Television permeates the lives of the majority of westerners – a fact that people born 100 years ago would find impossible to believe! While much of the programming on television is junk, there are, fortunately, some extremely brilliant and entertaining shows. This list looks at the characters in some of those shows – and, more specifically, badass characters.
An LA detective and leader of the Strike Team, a four-man anti-gang unit in the FX series The Shield. Mackey is a corrupt but extremely efficient police officer. He steals from drug dealers, beats suspects and has murdered three people. Two of the victims were vicious gangsters, however the first was an undercover officer that wanted to expose Mackey’s team. Despite his misdeeds, he is a devoted father, a loyal partner to his teammates and will readily protect those he sees as innocent victims.
Played by the one and only Chuck Norris, whether he’s roundhouse kicking a bad guy to the face or teaching a young boy moral values, he was the most badass cowboy ever.
Macgyver was the man, armed with a swiss army knife, a roll of duct tape,and whatever else he needed to escape a dangerous situation. Macgyver went mountain climbing and loved ice hockey, come on now thats badass.
Tony Soprano is the Boss of the DiMeo Crime Family, which is located in New Jersey. Tony has committed at least 8 murders. Tony always manages to get to his enemies before they get to him.
In the pilot of Prison Break, Scofield stages a bank robbery to get sent to jail to help his brother (who is on death row) escape. No matter how trivial the task at hand, Michael Scofield does it like a badass.
Shredder is the archenemy of the turtles and Splinter in the show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He is the leader of the Foot Clan and is always trying to put an end to the turtles and Splinter.
Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a serial killer who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood splatter analyst. Dexter has received considerable critical acclaim and has won two Emmys in technical categories, and has also generated public controversies concerning its content and promotion.
Jack Bauer is a key member of the Counter Terrorist Unit in LA. His job often makes him sacrifice many of his loved ones, but he has to do his job.
House always shows wit, enjoys picking people apart, and often mocks their weaknesses. House accurately figures out people’s motives and histories from aspects of their personality and appearance. The cane and limp make him even more badass.
Sylar also known as Gabriel Gray is the baddest character on TV right now. His power is knowing how things work. He steals other hero’s powers by cutting off the top of thier head and removing their brain, from then on it’s history. Sylar cannot be killed or imprisoned.
Contributor: Matteo
House is the win. Excellent list, especially with the inclusion of Shredder.
Dexter isn’t a cop trying to figure out why he was imprisoned for 10 years…
He is a serial killer who kills bad people aka. drug dealers, murders and rapists.
He hasn’t been in jail as far as I know, but he is a blood splatter specialist, no cop though. He has never been caught (although I haven’t watched the last 4 episodes of season 3 so who knows)
ps. good list otherwise! I liked that Tony Soprano was included, good call!
Dexter did not go to jail..
Never got framed for murders he did not do either..
But he is badass.
Good Stuff
That isn’t Dexter, it’s Life
Awesome! Just to point out though, that’s not at all what Dexters about! He’s never been to prison. He is a practicing cop in the Miami PD and specializes in blood splatter.Also, he is a murderer. He murders serial killers, rapists, child molestors etc.
You mixed Dexter with Life…
Please change what Dexter’s about. It has to be one of the best shows ever made. I never thought I’d root for a serial killer to not get caught but I do with that show!
@Bucky:
Dexter is not caught yet but now somebody else knows his secret. Two more episodes left in S3, can’t wait.
i like Dr. Cox or the Janitor off of Scrubs. they are badass and so funny..
Just so you know, Sylar has become a giant pussy this whole third season.
was the third one the one where he kills that chics brother then sleeps with her or the one where he sleeps with a girl then kills her?
Definitely agree with guy on having Dr. Cox, though maybe as a bonus since he’s actually a softee at heart.
Though, I think Macguyver doesn’t really qualify as recent for me… I’d take an exchange with his other character Jack O’Neill from Stargate SG-1.
where`s mulder??
