Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a villain? That morally gray area where good intentions meet questionable decisions is fertile ground for storytelling. When television flips the script and puts the “bad guy” in the driver’s seat, something magical happens – viewers find themselves rooting for characters they’d normally condemn.
Television has mastered the art of the villain’s perspective, crafting complex anti-heroes whose moral compasses don’t quite point north. These shows don’t just entertain; they challenge our perceptions of right and wrong, blurring the lines between hero and villain until we’re not sure which is which.
Ready for a walk on the dark side? These five exceptional series brilliantly showcase the world through villainous eyes, delivering some of the most compelling television ever created. Each show peels back layers of complexity, revealing that villains are rarely born – they’re made through circumstances, choices, and sometimes, pure survival instinct.
1. Breaking Bad: The Chemistry Teacher Who Broke Bad
Chemistry gone wrong – devastatingly right
Story
Walter White begins as the quintessential good guy – a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher dealt a brutal hand when diagnosed with terminal cancer. Creator Vince Gilligan’s genius premise of “turning Mr. Chips into Scarface” unfolds over five masterful seasons as we witness Walt’s transformation from desperate father to ruthless drug kingpin.
Villain’s POV
What makes the villain’s perspective so compelling here is the gradual nature of Walt’s descent. Each compromise of his moral code feels justified in the moment – he’s just trying to provide for his family, right? Yet as Heisenberg emerges, the show forces viewers to question when exactly they stopped sympathizing with Walt and realized they were watching a villain’s origin story.
Story Fit
Breaking Bad fits perfectly into the anti-hero framework by maintaining Walt’s humanity even as his actions become increasingly monstrous. The intimate portrayal of his reasoning process pulls viewers into complicity – we understand his choices even when we can’t condone them.
Watch Value
From a viewer’s perspective, few shows have achieved what Breaking Bad did: creating a character journey so compelling that audiences couldn’t look away despite mounting evidence of Walt’s villainy. Bryan Cranston’s nuanced performance ensures we never lose sight of the man behind the monster.
Fun fact: The show’s mantra of “chemistry is the study of change” applies perfectly to Walter White’s transformation – viewers witness each chemical reaction that creates Heisenberg.
Also read: 5 Genius Life Lessons from Breaking Bad You Need to Know
2. Dexter: America’s Favorite Serial Killer
Justice served bloody cold
Story
Dexter Morgan leads a double life: forensic blood spatter analyst by day, vigilante serial killer by night. What sets Dexter apart is its revolutionary concept – a serial killer who only kills other killers, following a strict “code” established by his adoptive father to channel his murderous impulses toward those who “deserve” it.
Villain’s POV
The villain’s perspective works brilliantly here because of Dexter’s constant internal monologue. Viewers become privy to his most intimate thoughts, rationalizations, and the dark passenger that drives him. The show creates an unsettling intimacy with its protagonist, forcing audiences to confront their own capacity for understanding – and sometimes even approving of – Dexter’s brutal vigilantism.
Story Fit
Dexter’s villain narrative integrates seamlessly into the larger story because the show creates a world where traditional justice often fails. Miami’s sun-drenched paradise hides countless killers who slip through legal loopholes, making Dexter’s brand of justice seem occasionally necessary, if disturbing.
Watch Value
What makes Dexter particularly worth watching is how it challenges viewers’ moral frameworks. The show deftly manipulates audiences into cheering for a serial killer, then periodically reminds them of the horror of what they’re supporting. Michael C. Hall’s performance balances charm and menace in equal measure, creating one of television’s most complex anti-heroes.
Fun fact: Dexter’s meticulous kill room preparations reveal as much about his character as his murders – his need for control extends to every plastic-wrapped detail.
3. The Sopranos: The Mobster Who Needed Therapy
Family business with emphasis on both words
Story
Tony Soprano is a New Jersey mob boss juggling the pressures of criminal enterprise with suburban family life and increasingly debilitating panic attacks. The groundbreaking series follows Tony as he begins therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi, creating an unprecedented window into the psyche of a career criminal struggling with the moral implications of his choices.
