With their colorful portrayals, distinctive personalities, and malicious plots, villains have enjoyed varying degrees of adoration and appreciation from fans. Following the advent of online fandoms, it is not uncommon to come across fan accounts and communities dedicated to celebrating and dissection their favorite foes.
While many fans do not condone the acts of their favorite villains, they do consider the villain’s motives with a deeper level of analysis than most fans probably would. Instances like examining their childhood, making note of their behavior patterns, and documenting their relationships with other characters create an enjoyable fan experience that can shift perspectives away from considering shallow and often-restrictive archetypes as the end all be all, and in favor of acknowledging characters as more nuanced, well-rounded, and ultimately realistic depictions.
Sure, such conversations can be derailed and of course, the quality and depth of a character’s analysis is dependent on how well written and performed the character is. However, reexamining villains in a manner that does not pacify these characters offers a rich and stimulating experience for fans to see how the art they consume mimics the world they live in. Furthermore, it also prompts audiences to interrogate their biases as it pertains to the reason why they may be more harsh or more forgiving towards a particular villain in comparison to other character’s with compromised beliefs or their more heroic counterparts.
10Mona Vanderwaal (Pretty Little Liars)
Years beyond the underwhelming series finale ofPretty Little Liars, fans have voiced many complaints but also looked back to many of the series' highest points. Following the tumultuous lives of four high schools girls, fans tuned in every week to figure out what exactly happened to former Queen Bee Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse). Their investigation often subjected them to cruel humiliation, horrifying, near-death experiences, and most importantly, heart-crushing betrayals.
Mona Vanderwaal (Janel Parrish) was introduced as the sweet, dependable, and talented best friend of Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson). Between her acute knowledge of computer hacking, fluency in French, and her ability to pull off convincing voice impressions, it would be hard to believe that Mona was ever disregarded, nevertheless ridiculed due to her dynamic character.
After the latter rose the ranks and became Rosewood’s Queen Bee, Mona assumed the role of her advisor of sorts. Little by little, viewers learned of her troubling backstory. Being frequently bullied by Alison and the four girls-by proxy, Mona blamed Alison for stealing Hanna from her and subsequently recreating the latter in her image.Throughout her three-season runas A, Mona’s reign of terror was particularly disturbing, not only because of how violent her plots get but also because she seemingly saves her most severe schemes for her alleged best friend Hanna.
Despite her despicable deeds, Mona eventually embarks on a path towards redemption. As viewers continue on her journey, they learn of her multiple personality disorder which show runners use to seemingly create a dichotomy between the kind Mona we were introduced to and the vicious Mona that is unveiled in the season two finale. Even when put in danger, the show runners and Janel make it a point to prove to viewers that they can take a chance on Mona.
Even with setting up these distinct personalities, Mona’s journey is still realistic and handled remarkably well compared to the other plots. She isn’t treated to a rushed redemption arc nor are the viewers compelled to forgive her by way of drastically changing Mona’s character. Mona’s expansive personality remains intact while progressing beyond her initial traitor role, making for one of the most interesting television villains on cable.
9Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Long before the term “girl boss” took the internet by storm, HBO debutedGame of Thronesand Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) to audiences across the world. Introduced as the ambitious Queen of Westeros, Cersei has amassed a reasonable amount of criticism and disgust due to the various acts she carries out in order to protect her interests.
George R.R. Martin and the producers of the series make it quite clear that an upstandingmoral being is difficult to come by in the World of Ice and Fire. However, it is fair to say that Cersei overstepped that boundary multiple times throughout the series. Her crimes may be unforgivable, but they do not exist within a vacuum. As seen in real life, misogyny is built into the fabric of Westeros. Gender-based violence, tyrannical patriarchal leadership, and even the lack of safety around childbirth are all products of the systemic sexism that threatens the lives of all women. Class and proximity to wealth may extend a woman’s lifetime however, those markers do not guarantee the safety it seems to promise.
