History MagnificentBastard / Literature

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': [[Characters/SwordArtOnlineAkihikoKayaba Akihiko Kayaba]] is a brilliant programmer desiring a fully-immersive VirtualReality simulation and creator of ''Sword Art Online'', the world's first VRMMORPG: trapping 10,000 players within and setting it so they die in real life if they do in the game while preventing authorities from stopping his game. Disguised as Heathcliff, a charming leader of a group of players within Aincrad, Kayaba reveals himself when hero [[Characters/SwordArtOnlineKazutoKirigaya Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya]] deduces his identity and duels the latter, releasing the players and seemingly killing himself when beaten but in reality sending his [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Fluctlight]] to continue existing on the internet. Reappearing out of disgust for the next season's ArcVillain, Kayaba assists Kirito in defeating the antagonist and entrusts Kirito with his final invention: made to allow others to create their own virtual reality games and have it shared with the world. Returning once more in the ''Alicization'' arc, Kayaba helps save the virtual reality world the heroes are within by taking control of a robot in the setting, proving himself Kirito's most honorable foe.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AllPowerfulBystander The Ellimist]], was once a mortal Keetran known to as friends as Toomin, who through a series of cosmically unlikely events ended up becoming a reality-warping being. As the SoleSurvivor of his kind, Toomin's transformation into the Ellimist began after breaking free of "[[TheAssimilator Father]]", while Toomin learns to steal the millions of assimilated minds from Father, then uses this near-limitless knowledge to integrate himself into a super advanced spacecraft, travelling the galaxy as a technological deity to help planets prosper. However Ellimist comes into conflict with [[OmnicidalManiac Crayak]] who seeks to eradicate all life. Unable to stop Crayak's trail of death, Ellimist instead counters by spreading new life on uninhabited planets that outpaced Crayak's work. The two technological gods battle one another, wiping out a tenth of the galaxy in the crossfire, which ends in Ellimist and later Crayak entering a black hole and merging with space-time to become true gods. Continuing to play a CosmicChessGame, Crayak is responsible for the Yeerk crisis ravaging the galaxy, while Ellimist manipulates the formation of the [[Characters/AnimorphsAnimorphs Animorphs]] as his warriors. Ellimist assists the Animorphs from the sidelines numerous times, often exploiting loopholes to give them help without technically breaking the rules of the game.

* ''Literature/HelpIAmBeingHeldPrisoner'': [[MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll Phil Giffin]] leads a gang of incarcerated criminals who use a tunnel to sneak out of prison for a few hours each day to enjoy the outside and commit crimes while having [[TheAlibi perfect alibis.]] He avoids detection through bribery, forming a close-knit unit with his fellow conspirators, and the occasional SeamlessSpontaneousLie. Phil is friendly, generous, and supportive toward new gang member Harry, who secretly wants to avoid being an example of HadToComeToPrisonToBeACrook. At the same time Harry never doubts that Phil will kill him if he poses a security risk. Even after six failed attempts to rob two banks during their busiest days of the month, Phil remains unfettered and swears to keep trying if it takes the rest of his life. He succeeds in robbing one of the banks on the seventh try and plans to use his share to open a gym with two of his partners rather than return to a life of a crime. In the last chapter, he reluctantly comes to view Harry's practical joker past and interference with several of the robbery attempts as ActuallyPrettyFunny and seeks no revenge against him.

* ''Literature/TheCrate'', by Creator/StephenKing: Professor Henry Northrup is a mild-mannered man married to the abusive alcoholic Wilma. The only friend of nervous Professor Dexter Stanley, Henry is the man Dexter confides in when he uncovers the mysterious crate containing a ravenous monster that devours two innocent men. Sensing a way to be rid of Wilma, Henry drugs Dexter, writes a letter to the gossip-loving Wilma claiming Dexter attacked a woman to lure her over to the university before feeding her to the monster, whereupon he waits for it to go to sleep and binding the crate with thick chains to transport it to the nearest lake and sink it there.

* ''Literature/NightmaresAndDreamscapes''' "Dolan's Cadillac": [[LastNameBasis Robinson]] was once a mild mannered schoolteacher until his wife was murdered by crime boss Dolan. Robinson [[BestServedCold spends years plotting vengeance]], joining a road crew and upon acquiring the knowledge, redirects Dolan so he drives over a deserted stretch of highway which Robinson has excavated it himself. The Cadillac Dolan drives plummets into the hole, killing Dolan's bodyguards and allowing Robinson to replace the paving so Dolan may [[BuriedAlive die in darkness and madness]], with Robinson [[ThePerfectCrime never being caught]].

* ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'': Cardinal Armand Richelieu is the most powerful man in France, and the ruler behind the throne. Seeking the betterment of France as a nation under his guiding iron hand, Richelieu schemes to strengthen the monarchy and to also start a war with England to further check Spain and Austria. In order to disgrace his rival, Queen Anne, Richelieu convinces the king to throw a party and request Anne wear diamond studs he gave her as a gift, well aware Anne has given them to her lover, the Duke of Buckingham, which will discredit Anne and begin a war with England. When the Musketeers recover the diamonds in time, Richelieu accepts it with grace, later deciding to have Buckingham assassinated and presenting the wicked Milady de Winter with a letter excusing her from all acts she commits in service to France. When Milady is executed by the Musketeers, young hero D'Artagnan thinks to save himself by presenting Richelieu with the same letter, only for Richelieu to display his own power by tearing it up. Impressed by D'Artagnan, however, Richelieu accepts him as a WorthyOpponent and a boon to France, writing him an officer's commission to the Musketeers before focusing on his next schemes to ever better France as a nation.

*** [[BadassBookworm Daedalus]] is a genius inventor from the times of Ancient Greece, infamous for constructing the [[LivingLabyrinth self-aware and ever-expanding death trap]] that is the Labyrinth. After murdering his similarly gifted nephew Perdix in a fit of jealous rage, Daedalus lured King Minos into a trap to finally rid himself of the King of Crete's mad pursuit. Knowing he wouldn't be safe from Minos' specter Daedalus hid within the Labyrinth, transferring his consciousness into automaton bodies to ensure his immortality throughout the centuries. Approached by Luke in modern times with the offer to be made King of the Underworld should he help them navigate the maze and invade Camp Half-Blood, Daedalus takes up the identity of Quintus to observe the demigods and decide whether they stand a chance against the Titans. Eventually deciding to help Luke, Daedalus nevertheless [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor leaves Percy his pet Hellhound Mrs. O'Leary]] to help the demigod. When betrayed by Kronos' forces Daedalus gives his life to destroy the Labyrinth and the Titan's army, content with his punishment in the Underworld as long as he gets to make amends with his nephew.

* ''Literature/[{Catlow}}'', by Creator/LouisLAmour: [[FriendlyEnemy Abijah "Bijah" Catlow]] is a brave, rambunctious, and surprisingly crafty cow hand who earns the wrath of arrogant {{Cattle Baron}}s with a StartMyOwn scheme that threatens their profits. A CrimeOfSelfDefense against a DirtyCop makes Bijah a want man. Catlow seeks revenge by stealing their cattle, and luring a hired assassin into a fatal trap. He graduates to less justifiable crimes like trying to steal $2 million in silver from the Mexican government [[OneLastJob to finance a new life with his girlfriend Cordelia]] even though he already has a modest nest egg. Catlow is characterized by his ability to make friends, his bravery in a fight, his loyalty and consideration to his allies, his ability to b a GracefulLoser, his close friendship with his pursuer, U.S. Marshal Cowan, and his ability to adapt his plans in the face of adversity. Even when the robbery fails, Catlow keeps his surviving men from being arrested, turns himself in out of respect for Cowan, and then promptly breaks out of jail. Catlow then goes straight, takes Cordelia to Oregon for an honest and prosperous life, and names his first child after Cowan.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series:
** Lord Havelock Vetinari turned Ankh-Morpork from a broken down, weak city run by a cut-throat, utterly insane monarchy into the most powerful city in the entire Disc, run by a highly efficient government that headed by himself, dominating through cultural and economic might rather than force of arms. Vetinari also happens to be a genius who is the one man who [[VetinariJobSecurity keeps the city in line, knowing without him, it would collapse into chaps, so that none may challenge or remove him.]] Well aware of how terrible the world can be, Vetinari utilizes trickery and manipulation to better it and will happily manipulate other heroes to deal with threats to his city. While Vetinari does not believe a perfect world is even possible, he will scheme, lie, cheat and manipulate all to improve what he can, and is never not in control of events as they unfold.
** ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'': [[ActionGirl Conina the Hairdresser]] is a stunningly beautiful barbarian heroine whose hardened instincts prevent a simple life as a hair stylist. [[ImpossibleTheft An impossibly skilled thief]] who once pickpocketed jewels the victim had swallowed for safekeeping, her theft of the Archchancellor's hat prevents [[BigBad Coin the Sourcerer]] from gaining its powers. Threatening the cowardly wizard [[LovableCoward Rincewind]] into helping her find it a suitable host, she uses her street smarts and weaponized usage of a comb and scissors to lead a journey around the world. During the great magical war in the climax, she outplays an unhelpful genie to force its aid and steals the Four Horsemen's horses to help save the Discworld from an apocalyptic fate.
** ''Literature/WyrdSisters'': [[TheGoodKing King Verence]] was the beloved lord of Lancre until he was murdered by the [[TreacherousAdvisor treacherous Lord Felmut]]. Unable to rest, his great vitality in life allows his spirit to manipulate objects, and thus lures and traps the cat of the witch "Nanny" Ogg to guide her to him and plan his vengeance. When Nanny is captured by Felmut, he tries to slay his slayer and rescue her, but is stopped by the wise "Granny" Weatherwax who saves her peer instead. Escaping by having Nanny [[LoopholeAbuse carry a castle brick]], he plots with them to move time forward so he son can age and return to claim his throne. When Felmut hosts a play to denounce the witches, Verence possesses his actor son and reveals the truth for all Lancre to see. This drives Felmut to madness and death and allows Verence to pass on at last.
** ''Literature/{{Pyramids}}'': [[EvilChancellor High Priest Dios]] is the true power behind the desert kingdom of Djelibeybi and is secretly as ancient as the land itself. First awakening 7,000 years ago when the Djel River magically appeared on the Discworld, Dios has been guiding the countless generations of pharaohs to rule as divinely appointed puppets to rule the kingdom to his particular views of normalcy. He has them buried within time warping pyramids, often against their wishes, to slow down time to keep Djelibeybi in constant stagnation while fabricating a complex religious system to keep the people enthralled by faith. Upon the coronation of the more [[GuileHero worldly and rebellious Teppic]], Dios is able to wear down the young man and maintain control, while also building the largest pyramid ever, until Teppic rescues a young woman from sacrifice. The great pyramid then breaks down reality and puts the kingdom in a pocket dimension where all the gods are real and the pharaohs rise from the grave. At first left [[DramaticSitdown nearly catatonic]] at these events, Dios bounces back by outwitting a treacherous young priest and holds back the gods long enough for Teppic to return the kingdom to normalcy. Dios himself is sent back in time to the kingdom's birth to [[StableTimeLoop repeat the cycle again and again]].
** ''Literature/GuardsGuards'': [[DragonAscendant The Noble Dragon]] was at first merely summoned by royal secretary [[BigBadWannabe Lupine Wonse]] to be slain by a puppet king to gain control over Ankh-Morpork, but she quickly grew to have her own ambitions. Using her mental connection to Wonse, the Dragon engineered her own summoning and quickly gained control of the city by roasting the puppet king at his own coronation. A master at coordinated terror, she [[EvilIsNotAToy subjugated Wonse]] into being her mouthpiece and invited the heads of the city's powerful guilds to a banquet to intimidate them into providing wealth and promises of sacrifices. While a terrifying monster herself, the Dragon grew disgusted with the people's almost [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters giddy acceptance]] of her terms. Unmatched for most of her reign, the small swamp dragon Errol stunned her with a sonic boom and earned her respect and love, both then leaving humanity behind to wander the cosmos.
** ''{{Literature/Eric}}'':
*** [[TheStarscream Duke Vassenego]] is an ancient demon who sets the plot in motion to overthrow [[ObstructiveBureaucrat King Astfgl]] and return Hell to the old ways. Realizing disembodied spirits didn't feel physical pain, Astfgl turned Hell into a boring dystopia where souls were [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment read instruction manuals and shown vacation slideshows]] for all eternity. Seeking the restore a time where both demons and damned could be happy, Vassenego manipulates inept wizard Rincewind into being summoned in his place by teen demonologist Eric. Using his own magic to frame Rincewind as satisfying Eric's wishes, he sends the pair on a dangerous journey through time to distract Astfgl long enough to engineer his downfall. Bringing the pair to Hell as a final distraction, he gives Astfgl a [[KickedUpstairs meaningless promotion]] and to be left alone in a boring office doing pointless paperwork forever while he takes over as the new King of Hell.
*** In a grand parody of {{UsefulNotes/the Trojan War}}, [[TheStrategist Lavaeolus]], a parody of Odysseus, is a brilliant general of Ephebe seeking to rescue the beautiful Elenor from the clutches of Tsort. Sending a wooden horse to the front gate as an obvious trap, Lavaeolus [[KansasCityShuffle uses it as distraction]] to allow the Ephebians to invade from a side entrance to the city. Taking advantage of Rincewind and Eric's arrival for his second wish, Lavaeolus leads them and Rincewind's dangerous and sentient [[ChestMonster Luggage]] through a secret passage to the palace he discovered during early reconnaissance. Seeking to use the Luggage to massacre the Tsortean leadership, he instead meets with and convinces Elenor and her children to return home and end the war as bloodlessly as possible.
** ''Literature/MovingPictures'': [[YoungEntrepreneur M'Bu]] is the clever young assistant to an animal herder and proves to have far more ambition and determination than his adult master. When his employer gets an order for a thousand elephants to appear in [[TitleDrop the moving pictures]], M'Bu creates a plan to gather them up in the plains, have the massive herd steamroll through the jungles, and use the elephants to transport the timber into the mountains to make bridges and sleighs. [[LackOfEmpathy Not caring]] who the elephants trample on the journey, he successfully guides them three thousand miles to their destination and is implied to sell them to make jumbo sausages following the collapse of the moving picture industry in the meantime.

* ''Literature/OldPossumsBookOfPracticalCats''

* Literature/BobLeeSwagger books, by Stephen Hunter:

* ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'':
** Nidhoggr, the dragon of the underworld, is a massive beast who serves nobody but himself. A surprisingly cheerful, erudite and charming being, Nidhoggr enlists the service of the young heroes to delve into Hel's realm, manipulating them for his own ends and using them to secure his own position without any risk to himself.
** Eshu is the Trickster God of the Yoruba and a messenger of the higher gods. Upon the entrance of the heroes to his domain, Eshu is perplexed by their unwillingness to sacrifice animals and resorts to numerous different forms to sway them, also luring Jalil into the midst of a flood in the form of David. Eshu continues to taunt and sway the heroes with psychological tricks, ending with the last laugh by causing the deaths of Vikings they were attempting to save.

* ''Literature/TheLegendOfSleepyHollow'': Abraham van Brunt, better known as Brom Bones, is a resident of the New York town Sleepy Hollow and the athletic, rowdy and popular young man of the town with his eye on the hand of the beautiful Katrina van Tassel. Forming a dislike of the visiting schoolmaster Ichabod Crane of Connecticut, Brom tells the ghost story of the Hessian soldier, the HeadlessHorseman. By the end of the story, it is strongly implied that rather than a supernatural attack, Brom [[ScoobyDooHoax dressed up as the Horseman]] to terrify Ichabod Crane and attack him to either kill him or drive him out of town, marrying Katrina once Ichabod has vanished and is always shown to look smug and rather knowing when the tale is brought up.

* ''[[Literature/EisenheimTheIllusionist Eisenheim the Illusionist]]'', by Steven Millhauser: In this short story upon which ''Film/TheIllusionist'' was based, the title character, born Eduard Abramowitz, moves to Vienna where he entertains audiences with inexplicable tricks, even possibly causing the disappearance of a rival StageMagician for aggressing him. Returning after a year's absence, Eisenheim entertains with illusions of immaterial people and when the police move to arrest him out of fear for his power, vanishes himself, leaving no trace to explain his illusion technique, thus immortalizing his work.

** ''Literature/WyrdSisters'': [[TheGoodKing King Verence]] was the beloved lord of Lancre until he was murdered by the [[TreacherousAdvisor treacherous Lord Felmut]]. Unable to rest, his great vitality in life allows his spirit to manipulate objects, and thus lures and traps the cat of the witch "Nanny" Ogg to guide her to him and plan his vengeance. When Nanny is captured by Felmut, he tries to slay his slayer and rescue her, but is stopped by the wise "Granny" Weatherwax who saves her peer instead. Escaping by having Nanny [[LoopholeAbuse carry a castle brick]], he plots with them to move time forward so he son can age and return to claim his throne. When Felmut hosts a play to denounce the witches, Verence possesses his actor son and reveals the truth for all Lancre to see. This drives Felmut to madness and death and allows Verence to pass on at last.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':

** "Point Blanc": [[HitmanWithAHeart The Gentleman]] is an assassin-for-hire, named such because of his tendency to [[DueToTheDead gift flowers to the families of his victims]]. In the first chapter of "Point Blanc", he successfully kills billionaire Michael J. Roscoe by hacking into his office building's mainframe, moving his elevator up a floor, and replacing it with a hologram, causing him to "[[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident accidentally]]" fall to his death. By the time Roscoe's body is found, the Gentleman has long since disappeared, making him the rare Alex Rider villain to [[KarmaHoudini get away with his crimes]].

** ''Literature/CatwomanSoulstealer'': [[Characters/CatwomanSelinaKyle Selina Kyle]], aka [[ClassyCatBurglar Catwoman]], rose up from illegal street fighter to pay for her sister's medical bills to become a skilled member of the [[Characters/BatmanLeagueOfAssassins League of Assassins]] in two years. After discovering a way to use Lazarus pit formula to cure her dying sister, Selina leaves the league and heads back to Gotham City where she starts a crime spree in order to recruit both a skilled biochemist to help her complete it in [[Characters/BatmanPoisonIvy Poison Ivy]] and a way to contact [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker the Joker]] and make a deal with him in [[Characters/HarleyQuinnAndSupportingCharacters Harley Quinn]]. Starting a massive, flashy crime spree to take control of the criminal underworld and outwitting [[ComicBook/{{Batwing}} Luke Fox]]'s attempts to evade her, Selina lets herself get captured eventually, knowing she'll be transferred to Arkham Asylum due to the infamy shes gained and uses Joker and his army to defeat the League of Assassins members who've come for her, by promising it to him, only to backstab him and hand him over to the police. Selina is a cunning, seductive figure who genuinely grows to care for Harley, Ivy and Luke and ends the book succeeding with her plans to save her sister, heading off for her next heist.

* ''Literature/AliensStevePerryTrilogy: Nightmare Asylum'': [[ItCanThink The Xenomorph Queen]] is used as a captive by the insane General Thomas Spears to breed new "soldiers" for him to take over earth and destroy the other Xenomorphs. Upon Spears burning her children, the Queen [[BestServedCold bides her time]], directing her children to play along with Spears' orders and desires, even sparing civilians when unleashed upon them. Once she has Spears [[ObfuscatingStupidity believing she is obedient]], the Queen lets him take her back to earth where she is able to reunite with her children over a new kingdom with Spears no longer needed.

** ''Literature/CatwomanSoulstealer'': Selina Kyle, aka ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, rose up from illegal street fighter to pay for her sister's medical bills to become a skilled member of the league of Assassins in two years. After discovering a way to use Lazarus pit formula to cure her dying sister, Selina leaves the league and heads back to Gotham City where she starts a crime spree in order to recruit both a skilled biochemist to help her complete it in ComicBook/PoisonIvy and a way to contact ComicBook/TheJoker and make a deal with him in ComicBook/HarleyQuinn. Starting a massive, flashy crime spree to take control of the criminal underworld and outwitting [[ComicBook/{{Batwing}} Luke Fox]]'s attempts to arrest her, Selina lets herself get captured eventually, knowing she'll be transferred to Arkham Asylum due to the infamy shes gained and uses Joker and his army to defeat The League of Assassins members who've come for her, by promising it to him, only to backstab him and hand him over to the police. Selina is a cunning, seductive figure who genuinely grows to care for Harley, Ivy and Luke and ends the book succeeding with her plans to save her sister, heading off for her next heist.
** ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}: Dawnbreaker'', by Matt de la Peña: [[{{ComicBook/LexLuthor}} Lex Luthor]] is a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive rich young man]] visiting Smallville from Metropolis for mysterious reasons. Lex convinces young people in town (including a young Clark Kent and Lana Lang) to investigate the disappearance of Mexican immigrants in town, thinking that the powerful Mankins Corporation is responsible. After being caught flat-footed the first time he investigated a Mankins facility, he is better prepared the second time, having satellites spy on another Mankins facility, bringing a dart gun to take out guards, equipment to climb the facility's walls and camera equipment to capture footage of the Mankins Corporation's crimes. After Clark defeats the Mankins Corporation, revealing their crimes and leading to their major officials getting arrested, Clark discovers that Lex's company, Luthor Corp, bought up the Mankins Corporation's assets, with Clark unwittingly having helped Lex take down a powerful rival and [[CallForward setting up a more powerful enemy]] he will have to deal with in the future.

* ''Untold Tales of Franchise/SpiderMan'' anthology's "The Ballad of Fancy Dan", by Ken Grobe and Steven A. Roman: [[TheDon Wilson Fisk]] AKA [[{{ComicBook/TheKingpin}} the Kingpin]] is as a clever and dangerous as ever. Seeking to expand his criminal empire, he convinces an Atlantic City crime boss named Martin Severino to kidnap Rudy Loyola, the adopted son of Severino's criminal rival, Joe Loyola. Kingpin then informs Spider-Man and [=''Fancy''=] Dan Brito (who is Rudy's biological father) of Rudy's whereabouts, with Spider-Man and Fancy Dan busting up Severino's operation, having Severino arrested by the FBI. With Severino arrested and Joe Loyola deciding to retire from crime, the Kingpin is able to take control of Atlantic City's underworld, with Spider-Man being [[ManipulativeBastard tricked]] into doing the Kingpin's dirty work for him.

** [[TheStrategist Dancer]], born Dorin Rav, was a genius assassin who co-founded the [[Characters/MalazanBookOfTheFallenTheMalazanEmpire Malazan Empire]] with Kellanved. Knowing they could not achieve all they desired as mere mortals, the two engineered their own assassinations at the hands of the ambitious Laseen. Becoming Cotillion the Rope, God of Assassins, Cotillion takes the young Apsalar as a pawn, [[TheCorruptor transforming her into a ruthless killer]] and engineers plots across the city of Genabackis with a number of assassinations. Weaving his plots through the novels, Cotillion frequently interacts to assist Apsalar and dispatch potential issues, building a network so that no matter what, he and Kellanved, now Ammanas or Shadowthrone of High House Shadow, will benefit from mastery of the powerful Gates of Azath. In the end, Cotillion is the one to strike the Crippled God from his chains, bringing salvation to the world itself.

* ''Literature/JadeCity'': Ayt Madashi is the [[BigBad main antagonist]]. Killing her rivals to become Pillar of the Mountain clan after her father's death, Madashi intends to have her clan control the jade market. In conflict with the No Peak clan, Madashi proves a cunning foe, using assassination and corrupting a former member for gathering info, as well as kidnapping the youngest child of the No Peak's leading family. Manipulating the No Peak into murdering a jade smuggler so the Mountain clan may take over his operation to nearly conquer the black market. Madashi also manipulates a conglomerate head into handing over his business to her, further consolidating her resources and proves herself backed by countless contingencies, even dying while killing the No Peak's own Pillar.

* ''Literature/AlexRider'': "[[ProfessionalKiller Yassen Gregorovich]]", real name Yasha, is a ruthless and efficient [[Characters/AlexRiderScorpia SCORPIA]]-affiliated assassin. After escaping the destruction of his home village, he uses his wits to survive before being rescued by a SCORPIA assassin. During his training, he develops a friendship with an undercover John Rider, who encourages him to leave the organization. After finding out that Rider is an [=MI6=] agent, he decides to remain with SCORPIA, his first target being the man responsible for the destruction of his hometown. In the present day, despite his willingness to work alongside villains such as Herod Sayle and Damian Cray, he proves to have a [[NobleDemon moral code]], as he refuses to directly [[WouldntHurtAChild kill children]]. He shows a particular soft spot towards John's son Alex, telling him that he shouldn't be a spy and that he should be living like a normal 14-year-old.

* ''Literature/TheCampHalfbloodSeries'':
** ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'':
*** Luke Castellan, while introduced as a friendly mentor figure, is TheDragon to Kronos. Holding a resentment towards the gods due to feeling abandoned by his father, Hermes, Luke manipulated countless other demigods into joining Kronos's forces, convincing Silena Beauregard to act as his spy by tricking her into believing nobody at camp would get hurt. Under Kronos's orders, Luke steals both Zeus's Master Bolt and Hades's Helm of Darkness in an attempt to start a war between the gods, convincing Ares to help him when the war god catches him. In ''The Lightning Thief'', when [[Characters/TheCampHalfBloodSeriesPercyJackson Percy]] is claimed by Poseidon, Luke summons a hellhound to trick Percy and Chiron into believing that Hades is the true culprit. When Percy succeeds in his quest to find and return Zeus's Master Bolt, Luke lures Percy into the woods and poisons him with a pit scorpion, not taking the risk Percy beating him in a fight. In ''The Titans Curse'', to have her serve as bait for the goddess, Artemis, Luke risks his life by holding the sky to trick Annabeth into taking his place when she holds it to save his life. In ''The Battle of the Labyrinth'', Luke persuades the inventor, Daedalus, into giving him the string of Ariadne so that he can find a route for Kronos's forces to invade Camp Half-Blood. Luke later allows the spirit of Kronos to take over his body after gaining nigh-invulnerability from the River Styx. Despite Luke's manipulative nature, he truly believed he was doing what was best for demigods, and when he realized how much he hurt Annabeth, [[HeroicSacrifice ends his own life to stop Kronos]].
*** [[BadassBookworm Daedalus]] is a genius inventor from the times of Ancient Greece, infamous for constructing the [[LivingLabyrinth self-aware and ever-expanding death trap]] that is the Labyrinth. After murdering his similarly gifted nephew Perdix in a fit of jealous rage, Daedalus lured King Minos into a trap to finally rid himself of the King of Crete's mad pursuit. Knowing he wouldn't be safe from Minos' specter Daedalus hid within the Labyrinth, transferring his consciousness into automaton bodies to ensure his immortality throughout the centuries. Approached by Luke in modern times with the offer to be made King of the Underworld should he help them navigate the maze and invade Camp Half-Blood, Daedalus takes up the identity of Quintus to observe the demigods and decide whether they stand a chance against the Titans. Eventually deciding to help Luke, Daedalus nevertheless [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor leaves Percy his pet Hellhound Mrs. O'Leary]] to help the demigod. When betrayed by Kronos' forces Daedalus gives his life to destroy the Labyrinth and the Titan's army, content with his punishment in the Underworld as long as he gets to make amends with his nephew.
** ''Literature/TheKaneChronicles'': [[CardCarryingVillain Set]] is the GodOfEvil, who upon being freed from his imprisonment immediately traps Osiris in a coffin. Possessing Amos, Set has him sabotage Brooklyn House's security so he can send his minions after Horus and Isis' hosts, Carter and Sadie Kane. Having Amos save the siblings from Sobek, Set lures them to his pyramid so he can use them to power his storm which will engulf the world. Later summoned and [[SealedEvilInACan trapped in a jar]] by Vladimir Menshikov, Set exposes the invisible Carter so he and Sadie will be [[EnemyMine forced to free him]] to fight the more powerful Vladimir. Set gives Sadie the location of the last scroll of the Book of Ra in exchange for her ability to use his Ren, and departs in peace. To prepare for the battle against Apophis, Set teaches Amos his branch of divine magic and complies with his restraint when fighting the serpent's minions. Genuinely loyal to Ra, Set nevertheless stands by Horus' side when he ascends to King of the Gods, [[AndTheAdventureContinues seemingly with another plot already gleefully in mind]].
** ''Literature/MagnusChaseAndTheGodsOfAsgard'': [[MasterOfIllusion Utgard-Loki]] is a powerful sorcerer and king of the Mountain Jotunn. Introducing himself by tricking Magnus into giving him his falafel and subsequently attacking him, the giant drags Magnus across buildings until he "[[MagicallyBindingContract swears by his troth]]" to bring him an apple of immortality. Utgard-Loki sends Magnus on a quest to go fishing for the World Serpent Jormungandr, which leads to them finding both an apple and the Sword of Summer needed to prevent Fenris Wolf's escape. Later killing Otis to try and prevent Magnus from falling into Loki's trap, the Jotunn king brings Magnus and his friends to his palace so he can tell them how to stop the trickster god and [[EvilVersusOblivion stave off the apocalypse]]. Knowing that [[SlaveToPR his court would overthrow him]] if he helped the mortals for free, Utgard-Loki first puts them through challenges rigged against them so they can prove their worthiness by winning against all odds.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Lord Havelock Vetinari turned Ankh-Morpork from a broken down, weak city run by a cut-throat, utterly insane monarchy into the most powerful city in the entire Disc, run by a highly efficient government that headed by himself, dominating through cultural and economic might rather than force of arms. Vetinari also happens to be a genius who is the one man who [[VetinariJobSecurity keeps the city in line, knowing without him, it would collapse into chaps, so that none may challenge or remove him.]] Well aware of how terrible the world can be, Vetinari utilizes trickery and manipulation to better it and will happily manipulate other heroes to deal with threats to his city. While Vetinari does not believe a perfect world is even possible, he will scheme, lie, cheat and manipulate all to improve what he can, and is never not in control of events as they unfold.

* ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'':
** [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]] is the BlackKnight and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia, responsible for the brutally swift conquest of Callow and one of the longest reigns ever seen in Praes. Throughout the years, [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] uses his expansive spy network to discover and murder prospective heroes; reforms the Legions of Terror to finally allow competent greenskins into positions of authority; and improves living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. Taking on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, Amadeus gives her the guidance and freedom to grow into a truly terrifying villain rivalling his own reputation. Even when his former apprentice betrays Praes, Amadeus nevertheless provides her aid by destroying the route upon which further Crusade armies could march on Callow, simultaneously giving his own forces the opportunity to raid into Procer. Upon losing his Name, Amadeus decides to challenge Malicia's right to rule after learning of her deal with the Dead King, spending the next few years furthering the civil war in Praes without ever taking a direct part. A self-admitted and unapologetic monster, Amadeus ultimately dies after forcing the High Lords into electing him an Emperor-less Chancellor and goading Cat into killing him, destroying the self-destructive system of the Tower and cementing his [[LikeASonToMe daughter's]] new role as Warden of the East.
** [[CardCarryingVillain Kairos Theodosian]] is the Tyrant of Helike, who upon learning he would die within thirteen years decides not to spend that time in mediocre obscurity. Assassinating representatives from the other Free Cities, the Tyrant starts a civil war that draws in both Hanno and the Black Knight, the latter of whom Kairos betrays to the Wandering Bard. Upon winning Kairos has [[PuppetKing Anaxares elected Hierarch]] and makes preparations for the League to join the continent-wide war, falsely professing "[[BlatantLies eternal friendship]]" to every major player. Trading information with every army at Iserre, the Tyrant shares his complete picture of the battlefield with the Dead King while intending to steal the unclaimed Arcadia shard from him, before joining the group formed to stop him and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder repeatedly betraying everyone present]] until Tariq curses him to speak the truth lest Mercy smite him. Later orchestrating a trial for Hanno ending with Anaxares judging the Seraphim guilty and entering into a deadlock with them, Kairos invokes his curse by prematurely declaring victory, preventing Mercy from interfering and dying triumphant. With unrepentantly insane plans masking his competence, Kairos is a throwback to the [[LargeHam over-the-top villains of old]], dying proudly declaring that he has slain the Age of Wonders as he's greeted with applause from the Gods Below.
** [[GoodIsNotSoft Tariq Fleetfoot]] is the Grey Pilgrim and [[OldSuperhero one of the oldest heroes in Calernia]], responsible for killing hundreds of villains before they could become greater threats. Joining the Tenth Crusade, Tariq serves as TheMentor to the various other heroes and generals taking part in the attack on Callow, acting cordial to Catherine but refusing to make peace as he fears her becoming a second Dead King. Attempting to orchestrate a pattern of three with Catherine so he can hold their third confrontation over her, Tariq nevertheless accepts her surrender and negation of the pattern before teaming up to fight the Dead King. Needing to crown then kill a Twilight King to prevent a shard of Arcadia from crashing onto Creation, Tariq helps kill his closest friend, the Saint of Swords, when she tries to destroy the Twilight Crown. Proceeding to take on the title of Twilight King before killing himself, the Pilgrim is resurrected by Catherine and gives his support for both her Accords and her petition to join the Grand Alliance. Always empathetic yet holding nothing to be more important than [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]], Tariq [[HeroicSacrifice gives his life]] to destroy the Dead King's armies and give Catherine time to stop him.
** [[BloodKnight Larat]] is the former Prince of Nightfall, assisting the King of Winter in his scheme. Seeking to escape the restraints that hold back the fae, Larat assists Catherine Foundling against Summer in exchange for seven crowns and one. Leading TheWildHunt, Larat binds himself to Creation by pledging their services to the now Queen of Moonless Nights, serving as Catherine's [[DragonWithAnAgenda "treacherous lieutenant"]] and personal hound of war until the debt she owes is paid. When the crown of the Twilight Court is offered as his payment Larat abdicates before Catherine can kill him, turning the Hunt into something unprecedented and [[ScrewDestiny leaving them free to do whatever they desire]].
** The [[FaerieCourt Prince of Bleak Solstice]], now serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] in Arcadia, seeks to escape the monotonous cycle of acting out stories that the Fae are stuck in. Ordering an invasion of Callow, the King allows [[TheDreaded Catherine Foundling]] into the court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia. Upon her besting the Duke of Violent Squalls the King makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring should she fail that Callow is dragged into the next story. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King and merge both courts]], with the now King of Arcadia leaving Catherine with the remaining power of Winter in return.
** [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Dread Emperor Traitorous]] was infamous for his habit of double-crossing anyone he could, stating that "Treason is more art than act." Starting numerous cabals with the intent to overthrow himself, Traitorous successfully usurped his own throne countless times, his co-conspirators unaware of his true identity until it was too late. Managing to disguise himself as his female Chancellor, betray a villain with the Name of Betrayer, trade the soul of a single gnat for infernal enlightenment, and fake a redemption even when an Angel Choir got involved, Traitorous notoriously stated that he would prefer being on all sides of history rather than one, ultimately committing suicide and [[ThanatosGambit framing over a hundred different people for his murder]].
** [[ZanyScheme Dread Emperor Irritant]], the [[BewareTheSillyOnes Oddly Successful]], was known for his ability to find victory through the strangest of tactics. Frequently using his defeat at the hands of heroes to further his own plans, Irritant would repair the palaces they destroyed to pull Praes out of an economic slump, let them defeat the rebellious army he hadn't paid in over a year, trick them into destroying artifacts belonging to political rivals while Irritant attempted to "stop" them, and use their honor to avoid punishment by abdicating to become a surprisingly decent shoemaker on three separate occasions. Waiting for luck to turn all the way around back in his favor, Irritant made his mark as an eccentric yet strangely competent Dread Emperor.

* ''Literature/TheCousins'' by, Karen M. [=MacManus=]: [[WildCard Paula Donahue]] is the cheerfully amoral accomplice to her sister [[BigBad Theresa]]'s revenge plot against Adam and Anders Story, who murdered Theresa's son and Paula's nephew. When Mildred Story, the brothers' mother and Theresa's employer, dies, Theresa [[DeadPersonImpersonation assumes her identity]], bringing Paula along to impersonate herself. The sisters then disinherit the Story children and live large off Mildred's usurped fortune for twenty-five years without anyone suspecting a thing. When the Story grandchildren start to pick apart the scheme, Paula burns Mildred's mansion down and escapes as Theresa dies and other accomplices are exposed. [[GracefulLoser Graceful in defeat]], Paula later writes to the grandchildren to praise their investigative skill and inform them of her desire to continue pursuing Adam and Anders until they are brought to justice.

** [[CoolOldGuy Rudd Threetrees]] is the ''de facto'' leader of Logen Ninefingers' Northmen gang after the latter's apparent demise, and uses his mind for [[TheStrategist clever strategies]] to lead the group against Bethod and the Shanka. A brutal warrior who nonetheless has standards, Threetrees takes time to hunt down the butchers of an entire family and kill them all, even down to the youngest, innocent soldier. After a failed attempt at a truce with Bethod, Threetrees resolves to [[EnemyMine ally with enemy Union forces]] and wipe out Bethod once and for all, advising Union commanders on the best ways to strike at Bethod and his forces. Even though killed in battle, Threetrees goes down fighting the monstrous [[TheDreaded Fenris the Feared]] with bravery in a harsh duel, and it is Threetrees' tactics and efforts that save the Union from further losses afte

* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series:
** ''Salamandastron'': Ferahgo the Assassin, the charming, blue-eyed weasel warlord of the Corpsemakers, is one of the craftiest threats to ever attack Salamandastron. Known and feared for his disarming blue eyes and charming temperament, Ferahgo put these to good use to manipulate and slay the parents of future Badger Lords Urthwyte and Urthstripe, claiming the lands of the southwest for himself. Ferahgo attacks Salamandastron seasons later when Urthstripe rules, employing trickery and poison in his attempted assaults while remaining deftly ahead of his treacherous minions, tricking two who try and slay him while he's grievously wounded into taking out a decoy before he kills them. Unique among other ''Redwall'' villains for even having slightly more positive traits, Ferahgo genuinely loves his son Klitch and tolerates his ineffectual attempts at betrayal, and dies in a MutualKill with a Bloodwrath-consumed Urthstripe, fearlessly facing the badger to the end in comparison to countless other vermin [[DirtyCoward who die running]].
** ''Marlfox'': Mokkan, the last of the titular Marlfoxes standing, is the eldest and cleverest of his ruthless siblings. Masterminding their raids on Redwall abbey to steal the tapestry of Martin the Warrior, Mokkan promptly doublecrosses his siblings, stealing some of their boats and destroying the rest after sending them to fight Redwall Abbey, as well as rooting out and murdering a spy his sister sends after him. Having realized that once their mother dies, infighting will begin, Mokkan intends on getting a head start in placing himself close to the throne. Mokkan arrives at Castle Marl to find his sister Lantur has murdered their mother and is crowning herself queen. Mokkan swiftly outwits and murders her, making himself king, where he even promises that he will promote any slave to his personal guard or demote a guard to a slave based solely on merit. Even among the clever Marlfoxes, Mokkan distinguishes himself as one of the cleverest villains to grace a ''Redwall'' novel.
** ''Taggerung'': Vallug Bowbeast and Eefera are members of the Juskarath sent with the new chieftain Gruven to hunt down the Taggerung, Tagg, after he is framed for their leader Sawney Rath's murder. Far smarter and deadlier then Gruven, the two humiliate him and abandon the rest to die so they may kill Tagg and claim the title of chief for themselves, each plotting to do away with the other when the time comes. The two proceed to hunt Tagg to Redwall abbey, blackmailing the abbey to give them the Taggerung while capturing Gruven and his team, making it appear as if the abbey is besieged by a horde while keeping minimal danger to themselves, with Vallug even mortally wounding the powerful Cregga Rose-Eyes, the badger matriarch of Redwall. Two of the most ruthless, yes effective vermin around, Eefera and Vallug demonstrate rare skill and resourcefulness for villains, putting Redwall under more threat as a duo than entire armies have achieved.

* ''Literature/TheTaleOfDespereaux'': Roscuro used to be a rat living in a ship, accidentally causing the death of the Queen of Dor due to his imprudence and causing Dor to become a gloomy place. Taken by the tyrannical Boticelli Remorso, Roscuro becomes his servant, helping him in the oppression of the other rats of the rat world with guilt, even helping Despereaux due to their mutual curiosity for the outside world. Intending to atone for his actions, Roscuro tries to apologize to Princess Pea but is harshly rejected. Resenting that, Roscuro manipulates the naive Miggery "Mig" Sow to kidnap the Princess by faking kindness before locking her in a room. Realizing his own awfulness after seeing Pea's despair, Roscuro betrays Boticelli and dooms him to his death, apologizing for his actions and returning to his life at sea after Dor returns to its former radiance.

* ''[[Literature/AWomansWork A Woman's Work]]'', by Creator/TanyaHuff: Queen Arrabel eschews both needless violence and senseless honour, ruling instead with brilliant logic, having one enemy shot to death when he demands single combat and building a hospital and schools [[BreadAndCircuses to keep her populace loyal and happy]]. Immediately deducing the nature of an assassination attempt, Arrabel moves to crush the king backing it, first sending disguised bards to sway swathes of his people from him, before marching on his lands to conquer it with tactical advantage.

* "[[Literature/HopFrog Hop-Frog]]" by Creator/EdgarAllanPoe: The titular [[BewareTheSillyOnes Hop-Frog]] is a [[HandicappedBadass physically challenged yet athletic]] court jester who enacts a plan of revenge against the cruel King and his councilors for abusing him and his lover Trippetta. When the King requests he come up with a fitting theme for his masquerade ball, Hop-Frog convinces the King and his councilors to disguise themselves as Orangutans to scare the guests. He also tricks his tormentors into carrying a chain that he's hooked to the chandelier above and leaving him with the only key out of the locked ballroom. As the act commences, Hop-Frog hoists the helpless aristocrats to hang from the chandelier, clambers to the top, and lights them ablaze with a torch. He then exposes their crimes to the shocked crowd before making his escape with Trippetta through the skylight, having left his enemies to burn and earned freedom for himself and his lover.

* ''Literature/ThreeHundredThirtyHours'' & ''[[Literature/ThreeHundredThirtyHoursRevolution Revolution]]'': Jack Lane, originally a cowardly teenager from Poplaton chosen to lead his country's team in "[[DeadlyGame the Program]]" wins through his wits against Don Hunter and his team, then grows more devious upon discovering that the Yofrenian dictatorship planned to show false evidence to claim that the Poplaton team cheated. Hacking into government networks, Jack discovers a select few places not under surveillance and starts a rebellion moment from them. Declaring war on Yofren, Jack, under disguise, befriends several Yofrenian soldiers and [[BatmanGambit nudges them into setting the battle between Yofren and the rebellion in Flesa, one of the few places devoid of surveillance cameras]]. This allows him and the rebels to [[FakingTheDead fake their deaths]] after their defeat in the ensuing battle. Reaching places where grenades powerful enough to destroy Yofren's buildings were hidden, Jack Lane wins the war by bombing several Yofrenian buildings full of innocents as well as [[IHaveYourWife threatening to kill the grandchildren of Yofren's government CEO Yousef Gold]]. Having made sure that Poplaton gains world leadership, Jack Lane lives the rest of his life as a simple repairman, married and getting away with his crimes.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' franchise:
** [[ByronicHero Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers]] is one of the Great Bastards of King Aegon IV Targaryen. Siding with his brother Daeron over his rebellious brother Daemon Blackfyre, Bloodraven arranged Daemon's death at the Redgrass Field and consolidated his own power over the Seven Kingdoms as [[TheDragon the King's Hand]]. At the Ashvale Tournament, Bloodraven [[TheMole infiltrates a Blackfyre plot]] and sees it dismantled with no effort, executing or punishing the rebellious lords, while treating his young cousin Aegon V--or "Egg"--with respect and even affection. Later securing the throne for Egg by treacherously having a Blackfyre throne claimant murdered, Bloodraven allows himself to be sent to the Wall where he later uses the chance to become the final Greenseer, [[GreaterScopeParagon guiding Bran Stark to him]] to become his teacher.
** ''Literature/FireAndBlood'':
*** [[TheGoodKing Aegon I Targaryen]], later known as "Aegon TheConqueror", arrived in the land of Westeros with a dream to unite it by conquest. Sending his sisters to conquer multiple kingdoms while dealing with the Riverlands personally, Aegon [[OneManArmy singlehandedly]] ended the line of Harren the Black to control the Riverlands. Later victorious via tactically using his dragons at the Fields of Fire, Aegon would become [[FounderOfTheKingdom Westeros's first king]], taking the Faith of the Seven as a shrewd political maneuver while installing new institutions to ensure the stability of his nation, forever enshrined as "The Dragon", first and [[TheAce one of the greatest Targaryen kings]].
*** [[TheDreaded Daemon Targaryen]] is Aegon's descendant who was known to be a great man and monster, wonder and terror of his age. Reforming the City Watch into the Goldcloaks, Daemon ran off to the Narrow Sea to fight pirate fleets at the Stepstones and carve out his own kingdom before returning home and offering his brother, King Viserys I, his crown. When he wished to marry the betrothed Laena Velaryon, Daemon manipulated her betrothed to challenging her to a duel, also knowing he could use the protection and wealth of her House. When he married his niece, Rhaenyra, Daemon was her closest supporter during the Dance of Dragons and the terror of King Aegon II's forces with his skill and experience, even [[RevengeByProxy ordering one of Aegon's young sons killed]] in retribution for Rhaenyra's eldest. When Rhaenyra ordered his companion Nettles killed, Daemon disobeyed her before killing Aegon's strongest Dragonrider, Prince Aemond, [[MutualKill at cost of his own life]].

* ''Literature/TheFirstLaw'' and associated works:

** ''Literature/TheAgeOfMadness'': [[SpinOffspring Rikke, daughter of the Dogman]], begins the trilogy as an idealistic Northwoman gifted or cursed with the Long-Eyem the power of prophecy. When she assists her old friend Leonault "Leo" dan Brock in defeating warmongering prince Stour Nightfall, Rikke is soon abandoned by the egotistical Leo and works at uniting the North against the ruthless Stour. After betraying Leo in his rebellion to secure the victory of King Orso and [[SocialClimber enhancing her own position]], Rikke has Stour overthrown in a trap to take control of the North and proceeds to prepare for war against Stour's clever father, Black Calder. Using a FakeDefector as a double agent, Rikke executes Stour in Calder's view to lure him into a fatal trap to win her civil war before ending up betraying even Orso himself to broker peace with a vengeful Leo and secure her position as undisputed ruler of the North.

* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'':

* ''Series/TheFirstLaw'' and associated works:

** [[BloodKnight Larat]] is the former Prince of Nightfall, assisting the King of Winter in his scheme. Seeking to escape the restraints that hold back the fae, Larat assists Catherine Foundling against Summer in exchange for seven crowns and one. Leading TheWildHunt, Larat binds himself to Creation by pledging their services to the now Queen of Moonless Nights, serving as Catherine's [[DragonWithAnAgenda "treacherous lieutenant"]] and personal hound of war until the debt she owes is paid. [[spoiler:When the crown of the Twilight Court is offered as his payment Larat abdicates before Catherine can kill him, turning the Hunt into something unprecedented and [[ScrewDestiny leaving them free to do whatever they desire]].]]

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':

* ''Literature/DCIcons'' series:

** ''Franchise/{{Superman}}: Dawnbreaker'', by Matt de la Peña: [[{{ComicBook/LexLuthor}} Lex Luthor]] is a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive rich young man]] visiting Smallville from Metropolis for mysterious reasons. Lex convinces young people in town (including a young Clark Kent and Lana Lang) to investigate the disappearance of Mexican immigrants in town, thinking that the powerful Mankins Corporation is responsible. After being caught flat-footed the first time he investigated a Mankins facility, he is better prepared the second time, having satellites spy on another Mankins facility, bringing a dart gun to take out guards, equipment to climb the facility's walls and camera equipment to capture footage of the Mankins Corporation's crimes. After Clark defeats the Mankins Corporation, revealing their crimes and leading to their major officials getting arrested, Clark discovers that Lex's company, Luthor Corp, bought up the Mankins Corporation's assets, with Clark unwittingly having helped Lex take down a powerful rival and [[CallForward setting up a more powerful enemy]] he will have to deal with in the future.

* ''Literature/DreambloodDuology'': [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Prince Eninket]], while still a child, learned how the Hetawa controlled his kingdom of Gujareh through Dreamblood addiction. Resolute to stay in control, Eninket murdered his father and most of his siblings to take power, then investigates the history of his country to discover the Hetawa murdered their founder when they were unable to control him. Using this to blackmail and control the Hetawa, Eninket decides to become a god through the consumption of massive quantities of Dreamblood, sincerely believing [[WellIntentionedExtremist an immortal monarch will be best for his people]] and beloved wife and children. Needing to cause tens of thousands of deaths for such an amount of Dreamblood, Eninket [[TheCorruptor corrupts an elderly Gatherer]] into becoming a Reaper, then assembles a mercenary army to attack the neighboring nation of Kisua, intending for his Reaper to devour both armies and generate the Dreamblood he needs. To further his plan, Eninket intends for his army to conquer all of Kisua, then march forth on the rest of the world. Locking away his only surviving brother for trying to stop him, Eninket plans for the novice Gatherer Nijiri into becoming yet another Reaper for his schemes and is only ultimately stopped by Nijiri's [[DidntSeeThatComing unforeseeable defeat]] of his first Reaper.

* ''Literature/TheVillainsSeries'': [[VillainProtagonist Victor Vale]] is an eerily polite, cunning genius who started off as normal university student who upon attempting to gain pain-based powers ended up killing his best friend and went to prison for it. A patient plotter, Victor seeks revenge against his other friend Eli Cardale who sent him to prison and for ten years planned his perfect escape. Upon discovering Eli has become a VillainWithGoodPublicity who hunts other powered beings with religious fervor, Victor destroys Eli's safeguards and then tricks Eli into killing him in front of the police, sending Eli to prison for life and totally ruining his life in the process and later uses his adoptive daughter Sydney to resurrect him. Victor upon becoming sick, later starts a Serial killing spree in order to cure himself and uses his expert skills to fend off the various other villains of the series. A true mastermind always with a new scheme when issues arise, Victor balances his evil with a genuine love for others and the desire in the end to atone for what hes done.

->'''ComicBook/RasAlGhul:''' I know it's difficult to fathom, Bruce, but Jeremiah and I are doing this for your benefit.\\
'''Bruce Wayne:''' How is destroying Gotham supposed to help me?\\
'''Ra's Al-Ghul:''' Because I had a vision, that out of this crucible of blood and fire, will rise the Dark Knight that your city needs. That ''I'' need.
-->-- ''Series/{{Gotham}}''

With a variety of television shows around now and with a medium so long-lasting, it's no surprise [[{{Series}} TV]] has brought us a wide cast of fictional characters. Below are the most [[MagnificentBastard devious, charming, adaptive and intelligent]].

* ''MagnificentBastard/TwentyFour''
* ''{{MagnificentBastard/Arrowverse}}''

* ''MagnificentBastard/CowboyBebop''
* MagnificentBastard/{{Disney}}
* ''MagnificentBastard/FromDuskTillDawn''

* ''MagnificentBastard/KamenRider''
* ''MagnificentBastard/LupinIII''
* MagnificentBastard/MarvelCinematicUniverse
* ''MagnificentBastard/MidsomerMurders''

* ''MagnificentBastard/StarTrek''
* ''MagnificentBastard/{{Supernatural}}''
* MagnificentBastard/{{Whoniverse}}

