A TV show is only as great as its villains—and, needless to say, television’s history is filled to the brim with memorable, menacing, compelling antagonists that ensure their shows stick in the audience’s memory for years. Sometimes, these villains are so engaging that they exude main character energy. They’re so self-assured, so imposing, and so charismatic that it’s easy to forget they’re not actually the series’ protagonists.
From modern icons of televisual villainy, like Homelander from The Boys, to inimitable classics like Batman ’66’s Riddler, these villains are played by some of the most talented actors that television has ever had to offer. These acting performances are imbued with immeasurable main character energy, and they prove that a villain is often the perfect role for an exceptional actor to show off their skills with.
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Zachary Quinto as Sylar
‘Heroes’ (2006–2010)
Image via NBC
Heroes had an absolutely exceptional first season, and stuff only went downhill from there. The show still has plenty of fans, though, many of whom stuck around particularly because of the exceptional cast. This includes Zachary Quinto, whose portrayal of the superpowered serial killer Sylar is one of the aspects of Heroes that has aged the best.
Quinto strikes an absolutely flawless balance between being terribly creepy and irresistibly charming, without ever teetering over the edge toward too much of either one. That blend of charisma and threatening energy is what makes his the show’s most impactful performance. Heroes may have jumped the shark, but Quinto singlehandedly makes the series still worth watching today.
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Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
‘Batman’ (1966–1968)
Image via ABC
Before Tim Burton gave the character a dark edge and proved that superheroes deserved to be taken seriously, Batman made the Caped Crusader a campy crime-fighting hero. This isn’t at all a flaw—Adam West‘s is one of the funniest versions of Batman, with a rogue gallery full of antagonists that are just as bombastic and over-the-top. One stands out above the rest in terms of energy, and that’s Frank Gorshin‘s Riddler.
Cesar Romero‘s Joker is iconic, and arguably the show’s best villain, but there’s no matching the main character energy that Gorshin’s portrayal of the Riddler exudes. It’s like the actor never runs out of energy, turning his character into a colorful crook that feels perfectly distinct from every other villain in the show.
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Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo
‘Fargo’ (2014–2024)
Image via FX
Anthology series tend to have plenty of ups and downs. Few have ever remained as consistently great throughout their whole run as Fargo, a pitch-black crime comedy based on the Coen brothers‘ film of the same name. Of the show’s many characters and performances, few have as much staying power as Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of the villain Lorne Malvo in the first season.
Thornton’s performance was one of the debut season’s most acclaimed aspects, and for good reason. One of the best pieces of acting of any FX show, Thornton’s depiction of Malvo is as intense as it is menacing, complemented with so much charm that it’s easy to forget he’s not actually supposed to be the season’s protagonist, as much as it feels like he is.
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Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
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