The 7 Most Unhinged TV Villains Of All Time, From Joe Goldberg To Joffrey
A memorable television villain can either make or break a TV show.
After all, just think about how many people remember such unforgettable antagonists as Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring, Hannibal’s Hannibal Lecter, or Sherlock’s Jim Moriarty. Providing a strong narrative counterpart to the series’ main lead, these villains test our heroes throughout their central storylines, forcing them to rely on their wits, resilience, and inner strength in order to overcome their villainous foes.
While there’s no end to the iconic baddies we’ve seen in our favorite TV shows, there’s something extremely entertaining about seeing an unhinged villain running amuck within a television program as well. From hot-headed, drug-fueled crime lords to murderous, giggling sociopaths, here are some of the most dangerously erratic TV antagonists we’ve seen yet, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. Tuco Salamanca (Breaking Bad)
Most viewers continue to single out Gus Fring or Todd as Breaking Bad’s most memorable antagonist, but it’s also worth pointing out the strength of the series’ very first primary villain, Tuco Salamanca. A high-ranking member of the Mexican cartel, Tuco also happens to be the most outwardly unstable criminal associate Walt and Jesse ever had the misfortune of working for. With even his fellow cartel members expressing fear and uncertainty over his erratic anger, Tuco’s manic behavior allows him to stand in sharp contrast to his far more methodical Breaking Bad counterparts, cementing him as a drug lord as temperamental as he is vicious.
6. Joe Goldberg (You)
Among the most intelligent anti-heroes we’ve seen on television yet, Joe Goldberg is as much a victim of his own tortured psyche as the actual victims he obsessively stalks and murders. Holding an idealistic view of love and romantic connections, Joe is nevertheless blinded by his own prevalent delusions, causing him to violently lash out whenever his hopes for the future are disrupted (usually by the young women he forms an unhealthy attachment to). While certainly methodical and undeniably cunning, Joe’s inability to set aside his toxic tendencies establishes him as one of the most volatile characters ever seen on TV.
5. Ralph Cifaretto (The Sopranos)
The Sopranos had no shortage of colorful villains with vividly-drawn personalities. But even then, there’s something that continues to linger on in the imagination about the series’ Season 3 antagonist, Ralph Cifaretto. Initially described as a reliable top-earner for the Mob, Ralph’s grating personality soon clashes with Tony’s old-fashioned sensibilities, causing a widening rift between the reluctantly partnered New Jersey gangsters. Along with his loud-mouthed, offensive jokes and shockingly disrespectful attitude, Ralph’s violent outbursts trigger all kinds of issues for Tony’s thinning patience – something best seen when Cifaretto beats his 20-year-old girlfriend to death after provoking her into an argument.
4. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Some young teens gravitate towards sports, others to art, music, or literature. And then there’s someone like Joffrey Baratheon, who’s idea of a good idea is ordering musicians’ tongues cut out, terrorizing his hapless bride-to-be, and just generally wreaking havoc on his unfortunate subjects in King’s Landing. A sociopathic bully who uses his crown as an excuse to do whatever he likes, Joffrey’s sadistic tendencies are matched only by his distinct lack of foresight or basic understanding about his actions’ consequences. Paying little mind to what long-term effects his gross behavior might have for himself, his family, and his very kingdom, he’s more content to live in the moment and squeeze out every ounce of joy from his characteristically malicious acts, be it murder, torture, or the public humiliation of his family and closest servants.
3. Homelander (The Boys)
The idea of an evil Superman is horrifying enough, but somehow Homelander exceeds our greatest expectations when it comes to his increasingly demented behavior. While never exactly the shining model of superhuman fortitude to begin with, Homelander’s mental state only continues to unravel throughout The Boys, making him a decidedly greater threat with each new season. A chisel-jawed “superhero” whose cheerful public persona is little more than a marketing ploy, Homelander’s unwavering hatred for humanity goes hand-in-hand with his megalomaniacal visions for the future. Viewing himself as a literal god whose powers make him far superior to any other person on Earth, Homelander’s fragmented mental state makes him one of the absolute scariest villains to ever grace the small screen.
2. The Joker (Batman: The Animated Series)
There’s a reason superhero fans continue to hear Mark Hamill’s voice in their head whenever they pick up a Batman comic featuring the Dark Knight’s sworn archenemy. Providing one of the most memorable portrayals of the Clown Prince of Crime, Hamill also delivered the vocal performance of a lifetime with his witty version of the Joker. At times gleefully manic and other times terrifyingly serious, Hamill covered every conceivable facet of The Joker’s personality, his mere presence outfitting Batman: The Animated Series with a much-needed touch of sheer unpredictability.
1. Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones)
It says a lot when you somehow make an unabashed sadist like Joffrey look relatively tame by comparison. The psychopathic heir to House Bolton, Ramsay’s gleeful love for murder, torture, and utterly horrific mayhem knows absolutely no bounds. Possessing the same unstable tendencies as Joffrey, Ramsay’s intelligence makes him a far more cunning adversary for GoT’s characters to deal with – something that becomes increasingly clear after he usurps House Bolton from his father. Whether covertly murdering Roose or feeding his young stepmother and infant brother to a pack of ravenous hounds, Ramsay is not only one of the most dangerous villains in TV history – he’s also one of the most unforgettably twisted as well.