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In spite of Cersei’s notable internalized misogyny, she still operates from a desire to preserve her wellbeing and those of her children, and that desire is largely informed by the disturbing misogyny prevalent in Westeros and the Lands Beyond the Sea.
8Julia Wicker (The Magicians)
Julia is a beloved character inThe Magicians. Much like the majority of her peers, she is a skilled and resourceful magicians however, her moral ambiguity in the beginning of the series further complicated her road to self-realization. Appearing as Quentin Coldwater’s (Jason Ralph) best friend, Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve) is introduced as a recent summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University. Majoring in political science and literature, Julia has extensive knowledge about folklore and justice that informs her decisions later on in the series. After discovering magic, she and Quentin take an entrance exam and while Quentin passes, Julia fails.
The lingering resentment as well as a growing interest in magic leads Julia to the Hedge Witches, led by Marina Andrieski (Kacey Rohl). Using magic informally, the group routinely wreak havoc around them, Notably, the two use a spell on Quentin, trapping him in a series of hallucinations due to his perceived threat to the safehouse of hedge magicians. Despite her involvement, Julia ends up helping Quentin which gets her expelled from the Hedge Witches. Her journey since then has been horrifying to watch, her ambition to be a magician compromises more of her relationships and puts innocent parties at risk. Due to a severely traumatizing encounter with a Trickster God, she seeks the assistance of the Beast, the major antagonist of the early seasons.
Julia’s journeythroughout the show also makes her one of the more compelling and resilient characters. Navigating her way through troubling experiences and even more dangerous figures, Julia isn’t slighted for her villainy and doomed to eternal reproach from her peers but instead, said peers provide audiences with an attempt of calling her in rather than casting her own. Due to her personal growth as well as a united community to rely on, Julia becomes the magical hero she always envisioned.
7Katherine Pierce (The Vampire Diaries)
As it pertains to the 2010s, or the decade where the living dead captivated television audiences in a manner like none other, Katherine Pierce (Nina Dobrev) has been cemented as one of the most iconic vampires, and villains to premiere on cable. The main antagonist ofThe Vampire Diaries,Katherine, born Katerina Petrova, is a Bulgarian born vampire whose life is marked in tragedy.
First appearing at the end of season one, Katherine takes it upon herself to torment Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), her doppelganger Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and the residents of Mystic Falls. A combination of seduction, violence, and manipulation, Katherine amassed a community of her own, even if the basis of that community is fear. Murdering several residents including Elena’s uncle John Gilbert (David Anders), coercing several of the protagonists, and ultimately rising the ranks and becoming the de-facto Queen of Hell, Katherine’s anger is truly terrifying. However, Katherine’s vindictiveness has an origin most fans would lament over.
Katherine hails from the aforementioned Bulgaria and tragedy enters her life in 1490. After giving birth to a baby out of wedlock, the baby is immediately given away and Katherine is exiled to England where she meets Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan). Their earlier relationships were marked by an initial great impression and a budding romance. However, Katherine soon learns that Klaus intends to use a sacrifice and being the intelligent woman she is, she outsmarts him. Nonetheless, this results in Katherine being turned into a vampire, the subsequent murder of her family, and five centuries on the run from the Mikaelson brothers.
In search of love, power, and security, Katherine puts herself above the health and happiness of other characters, andfrequently robs other characters of both attributes consistently.
6The Diamonds (Steven Universe)
Steven Universehas been heralded for affirming audiences with their progressive messages and their character’s ambition to overcome struggle with a healthy combination of communication and retaliation rather than senseless violence. The series follows a young boy named Steven, living in the fictional Beach City with his father and three anthropomorphic aliens who assist him with both normal, human experiences, and extraterrestrial occurrences.
As the series approached its conclusion, Steven and the audience alike are introduced to The Diamonds. The quartet is made up of the Pink, Blue, and Yellow Diamond alongside their leader, White Diamond, who happen to be rulers of a galactic empire. Their hold expands beyond imaginable borders and as one can infer, colonization rendered conquered planets void of any identity they may have held before. While colonization can and has been pacified onshows with a younger target audience,Steven Universedoes a great job at exploring the ramifications of the Diamonds' expansion and disregard for other sentient beings. This is further exasperated when Steven and the DIamonds have a genuine conversation about their role in the disarray of the universe.