Villain’s POV
The villain’s perspective achieves unique depth in The Sopranos through Tony’s therapy sessions. These intimate conversations allow viewers unprecedented access to a mobster’s justifications, fears, and emotional struggles. Creator David Chase ingeniously uses this format to humanize Tony without excusing his brutality, creating a character study of remarkable complexity.
Story Fit
The villain narrative works within the broader story because The Sopranos is fundamentally about the death of the American Dream. Tony’s criminal enterprise represents a dark mirror of capitalism itself – making the show’s exploration of villainy a commentary on wider societal values and contradictions.
Watch Value
What makes The Sopranos essential viewing is its refusal to provide easy answers. The show constantly tests viewers’ empathy, building connection with Tony before showing him commit unforgivable acts. James Gandolfini’s towering performance captures both Tony’s charisma and his capacity for sudden, terrifying violence – sometimes within the same breath.
Fun fact: Tony’s complicated relationship with his mother becomes the psychological foundation for understanding his criminal behavior – mommy issues never had such deadly consequences.
4. Barry: The Hitman Who Caught the Acting Bug
Death becomes him, acting saves him
Story
Barry Berkman is a depressed, emotionally stunted hitman who discovers an unexpected passion for acting while on a job in Los Angeles. The dark comedy follows Barry’s increasingly desperate attempts to leave his violent past behind and pursue his newfound artistic dreams, even as his criminal life threatens to destroy everything.
Villain’s POV
The villain’s perspective is particularly fascinating here because Barry genuinely wants redemption. The show explores whether someone who has done terrible things can truly change, and whether Barry’s desire to be a better person is authentic or just another performance. Bill Hader brings remarkable depth to Barry’s struggle, making viewers root for a character whose hands are irredeemably bloodstained.
Story Fit
Barry’s villain narrative works within the larger story because the show uses the world of acting and performance as a brilliant metaphor for Barry’s divided self. The acting class becomes a space where truth and fiction blur, mirroring Barry’s increasingly complicated relationship with his own identity as he tries to rewrite his life story.
Watch Value
What makes Barry exceptional viewing is its tonal balancing act. The show seamlessly shifts between laugh-out-loud comedy and gut-wrenching drama, often within the same scene. Barry’s journey feels both absurd and achingly real, creating a viewing experience unlike anything else on television. Hader’s performance, alongside Henry Winkler’s scene-stealing acting coach, elevates the material at every turn.
Fun fact: Barry’s blank expression during violent scenes reveals the emotional cost of his profession – he’s killed his own feelings long before he started killing others.
5. You: The Romantic Who’s Actually A Stalker
Love and obsession, blurred beyond recognition
Story
Joe Goldberg is a charming bookstore manager with a problematic tendency: when he falls in love, he becomes dangerously obsessed. The psychological thriller follows Joe’s twisted romantic pursuits as he manipulates, stalks, and eliminates obstacles to his relationships, all while convincing himself he’s simply a devoted romantic doing what’s necessary for love.
Villain’s POV
The villain’s perspective reaches disturbing new heights in You through Joe’s constant narration. His internal monologue invites viewers into his warped worldview, where stalking becomes care and murder becomes protection. The show brilliantly illustrates how easily self-delusion can justify heinous acts, making Joe one of television’s most unnervingly relatable monsters.
Story Fit
You’s villain narrative works perfectly within its larger story because the show cleverly subverts romantic comedy tropes. Actions that might seem romantic in other contexts (pursuing someone despite rejection, removing “toxic” people from their lives) become horrifying when taken to their logical extremes. This commentary on romantic obsession creates a villain story with sharp cultural relevance.
Watch Value
What makes You particularly worth watching is how it implicates the audience in Joe’s worldview. Penn Badgley’s charismatic performance makes it disturbingly easy to understand Joe’s twisted logic, creating uncomfortable moments where viewers might catch themselves sympathizing before remembering the horror of his actions. The show becomes a mirror reflecting society’s sometimes unhealthy romantic ideals back at the audience.
Fun fact: Joe’s internal monologue often contradicts what he says out loud, highlighting the terrifying gap between his public persona and private thoughts.
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Which villain’s perspective do you find most compelling, and why?
