17 Most evil characters from fantasy TV shows 

Some of the most memorable villains of recent times have come from fantasy television shows. These evil characters are identified and remembered by their ruthless deeds, cunning plans, and unrelenting thirst for power. Their evilness confronts the heroes we support and influences the story. From merciless sorcerers to insane dictators - this list explores the 17 most evil characters from fantasy television, highlighting their dark deeds and their impact on the captivating worlds from where they belong. Please note that this entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

17. The Master (Doctor Who)

One of the primary antagonists and a recurrent character in the British science fiction television series “Doctor Who” is the Master. According to Wikipedia reports, Roger Delgado performed The Master from 1971 until his passing in 1973. The character was played by John Simm and is considered one of the most evil characters in this TV series. The reason is that he has sociopathic tendencies, a relentless pursuit of power, and a long-standing hatred for the Doctor. Under “Russell T. Davies's” production, the Master's wicked behavior is shown through his manipulation of time and universal turmoil.

16. Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Cersei Lannister played by Lena Headey is one of the most evil characters from the list of 17 most evil characters from fantasy TV shows. She murdered several people in the series, including her husband. She took this action to save her family and her relationship with her brother Jaime.

15. Bryce Walker (13 Reasons Why)

One of the most heinous characters in “13 Reasons Why” is Bryce Walker, who acts abusively and manipulatively and shows no remorse at all. His activities, as portrayed by Justin Prentice, have disastrous results. On March 31, 2017, "13 Reasons Why" debuted under the direction of Tom McCarthy (pilot), with executive producer Brian Yorkey serving as the series' adapter.

14. Front Man (Squid Game)

The character of Frontman was played by Hwang In-ho and he is the main antagonist of the Squid Game TV series. To maintain order in the games and govern his subordinates, he is extremely stern and brutal and puts to death those who disobey the rules and disrupt the games. His transition from an earlier winner to the overseer illustrates how even the innocent participators of the game get corrupted by the lure of power and control. The Front Man's brutal application of the game's regulations exposes his moral decline.

13. The Corinthian (The Sandman)

The Sandman was released on 5th August 2022. The series has 10 episodes, which is available on Netflix. In Netflix's "The Sandman," Boyd Holbrook's portrayal of the Corinthian is one of the most heinous characters. He is a rogue serial murderer who devours the eyes of his victims. In fantasy television, he is one of the most frightening characters due to his terrible crimes and cold-blooded murders. Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg are the creators of the series.

12. Wilson Fisk (Daredevil)

Wilson Fisk, popularly known as Kingpin, is regarded as one of the most malevolent figures in fantasy television because of his vicious ambition, cunning, and moral ambiguity. In the Netflix series "Daredevil", which debuted on April 10, 2015, Vincent D'Onofrio plays Fisk, a criminal who uses coercion and terror to try to take over Hell's Kitchen. The show, which was directed by Steven S. DeKnight (Season 1), Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez (Season 2), and Erik Oleson (Season 3), examines the complicated connection between Fisk and Charlie Cox's character, the vigilante Daredevil.

11. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)

Joffrey Baratheon's ruthless and sadistic actions, lack of compassion, and constant thirst for power make him one of the most terrible characters in fantasy television (Information from Hollywoodreporter). The character of Joffrey, played by Jack Gleeson in the HBO series Game of Thrones, which debuted on April 17, 2011, is well-known for his ruthless acts, which include torture and execution for entertainment.

10. Ben Linus (Lost)

Ben Linus was the main antagonist of Lost, the well-known J.J. Abrams series that popularized sci-fi and low fantasy in the 2000s. Michael Emerson played the character of cunning Ben Linus and also played one of the greatest mysteries on television. As per Wikipedia, Ben developed as the leader of the DHARMA Initiative, a troublesome and covert program on the isolated island where Lost was situated. The character was made by Emerson's ability to portray Ben as a deadpan liar. He was erratic because of his challenging upbringing, which contributed to his subtle but harsh nature.

