Antihero: A protagonist whose character is contrary to that of the archetypal hero, yet typically retains many heroic qualities. They are bad, but not evil. They often fight villains, but not out of a sense of justice. They do it for selfish reasons, for personal gain, for revenge, and they're often amoral and lack positive qualities. The trope has been around for centuries, obviously, but series' long antiheroes are relatively new to the television medium, finding popularity in characters like Tony Soprano and Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel." Typically, for an anti-hero to be successful on television, there needs to be an opposing villain who is much worse.
These characters are currently the ten best on television.
10. Emily Thorne, "Revenge" -- Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) is driven, not by a desire to seek justice against the people that wrongly accused her father of crimes that he did not commit and that ultimately cost him his life, but by a selfish desire for revenge. Thorne is actually based on one of the archetypical antiheroes, Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo.
9. Kenny Powers, "Eastbound and Down" -- A poor work ethic, an abrasive personality, and an almost irredeemable character, Powers is a satire of the modern anti-hero. He's an anti-antihero, but manages to sneak in under the antihero label because his opponents are even less redeemable than he is. Barely.
8. Eric Cartman, "South Park" -- Cartman is modeled after probably the first great antihero on television, Archie Bunker. He's narcissistic, spoiled, racist, sexist, homophobic, and easily one of the most beloved loathsome characters on television, and his heroic deeds typically grow out of the social commentary his misdeeds provide.
7. Nancy Botwin, "Weeds" -- There was a time early on in the series when Nancy Botwin's illegal and amoral actions could've been considered altruistic: She was trying to raise two kids after the death of her husband. However, over the course of the series, it's become abundantly clear that Nancy Botwin is driven less by a desire to protect her family and more by her own selfish needs. In fact, it's those very narcissistic qualities that make some wonder whether she is an antihero or a straight-up villain.
6. Dexter, "Dexter" -- Dexter is essentially the prototypical anti-hero, a character that didn't develop into an anti-hero over the course of the series; he was designed as one. He's a sympathetic serial killer with whom we root for because the only people he kills are those that are more evil than him.
5. Sterling Archer, "Archer" -- Like Kenny Powers, Sterling Archer is another satirical antihero, but unlike anyone else on this list, Sterling Archer is modeled after a prototypical hero: James Bond. However, unlike Bond -- who is motivated by loyalty to his country and a sense of justice -- Sterling Archer is motivated purely by his own self-interest. Like Kenny Powers, however, it's Archer's devotion to amorality that makes him so goddamn likable.
4. Sergeant Nicholas Brody, "Homeland" -- One of the more complex antiheroes on television, after one season, it's still hard to get a read on Sergeant Brody. Is he even an antihero? Or is he a villain? Or is he a hero? As far as we know, he's driven by a distaste for corrupt American foreign policy and a desire to seek justice. Or is it revenge for the way Americans killed women and children in terrorist occupied lands? Why do we sympathize with someone whose values, in the abstract, we do not share? It's that question that really makes Brody such a compelling potential anti-hero.
3. Sherlock Holmes, "Sherlock" -- Yes, he solves crimes. Yes, he prevents murders. Yes, he puts away bad people. But does he do it out of a sense of justice? Because he hates evil people? Or to right a certain wrong? No. He is no hero. Sherlock solves crimes to serve his own self-interests, to inflate his own ego, and so he can feel superior to those around him. Occasionally, he's shown a flicker of heroism (as with his dealings with Irene Adler), but for the most part, he's no more sympathetic to the victims than he is with the murderers; in fact, he tends to have more respect for the killers, with whom he shares more in common.
2. Boyd Crowder, "Justified" -- Crowder is also a tough nut to crack. He is not above evil deeds, but he is not an evil character, either. He has at times been depicted as racist, xenophobic, a drug-dealing religious nutjob, and a ruthless killer, but part of what allows him to be a antihero is the fact that there are more evil opponents than him on "Justified," plus his friendship with the show's hero, Raylan Givens, makes him sympathetic. He's much like one of the all-time great anti-heroes, Omar Little, in that he's evil, but likable because he abides by a code and has a strong sense of loyalty.
NOT AN ANTIHERO: Don Draper, "Mad Men" -- At one time considered a hero and an anti-hero, currently he suits neither of those definitions. He is the major protagonist of "Mad Men," but more than anything in season five, Don Draper alternated between schmoopy husband to Megan and out-of-touch sad sack at his ad agency. In his dealings with his creative team, he often felt like a villain. In his attempt to save Joan from sleeping with a client, he made a heroic gesture. In his treatment of Megan, he was usually a dick. In few respects, however, was Don Draper a sympathetic character. Compelling, yes. But he seldom displayed the characteristics of an anti-hero. Indeed, season five Don Draper is the perfect illustration of the difference between anti-hero and a**hole.
1. Walter White, "Breaking Bad" -- Easily rivaling the two all-time best television anti-heroes -- Omar Little and Tony Soprano -- Walter White fits comfortably in between the category of anti-hero and anti-villain: Is he a good guy resorting to evil measures to protect and provide for his family after he's gone? Or is he an evil character with heroic goals? Either way, he's not likely to fit into either of those categories in season five, as he evolves again from anti-hero to villain protagonist: An irredeemable, cruel and evil character who is also compelling enough to be the show's main focus.
