22 TV Villain Introductions That Were *Chef's Kiss* Perfection

This isn't *technically* Katherine's first scene, as we learn she was impersonating Elena in the scene where she kissed Damon. BUT this comes directly after, and is the first time we actually realize that we're meeting Katherine. It's absolutely iconic and probably my favorite character intro/plot twist ever. It's perfectly violent and manipulative for a character we have been told for a full season is violent and manipulative, yet its timing is still shocking.

Kilgrave is one of the most terrifying TV villains of all time, and he was built up perfectly in the first few episodes of Jessica Jones, where he was only seen in flashbacks. Finally meeting him in person after his looming presence has been felt the entire series provided the perfect payoff — he was as terrifying as we wanted him to be and more.

The iconic children's literature character is played to perfection by Neil Patrick Harris, who just has so much fun with the role while still being slimy and creepy (something I felt the Jim Carrey version lacked). His introduction is no different — fun, larger-than-life, but still creepy.

Billy doesn't even need a single line of dialogue to make an impression here. His car, the music, the camera panning up to him, and Dacre Montgomery's pure screen presence do all the work for him. You can tell he's going to be a lot of fun but also dangerous.

Georgina is one of my favorite characters of the series. She's extremely off-kilter and diabolical, despite doe eyes and a faux innocence that suggest otherwise. When she finally reveals herself to Serena, she is subtly threatening and resentful underneath her words, and you get a taste right off the bat of how manipulative she is.

Lana Parrilla was great as Regina/The Evil Queen, because she was able to play a larger-than-life fairytale villain just as well as she played the more layered controlling mother. Her entrance fit her first persona well, and gave an ominous yet classic-feeling beginning for the series that felt almost like a prologue.

The Handler is cool, cruel, and devastatingly fashionable in every single scene, and she set that expectation right off the bat. Her character really has such gravitas and her appearance while time is stopped makes it even more memorable.

Villanelle pulls you in from her first scene, even though it has nothing to do with our other main characters (unlike many entries on this list). It perfectly introduces how manipulative yet childlike she can be in a notably nonviolent way, and primes expectations for how we are not going to be able to predict this character's actions.

Like Katherine, this isn't technically his first appearance, but this is the first time he actually introduces himself and we realize who he is. It's one of my favorite scenes from the series, with some of the best dialogue ("People have died" "That's what people DO!") and setup for the next season. Andrew Scott is so unhinged yet smooth in this scene, and he completely steals the show.

Spike changes vastly throughout the series, but in the beginning of Season 2 he's a dangerous, badass, smooth, and unpredictable villain who provides the perfect shake-up after a weak Season 1. The second he runs over the Sunnydale sign, you know he's going to be fun to watch.

Azula's tides speech is iconic. She is so cruel right off the bat, and she never lets up throughout the entire run (though she certainly becomes less calculated and cool). She is completely commanding here, and we know we're dealing with a serious threat to our main characters (unlike Zuko, who, let's face it, is more prone to angry outbursts than actually succeeding in his goals).

Maybe it's just that I'm terrified of clowns (who isn't?), but I still think Twisty is American Horror Story's most horrifying villain. He was terrifying in all of his scenes, but this was, in my opinion, his scariest kill. He was just so creepy and I still to this day do not understand why the girl did not immediately run upon seeing him.

Mr. Yang is absolutely the best villain of Psych, and this is such an amazing episode. When Shawn finally finds her, she is even creepier than you imagined, and her dialogue about how she and Shawn are matched and she wants him to like her is so chilling. You have absolutely no idea what she is going to do, and you can't help but look forward to when she and Shawn will meet again.

This is definitely one of the more understated intros on this list, but that matches his character. The way Gus so subtly shifts from cheery, formal owner of Los Pollos Hermanos to commanding drug empire owner is so fun to watch, even though he remains the same careful, polite, understated man. Even though Walter has taken him by surprise, you can just tell Gus is the one in control of the situation.

I just had to include Giancarlo Esposito on this list twice — especially because the villains he plays are so different. While Gus is a self-described "careful man," Gideon is a homicidal lunatic prone to lashing out, and Esposito plays both to perfection. Here, the second he steps out of the ship you feel chills go down your spine. He just speaks with such confidence that you know this guy isn't to be messed with, and to take his threats seriously.

Is A-Train the scariest or best villain on The Boys? No. But does he have the best introduction? 100%. He literally RUNS THROUGH OUR MAIN CHARACTER'S GIRLFRIEND, killing her instantly. The first few minutes of the series make it seem like we're in the world of Marvel-like superheroes — this scene makes it painfully clear that we most certainly are not.

It was always fun when another clone was revealed on Orphan Black, and Rachel was one of the most important of these clones, and their main antagonist. Her speech is perfectly cold and calculated here, and she is the picture of the detached corporate cruelty that she becomes known for.

Talk about an amazing villain that came in super late in the game! The most chilling thing about Negan in this scene is how much fun he's having. His dialogue is so well-written and perfectly introduces him, while Jeffrey Dean Morgan excellently portrays Negan's casual confidence hiding a dark nature.

Doakes is introduced in the pilot, in a funny first scene where it is VERY clear that A) he doesn't like Dexter and B) that he is not afraid to curse. It's a good intro to him as a foil for Dexter — you kind of know right from this point that Doakes is going to be the one to figure him out. But it's also a good scene because you honestly kind of like Doakes/know he's right — he's really more of an antagonist than a villain.

Outspoken, confident, and sneaky, Stella is a fun addition to Season 3, both as Piper's new love interest and as a villain. She stirs up some great drama and provides an opportunity for Piper to show her true colors in working against her. Ruby Rose just has such a screen presence from her first scene — plus, it's a lot of fun to see someone knock down Piper for her entitlement and privilege in being an attractive, cisgender, white woman.

I wanted to get into this show, but it was just way too disturbing for me. Hannibal is absolutely terrifying from the first second he's on screen. You see the meat and his careful way of cutting it before you even see his placid, unfeeling face, and it gives me the chills every time.