9. Thordak (The Legend of Vox Machina)

Thordak (with Lance Reddick's voice and direction by Young Heller) has gained recognition as a top villain in “The Legend of Vox Machina” by acting destructively and maliciously. Being the leader of the Chroma Conclave, Thordak chooses evil by his relentless pursuit of power through widely destructive tactics including strikes against “Emon”, the capital city of “The Kingdom of Tal’Dorei” (Wikipedia). Through his terrible nature and immense strength, he demonstrates the reason behind acting as an intimidating villain.

8. Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)

Kilgrave, a character from the Netflix series "Jessica Jones", is regarded as one of the evilest characters in fantasy television. The premiere date of Jessica Jones was November 20, 2015. David Tennant played the character role of Kilgrave. This evil character is a mind-controlling sociopath who desires to win Jessica Jones's love. Moreover, he has deceived, traumatized, and killed dozens of innocent people to achieve that goal.

7. The Governor (The Walking Dead)

The character of "Governer" was played by David Morrissey and the writer of this series is Frank Darabont. He mercilessly tortures survivors, even mutilates his comrades, manipulates his followers, and conducts mass murder in his capacity as Woodbury's commander. This broken world faces a powerful enemy because his sweet manner hides psychological instability.

6. Ozai (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Mark Hamill's voice and the direction of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko's made Ozai a symbol of oppression and the desire for power. When he ruled as Fire Lord Ozai, he continuously worked toward world supremacy through his barbaric actions including murderous expressions and the destruction of his offspring. Ozai is ruthless, violently intolerant, sadistic, cunning, controlling, narcissistic, megalomaniacal, power-hungry, and completely without empathy. He is a murderous warlord who aspires to absolute power and global dominance.

5. The Darkling (Shadow and Bone)

The Darkling was played by Ben Barnes and is regarded as one of the most malevolent characters because of his use of dark abilities and merciless ambition. The Darkling's deeds, such as inventing the “Shadow Fold” and using people to gain power, demonstrate his evil in Shadow and Bone, which was directed by Lee Toland Krieger. He becomes a powerful villain because he attempts to subjugate Ravka and destroy his opponents.

4. The Trinity Killer (Dexter)

In the TV series Dexter, the Trinity Killer is played by John Lithgow. This character is evil due to his ritualistic and brutal killings, driven by a traumatic past. Moreover, his facade of normalcy hides a deeply disturbed individual, making him a chilling and complex antagonist in the show. For his performance as Arthur Mitchell, the Trinity Killer, in season 4 of the Showtime series Dexter, John Lithgow received both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy.

3. The Night King (Game of Thrones)

Vladimir Furdik played the Night King. He displays his absolute brutality through his endless battle to eliminate humanity while building an endless winter. Through his ability to resurrect the dead, he carries unique power as a diabolical villain who creates endless zombies.

2. Sauron (The Lord of the Rings)

In “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”, viewers can see Charlie Vickers deliver a performance as Sauron, who stands renowned for his relentless pursuit of Middle-earth's total dominance. Through Peter Jackson's cinematic direction, the audience learns about Sauron's dark actions as he makes the One Ring rule other rings and fights against the last alliance. Despite his once benevolent and prosperous nature, Sauron has become a powerful enemy because of his desire to rule and enslave all living things

1. Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones)

The harsh sadistic nature of Ramsay Bolton places him as one of the worst villains ever shown on fantasy television. In the episode of "Battle of the Bastards", Iwan Rheon plays Ramsay under director Miguel Sapochnik who shows his brutal behavior by tormenting Theon Greyjoy. Through his downfall from Sansa Stark and his pace of destruction in Winterfell Ramsay Bolton forever remains a villainous figure.

Fantasy TV program villains enthralled viewers with their evil schemes and terrifying characters. These 17 individuals each contributed a distinct kind of evil, which made them memorable characters in their own stories. Whether motivated by vengeance, power, or pure cruelty, their deeds put the heroes' fortitude and determination to the test. Viewers were both appalled and captivated by these characters, who enhanced the exciting worlds of fantasy television while serving as a reminder of the depravity inherent in human (and non-human) nature.