No. I can't wait, either.
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Henchman 21.
good list
Am I the only person who will still root for Walter once he goes full villain? He’s our guy – he’s Heisenberg. You’ve gotta root for him. I almost wish there wasn’t a season 5 so I wouldn’t have to see him fall.
Will always be a sympathetic character in my book. He could kill a couple of tedious family members with a hammer and it wouldn’t matter to me.
Killing Skylar would make Walt a full-on hero to me, but Jesse is who I’m rooting for in the long run.
Man, this is the second list in a week where you guys act like “Sons of Anarchy” doesn’t exist. BRING BACK
JAXMATT!I cant believe you left Omar off of this list
These characters are CURRENTLY the ten best on television.
Reading is fundamental.
Your mom’s a good antihero!
Vic Mackey Vic Mackey Vic Mackey
Exhibit A: What’s Wrong With America™
You know, I didn’t get Benedict Cumberbatch, but then I watched the first couple of episodes of Sherlock… and I kinda’ get it. He’s like a handsome alien.
Best show on TV. The second season’s take on the 3 most classic Holmes stories is completely stunning. To that end, should Watson have a place on this list? He is, after all, the soldier who is traumatized not by his memories of war, but because he misses war. He yearns for it.
Have to disagree, El Cunado. It isn’t war that Watson yearns for, it’s action. It’s obvious by the first episode when he leaves the cane behind and just runs after Sherlock. This is what connects them. Watson is the everyman changed by the horror of war to the point of depression. Sherlock gave him what he was really after. THAT is punctuated by the last episode.
Sandor Clegane aka the Hound should be on this list.
He’s a supporting character, which would probably disqualify him. More importantly, he’s not an antihero; he’s a sympathetic villain with a crush on Sansa.
On the other hand, give it a season or two and Jaime should be in the top three.
I was thinking the same thing about Jamie.
The Kingslayer for sure, or Tywin.
I’m about to relinquish my man points….Damon Salvatore. SHUT UP! MY WIFE MAKES ME WATCH THIS SHOW! *Punches through drywall* *Turns up AC/DC* *Googles Ron Swanson clips*
No clue what show this is.
You are much better off that way. DO NOT GOOGLE. Ye be warned.
I think as far as Warming Glow is concerned the CW exists in a no man’s land populated by rabid Stephenie Meyer fans, with tampax trees and rivers made of Yoplait.
Does anyone else have an issue in which for EVERY slideshow like this, the picture ends up clipping the text and covers up the Best of the Web feature, hiding half of the picture and making the text unreadable? I have all my pop-up blockers and things off for every Uproxx site and still have this issue.
It happens occasionally to me, but not regularly.
I about had an aneurysm but then I read the first page. Pretty good list, others I’d like to suggest:
Jax Teller
Pierce Hawthorne
Luther (does he still count?)
And how does Nancy make the list over Cartman? Furthermore I’d hardly call Archer an “Anti-Hero” he’s one of the “good guys” through and through. He’s an amoral bastard and hardly a role model, but he’s not an anti-hero like Dexter, Omar, Jax, Heisenberg, or Boyd “Fucking” Crowder. Those are all “bad guys” that do good things. They’re at odds with the “good guys” yet still end up doing the right thing.
Who roots for Pierce Hawthorne?
I’m with you for Pierce Hawthorne especially season 2, seeing as he didn’t get much time in season 3[ even he's whole father arc was hijacked by Jeff and Gus Fring]
Alice Morgan. Best anti-hero on TV.
Agreed. Luther himself as well.
Al Swearengen > Tony Soprano in the all-time anti-hero olympics, in my opinion.
And you would be correct.
I feel a little Thrones needs to be added into the mix…Tyrion Lannister anybody?
Good call.
Absolutely
“Those are some brave men besieging our walls….let’s go kill them!”
To date in the show, he hasn’t done much that would make him considered an anti-hero. He hasn’t done anything inherently bad, yet.
I was actually debating in my head during this entire list as to which one I’d put on the list from GoT. I was surprised to see none made it.
I’m not sure Tyrion is an anti-hero so much as just a hero. Tywin is too villainous at this point. Bron is pretty cut-throat, but maybe not front-and-center enough to count. The Hound… well, i sense he’s going from villain to Anti-hero fight now (I haven’t read the books).
Tyrion’s actions in the Battle of Blackwater Bay resulted in Joffrey not getting killed. ‘Nuff said. An anti-hero he is.
A lot of Thrones characters are Anti-Heroes, Tyrion yes, but also Jaime and Stannis. Ned, Robb, Dany, Jon, Davos, are more straightforward heroes even if flawed. But those three are anti heroes, and definitely badasses!
C.M. Punk.
Sell-outs don’t count
Gloria Pritchett’s body.
Daryl Dixon The Walking Dead, what is wrong with you, Author?
cool post!
Bond is definitely an antihero. Don’t people read books anymore?
John Luther (Idris Elba) from Luther (BBC). Right up there with Boyd & Walter White