Top 12 TV Criminals We Love
By M.Kremer
#12. Rowan Pope (Joe Morton), Scandal Though not quite lovable–or even likable–Papa Pope makes the list at #12 because of his intelligence, power and unique ability to keep his daughter, Olivia Pope, in check. Though he’s vindictive, patronizing and downright evil (he murdered the President’s son, after all), he challenges Olivia’s decisions and says what no one else on her team will–making him an indispensable voice on the show.
#11. Kilgrave (David Tennant), Jessica Jones British actor David Tennant (Kilgrave) is the best–if not only–reason to watch Jessica Jones. With the power of mind control, Kilgrave does whatever he wants (including killing people or making them his slaves) without ever getting his hands dirty–and without a single drop of remorse. His childish love for the only person to resist his powers (Jessica Jones), his troubled past and his endearing who me? attitude makes us wish, just a little, that he ends up on top. After all, how can you not love David Tennant in a purple Willy Wonka suit?
#10. Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen), Hannibal A handsome and talented psychiatrist who is secretly a homicidal cannibal–what more could you ask for? Hannibal prepares and cooks his victims with exceptional care, often drawing on his knowledge of french cuisine to create delicious-looking dishes for unassuming guests. He is so refined in his barbaric tastes that he draws us in as much as he repulses us.
#9. Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), Sherlock "Every fairytale needs a good old-fashioned villain. You need me, or you're nothing," Jim Moriarty tells Sherlock--and he's right. Moriarty has a playful villainous style (leaving notes and clues for his favorite detective) and seems to truly enjoy being the bad guy in the game of good against evil. His quirky personality, hyper-intelligence, childish insecurity and taste for the dramatic makes him a lovable misfit--and the perfect antagonist for Sherlock Holmes.
#8. Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), Justified Sure, he might have killed more than a dozen people and lead illegal drug trafficking operations in the U.S. and Mexico—But his refined eloquence, cleverness, genuine ease and magnetic southern drawl make it so easy to feel good about rooting for the bad guy.
#7. Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), Luther Somehow, Alice manages to win our affection even after we’re certain that she’s murdered both of her parents (and the family dog) in cold blood. Though she’s narcissist and exceptionally incapable of empathy, Alice becomes a much needed ally, friend and confidant of the brilliant-but-broken DCI Luther. Her beauty, unwavering devotion and playful wit make us quick to chalk up the whole double-homicide to a minor misstep.
#6. Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), Sons of Anarchy Jax is a bad-ass with a soft side–Besides being every girl’s dream, he is often the voice of reason in an unruly gang of outlaws and criminals. His devotion to those he loves and his distaste for “unnecessary violence” make him the perfect anti-hero–even when he’s involved in illegal enterprises. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, either.
#5. Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), Weeds After losing her husband of seventeen years to a heart attack, Nancy Botwin turns to selling marijuana as a way to maintain her affluent lifestyle in an elite neighborhood suburb of Los Angeles. With her resourcefulness, cunning wit, humor and overall good-nature, Nancy wins the loyalty and affection of friends and foes alike–making her a force to be reckoned with in the marijuana business. What’s more, she manages to build a drug empire while maintaining her lofty suburban-mom ideals for her three sons.
#4. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Breaking Bad After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, high school chemistry teacher Walter White begins using his extensive chemistry knowledge to manufacture methamphetamine as a means of paying for treatment and providing for his wife and son. Though Walt starts as a mild-mannered family man, he finds his calling in crystal meth and soon evolves into a ruthless drug lord before our eyes. The bittersweet nature of Walt’s path to success and Bryan Cranston’s incredible performance make White an incredibly real and complicated character who inspires all the awe and horror of a hurricane.
#3. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter A self-loathing serial killer with a nice guy visaed, Dexter Morgan earns our sympathy by using his “dark passenger” to kill only those people who he deems as a danger to society (violent criminals, murderers, rapists, etc.). Dexter secretly dishes out his own version of vigilante justice while battling his inner demons–all while working under the radar as a blood-spatter expert for the L.A.P.D.. Though he’s killed more than 100 people (and enjoyed it), we let him off the hook because he’s kind of a good guy…right?
#2. Eric Cartman (Voiced by Trey Parker), South Park But he’s not a villain, you say, he’s just a lovable asshole! Of course, you’d be forgetting about the events of season five, episode four. After 8th-grader Scott Tennerman tricks Eric Cartman into buying his pubes, Cartman takes revenge by killing both of Tennerman’s parents and secretly feeding them to the kid in a bowl of chili. The episode ends with Cartman happily licking the tears off of the 8th graders horror-stricken face. He may be a manipulative psychopath with appalling morals—but he’s also one of the most iconic and complex cartoon characters of all time.
#1. Mr. Burns (Voiced by Harry Shearer), The Simpsons The character of Mr. Burns was conceived as the embodiment of Corporate America—he’s greedy, scornful, self-centered and has a blatant disregard for the well being (or names) of his employees. In the episode “Flaming Moe,” it’s suggested that he may even be a descendant of Adolf Hitler. Even so, his sniveling voice, nutty personality, expressive movements and ritual abuse of his devout assistant, Smithers, make his character oh-so-satisfying to watch.
