As we say goodbye to the unhinged Prime Video adaptation of The Boys, it’s only natural to think about Homelander’s standing in TV history as one of the greatest (or worst) TV villains of all time. 

Every moment Antony Starr was on screen throughout the series, he was must-see TV. While viewers always expected the worst from him, Homelander always found a way to raise (or lower) the bar. If nothing else, he was a shining example of what can happen when power is put in the wrong hands.

But now that The Boys is over, just where does the show’s star stand along TV’s greatest villains ever? (Safe from Homelander’s gaze) DraftKings Network has answered that very question while laying out TV’s Top-10 villains of all time:

(NOTE: Antiheroes like Walter White and Tony Soprano were not considered for this list.)

10. Errol Childress, True Detective

Erroll Childress, in this case, is just the vessel for the symbolic, systemic, and all-too-poignant top-down corruption that allows monstrous men to build nefarious temples off-grid and ritualize violence. He is the Yellow King; the Yellow King is him. For Rust Cohle (Matthew McCoughnahey) and Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson), the protagonists of Nic Pizzolato’s & True Detective’s masterpiece of a first season, Childress exists only in whispered spasms from uncanny sources as they work to solve the murder of Dora Lange. It is a testament to Childress’s superlative finesse as, ultimately, a serial killer. The man with green ears, some call him. The man with spaghetti scars, others say.

When we at last meet him, in the final episode of the season (he’s played by Glenn Fleshler with uncompromising violence and grotesque), he shapeshifts before our eyes: he speaks first in the voice of a southern son caretaking his father (see Faulkner, here); then he affects the voice of Jimmy Cagney; then the Irish accent of a leprechaun. He’s so dangerous because he’s made himself into a hollow vessel through which all things pass. This is the legislature of Carcosa, his kingdom, and his responsibility as its Yellow King. And he can really twist the blade deep, as evidenced in the final confrontation between he and our heroes. “Come die with me, little priest,” his voice echoes throughout the stone halls of his lair. “Take the bride’s path.” —Dan Johnson

9. The Governor, The Walking Dead

Shane was an engaging antagonist in the early goings of The Walking Dead, but The Governor was the show’s first true villain. Philip Blake initially seemed like a charming and empathetic leader who built Woodbury as a strong and safe fortress amid the ongoing zombie apocalypse – to all of the non-comic readers, that is. The Governor was actually a ruthless killer, more than willing to knock out competing groups of survivors as well as refusing to let his zombified daughter go. When he comes into contact with Michonne, Andrea, Maggie, Glenn and Carol, the Governor wastes no time manipulating and torturing them. That spirals into a rivalry and eventually a war with Rick’s gang, with the Governor losing an eye and committing himself to vengeance rather than his old friendly alter-ego. And just before his own troops turn on him, the Governor delivers one more unforgivable death by using Michonne’s sword to kill Hershel. If there’s a power ranking for ways to garner fan hatred, knocking off a sweet old man and early fan favorite might be No. 1 on the list. —Sam Connon

8. Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, Daredevil

While Vincent D’Onofrio reprised his role as Kingpin in the Daredevil: Born Again revival on Disney+, he was at his best in the original three-season run of Daredevil on Netflix. He operated from the shadows at the start of the series, up until his gripping introduction in front of the “Rabbit in a Snow Storm” painting. From his abusive past to his complicated romance with Vanessa and explosive outbursts involving car doors, D’Onofrio used all of that to construct a top-tier villain. Even when he spent Season 2 in prison, Kingpin’s cameo appearances were highlights of the Punisher arc. Then the way he bounced back to reclaim his image in Season 3 was such a perfectly comic-accurate representation of the character, on top of bringing Bullseye into the fold in a natural way. Put simply, Fisk is the Joker to Daredevil’s Batman – a mirror image and thematic foil for the record books. After coming back as the main antagonist in Hawkeye, Echo and both seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, though, maybe it’s time to give the character a breather and give fans a chance to appreciate his greatness. —Sam Connon

7. Ben Linus, Lost

If I were solely in charge of this list, Ben Linus would reign supreme as the greatest TV villain to ever grace the small screen. Sadly, my fellow writers didn’t agree, but that won’t stop me from making a case for him. When we first met Ben, he was actually Henry Gale, a timid “fellow castaway who crashed his hot air balloon on the island.” It didn’t take Jack and co. long to figure out that “Henry” wasn’t who he claimed to be, but no one could have predicted the immensely complex, ethically ambiguous character shrouded beneath the lies. The further Lost peeled back Ben’s layers, the more our horror and intrigue grew. Certainly there must be a limit to how far he would go to protect the island… right?

Wrong. Constant betrayal, mass murder of the town that raised him, even sacrificing his own daughter to continue his mission. On paper, Ben seems like your typical sociopathic supervillain, but Michael Emerson plays him with such nuance and delicacy, manifesting this unique charisma found nowhere else on television. By the conclusion of the show, Jack is still driving the plot, but it feels like Linus’ story. —Jeff Pratt

6. Marlo Stanfield, The Wire

The Wire is packed full of morally ambiguous (often leaning “bad”) characters, but there’s no need to break out the scale for Marlo. The man is pure, ruthless evil. A product of his environment? Possibly, but there’s something about that stone cold demeanor paired with a lollipop that tells everyone who is unfortunate enough to come across him that something is deeply, deeply wrong with Stanfield.