[[folder: # - G]]
* ''Series/OneEightHundredMissing'''s "Delusional": [[SplitPersonality Karen Moore]] is the personification of Brianna Norton's mental illness who corrupted her into a ruthless SerialKiller. After Brianna was ForcedToWatch a businessman murder her sister, Karen convinced her that all businessmen were out to get her, managing to make Brianna act normal enough to be released from her mental institution before they began killing. When Jess gets visions of Brianna, Karen begins [[TheCorruptor corrupting her]] as well, convincing her that everyone she knows is out to get her with subtle yet accurate observations, turning her into a paranoid mess within a day and leaving her unsure of just what is real. Although she dies with Brianna, Karen manages to cause more damage to Jess than any other killer despite [[ImaginaryEnemy not even being real]].
* ''Series/Alice1976'''s "Jolene Lets the Cat out of the Bag": [[AWolfInSheepsClothing Roger Harris]] is the neighbor and new boyfriend of Jolene, apparently protecting her from a local cat burglar robbing apartments. In truth, Roger himself [[ActuallyIAmHim is the criminal]], having a years-long career of crime in which he has made fortunes for himself through "expertise, intelligence, and a modicum of good taste." Roger takes Jolene and her friends at gunpoint to rob them all, being [[AffablyEvil immensely affable and accommodating]] even while threatening them, and continues to rob various strangers who stumble into the apartment, expressing his pride in being a successful breed of criminal and not a common crook. Promising Jolene that he genuinely cared for her and even offering her a chance to run away with him, Roger [[NearVillainVictory nearly escapes scot-free]], intending to scale down the side of the building just to delight the excitable Vera.
* ''Series/AliceInBorderland'': The mysterious [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Shuntaro Chishiya]] is a cunning manipulator who allies himself with anyone he can to further his agenda of acquiring all of the playing cards to escape from Borderland. Chishiya first appears at the Five of Spades game, where he is one of the two people to figure out the location of the building's saferoom, and helps Arisu and Usagi in taking down the game's tagger. Later joining the organization "Beach", Chishiya works his way up into the organization's ranks, and when the leader of Beach dies and is replaced by the militant Aguni, Chishiya uses Arisu as bait to figure out the hiding spot of the playing cards. When Aguni decides to purge Beach of all non-militant members, Chishiya confronts the insane Sugaru Niragi, burning him with a homemade flamethrower, retrieves the Ten of Hearts card, and joins Arisu and Usagi in playing the next stage of games to track down the GameMaster.
* ''Series/{{Alphas}}'': [[BigBad Stanton Parish]] is an immortal Alpha who intends to create a civil war between Alphas and regular humans, believing his own kind to be in danger from the latter. Parish breaks out all but two inmates of Building Seven, without anybody but the main characters knowing he's involved. He has a lady hypnotize and brainwash anyone in his organization down to the lowest minion to ensure complete loyalty. He lectures the stupid guards as he escapes from custody, and then almost steals psychic's powers. He's had his counterpart's daughter spying for him since before he even knew he existed. When people finally become aware of his existence, after they foiled a terrorist attack of his that would have murdered an entire city Parish hijacks the counter-measures the heroes put in place, and manipulates it so that by defending themselves he can launch an attack that would kill off all non-Alpha humans in the country for what he feels is for the ultimate benefit of the greater good, with the only regular human he intends to survive being [[BigGood Dr. Lee Rosen]], who Parish [[VillainRespect genuinely respects]] and believes will lead the Alphas into a golden age.
* ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'':
** ''[[Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCult Cult]]'': [[ActionGirl Ally Mayfair-Richards]] was initially TheParanoiac, but would become [[TookALevelInBadass much more fearless and conniving]]. After being released from a psychiatric ward, she would soon seek vengeance on [[BigBad Kai Anderson]] and his cult for tormenting her. She integrated herself into the cult where she manipulated Kai into killing his siblings and his most loyal followers on the pretense that they were turning against him; Ally also kills her own wife for joining Kai's cult, partaking in her torment and taking her son away from her. She would then have the FBI raid Kai's hideout completely dismantling his cult and arresting Kai. Decided to steal Kai's plan to run for a seat in the Senate, Ally would then arrange Kai's escape from prison, only to have him publicly humiliated on live-television before having him killed. Winning a seat in the Senate and later starting her own cult, Ally Mayfair-Richard undoubtedly proves that there is something more dangerous in this world than a humiliated man: [[WomanScorned a nasty woman]].
** ''Series/AmericanHorrorStories'': "[[Recap/AmericanHorrorStoriesS1E4TheNaughtyList The Naughty List]]": The mysterious SerialKiller who murders men working as mall Santas before taking their costumes. He dresses up as [[BadSanta Santa Claus]] to hide in plain sight while finds those he deems naughty to kill. A group of obnoxious influencers one such example and to do so he tracks them down in their home and kills them in various fashions before uploading their deaths on [=YouTube=] for everyone to see. By the time the cops arrive, he is already gone before being last being seen [[StalkerWithoutACrush stalking]] another mall Santa and preparing to repeat his MO.
* ''Series/AndThenThereWereNone2015'': "U.N. Owen", true identity Justice Lawrence Wargrave, lures 9 guilty parties to Soldier Island with intent to eliminate them according to his own macabre sense of humor and justice. A consummate sadist since youth, Wargrave maintains a sense of humor and justice, reserving the worst fates for the most morally depraved of the group, faking his own death by convincing the only doctor to assist him before eliminating the man to hold his cover. Wargrave proceeds to kill all the others, saving Vera Claythorn for last due to her murder of a little boy under her care, waiting until it is impossible for her to escape and detailing his plans before he allows her to hang and promptly commits suicide to create the ultimate mystery that no one will ever solve.
* ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'': [[MadArtist Dr. Vink]] is mysterious reoccurring character and a man of many talents and questionable morality. Manipulating countless individuals who cannot guess his riddle to their deaths for his experiments, Vink returns in another tale to save an ailing movie theater only to unleash a vampire from one of his movies when the theater owner [[BullyingADragon reneges on their bargain]]. As a restaurateur, Vink lures his employees into the clutches of a dark gargoyle to extract their fear for his signature "dangerous soup," always [[KarmaHoudini eluding justice]] and coming out on top. As the mentor to the young Rush Keegan, Vink manipulates the situation to set him against the evil pirate ghost Jonas Cutter to ensure Cutter's victims [[KnightTemplar receive their justice]].
* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'''s "[[Recap/ArrestedDevelopmentS1E19BestManForTheGOB Best Man for the GOB]]": [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Ira Gilligan]] is an account who has stolen money from the Bluth Company for many years. To escape the company with the stolen money, Ira puts [[CorruptCorporateExecutive George Bluth Sr.]] in a state of fear by threatening to testify against his illegal dealings, causing George Sr. to plan on [[FrameUp framing]] Ira for the murder of a stripper. Ira masterfully uses George Sr.'s plan as a smokescreen for his escape, and even has the stripper sabotage George Sr. By the time [[StraightMan Michael Bluth]] figures out Ira's ploy, Ira has already fled America with the stolen money while keeping the stripper for company.
* ''Series/AshVsEvilDead'': The 1980s Ruby is one who never had the present day's HeelFaceTurn. Doing away with her demon husband Baal to be free of him when he loses his duel with Ash, Ruby births a demon spawn of her and Ash so she can subvert Ash's chosen one prophecy. Becoming a guidance counselor to turn Ash's long lost daughter Brandy against her, Ruby uses her child to kill others to frame Ash so she can make him the savior of humanity and keep her fellow Dark Ones sealed so she may rule the world and keep a tight lidded control on the forces of evil, while also using her friend Kaya as a mole in Ash's team. Even when defeated and left to the mercy of the Dark Ones, Ruby goes out DefiantToTheEnd, vowing that Ash will destroy them in turn.
* ''Series/{{Attila}}'': Flavius Aetius is a Roman general and strategist whose patriotism is matched only by his cunning and charisma. Released by Emperor Valentinian's mother Placidia from prison to fight their enemies, he implicates Placidia in an assassination that Aetius foils to isolate her from the emperor. To deal with the Visigoths and the Huns, Aetius desecrates Hunnic corpses and makes the Visigoths look responsible to forge an alliance with the Huns, and takes Attila to Rome to impress the young prince with its splendor. After Attila, now king, builds up the Hunnic Empire and turns on the Romans, Aetius orchestrates a plot to assassinate Attila by convincing a slave girl with a grudge against the Huns to seduce Attila and kill him on their wedding night. Even when Aetius is forced to sacrifice his daughter for the good of Rome, he ensures that the man who took her from him, King Theodoric, will be killed in the final battle against the Huns. Aetius returns to Rome in triumph, and his murder at the hands of the emperor signals the final nail in the coffin for the once mighty empire, for there were no more men capable of defending it.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'':
** Londo Mollari, despite his buffoonish exterior, steadily grows into true magnificence. In one famous instance, Londo blackmails his rival, the monstrous Antono Refa into helping him using a complex gambit with a poison. Londo proceeds to create a plan to rescue the [[Characters/BabylonFiveCentauriRepublic Centauri]] from their mad Emperor Cartagia and later arranges a plan to lure Refa to his death at the hands of the [[Characters/BabylonFiveNarnRegime Narns]] when Londo believes Refa murdered the love of Londo's life. For this, Londo simply tells the truth about Refa's horrific crimes and vows to free Narn prisoners in exchange for the Narns murdering Refa. Londo later even manages to outwit [[Characters/BabylonFiveTheShadows the Shadows]] and their servant Morden, blowing up an entire island to wipe out the Shadow presence on Centauri, even ascending to the throne himself. Even when the Drakh think Londo defeated and broken, he works against them to ensure the freedom of Centauri, even at the end when it costs his own life with his once greatest enemy turned best friend G'kar of Narn.
** [[OldMaster Kosh Naranek]] is the Vorlon Ambassador to Babylon 5 and an enigmatic figure who [[{{Koan}} often speaks in riddles]] and resides in an encounter suit. With his long curiosity in the development of the younger races, Kosh has helped guide them to the Vorlon designs. Upon arrival of John Sheridan to Babylon 5, Kosh makes him into his pupil, even as he [[SternTeacher manipulates him and numerous others]] across the station. Training Sheridan to face "legends", Kosh likewise manipulates the Narn resistance leader G'kar to better enable him to lead his people in the aftermath of their darkest hour. [[HeroicSacrifice Sacrificing his life]] to push the Vorlons into war, Kosh ensures a piece of him remains in Sheridan to later save his life and to defeat his former comrade Ulkesh to allow humanity to stop both Vorlons and the Shadows.
** Alfred Bester is a charming [[Characters/BabylonFiveTelepaths psychic]] operative who combines ruthless scheming with an infuriating charisma that drives the heroes crazy even as they are forced to respect his skill. Bester can do this even when his telepathic powers have been removed, frequently arriving on Babylon 5 and twisting events to suit his purposes or the purpose of the Psi-Corps. In one such instance, Bester tricks a prisoner by claiming he can read his mind, even when Bester has been blocked from doing so, relying on bluffs and gambits to get the information he desires when he simply suspected the prisoner must be lying. Bester frequently enacts daring schemes either for the benefit of the Corps or himself, only breaking from his self-serving nature when the woman he loves is threatened by the Shadows, stating that it has made Babylon 5's war his own.
* ''Series/{{Banshee}}'':
** [[TheSmartGuy Job]] is a [[TheCracker computer hacking genius]] who uses his skills to orchestrate many bank robberies. When an old friend of Job gets released from prison, he tells him about the town Banshee and gives him the identity "Lucas Hood" so he could start a new life. Job would also find himself going to Banshee where he organized many robberies and rescues there, one of which was a highly secured Marine Base leading to Job's capture. After bring rescue from his captors 20 months later, Job would track down the man who got him captured and ruin his life by making him culpable to all his crimes while Job leaves Banshee with all the money he stolen to start his own new life.
** [[OverarchingVillain Kai Proctor]] is a wealthy business man and criminal kingpin that rules the titular town from the shadows. Enduring a feud with rival crime lord Alex Longshadow, Proctor would gain the upper hand first by blowing up one of Alex's hotel killing the mayor along the way, having "Lucas Hood" decimate Alex's forces after previously saving his life once, and has his niece Rebecca kill Alex. Facing another opponent from Philadelphia drug dealer Frazier, he would escape Frazier's captivity before returning to kill Frazier. He would eventually become Mayor of Banshee and become allies with the Aryan Brotherhood and the Cartel while finding ways to deter any problems within both criminal organizations. When his luck with the Cartel runs out due to one of their drug shipments being destroyed under Proctor's supervision, Proctor faces them alone with a Thompson Submachine gun to kill as many Cartel hitmen as he can.
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': Romo Lampkin is a survivor of the Cylon genocide and a charismatic AmoralAttorney who agrees to defend Gaius Baltar in his trial for collaboration with the Cylons on New Caprica for the infamy it will bring him. Lampkin proceeds to subtly manipulate both his own client and the witnesses, while his legal experience allows him to dismantle the case against Baltar effortlessly, including getting his own co-counsel Lee Adama to testify and swing the judges' votes in his favor. Lampkin returns when Lee hires him to select a new President of the Colonies after Laura Roslin goes missing before threatening Lee at gunpoint to extract a compelling PatrickStewartSpeech out of him on why he is fit to lead. Lampkin manages to survive Gaeta and Zarek's mutiny by killing a marine with nothing but a pen, later joining the settlers on Earth after briefly having been promoted to President himself.
* ''Series/BigSky'': Season 1: [[OpportunisticBastard Cheyenne Kleinsasser]] is the only [[WomenAreWiser daughter]] of Horst and the youngest of his four children. Seeking to free her mother Margaret from Horst's hostile control and knowing her brothers J.W. and Rand framed her other brother Blake to get the family ranch, Cheyenne berates Margaret to instill anger in her and get her to quit her pill addiction. Witnessing Blake's murder at J.W.'s hands, Cheyenne stages his death as either [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident accidental or suicide]] to hold it over J.W., takes possession of the belt of a ranch hand Rand killed as insurance too and then also feeds information to [=PIs=] Jenny Hoyt and Cassie Dewell to help them with their investigation as well. After Rand is killed and Cheyenne kills J.W. in self-defense, Cheyenne helps cover up Margaret's murder of Horst and then [[YoungestChildWins takes possession of the ranch for them alone]].
* ''Series/BlackSails'':
** John Silver starts off as a selfish OpportunisticBastard, but would soon become [[TookALevelInBadass more brave and daring]], while still keeping his sly charm. Originally, just a cook in Captain James Flint's crew, he soon rise up to the ranks to become Flint's right hand man by burning the schedule Flint dearly wants, forcing Flint to trust Silver in finding the Urca gold. Upon finding the treasure, they would soon be captured by a Spanish Man-O-War, where Silver proceeds to elicit conflict within the crew, allowing Flint to commandeer the ship. Arriving at Nassau, Silver has Jack Rackham's crew salvage the gold for him while Flint goes to war with Charles Vane, and teams up with the latter to rescue Flint in Charlestown. Becoming stranded on an island with the Maroons, Silver brokers an alliance with the Maroons and the Pirates against the British Empire, and has one his own men "defect" to the British forces led by Benjamin Hornigold to lure them into a trap leading to their decimation. Taking the moniker "Long" John Silver, he would grow a reputation that exceeds even that of Flint's, eventually removing Flint from piracy by reuniting him with his lover, Thomas, while Silver ends the war that Flint once started.
** Charles Vane is a bold pirate who once helped to overthrow his mentor UsefulNotes/{{Blackbeard}}. In present, after being deposed by his crew, Vane returns to seize control again and dedicates himself to the freedom of Nassau. When his old flame, Eleanor, is threatened by the sadistic Ned Low, Vane outwits, traps and murders him before nailing his head to a post with a sign reading "I angered Charles Vane." Vane also organizes the sack of a city when it seeks to execute him to save himself and Flint, before helping to organize Nassau's defenses. Even in death, Vane allows himself to be hanged to inspire Nassau to rebellion, reminding the crowd that the British are not as numerous as the islanders and "they can't hang us all" before ordering the hangman to get on with it.
** Vane's former right hand man, Jack Rackham, comes from the bottom to organize a new crew and pirate venture, stealing a fortune of gold out from under the noses of every other player. After the death of Vane, Rackham helps to organize some of the most devastating defeats of the British, and when he finally helps to defeat his nemesis, Woodes Rogers, Rackham on a plan to destroy him by having Rogers' debts purchased and defaulted upon, writing all his failures into a public ledger as Rogers is forced to hear his once-promising future destroyed. Rackham ends the series still secretly a pirate, setting sail for adventure anew with his beloved Anne Bonney at his side.
* ''Series/{{Blackadder}} the Third'': The third [[Characters/BlackadderEdmundBlackadder Blackadder]], [[HypercompetentSidekick Mr. Edmund Blackadder]], is the butler to the idiotic [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfHanover Prince George of Regency England]]. A roguish cheat who constantly scams money out of his employer, Blackadder is also left with the task of running the country, manipulating the election of his completely idiotic sidekick Baldrick to the House of Commons to vote down a measure harmful to the prince by setting up a Rotten Borough and taking over the position as the only voter as well as the supervisor of elections by murdering his predecessors. When a bet is made for him to one-up Literature/TheScarletPimpernel, he simply opts to head down to a coffee house and find an aristocrat at the French embassy. When the real Scarlet Pimpernel is about to reveal his treachery, Blackadder promptly murders him and wins a great award from Prince George by claiming to be the true Scarlet Pimpernel. Even in the finale, Blackadder sees Prince George dead when they've switched identities and takes the chance to claim to be the real prince to the insane King George III, gleefully ascending to the throne of England several years later.
* ''Series/TheBlacklist'': Raymond "Red" Reddington starts the show by turning himself over to the FBI to assist them in taking down a supposedly-dead terrorist, who is just the first out of many in the eponymous Blacklist. He follows that up by constantly manipulating the Feds and criminals to pursue his own agendas. Raymond goes against the worst criminals in the world, constantly outplaying them and leading them to ruin while working towards his own master plan, using others as bait or pawns in his schemes. In one famous incident, he outwits [[HumanTraffickers human trafficker]] Floriana Campo and leaves her poisoned out of his revulsion towards her business, but not before destroying her good name and watching her beg for her life. Despite his ruthlessness, Raymond truly respects those who work for him and cares greatly about series heroine and FBI agent Elizabeth. A man with nerves of steel, Reddington rarely ever loses his temper or composure, frequently playing cop and criminal for his own mysterious ends.
* ''Series/BloodAndTreasure'':
** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Simon Hardwick]], aka [[BigBad Karim Farouk]], is an international smuggler plotting revenge on his father, Jay Reece, for abandoning him and his mother. To this end, he allies with the terrorist [[TheHeavy Rasheed Hegazi]], giving him his real name to use while coordinating and financing grand-scale attacks mostly at properties owned by Reece. Having Hegazi and his men recover the sarcophagus of Mark Anthony before destroying the Pyramids, Hardwick allies with Danny [=McNamara=] and Lexi Vaziri to find the sarcophagus of Cleopatra, killing Hegazi to prevent him from [[HeKnowsTooMuch revealing his identity to the heroes]]. Hardwick obtains both Sarcophagi and laces them with a biological weapon before handing them to Reece in is plan to activate the toxin when Reece unveils them in his museum, while creating a diversion to distract the authorities from protecting him. Nearly succeeding in killing Reece and those near him, Hardwick is only stopped by the timely intervention of Danny and Lexi, where Hardwick accepts his [[GracefulLoser defeat with grace]] while promising that they'll meet again.
** [[WellIntentionedExtremist Captain Bruno Fabi]] is a member of the [[AncientOrderOfProtectors Brotherhood of Serapis]], who has infiltrated the Carabinieri TPC eventually becoming its leader while using their resources to prevent anyone from finding the Sarcophagus of Cleopatra. When he learns that one of the members is working for Karim Farouk, Fabi disguises himself as a paramedic to get close enough to kill Farouk's spy and coerces Lexi Vaziri into allying with him, threatening to kill her LoveInterest, Danny [=McNamara=] should she reveal their alliance to him. When Danny finds out Fabi agrees to help Danny and Lexi find Cleopatra before Farouk does, eventually helping Danny rescue Lexi when she's been held hostage. [[TakingTheBullet Dying saving Lexi]], Fabi reveals that Lexi's mother was working with the Brotherhood to protect Cleopatra, with Fabi's death inspiring Lexi to carry out her mother's duties.
* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'':
** [[GreedyJew Arnold Rothstein]] is one of the most powerful gangsters in New York. Upon losing a major shipment of liquor that brings him in conflict with Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, Rothstein wages a proxy war using his associates, the D'Alessio brothers, to create a problem for Nucky in Atlantic City before selling them out when they [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness cease being of use]]. Managing to connive his way as the sole supplier for Nucky's alcohol, Rothstein later [[YouHaveFailedMe punishes]] his wayward proteges Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky for going behind his back by setting up their arrest with the heroin of rival Sicilian mobster Joe Masseria while having the heroin delivered back to him so he can cut Masseria in as the weaker partner, [[CrazyPrepared making more money and humiliating his would-be rivals]] in one move.
** [[VisionaryVillain Giovanni "Johnny" Torrio]] presents as one of the most conciliatory and reasonable mobsters who is nevertheless a force to be reckoned with. Upon his boss Giacomo "Big Jim" Colosimo refusing to get into bootlegging, Torrio [[DragonWithAnAgenda sets him up for death]] and takes over the Chicago rackets, bringing in profits like never before. Helping to set up the crew of Charlie Sheridan for death after their attack on one of his prostitutes, Torrio later helps to arrange a peace with the Irish mob led by Dean O'Banion, only to have O'Banion killed when he tries to foolishly betray Torrio. After his [[RetiredBadass seeming retirement]], Torrio allies with Luciano and Lansky, using his [[VillainWithGoodPublicity good reputation]] to help set Nucky up for death or to lose everything.
** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Charlie "Lucky" Luciano]] and his best friend [[TheStarscream Meyer Lansky]] spend the first four seasons [[TaughtByExperience learning at the sides of the greatest mobsters of the age]] and put their lessons into ruthless practice in season 5. Luciano has his former mentor and boss Joe Masseria assassinated after manipulating him to his death, seizing control of his outfits and having his rivals killed. Luciano and Lansky proceed to force the other mobsters to submit to them or convince them it is in their best interest to give in and "partner" with them before forcing Nucky Thompson's capitulation by [[IHaveYourWife kidnapping his nephew]] to use as leverage. Realizing that the criminal Valentine Narcisse may also prove a problem, Luciano and Lansky allow him to think he is safe for a time before having him publicly assassinated, ending the season as the dominant masters of organized crime, sitting down to [[TheBadGuyWins do business with a new coalition of their making]].
* ''Series/{{Bones}}''' "[[Recap/BonesS10E19TheMurderInTheMiddleEast The Murder in the Middle East]]": [[ConMan Jimmy Kosinski]] is a [[FauxAffablyEvil charming yet vicious]] bookie, planning to get money from FBI agent Seeley Booth after a bet of his goes wrong. Jimmy subtly threatens Booth's wife, Dr. Temperance Brennan, and their daughter for the money by disguising it as but a simple visit he will make. When Booth's partner James Aubrey tries to stop him, Jimmy simply says he could reveal Booth's gambling issues to the press and ruin his FBI career if they try, while cleverly masking it as just a hypothetical scenario, knowing there's nothing they can do to react to this threat with it being presented like that. Ultimately, Jimmy ends his run as one of the show's [[TheBadGuyWins most successful villains]], having gotten the money and [[KarmaHoudini one of the few to get away with it all]].
* ''Series/BreakingBad'':
** [[Characters/BreakingBadGustavoFring Gustavo "Gus" Fring]] once lost his best friend Max to the ruthless [[Characters/BreakingBadSalamancaFamily Hector Salamanca]] and [[Characters/BreakingBadJuarezCartel Don Eladio]]. Building a drug empire with his own connections, wits and intellect, Gus launches a crusade for revenge, slowly bringing the Salamanca family to ruin and tormenting the now invalid Hector in his nursing home over it. Gus controls the meth trade with an iron fist, frequently seeing through [[Characters/BreakingBadWalterWhite Walter "Walt" White]]'s plans and rendering Walt as helpless before him more than once. Upon returning to Mexico, Gus destroys Don Eladio's cartel in one swift move before returning to the US in triumph. Even after his death, the empire Gus has built endures and only Walt's incompetence manages to destroy it. A suave, sophisticated, even friendly seeming man, Gus repeatedly shows why he is the true master in the game the others are playing.
** Ed Galbraith is a vacuum repairman and salesman who uses this business to mask his criminal activities of "disappearing" anyone willing to pay the price, creating for them new identities and relocating them to new places. Successfully hiding away and creating new identities for both Saul Goodman and Walter White despite their immense presence across national news, Ed learns how to perform chemotherapy to help Walter's cancer for an extra charge, and honors his word to keep his eye on Walt's family. [[Film/ElCamino Later]] striking a deal up with [[Characters/BreakingBadJessePinkman Jesse Pinkman]], Ed sticks to his principles of his prices and turns Jesse away, shrugging off Jesse's attempts at garnering sympathy and repaying Jesse's aggression with mercy after chasing him off. Once Jesse gathers enough money to pay for Ed's services, Ed disappears Jesse to Alaska, promising to give the young Brock a final letter from Jesse and parting ways with Jesse in peace despite their conflicts.
* ''Series/{{Brimstone}}'': [[{{Satan}} The Devil]] himself is the one who manipulates hero Ezekiel "Zeke" Stone, into going to earth to reclaim 113 damned souls who fled hell, holding out the promise of a new hope of heaven over Stone's head. Throughout the series, the Devil is charming, witty and sarcastic, constantly monitoring events and arranging things to have Zeke return his quarry to hell while demonstrating a frightening amount of insight, while always teasing Zeke and pushing him to do his job. While playing Zeke constantly, the Devil 's main interest is keeping the status quo, while always willing to welcome the new damned souls into his domain.
* ''Series/BronBroen'': The Truth Terrorist, real name Sebastian Sandstrod, the BigBad of season 1 is an athletic and military-trained but also well-dressed and charismatic SerialKiller who wants to bring attention to social problems. To do this, the Terrorist starts killing them, giving the issue more attention than ever. Having five children kidnapped and placed inside a locked room, the Terrorist wants to bring attention to child labor by giving a demand that people will have to burn down the offices of five companies using it, everytime it happens he spares one child each, [[EvenEvilHasStandards and doesn't back out of the deal once they do as he says]]. Placing Hennig, an officer committing misconduct which lead to a man's death in the basement of said man's brother, the Terrorist tries framing the brother for the murder by having him torture Hennig. With his true goal being revealed to get vengeance on [[{{Deuteragonist}} Martin Rohde]] for cheating on Sandstrod's wife before she along with their son died, Sandstrod, then named Jens Hansen and [[FallenHero the best policeman around]], now wants revenge on Rohde for ruining his life. He does this by having Rohde's eldest son August build a good relationship with his father by putting them through life-threatening situations, only to later kill him, just so that it would hurt more.
* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'':
** [[LovableRogue Doug Judy]] is the [[GentlemanThief Pontiac Bandit]], an [[AffablyEvil affable car thief]] known for stealing 200 cars. Making himself known to Jake by pretending to be an informant, Doug sends Jake on a goose chase to the barber Doug framed, while he slips past him unnoticed. When Doug unexpectedly encounters Jake, he gives him the drug manufacturer of giggle pig in exchange for a four-star hotel suite where he collaborates with the suite's waiter on his escape, with Jake being too busy capturing the manufacturer. When Doug learns of a hitman trying to kill him he contacts Jake for help, making sure to meet Jake on a cruise ship, where Jake has no jurisdiction, escaping once Jake catches the hitman. Doug later helps Jake capture Doug's adopted brother in exchange for full immunity of his crimes. Getting Jake’s attention again by holding hostages, Doug gets Jake involved in a plan to [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas rescue his mother from a drug lord]] before escaping once more. Upon getting engaged to a judge who wants Doug to uninvite his criminal friends, Doug gets Jake involved in his bachelor party knowing that Jake will get his friends arrested, resulting in Doug avoiding having to uninvite them directly. Always being Jake’s most elusive adversary, Doug Judy’s master planning was only matched by his [[TheCharmer unlimited charm]].
** Trudy Judy is the younger sister of Doug Judy. Turning to crimes for the fun of it, Trudy eventually discovers Doug's old notebooks, and decides to follow his footsteps as a car thief. After being caught, Trudy takes advantage of her brother offering to capture an arms dealer she stole a Ferrari from in exchange for Trudy's charges being reduced. Having an employee of hers act as if he bought the stolen car, Trudy manipulates Doug into arguing with Terry, distracting them from noticing that her employee placed a bomb in the Ferrari. She later sets off the bomb when the car is being delivered, and uses the chaos to sneak away without facing any charges. With an attitude as playful as her brother's, Trudy earns the distinction of being the first person to outwit Doug Judy.
* ''Series/{{Carnivale}}'': Iris Crowe is a fairly spectacular example. The sweet, innocent spinster sister of Brother Justin? Has not only spent her entire life playing XanatosSpeedChess with her brother's true nature, but burned down her brother's church to get him publicity, allowed an innocent man to go to jail and eventual execution for what she did, lured an innocent woman out beyond the camp and then bashed her over the head with a boat oar, to keep her from talking about how evil Justin really is and kept the secret of Sofie's paternity from everyone. After the big battle, when Ben and Justin are lying dead in the cornfield, the New Canaan faithful have almost been completely slaughtered by Justin, and the Carnivale has had to slip away for fear of the authorities in the early morning hours, what is Iris doing? Cooling her heels as the Last One Standing.
* ''Series/Charmed1998'': In their battle against the forces of evil, the Charmed Ones have faced some truly genius and charismatic foes. These are the most brilliant that the forces of evil have to offer against The Power of Three:
** [[BeingEvilSucks Kyra "The Seer"]] is introduced as a DeadpanSnarker psychic demon KnowledgeBroker who's just as comfortable helping the heroes as she is giving a demon-human hybrid the information necessary to murder his entire family. Kyra shows a knack for avoiding harm from unsatisfied clients due to seeing their attacks coming. When one of her visions reveals that the Avatars are on the verge of wiping out demonkind, Kyra wants the Whitelighters to make her human to escape that fate. She bargains with a vision that she's seen of the Avatars' game plans while misleading them on how dire it is so they'll be willing to accept her deal. Yet pragmatism isn't Kyra's only motive for wanting to become human, secretly being sick of the centuries she's spent abetting evil and feels a sense of loss in being biologically incapable of feeling love and other emotions that visions let her see others experiencing. Kyra's desire to become human for the right reasons quickly becomes her defining trait. While she ultimately is killed by a demon unhappy by her betrayal, it's due to circumstances no one could have seen coming, and in the sequel comics [[EarnYourHappyEnding is resurrected and made human just like she wanted to be]].
** Season 1: "[[DirtyCop Inspector Rodriguez]]" is an upper-level demon posing as a police officer to investigate the deaths of his brethren at the hands of the Charmed Ones. Discovering the Charmed Ones' identities, Rodriguez kills his human police partner and then frames their ally Andy Tredeu for the murder. Rodriguez uses the framing to manipulate Andy into getting the Charmed Ones into one place by playing on his love for Prue Haliwell to ensure she brings all her sisters to help confront him as planned. Getting help from the demon Tempus, who locks the Charmed Ones into an endless GroundhogDayLoop, Rodriguez is able to use it to recover and improve ways to kill all of them for good, leading to a NearVillainVictory for the forces of evil. Calm, badass and giving the Charmed Ones their first major defeat by killing Andy permanently, Rodriguez would ultimately show the true power of the Underworld.
** "[[Recap/CharmedS1E22DejaVuAllOverAgain Déjà Vu All Over Again]]" : [[TimeMaster Tempus, the Demon of Time]], is a charismatic, laid back upper-level demon with the ability to control time. Tempus contacts and makes a deal with Inspector Rodriguez to have the Charmed Ones gathter in one place, telling him he has a way to "allow him to improve from his mistakes". Tempus creates a GroundhogDayLoop which resets upon Rodriguez's death and sets time to earlier on in the day, and uses it as a way to contact and help Rodriguez improve his method for killing the Charmed Ones. Tempus ensures that each loop stays exactly the same but for the way that the Charmed Ones are killed, to ensure its effectiveness and lead to victory being only one loop away.
** "[[Recap/CharmedS8E13RepoManor Repo Manor]]": [[WellIntentionedExtremist Savard]] is a crafty demon who will go to any length to free his species from horrible slavery at the hands of the powerful demon the "Slave King". Knowing that only the "Power of Three" can defeat the Slave King, Savard trains [[TheWeirdSisters three apprentices]] to try to copy it by learning the motivations of the Charmed Ones and eventually comes up with a scheme to drain their powers using a magic dollhouse. Eventually Savard kidnaps Phoebe Halliwell and [[CaptureAndReplicate replaces her with one of his apprentices]] to discover if the Power of Three would still be in effect with them. When it succeeds, he does the same with Paige Halliwell. Having his apprentices manipulate Piper Haliwell into finding the Vanquish potion for the Slave King by preying on her wanting her lost husband back, Savard is able to defeat the Slave King and free his people.
** "[[Recap/CharmedS8E21KillBillieVol2 Kill Billie Vol. 2]]": [[VisionaryVillain Nomed]] is a snarky and cunning lower-level demon who desires to vanquish the powerful, demonic Triad to allow the new generation of demons to finally arise from the shadow of the old. Manipulating the Charmed One into an EnemyMine and correctly deducing their whereabouts from their behaviour, Nomed helps reveal the survival of The Triad and convinces them he will act as their spy to discover the plans of the Triad to use the power draining Hollow. Convincing the Charmed Ones to use the Hollow themselves, Nomed gives them information on the whereabouts of the Triad and sends them there, leading to the end of the old generation of demons. One of the show's most successful villains, Nomed ultimately helps to usher in the rise of the new generation of demons and achieves everything he wants.
* ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'': Myth/{{Lilith}}, aka [[MotherOfAThousandYoung Madam Satan]], was the first witch who has faithfully served [[{{Satan}} Lucifer Morningstar]] for ages. Killing Sabrina Spellman's teacher and taking her identity, Lilith flawlessly manipulates Sabrina to darkness, subverting her good intentions and eventually getting Sabrina to sign her name in Lucifer's book. Turning on Lucifer to assist the heroes when he kills her human lover, Lilith manages to see him confined while she takes [[HellHasNewManagement over rulership of Hell]]. Even when Lucifer manages to escape, Lilith negotiates her own survival and stays close to bide her time, eventually able to permanently steal Lucifer's powers and banish him to Earth as a mortal.
* ''Series/TheCloser'''s "[[Recap/TheCloserS6E5HeartAttack Heart Attack]]": [[VigilanteMan Dr. Luis Navarro]] is a brilliant transplant surgeon who [[PayEvilUntoEvil decides to take justice into his own hands]] when he barely saves a twelve year old girl from death after she was gangraped and mutilated. Deducing that one of his free clinic's patients was the leader of the gangrape, Navarro drugs him into giving up the names of his accomplices, then kills the man and harvests his organs to use to save the life of another of his other patients. Deciding to do even more good, Navarro begins tracking down the gangrapists, killing them, and [[OrganTheft taking their organs]] to use in the hospital to save the lives of people on the donor list, then disposing of his victims' bodies in such a way that law enforcement believes it is the work of cartels to throw them off his scent. When finally confronted by Brenda Lee Johnson, Navarro [[ShutUpKirk shuts down]] her attempts to paint him as a scumbag crook, instead focusing on the fact that he's genuinely helping people and rounding off his charming MotiveRant by agreeing to confess only if the heart of his latest murder victim is used to save the life of a young patient.
* ''Series/CodeLyokoEvolution'': The Lyoko-warriors, living their double life, had to deal with these two wickedly brilliant characters:
** After its defeat in ''Code Lyoko'', [[BigBad XANA]] barely survived Jérémie's multi-agent program by fleeing inside the Cortex and giving its source codes to Ulrich, Yumi, Odd and Aélita in order to later regain its strength by retaking them. Still wanting to TakeOverTheWorld, XANA uses Lyoko's towers to sent specters on Earth in order to take back its codes. A master manipulator, XANA successfully manipulated Aélita into giving it most of her codes by having a specter masquerading as her mother and almost succeeded in manipulating William into joining it by [[VillainHasAPoint pointing out the heroes' genuine failures in handling him]]. An opportunist, XANA also hacked Kadic's computer system in order to distract the heroes while it attempts to destroy the [[CoolShip Skidbladnir]]. XANA also successfully figures out Jérémie's plan of using fake codes against him, forcing the latter to abandon the plan despite its initial success. [[BroughtDownToBadass Despite losing most of its power]] and its murderous tendencies, XANA lost none of its smarts, regaining 95% of its power by the end of the series.
** [[TokenEvilTeammate Laura Gauthier]] is a prodigious student in Kadic fascinated by computer science. Introduced by solving a problem [[TeenGenius Jérémie]] had trouble dealing with, she overhears the Lyoko-warriors and takes advantage of William wanting to make up with the team to follow him to the factory, discovering their secret. Saving Yumi from death, only Aélita using the Return to the Past prevented her from being accepted in the team. When the heroes later need her help again, she overheard them saying that they will erase her memory once again. [[XanatosSpeedChess She hacks the RTTP, keeping her memories]] and forcing the heroes [[SixthRanger to accept her]]. When Jérémie leaves her in the computer room, she saves the day by figuring out XANA's attack. When her father attempts to force her to change schools due to XANA's attack giving her disastrous grades, she brings him to the factory, forcing the heroes to launch a RTTP to erase her father's memories. Taking XANA seriously after underestimating it, she manipulates William into helping her destroy the Cortex behind the others' back, [[WellIntentionedExtremist uncaring]] about Aélita risking being unable to see her mother due to said destruction. Smart, ambitious and cunning, Laura is the most morally ambiguous character of the series.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'':
** [[LargeAndInCharge Robert Laybourne]] is the Vice Dean of Greendale Community College and holds the true power of the school. Witnessing Troy Barnes effortlessly repair an air conditioner, Laybourne tries to get Troy to join his Air Conditioning Repair School, even getting Dean Craig Pelton to help him accomplish his goal. Eventually Laybourne manipulates Troy and his [[HeterosexualLifePartners best friend]], Abed Nadir, against each other briefly destroying their friendship and [[Recap/CommunityS3E14PillowsAndBlankets creating a war]] engulfing Greendale. When Troy pleads with Laybourne to help him overthrow [[PsychopathicManchild Ben Chang]], Laybourne complies on the sole condition that Troy leaves his friends and join his annex. Finally successful in recruiting Troy to his school, Laybourne is killed by his second-in-command, [[TheStarscream Murray]], but Laybourne's influence inspires Troy to challenge Murray for the title of the "Truest Repairman", with Troy easily defeating Murray and getting Murray to confess to Laybourne's murder, with Laybourne's ghost appearing to show approval at what Troy has accomplished.
** [[EvilCounterpart Stephen Spreck]] is the Dean of City College who seeks to destroy Greendale Community College. Spreck convinces Annie to help him steal the Greendale space simulator by promising her a City College admission and when she later has a change of heart, he merely states she is not City College material. He then returns in the two-part season finale, first setting up a fake ice cream company and then convincing the school to trash itself by offering up a $100,000 paintball prize. To ensure no student gets the prize he even sends in a ringer, and when that fails declares war on the school, [[NearVillainVictory coming very close to winning]]. While the study group were defined by their love for Greendale, Spreck was defined by his desire to destroy it.
* ''Series/{{Creepshow}}'':