After acknowledging the error of their ways, not only do the Diamonds cease their expansion but they, in turn, help to undo the harm they have inflicted across galaxies. The Diamonds have committed truly nefarious acts however, their resolution reads more as a familial reconnection and commitment to improve rather than institutional reform. The Diamonds have been accused of being a stand-in for fascists which drew controversy from fans who believed the show’s creator, Rebecca Sugar was excusing fascist ideology. However, as writer and artist Princess Weekes eloquently states, it would probably be a better fit to read The Diamonds as a metaphor forconservative parentsrather than full-fledged fascists. This does not absolve them of the harm they produced but instead recognizes their totalitarianism as such without conflating it with fascism as the two, both horrifying theories, can exist without one another. Furthermore, The Diamonds journey proposes a case in which change for the better is feasible.
5Kuvira (The Legend of Korra)
The Legend of Korramight be one of the strongest examples of a spin-off building off of the foundation the original series set and taking the shared universe to new heights. WhileAvatar: The Last Airbenderdiscussed themes such as genocide, imperialism, and war,The Legend of Korraexplores themes of mental health, spirituality, anarchy, and fascism.
During the final season ofThe Legend of Korra,viewers were formally introduced to Kuvira. First appearing in season three, the former protégé of Su Yin quickly rose the ranks and became the de-facto leader of the Earth Empire following the collapse of the Earth Kingdom. Kuvira is reasonably resentful towards the Earth Queen’s self-centered policies and the decision made by Aang and Zuko to partition Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom, thus forming the United Republic of Nations. A burning frustration with the status quo leads her to adopt an authoritarian perspective, implementing them on recently conquered states in a manner that mirrors the fascism born out of tensions in Europe and the fascism that threatens the state of the world today. She is also responsible for the creation of the first weapon of mass destruction in the World ofAvatarand plans to raze Republic City with it for a claim to victory.
Kuvira’s characterization and rise to power exists in the context of the show’s colonial history. While Fire Lord Zuko ushered in a new era for the former hegemonic empire, little to no reforms that occurred truly dealt with the innumerable amount of abuse inflicted by Fire Nation. Taking pride in her Earth Kingdom heritage and wishing to protect that heritage from further exploitation, Kuvira dives into the darkness and wields it to her benefit without ever considering the lives of other Earth Kingdom citizens as well as the rest of the world.
4Meg Abbott (The Leftovers)
Moral ambiguity is a pervasive fog in the world ofThe Leftovers.Nonetheless, Meg Abbott (Liv Tyler) proves to be one of the more compelling antagonists that the people of Jarden, Texas have to go up against. Initially appearing as a random Mapleton civilian with a wedding around the corner, the growing harassment she experiences from the Guilty Remnant as well as the ramifications of the Sudden Departure leave her disillusioned until she decides to join the Guilty Remnant as well. While it initially operated as a source of solace for her, Meg soon becomes enamored with the teachings and the stability that the Guilty Remnant provides and uses it to her complete advantage
As the series progress, Meg’s disillusionment as well as her nihilism are the fuel for her radical flank of the Guilty Remnant and embarks on a journey across the country that includes ritual abuse, sexual assault, and further indoctrination of other locals. Her plot to blow up the bridge to Miracle is the peak of her violence before her sudden demise.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Live Tyler admits that Meg feels “trapped”, much like her peers following the Sudden Departure. The show as a whole chronicles the ways in which people react to a grave catastrophe.The Leftoversdoes an incredible job at offering authentic reactions to life changing situations without making those situations into a spectacle. No matter how abstract or unimaginable said moments were, the show runners create a healthy balance between characters processing their trauma and the wrongdoing that occurs as a result. Meg may have been a victim of her circumstances but lived long enough to become one of the more interesting villains of the series.
