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Whenever a new TV series begins, its future is never certain. That means, whatever plans the writers and creators had can change for many different reasons. A character who starts out as a villainous figure can become so popular with viewers that they are slowly but surely rewritten to be the hero. This poses the issue of how to address all the terrible deeds they have done in the past. Very often, these are either worded out or swept under the rug completely.
Some shows were envisaged as a one-season event, with a storyline that’s fully wrapped up at the end. All the people the main antagonist has hurt were never meant to get justice, and no consequences were supposed to happen. Yet if the viewing figures are high enough, a second season gets commissioned and there is suddenly a need to absolve these crimes in some way. There are many more instances of characters committing atrocities, only to be forgiven by other characters or viewers, when their actions are unforgivable.
10
Joe For Killing Beck
You (2018-2025)
Joe Goldberg was never meant to be seen as a hero. He is a stalker, kidnapper, and murderer, whose actions are always led by his own wants and desires. In the first season of You, the audience thinks they’re meeting a shy yet charming bookstore employee who develops a crush on a nice customer. But, of course, all is not as it seems. As Joe pursues his latest prey, it becomes apparent he’ll stop at nothing to ensure they get together.
He kidnaps her ex, attacks her friend, and creepily surveys her every move online and in person. The plot of that first batch of episodes is thrilling and initially lived as one complete story. You was not a hit when it aired on network television, so when it ended with Joe killing Beck, and seemingly getting away with it, that was that. But, when the show got a lot of new viewers on Netflix and was commissioned for more seasons, the convoluted process of making him more likable had to begin.
9
Faith For Killing The Deputy Mayor
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
From the time of her introduction as the new Slayer, Faith is a clear contrast to Buffy. With a much wilder character, untamed fighting style, and edgier persona, Faith is a loose cannon from the moment she sets foot in Sunnydale. As she grows closer to Buffy and the Scoobies, she lets her guard down a bit but still remains unpredictable. Then, she kills a human.
Though the initial killing was accidental, it unlocked something primal in the Slayer. Her unresolved trauma and tough upbringing all contributed to her becoming a villain. But she had enough support on offer from her fellow chosen one, as well as Giles and the rest of the gang, that she could have been brought back from the brink if she had tried. That’s why her descent into villainy was completely her choice, and Faith should have to live with the consequences of the choices she made.
8
Damon For Killing Lexi
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
As per the books, the Salvatore brothers are introduced as having opposing personalities and moral compasses. Stefan is much more sensitive, constantly trying to suppress his murderous instincts. Damon is the wild, unpredictable one of the two. He fully embraces his killer instincts and relishes the destruction he causes. In the myriad of terrible things that he did, including turning Caroline, and killing many other innocent humans, one action was particularly malicious.
When he kills his brother’s best friend, it seems like one step too far. The other killings, while evil, weren’t that much of a personal attack on his flesh and eternal blood. He shows little remorse for this, and it should have been a much bigger deal in the series than it was. Whether Stefan ultimately forgives him because he himself thinks he deserves to be tormented, or if it was just to solidify Damon as the main romantic lead, there should have been many more consequences explored.
7
Joffrey Baratheon For Ordering Ned Stark’s Execution
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Joffrey is an unlikable character from the very start. The audience never rooted for him, and his crimes were atrocious and plentiful. However, the first colossal act of evil he imparts on a hugely important character is when he orders Ned Stark to be beheaded. It’s the event that sets the whole ensuing saga into motion, but his comeuppance does not come soon enough.
While he isn’t “forgiven” by anyone per se, he is certainly allowed to roam free and commit more horrid acts for three more seasons. The amount of people he is able to torture and kill along the way is immense, and the fact that Sansa has to endure him for so long after watching her father die at his hands is a tragedy. Thankfully, he got what he deserved in the end, but that Purple Wedding was a long time coming.
6
Dan For Killing Keith
One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
The rivalry between both sets of the Scott brothers is a central theme of One Tree Hill, but the melodrama usually focuses on fractured relationships and work disputes. Dan would taunt his brother Keith out of spite and jealousy. They were at odds for the first few seasons of the show, going back and forth with jabs and retaliation until the poignant episode in season 3 aired. In “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept”, Dan Scotts shoots his own brother point-blank.
