10 TV Protagonists Who Are Basically Villains

10. Annalise Keating - 'How to Get Away with Murder'

Annalise Keating might be a brilliant criminal defence professor, but her sharp legal mind often spirals into something far more dangerous. She bends the law as easily as breathing—manipulating evidence, intimidating witnesses, and orchestrating cover-ups to protect herself and her students. What begins as mentorship soon turns into control, as she pulls her inner circle deeper into a web of lies and moral compromise. Her villainy lies in how calculated she is and in her ability to justify even her most deplorable actions as necessary for survival.

9. Rue Bennet - 'Euphoria'

Rue Bennet isn’t a traditional villain, but she’s capable of causing deep emotional damage. Her severe drug addiction drives her to lie, manipulate, and hurt the people who care about her most. Even when they try to help, she lashes out and turns on them, often making them feel responsible for her downward spiral.

8. Don Draper - 'Mad Men'

Who hasn’t been enthralled by Don Draper’s charisma? Beneath the sheen of a brilliant ad man lies a life built on control and deception. He steals another man’s identity, cheats without remorse, and manipulates both his personal and professional relationships to protect his carefully crafted image. He isn’t overtly cruel, but his emotional detachment leaves a trail of damage—especially among the women in his life—rarely with a hint of remorse.

7. Ted Mosby - 'How I Met Your Mother'

Ted Mosby presents himself as the “good guy,” but that image often masks behavior that’s just as selfish as Barney’s—if not more. The difference is that Barney is honest about who he is, while Ted hides behind the idea of being romantic and sincere. He keeps Robin in his life not out of pure friendship, but because part of him believes that if he stays close enough, she’ll eventually choose him. Instead of recognizing his own patterns, he frames his failed relationships as bad luck, rarely admitting that he might be the problem.

6. Rachel Berry - 'Glee'

Rachel Berry constantly seeks validation and struggles to feel satisfied unless she’s at the center of attention. Her ambition often turns into jealousy, making her view others’ success as a threat rather than something to celebrate. While undeniably talented, she can be manipulative and relentless, refusing to take no for an answer and, at times, sabotaging situations to secure her own spotlight.

5. Tommy Shelby - 'Peaky Blinders'

A common thread among these characters is their tendency to manipulate others and treat people as tools for their own ends, and Tommy Shelby embodies that perfectly. He presents himself as a protector, a man doing whatever it takes for his family, but his version of protection often places them directly in harm’s way. Time and again, his ambition and need for control escalate conflicts, dragging everyone around him deeper into danger.

4. Serena Van der Woodsen - 'Gossip Girl'

Serena van der Woodsen thrives on being the "IT girl,” but that image is driven by a constant need for attention. She makes impulsive choices—especially in relationships—and rarely takes responsibility when they backfire. Instead, she shifts the blame and slips into the role of the victim. Her charm masks a pattern of avoidance, making her less of a misunderstood lead and more of someone who leaves damage behind.

3. Joe Goldberg - 'You'

In 'You,' everything is filtered through Joe’s perspective, where he rationalizes every choice he makes. That framing is what makes him dangerous. It invites sympathy where there shouldn’t be any. Strip that lens away, and Joe is unmistakably a villain. He has no regard for boundaries, constantly invading people’s privacy, manipulating emotions, and eliminating anyone who disrupts his idea of a perfect relationship. His need for control isn’t romantic; it’s obsessive and deeply disturbing. If that doesn’t define a villain, nothing does.

2. Walter White - 'Breaking Bad'

Walter White begins as a struggling teacher, but his transformation into a meth producer is driven less by survival and more by a growing hunger for power and control. As his ego takes over, he becomes increasingly manipulative, lying and harming not just strangers but his own family. By the end, he isn’t just the protagonist, he’s the root cause of most of the destruction around him.

1. Dr Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)

Hannibal is a different case. He isn’t a hidden villain, but one placed at the center, masquerading as a protagonist. Always calm and controlled, he rarely appears suspicious, which is exactly what makes him so dangerous. Beneath that polished exterior is a meticulous manipulator, orchestrating schemes and deceiving people with such precision that suspicion never quite lands on him.