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Summary
Even the most strategical , well - planned television receiver villains have to turn a loss at some point , and often , it ’s because they ’re not quite as vivid as they thought they were . The " villain monologue " often make out when an malevolent character think they ’ve already make headway , and the most important thing left to do is to ascertain everybody knows it . But shortly after the most dastardly talking to comes that villain ’s downfall , as their hauteur and hubris have led them to miss something vital , giving the Hero of Alexandria room to stop them .
Despite being steps ahead through seasons or episodes , many of TV ’s villains are n’t as brilliant as they think . In some cases , like Walter White inBreaking Bad , the character may be a brainiac in sure areas but a patsy in others . After all , there are different types of intelligence , and Walter White is n’t as all - knowing as he thinks . Since he ’s technically the protagonist of his show , he would n’t count , but he ’s the perfect object lesson of a character who ’s clearly a genius but not as impertinent as he reckon .
Plenty of TV shows have intelligent villains , but ten of them , like Game of Thrones ' Littlefinger , fend a cut above the rest period in price of understanding .
10Cersei Lannister
Game of Thrones
Part of what makesGame of Thronesso fascinating is the number of well-informed characters in every house , between genius military tacticians and political schemers . Cersei Lannister is ruthless and cunning , but she fall dupe to the stop ofGame of Thronesas many other characters did , which saw her character dulled down for plot restroom . After Tywin Lannister ’s death , Cersei makes some decent move , but she ’s ego - destructive , and her military action primarily do her downfall . It ’s not in Cersei ’s nature to give up what ’s hers , butshe actively damages her position by feud with the Tyrells and other possible ally .
Maintaining power in Westeros takes more than accomplishment with a brand , as these Game of Thrones eccentric cognize all too well .
9The Thinker
The Flash
For a scoundrel identify The Thinker , it ’s uproariously ironic that he was n’t as smart as he thought . The Flashstruggled to create worthwhile foes for the titular speedster after the first time of year ’s Reverse Flash . Zoom and Savitar had their merits , but speedster villains were growing tiresome after three in a run-in . Clifford DeVoe lick that problem inThe Flashseason 4 as a baddie whose force was his advanced understanding with a plan to belittle the intellect of all other human life sentence anatomy on the satellite . Butwhat DeVoe at last miss was an reason of emotion , as his married woman Marlize ultimately unplugs his mechanical chair and kills him .
8Plankton
SpongeBob SquarePants
As the proprietor of the Chum Bucket , Plankton constantly draw a bead on for more inSpongeBob SquarePants , play off him against rival restaurant owner Mr. Krabs . Plankton ’s elemental goal is to steal the secret formulaof the Krusty Krab , think of various evil scheme that always fail . Plankton and Mr. Krabs were childhood friend divided by the underground formula , and Plankton ’s obsession and ego over the matter have caused him to waste his intelligence . Despite his wiz , Plankton does n’t work to build up his own brandbecause he ca n’t mature and move on with his life .
7The Man In Black
Lost
The conflict between Jacob and the Man in Black is purposefully equivocal in some ways , but it ’s fair to say his fatal flaw is underestimating the survivors inLostseason 6 . He has a cynical view of those Jacob bestow to the island , visit them as crooked individuals who ca n’t work together . He feeds into that , using the John Locke appearance to control and turn the island ’s denizen against each other . What he does n’t realize in his master plan is that remove the cork of the islet turns him into a mortal , leave Jack to vote out and obliterate him .
6Dan Jenkins
Yellowstone
In the first two seasons ofYellowstone , Dan Jenkins has an air of arrogance about him as a wealthy land developer with money and resources at his back . But competing in Montana against a family like the Dutton is a unlike secret plan than he ’s used to , and Jenkins is entirely out of his profundity . Jenkins shit decent moves , but he ’s constantly outsmarted by Beth and John Dutton , even finding himself hung from a tree at the end of time of year 1 , though they ’d make up one’s mind to save him off - screen . Jenkins ultimately perishes from the Beck brothers ' hit man , who are playing a mean , reprehensible game that he ’s not equipped for .
5Littlefinger
Littlefinger , by all accounting , work genius political maneuver throughoutGame of Thrones . Everyone knows he ’s not trustworthy , yet he systematically create a dependableness that cause him a worthful asset to those he claims to sustain . He rises from nothing to form his own noble house , ascertain himself on the Small Council , the Lord of Harrenhal , and a Lord of the Vale with an US Army at his disposal through his influence over Robin Arryn . Littlefinger is a victim of the restrictive penning of the lateGame of Thrones , which envision many characters make uncharacteristically unintelligent decisions . Still , his season 7 arc escort him drastically lowball the Starks , lead in his death .
4Mr. Burns
The Simpsons
Mr. Burns is another ruthless , malevolent cartoon villain who overestimate his intelligence . He ’s had some staggering victories over the years , but he ’s also been thwarted by children and Homer Simpson on multiple occasions . He ’s a cagey businessman , but the joke with him is that he ’s past his prime but does n’t agnise it and would be nothing without the backup of the loyal Smithers .
3Windom Earle
Twin Peaks
An FBI agent who ’s go bad knave , Windom Earle is an indispensable resister inTwin Peaksseason 2 . After Laura Palmer ’s murder is lick , the serial publication find itself in a lull , draw time of year 2 theworst Twin Peaks time of year . Earle ’s antics fill up the gap until the fantastic final episode , as a seemingly intelligent villain who is constantly steps ahead of Dale Cooper . Earlebelieves himself adequate to of understanding and harnessing the power of the Black Lodge , which is ultimately his fatal flaw . The Black Lodge is uncomprehensible even to a genius . Earle is out of his depth , and he ’s consumed by it .
2Stringer Bell
The Wire
He ’s smart , but he ’s not bigger than the game .
Stringer Bell ’s arc inThe Wireseason 3 ties into the season ’s subject of reform . Stringer ’s breathing in to legitimate the Barksdale Organization through business practices do n’t necessarily lead to his death , but his mercilessness as a gangster ultimately capture up to him . He does n’t understand the concern world well enough to be a force in it , resulting in him getting scammed by Clay Davis , and his practices ultimately make him untrusty in the drug business , ensue in Avon giving him up . He ’s smart , but he ’s not expectant than the biz .
1The Governor
The Walking Dead
One of the most vile characters in the series , the Governor is easily one of thebestWalking Deadvillains . He ’s show to be foxy , buthe overrate his leading and the loyalty of his following . He ’s a narcissist who falls dupe to his own fell instinct , causing followers to abandon him when his purpose becomes plagued by violence and blood feud .