History AffablyEvil / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1985'': In "A Small Talent for War", the alien ambassador calmly tells the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations Security Council that his people intend to destroy all life on Earth in 24 hours as they are disappointed with the small talent for war that humanity displays. The next day, he returns to find that the United Nations has negotiating a lasting global peace and unilateral disarmament [[spoiler:and promptly begins laughing hysterically. The ambassador explains that his people [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy breed warriors]] and that humans have proven to be insufficient for their requirements since they desire peace above all else. He thanks the Security Council for "a most amusing day" and their "delightful sense of the absurd." Before Earth is destroyed by his people's armada, his parting comment refers to the last words of Creator/EdmundGwenn: "Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."]]

** ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': Todd the Wraith is surprisingly charming and personable for a [[ToServeMan life-sucking monster]] (and has a sense of humor -- he even makes some jokes that aren't morbid), especially since every other member of his AlwaysChaoticEvil species seems to lean heavily towards the LargeHam school of StupidEvil. He shows signs of being a budding MagnificentBastard, and is honest enough not to pretend to be anything other than a human-eating monster, and is quite frank with the heroes in pointing out that, no matter how many times they cooperate out of necessity, their fundamental nature will inevitably make them enemies at some point (though the Atlantis expedition has begun to take steps to remedy this). Todd can even be said to be trustworthy, as he honors a deal with Sheppard even though Sheppard is completely at his mercy. He's also by far the most [[PragmaticVillainy pragmatic]] of the Wraith.
*** Wraith in general aren't that bad. They only kill to eat and sleep for centuries between meals.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''
** The BigBad of ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', Bandora, while outwardly mean, is quite nice compared to most other Big Bads (and Rita Repulsa, for that matter), and [[BenevolentBoss genuinely cares for her subordinates and rewards them really well when they succeed]]; the worst thing she could to to them is to simply whack them with her staff when they fail. There are even times that she gets so happy that one of her plans is going well, that she breaks out in song. Likewise, one of those followers, Pleprechaun, just like his overseas counterpart Finster, comes off as more of an absent-minded artist than an actual villain, and the most evil thing he could do is simply act like a GrumpyOldMan.

* ''Series/TheMarvelousMsMaisel'': Discussed. Frank and Nicky are affable and unassuming members of TheMafia. In one scene, they're putting on a charity event for kids, with Nicky dressed as Santa Claus. However, Suzie is quick to point out that just because they're friendly doesn't mean they're not dangerous. They're ruthless in taking advantage of anyone they get their hooks into and display no qualms about beating or murdering people.

** The BigBad of ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', Bandora, while outwardly mean, is quite nice compared to most other Big Bads (and Rita Repulsa, for that matter), and [[BenevolentBoss genuinely cares for her subordinates and rewards them really well when they succeed]]; the worst thing she could to to them is to simply whack them with her staff when they fail. There are even times that she gets so happy, that she breaks out in song. Likewise, one of those followers, Pleprechaun, just like his overseas counterpart Finster, comes off as more of an absent-minded artist than an actual villain, and the most evil thing he could do is simply act like a GrumpyOldMan.

** The BigBad of ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', Bandora, while outwardly mean, is quite nice compared to most other Big Bads (and Rita Repulsa, for that matter), and genuinely cares for her subordinates and [[BenevolentBoss rewards them really well when they succeed]]; the worst thing she could to to them is to simply whack them with her staff when they fail. There are even times that she gets so happy, that she breaks out in song. Likewise, one of those followers, Pleprechaun, just like his overseas counterpart Finster, comes off as more of an absent-minded artist than an actual villain, and the most evil thing he could do is simply act like a GrumpyOldMan.

* ''Series/{{Monk}}'': In all eight seasons, throughout the entire series, some of the most dangerous criminals Adrian Monk puts behind bars are shown as civilized people in both middle-class and high-class society. Prime examples include Dr, Lancaster who runs an asylum, Derek Philby the Scientist, a seemingly blind woman who claims that Willie Nelson committed murder, Steve Wagner the astronaut, Monk's phony friend Hal Tucker, Real estate agent Linda Fusco, who became Capt. Stottlemeyer's girlfriend, Patrick Kloster the Chessmaster, and Karl Torini the Magician. In comparison with Adrian Monk's phobias and compulsions, usually the general public, as well as Capt. Stottlemeyer and the San Fransisco Police Department can't even see the connections Monk sees, and are prone to dismissing Monk whenever he accuses these criminals, which conveniently allows them to almost get away with their evil schemes.

*** [[spoiler:Kingpin from ''Series/Daredevil2015'' also makes his official MCU debut in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' and remains the same brutal but fair mob boss he's always been.]]

** Mr. Morden. Like Bester, he's a very broken individual, but in completely different ways. His veneer does crack when he's pushed too far, but there's only a handful of cases of that throughout the series.

