TV Characters We Love To Hate

In the world of fiction, emotional investment is everything, so if you can't make your characters interesting enough, the narrative will likely fail. Throughout countless television shows over the years, there have always been virtuous heroes, morally gray protagonists, and morally detestable villains. However, there exists an interesting subgroup for a very specific type of character — those we love to hate. Whether it be a killer with a moral compass or a classic mustache-twirling villain, there's always something magnetic about them.

We've seen it recently with characters like John Kreese from "Cobra Kai" and as far back as Agent Smith in "The Matrix." Whether it's the way they're written or the actor's performance, there are many loathsome characters you can't help but connect with. Here are some characters that — despite their broken moral compass — possess an undeniable appeal.

During the late '00s and 2010s, the vampire renaissance brought on by the wild successful "Twilight" franchise was inescapable. Countless studios and networks leaned into the heavy saturation of vampiric media, resulting in a barrage of different shows and movies. One such example of this trend is the HBO series "True Blood," the small screen adaptation of Charlaine Harris' "Southern Vampire Mysteries" novels. The novels and shows are a Southern-fried look into a world where vampires have revealed themselves to the world. Amidst this cultural transition, we meet Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who begins a relationship with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).

Throughout the show's six-season run, the duo — along with their friends and allies — encounter many different threats. In Season 3, we are introduced to Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare), the Vampire King of Louisiana. O'Hare is a whirlwind of sadistic charisma, from his introductory scene to his last appearance in Season 5. Not only does he complicate Sookie and Bill's romantic relationship, but hundreds of years earlier, he killed Eric Northman's (Alexander Skarsgård) family. One of his standout moments is a long sinister monolog delivered on the evening news immediately after ripping an anchor's spine out. In a series that's filled to the brim with over-the-top characters, Russell Edgington is a cut above the rest.

DC Comics has produced dozens of memorable villains over its decades-long existence, and many heroes have a heavily populated rogues' gallery. While Batman's main antagonists might reign supreme in terms of popularity, there are many other sinister baddies in the DC Universe. One villain that didn't quite get his due until the last few years is Eobard Thwane, also known as the diabolical Reverse-Flash. While the character is a frequent threat in the world of the printed page and animation, he didn't get widespread attention until 2014 thanks to his appearance in the inaugural season of CW's "The Flash," the first major spin-off of "Arrow."

First introduced operating under the stolen identity of Dr. Harrison Wells, Thawne alters the timeline to expedite Barry's origin story. Acting as Barry's support and mentor, he puppeteered the Scarlet Speedster's development — a deceptive means to an end. Tom Cavanagh has never once wavered in his portrayal of the character, infusing it with equal parts menace and manic energy. Despite the show's wavering quality in recent seasons, whenever the Reverse Flash shows up, the storytelling quality immediately picks up. At the end of the day, the Reverse-Flash will always be fondly remembered as a truly memorable villain for the first year of "The Flash."

In the pantheon of syndicated sitcoms, there are very few that have reached the heights of "Seinfeld." The show follows Jerry Seinfeld traversing life in New York City with the help of his friends — Elaine Benes, Cosmo Kramer, and George Costanza. The brainchild of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the series is frequently described as "the show about nothing." This, of course, is not entirely true, as "Seinfeld" is indeed about something — small things and unspoken social rituals. The crux of the average "Seinfeld" episode is Jerry with one of his friends in tow in a mundane social circumstance. From waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant to being stuck in an immense parking garage, the show tackles it all.

In that same spirit, Newman (Wayne Knight) is a comedic look at the stereotypically annoying NYC apartment tenant. In a show packed to the brim with expertly timed comedic performances, Knight is a gem in every one of his scenes. From his overly sophisticated line delivery to his general smarminess, it's no wonder Jerry loathes his very existence. Still, it can't be denied that his character brings a welcome dose of conflict to his appearances, which results in major laughs.

Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) is first introduced in the 2nd season of "Breaking Bad," instantly establishing himself as a force not to be trifled with. In his introductory scene, we see him transition between his cheerful facade as a fried chicken restaurateur to a cold and calculating kingpin. Throughout the show's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seasons, Gus serves as the biggest threat to Walter and Jesse. He consistently maintains a callus and composed demeanor even when carrying out the most heinous of actions. The infamous box cutter scene from the Season 3 premiere episode will always go down as one of TV's most viscerally shocking moments, and his death in the conclusion of Season 4 at the hands of a homemade wheelchair bomb even more so!

His chemistry with the likes of Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul is impeccable, elevated by the stellar writing of Vince Gilligan. Esposito's onscreen presence is undeniable, resulting in several standout scenes where you simply cannot take your eyes off him. There is something magnetic about his subdued delivery that instantly makes you hang off of his every word. With a cold stare and very little remorse, Gus Fring is truly a cut above the rest and one of TV's finest villains.

The Doctors have seen many threats over the course of their decades-long adventures throughout time and space, from the destruction of the Daleks to the cold calculations of the Cybermen. But all pale in comparison to the Master. First introduced during the Third Doctor's (Jon Pertwee) era, the first incarnation of the Master is played by Roger Delgado. The character is originally portrayed as the dark inverse of Doctor Who, equally as clever but with zero moral compass. The duo shares an undeniably complicated relationship — much like Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty— and they possess both mild respect and undeniable hatred for each other. Despite the character's many reboots over the years, one quality that always persists is his absurd intelligence and often egomaniacal charm.

After Delgado's untimely passing in 1973, the character is regenerated in subsequent appearances, much like the Doctor. The character reemerges a few times, often boasting a deformed and zombie-like appearance — a clever way to justify a new actor. Following this, the character is played by Anthony Ainley up until the original series' conclusion. In the modern era of "Doctor Who," the character is played by Derek Jacobi, John Simm, Michelle Gomez, and Sacha Dhawan, and all bring something new and unique to the table. As long as the Doctor continues to write wrongs throughout time and space, the Master will likely always be there to cause conflict.

He's the epitome of the cheesy '80s cartoon villain whose original genesis spawned from a desire to sell action figures. Skeletor, the Evil Lord of Destruction, has been the main antagonist of the "He-Man" franchise since its creation back in 1983. The character's origins are quite fascinating, and while he was developed to sell toys, Skeletor's creator has bizarre real-life influence. As mentioned by Mark Taylor in "The Toys That Made Us," Skeletor's design was influenced by a real human corpse at a children's carnival. Everything about the character— from his design to his nasal voice — is pure, unadulterated 1980s cheesiness, and it's an absolute delight.

There's a reason the character has been turned into various internet memes and spoofed on parody shows like "Robot Chicken." Simply put, he's as simple, vibrant, and entertaining as a Saturday morning cartoon villain can be. The character was voiced by Alan Oppenheimer in the original series and was recently given new life via Mark Hamill. In the recent "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" sequel series, Hamill brings his typically top-quality menace and charm to the role. It's nothing short of endearing to see a franchise and a villain so beloved that they have persisted to this very day.