This plot point became a huge focus of the subsequent season and a mystery that took a long time to solve. But, even as Dan grappled with his own guilt and finally turned himself in, there are some people in his life who eventually forgave him. Even viewers were manipulated into feeling more sympathetic as he developed a sweet relationship with Jamie. As controversial as the whole storyline was, the fact that he has his own redemption arc felt wrong.
5
Sylar For Killing Multiple “Heroes”
Heroes (2006-2010)
Zachary Quinto has an enigmatic screen presence as Sylar in Heroes, which is most likely why his character went from being a brutal murderer and main antagonist of season 1 to one of the most widely explored characters on the show. If the show had ended after one season, he would most likely live in infamy as a complex villain with a lust for power and unrelenting ambition. However, that is not what happened.
As the show became a global hit, it was renewed for three more seasons, meaning Sylar went on his own redemption arc. As he attempts to be good and find his sense of belonging, viewers are simultaneously fed information about why he is the way that he is. While there’s nothing wrong with a charismatic villain, it’s this pursuit of forgiveness that turned a once-exciting character into a bit of a disappointment.
4
Walter For Letting Jane Die
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
While Walter White is very much an antihero from the start, the instance where he allows Jane to die is what pushes him much further into a moral gray area. While he and Jesse had dealt with many criminals and other sorts of shady characters with violence in the past, it did not seem as jarring as what he did to Jesse’s girlfriend. Walt sees Jane as an obstacle to his and Jesse’s relationship and business endeavors, with her actions based on her addiction and strong feelings towards her partner.
Jane ultimately isn’t a bad person; when Walter simply watches on as she chokes on her own vomit instead of helping her, it is tantamount to murder. Jane did not deserve to die this way; not to mention how her death impacted her father, causing even more people to die. Jesse may have never forgiven Walt, as they part on somewhat ambiguous terms, but the show itself let this issue rest for some time with Walt still positioned as the main character to (sort of) root for before finally punishing him.
3
Negan For Killing Glenn
Walking Dead (2010-2022)
When Negan enters the world of The Walking Dead, he is clearly the villain. He is brutal, evil, and violent, and disposes of people with no remorse or hesitation. His (and Lucille’s) introduction was shocking and left viewers aghast, albeit unsurprised. He was the new big bad of the season, and the mere fact that he killed off one of the few original survivors was terrible but in line with his role as an antagonist.
This brutal killing is a great catalyst for conflict in the ensuing season and beyond, but the issue arose when the writers chose to make Negan a new main protagonist of the show. His road to redemption is long and convoluted, and if it hadn’t been for Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s charisma and captivating performance, would have been entirely unsuccessful. There are many viewers who have never forgiven Negan for killing Glenn, and that’s completely understandable.
2
Regina For Killing Graham
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
As the Evil Queen, Regina was expected to have a mean streak, but audiences didn’t know just how far she would go until she killed Graham. Just as the mystery is building, and characters are slowly but surely gaining memories from their past lives, Graham is perhaps the closest to unraveling it all. But, the Evil Queen lives up to her name and disposes of this instantly beloved character with no regrets.
That event solidifies her as the villain of the story. Ruthless, calculated, and very creative, she has the whole town under her spell and needs to be conquered. But, as with many interesting and flamboyant villains, she needed to repent in order to remain on the show. While Lana Parilla made for a fabulous queen and an excellent villain, it’s curious to wonder whether she should have bowed out at the end of the first season.
1
Klaus For Killing Jenna
The Vampire Diaries & The Originals (2013-2018)
Much like how Once Upon a Time juggles so many villain redemption arcs and normalizes them that it seems to forget everything the redeemed villains did, The Vampire Diaries went on long enough and normalized the general mayhem caused by vampires so that the story and the characters simply forgot about past murders committed. So, like Damon, Klaus was a part of the flagship series and then the spinoff for long enough that the writers were forced to put him in a more heroic light, despite him killing Elena’s aunt Jenna and many others.
What can be said for The Originals is that it keeps introducing characters with very real reasons to hate Klaus. However, there is no denying that he is the protagonist and therefore sympathetic. By the time of the next spinoff, characters like Caroline and Alaric are on cordial terms with Klaus. It’s characteristic of many such shows that carry on for long enough, with villains who are too charismatic — yet they can still be charismatic as unredeemed villains.
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