** Sheridan's torturer in Season 4 is a middle-aged accountant who just happened to be delivering large electrical shocks and doses of agonizing, vomit-inducing poison, instead of doing tax returns. Somehow, his WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou attitude and philosophical digressions on the nature of truth managed to be creepier than he could ever have been as a frothing sadist.
* ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'': [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Herrick]] is friendly, funny, and actually quite polite to the protagonists. On the face of it, Mitchell could do worse than have Herrick as a boss ... or a father. He's also a complete bastard plotting to TakeOverTheWorld. Towards the end of Season 1, he takes a turn to FauxAffablyEvil.

--> '''Bones''': Columbus shot a man in the head, hung him from a pole, gutted him and set him on fire. And Columbus is our father.[[note]] Max's code name during a sting operation in the 70s was "Columbus".[[/note]]

* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': Doug Judy, the Pontiac Bandit. He's a manipulative liar and an unrepentant master criminal, but he's also extremely charming and likable, and [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas genuinely loves his mom]].
** Jake's former cellmate Caleb is the friendliest, most personable unrepentant cannibalistic serial killer a man could ever hope to be locked up with.

* ''Series/BurnNotice'':
%%** More than one antagonist.
** Larry, a recurring character (yes, [[RunningGag Dead Larry]]), is a consistently polite and cheerful man. He seems to truly care about his friends, tries to be a positive influence on the people around him, and will never do anything harmful to anyone without a good reason. He's also a remorseless sociopath, so "good reason" for Larry means "it would be marginally more convenient for me if you were dead". In his second appearance, Michael and Sam walk into Michael's house and are greeted warmly by Larry, who is very apologetic about the still-bleeding corpse on the floor, and makes himself as helpful as he can in dealing with the cartel that wants Michael dead. Well, actually, they want Larry dead, but he was using Michael's stolen identity at the time:
--->'''Sam:''' That guy sucks.

%%** A multiple number of agent Chuck and Sarah had fought are this.

--->'''Roark:''' ''(while held at shotgun by Chuck)'' A shotgun wedding? This seems terrible.
** [[spoiler: All of the Fulcrum agents undercover as neighbors are friendly towards Chuck and Sarah in "Chuck Versus The Suburbs", even after their cover was blown.]]
** Alexei Volkoff, [[spoiler: when he comes over to Ellie and Devon's house for dinner and even plays charades with them.]]

--> '''Darío:''' Well, ever since Luis, people start looking at us weird.
--> '''Ernesto:''' We're not ''that'' bad, dude.

-->"And remember how we used to do it? We'd ring you up, tell you where the bomb was, when it was going to go off, and have a chat. How fucking polite were we!?"

* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'':
** Guess who turns out to be the BigBad? Yeah, that's right, [[spoiler:the ever-affable and fatherly Boyd Langton, who had seemed so much more moral than everyone else on the show since his transgressions against all that is decent and right in the world had merely been implied. It turns out he's really one of the two founders of the [[MegaCorp Rossum]] [[NoDelaysForTheWicked Corporation]]. Even after he is revealed to the others to be their enemy, he is still friendly to them, claims to be very fond of all of them and to consider them his family, even though he still isn't reluctant to threaten them or kill the ones who get in his way.]]
* ''Series/{{EZStreets}}'': Jimmy Murtha played by Creator/JoePantoliano is charming, funny and very scary.

-->"All I've ever done is tried to help people! I helped the Russians with their nerve gas, I helped the Americans with their H-Bomb, I helped the British with their anthrax -- I even helped the Nazis! Now how generous can you get?"

* ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' has a case with a "hero serving as opponent", Yelena Belova, who has come to New York hoping to murder the title character, who was told to Yelena as having killed her 'sister' Natasha ([[Film/AvengersEndgame he didn't, Clint even wanted to perform an]] HeroicSacrifice but Natasha beat him to it). ''Film/BlackWidow2021'' already showed Yelena is a very endearing person, and this manifests in her FriendlyEnemy demeanor dealing with Hawkeye's unwilling partner Kate Bishop - Yelena breaks into her apartment, and casually helps herself to some mac and cheese, cracking jokes and talking about all the New York tourist destinations she wants to visit… all while she casually discloses her intentions to kill Clint, too. The next time both meet and have some altercations, Yelena is so polite and affable Kate downright says "Stop making me like you!"

* ''Series/{{Jessie}}'':
** Dale Davenport, the school bully. Very mean and tough, but he also requests healthy snacks for himself and his victims.
--->'''Dale:''' Next time bring me some carrots! (in a nice voice) And bring some for you too because carrots are a healthy nutritious snack. (in a mean voice) Don't make me knock it down!