#12. Rowan Pope (Joe Morton), Scandal
Though not quite lovable–or even likable–Papa Pope makes the list at #12 because of his intelligence, power and unique ability to keep his daughter, Olivia Pope, in check. Though he’s vindictive, patronizing and downright evil (he murdered the President’s son, after all), he challenges Olivia’s decisions and says what no one else on her team will–making him an indispensable voice on the show.
#11. Kilgrave (David Tennant), Jessica Jones
British actor David Tennant (Kilgrave) is the best–if not only–reason to watch Jessica Jones. With the power of mind control, Kilgrave does whatever he wants (including killing people or making them his slaves) without ever getting his hands dirty–and without a single drop of remorse. His childish love for the only person to resist his powers (Jessica Jones), his troubled past and his endearing who me? attitude makes us wish, just a little, that he ends up on top. After all, how can you not love David Tennant in a purple Willy Wonka suit?
#10. Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen), Hannibal
A handsome and talented psychiatrist who is secretly a homicidal cannibal–what more could you ask for? Hannibal prepares and cooks his victims with exceptional care, often drawing on his knowledge of french cuisine to create delicious-looking dishes for unassuming guests. He is so refined in his barbaric tastes that he draws us in as much as he repulses us.
#9. Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), Sherlock
"Every fairytale needs a good old-fashioned villain. You need me, or you're nothing," Jim Moriarty tells Sherlock--and he's right. Moriarty has a playful villainous style (leaving notes and clues for his favorite detective) and seems to truly enjoy being the bad guy in the game of good against evil. His quirky personality, hyper-intelligence, childish insecurity and taste for the dramatic makes him a lovable misfit--and the perfect antagonist for Sherlock Holmes.
#8. Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), Justified
Sure, he might have killed more than a dozen people and lead illegal drug trafficking operations in the U.S. and Mexico—But his refined eloquence, cleverness, genuine ease and magnetic southern drawl make it so easy to feel good about rooting for the bad guy.
#7. Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), Luther
Somehow, Alice manages to win our affection even after we’re certain that she’s murdered both of her parents (and the family dog) in cold blood. Though she’s narcissist and exceptionally incapable of empathy, Alice becomes a much needed ally, friend and confidant of the brilliant-but-broken DCI Luther. Her beauty, unwavering devotion and playful wit make us quick to chalk up the whole double-homicide to a minor misstep.
#6. Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), Sons of Anarchy
Jax is a bad-ass with a soft side–Besides being every girl’s dream, he is often the voice of reason in an unruly gang of outlaws and criminals. His devotion to those he loves and his distaste for “unnecessary violence” make him the perfect anti-hero–even when he’s involved in illegal enterprises. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, either.
#5. Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), Weeds
After losing her husband of seventeen years to a heart attack, Nancy Botwin turns to selling marijuana as a way to maintain her affluent lifestyle in an elite neighborhood suburb of Los Angeles. With her resourcefulness, cunning wit, humor and overall good-nature, Nancy wins the loyalty and affection of friends and foes alike–making her a force to be reckoned with in the marijuana business. What’s more, she manages to build a drug empire while maintaining her lofty suburban-mom ideals for her three sons.
#4. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Breaking Bad
After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, high school chemistry teacher Walter White begins using his extensive chemistry knowledge to manufacture methamphetamine as a means of paying for treatment and providing for his wife and son. Though Walt starts as a mild-mannered family man, he finds his calling in crystal meth and soon evolves into a ruthless drug lord before our eyes. The bittersweet nature of Walt’s path to success and Bryan Cranston’s incredible performance make White an incredibly real and complicated character who inspires all the awe and horror of a hurricane.
#3. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter
A self-loathing serial killer with a nice guy visaed, Dexter Morgan earns our sympathy by using his “dark passenger” to kill only those people who he deems as a danger to society (violent criminals, murderers, rapists, etc.). Dexter secretly dishes out his own version of vigilante justice while battling his inner demons–all while working under the radar as a blood-spatter expert for the L.A.P.D.. Though he’s killed more than 100 people (and enjoyed it), we let him off the hook because he’s kind of a good guy…right?
#2. Eric Cartman (Voiced by Trey Parker), South Park
But he’s not a villain, you say, he’s just a lovable asshole! Of course, you’d be forgetting about the events of season five, episode four. After 8th-grader Scott Tennerman tricks Eric Cartman into buying his pubes, Cartman takes revenge by killing both of Tennerman’s parents and secretly feeding them to the kid in a bowl of chili. The episode ends with Cartman happily licking the tears off of the 8th graders horror-stricken face. He may be a manipulative psychopath with appalling morals—but he’s also one of the most iconic and complex cartoon characters of all time.
#1. Mr. Burns (Voiced by Harry Shearer), The Simpsons
The character of Mr. Burns was conceived as the embodiment of Corporate America—he’s greedy, scornful, self-centered and has a blatant disregard for the well being (or names) of his employees. In the episode “Flaming Moe,” it’s suggested that he may even be a descendant of Adolf Hitler. Even so, his sniveling voice, nutty personality, expressive movements and ritual abuse of his devout assistant, Smithers, make his character oh-so-satisfying to watch.