5 TV Villains Who Totally Stole The Show
These antagonists have managed to become the most memorable characters in their shows.
Usually, Big Bads are introduced to challenge a protagonist and make their journey more dramatic and compelling. But sometimes a morally wrong character can be so intriguing and well-played that he or she becomes the centerpiece of the show, stealing every scene in which they appear.
Here are five TV villains who defined the shows they were written for and became their central characters, even if it wasn't the creators' original plan.
Lorne Malvo (Fargo)
The main antagonist of the first season of Fargo stole absolutely every scene he was in. You may not remember Deputy Molly Solverson, Officer Gus Grimly, or even Martin Freeman's Lester Nygaard, but Lorne Malvo is impossible to forget.
He was the perfect embodiment of chaotic evil, subtly bringing out the absolute worst in everyone around him. Without a doubt, Malvo made Fargo the cultural phenomenon we know and love today.
Homelander (The Boys)
Antony Starr
Among the other colorful characters on The Boys, Homelander certainly stands out and became THE reason for millions of viewers to tune into the show. Don't get us wrong, the narcissistic sociopath is not someone to root for, but he is certainly the most messed up and interesting character who has become the face of the Prime Video series.
A big part of the character's appeal is the brilliant portrayal by Antony Starr, who is absolutely fantastic at showing different ranges of emotions with just subtle facial expressions. Give the man all the awards!
Crowley (Supernatural)
Mark Sheppard
This is debatable, of course, but for many viewers the reason they stayed with Supernatural for years was the King of the Crossroads, Crowley. Since his first appearance in Season 5, the show seemed to have reached new heights.
Crowley was the perfect embodiment of the old adage about how the devil pretends to be a person's friend while damning their soul. At times, you could imagine that Sheppard's character was capable of feeling love, but then he did something so evil that you realized it was all just a facade all along. What an entertaining roller coaster ride.
Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)
It is no secret that David Tennant is an amazing actor and can play a convincing antagonist. But if we had to choose among his many villainous roles, Jessica Jones' Kilgrave would be at the top of the list. No one can portray a completely heartless monster like Tennant did on that show.
The mind-controlling villain is burned into the minds of viewers with his casual cruelty and chilling monologues justifying his actions. Kilgrave was the perfect allegory for an abusive ex, which is what made him so terrifying and memorable to female viewers.
Lex Luthor (Smallville)
Michael Rosenbaum
Lex is probably the only one on this list that viewers really rooted for until the bitter end, when he finally succumbed to his inner demons.
Luthor is not your average notable villain, but a greedy and megalomaniacal genius driven by his father and ambition to be ruthless in order to succeed. Over the course of the show, you learn to love and hate him and enjoy his emotional struggles, which shine through Michael Rosenbaum's acting range.