Confusing Dexter & Life = epic fail.
Probably the worst list yet. Yet its a list.
SYLAR??? erm…nooooooooooo He’s mildly mentaly chalenged at best and undeservenig of numero uno, i would rather put Starbuck there, before house i mean…and dr. Cox
)
coolest list yet….
i liked it very much….
This is a totally whack list. It has information that is incorrect(Dexter),outdated(MacGuyver), and just plain silly (Shredder). Try again and wake me when you’re down.
***** this list is awesome! i can’t believe you included the shredder, i almost forgot how goddam badass that guy is! excellent work
wow im surprised sideshow bob isnt in the list! Nah not really and dexter is my fav show of all time. Move dexter to 1 with the right description plz.
The facts about Dexter is so wrong. He is a blood splatter *****yst by day, but a serial killer by night.
2 more episodes left! Looks like Miguel’s not gonna appear for the fourth season. =)
I shat my pants in the dexter part. My fav serial killer went to jail, NO FREAKING WAY. But i see what you have done… Dexter & Life mixup but don’t worry ***** happens.
I have a sneaky feeling however that dexter will either end up dead or in prison which is a shame. Haven’t read the books so don’t know what will happen!
DEXTER ALL THE WAY!
I think Miguel won’t even appear in the final episode… rofl
“Macgyver went mountain climbing and loved ice hockey, come on now thats badass.”
That’s not badass, that’s Canadian! :p
About a year ago I watched the old Ninja Turtles for the first time since I was about 5 years old. Shredder was hilarious- and on a vaguely related note, did any kid think April O’Neil was stacked in that version? I never noticed as a kid….and I never noticed her man-crazy friend Erma either….
Vic Mackey is the *****.
knows just how to get the job done.
Surprised they didn’t put tommy gavin in from rescue me.
It’s already been said, many times… but confusing Life and Dexter? Eep.
Ok while I have seen most of these shows none of these guys really scare me enough to be bad ass. That said Dr.Cox and the Janitor from scrubs should be here for the simple fact that I know a real life Dr.Cox and he scares the ***** out of me. And besides would you really want to have a guy like the janitor work with you in real life.
Sylar used to be a cool badass, but not anymore, The show has gone mad.
edit the dexter description! It’s totally wrong.
Shredder is also a weird inclusion, as well as Sylar being no. 1, heroes is just on it’s season 3 and his character keeps getting a rewrite (good-bad-mama’s boy).
One of the least thought out lists. Even the descriptions are not that good.
***** yeah @ shredder + House!! Woo!!
i was very surprised that jack bauer wasn’t number one. i recently heard that in the 6 seasons, which represents 6 days, bauer has killed 158 people. that is quite the killing spree. ol’ jack averages a little over 36 people a day. wow.
This list is incomplete without Malcolm Reynolds and/or Jayne from Firefly. I am angry X(
While theres no doubt as to shredder being a badass. I have to disagree with him being on this list because he really isn’t that recent. Sure the show is new but TMNT has been around for awhile I dont know maybe is just me. He just doesnt seem that recent thats all.
Sylar is my favorite!!! I don’t watch Heros anymore though. And Mackey is freakin’ awesome too. Side note: Does anyone else remember the show The Commish? Chiklis was good in that cop show too, but a very different kind of cop.
What about Alan Shore from Boston Legal?!? THe funniest smartass/badass lawyer on television.
How is Alan Shore a badass, as far as i know, he paid a couple of guys to fight a guy that punched him in the face in front of his girlfriend. that my friend is not badass. However Alan shore is the clear definition of a smartass, and he got an amazing ability to look down upon everyone, even though he is clearly smaller than 90% of the people he talk to.
there is one character that couuld easily take on every one of these other pussies all at the same time.
CAMERON FROM TERMINATOR:THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
i hereby declare this list null and void for her ommission.