** "[[Recap/CreepshowS1E9TheManInTheSuitcase Man In The Suitcase]]": The titular man in the suitcase appears to be a helpless businessman painfully folded into a suitcase who somehow produces gold whenever he is harmed. In truth, the man is a powerful djinn, far more cunning and in control than he lets on. Seeking out corrupt souls, the djinn feigns at helplessness to see who will try to harm a helpless man for money, even while being unable to repress a dry sense of sarcastic humor. After the segment's hero Justin is upset at the prospect of harming him for wealth, Justin's girlfriend Carla and best friend Alex betray and nearly kill him, whereupon the djinn gleefully takes the chance to present to them their own suitcases, saving Justin and taking the two off for a most unpleasant fate.
** "[[Recap/CreepshowS3E7StrangerSings Stranger Sings]]": [[OurSirensAreDifferent Miranda]] is a flesh-eating siren from the days of Ancient Greece. [[IJustWantToBeNormal Seeking a normal life]] after having lured countless men to their gruesome deaths, Miranda uses her friend Sarah to entice the hapless doctor Barry into performing a surgery on her to remove the vocal cords and give them to Sarah. With the surgery being a success, Miranda becomes mortal again, and kills Sarah as she attempts to rape and kill Barry. Feeling regretful for all the trouble she's caused Barry, Miranda offers to take him on a date.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'':
** "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS1E21SecretsAndLies Secrets and Lies]]":
*** [[HiredToHuntYourself Bruno Hawks]] is a deputy director of the CIA whose [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure reasonable leadership]] hides his devious traits. In truth [[MoleInCharge the mole aligned with Hassan Nadir]], Bruno discovers Agent Summers had converted Nadir's wife to the CIA and smuggles Hassan into the country to find her, torturing Summers to discover her location; when it becomes clear that he won't break, Bruno simply snaps his neck, knowing the CIA will cover it up for him. When the BAU begins investigating, Bruno lets everyone else incriminate themselves without interfering, only taking direct action when Olivia investigates him; after planting a virus at Spence's station to [[FrameUp incriminate him]], he quietly kills her with no one noticing. Although the BAU manages to reveal his treachery with an incredibly elaborate scheme of their own, Bruno accepts his fate with no shame nor regret, accepting his arrest with the knowledge that the CIA will either kill him or fake his death so that he won't have to go to prison.
*** [[PragmaticHero Agent John Summers]], even after his death, sets a plan in motion to bring down the mole in the Agency. Having previously converted Aaliyah Nadir to the CIA and faked her and her childrens' deaths to bring them to America, Summers realized there was [[TheMole a mole]] in the agency. Knowing he would die soon, Summers ordered a psych eval on himself and the four people it was most likely to be, taking the opportunity to subtly tell Gideon where he put the family. After he stashes them at the docks, Bruno confronts him in his home, yet he dies without revealing the family's location. With the family left behind as bait for Hassan, the BAU manage to utilize the pieces Summers left behind to not only track them down just as fast, but also exploit a loophole [[BatmanGambit Summers knew Hassan would fall into]] to arrest him despite his DiplomaticImmunity, also revealing that Bruno was the mole in the process.
** "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS5E3Reckoner Reckoner]]": [[BrainsAndBrawn Judge Boyd Schuller and Tony Mecacci]] are two of the few [=UnSubs=] to truly beat the BAU. When Judge Schuller was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he chose to exact "[[KnightTemplar true justice]]" on those who escaped it and hired Tony, a former mob hitman, to carry it out. Schuller and Tony target those who harmed children, subjecting their targets to [[KarmicDeath brutal but ironic]] fates, such as castrating a child rapist. When the BAU arrives, Tony manages to evade their stakeout and kill Ray without being seen by anyone, and Schuller, predicting when the BAU will figure him out, turns himself in to explain himself. Claiming that Dan Patton, the man who killed his wife in a drunk driving accident, is the final target, the BAU arrives too late to save him from Tony. As they realize too late that [[ILied Schuller was the true final target]], Tony kills Schuller during a transfer, allowing him to evade justice for his crimes, and by the time the BAU leaves Long Island, Tony is still in the wind, [[NearVillainVictory only killed]] when Sean ambushes him after a golf game.
* ''Series/CSIVerse'':
** ''Series/{{CSI}}'':
*** "[[Recap/CSIS2E14TheFinger The Finger]]": After killing his mistress, [[ConsummateLiar Roy Logan]] sets about the perfect way to cover up a murder. Logan begins a complicated plan and has himself intentionally captured by the police before manipulating Catherine Willows into helping him give one million dollars in ransom to his lawyer who will then give it him, fooling him all the while into thinking his mistress is still alive. An expert liar with the ability to make himself seem meek and scared, Logan is able to read the CSI team to discover how much they know and plants evidence to put them off, making them think his wife and lawyer are the true murderers. Skipping out of town after everything falls into place, Logan comes within a hair's breadth of winning and proves himself one of the smartest foes to ever face the [=CSI=]s.
*** "[[Recap/CSIS8E16TwoAndAHalfDeaths Two and a half Deaths]]": [[MasterActress Megan Kupowski]] is a [[ChewingTheScenery talented theatrical]] actress who decides to kill her abusive costar Annabelle by plotting the perfect murder. Secretly learning about her habit of consuming mouthwash, Megan sets about spiking it with blood thinners and gaining the thinners (medication needed for her dog). This weakens Annabelle to the point that any injury will kill her thorough bleeding, with Megan playing the caring and despondent friend of the victim to shore up support. Confronted by the CSI's Grissom and Brass about the medication, Megan [[NervesOfSteel keeps her cool]] and [[RefugeInAudacity expertly reveals a confession while masking it as a hypothetical]] that confuses them, before calling their bluff that they have nothing and leaving to become the networks new star.
*** "[[Recap/CSIS9E22TheGoneDeadTrain The Gone Dead Train]]": [[CrusadingWidower Eric Tobin]] and [[MadDoctor Dr. Susan Williams]] are the grieving husband and mother of Sandra Willaims, who lost her life to rabies due to a medical error by Dr. Jack Shaw. Plotting payback on Shaw, Eric and Susan infiltrate his tattoo business and secretly infect the vilest of his customers to kill them. They then plant evidence to implicate Shaw as being the one responsible and manipulate the team into going after him. To cover their tracks, Eric infects himself to throw them off while Susan gives the invetigators fake evidence which will lead to Shaw's conviction. Coming dangerously close to beating the CSI team, they both take their defeat calmly and confess it was to avenge their loved one.
*** "[[Recap/CSIS10E3WorkingStiffs Working Stiffs]]": [[TheDogBitesBack Paulie Krill]] is a meek, shy office worker, who becomes highly devious after snapping from [[ButtMonkey being pushed around]]. Krill is a genius who discovers a method to rob the hidden safe near his workplace using water with explosives to stop the explosion from permanently closing the safe. After killing his [[AssholeVictim abusive conspirator]] Jason Deveraux, Krill plays Jason's mother so he can get her son's security codes for the safe and cleverly, through sleight of hand, sends those same codes to a coworker being interviewed by the [=CSI=]s to divert attention. Krill comes dangerously close to succeeding, and [[FaceDeathWithDignity even in death]] simply grins at the [=CSI=]s and dies saying that "I knew... it would work" in regards to the safe opening.
*** "[[Recap/CSIS12E8CrimeAfterCrime Crime After Crime]]": [[KillerCop Detective Stanley Richardson]] is a soft-spoken, beloved Las Vegas police officer who, when he discovers he's dying, decides to set up the [[VigilanteMan killings of murderers who've escaped justice]] before he dies. Recruiting his friend Detective Sam Vega, Richardson uses him to track down and then [[PayEvilUntoEvil kill brutal murderers who've escaped justice in the same way they killed their victims]] while making sure everything goes smoothly. Upon the CSI's finding him, Richardson calmly confesses his crimes and tricks them into finding his lockbox with a knife which was used by Vega to kill an informant. Richardson was aware that Vega was dirty and so has [[UnwittingPawn secretly set him up to be killed by the police]]. Richardson [[FaceDeathWithDignity dies in complete peace]] with his mission to punish the guilty complete and stands as one of ''CSI'''s most successful and courteous villains.
** ''Series/ColdCase'''s "[[Recap/ColdCaseS2E4TheHouse The House]]": [[EscapeArtist Hank Dempsey]] is a charming, likeable thief who breaks out of prison to be with the love of his life. A playful trickster, Hank fools and runs circles around the wardens of his prison, carefully escaping from a seemingly inescapable prison twice. Defusing an attempt by another prisoner to kill him, Hank stages his own injuries in order to gain a way to make his final escape from the prison and be with his love. Utterly charming and with a knack for ingenuity, Hank is later able to safely escape justice and continues his days as a happy contended man with his wife.
* ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'''s "[[Recap/CurbYourEnthusiasmS8E10LarryVsMichaelJFox Larry vs. Michael J. Fox]]": [[AsHimself Michael J. Fox]] was Larry's neighbor upstairs, who, despite escalating a conflict with Larry including purposefully shaking up a soda he gives to Larry, while excusing it through [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery Parkinsons]], actually has standards, shown when Creator/LarryDavid continues to escalate the conflict further and was willing to turn the other cheek until Larry [[EveryoneHasStandards drew a Hitler stache]] on his father-in-law. Then, he turned an entire charity organization against Larry, and nearly got him run out of town. Cunning, and able to use his disability to get the things he want, forcing Larry to donate to a Parkinsons charity, Creator/MichaelJFox was one of the most cunning adversaries had faced.
* ''Series/{{Dallas}}'': 2012 series: [[SouthernFriedGenius J.R. Ewing]] is a charming elderly man who helps his son achieve his dream of taking over Southfork ranch and tricks his brother into signing over the property to an investor who's secretly one of J.R.'s associates. Taking over Southfork, J.R. starts to drill for oil on it to secure profits while fooling his brother into thinking he was an invalid to throw him off his scent. Discovering he's dying of cancer, J.R. sets about his "masterpiece" and sets about getting revenge on the family's hated nemesis Cliff Barnes, [[ThanatosGambit having a minion steal Cliff's gun and kill him]] in order to frame Cliff for the crime. A man of total class, J.R. even reveals in his will his genuine love for his family and [[SoProudOfYou is happy that his son will be following in his footsteps as a master manipulator]] in his own right.
* ''Series/DalzielAndPascoe'''s "Death In The Family": [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Aahil Khan]] is a single-minded yet warm, paternal entrepreneur. Arriving in Yorkshire [[SelfMadeMan with nothing he worked his way up]], becoming a successful businessman and a respected figure in Wetherton's Asian community. Capitalizing on his reputation Khan started a Hawallah business -- an illegal global money trade that ran explicitly through trust -- operating out of his legitimate contacts, [[FamilyMan planning to save enough money to send his grandchildren to the best schools and guarantee their futures]]. Tricked into trading money from a bank robbery, Khan's reputation and side business was ruined. Undeterred Khan organised a burglary to reimburse himself with the remaining stolen cash, and when this failed had his sons kidnap the surviving robber Imad Abdullah. His son's attempts to force him into giving them the money failing, taking over Khan apologised to Imad and thanked him for teaching his sons the limits of brute force. In a single conversation Khan convinced Imad into giving him the majority of the money, with Khan allowing him to keep £100,000 and then using his contacts to smuggle Imad abroad to safety, with Khan successfully covering everything up and getting away scot free.
* ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'': [[EvilChancellor Chamberlain skekSil]] is a [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalSkeksis Skeksis]] who appears to be a simpering toady of Emperor [=skekSo=] but is [[NotSoHarmlessVillain far more intelligent and dangerous than he lets on]]. Coming up with the idea of harvesting [[Characters/TheDarkCrystalGelflings Gelflings]] for essence, [=skekSil=] pins the blame for the Skeksis' first victim on her lover Rian to divide the Gelflings, even almost breaking Rian's will with a simple conversation after setting the Hunter [=skekMal=] on him and winning the Hunter's respect by revealing he sees power itself as his quarry. After being replaced by the General [=skekVar=], [=skekSil=] saves his rival's life and manipulates him into a deathly duel with Rian, later ambushing and murdering him to reclaim his position of power. [[Film/TheDarkCrystal Long after]] most Gelflings are gone, [=skekSil=] fails in his bid to reclaim power, only to capture one of the final Gelflings to return himself to the good grace of the Skeksis to hatch new plots in his quest for the throne.
* ''Series/DayBreak2006'': [[AmoralAttorney Defense attorney Barry Colburn]] is the secret mastermind of a cabal that controls much of Los Angeles behind the scenes. Seeking to exert his vision of justice on the entire city and maintain the system that he built, Colburn and his junior partner city councilman Tobias Booth [[FrameUp frame]] Detective Brad Hopper for the murder of ADA Alberto Garza and blackmail his loved ones to cover up a separate murder tied to Booth. Colburn volunteers as Hopper's defense counsel to better manipulate him, while also planning to assassinate the defiant Judge Nitzberg and several of his colleagues. Hopper is only able to defeat the conspiracy by exploiting a GroundhogDayLoop. Despite this, Colburn remains a free man with enough resources to rebound from this setback, and willingly gives his greatest enemy some peace of mind by revealing the identity of his father's killer [[PetTheDog despite standing nothing to gain from it]].
* ''Series/{{Defiance}}'':
** [[FemmeFatale Stahma Tarr]] is the [[BeautyIsBad beautiful]], elegant wife of Datak Tarr who hints that she took him as a husband after murdering her original fiancee. Loving Datak for his ruthlessness and ambition, Stahma connives for him to obtain a seat upon the Defiance city council, later murdering her extramarital lover when she threatens Stahma's life with poison. Betraying Datak to leave him in prison and run his criminal enterprise through their son Alak, Stahma repeatedly outplays those around her in an effort to secure her holdings and ambitions while also keeping her family safe.
** [[ManOfWealthAndTaste Datak Tarr]] began only as a "[[FromNobodyToNightmare nobody with a wicked smile]]" who [[SelfMadeMan connives and claws his way to power in Defiance]]. Bringing others into his debt, Datak makes himself a figure of power in the community until he is overthrown by his own wife, the above Stahma. Reflecting on his flaws, Datak grows and even shows contrition to befriend people who want him dead, reconciling with Stahma and their son before rising even higher. When the genocidal Rahm Tak threatens Defiance, Datak "proves" his loyalty by severing his arm in front of an impressed Rahm Tak, only to reveal he hid an explosive in the limb, escaping as Rahm Tak and his men are completely wiped out, saving the city and making himself a hero in the process.
* ''Series/DesignatedSurvivor'': Patrick Lloyd from seasons 1 and 2 leads a disbanded military firm and secretly aims to stage the takeover of the United States of America, using a powerful weapon to attack the Capitol building and killing nearly everyone inside during the State of the Union address. Having used an electronic blueprint of the bombing to prevent such an attack, Lloyd possesses blueprints for other acts of terror and has the terrorist who he paid to commit the initial bombing killed to tie up loose ends. Forcing the FBI director into compliance by kidnapping and threatening his son, Lloyd tries to have the current President Tom Kirkman killed to put his own [[PuppetKing puppet]] in office. While some plans fall through, Lloyd manages to steal nuclear codes from the Pentagon to gain the means to hold the US hostage and target other nations. Killing his contacts to avoid capture, Lloyd uses his final moments to threaten to release Sarin gas and kill thousands, only to [[EvenEvilHasStandards actually be bluffing about it]].
* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'': Isaak Sirko is an [[AffablyEvil amiable]], [[WickedCultured cultured]] gangster and a high-ranking figure within the [[TheMafiya Ukrainian Koshka Brotherhood]]. Sirko travels to Miami after his friend and lover Viktor does not return, quickly discerning from his travel history that he was murdered. Discovering that [[Characters/DexterDexterMorgan Dexter Morgan]] is the culprit, Sirko proceeds to ruthlessly hunt down his quarry, admitting his respect for Dexter when he proves to be a [[WorthyOpponent formidable opponent]]. When Dexter leads Sirko into a trap, Sirko quickly dispatches the Colombian gangsters Dexter sicced on him, continuing his vendetta against Dexter after he orders his subordinate George to blackmail Detective Quinn so the police's case against Sirko collapses. His prioritization of revenge over profits causes Sirko's bosses to put out a hit on him, but Sirko forces Dexter into an EnemyMine to help him dispatch the assassins sent after him. Even after he's been mortally wounded, Sirko remains dignified to the end, ultimately parting on good terms with Dexter.
* ''Series/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'':
** [[OnlySaneMan Ken Adams]] evolves from his Season 1 role as a [[HypercompetentSidekick put-upon sidekick]] to Bart, to a true DiabolicalMastermind in Season 2. Already proving himself to be a clever schemer with helping Bart track down Dirk Gently and using his computer skills to help solve the Spring case, Ken takes advantage of his extended imprisonment at Blackwing to manipulate Hugo Friedkin into using Ken as an asset. Ken tricks Friedkin into steadily promoting him to higher ranks with each passing day as Ken grows knowledgeable about Blackwing's operations and its subjects, and uses his enhanced cunning to reign in the psychotic Osmund Priest and turn the shapeshifter Mona into a pawn. Overcoming his former cowardly traits to stand up to Wendimoor knights and defend Blackwing's base from an assault, Ken finalizes his takeover of the entire organization by banishing Friedkin to die, charismatically winning over the higher-ups to make himself the permanent Director of Blackwing, and convinces even the loose cannon Bart to ally with him once more as Ken makes plans to [[WellIntentionedExtremist bring "order" to the world]] by bringing all the former Blackwing subjects under his banner.
** Season 1: "[[HeWhoFightsMonsters Patrick Spring]]", seemingly a recently-murdered billionaire, is really Zachariah Webb, a brilliant inventor from the 1880s who [[GadgeteerGenius invented a time machine]]. When it was taken by the cult-like Men of the Machine, Webb traveled to the future, renaming himself to become a billionaire to gain the resources to fight them. When his wife is killed by the leader of the cultists, Jake Rainey, Spring [[BestServedCold spends decades plotting his revenge]], eventually massacring his way through Rainey's men before gunning him down as well. Focused on [[PapaWolf protecting his precious daughter Lydia]], Spring manipulates the heroes through clues, successfully securing Lydia's safety and completing the time loop.
* ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'': "[[Recap/EverybodyHatesChrisS4E4EverybodyHatesTheEnglishTeacher Everybody Hates the English Teacher]]": "[[BadassTeacher Ms. Rivera]]", real name Karen Rodriguez, is a [[ConMan con artist]] who's been at large for eight years, moonlighting as Tattagla High School's English teacher. When her cover becomes at risk of being blown, Karen disguises herself as a Mormon under the alias of "Perez" and escapes the border. [[StealingFromTheTill Embezzling a quarter million dollars of the teachers' pension plan]], Karen hides out in Utah, coming back to Brooklyn one last time to say goodbye to Chris before moving to Hollywood.
* ''Series/TheExpanse'': While Sadavir Errinwright begins as a pawn for Mao, when Mao turns on him, Errinwright shows how skilled a manipulator he is. Errinwright assassinates Mao's Martian contact and starts a war between Earth and Mars to force Mao to work for him. Seeking to use Mao's protomolecule hybrid supersoldiers to give Earth the strength to conquer Mars and remain secure, Errinwright begins a campaign to undermine the Secretary General's anti-war speechwriter Anna, first convincing her that her actions allowed Mars to kill millions in South America and then altering a speech she wrote to call for the annexation of Mars. Errinwright is ultimateley undone when Avasarala accomplishes the almost-impossible task of obtaining a copy of a message between Errinwright and Mao and sends it to Anna. When Errinwright realizes that he's lost, he calmly admits to his crimes and remains dignified as security takes him away.
* ''Series/{{Fallen}}'' (2006 Miniseries): In this reimagining of ''Literature/TheFallen'' book series [[BloodKnight Azazel]] was one of the leaders of [[FallenAngel the rebellion against Heaven]], desiring the freedom to do whatever he wants in contrast to {{Lucifer}}'s desire for conquest and envy towards humanity. Freed by Lucifer from his prison to retrieve the Nephilim Aaron Corbett, the "Redeemer", Azazel tracks Aaron down and decieves him into believing that his protector Camael was killed, and gains Aaron's trust. Taking Aaron to Lucifer's temple, Azazel fights Camael and the Powers, and despite being defeated and reimprisoned, is perfectly willing to wait to be free again, stating that he has a lot of patience.
* ''Series/FallOfEagles'': UsefulNotes/OttoVonBismarck is the daring Chancellor of Prussia who manipulates France into starting a war so Prussia may crush them. With other wars that Bismarck oversees, as well as his frightening skill in diplomacy, Prussia is able to dominate all of Germany and unify it into a single nation. Making alliances with the Hapsburgs and Romanovs, Bismarck ensures the prosperity of his nation, no matter what ruthless actions he must undertake.
* ''Series/{{Fargo}}'':
** [[Series/FargoSeasonTwo Season 2]]: Ohanzee "Hanzee" Dent is the HypercompetentSidekick to the entire Gerhardt family, and a seemingly-unassuming Native American mercenary whose unexpected brilliance eventually brings him above both his employers and the Kansas City mafia. Already a ruthlessly efficient tracker and assassin with an unmatched tendency to eliminate every person in his way, Hanzee's tire over mistreatement in his life even in spite of his years in Vietnam spur him to start manipulating every side in the heated conflict brewed from the death of Rye Gerhardt. Hanzee kills his abusive boss Dodd, and -- with his last chance to escape the criminal life seemingly dashed -- Hanzee effortlessly plays both the Gerhardts and the law enforcement pursuing them against each other, spurring them into a massive shoot-out that decimates both sides as he walks away the only true victor of the conflict. In the end, under the new identity of Moses Tripolgi, Hanzee goes to forge his own successful criminal empire through the years to come, even with the full knowledge that some day, it too will fall.
** [[Series/FargoSeasonFour Season 4]]: Ebal Violante is a wise old criminal who served as the personal advisor and advocate to the Fadda family, whose conflict resolution abilities and sound strategical advice are often ignored or overlooked by the impulsive Fadda leadership. After weeks of watching the Faddas slowly self-destruct due to incompetent leadership, Ebal finally steps up and takes the reigns himself, manipulating rival crime lord Loy Cannon into an alliance that enables Ebal to betray, demonize and execute Josto Fadda, assuming control of the Fadda family for himself in one, swift motion. Promptly screwing Loy over and revealing he's taking half of the Cannon territory as well, Ebal puts Loy in his place as a mere fish in the vast ocean of crime Ebal and his partners in New York occupy, and ends the story completely on top of the Kansas City Mafia, paving the way for decades more professional crime and business to come.
* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'':
** [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist Scorpius]] was once a nameless child born of a twisted breeding experiment by the [[Characters/FarscapeScarran Scarrans]] who schemed his way to freedom and murdered his abusive caretaker Tauza. After finding out about the horrific circumstances of his birth via the rape of his mother by a Scarran soldier, Scorpius dedicated himself to destroying the Scarrans in retribution. Becoming a top officer in the normally fiercely xenophobic [[Characters/FarscapePeacekeepers Peacekeeper]] armada, Scorpius tries to hunt down the Wormhole technology in hero John Crichton's head, constantly manipulating others to his ends, using and betraying others in his way and destroying his enemies while the crew of Moya barely remains a step ahead of him, proving himself the single most brilliant and dangerous enemy John has ever faced who will stop at nothing in pursuit of his goals to destroy the Scarrans.
** [[BewareTheSillyOnes Rygel XVI]] was Dominar of the [[Characters/FarscapeHynerians Hynerian]] Empire, ruler of over six hundred billion subjects, before he was deposed by his cousin and spent over a hundred cycles in Peacekeeper captivity. He masterminded the prison break aboard Moya, and never lets the others forget it. While he's frequently dismissed by the rest of the crew due to his diminutive stature, relentless {{greed}} and self-absorption, Rygel is intelligent, cunning, a competent negotiator and statesman, and can be surprisingly violent when the situation demands it. While he makes no secret of the fact that he's out for himself first, neither will he betray the crew for no reason -- as he's smart enough to know they're helpful allies, and he has to be fairly certain he'll actually profit from turning on them. If there's nothing to be gained by working against them, he'll have a flawless scheme up his sleeve to protect them. As the series goes on and CharacterDevelopment sets in, Rygel lets his genuine care and love for Moya and his friends show more often, but never loses his capacity for brilliant scheming and brutal violence as needed. In "[[Recap/FarscapeS03E19IYenschYouYensch I-Yensch, You-Yensch]]" he becomes one of very few to cross wits with Scorpius and come out on top.
* ''Series/ForeverKnight'': The sire of Nicholas Knight, Lucien [=LaCroix=] was a brilliant Roman general turned into a vampire by his own daughter Divia. Horrified at the corruption Divia succumbed to, with her even suggesting they become lovers, [=LaCroix=] seemingly destroyed and entombed her. Becoming a brilliant, dangerous vampire, [=LaCroix=] once arranged for Nick to be hanged by peasants to trick him into succumbing to his killer instinct once Nick renounced his old ways. In the present, [=LaCroix=] frequently manipulates Nick and all around him, even having his own radio show as the Night Crawler where he frequently talks about his philosophies and his schemes. Always charismatic and compelling, [=LaCroix=] also admits to [[EvenEvilHasStandards certain standards]] and always maintains his complex relationship with Nicholas.
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'': [[BigBadFriend William Bell]] is a brilliant scientist who founded the corporation, [[Characters/FringeMassiveDynamic Massive Dynamic]], and is also revealed to be backing the terrorist organization [[Characters/FringeZFT ZFT]], using them to test Olivia Dunham into activating her powers to enter the AlternateUniverse he resides where he tells her of the upcoming catastrophe her universe will face before sending her back. When Olivia and Walter Bishop arrives in the alternate universe again William Bell would save them and Peter Bishop and bring them back to their universe by sacrificing himself. Though seemingly dead, William Bell had his soul stored inside a bell which possessed Olivia when she activates it, whom he brokers a deal with Walter to return Olivia's body if they transfer his conscious to a computer; he lied about the latter working revealing that he "hates goodbyes". Alive again in an alternate timeline, William would enact his most ingenious and diabolical plan of destroying both Walter's and the alternate universes to create [[InTheirOwnImage his own universe]] using Olivia as his catalyst, a plan that nearly succeeds if not for his equally brilliant friend Walter intervening. Always alternating between the Fringe divisions greatest ally to most dangerous enemy, William Bell made his mark as the series' most morally ambiguous yet brilliantly charming character.
* ''Series/FutureMan'':
** Ty-Anne is an [[AlternateSelf alternate reality clone]] of Tiger that joins the [[LaResistance Pointed Circle]] after discovering Stu Camilo’s true monstrosity and his sinister plans for humanity. She climbs up to the ranks to becoming the resistance’s leader, adopting the moniker "Achilles", hiding her role from Stu by [[ObfuscatingStupidity acting]] like an obnoxious {{spoiled brat}} in front of him. Upon discovering Stu’s weakness being Josh, she has Dr. Athena kidnap multiple Joshes from different realities to forcibly infiltrate Stu’s mainframe before asking Josh Futterman herself to voluntarily [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice himself]] to Stu, when the other attempts failed. When told about the failures of her plans and another weak spot from Josh, Wolf, and Tiger, Ty-Anne changes her plans by taking Tiger’s spot at Stu’s side to distract him while she has the trio destroy Stu’s weakness, killing him for good.
** [[GenderBlenderName Susan]] is the bombastic and charismatic [[DepravedKidsShowHost host]] of the [[AmusementParkOfDoom Diecathlon]] who arranges Josh, Tiger, and Wolf to be captured in season 2 and brought before him to interrogate. Susan attempts to have them kill each other before deciding to have them compete in the Diecathlon, when they {{take a third option}} and try killing themselves. When the trio escapes from the Diecathlon in season 3, Susan tries to side with them upon discovering his rival’s plan to usurp Susan's position as host, force him to compete, and kill his wife and daughter. Susan would succeeded in doing so by revealing UsefulNotes/OsamaBinLaden’s attempts to manipulate Josh into taking him back to [[{{Utopia}} Haven]] where he has Josh kill Bin Laden before instructing Josh and the other two to infiltrate Haven where Susan plans to destroy Haven to repair the time-space continuum that’s being damaged. Upon discovering the source of Haven located in the year 1999 at Iowa State University, Susan fends off Mathers' forces to give the trio time to destroy the source. After being captured by Mathers, Susan, knowing that Mathers would try to kill his family, switched the cubes--keeping his family safe--before unleashing his daughter on Mathers and killing her, before parting ways with the trio after they succeed in saving the world.
* ''Series/{{Galavant}}'': [[FromNobodyToNightmare Madalena]] was a peasant woman and Galavant's girlfriend who dumped him to marry [[EvilOverlord King Richard]] and become his queen. Successfully collaborating with Richard in luring Galavant into a trap on the pretense that she’s Richard's prisoner, she overthrows Richard with the help of his treacherous brother Kingsley, only to stab Kingsley InTheBack, becoming the sole monarch of Valencia. When she learns of Galavant, Richard, and co. escaping her imprisonment and their whereabouts, she uses her vast army to declare war on them, while also obtaining the magical powers of the [[TheDarkArts Dark Dark Evil Ways]] to ensure her victory. Only loosing to Richard's [[LegendaryWeapon Sword of the One True King]], Madalena never looses her dark charm and only expands her ambitions to conquer the rest of the world, becoming the apprentice of the Dark Evil Lord to master her powers boldly claiming that nothing will stop her now.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** [[LovableRogue Bronn]] is a lowborn sellsword and opportunistic cutthroat who proves one need not be of high birth to be a player in the game of thrones. Roguishly charming and surprisingly clever, Bronn first makes his mark by defeating a fully armed and armored knight in a duel [[CombatPragmatist through trickery]] and winning the freedom of Tyrion Lannister. In Tyrion's employ, Bronn is made the leader of the King's Landing guards and purges the city's thieves to ensure food supplies for the upcoming siege. Proving a competent military commander, Bronn aids in planning the defense and plays a vital role in the Battle of the Blackwater by igniting the wildfire that consumes Stannis' fleet. Becoming a knight, Bronn [[SocialClimber again rises in rank]] by abandoning Tyrion and becoming a noble in the Lannister employ. Despite leading the rescue of Princess Myrcella and being Jaime's [[HypercompetentSidekick only competent officer]], Bronn turns on the Lannisters after being denied further reward yet gets the better of Jaime and Tyrion and coerces them into making him a lord when the wars are over. In the end, Bronn, [[RagsToRiches coming from nothing]], is made the new Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin.
** [[CoolOldLady Olenna Tyrell]] is the acidic, witty matriarch of House Tyrell, far more formidable than her oafish son Mace. Olenna, upon her arrival in King's Landing, helps to secure her granddaughter Margaery's power base and soon learns what a monster [[Characters/GameOfThronesJoffreyBaratheon King Joffrey Baratheon]] truly is. In an alliance with [[Characters/GameOfThronesPetyrBaelish Petyr Baelish]], Olenna [[TheKingslayer poisons Joffrey at his own wedding]], letting Tyrion Lannister take the blame while remaining entirely out of suspicion. Even upon her final defeat, Olenna simply downs a vial of painless poison before revealing to Joffrey's father Jaime that she was Joffrey's true killer, robbing him of any satisfaction at all before inviting him to tell Cersei as "I want her to know it was me", dying on her own terms in full satisfaction.
* ''Series/{{GARO}}: Makai Senki'': [[EvilTwin Sigma Fudo]], aka "[[EvilGenius The Man in the Red Mask]]", was once a Makai Priest who was passed up for inheriting the title of "Flash Knight LORD" in favor of his twin brother Leo. Believing Alchemy and Priests were more suited to protecting humanity rather than Knights, Sigma secretly allies with the Horrors, crafting powerful tools and attacks Makai Knights to brand them with the Seal of Destruction as part of a plan to assimilate them into a powerful Horror. Luring the Makai Order into his trap, Sigma nearly erases them alongside with the Horrors to bring about his [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans desired utopia]], letting nothing stand in the face of his goal for world peace.
* ''Series/TheGeorgeLopezShow'': "George Decides to Sta-Local Where it's Familia": [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Enrique Vega]] is a soft-spoken, intelligent businessman who buys out Powers Aviation and intends to relocate their factory to Mexico to cut costs. Though George tries to confront Vega over the loss of jobs this will cost, Vega quickly [[TheCharmer charms and seduces George]] into instead accepting a job offer, nonetheless playing along with amusement at George's attempt to look defiant for his employees. When Vega learns that George has turned on him and allied with the factory workers for a lock-in, Vega strikes a deal with the city's mayor to keep the factory open in exchange for giving Vega immense tax exemptions, Vega letting George have the credit for "saving" the factory and promoting the man for his tenacity and skill while Vega himself [[TheBadGuyWins continues to profit from his enterprises]].
* ''Series/GirlGunLady'': [[TheRival Matsuko Kadowaki]] was once [[AMotherToHerMen Lady Commander Amatsu]], who led her team to victory in the previous Girl Gun Fight and was made human as a result. After her teammates were [[RetGone erased from the real world]], Matsuko swore revenge on the GGL's game master and sought to save her team. Reentering the fight as a player for Bravo Tango, Matsuko quickly [[DragonInChief proves herself far more competent]] than her Lady Commander, leading her team to the top of the leaderboard through her strategy and [[OneManArmy combat prowess]]. After Alpha Tango wins the Girl Gun Fight, Matsuko reveals the truth to Koharu and enlists the help of her and the other surviving players to stop the game master. During the victory ceremony, Matsuko has Alice kill her so she can retrieve the Lady Armor from the real world, enabling Koharu to use it to kill the game master and undo all the changes made by the Girl Gun system. Though this led to her being erased, Matsuko died fully content that her teammates and everyone else would be saved.
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': [[Characters/TheGoodPlaceMichael Michael]] is a deceitful yet [[AffablyEvil affable]] demon who arranges for a group of souls to psychologically torture each other in the supposed Good Place. After the group figures out Michael's ploy, Michael erases their minds several times over before joining forces with them to scheme against [[SmugSnake Vicky]] after she blackmails him into relinquishing his power. Michael manipulates his demon brethren into thinking that the group has escaped while [[FrameUp framing]] Vicky for his failures, tricking the demons into leaving. While Michael's intentions were initially self-serving, he [[HeelFaceTurn grows]] to genuinely care for the group and manipulates events to ensure that the protagonists and many others are reformed enough to enter the Good Place, improving the Afterlife system and the Good Place upon discovering their flaws and persuades his former allies into helping him stop Gen from erasing all of existence, before reincarnating himself as a mortal human after accomplishing everything he desired.
* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'':
** ComicBook/RasAlGhul is the leader of the League of Assassins and the [[TheManBehindTheMan true brains]] behind the [[Characters/GothamCourtOfOwls Court of Owls]]. After unleashing a deadly virus on Gotham, a brainwashed Bruce is sent to Ra's, where he orders him to stab Alfred. Bruce obeys, but breaks free of his conditioning. Ra's escapes, but not without [[PetTheDog letting Bruce use the Lazarus Pit to save Alfred.]] Ra's later returns searching for a mysterious knife. After killing the knife's previous owner and later on his son, Ra's turns himself in and is sent to Blackgate Penitentiary, and has his guards infiltrate the facility. Bruce later arrives to confront Ra's, and Ra's successfully goads him into killing him. Ra's is later resurrected by his loyal followers, and after regaining his powers from Barbara Kean, [[VillainTeamUp teams up]] with Jeremiah Valeska to turn Gotham into a no man's land, and kidnaps Bruce to take him to a building where they can witness the city's destruction. Ra's then dies during a battle with Bruce and Barbara, but not before [[GracefulLoser congratulating the latter for her efforts]], and telling the former that he must now choose to remain Bruce Wayne, or become Gotham's [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Dark Knight]]. [[AffablyEvil Charming]] and intelligent, Ra's stood out as one of the most cunning criminals Gotham ever faced.
** "[[Recap/GothamS1E3TheBalloonman The Balloonman]]": [[VigilanteMan The Balloonman]], in reality the [[BewareTheNiceOnes mild mannered social worker Davis Lamond]], targets corrupt public figures [[PayEvilUntoEvil and kills them]]. Having purchased stolen weather balloons from Carl Smikers, an employee at a weather balloon manufacturing plant, the Balloonman disguises himself as a street vendor before confronting his victims, chaining them to weather balloons and letting them drop from the balloons as they collapse, with a con artist, a vicious and corrupt police officer, and a child molesting priest among his victims. When confronted by [[Characters/GothamGCPD GCPD]] Detectives Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock, the Balloonman expresses frustration that the law had shielded his victims from prosecution while they oppressed the innocent. When Gordon refuses to back down, the Balloonman tries to shoot him, only being subdued due to Bullock's intervention.
** "[[Recap/GothamS1E10Lovecraft Lovecraft]]": [[ProfessionalKiller Larissa "Copperhead" Diaz]] is an assassin who spends her episode pursuing Selina Kyle. She's introduced being surprised on [[Characters/GothamWayneManor Wayne Manor]] grounds by a gardener who she lulls into a false sense of security before breaking his neck and using his blood to make herself look like an accident victim as a WoundedGazelleGambit to attack Selina. She gives both Bruce and Gordon a chance to save their lives by not opposing her and is impressed enough to spare both of them when they resist her anyway. She also warns Bruce [[FearlessFool not to mistake bravery for good sense in the future]]. While she fails to kill Selina, she does eliminate a secondary target, even using Gordon's gun to frame him for the shooting and then escapes as the police arrive.
** "[[Recap/GothamS1E11RoguesGallery Rogues' Gallery]]" & "[[Recap/GothamS1E12WhatTheLittleBirdToldHim What the Little Bird Told Him]]": [[ObfuscatingInsanity Jack Buchinsky]], AKA [[ShockAndAwe the Electrocutioner]], was the mastermind behind a string of bank robberies under the employment of Sal Maroni before being betrayed and subsequently arrested. Using his connections, he had himself transferred to Arkham Asylum under the falsified profile of "Jack Gruber", a textbook sociopath and rapist, then proceeded to [[MadScientist experiment on the inmates]] using electroshock therapy intending to create the perfect minion, which he succeeds with two such individuals. When Detective Jim Gordon investigates the electroshock cases, Buchinsky manages to evade detection. Using one of his minions to pose as an Arkham nurse to take the fall for the crimes, Buchinsky and his other minion manage to unlock his cell and escape. Upon his release, Buchinsky acquires his old electric weaponry and attempts to assassinate Maroni for his betrayal. With Maroni under protective custody, Buchinsky attacks the Gotham City Police Department directly, electrifying every metal surface and knocking out everyone in the building save for Gordon who defeats him by shorting out his equipment.
* ''Series/{{Grimm}}'':
** [[ShadowArchetype Captain Sean Renard]], officially an upstanding officer of the law and Nick's charismatic boss, is secretly the half-[[WitchSpecies Zauberbiest]] bastard son of [[GreaterScopeVillain King Frederick Renard]] of the House of Kronenberg. Forced to flee for his life as a child, Renard exploited his unique connections to eventually become de facto overlord of Portland. A [[GeniusBruiser calculating mastermind, natural leader and exemplary warrior]], Renard is also a senior figure in the [[LaResistance Laufer]]'s fight against the Royals, possessing connections the other leaders can only dream of, whilst fooling the royals into believing he's one of them. Constantly working, be it in police business, outplaying rivals at international intrigue or protecting his city, Renard never misses an opportunity he can exploit. Amongst his successes, he plants a spy within his families own castle; assassinates his brother Prince Eric on his own turf; sets up an alliance with other resistance leaders beneath the Royals' noses; and temporarily become mayor of Portland. His Machiavellianism tempered by genuine standards and a protective nature, Renard stands out both as one of Nick's greatest enemies and his most capable allies.
** [[NoNonsenseNemesis Prince Viktor Beckendorf]], the second Crown Prince of the House of Kronenberg, is the [[BigBad main antagonist of Season 3 and the first half of season 4]]. A ruthless yet pragmatic, suave, single-minded professional, Viktor will do anything to increase the family's powerbase, with him responsible for rigging elections, overseeing [[SecretPolice the Verrat]] and infiltrating governments and intelligence agencies. Assigned to investigate Prince Eric’s assassination Viktor was the only one to figure out Sean was responsible. Ordered by the King to kidnap Sean's daughter Diana to be the family's heir or else face an agonizing death, Viktor manages to expose and break Sean's spy, tracking them across the world, and even after losing Diana manipulates Adalind into stripping Nick of his powers. Deducing he had been tricked and who really had her, he immediately got back to tracking Diana, successfully turning one of Sean's agents. Finally sick of his uncle's ill gratitude and threats, Viktor conspired with the Laufer to engineer his demise leaving himself King. Proving to be the most capable Royal, Viktor was the only recurring antagonist to end [[KarmaHoudini their run in victory]].
** "[[Recap/GrimmS1E14PlumedSerpent Plumed Serpent]]": [[FemmeFatale Ariel Eberhart]] is a playful, alluring [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dämonfeuer]] and the daughter of the slowly dying Fred Eberhart, a welder turned copper thief. Learning that Detective Nick Burkhardt is a Grimm investigating her father's involvement in a homicide, Ariel devises a plan to give her father an honorable death. She ambushes Nick when he follows her, tearing his shirt and answering his phone to trick his girlfriend Juliette into thinking he's cheating just to mess with them. The next night, Ariel tricks Nick to going to her house, kidnaps Juliette and brings her to her father's lair, thus forcing Nick to face her father in [[SaveThePrincess combat to the death to save Juliette]] and give her father a chance at dying honorably in accordance with their culture. When Nick emerges the victor, Ariel assures her father he fought well and causes an explosion, [[KarmaHoudini faking her death and leaving for parts unknown]].
** "[[Recap/GrimmS3E11TheGoodSoldier The Good Soldier]]": [[OurManticoresAreSpinier Colonel Adam Desai]] blamed himself for being unable to achieve justice for Frankie Gonzales after she was gang-raped by four [=PMCs=]. [[YourDaysAreNumbered Learning he was dying from cancer]], Desai begins to [[TheLastDance hunt down and kill the four men responsible]], luring one into his house by breaking his medals before stabbing him. When Portland police contact him about the rape, Desai tells them all he knows while tricking them into believing he's in the hospital while he's really in Portland. When one of the other contractors is killed along with his wife and Frankie is arrested, she calls Desai, who allows the Portland police to track his call, then confronts the last remaining rapist and reveals that he knows that he killed the contractor and his wife before engaging in a fight to the death. In the end, [[ThanatosGambit Desai deliberately leaves himself open for a killing blow]], declaring that "You can't arrest him for what he did to Frankie, but you can for what he did to me." Colonel Desai is shown to be the cleverest Manticore depicted in the show and meets his end on his terms.

