20 Best TV Villains of the Last 25 Years

Villains are frequently the most memorable characters in movies and TV shows, drawing us in with their cleverness, self-assurance, and imagination. While some are simply malicious, others have complex backstories and motivations. Some villains cause widespread destruction, while others focus their schemes on individuals.

For the past 25 years, television has given us some truly unforgettable villains. We’ve put together a list of characters who have been the most impactful, shown the most chilling ruthlessness, or challenged how we think about what makes someone a villain. To keep things balanced, we limited the list to one villain per TV series – otherwise, characters from Game of Thrones would likely take over! Here are the best TV villains of the last quarter-century.

Oh Il-nam

‘Squid Game’

Oh Il-nam, also known as Player 1, was an elderly man with a brain tumor who participated in the games of Squid Game with Seong Gi-hun. He proved to be surprisingly good at the games and seemed to genuinely enjoy them, lasting until the Marbles round before losing to Gi-hun. Later, it was shockingly revealed that he wasn’t a player at all, but the mastermind behind the entire deadly competition – a revelation that stunned both Gi-hun and the viewers.

As a huge fan of Squid Game, I was completely floored by the reveal in the final episode of season one. Finding out that Oh Il-nam was the mastermind behind everything was shocking enough, but his reasoning… it really got to me. He genuinely believed the games showed just how cruel people could be, and he desperately tried to convince Gi-hun of that, even as he was dying. It wasn’t just the betrayal and the deaths of so many; he actively crushed Gi-hun’s chance at a better life. Honestly, Il-nam’s actions continue to deeply affect Gi-hun and really hang over everything that happens next – it’s a truly haunting storyline.

Evil Morty

‘Rick and Morty’

Adult Swim

Rick and Morty is a show about a grandfather and his grandson who go on crazy adventures in space and time. They encounter all sorts of problems, like dealing with clone families and bizarre phenomena. Throughout their travels, they battle various enemies, with Evil Morty being one of the most significant. Evil Morty is intelligent, ruthless, and has been a recurring threat throughout the series.

Evil Morty is just as capable as Rick, but he’s far more stable, giving him a powerful drive to create chaos. He’s proven this by brutally tormenting and killing countless Ricks and Mortys in a particularly shocking storyline. This makes him a major danger to Rick and Morty, but also a compelling villain to watch.

Fiona Goode

‘American Horror Story: Coven’

Many fans consider American Horror Story: Coven to be the strongest season of the series, with Jessica Lange’s portrayal of Fiona Goode often cited as a standout performance. The season follows a group of witches trying to find their next leader, known as the “Supreme.” But the current Supreme, Fiona, isn’t ready to give up her power and will stop at nothing to maintain it and stay young forever.

Fiona was a complex witch with unpredictable behavior – she could be caring and supportive one moment, and shockingly ruthless the next. It seems her kindness was often motivated by personal gain. Though not necessarily the most violent character, she was incredibly self-absorbed, and that ultimately made her memorable.

Vecna

‘Stranger Things’

Netflix

When Stranger Things premiered on Netflix, it quickly became popular. The show centers around Eleven, played by Millie Bobbie Brown, a girl with special powers, and the mysterious happenings in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana. As the series unfolded, viewers learned more about Eleven’s past, including her time at Hawkins Lab and her connection with Henry Creel. Initially, Henry Creel seemed like a kind and helpful person to Eleven, but it was later revealed that he was actually Dr. Brenner’s original test subject.

As strong as Eleven, this character lacked any empathy or compassion, and had a disturbing past – he murdered his sister and mother when he was a child. Dr. Brenner attempted to contain his power by implanting a chip, and he later tried to manipulate Eleven into removing it. When she refused, Eleven banished him to the Upside Down, which left him horribly disfigured and merged his mind with the Mind Flayer. Now known as Vecna, he’s terrifying not only because of his appearance, but also because he mentally tortures his victims before ultimately killing them.

Princess Azula

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

Nickelodeon

Avatar: The Last Airbender, a highly acclaimed animated series from the 2000s, told the story of Aang, a young boy with the power to control water, earth, fire, and air – known as “bending.” After the Fire Nation wiped out his people, the Air Nomads, Aang went into hiding. A century later, he was discovered by Katara and Sokka, members of the Water Tribe. The series follows Aang’s journey to bring peace back to the world, while the Fire Nation tries to capture him. Among the many enemies he faced, a particularly dangerous and intimidating opponent was a teenage girl with firebending abilities.

