The 10 best Simpsons villain characters

The Simpsons has boasted some impressive villains over the years, with the best balancing the show's sense of comedy with genuine thrills and threats. The Simpsons It always works best when it's somewhere between family dramedy and absurd nonsense, which is reflected in the series' main characters. This extends to the characters who serve as antagonists, facing off against the Simpsons in various ways (like Kang and Kodos, who are most often played for laughs in the “Treehouse of Horror” episodes).

Many characters could easily take on brief villainous roles, like Agnes Skinner, Snake Jailbird, and Luann Van Houten, but the series has always given them some extra depth to keep them more complex and adaptable. However, some characters in The Simpsons were established primarily as antagonists, actively putting the world in danger and threatening the Simpsons in their plans. Some only made one appearance, while others were constants on the show since the first few seasons. Here are the ten best villains from thirty-six seasons of The Simpsons

10

Lyle Lanley

Played by Phil Hartman

Lyle Lanley is one of The Simpsons's most memorable villains, and a good demonstration of how the series can balance dangerous character beats with the inherent silliness of the series as a whole. Played by Phil Hartman, Lyle Lanley is the antagonist of season 4's "Marge vs. the Monorail." A skilled singing conman who tricks Springfield into investing millions in its basic monorail system, Lyle embodies the smarmy traits that define Other Hartman characters like Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure, but with a decidedly darker feel.

A clear parody of Harold Hill's The music manLyle's smooth-talking allows him to outsmart even typically intelligent characters like Lisa, allowing him to escape the town while leaving the townspeople to fend for themselves. Lyle is a consistently funny character in the episode thanks to the complete lack of effort he puts into his cons, all reinforced by a bombastic sense of charm. Lyle's only appearance remains one of the The Simpsons'most memorable unique characters and a great cartoon villain.

9

Russian Cargill

Played by Albert Brooks

Russ Cargill is the main antagonist of The Simpsons Movieand Albert Brooks brings an element of grandeur to the character to match that distinction. The head of the EPA, Cargill, reveals himself to be a ruthless and vengeful figure who seeks to eliminate Springfield and replace it with a new tourist attraction. Cargill is a very silly character, with an aggressive approach to villainy that makes him openly admit that he has gone mad with power. None of this takes away from his surprisingly cool approach to claiming power..

Cargill has the President condemn Springfield and casually prepares to shoot Homer in the face with a shotgun when his plan is foiled. There's a directness about Russ Cargill that adds to the comedy of the situation.but this also amplifies the character's effectiveness as a villain. Coupled with enough social power to put all of Springfield at risk, Cargill was an ideal villain for the film's expanded narrative.

8

Artie Ziff

Played by Jon Lovitz

Introduced in the second season of "The Way We Was", Artie Ziff became a semi-recurring presence on The Simpsons. Introduced as another suitor looking to impress Marge while she and Homer were in high school, Artie is presented as everything Homer is not. While this initially means being mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he also proves to be a much more selfish and aggressive character than Homer ever was towards Marge, even groping her after their prom date. Artie later reappeared as a weak but wealthy rival for Marge's affections..

Although he never actually succeeded in these efforts, his attempts (and the drama it induced in their relationship) helped to cement Artie as one of Homer's most pronounced rivals in The Simpsons. Even his most recent appearance in season 31's "Hail to the Teeth" highlighted his creepy and possessive attitude toward Marge, building dozens of androids that look just like her to try to win her back. More pathetic than threatening, Artie has nevertheless become a surprisingly consistent threat to Homer and Marge's relationship.

7

Cecil Terwilliger

Played by David Hyde Pierce

Sideshow Bob's brother, Cecil Terwilliger, debuted in Season 8 of “Brother From Another Series.” Initially portrayed as a more innocent response to his homicidal brother, Cecil's debut episode established him as a more openly murderous and brutal character. Cecil's more grounded approach to evil came close to killing Bart and Bob, with the character even dispensing with Bob's typically theatrical approach to murder and simply throwing Bart out of a dam.

Cecil even managed to inflict massive damage on Springfield thanks to destroying the city's dam, giving him an advantage over Bob's failed attempts to bring down the city. Cecil only suffers from a lack of appearances, as he has only had one other prominent appearance since his debut episode. However, Cecil remains a deeply memorable villain for his ruthless approach to crime and his high-society comedy serving as an amusing direct mirror to Sideshow Bob.

6

Frank Grimes

Played by Hank Azaria

Introduced in Season 8 of "Homer's Enemy", Frank Grimes is one of the darkest characters in the history of The Simpsons. Established as a steadfast and stern man looking to move forward in his life thanks to a new position at the Nuclear Power Plant, Grimes quickly decides that the lazy and perceptually relaxed Homer is his greatest enemy. Grimes draws attention to Homer's flaws, but also serves as an ideal foil for him.