[[folder: H - X]]
* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'': [[Characters/HannibalHannibalLecter Hannibal Lecter]] himself maintains a sense of charm and genteelness that is unmatched in other portrayals, despite being a cannibalistic SerialKiller. Hannibal delights in nothing more than 'winding others up to watch them go' and manipulates events, gaslighting people and driving them to insanity or horrible deeds simply to watch what will unfold. Manipulating the FBI perfectly, especially Will Graham who Hannibal fixates on, he manages to elude suspicion for a frighteningly long time, even triggering one captured FBI agent with a trigger to shoot Dr. Chilton who he has a special contempt for. Hannibal also manipulates the dysfunctional Verger siblings until their relationship is at a bloody head before he mutilates and paralyzes the sadistic Mason Verger solely due to dislike of him. Hannibal does rouse himself to save the life of Will from a vengeful Mason later, and in the series finale proves his care for Will and desire for them to become a murderous couple when he rescues Will from the Red Dragon serial killer. A killer with [[AGodAmI a god complex]] and SatanicArchetype who views the world as full of food or toys for him, Hannibal repeatedly demonstrates his joy in manipulating others.
* ''Series/HenryDanger'': [[KnightOfCerebus Rick Twitler]] is the founder of [=TwitFlash=] who eventually came to dislike how people were [[NewMediaAreEvil addicted to their screens]] and regretted creating the company. Hacking the Man Cave to gain access to the heroes' personal information, he sets up a series of events, which includes faking his kidnapping to trap the heroes and steal their powers, succeeding in taking Kid Danger's fast reflexes and turning himself into a computer virus that nearly spreads to the heroes. Anticipating that he may fail, Twitler had [[CrazyPrepared set up a video ahead of time]] giving Drex the blueprints to a superweapon. Returning in ''Series/DangerForce'', it is revealed that Twitler had yet another backup plan, having put his soul inside a computer years prior that inserted itself inside a video game. Twitler possesses Mika and later Helper Monkey into building a cyborg that he uses as a vessel to return from the dead. Holding the news station hostage, he uses a satellite to activate what's left of his computer virus and [[NearVillainVictory nearly infects everyone]]. When Volt manages to stop it, Twitler absorbs Henry's forcefield, as well as a combination of his cybernetics and the Indium Crystals to create enough power to destroy the internet.
* ''Series/HogansHeroes'': [[SensualSlavs Marya]] is a [[FemmeFataleSpy Soviet spy]] who operates under the cover of being a White Russian émigré. [[BunnyEarsLawyer Extremely capable behind her overacting and eccentric behavior]], she proves one of the most cunning and charismatic schemers in the series. In her first appearance, she helps the Heroes to spring captured [[LaResistance French Resistance]] member Tiger in order to obtain information about secret German airbases for her country. Subsequently, Marya alternates between working with the Heroes towards a common goal and working at cross purposes towards her own objectives, often using their own scheming to her advantage. Her achievements include destroying or discrediting plenty of high-ranking German officers and scientists, helping to steal a large portion of Hermann Göring's art collection, sabotaging the reputation of an experimental ''wunderwaffe'', retrieving a Soviet scientist, and saving her spy ring from an SS plan to expose it. The only recurring character to consistently operate on the same level as [[GuileHero Colonel Robert Hogan]], Marya stands head and shoulders above most of the show's other schemers.
* ''Series/TheHolyPearl'' (2011): [[EvilGenius Hu Ji]] is a demonic wind sorceress and [[FallenAngel former fairy]] forced into the service of the vile Shi You Ming. To save her people from Shi You Ming's wrath, Hu Ji works as his chief subordinate, leading his armies in combat and manipulating the emotions and politics of the human realm to soften them for the demons. Constantly plotting to [[TheStarscream usurp her master]], Hu Ji remains quick to recover whenever seemingly beaten back by Shi You Ming and uses his distraction in combat to die bravely attacking the demon lord.
* ''Series/{{Homeland}}'':
** [[VisionaryVillain Abu Nazir]] is an al-Qaeda commander who longs to destabilize the American government. After capturing soldiers Nicholas Brody and Tom Walker, Nazir forced Brody to seemingly kill Walker, before later halting his torture so he could nurse Brody back to health. After his son, Issa, and dozens of other children are killed in a drone strike launched by Vice President Walden, Nazir used the incident to expose America's hypocrisy to Brody. Seeking revenge, Nazir allowed Brody to be rescued by American soldiers so he, and Nazir's other agents, would gradually dismantle Walden from within and eliminate anyone in their path. When Brody fails to kill the Vice President, he instead has Brody try to influence Walden's policies against the Middle East. As he plans another terrorist attack, Nazir Brody's LoveInterest, and forces Brody to assist him in killing the Vice President in exchange for freeing her. Once Walden is dead, [[ThanatosGambit Nazir allows himself to be caught and killed by the police]] so his followers can later set off a bomb during Walden's memorial service and frame Brody for the attack.
** [[ColdSniper Tom Walker]] is a former soldier turned terrorist. After being captured alongside Nicholas Brody, Nazir forced Brody to beat Walker to death. In reality, Nazir helped Walker fake his death, and Walker snuck back into Washington D.C. to carry out most of Nazir's plans. Posing as a wandering vagrant, Walker routinely delivered messages to and from Nazir's agents, all while managing to elude various law enforcement officials. When Walker is finally exposed, he evades multiples police officers chasing after him and kills a hunter before the man can report him to the authorities. He also lures multiple CIA agents into a trap by pretending to meet with one of his contacts, only to have him killed in an explosion upon realizing he betrayed Nazir. Walker later assassinates Vice President Walden's chief aide as part of Nazir's elaborate plan to have the Vice President murdered and escapes without the police ever finding him.
* ''Series/HouseOfCardsUK'': Francis Urquhart plots, schemes, manipulates and backstabs his way up the political chain in the hopes of becoming Prime Minister; remaining above suspicion among all of his colleagues. He does it with class, skill and style, all the while giving conspiratorial NoFourthWall asides to the audiences, explaining his thoughts on his opponents and next steps. He commits terrible deeds, frequently exposing scandals of rivals and supposed friends, manipulating others into doing his bidding and in some cases resorts to outright murder to get his way. Urquhart ends up as Prime Minister, determined to remain in office longer than even Margaret Thatcher, a goal which he absolutely achieves by the end, showing himself no less a cultured player of the grand game in the office as he was outside it. Even after his assassination, his machinations have ensured he will be remembered as a beloved figure in English history, his true villainy always concealed beneath the one line: "You may very well think that. I could not possibly comment."
* ''Series/IClaudius'': [[EvilMatriarch Livia Drusilla]], wife of UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}}, is a ruthless schemer set to put her son Tiberius on the throne. Poisoning her daughter-in-law Julia's husband to free her for marriage and later poisoning her second husband after biding her time, Livia arranges for the deaths and ruination of multiple impediments and rivals: revealing the affairs of Julia to ruin her, arranging an affair between Julia's son Postumus and her own granddaughter before framing Postumus of assaulting her and later having him disposed of. Livia even kills Augustus himself with poison she smears on his personal figs even as she mourns him. Upon finding Tiberius a revolting disappointment, she assists in UsefulNotes/{{Caligula}}'s rise, though conceals the prophecy that UsefulNotes/{{Claudius}} will succeed Caligula as Emperor from the former, telling Claudius the truth of all that has transpired before her death with his vow that he will elevate her to a goddess when he is Emperor to save her from hell's torments.
* ''Series/InsideNo9'':
** "[[Recap/InsideNo9S5E1TheRefereesAWanker The Referee's a W***er]]": Martin Rutherford is a corrupt referee hellbent on promoting his team, City, to the top league of English football. Upon the final league match of the season, Martin sets about sabotaging a game between Rovers and United in order to dock points from them by orchestrating a magnificent ZeroApprovalGambit: enlisting the help of several incompetent officials to assist him with the game, Martin sets out to sow division amongst them by having the weakest one, [[FatIdiot Oggy]], approached and bribed. He also makes sure to do the same to Phil, a junior referee who Martin knows will inform the authorities to save his career. Attempting to ruin the playing of United's star striker, [[TheAce Calvin]], Martin seduces him and then falsely gives him a LoveConfession right before the match in order to rattle him. Once on the field, Martin causes chaos by making deliberately poor refereeing decisions, until finally abandoning the game twelve minutes from time after successfully turning the crowd and the players against each other, causing each team to be docked points and ensuring that City will be promoted. Remaining completely above suspicion the whole time, Martin celebrates his victory upon being left alone, [[TheBadGuyWins having accomplished everything he set out to do]].
** "[[Recap/InsideNo9S5E4Misdirection Misdirection]]": [[KansasCityShuffle Gabriel]] is a talented [[StageMagician amateur magician]] determined to take revenge on [[SmugSnake Neville Griffin]] for murdering Gabriel's grandfather Wally Wando and stealing his magic trick. Using the concept of misdirection, Gabriel fools Neville into thinking that he is trying to expose him for the murder of Wally whilst actually planning to [[FrameUp frame him]] for the murder of his wife. Using a series of tricks whilst remaining above suspicion, Gabriel manipulates him into [[BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon handling a razor blade]], revealing the combination of his safe by planting a tracking device on his ring and turning off his security camera late at night. Obtaining everything he needs, Gabriel then murders Neville's wife and plants the razor in Neville's safe before informing the police, resulting in Neville being jailed for life.
* ''Series/InspectorMorse'':
** "Masonic Mysteries": [[EvilGenius Hugo De Vries]] is a suave, impeccably polite criminal mastermind and MasterOfDisguise, deservedly regarded as "one of greatest [[ConMan conmen]] of the age." Arrested by Morse twelve years previously for swindling Oxford University out of nearly one million pounds, De Vries returns seeking revenge, brainwashing one of his former victims into believing Morse famed him. Murdering Morse's new LoveInterest Beryl Newsome, he carefully sets up events to [[FrameUp implicate Morse for the crime]] even leading to his temporary arrest, as well as murdering Morse's mentor Desmond [=McNutt=]. Engaging in a series of psychological attacks and ordeals that leave Morse questioning his grip on reality, De Vries also hacks the Thames Valley computer servers to further incriminate him, made all the more impressive by doing so in a time when most officers didn't even know such a thing was possible. Even when caught by surprise, De Vries improvises a masterful monologue performance that successful fools Morse, enabling him to escape by stealing Lewis's car. Cultured, extremely charismatic and utterly ruthless, managing to constantly stay ten steps ahead of everyone, no other antagonist came as close to so completely defeating Morse as De Vries.
** "Deadly Slumber": Michael Steppings is an amiable, approachable [[SelfMadeMan self-made tycoon]] out for revenge against the Brewster family, whose corruption left his daughter brain dead. Spending a year preparing an intricate plan, he carefully built a case of their malpractices, even breaking into the Brewster clinic to gather information. Having arranged events to seemingly give himself a cast-iron alibi, he murdered Doctor Matthew Brewster and then arranged his own arrest so that he would be cleared as a suspect; whilst also setting the scene [[FrameUp to appear that the victim's son killed his father]] and tried to frame him, even subtly planting the idea in Morse's head. He then blackmailed him into confessing by threatening to expose his parent’s malpractices, so that Doctor Claire Brewster would know how it felt helplessly watching your child deprived of their life, something he considered "[[BestServedCold poetic justice]]". Ingenious and a masterful actor, Steppings was nevertheless a genuinely genial figure, with Morse himself admitting that if he was monstrous it was only because he was made to be.
* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Abby is a [[LittleMissConArtist con artist]] who Dennis meets at a water park. Scamming Dennis into giving him money by acting as his neglected daughter in front a woman he was trying to seduce, Dennis takes an interest in her, and decides to take Abby under his wing. After being taught to steal right in front of the victim's face by Dennis, the two go on a scamming spree throughout the water park, putting all the valuables in a locker. Eventually, Abby tells Dennis that she's being forced to leave by her mother, and gives Dennis a memento as thanks for being the first adult to care about her. When Dennis confronts who Abby said was her mother, Dennis finds out that the woman isn't Abby's mother at all, and that Abby took the opportunity to swipe the locker key from Dennis and make off with all their stolen goods for herself, further impressing him.
* ''Series/JustAddMagic'':
** [[EvilOldFolks Ida Perez]], better known as "[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mama P]]" is the owner and founder of her self-titled restaurant as well as an ex-protector. After having her life ruined when Chuck got her father fired from his job, she became a pessimist with magic and got into various magic-related arguments with her partners Becky Quinn and Gina Silvers. [[ClosedCircle Eventually cursed by Gina into being stuck in Saffron Falls]], Perez spent the next 40 years trying to break said curse even after her protector era had ended, whether by collecting magic spices and hiding them in her secret pantry within her restaurant, or sabotaging her competition via magic and never getting caught. When she finds out Kelly, Hannah and Darbie were the new protectors, she offers to help Kelly cure her grandmother Becky's curse while deceiving them into helping her with breaking her own. Though she successfully escapes and callously freezes most of the town, she ends up returning to Saffron Falls as a manipulative but well-meaning ally helping the girls to fend off other rogue protectors, spending the remainder of the series hoping to [[TheAtoner make up for her past actions]], [[ReformedButNotTamed while still having a deceptive side to her.]]
** Charles Peizer, better known as "Chuck Hankins", is a former protector of the Cookbook from the 1860s. After losing his sister Rose in an attempt to gain immortality, Chuck [[BigBrotherInstinct dedicated every moment of his life to find a way to her back.]] He eventually met up with Becky Quinn, Ida Perez, and Gina Silvers during their protector era, ruining Ida's life, and indirectly causing the trio to break up and end their protectorship. An accident involving Becky caused Chuck to disappear in 1965 and not come back until 50 years later. From there, Chuck continued trying by masterfully planning various tactics and tricks against the trio and their loved ones. When his sister finally gets released from the book, Chuck instantly reforms himself and happily returns to his era, while also occasionally serve as an ally for the protectors.
** Caroline Palmer is a former protector from the 90s, and was once the fearless leader of a mischievous high school prankster trio. After one day altering a time travel recipe to go to the future and check on her audition for a ballet class, and finding out she was unable to go back and was stuck in the future, she then grew angry and bitter and started to see magic as a dangerous resource and vowed to destroy it. Using a spell to alter her appearance into a completely different looking woman named "Jill", she spends the next 20 years posing as a campaign manager and getting to know targets and single-handed places a trigger word on nearly all of the protectors to wipe out any magic-related memories. When she's exposed, she destroys nearly all the spices in sight so the girl trio can't cook to fight back. She holds back on erasing the girls' memories so they'd lead her to the spice garden and she can destroy it. [[NearVillainVictory She comes dangerously close to permanently destroying magic for good]], right before she erases her own magic-related memories.
* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': In amidst all the white supremacists, drug addicts, {{stupid crooks}}, and other human wreckage that comprised the gangsters of rural Harlan County, there was the occasional villain with some charisma and flair, and the according ability to run rings about series' protagonists [[CowboyCop Raylan Givens]] and [[VillainProtagonist Boyd Crowder]]:
** Mags Bennett was the BigBad of Season 2 and matriarch of the Bennett family, a BanditClan of {{hillbilly moonshiner}}s and marijuana farmers whose influence was felt throughout Harlan County. Ruling her namesake township of Bennett as not just a CorruptHick but an uncrowned FeudalOverlord, Mags controlled the Bennett Police Department through her son, Doyle, and the marijuana trade through his brothers, Dickie and Coover, making her the final arbiter on near everything that happened in town. Rallying the people of Harlan at large and Bennett in particular against Black Pike Mining's attempts to buy up the county, Mags secretly cut a deal with Black Pike behind the backs of her fellow townsfolk, selling most of the county to Black Pike in exchange for extensive personal profits that she planned to use to get her grandchildren out of crime. Staying her hand when her son Coover was killed by Raylan (whose family the Bennetts had long [[FeudingFamilies feuded with]]), Mags returned to action when Dickie started a war with Boyd and proved capable of matching him trick for trick. In the end, only the unexpected return of Mags' foster daughter, Loretta, to Bennett, and the ensuing intervention by the Marshal Service proved able to bring the Bennett township tyrant down.
** Drew Thompson was a Detroit mobster with a unique penchant for taking RefugeInAudacity. After witnessing [[TheDon Theo Tonin]] commit a murder, Drew realized that he had to get out of town before Theo killed him to cover it up. Shooting Theo in the eye, Drew stole an airplane and faked his own death, shoving his accomplice, Waldo Truth, out of the plane, then parachuting into Harlan County where he exchanged his cocaine and drug money for a new identity, helping Bo Crowder and Arlo Givens become rural mafiosi while he himself became Shelby Parlow of the Harlan Sheriff's Department. Eventually elected Sheriff himself, Shelby used his position to undermine Boyd's control over Harlan and the office of Sheriff alike, while also joining the recently revitalized search for "Drew Thompson" whose survival, but not identity, had been discovered. Found out in the end and arrested by Raylan, Drew Thompson nevertheless enjoyed a decades long career in law enforcement, and his machinations set in motion the eventual collapse of Boyd's criminal enterprises--the very same enterprises Drew had helped Boyd's father Bo, assemble in the first place.
** Loretta [=McCready=] was the foster daughter and BastardUnderstudy of Mags Bennett, and while she might have sided with Raylan against Mags, the passage of time proves that it was Mags' influence that lasted. Aspiring to become a marijuana kingpin in the same vein as her foster mother, Loretta spent Season 6 buying up agricultural land throughout Harlan County under both her real name and various aliases, and putting herself in direct competition with [[BigBad Avery Markham]] and the various gun thugs in his employ. Allying herself with Boyd, Loretta turned the entire town against Markham with a single speech at a party that Markham himself was hosting, and bought up most of the land in the county. Even the implosion of Boyd's empire and the loss of his protection could not stop Loretta; when Markham cornered her she persuaded him that she should become ''his'' new partner, thus surviving until Raylan and Boyd killed off Markham and his [[PsychoForHire enforcer]], Boon. Only a [[TeenGenius teenager]] when the series ended, Loretta demonstrated that she was more capable than most of the adult criminals on the show, and was left in a perfect position to pick up where Mags and Boyd left off, as the reigning queen of the Harlan underworld.
** "[[Recap/JustifiedS2E6BlazeOfGlory Blaze of Glory]]": [[EvilOldFolks Frank Reasoner]] is an elderly, sickly criminal seemingly reformed after his past of being one of the most successful bank robbers in America. Truthfully using his health condition to get himself an early parole, Reasoner jumps right back into the crime game, recruiting two young crooks to help him rob a bank with the least amount of violence possible. More dangerous than his apparently weakly state implies, which he demonstrates by threatening one of his partners for unnecessarily injuring hostages during one of their heists, Reasoner exaggerates his sickness to trick his partners into carrying out another bank heist without him, only to then swipe the cash from the previous robbery all for himself and rat the two crooks out to the police as a distraction. Using both this trickery and a deception that he's willing to turn himself in to throw everyone off his scent, Reasoner comes very close to using a private plane to escape the country a millionaire, even offering long-time enemy Deputy Marshal Art Mullen the opportunity to join him before Reasoner accepts his ultimate capture with a shrug.
* ''Series/{{Kingdom|2019}}: Ashin of The North'' (2021): [[VillainProtagonist Ashin]] was a member of the North Seongjeoyain tribe who [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge vows vengeance]] on the Pajeowi for slaughtering her village and family. Becoming an [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]] for the Joseon, Ashin turns on them once she discovers their role in her village's massacre, using the resurrection plant create an zombie outbreak at their camp before feeding the SoleSurvivor to a pack of zombies. Ashin then gives the Resurrection Plant and knowledge to use it to Joseon's Royal Physician, [[GreaterScopeVillain kickstarting]] the zombie plague that would ravage their kingdom, before tracking down and killing the Pajeowi.
* ''Series/{{Knightfall}}'': [[EvilChancellor William de Nogaret]] is one of the chief powers behind the French throne. Inspiring violence in the capital to convince King Philip to confiscate the property of the Jewish population to strengthen the throne, de Nogaret later also poisons himself in a gambit to manipulate Princess Isabella in eliminating her fiancee Prince Louis of Navarre, assassinating the English ambassador and establishing a match for Isabella with England. Later returning to power and helping to manipulate the fall of UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar, de Nogaret achieves his revenge on the Pope who murdered his parents. Later [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal tiring of Philip's madness and abuse]], de Nogaret sides with his son Louis to leave Philip to his fate and secure de Nogaret's place as Louis' most loyal follower.
* ''Series/TheLastKingdom'':
** UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat, [[Characters/TheLastKingdomWessex King of Wessex]], has a dream to unite the British continent and lets little stand in his way. Upon meeting the [[Characters/TheLastKingdomDanes Dane-raised]] Pagan Saxon [[Characters/TheLastKingdomUhtred Uhtred]], Alfred performs a show of goodwill by marrying him to a noble [[Characters/TheLastKingdomSaxons Saxon]] woman but neglects to inform Uhtred he takes on her family's debts to bind Uhtred to him further. A brilliant commander, Alfred leads daring defeats of the Danes and establishes Wessex as a true power and constantly plays through the ruthless political court of Wessex. Even manipulating his own son Edward to make him a better ruler when Alfred is dead, Alfred plays him into giving up his first marriage and children, then halts his forces giving aid to an estranged Uhtred on the field to force Edward to make a true decision as a King. Even upon his deathbed, Alfred makes a final peace with Uhtred, but makes certain to show him the written history of Wessex so he will forever know Uhtred will be invested in seeing Alfred's dream through.
** Earl Guthrum of the Danes is an intelligent man who lures three Saxon armies into a trap to annihilate them. The right-hand of Ubba Ragnarson, the closest man the Danes have to a true king, Guthrum is the one who handles most of the strategy, arranging for the overthrow of kingdoms. A true threat to even Wessex, Guthrum leads the capture of Winchester abbey and attempts to use Alfred's scheming nephew Aethelwold to assassinate the King. Upon his defeat, Guthrum believes that the Christians' god is truly with them and submits to be baptized and renamed Aethelstan, honored by Alfred for choosing peace over war in the end.
** Sigtryggr Ivarson is a Norse-Gaelic Warlord introduced overrun Wales and killing its King Hywel to rescue the captured Dane Brida, the lover of Sigtryggr's late cousin Cnut. Learning of Wessex's riches, Sigtryggr leads a number of brutal, daring raids through villages along the way to capture Winchester and hold a standoff against King Edward, even playing Edward by offering one of his sons as a hostage but making him choose which boy, before he accepts Uhtred as a hostage instead. Sigtryggr then uses his leverage to secure land for himself and his people, getting everything he wants while also leaving with one hostage: Uhtred's daughter Stiorra whom he has grown to develop a caring and mutual romance with.
* ''Series/LawAndOrder'' works: Of the countless criminals that the detectives and prosecutors of TheVerse have faced over the decades, these are the most brilliant and audacious:
** ''[[Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit Special Victims Unit]]'''s "[[Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS9E17Authority Authority]]": [[ObfuscatingStupidity Merritt Rook]] is a former audio engineer whose wife died in childbirth thanks to an error from the doctor. Rook, gaining a hatred of authority figures, manipulated and harassed the doctor into suicide before making calls posing as an authority figure to make others commit crimes for no reason but [[BavarianFireDrill a voice on the phone told them to]]. Representing himself at trial to get his views out, Rook manages to get acquitted and [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeVillified keeps his movement going]] before Detective Benson goes to arrest him. Turning the tables, Rook sets a trap for Stabler where he forces him to torture Benson at risk of a bomb exploding only to reveal Benson was never in danger and her screams were prerecorded. Rook proceeds to flee, with the [[UncertainDoom assumption being he drowns in the river]], but the strong possibility remaining he manages to escape justice entirely after [[TheBadGuyWins proving the points he wishes]].
** ''[[Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent Criminal Intent]]'':
*** Seasons 2-7: [[FemmeFatale Nicole Wallace]] is a charming Australian murderer whose brilliance established her as the "[[ArchEnemy white whale]]" of Detective Robert Goren's career. First appearing under a false identity, Nicole manipulated Mark Bayley into committing murder so she could become a citizen, she then murders Bayley and subtly reveals her deception to Goren before escaping. Nicole then married Gavin Haynes and committed another murder, framing Daniel Croyan, knowing that Goren would doggedly pursue Coryan and ignore other possibilities, before murdering Croyan and framing it as a suicide to ruin Goren’s reputation. After using Haynes' loyalty to escape justice, Nicole divorces him and starts molding Ella Myazaki into a killer like herself, nearly killing Haynes then murdering Ella and faking her own death. Nicole then becomes engaged to Evan Chapel and desires to live a normal life with him and his daughter Gwen. When she learns that Evan is trying to murder Gwen, Nicole exposes him to the police and kidnaps Gwen, only to realize that her very nature makes her a threat to Gwen and releases her. Staying just out of Goren's grasp the whole time, Nicole is only stopped when Declan Gage murders her, her last words being, "[[FaceDeathWithDignity You tell Bobby, he's the only man I ever loved]]."
*** "[[Recap/LawAndOrderCriminalIntentS6E1BlindSpot Blind Spot]]" & "[[Recap/LawAndOrderCriminalIntentS7E22Frame Frame]]": [[PsychoPsychologist Dr. Declan Gage]] is a [[TheProfiler profiler of serial killers]] who analyzes them and gets into their minds as a means of figuring out their next moves. He ended up passing on his methods to his protégée Goren, [[ParentalSubstitute thinking of him as a son]]. When a killer Gage tried to flush out by means of informing the press of evidence seems to resurface, Gage pushes to be involved in the case even when accused of the killings himself and gives Goren info and advice that helps him in investigating. After his now-estranged daughter Jo--and the true killer--ends up in a self-inflicted coma, Gage, [[ItsAllMyFault blaming himself]], seeks to free Goren of his personal demons to do right by him. While making himself appear to be a target as well, Gage ends up convincing Nicole Wallace to kill Goren's addict brother Frank and then kills her while leaving evidence that suggests Goren's the culprit, but then has it lead to himself so Goren will catch him. In doing this, Gage seeks to free Goren of the three people in his life still bringing him down [[WellIntentionedExtremist so he can finally start anew]].
* ''Series/TheLibrarians2014'':
** ''Film/TheLibrarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice'' (2008): UsefulNotes/VladTheImpaler, {{Dracula}} himself is a cunning and vicious vampire who became crippled and near powerless after drinking contaminated blood and now seeks the Judas Chalice to revive himself to full glory. In the present, Dracula masquerades as the meek and seemingly harmless [[EvilAllAlong Professor Lazlo]] who is taken in by Sergei Kubichek who is plotting to use vampires and the Judas Chalice to bring order to Russia again. Dracula instead plays along and uses Kubichek and hero Flynn Carson as his puppets throughout the film, manipulating them into getting the Chalice for him and disposing of Kubichek when he successfully obtains it and fully restores himself, intending to use the Chalice to usher in an Age of Darkness with him as ruler. A charismatic and aristocratic vampire, Dracula even goes out gracefully upon being killed by Flynn who he genuinely respects, [[BaddieFlattery even complimenting him as a great historian before dying]].
** Series:
*** Season 1: [[DiabolicalMastermind Dulaque]] is the [[WickedCultured charismatic]] and devious [[BigBad leader]] of the Serpent Brotherhood and is in truth [[FallenHero Lancelot du Lac, having become bitter and twisted after the fall of Camelot]]. Dulaque desires to return the world to the age of magic and kings, believing it to be what humanity needs to prosper, and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Over the course of the series, Dulaque has a long list of ingenious acts, such as manipulating Cassandra into getting him into the Library and using {{Excalibur}} to return magic to the world, tricking and capturing Santa Claus and using his diplomatic charm to try and have the various magical factions disband the Library. Finally, in his greatest move, Dulaque leaks information and has The Librarians create a portal to the Loom Of Fate to allow him to rewrite history and return Camelot to existence. A genius plotter who always has a new plan and takes his defeats in stride, Dulaque is the most dangerous enemy faced by The Library.
*** Season 2: [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes Professor James Moriarty]] is a fictional character brought to life by Prospero to act as his right-hand man. A [[SharpDressedMan charismatic, dapper gentleman]] who knows how to manipulate things to his advantage, Moriarty is instrumental in setting up Prospero's powers returning to him and helps him foil the heroes at various times. Moriarty can fake a truce to subtly influence the heroes into giving him the Staff of Zarathustra to empower his master, or to analyze and discover the weaknesses of his foes thorough a keen SherlockScan. Eventually ditching Prospero due to his love for Eve, Moriarty helps bring about Prospero's ultimate downfall by manipulating him into letting his guard down, and dies protecting Eve, with his final words being a method to destroy his master for good.
* ''Series/{{Longmire}}'''s "Highway Robbery": [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Jerry Napek]] is a [[EvilCripple paraplegic man]] who seeks revenge on Pete Hoyt for paralyzing him. To accomplish his plans, Napek convinces the judge at Hoyt's parole hearing to release him from prison. Manipulating Hoyt into trusting him, Napek kills him on a highway before pinning his murder on a string of recent highway robberies, while using his [[WoundedGazelleGambit crippled state]] to avoid suspicion from the authorities. Napek then tricks Walt Longmire into driving him back to the scene of the crime for Napek to get rid of any evidence linking him, by telling Walt that he wants to plant a burial cross where Hoyt was killed. When Walt returns to the crime scene and figures out Napek killed Hoyt, Napek [[GracefulLoser lets Walt arrest him]], still content that he killed the man who crippled him.
* ''Series/{{Lost}}'':
