One of the most crucial parts of any piece of narrative fiction is to introduce some external force that gives the main characters trouble for one reason or another. This can be anything from abstract concepts like time and nature to more common and concrete options, such as a physical villain or antagonist, to shake things up a bit. This is true for literature, video games, movies, and of course, television.
There have been many amazing TV villains over the years, spanning various genres, including comedy, sci-fi, and fantasy. Indeed, many of TV’s best villains have come from the fantasy genre, which have cemented themselves into history and developed a lasting legacy to the point that pretty much anyone can identify them, even if they haven’t seen their respective shows. These are the best TV villains in all of fantasy.
10
Sauron
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (2021–)
Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is one of the greatest villains in all of fantasy, but considering this version of the character comes from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, he doesn’t shine as much as he does in other adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s work. That said, while The Rings of Power hasn’t really been a hit with fans of Tolkien, the portrayal of Sauron is arguably the best thing about the show, though it definitely still leaves much to be desired.
There’s a lot to know about Sauron lore-wise, as he’s sort of a demigod-like being called a Maia, who was created upon the inception of the planet of Arda itself. While this flesh-and-blood portrayal is much different and less intimidating than the faceless phantom of the Peter Jackson films, Charlie Vickers still does a pretty good job at being a villain. One can easily tell that Sauron is cunning and that his manipulative power remains as he pulls the strings from behind the scenes.
9
Ishamael
‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–2025)
The first and most powerful among the Forsaken, as well as the Dark One’s right-hand man, Ishamael is a real force to be reckoned with in the world of The Wheel of Time. There’s a lot that the TV series did right when it came to adapting the original character written by Robert Jordan, which is only enhanced by Fares Fares’ chilling performance. Not only is he eloquent and well-spoken, but there’s also a real darkness to him, to the point that his very presence instantly makes the scene more sinister.
He is extremely skilled in the One Power, able to cause massive destruction at a flick of his finger, and proves to be a dangerous and equal adversary against the Dragon Reborn. In the show, Ishamael is the first Forsaken released, after which he promptly releases a few of the others, but none have ever amounted to the level of malice that Ishamael exudes. One can easily tell that this man is evil just by the way he speaks alone. Though his words are often polite, there is something always lurking behind his eyes. He serves as the primary antagonist for a reason, even if he didn’t appear in Season 3.
8
Lord Cho Hak-ju
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Kingdom is a criminally underrated South Korean fantasy-horror show about a zombie plague in 17th-century Joseon, a realm that once made up the Korean Peninsula. The reason for the zombie horde is primarily an accident, as the tyrannical Haewon Cho clan tries to use a mythical resurrection plant in an effort to usurp the throne. Leading the Haewon Cho Clan is Lord Cho Hak-ju (Ryu Seung-ryong), a stone-cold, unfeeling monster that serves as the main antagonist for most of the series.
He’s not the type to get directly involved in any physical fighting, but he is the type of guy who feels that mercy is a weakness and that his family’s reputation and power are of the utmost importance. In fact, he’s pretty much the whole reason the story started in the first place, as he was the one who okayed the plan to use the resurrection plant, even if he didn’t foresee the consequences. Ryu Seung-ryong does an excellent job at portraying the heartless dictator that is Lord Cho Hak-ju, and easily turns the character into one of the greatest, yet most underrated villains in all of fantasy.
7
Simon Petrikov, a.k.a. The Ice King
‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)
Adventure Time is set in the Land of Ooo, a fantasy world on TV full of whimsy and fun, though not without its fair share of dangers. Though it’s mostly a peaceful land, much of Ooo’s tranquility is often disturbed by the Ice King, also known as Simon Petrikov (Tom Kenny). The earlier seasons of Adventure Time depict the Ice King as this over-the-top, dastardly villain hellbent on kidnapping Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch) for no apparent reason. However, as the show progressed, the writers expanded upon the character and provided a touching backstory.
In truth, Simon is actually a kind-hearted individual who doesn’t really understand social cues or norms because he has spent so long completely alone, in his castle of ice. He is also dealing with memory loss on top of that, which makes him actually pretty sympathetic, despite his horrible actions. Later, he comes to be a beloved member of Adventure Time‘s core cast, and a former villain who the audience can’t help but feel a little bad for. He is a great reminder that you never really know what someone is dealing with under the surface, so it’s best to be kind.
6
Prince Zuko
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Zuko (Dante Basco) is the adolescent heir to the throne of the Fire Nation, who serves as one of the main antagonists throughout the course of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Though Zuko eventually gets a redemption arc, for most of the series, he is depicted as a deeply troubled individual who is desperate to regain his father’s approval after he was exiled from his own country. The iconic burn scar over his left eye and ear is a painful reminder of the day when he was cast out.
To earn his place among his people again, he devotes years to pursuing the Avatar, in the hopes that his father will reward him for it and welcome him back as his son. Zuko is not only a morally grey villain, but he is also a pretty good firebender, bearing some visually stunning pyromantic powers that he uses on his quest. Perhaps Zuko is such a good villain because he’s actually sympathetic, and does what he does not out of greed, but out of trauma and previous abandonment. In short, “hurt people hurt people,” which is a great reminder in a show that is primarily geared towards younger audiences.