This highlights how Homer also faces a bittersweet and often difficult life, but with a sense of love and joy that Grimes cannot match. Grimes is a perfect contrast to Homerthe anthesis of Homer and highlights the importance of the program's embrace of silly joy and sincere sweetness, in contrast to the harsh, self-conscious reality. Grimes' death may have been unexpectedly dark and quietly tragic, but it also underscored a very important element of the spirit of the series and Homer's character as a whole.

5

Kostas Becker

Played by Brian Cox

The central villain of the season 33 double episode "A Serious Flanders", Kostas Becker stands out from other villains in The Simpsons because of how dark it is. Becker is a criminal debt collector who discovers that a small fortune he lost decades ago has resurfaced in Springfield. Played by Brian Cox with a cold, hard exterior and a monstrous core, Becker fights his way through Springfield in search of his riches.

Unlike most other villains, the non-canon status of "A Serious Flanders" allows Becker to dispatch several longtime characters with brutal efficiency, especially during a shootout that kills Mr. Burns, Disco Stu, Fat Tony and all of their allies. Becker's serious demeanor purposely chafes against the sillier elements of The Simpsonswhile also serving as a perfect parody of the ruthless killers that appear on shows like Breaking Bad and Justified. Kostas wouldn't fit into the show naturally, but he contributes to an ideal menacing villain in an experimental approach to The Simpsons.

4

Hank Scorpio

Played by Albert Brooks

Hank Scorpio is a frequent fan favorite and one of the The Simpsons'best unique characters ever. Initially introduced as a genial, open-hearted new boss for Homer in Season 8's "You Only Move Twice," Scropio is steadily revealed as a James Bond-style villain seeking world domination. Neither side undermines the other, however, which is a testament to the episode's strong writing and Albert Brooks' wonderful performance. He is a sweet-natured man who kills countless people, a contradiction the show plays for big laughs.

Brooks brings unexpected depth to the supervillain, especially during his final conversation with Homer, where he sadly agrees that Homer can't sacrifice his family for a dream job. The fact that they have a genuine and emotional conversation in the middle of a climactic battle scene lifted straight from several James Bond films only adds to the absurdity that underlines the best episodes of The Simpsons. Hank Scorpio is a perfect character and that's itwhose memorable appearance is among The Simpsons'much better.

3

Fat Tony

Played by Joe Mantegna

Introduced in season three's "Bart the Murderer," Fat Tony has proven to be a surprisingly flexible character, even as he remains one of Springfield's most dangerous. The local mob boss who runs much of the organized crime in Springfield, Fat Tony was set up from the start as an exaggerated, self-conscious parody of Italian gangster stereotypes. Many episodes explored the character for unexpected laughsprovoking a sensitive side while acting out his obvious crimes for big laughs.

However, Fat Tony also remains one of Springfield's only genuinely dangerous characters. He has repeatedly threatened several characters in the series' cast, with season 34's "The Many Saints of Springfield" pitting him against someone as innocent as Ned Flanders. Fat Tony is one of the few characters The Simpsons that the show can play with genuine intensitythough its sillier moments (and a typically impressive performance from Joe Mantegna) give it an adaptability perfectly suited to the series.

2

Mr. Burns

Played by Harry Shearer

Introduced in Season 1 and consistently serving as The Simpsons'villain, Mr. Burns has established himself over the past three and a half decades as one of the best antagonists in modern pop culture. The cartoonishly rich business tycoon can only match his wealth with his ruthlessness. The absurd comic nature The Simpsons allows Mr. Burns to be normally utilized as well as a silly villaina character who can initiate a plot and at the same time be a natural source of comedy.

However, some episodes have highlighted how fearsome the character can be, with Mr. Burns' dramatic turns in episodes like Season 7's "Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'" highlighting what makes him so memorable dangerous. Burns is one of the most adaptable villains in modern fictioncapable of working on both large-scale plots and personal stories. This adaptability fits perfectly The Simpsons'flexible universe and makes him an ideal central antagonist for the show.

1

Sideshow Bob

Played by Kelsey Grammer

One of The Simpsons'funniest characters and an ideal antagonist for the show, Sideshow Bob is the best villain in The Simpsons. Introduced in the first season of 'Krusty Gets Busted', Sideshow Bob's initial joke of being an erudite, well-spoken criminal mastermind masquerading as a TV clown sidekick quickly gave way to an ideal villainous balancing act. Bob is effortlessly funny, with Kelsey Grammer's performance remaining remarkably consistent across several different schemes and tones.

The character's theatrical side and bombastic delivery are constantly undermined by some of the series' best physical comedy, like the infamous gag. However, none of this eliminates the genuine danger he can bring to a situation. Episodes like season 5's "Cape Feare" feature these horrible comedy scenes, but still find ways to make Bob quietly unnerving and menacing. The result is a perfect villain, someone who can make you laugh one minute and move you the next. It is this adaptability, yet consistent characterization, that elevates the best of The Simpsonsincluding Bob.

Source: Screen speech