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 .

Andrew Scott as Jim Moriarty in Sherlock’s living room in Sherlock

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 .

Lord Varys walking among a crowd in Game of Thrones.

Richard Kind Poker Face Season 2 Interview header

tv_villains_werentas_smartastheythought

Devoe/The Thinker with his ornate headpiece wiring on in The Flash

Plankton rubs his hands in Spongebob SquarePants

lost man in black

Danny Huston looks dejected Dan Jenkins Yellowstone

Mr. Burns in his classic "Excellent" pose in The Simpsons.

Windom Earle in Twin Peaks

Idris Elba looking serious as Stringer Bell in The Wire.

The Governor (David Morrisey) pointing a gun in The Walking Dead