The lead character in a television show isn’t always the most likable. In fact, there are several instances in which the protagonist brings the overall quality of the series down. The plot often spends so much time focusing on them that they neglect the other characters, who have become far more interesting.
Antagonists are created for the audience to be against, but no matter how bright or dull the hero of a story is, some villains steal the spotlight. It makes it difficult to root for the main character when the person they’re fighting against is so much more entertaining. If they’re well-developed characters, the audience’s interest can easily shift from the good guys to the bad ones.
Klaus Mikaelson: The Vampire Diaries
It’s not hard to compete with Elena Gilbert. She was never the scene-stealer or the main draw of the series. In fact, the villains in The Vampire Diaries are so well written that any one of them is often a more riveting protagonist than Elena.
But Klaus Mikaelson stands above them all. His sass and his nonchalant attitude in the face of all the horrible things he did differentiates him from the other characters. Fans love him so much that he even got his own spinoff series.
Serena Joy: The Handmaid’s Tale
It could be argued that Serena is the worst character in The Handmaid’s Tale, as much as it could be argued that she’s the best. Her actions are despicable and the way she treats Jude in the first two seasons is sickening. There’s also no forgetting that she helped establish the Republic of Gilead.
But its the complexity of Serena’s character that makes her the most compelling. No matter how many horrible things she does, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for her. Serena helps drive the plot in several different directions, and each choice she makes radically changes the game.
Beatrix: Fate: The Winx Saga
Unlike the original series, most of the characters in Fate: The Winx Saga were either dull or flat-out unlikeable. There are worst protagonists than Bloom, but there are also a lot better ones. She was a stereotypical teenage girl who wanted to find out more about her past, so in some ways, it’s a story that’s been told 1,000 times before.
Beatrix, on the other hand, was the character the Winx girls had to watch out for. She was always up to something suspicious and her off-putting attitude made viewers wary of her. More information about Beatrix came to light throughout the season and learning about her was one of the only plotlines that made the live-action reboot worth the watch, according to the opinion of some fans.
Rio: Good Girls
The series may be called Good Girls, but it wasn’t the three leading ladies who stole viewers’ hearts. Although the female characters are well-rounded and offer a much-needed level of complexity, fans immediately flocked to the show’s antagonist.
Rio started off as a gang leader who blackmailed the women into doing his dirty work. But as the show went on, it became obvious that there were many different levels to his character. He wasn’t as heartless as he was originally painted out to be, which was proven by his love for his son and the soft spot he developed for Beth Boland.
Fauxlivia: Fringe
Olivia Dunham is such a great character that Fringe had to make two of her. But despite how incredible the original Olivia is, there’s something about her alternate version that shines just a bit brighter.
Viewers always knew where Olivia’s heart was at the end of the day. But Fauxlivia was more unpredictable. While her loyalties lay with the characters from her universe, she still had the real Olivia’s compassion and her internal conflict made it impossible for fans to figure out her next move.
Gretchen Morgan: Prison Break
As far as main characters go, Michael Scofield is one of the best. He carried Prison Break throughout the first two seasons and it was his intricate plans and genius that made the series worth watching. But when Gretchen is introduced in the third season, Michael was faced with some competition.
Not only was she the female villain the show needed, but she had arcs that were far more interesting than Michael’s. Michael may have kept viewers guessing, but Gretchen’s sacrifice in “The Final Break” was one of the biggest plot twists of the series.
Spike: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Viewers often found the first few seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer rather lackluster in comparison to the rest of the show. But the most notable difference in the show’s quality is due to the addition of Spike to the main cast.
He offers humor that lightens the show even in dark situations and his character development is a fascinating arc that paved the way for similar characters who came after him. Without his journey from villain to hero, the show would be far less appealing.
Mona Vanderwaal: Pretty Little Liars
All of the main characters on Pretty Little Liars became tiresome for many, at one point or another, but Mona and her elaborate schemes never got old. Despite almost killing the girls on a boatload of occasions, she still managed to become a more captivating character than all of them combined.
Her determination to regain Hanna’s trust stole viewers’ hearts, even after all the evil she did. Her redemption was well-deserved and her presence brought the show to a whole new level of entertaining.
Sutton Mercer: The Lying Game
There’s something about an evil twin that’s always more interesting than the good one. Emma was an undeniably sweet character who deserved happiness, but there reached a point when Sutton became the true scene-stealer.
Sutton’s funny quips and mischievous ways added to the story and the overall enjoyment value. Her presence also prevented the audience from trusting the main character, as Sutton posed as Emma on more than one occasion.
Regina Mills: Once Upon A Time
The woman who started out as the evil queen in Snow White and Prince Charming’s fairytale became a woman who sacrificed her own happiness for the wellbeing of others.
Emma was a good person from the beginning of Once Upon a Time, and while she developed a lot emotionally, her evolution was far less prominent than Regina’s. Regina went from one side of the spectrum all the way to the other, and she became living proof that even villains can be redeemed.
