Greatest TV Antiheroes
The antihero revolution changed television forever. These morally ambiguous protagonists made audiences root for characters who lie, cheat, steal, and worse. Their complexity redefined what a TV lead could be.
Rankings
Walter White
Played by Bryan Cranston
Tony Soprano
Played by James Gandolfini
Thomas Shelby
Played by Cillian Murphy
Rue Bennett
Played by Zendaya
Beth Dutton
Played by Kelly Reilly
Seong Gi-hun
Played by Lee Jung-jae
Ruth Langmore
Played by Julia Garner
Kendall Roy
Played by Jeremy Strong
Marty Byrde
Played by Jason Bateman
Wendy Byrde
Played by Laura Linney
Frequently Asked Questions
Tony Soprano is often credited as the original TV antihero who launched the Golden Age of Television. Walter White from Breaking Bad is frequently cited as the greatest antihero arc. Thomas Shelby, Marty Byrde, and Rue Bennett are modern examples of the archetype.
A TV antihero is a protagonist who lacks conventional heroic qualities. They may be morally ambiguous, self-interested, or outright villainous, yet the show frames them as the central character audiences follow and often root for despite their flaws.