* ''Series/{{Kings}}'': Abadon. Yes, [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast a dude named Abadon is affably evil]]. It helps that we also see that Silas knows his weak point and convinces him to do the stabilizing, if not exactly right, thing for Gilboa even after years of imprisonment. He's played by Brian Cox. So in order to drive home that he's, y'know, ''evil'' -- since he can't do much, locked up as he is -- they have him remark offhandedly that when he was king and bored, [[MoralEventHorizon he'd rape a serving girl]].

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:'' With the MCU's recent expansion onto the small screen and many of Netflix's series being confirmed as canon in the MCU (though they were heavily implied to have been so regardless), some villains (politely) decided to accompany it.
** ''Series/AgentCarter'''s Dr Ivenchko [[spoiler: hypnotises an SSR agent into killing himself, but gives him commands to have a drink at his favourite bar first. There's no reason for this, except it's better for the guy to be happy and relaxed when he dies than otherwise.]]
** ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': Wilson Fisk aka the Kingpin. He's polite, intelligent, respectful, articulate and has sincere love for [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes his girlfriend Vanessa]] and mother. He's also a violent and ruthless crime lord with a BerserkButton you ''do not'' [[UnstoppableRage want to touch]] who will [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans stop at nothing to make Hell's Kitchen a better place for everyone.]] Even as the series goes on and he becomes more cynical and cruel, he never loses his demeanour of a gentlemanly businessman, even towards [[ArchEnemy Matt Murdock himself.]]
** ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'' sees the return of [[spoiler: Baron Zemo, who not only retains his polite and likeable persona from the movie, but he actively aids Sam and Bucky in their conquest to defeat the Flag Smashers. He also makes (relative) peace with Bucky and apologizes for his actions.]]
** In ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' [[spoiler: Maya (aka Echo) is a troubled and vengeance-driven, but is not unreasonable and has people she genuinely cares about. Her father was also a "criminal" but [[AntiVillain in name only.]]]]
** [[spoiler:Kingpin from ''Series/Daredevil2015'' also makes his official MCU debut in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' and remains the same brutal but fair mob boss he's always been.]]
** In ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}'' the [[Characters/MCULokiLaufeyson titular character]] is his usual conniving but charming and fun self [[spoiler:or at least his variants are, yes ''[[MesACrowd all]]'' of them. With significant CharacterDevelopment, the main Loki comes to the same HeelRealization as his original self did and has committed a full-on HeelFaceTurn.]] The true villain of the show [[spoiler:He Who Remains, is a manipulative, nigh-omniscient and unscrupulous individual [[GreaterScopeVillain who planned and pulled the strings of virtually everything that happens,]] but he's also a WellIntentionedExtremist who is unfailingly polite and courteous towards Loki and Sylvie.]]
** In ''Series/{{Moon Knight|2022}}'', [[spoiler:Arthur Harrow is a deluded and ruthless cultist, but he's unfailingly polite and cordial, [[EqualOpportunityEvil welcomes anyone willing to abide into his circle]] and does what he does because [[WellIntentionedExtremist he sincerely believes it will help the world will become a better place.]]]]
** In ''Series/ThePunisher'', [[spoiler:Billy Russo, Frank's best friend and former army brother, is a sociopathic and power-hungry individual who will screw over pretty much anyone if it means he gets something big out of it. Despite this, he's also charming, polite, [[EvenEvilHasStandards does possess a few morals]] and is usually relatively easy to get along with. He also tends to [[IGaveMyWord keep his word]] even when he doesn't really need to.]]

* ''Series/{{Monk}}'':
** In all eight Seasons, throughout the entire series, some of the most dangerous criminals Adrian Monk puts behind bars are shown as civilized people in both middle-class and high-class society. Prime examples include Dr, Lancaster who runs an asylum, Derek Philby the Scientist, a seemingly blind woman who claims that Willie Nelson committed murder, Steve Wagner the astronaut, Monk's phony friend Hal Tucker, Real estate agent Linda Fusco, who became Capt. Stottlemeyer's girlfriend, Patrick Kloster the Chessmaster, and Karl Torini the Magician. In comparison with Adrian Monk's phobias and compulsions, usually the general public, as well as Capt. Stottlemeyer and the San Fransisco Police Department can't even see the connections Monk sees, and are prone to dismissing Monk whenever he accuses these criminals, which conveniently allows them to almost get away with their evil schemes.
--->'''Derek Philby''': Excuse me.... you're mixing the regular (coffee) with the decaf.\\
'''Monk''': But they're even.\\
'''Derek Philby''': But they're mixed up.

