Top 30 villains in television history
Photo Credit: HBO
1. Cersei Lannister
For a while, Cersei teetered between the lines of villain and a “mother just looking out for her kids” as she tried to navigate her position of power in Kings Landing. Her relationship with her twin brother Jamie, basically guarantees she will never find an acceptable love, and dooms all of her children.
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Hungry for power, she attempts to control the throne through her two sons which ultimately leads to both of their deaths. Joffrey is murdered because she is unable to get his less savory characteristics under control, and Tommen commits suicide after his mother kills his wife. Left alone, she has set herself up for a villainous final arc, which is fitting for a character who has done too many unspeakable things to be atoned.
One of the key changes that Jamie Lannister goes through, is his newfound honorable side. It’s a trait which is not passed on to his sister. Growing increasingly ruthless, she finally gets the crown for herself, with the death of her children, and ascends into power as a cold-hearted queen.
Yet, Cersei has been preparing her entire life to outsmart the dueling kingdoms and Game of Thrones has put her in a position to do some real damage. Her character probably has one of the greatest payoffs in television history with the slow burn it took for her to finally and fully embrace her dark side.
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Gone is the woman who once extended a small hint of sympathy for Sansa. She’s lost too much to be empathetic and there are too many people left in Westeros that Cersei wants vengeance on for the dissolution of her family.