3Hama (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Avatar: The Last Airbenderis a series that holds just as many intriguing foes as it does heroes. From Princess Azula to Long Feng, one of the best aspects of the series is having a fleshed out villain with a sensible backstory to follow. Hama,the primary antagonist of the season 3 episode “The Puppetmaster” but her intentions are not as cruel as say, Fire Lord Ozai.
A waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe, Hama is captured by the Fire Nation and imprisoned due to the threat the Water Tribe has in fending off the Fire Nation’s colonial forces. After learning bloodbending, or bending the water within a human body, Hama frees herself and spends the rest of her life living in a remote, Fire Nation village. She successfully assimilates and mimics the mannerisms of a Fire Nation citizen.
Related:How Avatar the Last Airbender Uses Buddhism and Hinduism in Unique Ways
Once coming into contact with Team Avatar, she bonds with most of the members, Katara especially. However, the “Gaang” arrive while the village is buzzing about a series of missing people, and terrifying pleas for help that is initially pinned on a vengeful spirit. It is then revealed that Hama has been bloodbending and imprisoning Fire Nation citizens. While the violation of consent and kidnapping is a horrible act, the Fire Nation is an imperial power that has not been held accountable for its horrific practices, including genocide. As a survivor of the Fire Nation’s effort to erase Water Tribe culture from the world, Hama acts as a vigilante, but many have acknowledged that her retaliation is largely restricted to her local surroundings
2Angela (Reginald the Vampire)
SyFy’sReginald the Vampireis a refreshing take on the vampire tale that interrogates some of the more harmful and questionable tropes within the subgenre while offering lighthearted and action packed adventures. While Reginald (Jacob Batalon) and Maurice (Mandela van Peebles) are amazing heroes in their own right, Angela (Savannah Basley) is the perfect foil to their efforts for improvement.
Angela is introduced as Maurice’s former flame, but soon viewers learn of her immense power as a member of an esteemed vampire council that functions as a governing body for vampires across North America. While she is shown to be vindictive and malicious, her villainy stems from being a Black woman who was turned into a vampire while living in the Caribbean while under British rule. The series does not dedicate plenty of time discussing Angela’s origins but relies on the audience’s knowledge around the harrowing experience of those colonized, their empathy, as well as Basley’stremendous performance to better understand Angela as a three-dimensional character.
Constantly having to fend for herself, Angela prioritizes her well-being first, even to her detriment. While she is frequently in positions of power, viewers can easily identify the loneliness and fear that informs her alignment with the status quo, defined by her relentless targeting of Reginald due to the strict, exclusionary structures that mandate vampirism in North America.
1Hordak (She-Ra)
She-Ra’s animated revival has received praise for its depiction of healthy interpersonal relationships, condemnation of abuse, and a celebration of community. Centered around Adora, a fated teenager with a special ability prophesied to save the universe, the series follows her, Princess Glimmer, Bow on an adventure through the stars. The trio hope to unite the princess of various world together in order to rebel against the authoritarian Horde Empire.
Hordak is initially previewed as a major antagonist, threatening the lives and security of the Princesses and their respective monarchies as a leading general in the war to conquer the known universe. Nonetheless, viewers come to learn that Hordak’s ambition is derived from his desire to be “perfect”, one that has been inflamed by Horde-Prime who consistently chastises and demonizes Hordak for not fitting into the mold that Horde-Prime wishes.
Constantly referred as “defective”, Hordak overcompensates by carrying out full scale invasions and threatening the sovereignty and security of established nations with their unique systems and laws that adequately address the concerns of their citizenry. It isn’t until Entrapta, a technologically-savvy princess, appreciates Hordak for who he is that he sees the error in his ways and ultimately revolts against Horde-Prime.
Hordak’s subscription to Horde-Prime’s ideals has been read by many asa depiction of religious abuse as well as ableism. As Horde-Prime is revered as a deity among his followers, Hordak clearly stands out due to his “imperfections”, recalling the various experiences of people with disabilities living in strict, religious communities that either infantilize them or cast them to damnation as corrupted.