** Even though they never forgot the purpose of their experiment, The Mads (and later Pearl, and [[UnCanceled even later]] Max) oftentimes have a strangely chummy relationship with Joel/Mike/Jonah. In the ''Time Chasers'' episode, Pearl and Mike even hang out on her spacegoing Volkswagon van, enjoying a cuppa while chatting like neighbors on a front porch. "So, Pearl: why are you so evil?" "Hmm...I'm filled with hate, I don't know if that helps."
** [[Series/LeaveItToBeaver Hugh "Call Me Dad" Beaumont]] (played by Mike Nelson) in some early host segments. Although depicted as an OmnicidalManiac out to blow up Earth, he paused in his goal to offer folksy homespun wisdom to Joel and the 'bots, like pointing out it's not nice to make fun of movies when people put a lot of time and effort into them.
--> '''Crow:''' Gee, I guess that means we should be more careful in how we treat each other.
--> '''Dad:''' That's right, Crow!
--> '''Crow:''' ''(whispered)'' He bought it. What a jerk.

* ''Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}}'':

* ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}'': [[Creator/HGWells H]][[SamusIsAGirl (elena)]] [[Creator/HGWells G. Wells]]. Let's begin with the fact that she started her tenure as BigBad by pulling off a massive BatmanGambit in order to get her hand on the last existing picture of her dead daughter, and go from there.

* ''[[Series/WonderWoman1975 Wonder Woman]]'':

* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': Since this [=NBC=] show takes place before the title character gets captured and imprisoned, we get to see him at his most affable: charming, well-dressed, well-mannered, and fond of inviting his friends over for [[ImAHumanitarian dinner]]...and quite frequently, that hasn't even been a euphemism. He serves up exquisitely prepared meals in his gorgeous house wearing his wonderful clothes and makes pleasant conversation with his guests!

* ''Series/TheShield'': Minor recurring villain Tulips is a manipulate con artist and thief, but her affable and perky personality is entirely genuine.

** Kor, the Klingon commander from [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the first series]] episode "Errand Of Mercy". Even when ruling Organia with an iron fist, he has a sense of class about him, offering Kirk some brandy and showing a strong reluctance to turn what he sees as a WorthyOpponent into a mindless vegetable with his mind scanner. By the time he returns in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', he is no longer evil, and many times more affable.

** [[spoiler: Kingpin from ''Series/Daredevil2015'' also makes his official MCU debut in ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' and remains the same brutal but fair mob boss he's always been.]]
** In ''Series/Loki2021'' the [[Characters/MCULoki titular character]] is his usual conniving but charming and fun self [[spoiler: or at least his variants are, yes ''[[MesACrowd all]]'' of them. With significant CharacterDevelopment, the main Loki comes to the same HeelRealization as his original self did and has committed a full-on HeelFaceTurn.]] The true villain of the show [[spoiler: He Who Remains, is a manipulative, nigh-omniscient and unscrupulous individual [[GreaterScopeVillain who planned and pulled the strings of virtually everything that happens,]] but he's also a WellIntentionedExtremist who is unfailingly polite and courteous towards Loki and Sylvie.]]

%%* ''Series/AmericanGothic1995'': [[CorruptHick Sheriff Lucas Buck]] certainly falls into this territory most of the time.

** In ''Series/MoonKnight'', [[spoiler:Arthur Harrow is a deluded and ruthless cultist, but he's unfailingly polite and cordial, [[EqualOpportunityEvil welcomes anyone willing to abide into his circle]] and does what he does because [[WellIntentionedExtremist he sincerely believes it will help the world will become a better place.]]]]

%%** Bob, too. Maybe even more so.

** In ''Series/ThePunisher'', [[spoiler:Billy Russo, Frank's best friend and former army brother, is a sociopathic and power-hungry individual who will screw over pretty much anyone if it means he gets something big out of it. Despite this, he's also charming, polite, [[EvenEvilHasStandards does possess a few morals]] and is usually relatively easy to get along with. He also tends to [[IGaveMyWord keep his word]] even when he doesn't really need to.]]

** In ''Series/Loki2021'' the [[Characters/MCULoki titular character]] is his usual conniving but charming and fun self [[spoiler: or at least his variants are, yes ''[[MesACrowd all]]'' of them. With significant CharacterDevelopment, the main Loki comes to the same HeelRealization as his original self did and has committed a full-on HeelFaceTurn.]] The true villain of the show [[spoiler: He Who Remains, is a manipulative, nigh-omniscient and unscrupulous individual [[GreaterScopeVillain who planned and pulled the strings of virtually everything that happens,]] but he's also a WellIntentionedExtremist who is unfailingly polite and courteous towards Loki and Sylvie.]]

** In ''Series/MoonKnight'', Arthur Harrow is a deluded and ruthless cultist, but he's unfailingly polite and cordial, [[EqualOpportunityEvil welcomes anyone willing to abide into his circle]] and does what he does because [[WellIntentionedExtremist he sincerely believes it will help the world will become a better place.]]