Sylar??? badass?? he is being played all the time…
and dexter in jail for 10 years, now trying to figure out who framed him?? really??……..
dexter never spent ten years in jail!
Wow, you really suck. Why would you put Dexter in your list when it’s obvious you have never even watched it?
Nice list, i would love to see Dr. House trying to treat Sylar!
House…ftw…dude is too much of a hard ass. If he hadn’t been included I might have had to perform an assassination o.O;
This list should be 11, Dexter and Charlie Crews both belong on the list. But getting them mixed up is just wrong. I don’t know if it was a typo, an overlook or just plain lack of research but I do hope it to be fixed.
Ok my opinions.
10. Never seen the show, the description makes him sound badass though and I am tempted to watch an episode.
9. Good choice
8. Not really recent it’s been what 20 years or so? Otherwise it would be good. If you go that far back why not add the A-Team.
7. Possibly. He did what he felt needed to be done but had years of psychotherapy to deal with it to. Not sure how accurate that would be. Some of the other characters from the show maybe. For that matter how about 90% of the characters from Oz?
6. Only saw the first season but he qualifies from that.
5. A good character but not really fitting for the list. How about The Simpsons Mr. Burns then or Family Guy’s Joe Swanson or American Dad’s Stan Smith, or South Park’s Cartman?
4. Great show I was introduced to because of another list (thank you Listverse!) that you might want to consider actually watching.
3. How could he not be #1? Anyone willing to do whatever is necessary and undergo torture, risking being fired or thrown in jail to protect his family and country without even considering not doing it an option. Not even close.
2. Seriously? He isn’t a badass, he’s a jackass. He is the best doctor in the world but is just an antisocial jerk who likes to upset people.
1. A good choice. Possibly the coolest villain in a long time. This season he did wimp out a bit, but the latest episode shows that may have been temporary. Honestly though, the guy known as Horned Rimmed Glasses (Noah Bennett) should also be on the list. He is definately in the badass category.
Nice idea for a list and some nice choices but serious errors with a few others.
Okay…kinda short. But still nice.
Yep, that description of Dexter is not remotely what the show is about, but thanks for coming out. I agree: EPIC fail.
.46 MT
I am the original MT on this site. Please consider another username to avoid future confusion. Thanks.
Did you never even watch a single episode of Dexter? or Life. for that matter
OKAY ENOUGH ALREADY!
don’t you people even read preceding comments? cool it w/ the Dexter/Life comments. obviously there was an error made…now leave it up to the author of this list and/or Jfrater to explain.
the next person who makes a comment about Dexter/Life is officially AN IDIOT! got it?
now…move on to more constructive comments. or better yet…write your own list and submit for consideration of publication.
This list is OK except for….Macguyver? Is that a joke? That assclown made Richard Simmons look like Dirty Harry.
Both Ben and Locke from LOST should be in this list.
Bauer and House in the top 3. I wish they would make the top 2… Locke from Lost would be a good entry, not to mention either Mal or Jayne from Firefly..
I think those two are pretty badass, but from LOST my choice would have been Sawyer. That guy is intense.
Ahhh! I was just about to say Lost! I think Sayid is the most badass, though. By a landslide.
Haha, I think we can (at least the three of us) agree that there are a lot of pretty badass characters on that show.
since a good bit of the comments have nitpicked the Dexter/Life thing, I hate to add another nitpick–but this one is at least about Vic Mackey and the Shield (excellent show). The description, especially the last sentence, is a little off for Vic (if you’ve seen the last ep, you know what I mean; if not I don’t want to spoil it for anybody)
Suskis – I don’t think Locke is particularly badass….but Ben gets my vote.
Also – where are the women? You don’t have to be male to be badass.
House being on there made it for me, haha
But Sylar’s such a pussy…
What about Gibbs from NCIS?
And I also agree with schadenfreude, where are the women, they can be just as bad and sometimes even worse than men cause most of them are manipulative and cunning.