Summary

• TV shows have embraced anti-heroes, who are morally complex and make questionable choices, to create more authentic and engaging stories.
• Anti-heroes like Jack Bauer, Jax Teller, Elizabeth Jennings, and Dexter Morgan have redeeming qualities that make viewers connect with them despite their flaws.
• Characters like Nancy Botwin, Saul Goodman, Gregory House, and Tony Soprano blur the lines between good and bad, highlighting the duality of human nature.

TV shows revolve around the lead character who often comes off as heroic, good and morally justified, but some shows blur the lines as they follow an anti-hero instead, which can result in incredibly satisfying arcs. Modern movies and shows have taken more time to explore the anti-hero and engage with their motivations and the obscure moral questions associated with them. Instead of having cut and dry, good and bad, anti-heroes can make stories feel more authentic by exploring the complex choices of their leads.

An anti-hero isn't inherently good or bad, they possess attributes of both and can make questionable choices, but when they are a lead on a TV series, there is almost always something to connect with in their character. Life is more complicated than simple black and white, and watching an antagonistic protagonist go through their journey can feel authentic and deliver emotionally engaging stories. Whether the anti-hero is a cold-blooded killer like Dexter Morgan, or incredibly focused on self-preservation like Shiv Roy, there are redeeming, and even endearing qualities to engage viewers.

15 Jack Bauer

24

24 is a unique series which sees Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), an anti-terrorist agent, taking down threats to the security of the United States as he employs any measures necessary. The series pushes the limits of what a hero is allowed to do, as Bauer willingly tortures and brutally destroys security threats in a way that is uncomfortable, but his motivations are clearly coming from his commitment to protecting his home. Bauer is an anti-hero, which may cause divided opinions, but that may well be the point of an anti-hero.

14 Jackson "Jax" Teller

Sons Of Anarchy

Jax (Charlie Hunnam) is set to inherit the leadership of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club, but he finds himself conflicted between the violent and illegal business the club operates and his young family's needs and safety. While Jax initially starts out as the Vice President of the club, getting his hands dirty along the way, he wants to create a better future for his child than the one that he inherited. Jax's inner conflict is pivotal to the story and while he participates in illegal activities, his struggles are made apparent in a dramatic and engaging way throughout.

13 Elizabeth Jennings

The Americans

The Americans is a compelling crime drama series following an unassuming typical American family, who are actually deep undercover agents working for the KGB. Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) and her family are completely believable and charming as they befriend neighbors and their community, but at night, they go about their secret business which takes them down seedier, more mysterious paths. The show and the performance of these double agents is compelling as it frames the story from a side that is less often displayed, which in turn poses questions about humanity, trust, and loyalty.

12 Zuko

The Last Airbender

Prince Zuko is the incoming leader of the Fire Nation, and following his family's domination of the other nations, he is expected to continue their legacy and maintain control over any insurgents. Zuko is just a teenage boy in The Last Airbender, but the weight of the world is placed on his shoulders with no love afforded him by his father. However, thanks to the loving, comionate influence of his Uncle Iroh, he grows to make his own choices and eventually turns his back on his father's cruel plans, choosing instead to forge his own path.

11 Nancy Botwin

Weeds

Weeds is a complex and thought-provoking series that explores the journey of a young widow trying to provide for her family through desperate measures. Early in the series, sympathy for Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) remains high as she attempts to care for her family by selling marijuana. As the show progresses though, her motives become more blurry and questionable as the work she does begins to negatively impact her family. The series continuously raises questions about motives, love, neglect, and morality, which makes this an incredible anti-hero story.

10 Saul Goodman

Better Call Saul

When Jimmy McGill was a young boy working at his father's store, he developed a talent for conning and scams. As he grew up, his talents matured, and he moved from creating minor scams to larger illegal work, with many of his clientele coming from a similar background. Practicing law as Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), there is something magnetic about the character. He may be crooked, but he is also always ready to get involved in the issues that concern friends, and he has the right connections to get the job done.

9 Gregory House

House

Doctor Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is the head of the diagnostics team at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. He is a brilliant doctor capable of quickly and accurately diagnosing most common issues that people may experience, and he has moved on to focusing his attention on the harder to crack cases. While House indulges a pill addiction, lacks human warmth, and enjoys putting his team through rigorous training that often sees them fail, people can't help but marvel at his genius. He can be a pain, but he's a pain that is worth keeping around for his usefulness.

8 Vic Mackey

The Shield

Vic Mackey is a corrupt cop running a crooked LAPD unit, and in The Shield's very first episode, he proves just how far gone he is when he smashes a person of interests face into an iron stove, burning and scarring them permanently. While the show creates tension around the possibility of Mackey and his unit getting caught, the story unbelievably manages to ensure viewers are still rooting for him and his team despite their unjust actions. The show is a rollercoaster, but Mackey is an anti-hero to be taken seriously.

7 Martin "Marty" Byrde

Ozark

Jason Bateman stars, and frequently directs, on the incredibly tense crime drama, Ozark. Bateman plays Marty Byrde, who gets in deep with drug bosses to work off the debts of his partner. Throughout the series, Marty manages to convert a small little town into a massive drug ring which becomes a major hub of operations. The series sees Marty drag his entire family into business and shady dealings throughout, but Bateman is also easy to empathize with and creates a connection with viewers that garners sympathy, even when it isn't always deserved.

6 Dexter Morgan

Dexter

Dexter is one of the bloodstain analysts on the force, which is a fact that is likely aided by his in-depth personal experience with murdering people. While Dexter works for the police department, he also has a compulsion to kill people. He manages to keep control of his lust for blood by periodically stalking a criminal who escaped justice in the courts, and then methodically and expertly killing them, before covering his tracks and disposing of the body. Dexter is trying his best, but his addiction puts him at risk of being caught and imprisoned.