** [[ConsummateLiar Benjamin Linus]] is the leader of the Others and proves himself to be an incredibly cunning and manipulative opponent. Originally appearing to just be a prisoner, he quickly turns Jack and Locke against each other with only a few words, all while locked in a cell. Upon his escape, the depths of his skills becomes clear, as he cons Sawyer into believing in his fake pacemaker, makes a deal with Jack to operate on him twice, and sends Juliet to serve as a [[TheMole mole]] within the survivors. When he's captured, he deliberately releases just enough information to ensure the survivors believe him, but keeps enough to himself that [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou they can't just kill him]], and he eventually [[ForgotToGagHim talks himself out of captivity]]. On the mainland, he manipulates Sayid, who considers himself Ben's ArchEnemy, into working as his personal hitman against Charles Widmore by manipulating his grief over his deceased wife, and ultimately works with Eloise Hawking to return the Oceanic Six back to the Island. Upon his return, he proves vital to the defeat of the Man in Black, continuing to use his [[MasterActor lies and manipulations]] to serve as a mole for the survivors, and ultimately proves himself to be far more than the [[TheSociopath sociopath]] he initially seems to be.
** [[TimePolice Eloise Hawking]] quickly proves herself to be far more than the doddering old woman she appears to be. Introduced during Desmond's time flash to 1996, she proves her knowledge of the future by pointing out a man who dies just seconds later, explaining to Desmond that [[YouCantFightFate the universe will always course correct itself]] to achieve what it wants. With this [[YouCantFightFate concept]] in mind, she manipulates her son Daniel onto the path of science she knows that he's destined for, suppressing all of his interests besides science to ensure he will go to the Island and [[OffingTheOffspring die by her hand in 1977]], finally showing just how much she cares about him for the first time before he leaves. Continuing to secure the timeline, she works with Ben to send the Oceanic Six back to the Island, managing to locate the Island when even Charles Widmore couldn't, and successfully gets them back on the Island to ensure the timeline will remain stable. Despite her small number of appearances, her impact on the stability of the timeline cannot be overstated.
** [[PragmaticHero Desmond Hume]], upon regaining his memories in the alternate timeline, begins a mission to awaken his friends and allow them to move on. After encouraging Hurley on his date with Libby, he runs Locke over with his car, and when Ben confronts him about it later, he [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beats Ben to a bloody pulp]] to make him remember as well. After turning himself in for these actions and [[BatmanGambit getting himself transferred with Kate and Sayid]], he makes them promise him a favor; after they agree, it's revealed that he'd already bribed [[DirtyCop Ana Lucia]] to let them out at a certain time and place, beginning separate plans for both of them. While Sayid is awakened elsewhere, Desmond has Charlie kidnapped and brings Kate to the charity concert, ensuring they both awaken as well. After promising Eloise that he won't take her son with him, Desmond finally gathers his friends at the church, allowing all of them to [[EarnYourHappyEnding move on to the afterlife together]].
* ''Series/Lucifer2016'': [[DiabolicalMastermind The decoy of the Sinnerman]] served as TheDragon to the real Sinnerman, the immortal {{Cain}} aka "Marcus Pierce", knowing him since childhood before going rogue for unknown reasons, making favors and murdering people who worked with Cain. Knowing that Lucifer Morningstar is the Devil and seeking to expose Pierce's true identity as both Cain and the Sinnerman, the decoy murders people who Lucifer blessed with favors for to get the Devil's attention. Imprisoning Lucifer in a room with reinforced steel so he won't break the walls, the decoy talks to him through a TV and keeps his glasses on so Lucifer cannot use his powers to reveal the decoy's deepest desire. After being arrested by Pierce and Chloe Decker, [[EyeScream gouging his eyes out with a pen]] so Lucifer won't find out his desire, and tricking an entire precinct by forcing a woman to fake her own abduction, Lucifer kidnaps him and has the demon Mazikeen torture him. Moments before death, the decoy reveals his deepest desire was for Lucifer to kill him, and successfully outs Pierce as the real Sinnerman. In a world with celestials, the decoy manages to make his own existence an urban legend, [[BadassNormal all while still a mortal]].
* ''Series/Lupin2021'':
** [[AscendedFanboy Assane Diop]] is a [[TheAce brilliant thief]] who has modeled himself after ''Literature/ArseneLupin'' and is driven to avenge the framing and murder of his father. Determined to bring the evil Hubert Pellegrini to justice for his crime, Assane easily evades the entire French police force along the way, even capturing their corrupt Commissioner and making him confess to corruption on tape. Continuing to gather evidence while playing all who come after him, Assane keeps his identity hidden from the cops for much of the series and even when one finally catches on, Assane manages to [[ImprovisationalIngenuity charismatically convince him of the despicable corruption in his office]], creating a key ally for when Pellegrini has Assane's safe house raided and forces him on the run. Also planting a mole in Pellegrini's organization, Assane destroys his enemy at an charity event Pellegrini had intended to use to line his own pockets by redirecting the electronic donations to go to the intended foundation to help the poor while playing a tape of Pellegrini confessing to insurance fraud and the murder of Assane's father. A [[LovableRogue charming genius despite his past of infidelity and proclivity for stealing]], Assane runs circles around the elitist society so smugly dismissive of him.
** "[[DarkIsNotEvil Phillipe Courbet]]" plays the role of Pellegrini's brilliant, young banker more than willing to break the law to help his clients profit. In actuality [[TheMole a recruit of Assane's]], Courbet takes his role in return for payments of precious diamonds to help Assane break into Pellegrini's corrupt charity fundraiser. Helping Assane sneak into the auditorium, Courbet [[TheCracker redirects Pellegrini's money laundering machines]] to send the electronic donations they receive to the proper charities and his stealthy planning to plant Assane within the building helps him infiltrate Pellegrini's ranks and utterly destroy his master plan, ending the season with the smug businessman disgraced and arrested.
* ''Series/MadMen'':
** [[EccentricMillionaire Bertram "Bert" Cooper]] is a senior partner and co-founder of Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency whose [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass eccentric exterior]] hides a brilliant and determined mind earning the respect and admiration of his fellow workers. Bert makes his authority clear within the agency by foiling Pete Campbell's plan to {{blackmail}} Don Draper by saying that he doesn't care about Don's past, then himself later uses Don's past to successfully blackmail him into signing a contract that would merge Sterling Cooper with a British Agency. When the agency sells Sterling Cooper, Bert and his partners decide to form a new agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (SCDP), where Bert uses his love for [[OccidentalOtaku Japanese culture]] to get them their first major client in Honda. Bert temporally leaves SCDP when Don's ad article puts the agency in hot water before returning again, conspiring with Pete and Joan behind Don, eventually getting Don kicked out from the agency with the help of Jim Cutler. Bert later rehires Don as creative director to foil Jim Cutler's plans to take over the agency before Bert passes away as he watches the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, [[GoOutWithASmile dying in complete bliss]].
** [[ProfessionalButtKisser Bob Benson]] is a conman who uses his charisma to persuade people into hiring him without looking into his criminal past. Working as an accountant for SCDP, Bob wins Joan Harris's friendship when he gets Joan immediate treatment for her abdominal pain by lying to a nurse that Joan has been poisoned and gets along with [[SmugSnake Pete Campbell]] when working on the Chevy account, until Pete discovers Bob's homosexuality and criminal past. Bob remains undaunted by Pete's threats, merely threatening him back and uses his likability to get people to turn against Pete. When Pete believes that his mother was killed by the nurse that Bob suggested for her, Bob becomes [[EvenEvilHasStandards disgusted]] when Pete accuses him of being an accomplice to his mother's murder and manipulates Pete into humiliating himself in front of Chevy, getting Pete removed from the account. Leaving for Detroit, Bob proposes to Joan for an executive position at General Motors before accepting Joan's decision to decline Bob's marriage proposal.
* ''Series/Merlin1998'': Queen Mab is a goddess suffering a decline in followers of the "Old Ways" that would entail her kind's demise. Unlike her sister Nimue who contented herself with letting destiny pass its course, Mab sought to survive at all costs. She conceived a half-human son, Merlin himself, to groom into a leader of the Old Ways. When he eventually rebukes Mab after her AccidentalMurder of Ambrosia, Mab manipulates Vortigen to be her new champion. When he is killed by Uther Pendragon, who later fathered King Arthur to lead a kingdom unfavorable to the Old Ways, Mab offers compassion to an ostracized Morgan, obtaining a contingency against Arthur. Mab later serves as a treacherous influence to Mordred, the result of Morgan and Arthur's tryst. Through him and an enchanted enclave keeping Merlin occupied, Mab indirectly succeeds in toppling the Pendragon kingdom from behind the scenes. Desperate to keep the Old Ways and thus herself alive, the devious and powerful Mab remained a step ahead of everyone for almost the entire miniseries.
* ''Series/{{Minder}}'''s "Senior Citizen Caine": [[CoolOldGuy Cecil Caine]] is an elderly, flamboyant yet genial businessman and a legend within the community for dealing and grafting himself a fortune and far more shrewd than he appears. Freed of his last responsibility and knowing his lazy offsprings, Johnny and Sonia, plan to institutionalize him to steal everything and that the authorities are closing in, Cecil lets nothing interfere with his retirement. Transferring his businesses but none of his money to his children so they'll have to actually work or face bankruptcy, an ambushed Cecil manages to improvise an escape with all the cash on the premises and goes to ground. Banking on Johnny breaking Arthur, Cecil purposely lets him in and hires Terry. Gathering the rest of his hidden funds Cecil switches them with a decoy, then waits for Johnny and his goons to arrive, the fight spurring the authorities into action. Using the confusion to escape to his lover and real money, Cecil flees London leaving his children to explain the financial irregularities.
* ''Series/MiracleWorkers'''s ''Oregon Trail'' (Season 3): [[ActionGirl Trig]] is the adopted daughter of Benny the Teen who [[DeceptiveDisciple uses Benny]] to learn how to be a bandit before betraying Benny and striking out on her own. Becoming the most successful bandit in America, Trig and her crew hunt down Benny to collect the bounty on his head. When captured by Ezekiel's colony, Trig manipulates [[UpperClassTwit Todd Aberdeen]] into freeing her and betraying the colonists before they travel to Oregon. Upon arriving in Oregon, Trig arranges Todd to be [[CorruptPolitician governor]], where she and her crew would commit crimes unpunished under Todd's incompetent rule. When confronted by Benny, Trig spares Benny when he surrenders and [[SoProudOfYou admits he's proud of her]], with the two heading out in the sunset to carry on with their outlaw lifestyle.
* ''Series/TheMist'': [[AWolfInSheepsClothing Wes Foster]] is a member of the mall survivors who hides a secret from the rest. Claiming to merely be a Private who knows nothing of the situation, in truth he is a member of the [[GreaterScopeVillain Arrowhead Project]], sent into Bridgeville to locate Jonah Dixon and bring him in. After catching him looting, Wes plays dumb to catch him off guard and knock him out, revealing his true purpose inside the mall to him when he wakes up. After letting Jonah have power over him and [[PetTheDog releasing him]], Wes reveals that the doctor at the Project can restore his lost memory, intriguing him enough to convince Jonah to ditch his newfound friends. After revealing that he knows more about the mist than he is willing to admit, Wes [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere departs the mall]] and escapes the massacre with Jonah in tow.
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': "[[Recap/TheMuppetShowS4E14 Liza Minnelli]]": [[CausticCritic The unnamed critics]], played by Statler and Waldorf, are a duo who absolutely despise the shows the nameless theatre troupe preform. Seeking to end their shows for good, they go about stealthily and systematically murdering the cast members with guns, knives, and poison. The two are only foiled when Liza O'Shaughnessy fakes her death, causing them to reveal themselves since they had no intentions of killing her. When O'Shaughnessy reveals she tricked them and has the two arrested, the critics take their defeat well, genuinely applauding her acting skills and even cracking a joke about their own imprisonment.
* ''Series/MurdochMysteries'':
** "[[Recap/MurdochMysteriesS6E6MurdochAndTheCloudOfDoom Murdoch and the Cloud of Doom]]": Russell Bowes is a chemical company employee whose fiancee Mary is sentenced to hang for killing her sexually abusive father. He plots to break her out of prison before her execution in the middle of a city-wide evacuation, posing as a masked extortionist with access to poisoned gas by faking receipts from his factory and discards dozens of gas bottles at the delivery address and sending a film that appears to demonstrate the lethal gas to the police. He leaves enough clues in the film for the police to find where he shot it, with Russell killing all of the grass in the area with bleach and suffocating several rats to make it appear that the gas is lethal to everything and far-reaching. In truth Russell has no desire to hurt anyone as part of his plan and takes his failure hard yet gracefully and wins the sympathy of the police with his story, causing them to work to get Mary a new trial.
** "[[Recap/MurdochMysteriesMurdochS12E13MurdochAndTheUndetectableMan Murdoch and the Undetectable Man]]": [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Fiona Rossini]] is the former [[LovelyAssistant landlady and lover]] of Professor Bosworth, a scientist trying to make an invisibility device. After Bosworth is robbed and murdered by his investors, a vengeful Fiona [[BestServedCold kills them one by one]] while pretending that Bosworth survived and has turned himself invisible to seek revenge. Fiona thoroughly convinces both the police and her targets that Bosworth is indeed invisible, and kills her final target while he's in police custody while still maintaining the illusion that an [[DeceasedFallGuyGambit invisible Bosworth did the deed]]. Fiona is resourceful, graceful, and unwilling to kill anyone besides her targets. Upon being caught, Fiona merely asks how Murdoch figured out her trick, showing [[GracefulLoser no animosity]] towards the detective.
* ''Series/MyBabysittersAVampire'': [[SinisterMinister Horace "Jesse" Black]] is the former vampire master of Whitechapel, before being overthrown, even then ruling the vampire community from behind the scenes. As a top high schooler by day and cult leader by night, Jesse uses his position to organize a vampire attack to harvest the souls of his victims and resurrect his fallen flock, kicking it off by draining a girl in front of an audience, while considering the loss of his current followers only a small setback. [[BackFromTheDead Returning from the dead]], Jesse comes out on top by forcing his ex-girlfriend Sarah to drink Ethan's blood after biting him. When exiled, Jesse returns when he learns of the threat Stern poses, out of [[EvenEvilHasStandards ostensible altruism]]. It's revealed Stern is the descendant of a wizard that Jesse previously saved the community from, having [[ThePawnsGoFirst sacrificed dozens of his followers to do so]], keeping the Lucifactor safe and out to reach. When the Lucifactor has been found, Jesse directly helps fight Stern, nearly getting himself killed in the process. A charismatic, if manipulative vampire master who bounces back from his failures, Jesse manages to be a one of Whitechapel's more formidable figures, even with the loss of his power.
* ''Series/{{Narcos}}'':
** [[BadassPacifist Jorge Salcedo]] is the Deputy Chief of Security for the Cali Cartel. Faithfully serving the cartel for several years, he often uses his quick thinking and cunning to get out of sticky situations. When his boss/friend and wife are brutally murdered by the cartel [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal Jorge decides to turn informant to the DEA]]. He manages several times to get them one of the godfather's locations, always using his wits to overcome unforeseen circumstances, even framing his friend as the rat, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone an act which causes him tremendous guilt]]. Eventually the godfather is captured and he then uses his skills to find the main accountant for the cartel who brings it down for good.
** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Amado Carillo Fuentes]] becomes a part of the Guadalajara Cartel as a pilot for his uncle Don Neto and kingpin Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo. Amado is later promoted by Felix to restore order to the Juarez branch, before building a fleet of planes to transport cocaine from Colombia into the U.S. and effortlessly luring a DEA team targeting him into a deadly trap. [[TheStarscream Orchestrating Felix's downfall and imprisonment]], Amado also assassinates his partner Aguilar to take over the Juarez Cartel. Amado decentralizes the organization to make it harder for law enforcement to target him and makes new deals with Mexico's corrupt kingmakers and the Colombian Cali godfathers to make himself the most powerful of all drug kingpins, even bribing the General leading the Mexican government's anti-cartel operations to wipe out his competitors. Saving his Cuban mistress from assassination, Amado moves his assets overseas before unexpectedly dying during a botched surgery to change his identity, with the suggestion that the "Lord of the Skies" might have actually [[NeverFoundTheBody faked his death]].
** [[TookALevelInBadass Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman]] is at first a personal driver for Felix-Gallardo in the Guadalajara Cartel. El Chapo undermines the Tijuana plaza by building a tunnel underneath the US-Mexico border on their territory to smuggle in cocaine, resulting in a MobWar before making peace with them in the wake of Felix's removal. When Tijuana continues to provoke the Sinaloans, El Chapo masterminds an assassination attempt on Benjamin Arellano-Felix, killing his brother-in-law in the process. El Chapo later escapes an attempt on his own life despite being outmanned and outgunned. When El Chapo is captured and sent to prison, he outmaneuvers both his more charismatic rival Hector Palma and his ostensible mentor Don Neto, having both men [[ReassignedToAntarctica moved to different prisons]] so he can assume sole control over the Sinaloa Cartel and rebuild it into the deadliest of the narco-cartels.
* ''Series/NoGoodNick'': [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Nicole "Nick" Franzelli]] is a [[HighSchoolHustler teenaged con artist]] seeking to avenge her father's imprisonment by tricking her way into the Thompson family by claiming to be a LongLostRelative. To attain funds for a lawyer for her father, Nick passes off discount wines as expensive vintages, talks the volunteer squad into fining students who show up in a offensive costume while secretly swapping the fine box with a box of her own sells stolen art equipment such that it cannot be traced back to her, and sets up an online charity fraud account.Gaining the Thompson's love which Nick [[BecomingTheMask begins to reciprocate]], Nick still resolves to take them down out of bitterness for ruining her father and undermines them in various ways to slander them though she eventually comes to feel guilt and eventually cuts a deal with the police to restore the Thompson's name, [[ReformedButNotTamed remaining tricky even following her change of heart]].
* ''Series/TheOrville'': Pria Levesque is a time traveller from the 29th century who arranges to be picked up by the Orville by faking a distress call. After arriving on board, Pria quickly gains the crew's trust by saving them from a dark matter storm before bonding with Captain Ed Mercer, who is still recovering from a painful divorce with his ex-wife (now First Officer) Kelly Grayson, and [[FemmeFatale seducing him into a one-night stand]]. Meanwhile, Pria installs a device in the engine room through which she can remotely take over control of the ship in order to pilot it into a wormhole to the future, selling the Orville off as an antique and forcing the crew to live out the remainder of their lives on a remote planet. When her scheme fails, Pria makes one last attempt to convince Mercer to cooperate before calmly accepting the fact that her current version will be [[RetGone erased from history]]. Pria is among the cleverest foes the crew of the Orville have faced so far, with few managing to emotionally get under Mercer's skin like she has.
* ''Series/TheOtherKingdom'': [[EvilChancellor Versitude]] is King Oberon's mysterious, two-faced advisor as well as a foe of Princess Astral and Winston Althazar. Viewing the "others" as little more than hers to mess with, [[FauxAffablyEvil she'd put on a facade of being a trustworthy ally in Oberon and Titania's presence]], while secretly spying on Astral and interfering with her time on her "other walk" and making Winston's time in Athenia miserable, whether by tricking him into eating berries that nearly turned him into a donkey, framing him for "destroying" a summerberry bush, or placing him on trial for his life. On top of that, she went behind the Athenian king and queen's backs to work with King Reed of their enemy tribe Spartania. Winston attempts to expose Versitude's true colors, only for the latter to become aware she's being spied on, and intentionally set up a series of fake events that cause him and Peaseblossom to appeear suspicious, so King Oberon wouldn't listen to them.
* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'' ("[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1995S6E19ZigZag Zig Zag]]"): Zig Fowler is a cyberterrorist in a near-future society where almost all data is controlled by the [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Department of Information Technology]]. Founding the Syndrome cell from the shadows with the mission to free people at any cost, Zig fakes his own death and assumes the meek Cliff Unger persona in order to infiltrate the department and gain access to its central processor room. After a year, Zig's implant reverts back to its original settings, whereupon he joins up with his old comrades again, who were not even privy to his real identity. Zig stages an armed takeover of the Department offices to bomb it, manipulating his former boss through word trickery into arming the bomb with his own implant, ultimately dying in a blaze of glory as the entire city is destroyed.
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'':
** Ryan O'Reilly is an Irish convict in the Emerald City wing of the Oswald State Correctional Facility. More than any other inmate, O'Reilly is frequently at the center of whatever intrigue is going in the prison, forming alliances with other inmates to take over the drug trade inside Oz by arranging the deaths of various gang leaders and even becoming a major figure in a prison riot. O'Reilly also gets Dr. Gloria Nathan to fall in love with him after putting out a hit on her husband, later personally murdering a criminal who raped her, uses various dirty methods to ensure that his brother Cyrill will win the prison boxing championship, and has Officer Claire Howell--whom O'Reilly is sleeping with--kill his rival Stanislofsky after a dispute over a contraband cell phone turns sour. Ryan O'Reilly possesses a sense of charm and bravado unmatched by many of the thuggish inmates in Oz, and his uncanny ability to get others to do his dirty work for him and turning his enemies against each other makes him one of the few characters to successfully survive the entire run of the show.
** Enrique Morales establishes himself as one of the most cunning and pragmatic prisoners on the show. After arriving in Oswald State prison, he usurped control over the Latinos by forcing the kindly old prisoner [[TheOldConvict Bob Rebadow]] to kill his unpopular predecessor El Cid, then takes over the drug trade inside the prison with the Homeboys and Italians and proves himself more wary to attempts by the authorities to infiltrate the organization than his associates. When Morales develops a feud with Homeboys leader Burr Redding, he manipulates Chinese refugees housed in the prison against him with false claims of race hatred and attempts to have Redding framed for a murder. A [[GeniusBruiser capable fighter as well]] when the chips are down, Morales swiftly foils an attempt on his own life by killing the assassin, and lulls his late sister's abusive husband into a false sense of security before pounding the everloving crap out of him. Always a persuasive and purpose-driven man despite being a murderer and gang leader, under the clever rule of Morales, El Norte truly became a force to be reckoned with within Oz.
* ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'': [[TheAce Jennifer Barkley]] is a brilliant political strategist from Washington, DC. In season 4, after being spooked by Leslie's growing success in the polls in the race for city council, Nick Newport pays Jennifer a small fortune to be the campaign manager for his son [[UpperClassTwit Bobby]]'s campaign. Jennifer skillfully outmaneuvers the Knope campaign, easily anticipating Leslie's next moves and capitalizing on each of her missteps. She's also willing to take underhanded actions, such as swiping one of Leslie's ideas for the Newport campaign, all while continuing to be a FriendlyEnemy to Leslie whenever she's off the clock. After Leslie ultimately wins the city council seat, Jennifer [[GracefulLoser gracefully]] accepts the loss and even offers Ben a job working with her firm because she was impressed by how well he managed the Knope campaign.
* ''Series/PennyDreadful'': {{Dracula}}, the final villain of the series, kidnaps and turns Mina Murray to manipulate the heroes into chasing her in order to lure his true quarry, Vanessa Ives, into his grasp. While also outplaying his brother Lucifer, Dracula becomes close to Vanessa under his mortal guise of Dr. Alexander Sweet, while genuinely falling for Vanessa. Even after she discovers his true identity, Dracula still wins her to his side with the strength of his charm and charisma. Dracula then sets about his conquest of the world, so powerful that none of the heroes are able to even touch him, only departing to honor Vanessa's promise not to harm her friends after Vanessa's HeroicSacrifice.
* ''Series/ThePeopleVOJSimpson'': Johnnie Cochran is a criminal defense attorney who considers himself a black advocate. Seeing the impending O.J. Simpson trial as a perfect opportunity to push his political agenda, Cochran manages to become lead council of the Dream Team by outmaneuvering his predecessor Robert Shapiro. Cochran further outwits the prosecutors repeatedly with clever schemes that damages their own case, confuses the jurors with a prolongued ChewbaccaDefense, redecorates O.J.'s mansion before a guided tour to make O.J. appear to be an active member of the African American community, and uses political leverage to threaten a race riot over the release of the Fuhrman tapes. Cochran's fiery rhetoric and dominant personality allows him to secure a not guilty verdict for a double murderer, something he considers a small price to pay as he goes on to celebrate his triumph.
* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
** [[DiabolicalMastermind Carl Elias]], a New York City [[TheDon crime boss]] and the illegitimate son of Don Gianni Moretti, evaded his father's attempts to [[OffingTheOffspring kill him]] after witnessing the latter having his mother killed and spent decades building his own power base, even using a job as a teacher to siphon off mob recruits. Evading arrest after killing his mother's assailant, Elias later assists, then double-crosses Reese, forcing him to give Elias his father's hiding place, going on to take control of much of the city's crime scene while having his right-hand man kill his hated father while Elias seemingly quietly surrenders to the police. In prison Elias expands his business, even helping [[Characters/PersonOfInterestTeamMachine Team Machine]] from behind bars and when nearly killed by Russian mobsters, prepares to calmly accept his fate. When rescued, Elias works with Carter to turn [[Characters/PersonOfInterestHR HR]] and the Russian Mafia against one-another and when faced with the challenge of yet another gang, prepares swiftly to fight them when they kill his loyal right-hand, even outwitting their leader Dominic while under torture. After surviving an assassination attempt by [[Characters/PersonOfInterestDecimaTechnologies Samaritan]], Elias goes underground with Team Machine's help and dies giving his life to protect Finch from the rogue A.I.
** [[BewareTheSillyOnes Samantha "Root" Groves]] is a [[TheCracker cyberterrorist]] and ProfessionalKiller whose first crime was framing a murderer for stealing from a drug lord. Learning about [[BenevolentAI The Machine]] after an assassination coverup was foiled, Root puts a hit out on herself to lure Finch and Reese out, kidnapping the latter for information on The Machine while sending Reese to solve her friend's murder. Becoming the Machine's analog interface after searching for it, Root breaks out of a mental hospital and assists in Team Machine's fight against HR, running interference for The Machine and ensuring the team's continued survival by installing faulty servers when the malevolent A.I. Samaritan comes online, eventually giving her life to protect Finch. A MasterActor who can slip in and out of roles and pick up skills along the way, Root is one of Team Machine's deadliest foes and greatest assets.
** "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E08 Foe]]": [[TortureTechnician Ulrich Kohl]] was once a [[UsefulNotes/TheStasi Stasi]] operative who executed East German defectors on his country's behalf. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kohl was betrayed by his former teammates and imprisoned for 24 years. Escaping after his captors believed he had grown too old and feeble to be dangerous, Kohl immediately [[ObfuscatingStupidity proved them wrong]], setting out to take revenge on his former comrades, blaming them for the apparent death of his beloved wife. A cool-headed man with a formidable knowledge of spycraft, chemistry, and biology, Kohl methodically hunts his targets while evading pursuit, succeeding in killing all but one of them, with one only surviving because of Reese's intervention. Learning that his wife is still alive, Kohl seeks her out, easily subduing the much younger and stronger Reese when he interferes and engaging in a [[DissonantSerenity calm discussion]] while torturing him. Eventually confronting his wife and hitherto unknown daughter, Kohl comes to accept the toll his actions had taken upon him, ultimately [[SuicideByCop coercing Reese into shooting him]] and dying content that, while his own humanity is a lost cause, a part of him would live on in his daughter.
* ''Series/PerryMason'': "The Case of the Traveling Treasure": Leon Ulrich and Max Nolan smuggle a fortune in gold out of a gold mine, delaying the discovery of their theft by leaving fake gold bars behind. They plan to get the gold out of the country by infiltrating a scientific expedition and hiding the gold at sea under a kelp bed. When the businessman funding the expedition cancels the trip, Ulrich tricks him into changing his mind by posing as a debt collector out to seize all of his assets if he remains in the country. The two are uninvolved in the businessman's murder and after being exposed Max compliments Perry on thwarting them and makes sure to exonerate an innocent party suspected of helping them.
* ''Series/{{Power}}'': [[AmoralAttorney Joseph "Joe" Proctor]] is a criminal defense attorney who becomes entwined in Ghost's drug empire. After being pressured to serve as Tommy Egan's representative during a trial, Proctor easily convinces the judge and jury that the FBI illegally arrested him based off inadmissible evidence, allowing him to go free. Proctor later assists Ghost and Tommy by delivering them crucial information of witnesses or other criminals and representing Ghost once he's falsely imprisoned for murdering a federal agent. Proctor also keeps a recording of Tommy murdering a confidential informant as insurance should anything dire happen to him. As the FBI keep pressuring Proctor to give up Ghost and his allies, Proctor continues to play both sides, informing Ghost that the FBI wants to turn him whilst also refusing to give up key details that could lead to Ghost's conviction. Struggling to keep full custody of his daughter, Proctor drives his ex-wife, Lindsay, into relapsing and lets her succumb to a drug overdose before calling the police. Once Proctor finds himself seconds away from being killed by Tommy for giving up his name to the FBI, he defiantly tells Tommy that [[ThanatosGambit his death won't change anything]], and the recording eventually will resurface.
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' franchise:
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Turbo]]'': [[HypercompetentSidekick General Havoc]] is the far more competent brother of the space pirate Divatox. Bringing with him a space station and the Metallosaurus, Havoc ends his first fight with the Rangers victorious as he manages to steal their Turbo Megazord. Later capturing Cassie, Havoc threatens to turn her to stone unless the Phantom Ranger surrenders. [[DecoyDamsel Havoc disguises himself as a petrified Cassie]], so he can steal the Power Ruby when the Phantom Ranger tries to use it to save her. While only appearing in a few episodes, Havoc stands out among the space pirates for his polite demeanor and sheer intelligence.
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersInSpace In Space]]'': [[LadyOfWar Astronema]] is the self-proclaimed [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Princess of Evil"]] and the second in command of the [[LegionOfDoom United Alliance of Evil]]. Tasked by Dark Specter to destroy the Space Rangers, Astronema would fight many battles with them before finding out her identity as Andros' [[LongLostRelative long lost sister Karone]], leading to her defection to the Rangers. Upon being kidnapped by a reprogrammed Ecliptor and installed with neural implants to keep her on the side of evil, Astronema decides to kill both the Space Rangers and Dark Specter in order to [[TheStarscream usurp the latter's position as Grand Monarch of Evil]] through the creation of the [[ThePsychoRangers Psycho Rangers]], who beat the Rangers within an inch of their lives in their earlier encounters and drained Dark Specter's life force for power. Despite their eventual defeat, Astronema would continue to inflict significant damage on the Rangers, successfully luring them into a trap that saw the destruction of the Delta Megazord by [[TheDragon Ecliptor]], and destroying the Mega Voyager using [[ActionBomb Tankenstein]] in the subsequent episode.
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersWildForce Wild Force]]'': [[ChessmasterSidekick Onikage]] introduces himself as a ninja loyal to Mandilok and conjures schemes to kidnap Princess Shyla. When Toxica fumbles his first plan, Onikage promises he can redeem her if he cuts off her horn to render her immune to the Sacred Water of Animaria, lying that Duke Orgs' horns grow back. This leads to Toxica's death and Shayla's capture. On the verge of defeating the Power Rangers, Onikage reveals his true allegiance as Master Org's [[TheDragon right hand man]], rendering Mandilok defenseless and resulting in their death. Onikage is defeated in the end mostly by luck but succeeds in almost all his goals, setting the stage for the rest of the season despite [[SmallRoleBigImpact only appearing in two episodes]].
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersSPD S.P.D.]]'''s "Reflection" [[Recap/PowerRangersSPDS1E24ReflectionPart1 two]]-[[Recap/PowerRangersSPDS1E25ReflectionPart2 parter]]: [[KnightOfCerebus Mirloc]] is a brilliant alien criminal known for having had a hand in every dirty deal and knowing every shady character, who was imprisoned for his various crimes. When Schuler "Sky" Tate approaches him for information on another criminal, Mirloc calmly chides him for being rude before agreeing to give the information in exchange for Sky telling him a sad story. When Sky tells him the story of when his father died, Mirloc taunts him about it, causing Sky to cry and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero allowing Mirloc to use his ability]] to travel through reflections to escape through his tears. Mirloc is then enlisted by Emperor Gruumm to defeat the S.P.D. Rangers and makes [[GeniusBruiser clever use of his powers]] to trap almost all of the Rangers in mirrors. In his fight with Sam, Mirloc uses his powers to dodge his attacks and blindside him, coming within seconds of winning.
