Some of the best television drama series of the past two decades star villains as the main characters who captivated audiences.

No matter how beautiful the world may seem, ominous figures sometimes lurk in the shadows. Fictitious villains offer great ways to explore the real darkness of humanity. In some cases, those dark figures stand out in the light for all the world to see, keeping their true nature only to themselves. TV series like Dexter, Hannibal, Bates Motel and more star villains as main characters who hide their darker tendencies from the majority of their supporting cast, and audiences can't help but root for them.

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Villains can be every bit as relatable as heroes, and they often make people reflect on the effects of power. Based on fan reception of popular TV shows from the past two decades, audiences very much enjoy dramas where the stories revolve around the villains.

Bates Motel is arguably the most captivating installment of the celebrated Psycho stories, ensuring new fans would never forget the 1960 film that got the ball rolling. Film buffs know Norman Bates as a serial killer suffering from multiple personality disorder. He killed people, believing his mother still lived with him.

Bates Motel takes viewers back to Norman Bates's roots. The show explores his early development, showing viewers what led to the complicated relationship he shared with his mother and what turned him into the iconic serial killer older fans knew from the Psycho films.

House of Cards has woven politics with entertainment. Taking place in a modern Washington D.C., House of Cards tells the story of Frank Underwood, a democratic politician who feels betrayed after being denied appointment to Secretary of State, but he won't let it go. All Underwood wants is revenge.

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Audiences describe House of Cards' Frank Underwood as "utterly ruthless." With his cunning nature, he's ready to commit any crime, even murder, to get what he wants. All Underwood cares about is gaining power. He's more than happy to carry out atrocities and sleep soundly throughout the night.

Peaky Blinders follows an Irish Catholic and Romani crime family from Birmingham, England shortly after World War I. Tommy Shelby governs the Peaky Blinders street gang. Shelby is a great example of a perplexed, evil character.

Shelby is constantly in a battle between good and evil, but his malicious actions make him the most prominent villain. He'll claim to love his family, but it's clear to viewers he doesn't know how to treat them, selfishly using them as puppets. Shelby is very manipulative and untrustworthy, which makes him a deceptive ally but an eye-catching character.

Sons of Anarchy shows the journey of Jax Teller, a biker who's struggling to balance life as a father and a member of an outlaw motorcycle club. Sons of Anarchy fans believe Jax is a good person and like many villains, there are some good qualities in him, but he's also responsible for unnecessary deaths.

Jury White was one of a few characters who did not deserve the fate he received. Jury was always loyal to the club but Jax ordered his son's death for some cover-up. After Jury talked back to him, stating some hard truths about how far Jax had fallen, Jax shot and killed him.

Tariq St. Patrick is the most prominent character of Power Book II: Ghost. When audiences first met Tariq, he was a smart kid who loved his family, sharing a bond with Shawn. The onset of season two saw Tariq's father, Ghost, leave their family for another woman and when that happened, things changed for Tariq.

Highly dangerous individuals influenced Tariq, one of whom killed his twin sister, but audiences agree that it was Tariq's lies and deceits that led to his twin's untimely death. Tariq hid behind a dumpster as he watched his sister die. He may not be as ruthless as some other popular TV villains, but Tariq is an anti-hero whose actions have caused the deaths of loved ones.

Dexter Morgan from Dexter is arguably one of the most complex villains on television. Dexter is a "vigilante serial killer" who balances his career as a blood splatter analyst for the police with his serial killing hobby.

Thanks to his foster father's teachings, Dexter will only kill other killers. Audiences fell in love with Dexter thanks in part to this code and his deeply buried humanity. Dexter nearly sacrificed himself to save children and his loved ones. However, Dexter's homicidal tendencies have taken over several times, and he's allowed his "Dark Passenger" to take the wheel, leading to the deaths of several innocent characters.

The Americans followed married couple Philip and Elizabeth Jennings who were two KGB spies in Washington D.C. at the dawn of Ronald Reagan's Administration. The couple has two children, neither of whom is aware of their parents' exploits.

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Philip and Elizabeth's devotion to their country has led them to do some dangerous and deadly things. Philip has killed many innocent people, adding to his incredibly high body count, including a busboy he killed while running through a kitchen. Elizabeth was once caught bugging the FBI's mail robot. She then tortured and killed the witness. The characters are horrible people, but the performances by the actors who play them, Keri Russel and Matthew Rhys, are what draw viewers in.

Loki has been a storytelling staple for Marvel and Norse mythology fans alike. Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, has appeared in many Marvel projects like Thor, The Dark World and Ragnarok along with The Avengers. Despite his numerous appearances throughout the MCU, audiences still can't get enough of him.

With Loki season two coming soon, viewers will see even more of the God of Mischief. Loki's character arc was beautifully executed in the first season of the Disney+ series. Loki was the villain in the first episode, but thanks to some character growth, he actually proved himself quite the hero. Regardless, many people in the multiverse still view Loki and his many variants as villains.

Breaking Bad's Walter White is one of those villains who can gather people's sympathy and disgust at the same time. Breaking Bad followed a seemingly ordinary high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer who became the most ruthless kingpin in the local methamphetamine drug trade.

Walter was determined to provide for his family, especially upon knowing he was running out of time. Walter committed plenty of evil acts throughout the legendary series, including poisoning a child and letting a girl die to manipulate Jesse. Bryan Cranston provided audiences with an iconic TV villain they won't soon forget.

Hannibal takes audiences through the burgeoning tensions between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, once a respected forensic psychiatrist who turned into a serial killer who eats his victims.

Hannibal Lecter is known for his renowned intelligence paired with his ruthlessness. His calculating psychopathy has been routinely utilized to capture other antagonists in incredibly cathartic ways. People's fascination with serial killers is probably equal to their fear. Movie and TV serial killers are as intriguing as they are terrifying. The serial killer hunting other killers may be a bit of trope today, but thanks to amazing performances and writing, Hannibal still feels fresh.

Next: 8 Things NBC's Hannibal Does Better Than The Movies

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