Beyond Marlo’s deep-seated issues, his effectiveness throughout the series is rooted in his simple understanding of the game. Stanfield’s iconic line, “you want it one way, but it’s the other way” sums up The Wire in 10 words. Those who fight to change the system fail, as seen in Bunny Colvin, Tommy Carcetti and Stringer Bell, while those who ride with the current succeed. Marlo is the baddest of the bad, and him surviving the show turns the mirror on society as a whole. —Jeff Pratt

5. Joffrey Baratheon, Game of Thrones

Even while surrounded by the absolute worst-of-the-worst, Joffrey is truly singular. 

Although he comes in at No. 5, Joffrey may evoke more disdain than any other TV villain. At the root, that’s the result of him being given everything, despite having done nothing to earn any of it.

The only thing he ever earned in his short life was the hatred that everyone holds for him.

On top of being undeserving of his kingship and an all-around revolting human, Joffrey is dangerous. Not in one of the normal ways, like strength or smarts — although, he does have a little bit of the latter (but not much). Rather, he’s to be feared because of his title — again, making him easy to despise — and his emotional unpredictability. One wrong word or voice inflection and Joffrey could turn on anyone — even the people who put him in his position of power. —Nick Friar

4. Homelander, The Boys

The big bad from one of the edgiest shows in fandom is about as iconic as they come. That’s saying quite a lot, too, since Homelander really started off as just another Superman pastiche. Blending the American flag with the blonde hair and a terrifying portrayal of the standard power set worked wonders, to say nothing of the character himself. Homelander went from a whiney manchild desperate for mother figures and father figures alike at the start of the series to an egomaniacal dictator and cult figure with no guardrails by the end of it. That progression felt natural, too, with The Boys really taking the time to break down how Homelander’s relationships with Billy Butcher, Madelyn Stillwell, Stan Edgar, Stormfront, Soldier Boy and Ryan sent him down that path. He was an unstoppable horror movie figure at times, but still just a fragile, destructive and overreaching idiot underneath. —Sam Connon

3. Gus Fring, Breaking Bad

Cold, calculating, and always one step ahead. Where other villains make their presence known through loud gestures, Gustavo Fring is something else entirely. Pointed threats, subtle glances and an eerily calm demeanor made for an unforgettable character. Even when he isn’t talking, Giancarlo Esposito demands your attention in every scene. Where Walter White was obsessed with being feared, Gus preferred operating in the shadows. Once a poor Chilean entrepreneur, the Los Pollos Hermanos boss eventually manages to take down most of the Salamanca cartel in brutal, unforgiving fashion. Stateside, The Chicken Man presented himself as a caring pillar of the community. Behind the scenes, he operated a million-dollar narcotics enterprise with extreme efficiency. Also, who can forget Gus’ *explosive* demise? Breaking Bad would never reach its legendary status if not for Mr. Fring. —Bryan Armetta

2. Livia Soprano, The Sopranos

Never before and never since has an iconic villain publicly wished for their own demise so frequently, but then again, Livia Soprano isn’t your typical antagonist. The Sopranos changed the television landscape in so many ways, introducing the first small-screen antihero in Tony, and giving him the perfect foil in his own mother.

Livia is a sharp-witted, bitter, intensely manipulative woman, and beneath all of her layers lies an inherent intention to wreak havoc. Throughout most of the series, this is featured in innocuous methods through constant complaining or degrading insults. However, the entire premise of the series starts in Dr. Melfi’s office with Tony in therapy, and he wouldn’t have landed there without his mother. In fact, it’s fair to wonder if Tony would have ended up in the mafia at all if he had been raised by a good person, as his basic character traits are quite innocent, and at times even good. Livia launched psychological warfare against her own son throughout his entire life in an attempt to stack the deck in her favor, and when things didn’t go her way, she didn’t hesitate for a second to orchestrate multiple assassination attempts against him. In a series filled with complex characters who toe the moral line, Livia sits on the furthest end that evil can reach. —Jeff Pratt

1. Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones

Once again, Cersei finds a way to take the crown for herself. If nothing else, she gets an edge as the only villain on this list who’s also a parent of another all-time villain (again, Tony Soprano did not qualify for this list).

But while her son knew how to use his rank to feed his pettiness, Cersei also has the brains to be at least one step ahead at all times. Moreover, she found a way to meld her dislike for anyone with her devotion to retaining control of the Iron Throne. Through this deadly combination of desire, her commitment to status and power knew no bounds — perhaps most evidenced by her coordination of the explosion at Great Sept of Baelor.

One could argue that while everyone had carefully crafted their own grand scheme in the legendary HBO series, they were all actually playing Cersei’s game. —Nick Friar