One of the most crucial parts of any piece of narrative fiction is to introduce some external force that gives the main characters trouble for one reason or another. This can be anything from abstract concepts like time and nature to more common and concrete options, such as a physical villain or antagonist, to shake things up a bit. This is true for literature, video games, movies, and of course, television.
There have been many amazing TV villains over the years, spanning various genres, including comedy, sci-fi, and fantasy. Indeed, many of TV’s best villains have come from the fantasy genre, which have cemented themselves into history and developed a lasting legacy to the point that pretty much anyone can identify them, even if they haven’t seen their respective shows. These are the best TV villains in all of fantasy.
10
Sauron
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (2021–)
Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is one of the greatest villains in all of fantasy, but considering this version of the character comes from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, he doesn’t shine as much as he does in other adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s work. That said, while The Rings of Power hasn’t really been a hit with fans of Tolkien, the portrayal of Sauron is arguably the best thing about the show, though it definitely still leaves much to be desired.
There’s a lot to know about Sauron lore-wise, as he’s sort of a demigod-like being called a Maia, who was created upon the inception of the planet of Arda itself. While this flesh-and-blood portrayal is much different and less intimidating than the faceless phantom of the Peter Jackson films, Charlie Vickers still does a pretty good job at being a villain. One can easily tell that Sauron is cunning and that his manipulative power remains as he pulls the strings from behind the scenes.
9
Ishamael
‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–2025)
The first and most powerful among the Forsaken, as well as the Dark One’s right-hand man, Ishamael is a real force to be reckoned with in the world of The Wheel of Time. There’s a lot that the TV series did right when it came to adapting the original character written by Robert Jordan, which is only enhanced by Fares Fares' chilling performance. Not only is he eloquent and well-spoken, but there’s also a real darkness to him, to the point that his very presence instantly makes the scene more sinister.
He is extremely skilled in the One Power, able to cause massive destruction at a flick of his finger, and proves to be a dangerous and equal adversary against the Dragon Reborn. In the show, Ishamael is the first Forsaken released, after which he promptly releases a few of the others, but none have ever amounted to the level of malice that Ishamael exudes. One can easily tell that this man is evil just by the way he speaks alone. Though his words are often polite, there is something always lurking behind his eyes. He serves as the primary antagonist for a reason, even if he didn’t appear in Season 3.
8
Lord Cho Hak-ju
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Image via Netflix
Kingdom is a criminally underrated South Korean fantasy-horror show about a zombie plague in 17th-century Joseon, a realm that once made up the Korean Peninsula. The reason for the zombie horde is primarily an accident, as the tyrannical Haewon Cho clan tries to use a mythical resurrection plant in an effort to usurp the throne. Leading the Haewon Cho Clan is Lord Cho Hak-ju (Ryu Seung-ryong), a stone-cold, unfeeling monster that serves as the main antagonist for most of the series.
He’s not the type to get directly involved in any physical fighting, but he is the type of guy who feels that mercy is a weakness and that his family’s reputation and power are of utmost importance. In fact, he’s pretty much the whole reason the story started in the first place, as he was the one who okayed using the resurrection plant even if he didn’t foresee its consequences. Ryu Seung-ryong does an excellent job at portraying Lord Cho Hak-ju, turning him into one of fantasy’s greatest yet most underrated villains.
7
Simon Petrikov, aka The Ice King
‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)