5
Denzel Crocker
‘The Fairly OddParents’ (2001–2017)
There are lots of great villains from The Fairly OddParents, many of them varied and highly memorable. From the Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired Jorgen von Strangle (Daran Norris) to the world’s evilest babysitter, Vicky (Grey DeLisle), this show really knows how to craft a good villain. However, Jurgen von Strangle is kind of morally grey at times, and Vicky is evil for no apparent reason, whereas there is one villain that is much more layered than the others.
That villain is Denzel Crocker (Carlos Alazraqui), Timmy Turner’s (Tara Strong) unhinged teacher, who, for some reason, has ears on his neck. Crocker is known for his frequent spasming anytime he says the words “fairy godparents,” as well as his obsession with finding evidence that Timmy has fairies. The reason Mr. Crocker is the best villain in the show is that his desire and apparent insanity are caused by his own experience with fairies as a child, and how devastated he was when he outgrew them and they left. The only one in the entire show who was intelligent enough to figure out Turner’s secret, Mr. Crocker isn’t only quotable and iconic, but also bears surprising depth for a kids’ fantasy-comedy cartoon.
4
Marisa Coulter
‘His Dark Materials’ (2019–2022)
Marisa Coulter (Ruth Wilson) is the primary antagonist of His Dark Materials. She is the head of the General Oblation Board, colloquially known as the Gobblers, and she is also a trusted agent of the tyrannical Holy Church present in the world of the series. Like many in the series, she has a daemon, an animalistic creature magically bonded to her, with hers being a golden monkey. Though Coulter initially appears benevolent by taking care of the young protagonist, she is quickly revealed to be despicable in every way.
Though she is posh and elegant, her intentions are pure evil, yet she still bears a long and complicated backstory behind her. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she is one of the most morally complex and elaborately written characters in all of fiction, which is precisely what makes her such a memorable character. She is an underrated villain from an even more underrated show, who, while easy to hate, is one of the best-written characters in the series.
3
Skeletor
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ (1983–1985)
A lot of cartoon villains from the 1980s were pretty good in concept, especially in TV shows meant for younger audiences. That said, Skeletor (Isaak Wells) is a modern icon who is still recognizable and who has never stopped being relatable. In the 21st century, he has received the meme treatment, largely due to his nasally voice and memorable appearance. First appearing in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Skeletor became known for his signature curses and his bizarre “Myah!” noise, which can mean a variety of things depending on the context.
Everything that comes out of those bony jaws is extremely quotable, and he carries with him the stereotypical villainous goal of conquering the world. A powerful sorcerer who is often inconvenienced by his incompetent henchman, the internet has fallen in love with Skeletor, much as many ’80s kids did when the show was in its prime. He’s easy to recognize, even for someone who’s never watched the space fantasy show before, and much of what he says has stood the test of time of being some of the funniest dialogue ever written.
2
Jessie, James, and Meowth
‘Pokémon’ (1997–)
Many likely don’t consider Pokémon a fantasy show, but considering there are elements of made-up, fantastical creatures, ghosts, and magic, along with advanced tech, it can safely fit into both the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Throughout the anime, one trio of villains has always been there to pursue the protagonist, Ash, in an effort to steal his Pikachu. Sure, technically this is three characters, but they’re kind of a package deal, because they’re basically never seen without each other.
The three are definitely intended to be comic relief, as they are bumbling buffoons who utilize elaborate plans, none of which ever work out. These plans almost always end in a large explosion, sending the three Team Rocket members flying off into the sky, screaming that “Team Rocket is blasting off again!” From their rhyme-filled, poetic introductions in almost every episode to their chemistry as a trio, these three criminal cretins are among the best and most recognizable villains in any fantasy TV show.
1
Ramsay Bolton
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
The land of Westeros is a truly awful place, where most people are wretched, hedonistic killers who are either obsessed with sex, money, or power. Needless to say, there are a lot of really memorable villains in Game of Thrones. However, the absolute best might just have to go to Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), Lord of the Dreadfort, and the primary antagonist for much of Seasons 5 and 6. There’s nothing magical about him whatsoever—he’s just a man, yet he’s infinitely scarier than some of the more fantastical villains on Game of Thrones.
Ramsay loves causing people pain. He frequently skins his victims alive, beats them, amputates parts of their bodies, tortures them psychologically, and even allows them to escape just to hunt them down again with a pack of vicious dogs. At first, he even pretends to be helping one of his victims escape, only to bring him right back to the prison cell. He’s a monster inside and out and sees violence as nothing more than a game for his own sadistic pleasures. As detestable as he is, one cannot deny that Iwan Rheon played an awesome part, and that this villain is one of the most skin-crawlingly awful villains ever seen in fiction. For that reason, he is definitely the best villain in fantasy television, if not because he is so ordinary, yet so scary.