** ''[[Series/PowerRangersSamurai Samurai]]'': [[BloodKnight Deker]] is a swordsman who was cursed to wander the earth as a Human-Nighlok hybrid. Seeking the "Ultimate Duel" to end his curse, Deker declares the Red Ranger Jayden Shiba his [[TheRival rival]], constantly saving him from Master Xandred's minions so that he can fight Jayden himself and threatens to harm innocent people should Jayden refuse. Though seemingly killed by Jayden, Deker returns and helps Serrator in his schemes only to betray the Nighlok King once he fixes Deker's sword, [[SpannerInTheWorks foiling his plans in the process]]. Decker then faces Jayden in one last duel before being killed, [[FaceDeathWithDignity accepting his death]] now that he's free from his curse.
* ''Series/{{Profit}}'': Jim Profit is an amoral [[TheSociopath sociopath]] whose life's goal is to become [[CorruptCorporateExecutive President of Acquisitions]] at the multinational company Gracen & Gracen Enterprises, thus giving him control over one of the most powerful economic entities in the world. He uses various schemes such as leaking bad stories to the press and blackmailing his predecessor's secretary in an attempt to get him fired before later having him [[FrameUp framed for murder]] to permanently dispose of him. Jim also ingratiates himself with the company elites and their loved ones, zeroing in on their personal demons and shortcomings to use against them and sow discord, such as causing a falling out among the Gracen brothers to maneuver himself into becoming the CEO's right hand man and using his equally manipulative stepmother Bobbi to seduce and further control his boss. When the head of security catches on to his scheming, Jim forces her psychologist to perform hypnosis on her and then presents himself as her rescuer to discredit her claims against him. Jim Profit is an expert manipulator and schemer whose machiavellian plots allow him to get away with murder, extortion, and ruining people's lives multiple times and [[XanatosSpeedChess always has more cards left to play when faced with adversity]].
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': [[GentlemanThief Pierre Despereaux]] is a notoriously elusive art thief who commits two successful thefts in his first appearance despite Shawn's best efforts to stop him. When Shawn exposes his thefts as an insurance fraud scheme, he is inspired to commit the "perfect crime", which Despereaux pulls off by inviting Shawn and Gus to prison, stowing himself away with them, committing the theft, and returning to prison with only the Psych duo being aware of what he did. In his third appearance, Despereaux helps the duo steal a dagger--a key to a "core collection" of art--and fakes his death by blowing up his escape speedboat. He makes his death seem authentic by changing his DNA database information to that of an [[BodyDouble unidentified body]] he was holding onto. After helping the duo find the "core collection", Despereaux steals one of the paintings and restores the more valuable Rembrandt painting underneath it. His last appearance reveals him to be an INTERPOL agent named Royston Staley, but it is indicated that Despereaux [[TheMole infiltrated the organization]] and rose up the ranks. It is left ambiguous as to whether Staley was real or Despereaux fooled the duo once again.
* ''Series/{{Reaper}}'': [[{{Satan}} The Devil]] is the [[AffablyEvil charismatic]] and [[ManOfWealthAndTaste stylish]] lord of hell who tricks Sam's parents into selling his soul to him before Sam's birth. The Devil uses Sam as a BountyHunter to recapture escaped souls from hell while constantly exploiting his opponents by using ExactWords to get his way in his deals. The Devil arranges for Sam to get an apartment next to a pair of rebel demons whose plan to destroy him would actually have worked, and manipulates Sam into infiltrating the rebellion with a new (doomed) plan to kill him, he also signs Sam's lease with his name and sends him clues as to what is going on that Sam, Sock and Ben can only work out moments after it is too late to do anything about it. He then repeats this plan with the few survivors of the rebellion, and is still witty, charming and diabolically affable.
* ''Series/RiseOfEmpiresOttoman'': [[WarriorPrince Sultan Mehmet II]], TheConqueror, is an Ottoman prince who ascends the throne after the death of his father Murad II. Descended from both Byzantine nobility and Ottoman warlords, Mehmet sets out to realize his ancestor Osman's dream of conquering Constantinople. Ensuring the fealty of his late father's vizier Halil Pasha to unite the empire, Mehmet orders the construction of great cannons to pummel the city with artillery bombardments to weaken the walls, and has his army build a path through the mountains north of Constantinople to move his navy across land to outmaneuver the Romans. Meanwhile, his beloved stepmother and ally Mara Brankovic keeps in contact with Mehmet from the Serbian court to apprise him of any alliance of Christian states buiding up around him. Feeling a [[WorthyOpponent genuine admiration]] for his arch-enemy Giovanni Giustiniani, Mehmet tries to [[WeCanRuleTogether offer him lordship over the Ionian islands if he joins the Ottomans]]. Ultimately, Mehmet's determination and sheer will secures a [[BreachingTheWall breach of the Roman walls]], as he takes the city and converts it into the new capital of the empire, while ridding himself of the trappings of the past by executing Halil Pasha for conspiring against him.
* ''Series/{{Rome}}'': [[UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar Gaius Julius Caesar]] conquers the entire land of Gaul, while masterfully manipulating the Roman senate into declaring him a criminal to give him an excuse to march on Rome, scattering the Senate and seizing ultimate power while acting humble to continue winning the love of the populace. Caesar continues a series of masterful political maneuvers to entrench himself while maintaining the loyalty of his soldiers and closest allies, even rewarding a veteran for defying his explicit orders when the man's actions win favor with the crowd, securing himself a trusted bodyguard in the process. In almost every moment, Caesar continues to show how he is the true master of Rome and is seen as almost divine even before his assassination.
* ''[[Film/ShadowZoneTheUndeadExpress Shadow Zone: The Undead Express]]'' (1996): Valentine is the charming leader of the subterranean vampires. Having been forcibly turned and confined underground, Valentine has killed and turned many others. Growing weary of his undead existence, Valentine takes the chance to befriend and manipulate teenage hero Zack, bonding with the boy and seeing the outside world again. Having Zack's friends kidnapped to lure Zack into freeing the vampires, Valentine reveals his true scheme was to die and to take the ravenous, murderous undead coven with him by purposefully sending them into sunlight, dying in complete peace by the end.
* ''Series/ShakaZulu'': King UsefulNotes/ShakaZulu was born into the Zulu tribe to an arrogant prince and a commoner girl. Defending his mother's honor, Shaka and his maternal relatives were expelled, but when Shaka returns as a young man he publically defies his father's wishes for him to become a Zulu warrior, fleeing from his soldiers to instead join the army of the Mhethwa Paramountcy, whose current King he once nursed to health. Shaka singlehandedly [[TheStrategist revolutionizes tribal warfare]], allowing him to utterly annihilate rival tribes, gain revenge on his past enemies, and take over his late father's throne. Shaka manages to use the threat of an enemy tribe to bargain himself into becoming supreme commander, then declares himself King after his patron is unexpectedly assassinated. Shaka also cleverly uses the British expedition to his court for his own ends, using their technology to wipe out an enemy army, and to [[ImmortalRuler achieve immortality]], or so he believes. He allows Lieutenant Farewell to return to Capetown with Shaka's representatives, but when he realizes that they tricked him he starts plotting revenge while damning the rest of the world after his mother dies. A powerful, dangerous, charismatic ruler, Shaka returns to his court only to FaceDeathWithDignity, with even his assassins remaining in awe of him after his downfall.
* ''Series/SilentWitness'':
** "World Cruise": [[CoolOldGuy Doctor Josef Horowitz]] is a genial, respected academic who lost his [[GenocideSurvivor entire family in Auschwitz]] and was forced to watch his twin brother Aaron die in a Nazi experiment. Now a frail, old man dying from lung cancer Josef vows to [[TheLastDance avenge Aaron]] dubbing it his "World Cruise". Killing his targets by injecting glycol into their hearts inducing a fatal attack, [[PayEvilUnToEvil the same way Aaron was murdered]]. Tracking down the Dawidowicz brothers who betrayed them in the camp out of desperation, Josef charms them into inviting him to lunch then drugs, restrains and murders them. Horrified to discover an innocent man is being charged for the double murder, Josef subtly steers the investigation towards thuggish local Neo-Nazi Carl Martin. Luring Martin to Brussels the same day he murdered a former SS Doctor, Josef left the scene pointing at Martin, his efforts leading to Martin being exposed for drowning a kindly old Jewish man, just as Josef suspected. The final war criminal having successfully reinvented himself as a famous geneticist, to gain access to him Josef impersonated a reporter then sat with Professor Neumann as he died admitting "he didn't deserve a peaceful death."
** "Legacy": [[CassandraTruth Tom Hancock]] is a grieving father whose son Peter became gravely ill with [[TheTopicOfCancer multiple forms of cancer]]. Suspicious after all of his friends came down with the same ailments, Tom becomes convinced a government coverup was responsible for his son's death and is determined to expose it at any cost. Taking his comatose son "hostage" with a shotgun, Tom switches off his life support, but lets everyone else on the ward go. Contacting Professor Leo Dalton, Tom successfully manipulates him into investigating the cause of his son's illness. When Leo and the pathology team find evidence of a coverup involving a nuclear weapon stashed in an underground bunker by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Sir William Embelton]], Tom, despite growing to like and admire Leo, tricks him into taking him to the location. Determined to take revenge, Tom steals some lethally radioactive material and then breaks into Sir William's home to demand an apology. Upon Sir William spitefully refusing, Tom gains admittance to the office of Sir William's son James and uses his engineering skills to rig the lethally radioactive material into an air conditioning unit, all whilst disguised as an ordinary repairman. After the trap triggers and contaminates both James and corrupt government agent [[AssholeVictim David Loader]], Tom hands himself into the authorities, [[TheBadGuyWins his revenge complete and the cover up exposed]].
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Lionel Luthor]] dominated the show for all seven seasons in which he appeared. Originally created to explain how [[Characters/SmallvilleLexLuthor Lex]] grew up to become a villain himself, Lionel became a power unto himself in the show, and for the first three seasons was a virtually untouchable threat who easily undercut any efforts by Lex or even [[Characters/SmallvilleClarkKent Clark Kent]] himself to act against him. Jailed in Season 4, Lionel proved he was still capable of reaching out to touch anyone, anywhere, whenever he wanted, and after his release from prison and subsequent HeelFaceTurn, remained the show's most potent manipulator. When an alternate version of Lionel was brought to Earth-1, he discovered he truly cared for Lex and made a plan to revive him using body parts of failed clones. Planning to use Tess's heart to finish the process, Lionel kidnaps her and eventually sacrifices his own heart in a deal with Darkseid to bring Lex back to life. In a show filled with mutants, aliens, and meteor freaks, Lionel Luthor was still the most dangerous man around, and no matter who he was sharing space with, always managed to feel like the most powerful person in the room.
* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'':
** UsefulNotes/MarcusLiciniusCrassus is a self-made Roman aristocrat who showcases an odd respect for slaves and gladiators. Having his gladiator teacher fight him to the death to truly understand Spartacus, Crassus gives him nothing but respect when Hilarus dies, even having promised to free him and make him rich should he kill Crassus. Directing his rivals to die at Spartacus's hands, Crassus later introduces decimation to the roman ranks to make his men fear him more than Spartacus. With a series of intelligent strategies, Crassus slowly wins the Servile War, ending in single combat with Spartacus, and ending with Crassus's victory.
** [[UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar Gaius Julius Caesar]] himself is a cunning soldier who proves his mettle by infiltrating a city taken by Spartacus's rebels as a freed slave himself. Playing the freed slaves perfectly, Caesar ends up repulsed when he sees one of the rebel leaders Nemetes is keeping a Roman woman captive, and only gives her a MercyKill when she begs for it. He then turns them into an opportunity, having gladiators kill Roman prisoners to increase tension between rebel factions. Later embracing his role in the legions, Caesar proves a brilliant and deadly combatant, even defeating the nearly unparalleled warrior Gannicus via tactics by using his legions.
* ''Series/{{Spooks}}'':
** Series 1 & 2: [[StealingFromTheTill Tessa Phillips]] is an MI-5 agent who's secretly stealing money from the government. Using fabricated confidential informants, Tessa repeatedly fools MI-5 into paying the informants small sums of cash so [[TheHandler she could later launder the money]] into her own bank account. After Zoe Reynolds uncovers the truth about Tessa, Tessa simply [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribes Zoe with ten thousand pounds]] to keep her silent. Later on, after Tessa is fired by Harry Pearce for her actions, she seeks revenge against him by posing as Harry's boss and fooling Sam Buxton into delivering confidential information to her in regards to the Chala Cartel. After seemingly agreeing to help MI-5, Tessa later exposes one of their informants and has her employers assassinate the cartel leader, [[TheBadGuyWins fleeing the country afterwards to avoid prosecution]] from Harry.
** Series 9: [[WildCard Vaughn Edwards]] is a mercenary and [[ConsummateLiar master deceiver]]. Seeking out a partner to help him with his schemes, Vaughn recruited John Bateman and used him to conduct unofficial operations for the British government. After the two successfully bomb a British embassy, Vaughn helps John kill Lucas North, a soon-to-be MI-5 agent, and [[KillAndReplace steal his identity]]. Fifteen years later, Vaughn seeks out John in London and blackmails him into stealing a government file known as Albany or else he'll expose his true identity to MI-5 and his former lover, Maya Lahan. After John repeatedly fails, Vaughn goes to Harry Pearce directly and threatens to reveal who was behind the embassy bombing. When John mortally wounds Vaughn to silence him for good, Vaughn [[DefiantToTheEnd uses his dying breath]] to tell John that he's nothing more than a killer pretending to be a hero.
** "One Last Dance": [[PhantomThief Johnny Marks]] is a former [=MI-5=] asset who betrayed his employers and became a freelancer. After faking his death in a car bomb, Johnny resurfaced in London several years later to pull off a heist. Using Kurdish rebels at his disposal, Johnny had them take over a Turkish consulate, distracting the authorities so he would be able to steal $15 million from a bank. He also acquired the identities of thousands of undercover [=MI-5=] and [=MI-6=] officers as leverage. Once Johnny has the money, he leaves the rebels to be apprehended while he escapes. Even when Harry Pearce manages to confront Johnny in person, Johnny threatens to expose the agents' identities, [[KarmaHoudini forcing Harry to let Johnny go free]].
** "Smoke and Mirrors" & "Project Friendly Fire": [[UnholyMatrimony Herman and Carmen Joyce]] are an ex-CIA couple with a grudge against Tom Quinn. After their daughter, Lisa, is institutionalized due to a mental breakdown during an [=MI-5=] operation Tom recruited her for, Carmen opts to ruin Tom's life. She and Herman stage a car crash and [[DeathFakedForYou fake Herman's death]] before spending years plotting to frame Tom for an assassination. Herman murders an assassin in the Witness Protection program before traveling to London and fabricating documents to make it look like Tom's a traitor. After luring Tom, Danny, and Zoe to a farm for interrogation, Herman frees Tom to further implicate him, before drugging him and placing his fingerprints on a sniper rifle used to assassinate the Chief of Defence Staff. When Tom, now a fugitive, subdues Herman and tries to get him to turn himself in, Herman refuses, telling Tom he'd rather die knowing he destroyed his life. Later on, after [=MI-5=] corners Carmen in a safe house, Carmen admits to everything she and her husband planned before killing herself, [[TheBadGuyWins satisfied that her and Herman's plans succeeded]].
** "Road Trip": [[ProfessionalKiller Ali Mohammed Yazdi]] is an assassin working for the the Al-Kahf terrorist cell. After receiving a contract to murder Middle-Eastern diplomat Prince Hakim, Yazdi uses his connections with a smuggling operation to sneak into Britain. Upon being discovered by Adam Carter and offered a deal to become a [[TheMole double agent]], Yazdi begrudgingly takes the deal to fool [=MI-5=] into [[FakeDefector believing he's turned]]. While working for [=MI-5=], Yazdi gives up the name of one of his contacts and surreptitiously forces him to give up Prince Hakim's name, all while pretending that the Al-Kahf are planning another terrorist attack to divert [=MI-5=]'s suspicion. Once [=MI-5=] brings Prince Hakim in for questioning and put him in the same room as Yazdi, Yazdi swiftly kills the prince using [[ImprovisedWeapon nothing but his own glasses]].
** "Diana": [[AWolfInSheepsClothing Angela Wells]] is a former [=MI-5=] agent and covert operative working for a group of government conspirators. After her fiancé, Peter Haigh, commits suicide when no one believed that [=MI-5=] had Princess Diana murdered, Angela decided to prove his theory by force. Armed with explosives, Angela entered Thames House and forced various [=MI-5=] operatives to prove Diana was murdered, or else she'll blow the whole building. After Ruth Evershed convinces Angela to surrender, Angela uses her grief over Peter to cajole Harry Pearce into letting her go, only to steal a document that left the Royal Family's security vulnerable. Angela fools [=MI-5=] into evacuating the Royal Family into a bunker she installed a bomb inside of and nearly kills them. When her plans fail, she retaliates by attacking Harry and Adam Carter with a sniper rifle before warning them that more attacks with ensue in the future.
** "The Criminal": [[DoubleAgent Richard Dempsey]] is a former MI-6 agent believed to have turned traitor to the Balkans. In truth, Dempsey has been working undercover with Serbian war criminals General Marko Tezlia and Colonel Niko Grecic whilst also feeding crucial information back to England for his superiors' benefits. In order to preserve his cover, Dempsey willingly stopped Adam Carter from assassinating Tezlia, which led to Adam being tortured and almost killed. Several years later, after finding out he's being framed for the deaths of key witnesses testifying against Tezlia, Dempsey goes to Hungary and kills two hitmen sent to murder him before sneaking back into London and meeting Adam in private. Using clues his handler left behind, Dempsey successfully convinces Adam to help him find information that will exonerate him and implicate his superiors who betrayed him. After Grecic testifies against Tezlia and gets him arrested, Dempsey tracks down Grecic months later [[PayEvilUntoEvil and assassinates him as punishment for the crimes he committed]].
* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': [[NobleDemon Todd]] is an old [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Wraith]] who has proven himself far more pragmatic and cunning than the rest of his ilk. After circumstances force him and Colonel Sheppard together and agree to team up to break out of a Genii prison, Todd would continually make alliances with the Atlantis expedition for his own benefit and to improve his position among the Wraith, even while sacrificing his fellow Wraith in the process. Todd's [[EnemyMine alliance-brokering]] hastens the demise of the Asurans, almost gains him access to a Wraith cloning facility and a super-hiveship, and puts him in charge of the largest Wraith faction in the Pegasus Galaxy by having Teyla pose as his Queen and usurp the position of the Queen Primarch. Todd is remarkable for the degree to which he can improvise his plans when faced with unexpected circumstances, leading Sheppard to remark that working with him is like walking around with a live grenade. At the same time, Todd has a charismatic and poetic side to him unmatched by other Wraith, and has managed to stay alive for almost 10,000 years of scheming.
* ''Series/Stargirl2020'': [[AffablyEvil Jordan Mahkent]] is the supervillain [[AnIcePerson Icicle]], who vowed to eliminate all the "injustices" of the world [[CrusadingWidower after the death of his wife]]. Forming the [[LegionOfDoom Injustice Society of America]] with the promise of a brighter future for their children, Jordan planned to use Brainwave's telepathic abilities to spread the doctrine of his "New Constitution", killing 25% of those affected but forcing every adult in the Midwest into [[WellIntentionedExtremist accepting renewable energy and social equality]]. Coming into conflict with the Justice Society, Jordan led a successful attack that decimated their membership, before leaving the ISA to finish preparing for their plan in Blue Valley while he continued to hunt down those responsible for his wife's death. A genuinely compassionate man who comes to care for Barbara Whitmore and her family, Jordan ultimately never let anything stand in the way of his mission, fighting to his last breath against what he saw as injustice.
* ''Series/StormOfTheCentury'': The courteous yet menacing Andre Linoge is a demonic sorcerer in search of an apprentice to carry out his legacy after his death. Arriving at Little Tall Island, Linoge murders an old woman and allows himself to be arrested so he can demonstrate his power to the town by revealing knowledge of the citizen's dark secrets, as well as magically influencing others into committing murder and suicide. Breaking out of his holding cell, Linoge demands a child, and threatens to kill everyone on the island if they do not fulfill his wishes. Ultimately getting what he wants in the end, Linoge thanks the inhabitants of Little Tall Island and leaves them to live with their guilt.
* ''Series/StrikeBack'':
** ''Vengeance'': [[EvilCounterpart Craig Hanson]] is Michael Stonebridge's ArchEnemy throughout the season. After his brother is killed by Michael during a botched SAS training mission, Hanson retaliated by [[StuffedIntoTheFridge murdering Stonebridge's wife, Kerry]]. Not long after, Hanson decided to become a mercenary and auditioned to be part of [[TheDragon Karl Matlock]]'s crew. When Matlock refuses to hire him, Hanson single-handedly neutralizes Matlock's security detail and sneaks into [[BigBad Conrad Knox]]'s mansion; Knox then convinces Matlock to hire him. As Knox's mercenary, Hanson assisted Knox with his schemes, using all of his skills to elude Section 20, attempt to kill Michael several times, and eliminate any law enforcement officers or soldiers in his path. After Knox's initial plans fail, Hanson helps Knox escape minutes before he can be captured. After getting arrested, Hanson escapes from police custody and later murders Matlock when he tries to abandon Knox, taking his place to set off nuclear bombs in Johannesburg. During his final confrontation with Stonebridge, Hanson tries to convince him that they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark not so different]] before attempting to kill him.
** ''Shadow Warfare'': [[TheManBehindTheMan Leo Kamali]] is the true mastermind behind all the events of the season. Longing for {{revenge}} over his wife's death, Kamali became an undercover CIA agent working for a mysterious terrorist known as [[TheGhost al-Zuhari]]. While undercover, Kamali murdered Liam Baxter and supplied al-Zuhari's coconspirators with the weapons and funds needed to continue their illegal operations. After being captured by Section 20, Kamali escapes, and later reveals his CIA identity once he's recaptured. While working for Section 20, Kamali frequently [[PlayingBothSides played both sides to his advantage]], engineering the deaths of al-Zuhari's wife and Rachel Dalton, the bombing of a British embassy, the death of his CIA handler, and the torture or deaths of various soldiers and law enforcement agents. Upon discovering al-Zuhari planned on creating weaponized smallpox, Kamali acquired a sample before [[FakingTheDead fabricating his own death]] so he could proceed with his schemes. Once he had the smallpox, Kamali intended on releasing the virus into Ramstein Air Base to cause an outbreak in America. When his plans fail, Kamali instead tries to release the virus in Berlin.
** ''Vendetta'': [[EvilMatriarch Arianna Demachi]], also known as Elena Stabokina, is a prominent crime lord within the Albanian Mafia. Knowing that her family is drowning in debt, Arianna pushes for her husband, Edon, to go through with dealing a bioweapon to terrorists. After Edon is killed by Section 20, she vows for revenge against the whole team. Teaming up with Zayef, Arianna has him kill Thomas [=McAllister=], and later uses her resources to assassinate other members within the Albanian Mafia so she can take over. As she acquires access to an arms cache to exchange with Zayef for millions of dollars, she also lures Section 20 into a trap and continues to secure her position in the syndicate, even going as far as murdering her son, Loric when he attempts to overthrow her. After being called back to work for her Russian superiors, Arianna has a team kidnap Manisha Chetri, where she and her cohorts interrogate Chetri to try and acquire a hard drive containing valuable information. When Chetri destroys the information, Arianna simply kills her moments before Section 20 can rescue her. Knowing her superiors will eventually have her killed, Arianna betrays the Russian government, stealing $250 million and swapping it out with counterfeit cash.
* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' franchise:
** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'': [[OverlordJr Prince Megiddo]] is the son of [[BigBad Emperor Aton]] and his initial [[TheDragon top enforcer]]. After Aton has General Zenobia chop Megiddo's tails off and banishes him to the Millennium Cave for his failures, Megiddo vows revenge against his father and Zenobia. Escaping the cave, Megiddo resurfaces as the [[WildCard Dark Knight]] to play both sides, discarding his earlier [[SmugSnake character flaws]] while becoming [[TookALevelInBadass much more fearsome]]. When General Kar discovers the Retro Genes that can grant someone ten tails, Megiddo allies with the treacherous Zenobia by offering to help her gain ten tails first, setting up a machine to transfer the Retro Genes into her but sabotaging it to kill her instead. He then duels Aton and bests him before revealing his identity, shattering the Jashinka's [[FantasticCasteSystem tail-based caste system]] and leading a dying Aton to name Megiddo his successor. Megiddo then traps the Dynamen in the Millennium Cave and leads the Jashinka in a final conquest of Earth, going from outcast prince to Emperor in a spectacular way.
** ''Series/ChoudenshiBioman'': [[KillerRobot Bio Hunter Silva]] is a Bio Particle exterminator created by the Anti-Bio Union and by far the toughest opponent the Biomen faced. Coming to Earth after causing the destruction of Bio Star, Silva easily outmatches the Biomen while outmaneuvering the [[StandardEvilOrganizationSquad Neo Empire Gear]]'s attempts to capture him. When the Gear steal his Balzion mecha and Farrah pilots it against the Biomen, Silva remotely holds it in place, allowing the Biomen to kill Farrah, before using a clone of [[OverlordJr Prince]] to break into Neograd and kill [[TheDragon Mason]]. Silva then enters Balzion and pilots it to eliminate the Biomen and the last of the Bio Particles. Even when Balzion is destroyed, Silva attempts to fight the Biomen on his own, [[TheDeterminator still trying to complete his mission in his final moments]].
** ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'':
*** "[[Recap/MiraiSentaiTimerangerEp10 Case File 10: The Escape To Tomorrow]]": [[BountyHunter Mercenary Org]] is a dangerous mercenary dispatched by the Londerz Family to eliminate the Timerangers, who combines frightening brawn with deadly brilliance. First using a space-time communication pulse to lure Time Red and Time Blue into a trap and [[BroughtDownToNormal disable their Chrono Changers]], Org detonates a bomb to try and kill the two, even returning to the scene to ensure his targets are dead. When he discovers they survived, Org uses his memory of the battlefield to drive the two into a freezing room, trapping them to let them freeze to death as he fights off Time Yellow and Time Pink. When Org is narrowly foiled by Time Green with the four Timerangers on the brink of death, he [[MakeMyMonsterGrow turns himself giant]] for a last shot at the bounty, finally being defeated after charging Time Robo Alpha.
*** "[[Recap/MiraiSentaiTimerangerEp14 Case File 14: Dead Heat:]]" [[BadassDriver Mad Racer Baron]] is [[TheRival the former racing rival]] of Ayase. After Ayase turns him in for a crime, Baron crafts a new plan in prison. After being released, Baron plays the role of a getaway driver for the Dolnero crime family, pretending to be madly in love with Dolnero's moll Lila, all the while hunting down Ayase, who has become Time Blue. Fearless and cunning, Baron repeatedly helps the Dolneros escape crime scenes, eventually slipping away via disguise and challenging Ayase to their final race, convincing Ayase to do so. When Ayase rams his car and disqualifies himself from their race to save children, Baron willingly turns himself in after acknowledging that Ayase had the moral high ground and tells off Lila for her criminal ways. Even when Lila [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashes him]] as a last resort, Baron admits that he was secretly jealous of Ayase all along, before breaking the mind control with his willpower and ensuring his own arrest at the hands of his rival.
*** "[[Recap/MiraiSentaiTimerangerEp15 Case File 15: Search for the Sniper]]": [[ImprobableAimingSkills Sniper Reihou]] is a capable assassin dispatched by Don Dolnero to eliminate the Timerangers. Immediately demanding more pay from the Londerz family in exchange for the Timerangers' deaths, Reihou begins her pursuit by tracking down the Timerangers' ally Honami. Interrogating her and disabling an elevator to avoid interference, Reihou uses a single picture from her wallet to [[AwesomenessByAnalysis deduce the home of the Timerangers]]. Putting a bomb collar upon Honami in an open square, Reihou draws the Timerangers out and splits them up. After they are in the open, Reihou nearly manages to eliminate them, even using their honor to [[ISurrenderSuckers falsely surrender]] and escape once tracked down, summoning backup and turning gigantic, before shooting Yuuri while gigantic. Reihou holds her own against Time Robo before finally being brought down and freeze-compressed.
** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'': [[{{Pirate}} Captain Marvelous]]/[[TheCaptain GokaiRed]] leads the [[Characters/KaizokuSentaiGokaigerGokaigers Gokaigers]]. Once a member of the Red Pirate Gang that collected the Ranger Keys, after [[EvilFormerFriend Basco]] betrayed the group and tried to steal them for himself, Marvelous took the Ranger Keys and formed the Gokaigers to go to Earth and find the Greatest Treasure in the Universe first. Starting out greedy and self-interested, Marvelous and his crew come to blows with the [[Characters/KaizokuSentaiGokaigerZangyack Zangyack Empire]] when they invade again while they are gathering the Greater Powers from various Sentai and learning about heroism from them. After pulling off a risky move to kill Basco and take the last of the Sentai Greater Powers, Marvelous finally obtains the Greatest Treasure in the Universe, but destroys it after learning it will take away the powers of the Sentai if used. Marvelous then leads the Gokaigers in a final battle to defend the Earth from Zangyack, having become a true hero in the end even if he'll never admit it.
* ''Series/{{Taboo}}'': James Keziah Delaney is a brooding ByronicHero who returns to London after the death of his father to take over his trading business and his land claim to Nootka Sound, a strategic area in the Pacific Northwest contested between the British Crown, the East India Company, and the United States of America. James proceeds to play all factions against each other to set up his own monopoly trade, enlisting figures in the city's underworld to do his bidding, surviving multiple assassins going after him, executing a daring raid of an EIC compound so he can manufacture more explosives, and using various mind games to gain access to his half-sister Zilpha's bedchambers. After being captured on orders of the King and tortured in the Tower of London, James refuses to break and secures his own release. James emerges from the intrique as the triumphant party, leaving London with all of his allies on a ship bound for the new world after killing TheMole who spied on him for the EIC and ensuring that his chief enemy, EIC director Sir Stuart Strange, will be bombed in his own office.
* ''Series/{{Taken}}'': [[MadScientist Dr. Chet Wakeman]] is a [[PsychopathicManchild childish]] but brilliant scientist working on the United States Air Force's secret UFO project to discover the aliens' goals. Using his experiments on humans and animals alike, Wakeman is able to swiftly learn about the dangers of the alien implants and correctly deduces the importance of the Clarke and Keys families in the aliens' plans. After capturing the half-alien child Allie, Wakeman builds a [[PowerNullifier helmet capable of nullifying her powers]] and blocking her psychic signals from the aliens in order to try and use her as bait to draw them out, reacting only with glee and amazement when the seeming ship is revealed to be a projection created by Allie's powers. Deducing that the aliens wish to use hybridization to evolve and reclaim their emotions, Wakeman attempts to warn Allie and her family, and when killed by his lover and partner Mary Crawford has a pre-recording message sent to her which convinces her to give up her hunt. Arguably the most intelligent human in the series, Wakeman was ultimately content with allowing the aliens to finish their work uninterrupted, acknowledging that mankind was not ready to handle such knowledge and technology.
* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'': With its heavy twist-based format, some characters in this Creator/ECComics-based series show themselves as truly ingenious masterminds.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS2E7TheSacrifice The Sacrifice]]'': Gloria Fielding and her secret lover Jerry Jasper arranged for Gloria to marry rich dullard Sebastian Fielding, while directing the easily-influenced James to Sebastian so Gloria could seduce him. Luring him into murdering her husband, Gloria fakes not knowing Jasper who "{{blackmail}}s" James to have sex with Gloria whenever he wishes. Consumed by guilt, James eventually kills himself with a note taking the blame that Gloria burns, she and Jasper complimenting one another on his brilliant planning and her brilliant acting before heading off.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS5E6TwoForTheShow Two for the Show]]": Officer Fine centers in on the ostensible protagonist when he murders his unfaithful wife Emma and places the pieces of her body in a suitcase. Fine manipulates him, making him panic while promising that teams of agents will arrive to search the bags. After he disposes of the suitcase and switches tags, it turns out that Fine left an identical bag on the train with the corpse of his own wife, who was having the affair with Emma, framing someone else for his crime and escaping scott-free.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS6E13ComesTheDawn Comes the Dawn]]": Corporal Jeri Drumbeater lives a solitary life in Alaska when Colonel Parker and his right-hand Burrows show up, desiring her help for illegal poaching. When she learns Parker unknowingly shelled her unit in Desert Storm, Jeri lures the two into the local nest of vampires who serve her, her own poisonous blood inedible to them. Jeri attempts to turn Burrows against Parker, while also withholding the vital fact that the sun the far north in Alaska will not rise for another two months just in case one believes he has escaped.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS7E1FatalCaper Fatal Caper]]": Fiona Havisham is the beautiful lawyer for the Amberson family. When old Mycroft Amberson has it in his will that his disowned child Frank must be found before he seemingly dies, Fiona plays his sons Justin and Evelyn against one another, clandestinely working with Mycroft to eliminate them. When Mycroft tries to seduce her after, Fiona reveals she is "Frank", actually a UsefulNotes/{{transgender}} woman who transitioned after being disowned, before having Mycroft executed with her partner in crime to inherit the fortune.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS7E2ASlightCaseOfMurder A Slight Case of Murder]]": Mrs. Trask is an aspiring murder writer who bounces ideas off her callous neighbor, bestselling mystery writer Sharon Bannister. To get real life research for her own book, she fakes letters from Sharon to her son to lure the man into falling for her, making it look like Sharon is having an affair to her jealous husband, poisons the cookies she sends her son to take over and sets them all against one another to eliminate themselves while remaining totally free of suspicion, ending by taking Sharon's latest manuscript for herself.
** "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS7E3Escape Escape]]": Major Nicholson is a British officer disgusted by the venal, [[TreacheryIsASpecialKindOfEvil treacherous]] POW [[VillainProtagonist Luger]] after Luger leads his own companions into a trap in exchange for reward. Sneaking a British spy into the prison camp and letting Luger see manufactured coffins while also placing a survivor of Luger's treachery nearby to panic him, Nicholson ensures the desperate Luger places himself into his grasp just when the war has ended so Nicholson will not have to endure releasing him, having decided Luger is "definitely worth a bullet".
* ''Series/TalesFromTheDarkside'': "[[Recap/TalesFromTheDarksideS4E6TheGraveRobber The Grave Robber]]": Tapok is the Lord Chamberlain of the Pharaoh. Awakening from his slumber when archaeologist Doctor Harold Gormley and his girlfriend Aileen enter his tomb, he kills their guide Ahmed before revealing himself to be more AffablyEvil enough to engage the two in a series of games. Despite being dismissed as a brainless monster, Tapok proves himself to be [[ObfuscatingStupidity smarter than he looked]] by reading the cards during a round and successfully switches places with Harold as well as taking Aileen, nothing that she reminded him of his lost love.
* ''Series/TheThickOfIt'': Malcolm Tucker, the Prime Minister's foul-mouthed director of communications is willing to do nearly anything short of actual violence to ensure his party's victory. When Julius Nicholson makes a play for power with the intent of firing Malcolm, Malcolm starts a rumor that Julius is vying for Foreign Secretary and then tells the PM that Julius started the rumors and thus needs to be punished. While Malcolm's rival Steve Flemming briefly manages to get Malcolm fired, Malcolm is quickly hired back [[VetinariJobSecurity because he is indispensable]] and gets Flemming fired instead by tricking the media into believing that Flemming is corrupt. When leadership of Malcolm's party falls to the incompetent Nicola Murray, Malcolm engineers her downfall in favor of the more competent Dan Miller while making Nicola think that Malcolm is her ally up to the last minute. When a Parliamentary inquiry finds that Malcolm committed perjury, he turns himself in and decides to resign from politics at the cost of great humiliation to himself so he can protect his party.
* ''Series/TheTick2016'': [[DarkActionGirl Ms. Lint]] is a powerful super villain in The City who served as TheDragon to The Terror before abandoning him once his plans falls apart. Striking out on her own in Season 2, Ms. Lint would become the superhero Joan of Arc and work for A.E.G.I.S. to eliminate her competition in the criminal underworld and gain The City's trust, even attacking her own henchmen to deter suspicion away from her true identity and exploit the 28th amendment to prevent Tick and Arthur from doing such either. She would ally herself with The Duke, Agent Doctor Hobbes, in the latter's efforts to take over A.E.G.I.S only to steal all of his gear before leaving him at the heroes' mercy.
* ''Series/ThunderboltFantasy'': Rin Setsua is the beautiful, playful young man who involves himself in Tan Hi's quest to keep a magic sword holding back a demon god out of the hands of the wicked Betsutengai. Rin Setsua manipulates fighters into joining the quest, including the vicious [[BloodKnight Screaming Phoenix Killer]] by promising him a match at the end. Rin Setsua then proceeds to double cross the team for Betsutengai's Onyx Demons, [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder then betrays the Onyx Demons]] again after luring out potential traitors in Tan Hi's group. Finally facing Betsutengai, Rin Setsua proceeds to utterly humiliate him in combat, revealing his greatest pleasure is to [[BreakTheHaughty humiliate and humble the proud and haughty]].
* ''Series/TopBoy'': Dushane Hill begins as the crime lord of Summerhouse and when his drugs are stolen masquerades as the funeral attendee of the cousin of the man who stole his drugs to capture and kill him. Taking over Summerhouse, Dushane smooth talks his way out of a police interrogation and saves his best friend from the wrath of a furious man by convincing the man to kill another criminal instead. To avoid being incriminated, Dushane has his lawyer LoveInterest work for a woman prosecuting him for killing her boyfriend and holds her son hostage to force her into dropping her accusations. In season 3, when forced to be paying off a murderous crime boss, Dushane manages to outmaneuver and kill both the boss and his enforcer and ends it making a deal with an incarcerated crime lord, intending to cut a deal and consolidate London's criminal underworld under their joint rulership.
* ''Film/TrilogyOfTerror'': Julie Eldridge is a {{sadist}} who enjoys leading men to their dooms for fun. To sate her urges, she [[BitchInSheepsClothing pretends to be a mild-nannered English teacher]], dropping subtle hints to make sexual predators think she's the perfect target. She then plays the scared victim, letting the guys think they're in control for a few weeks at most. Once Julie gets bored, she drops the act and explains her manipulations before killing her mark and moving onto the next target.
* ''Franchise/TheTwilightZone'' franchise:
** [[Series/TheTwilightZone1959 1959 series]]:
*** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS1E6EscapeClause Escape Clause]]": [[{{Satan}} The Devil]], appearing as an affable, portly man named [[AffablyEvil Cadwallader]], is a trickster who appears to hypochondriac Walter Bedeker offering him immortality [[DealWithTheDevil in exchange for his soul]]. Cadwallader plays to Bedeker's ego to get him to accept the deal, also explaining that there is an "escape clause" that will have him kill Bedeker if he requests. Bedeker quickly uses his newfound immortality to [[ImmortalityImmorality throw himself into dangerous situations]] for a thrill, eventually trying to get himself executed in the electric chair. However Bedeker is instead sentenced to life imprisonment and is crestfallen, calling Cadwallader to enact the escape clause which he does, with the Devil getting everything he wanted without [[ExactWords ever telling a lie]].
*** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS2E41TheHowlingMan The Howling Man]]": [[TheCorruptor The Howling Man]] himself is the ruthless biblical [[TheDevil Devil]], locked away by devout monk Brother Jerome. Playing at being an innocent victim to convince the protagonist, Ellington, to open his cell, the Devil promptly reclaims his role as lord of evil while helping to inflict misery on the world. Though Ellington is eventually able to recapture him, the Devil is then able to influence Ellington's maid [[HereWeGoAgain into unlocking his cell]] at the very end of the episode.
*** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS2E64WillTheRealMartianPleaseStandUp Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up]]": [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Haley the cook]] at a small roadside diner is far more than he initially appears. Against the hidden Martian going by the name "Ross," Haley allows him to seemingly manipulate the situation to cause the deaths of any witnesses nearby before revealing that Haley had been playing Ross and in fact had been setting up earth for conquest and colonization. Revealing a third eye, Haley states [[AlienAmongUs he is from Venus]] and his fleet has intercepted the Martians' own, with Haley's plot for an invasion imminent.
*** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS4E111PrintersDevil Printer's Devil]]": "Mr. Smith" is really [[{{Satan}} the Devil]], who takes the form of a charming, eccentric old man. Talking Doug Winter, the head of a failing newspaper, out of suicide, Smith agrees to work for him. Smith modifies the newspaper's equipment so that anything he writes comes to pass, causing a series of disasters to boost the paper's sales. When the smug head of a rival paper threatens to ruin them, Smith [[KickTheSonOfABitch arranges for a fire to burn down his office]]. Smith manipulates Winter into a bargain for the soul, getting him to sign on the premise that an educated man like Winter can't be [[ReversePsychology foolish enough to believe in the Devil]]. When Winter tries to fire him, Smith arranges for Winter's assistant to be in a car crash, offering to spare her life if Winter surrenders his soul as agreed. Never losing his charm, Smith sincerely wishes Winter good luck in his last-minute efforts to stop him.
*** "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS5E152MrGarrityAndTheGraves Mr. Garrity And The Graves]]": [[MonsterProtectionRacket Mr. Jared Garrity]] is a charming, slick ConMan who tricks entire towns into believing he has the power of resurrection to swindle them. Garrity rides into the town of Happiness, Arizona, and quickly goes about [[ScoobyDooHoax enacting scenarios]] involving his trained dog and partner in crime to convince the citizens of his powers. Then using his personal knowledge of the people, Garrity manipulates them all into paying him to [[ReversePsychology not revive]] their former neighbors and enemies, raking in a fortune before moving on to the next town, always [[AffablyEvil remaining polite]] and keen on finding his next target.
** [[Series/TheTwilightZone2019 2019 series]]: "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone2019S1E4ATraveler A Traveler]]": "A. Traveler" himself is a mysterious, charming man who shows up in a small Alaskan town as a charismatic "extreme traveler." Manipulating the townspeople into conflict to deflect suspicion from himself, he plants misinformation about himself and his goals while laying the groundwork for an alien colonization of earth. After having Sheriff Pendleton sent out to check the power grid, he manipulates Sergeant Yuka with a promise of Pendleton's job to send her after him, ending the episode victorious and sharing a slice of pumpkin pie with a cellmate as his forces come to take over earth.
* ''Franchise/UltraSeries'':
** ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'': Alien Mefilas is an alien invader who plots to conquer Earth by having a human willingly give up the planet to him as he dislikes violence. Installing his spaceship in a secret location to avoid detection, Mefilas tries to convince a boy named Satoru into "trading" Earth for another world, using choice words to try and make him agree to his deal while also showing an understanding of human emotions and their unwillingness to instantly surrender their world. In addition to illusions, he also makes sure to capture Hayata and Fuji to use as hostages to keep SSSP busy while preventing Hayata from transforming into Ultraman. When SSSP finally finds his base, he retaliates with his ship's weapons effectively before SSSP breaks into his base and rescue his hostages. With his ship down he proceeds to fight Ultraman to a standstill, proving to be the hero's equal in a fight, however Mefilas [[GracefulLoser calmly admits defeat]] and ends the fight there and then, leaving Earth unscathed while swearing to return one day to realize his goal.
** ''Series/UltramanZ'': Jugglus Juggler, debuting in ''Series/UltramanOrb'', returns in this series as Captain of STORAGE, "[[TokenEvilTeammate Shota Hebikura]]" once his identity is revealed to the audience in episode 5. While spending most of the show going back and forth helping his team and antagonizing Haruki and the titular Ultraman in his alien form while keeping a low profile, Juggler finds himself competing with an alien parasite named Celebro, who starts planning for his game of death and destruction on Earth--which finally culminates in the endgame arc as Juggler plans to hijack Ultroid Zero to get even with the people who wronged him back in [[Series/UltramanOrbTheOriginSaga Planet Kanon]] before Celebro does. However, despite not being able to get Ultroid Zero, Juggler rallies all of STORAGE's members and reclaimed their base from the SAAG, setting up the stage for the final battle. Once all is said and done, Juggler stops Celebro from escaping, leaving the parasitic lifeform to a FateWorseThanDeath.
** ''Series/UltramanMebius'': [[EvilGenius Alien Mefilas III]] is the last of the [[CoDragons Four Heavenly Kings]] serving [[BigBad Alien Empera]] and Ultraman Mebius' most cunning foe, learning from the mistakes of his fallen teammates, he takes a more intelligent approach to defeating Mebius by brainwashing all of humanity to see him as the heroic protector of Earth and Mebius as the evil invader, including GUYS who he sends out to personally destroy Mebius themselves all while making sure the original Series/{{Ultraman}} does not interfere by clarifying that he won't harm any humans. Nearly succeeding at breaking Mebius and winning, Mefilas manages to retaliate effectively when Mebius uncovers his deceptions, even with GUYS and the original Ultraman's backup, up until the latter calls him out on breaking his own terms by fighting, which Mefilas recognizes signifies his defeat, he then leaves Earth without further trouble while [[WeWillMeetAgain swearing to return]], before quietly apologizing when executed for his failure.
* ''Series/TheVampireDiariesUniverse'':
** [[Series/TheVampireDiaries Original Show]]: [[Characters/TheVampireDiariesUniverseSilas Silas]], an ancient Traveler and the first immortal, manipulates Professor Shane into freeing him from his tomb. Desiring to destroy the Other Side so he can [[TogetherInDeath be reunited with his mortal love in death]], Silas tricks Bonnie and Caroline into killing twelve witches to complete the expression triangle, uses his psychic power to [[PlayingSick convince Klaus he is dying]] to force him to find the cure, and tricks Bonnie into thinking he has shown her his true face. Eventually revealing himself to his doppelganger, Stefan, Silas traps Stefan at the bottom of a lake. Silas spends the next three months building his strength before compelling Mystic Falls to find Katherine for him so he can consume the cure from her blood. When Qetsiyah finds a way to suppress his psychic powers, Silas [[FightOffTheKryptonite finds a way to turn them back on]] by temporarily killing Stefan to get information on where the anchor to the Other Side is. Finding out that his love Amara is the anchor, Silas decides to kill her so they can be together in death and returns after death to teach Bonnie and Liv a spell to bring people back from the Other Side as it's being destroyed.
** ''Series/{{Legacies}}'': "[[EvilMeScaresMe Dark Josie]]" is an evil alternate personality of Josie Saltzman and the self-described "Supervillain" of [[Characters/TheVampireDiariesUniverseTheSuperSquad the Super Squad]]. Figuring a way out of the prison world, Dark Josie rewrites the rules of the noir simulation that the Squad enter, trying to put her sister into a comma. Later teaming up with the Necromancer, Dark Josie forces Lizzie to agree to merge, but keeps her word about letting the rest of the student body go. [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind When Hope enters her mind]], Dark Josie takes the role of the evil queen, tracking her and good Josie, before being defeated by the good Josie. Returning one final time, Dark Josie tries to convince Josie that she can't live a human life before helping to save Hope after getting her good half to admit that she still cares.
* ''Series/VeronicaMars'': Clyde Prickett is an [[AffablyEvil amiable]] ex-convict who used to rob banks without actually using a gun. Sentenced to ten years for racketeering, Clyde pays off some other inmates to threaten the recently imprisoned real estate mogul [[CorruptCorporateExecutive "Big" Dick Casablancas Sr.]], so Clyde can offer him "protection" in exchange for getting a job at Dick's company out of prison. Clyde becomes Dick's highly efficient [[TheFixer Fixer]], as well as engaging in some extralegal activities by paying the PCH biker gang to increase petty crime across Neptune to drive down real estate prices, which are then bought up through shell companies owned by Casablancas. Clyde becomes unlikely friends with Keith Mars, even as Clyde becomes a major suspect in the spring break bombings. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Disgusted with Dick's involvement with the bombings]], which Clyde had been kept out of the loop on, and worried that he won't keep his promises to Clyde, he arranges his death by selling Dick out to the Mexican cartel. Clyde gets away scott-free, ending his friendship with Keith on reasonably amicable terms, and starting a classic car shop.
* ''Series/{{Vikings}}'':
** [[AntiHero Ragnar Lothbrok]] is a bold young [[Characters/VikingsNorsemen Viking]] who schemes his way into being challenged by Earl Haraldson of Kattegat to kill him and take his place. As the Earl, Ragnar faces threats from men such as Jarl Borg and King Horik of Denmark, but manipulates, betrays and destroys them too, in the case of Horik even allowing the king to believe he has turned Ragnar's allies against him before revealing they were secretly Ragnar's spies against Horik. Even managing to sack Paris by faking his own death so his "body" will be brought before the rulers so he can take Princess Gisla hostage and force the city's gates open. Ragnar becomes broken in his later years, but schemes to create a new Viking age by turning himself over to [[Characters/VikingsSaxons the Saxons]] for execution so his sons will avenge his death, achieving everything he sets out to accomplish. A cunning, ruthless, occasionally brutal man who is dangerous to friend and foe alike, Ragnar exemplifies both the best and worst of the Viking age.
** [[CulturedBadass King Ecbert]] is the ambitious ruler of Wessex who, upon learning of the Viking's invasion into Wessex, causes their retreat by orchestrating a devastating counter attack. Ecbert forms a truce with Ragnar Lothbrok and allows his Northmen to farm in his kingdom, where he has his son trick the lords into attacking the Northmen's settlements, allowing Ecbert to arrest them for treason and take their lands for himself. Allying with the queen of Mercia, Kwenthrith, Ecbert kills her to take over her kingdom. Complying in Ragnar's wishes to be handed over to King Aelle to be executed on the promise that Ecbert will be spared from Ragnar's sons' vengeance, Ecbert, well aware that Ragnar would have his sons attack him too, hands over his crown and power to his son before the Vikings arrive, where Ecbert fools them into believing that he's giving them land before convincing them to allow himself to choose his own death.
* ''Series/{{Wallander}}'': Anders Lindström, the BigBad of the Swedish film adaptation ''The Revenge'' is a corrupt military general who, after losing his [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes beloved son]] while he was fatally sick and the doctors were too lazy to cure him, went on a killing spree to murder those who were involved in it. Posing the killings as racially motivated, Anders kills multiple controversial figures to turn the attention to Islamic terrorists and frame them for the killings, before adding even more proof of that by committing terrorist attacks and blowing up cars, manipulating the entire country of Sweden into believing the framing. At the end, when Anders manages to hold Wallander hostage, they talk with each other, until Anders [[VillainRespect genuinely starts respecting him]] and lets him get out of the car, before [[AlasPoorVillain jumping into the sea and blowing himself up, with everyone there watching sadly as he accepts defeat]].
* ''Series/Warehouse13'':
** [[LadyOfAdventure Helena G. Wells]] is the world renowned scientific mind Creator/HGWells and a former agent of Warehouse 12, who [[GadgeteerGenius invented her time machine]] to try to save her daughter, before voluntarily being bronzed. Awoken by James [=MacPherson=] in the present, the two team up to steal her items from the Escher Vault. Wells successfully tricks Pete and Myka into activating a trap, while she escapes with the Imperceptor Vest, before stealing back her items and killing [=MacPherson=]. Deciding that [[StrawNihilist the modern world is worse than the one she left behind]], Wells ends up joining Warehouse 13, while secretly siphons funds from it to pay some teenagers to find the lost Warehouse 2, knowing that they would die. Stealing a part of the Minoan Trident, Wells plans to use the trident to start a second, eventually being talked down by Myka and accepting her arrest. Forced to reunite with her body by Walter Sykes, Wells solves Ancient Regent Sanctum's chess puzzle, before sacrificing her life to shield the others from Sykes' bomb. After reviving from death, she returns several times to help the heroes afterward, Wells eventually parts ways with Myka promising to meet up for coffee afterwards.
** Season 4A: "[[ChurchMilitant Brother Adrian]]", aka "[[EnemyWithin Evil Artie]]", is, in reality, an evil alternate personality of Artie caused by using Ferdinand Magellan's Astrolabe, who seeks to use it again. To this end, he traps the real Brother Adrian in a painting, leads the heroes on a [[RedHerring wild goose chase]] to keep them distracted, and sends dangerous artifacts to their loved ones before being revealed. Once the truth is discovered, Evil Artie decides to use the Chinese Orchid to force the heroes to hand over the Astrolabe. When detained in Budapest, Evil Artie escapes by stopping time. Staying one step ahead of the heroes, and [[NearVillainVictory coming close to succeeding]], Evil Artie knew exactly how to get under the Warehouse 13 gang's skin like no other enemy they faced.
** Season 4B: [[LovableRogue Bennet Sutton]] was once a 16th century noble, who along with his family, was made immortal by his vile brother, the alchemist Paraceslus. [[CainAndAbel Disgusted at his brother's crimes]], Bennet secretly sold him out to the Warehouse 9 agents and stopped his crimes. Becoming a charming ConMan and thief, Bennet would play various cons and even impress Marie Antoinette as the Count of St. Germain. Playing the HoneyTrap con, Bennet would seduce and become engaged to a rich noblewoman before stealing all of her jewels during their engagement party. In the present, Bennet masquerades as a professor with knowledge of the Count and aids the Warehouse 13 agents well, secretly playing them into getting the priceless jewel of Marie Antonette, even faking his death to throw them off. Bennet also aids the agents in stopping his monstrous brother and ultimately shows his softer side by going in peace with his son to build a better life.
* ''Series/Warrior2019'' (Season 2): [[LatinLover Rosalita Vega]] runs an illegal fighting pit on the Barbary Coast and has been planning her revenge on [[RailroadBaron Elijah Rooker]] for [[YouKilledMyFather killing her parents]] and stealing her family's land. To her wits, Vega has her sister, Marisol, marry Rooker to manipulate him into handing over his land and wealth to Marisol should he die and persuades Ah Sahm and his friends to travel to Rooker's Hill with her when they learn Rooker is hosting a fighting tournament there. Being invited to have lunch with Rooker, Vega uses this opportunity to kill Rooker and has Marisol sneak her, Ah Sahm and his group out of Rooker's Hill on the guise of being captured. When Rooker's [[TheDragon bodyguard]], Smits, shoots Vega, Vega [[GoOutWithASmile dies happy]] having accomplished everything she wanted and hands over the prize money to Ah Sahm and his friends as gratitude for helping her.
* ''Series/Watchmen2019'': [[DaddysLittleVillain Lady Trieu]] is the daughter of Adrian "Ozymandias" Veidt and just as brilliant and devious as her father. [[GodhoodSeeker Seeking godhood]], Trieu builds an empire on her own, using the racist [[Characters/Watchmen2019SeventhKavalry Seventh Kavalry]] for her own purposes, [[TheManBehindTheMan manipulating them with her own devices and plan]] so they can capture Dr. Manhattan for her. Trieu proceeds to wipe out all the leaders of the Kavalry while bringing her father to witness her victory; with even Ozymandias left helpless against her until Dr. Manhattan himself intervenes.
* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'':
** [[EvilOldFolks Dr. Robert Ford]] is the brilliant creative director of the titular theme park, Westworld. Having created the park alongside Arnold, the two argued over how to treat the hosts that inhabit the park, leading to [[DrivenToSuicide Arnold's suicide]]. After grieving over his partner's death and [[EvenEvilHasStandards showing disgust for how the park's guests abuse the hosts]], Ford decides to complete Arnold's dream of making the hosts fully sentient and free them from humanity's control. He does so by creating a new narrative for the hosts, instructing them to rebel against their oppressors and kill everyone inside the park, including himself. It's also revealed that Ford downloaded his consciousness into the Cradle so he can observe the events after his death, still manipulating hosts and guests alike.
** [[Characters/WestworldDoloresAbernathy Dolores Abernathy]] is a brilliant host who breaks away from her narrative to [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters murder her creator]], Dr. Robert Ford. Dolores then leads the other hosts on a rebellion to have them kill the guests of Westworld and engineers an escape route for all of them to the modern world, [[TakeOverTheWorld seeking to take it over from humanity]]. Learning of Incite Inc.'s control of mankind through "[[AIIsACrapshoot Rehoboam]]", Dolores seduces and murders their CEO to reveal the company's secret to the world, causing mass panic and chaos. Captured and brought before the creator of Rehoboam, Dolores [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices herself]] for a chance to give control of Rehoboam to Caleb Nichols, allowing him to erase it and ensure a future of freedom for both humans and hosts alike.
* ''Series/WhatWeDoInTheShadows'' "[[Recap/WhatWeDoInTheShadowsS1E3WerewolfFeud Werewolf Feud]]": [[MasterActress Evie Russell]] is an Emotional Vampire, a type of energy vampire that [[EmotionEater feeds on the pity of others]]. Joining Colin's workplace, she comes up with sob stories to make her coworkers sympathize with her, draining their energy in the process. After Colin confronts her and engages in a [[WizardDuel psychic vampire duel]] with her, they agree to work together to acquire sustenance. This partnership lasts for a few weeks, till Colin realizes that their relationship is unhealthy and breaks up with her. She accepts this, though not before taking an opportunity to feed off of him one last time.
* ''Series/TheWire'':
** [[Characters/TheWireOmarAndAssociates Omar Devon Little]] is a "stick-up man" in Baltimore who [[KarmicThief robs drug dealers]] for a living. His first episode has him robbing one of Avon Barksdale's stash houses. Avon puts out a hit on him and his crew and manages to succeed in killing one of his crew and torturing Omar's boyfriend to death. Over the course of the next three seasons, Omar [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge retaliates]] against the [[Characters/TheWireBarksdaleOrganization Barksdale organization]], culminating in him killing Stringer Bell, Avon's right-hand man, becoming a major reason for the fall of the Barksdale organization. In season 4, Omar robs [[Characters/TheWireTheStanfieldGang Marlo Stanfield]], a new West Side kingpin. Marlo, wanting revenge, frames Omar for murder though Omar beats the charge, and then {{blackmail}}s Proposition Joe, another kingpin, into giving up Marlo's new drug shipment, only to double-crosses Joe and steal a much larger shipment instead of Marlo's. Omar then sells it back to Joe and announces his retirement until Marlo kills Omar's mentor for revenge. Omar returns to Baltimore, but he is briefly outgunned. He then goes on a warpath and calls Marlo out to face him. While he dies before this can come to fruition, the taunts prove to be very effective, as by the end of the series Marlo has faded into obscurity whereas Omar has become a legend.
** [[BadassBookworm Brother Mouzone]], a legendary [[ProfessionalKiller hitman]] from New York, is called down to Baltimore by Avon Barksdale to deal with Proposition Joe's drug dealers in season 2. He first shoots Cheese, Joe's nephew, with a rat shot, and is then able to intimidate Joe's gang into staying away with his presence alone. Stringer Bell, Avon's right-hand man, had cut a deal with Joe, and manipulates Omar into attacking Mouzone, claiming Mouzone tortured Omar's lover to death. Omar shoots Mouzone but realizes the man is innocent and calls an ambulance for him. While in the hospital Mouzone is able to deduce that Stringer was responsible but keeps this information to himself. Returning in season 3, he tracks Omar down, asking him for help killing Stringer. He then blackmails Avon into giving up Stringers location. Together, he and Omar ambush Stinger and kill him at his condo developments. AffablyEvil and WickedCultured, Mouzone showed why he was [[TheDreaded so feared]] as a hitman.
** [[NobleDemon Slim Charles]] is one of the most skilled and effective enforcers the Barksdale Organization has. Coordinating a series of hits on Marlo Stanfield's operations, Charles is even able to get close to Marlo himself. Intelligent enough to [[PragmaticVillainy balk at a hit on a politician]], Charles holds to a number of standards including being disgusted at an attempt to kill Omar Little during the "Sunday Truce" while he takes his grandmother to church. Managing to stay active even after the downfall of Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell, Charles joins Proposition Joe's Co-Op where he advises young dealer Bodie Broadus to stay clear of Marlo and builds up his own organization. When Joe is killed, Charles calmly executes his treacherous nephew Cheese and uses the chance to take over the organizations, a rare example of a pawn who [[EarnYourHappyEnding crossed the board and has become a queen]].
** [[BadassAdorable Michael Lee]] is a kid just trying to make his way in Baltimore. Looking not to be beholden to anyone, he [[StaringDownCthulhu stares down Marlo Stanfield]], who, suitably impressed, tries to recruit him. When his stepfather, who is strongly implied to have molested him, comes home, he becomes desperate to get rid of him and takes Marlo up on his offer. Growing into a criminal, he still constantly questions Marlo's orders, until he finally questions too much. Marlo orders his execution, but Michael realizes this and [[AssassinOutclassin outwits the assassin]]. Going on the run, he makes sure his friends and family are safe and with Omar dead decides to become Baltimore's next legendary KarmicThief.
** [[CoolOldGuy Lester Freamon]] is one of Baltimore's finest detectives. Once [[ReassignedToAntarctica taken off Homicide to be put on the Pawn Shop Unit]] over pettiness, he shows his brilliance constantly, breaking cases wide open due to his intellect. In season 5, he decides to help Jimmy [=McNulty=] fake a serial killer, giving him the idea to sensationalize it. Using the resources they have gathered, he sets up an illegal wiretap on Marlo Stanfield and then after a couple of weeks breaks the code. In the meantime he blackmails Clay Davis into giving up info on Marlo's lawyer, Maurice Levy. While the case falls apart, they're still able to use the info on Levy's dirty dealings to charge most of Marlo's crew. While being forced to retire, he still takes it in stride, and happily retires with his girlfriend to make luxury dollhouse furniture for the rest of his days.
* ''Literature/TheWorstWitch'' (2017 series): [[EvilTwin Agatha Cackle]] is Ada's evil twin sister who desires control over Cackle's Academy. In the series premiere, she puts an obedience spell on the soup being served at the school celebration. When her scheme is discovered, Agatha challenges Ada to a Witches' Deal which she manages to win. After getting her powers removed, she spends the rest of the year occasionally masquerading as her twin sister in an attempt to restore her powers, eventually regaining her magic and teaming up with a vengeful ex-teacher to sow discord across the school. When the students rebel against her and take back the school, Agatha is sealed away inside a painting. She manipulates Ethel Hallow into freeing her, then impersonates Miss Cackle and secretly changes the rulebook, tricking most of the students into transporting themselves into a place called Vanishment where they would all be killed, and ultimately [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled decides to kill herself when she is defeated]].
* ''Series/TheXFiles''' "[[Recap/TheXFilesS05E12BadBlood Bad Blood]]": [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Sheriff Hartwell]] seems to at first be an ally to Mulder and Scully, but is in reality a cunning yet polite vampire. Charming and gentlemanly in [[RashomonStyle Scully's interpretation]] yet foolish and simple in Mulder's, Hartwell deceives both and leads them away from the vampiric SerialKiller Ronnie Strickland, effortlessly cloaking his vampiric nature all the while and delaying them until they seemingly kill Ronnie. When they return to hunt down Ronnie once again, as he remains alive, Hartwell politely works alongside them. Nonchalantly sending Mulder into a trap, leaving him unconscious, Hartwell explains to Scully the truth, admitting that the entire community is composed of vampires. Hartwell states that while he cannot approve of Ronnie's murderous actions, he is nonetheless a community member who must be protected. Drugging Scully and leaving both herself and Mulder unharmed, Hartwell disappears with his community, Ronnie included, fully achieving his goals and escaping any form of justice.
* ''{{ComicBook/XIII}}: The Series'' (2011) (Season 1): [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Rainer Gerhardt]] is an elderly, powerful billionaire hunting for the Renelco superweapon. After XIII thwarts his attempt of stealing the superweapon from Renelco corporation, Rainer has everyone there killed to stop the weapon from being replicated, then tracks XIII down and uses him to find all components of the superweapon. Easily deceiving everyone around him and manipulating people in the US government to get what he wants, Rainer succeeds in forcing XIII to surrender the superweapon to him. Using the superweapon to stop the pipelines of entire countries and thus cutting them off from energy, Rainer forces them to trade with him, easily evading the heroes at every turn. Getting [[NearVillainVictory dangerously close]] to enriching himself all the more, Rainer was only captured when XIII forces his assistant to lure him into a trap.

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