Princess Azula, the Fire Lord’s daughter and Zuko’s sister, was an incredibly gifted firebender. She was key to the conquest of Ba Sing Se and relentlessly pursued Aang. From the beginning, Azula was cruel and driven by a thirst for power, and she often claimed her mother saw her as a monster. But it’s more probable that Azula recognized her own ruthless nature. By the series’ end, she had completely lost her grip on reality, becoming a broken version of herself – a tragic and frightening fate for such a terrifying character.

Kilgrave

‘Jessica Jones’

Netflix

Jessica Jones (played by Krysten Ritter) is an incredibly powerful superhero struggling with trauma. Her main goal was to defeat her enemy, Kilgrave (played by David Tennant), who could control people’s minds. She finally killed him at the end of the first season, but he continued to haunt her in the second season by bringing up her painful past. Even after his death, Kilgrave’s impact on Jessica remained strong, demonstrating just how truly evil he was.

Kilgrave is arguably the most cruel character here, though he doesn’t see himself that way. He completely controlled Jessica through mind control, dictating everything about her life – her clothes, her words, and even forcing her to use her abilities to commit violence. He even coerced her into sexual acts while under his control, and later convinced himself she willingly stayed with him despite her attempts to escape.

Aunt Lydia

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

Hulu

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a frightening future where most people can’t have children. In response, a new government called the Republic of Gilead takes control and creates a strict social hierarchy. Women are forced into limited roles as either Wives, Marthas (housekeepers), or Handmaids. Even Wives, who have the best of these positions, aren’t allowed to read or act independently. Handmaids, however, are treated solely as vessels for reproduction. To control the Handmaids, the regime employs Aunts, and Aunt Lydia stands out as the most cruel—and surprisingly complex—of them all.

Ann Dowd’s character, Aunt Lydia, stands out as a villain who truly believes she’s doing what’s right. She justifies the harsh treatment of Handmaids as a necessary lesson and dismisses the immoral behavior of the Commanders as a price worth paying to increase the birth rate. Despite ordering horrific acts of violence – mutilation, torture, and even murder – in some of the show’s most heartbreaking moments, she seems unfazed and possibly even unrepentant.

Ben Linus

‘Lost’

ABC

The TV show Lost followed the survivors of a plane crash who found themselves stranded on a strange island. The island was full of dangers, including polar bears and a mysterious smoke monster, and was also inhabited by a group known as ‘The Others.’ But the biggest threat turned out to be Ben Linus, a seemingly ordinary man who was determined to control the island, no matter the cost.

Ben, the leader of the Others, was a much more complex character than he first seemed. He did terrible things, including kidnapping children, trapping people on the Island, and causing many deaths. In the final scenes, when everyone else appears to be moving on to the afterlife, Ben is the only one who remains. This suggests he understands the gravity of his actions and is struggling to come to terms with his past.

Omni-Man

‘Invincible’

Amazon Prime Video

The animated series Invincible follows Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun) as he discovers his superpowers. His father, Nolan Grayson, also known as Omni-Man (voiced by J.K. Simmons), is the strongest hero on Earth. However, Mark soon realizes his father isn’t what he seems and is secretly planning to conquer the planet for his alien race, the Viltrumites, leading to fear and conflict between them.

Wow, Season 1 left me absolutely convinced Omni-Man was a villain. Seeing him hurt Mark so badly and then just leave him… it was brutal! But Season 2 started showing us another side of him, and it’s been fascinating. Still, it’s really hard to shake off everything he’s done. He’s taken so many lives – hundreds, maybe even thousands – and that’s something you can’t just forget. He’s a really complicated character, and he’ll always be remembered for those violent actions, no matter what happens next.

Madara Uchiha

‘Naruto’

TXN

Often ranked among the most popular anime series, Naruto tells the story of a young ninja’s journey to achieve his dream of becoming Hokage – the leader of his village. Throughout his training, Naruto faced many enemies, ranging from fellow students to powerful individuals who, like him, hosted powerful tailed beasts. However, the most formidable opponent he ever encountered was Madara Uchiha, a complex and incredibly strong figure who helped found the village itself.

Madara is considered one of the strongest characters in the series, and possibly the strongest overall. He made a huge impact when he first appeared, easily defeating the entire Shinobi Alliance – a truly memorable villain introduction. Some viewers found his overwhelming power intimidating, while others were immediately captivated. Beyond his strength, Madara’s complex history adds depth to the Naruto world and makes him a fascinating villain.

2026-03-23 20:06