another superhero villain arc that hardly came as a surprise to fans, given the character’s established history, Lex Luthor’s (Michael Rosenbaum) antagonistic turn inSmallvillemay have been anticipated, but it was still rich with intrigue and drama. With the series following a teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling) as he develops towards adulthood, all while trying to conceal his superhuman abilities, it is interesting to see Lex introduced as a prodigy who befriends Kent after he saves his life.
While Lex’s underlying villainy is present for much of the series,it is around Season 5 where his obsession with proving Kent is a metahuman sees him become an outright antagonist, even going so far as to hire other metahumans to accost Kent’s family, hoping to provoke a response. His attacks on Clark and his loved ones only grow more personal and piercing from there, with a flashforward episode showcasing Lex as the president still harboring a strong resentment for Superman. It may not be themost surprising villain arcin television history, but armed with smart writing and some interesting beats, it is certainly one of the more compelling.
Smallville
4Willow Rosenberg
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
Following the titular Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in her conquests as a teenage “Slayer” combating many of the dark forces in the world,Buffy the Vampire Slayeris one of the more iconic series of the late ‘90s and early 2000s era. Propelled by a litany of interesting characters whose shifting moralities are always a central focus, the series features several characters who sway from hero to villain or vice versa, but few arcs are as impressionable as Willow Rosenberg’s (Alyson Hannigan).
Starting the series as Buffy’s intelligent, though introverted, best friend who discovers she has magical powers, Willow gradually grows in confidence and ability throughout the series’ run. However, following the death of her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson), Willow’s powers spiral out of control as,consumed by grief and anger, she starts dabbling in dark magic and endangers the fate of the entire world. Her transformation from ally to antagonist of one of the series’ more shocking turns but it is a powerful illustration of heartache and grief, and how loss can have a drastic impact on the psyche of someone.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
3Patricia “Trish” Walker
‘Jessica Jones’ (2015–2019)
One of Netflix’s several Marvel series,Jessica Jonesfollows the titular superhuman as, marred by a tortured past, she tries to do good as a private investigator in New York City. One of her few true allies in the world is Patricia “Trish” Walker (Rachel Taylor), her adoptive sister and best friend. However, the duo’s friendship is tested when Trish begins to grow envious of Jessica’s (Kristen Ritter) powers and undergoes a series of experiments that result in her having advanced abilities of her own.
These newfound powers clash violently with Trish’s grief and anger following the murder of her mother, withSeason 3 seeing her embark on a vindictive vigilante streak that ultimately makes her Jones’ adversaryand the season’s overarching villain. It is a fall from grace that is both understandable and tragic, not to mention an interesting observation of responsibility and power, and how those notions operate in the context of superhero morality. Trish may not eclipse Zebediah Killgrave (David Tennant) asJessica Jones’ greatest villain, but her unique evolution is still incredibly intriguing and resonant in its own right.
Jessica Jones
2Daenerys Targaryen
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
While it may be a testament to the fact that not all villain arcs are rewarding or well-handled, Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) fall from a fair and just queen determined to bring equality and peace to Westeros to a destructive and ruthless tyrant is one of television’s most notable character turns of all time. WithGame of Thronesfocusing on the vicious squabbling of the lordly houses of Westeros, the Targaryen queen’s rise to power across Essos, defined by her abolition of slavery and the kindness with which she treats her subjects, signifies her long-awaited arrival to reclaim her father’s throne, will bring peace and prosperity to the war-torn continent.
Season 8, however, uproots this notion as the rising monarch’s enduring of political minutiae, frustrating opposition, and the loss of her most trusted ally finally sees her hopeful heroism shattered. The daughter of the ‘Mad King’ follows in her tyrannical father’s footsteps asshe lays waste to King’s Landing even after the Lannister forces announce their surrender, killing countless innocentsin the process. For many viewers, it was an unforgivable turn, a pivot designed to induce shock that succeeded only in betraying what was one of the series’ few true heroes. Daenerys’ villainous descent is one of the most audacious yet infamous moments in television.
Game Of Thrones
1Walter White
Not only is it one of the best villainous turns television has ever seen, but standing simply as one ofthe greatest character arcs of all time, Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) evolution throughBreaking Badis as ingenious as it is ceaselessly compelling. While he may not have started as a traditional hero per se, his intentions at the beginning of the series are completely understandable; having been diagnosed with inoperable cancer, the chemistry teacher starts cooking crystal meth so he can leave his family with some money when he dies.
It isn’t a tragic tale of corruption, however, but more so a story of White gradually learning exactly what he is capable of, be it watching on coldly as a young woman overdoses, or even endangering the life of an innocent child to manipulate Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) into aiding him.In the later seasons, Walter, or rather Heisenberg, is an egomaniacal drug lord who finds validation in the scope and menace of his empire. His attitude is brilliantly surmised in the series finale when he confesses to Skyler (Anna Gunn) that all his actions were ultimately for his own satisfaction, that he enjoyed the power he gained, and that he liked being such a prominent figure of the criminal underworld.
