10 Greatest Sociopaths in TV Show History, Ranked by Fans

10. Eric Cartman from South Park

The only animated sociopath on our list, Eric Cartman definitely deserves his spot. Devoid of empathy, Cartman is only in love with one thing: scheming and plotting and making others suffer — no matter, friends or enemies. Cartman's sole purpose in South Park is to torment the people around him and be an absolute menace.

9. Villanelle from Killing Eve

As her name suggests, Villanelle is not exactly the compassionate kind. In fact, she's a highly-trained assassin who gets sick kicks from her job, leaving a pile of bodies and a trail of blood behind her everywhere she goes. Villanelle enjoys murder and luxury, and her entire life is built around these two cornerstones. What a charmer.

8. Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones

We all know that King Joffrey the Merciful was more of a Lannister than a Baratheon, and that's exactly what — on par with his poor upbringing — led to his sadistic and sociopathic nature. Egoistic, craven, and pathetically evil, Joffrey craved power and wanted everyone to fear him, but was full of fear and hatred himself more than them.

7. Tate Langdon from American Horror Story

Tate Langdon, too, was a victim of his immensely troubled childhood. His trauma severely damaged his psyche, resulting in a monstrosity of a human being both plagued by pain and willingly inflicting it upon others, the living and the dead alike. In the end, Tate only served himself, and the means always justified the ends for him.

6. Dennis Reynolds from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

What's a bar owner without a few skeletons in his backroom closet, right? Well, in the case of Dennis Reynolds, it was almost too literal. Incredibly narcissistic, Dennis lacked mercy and empathy, manipulating the people who considered him their friend. It's characters like him who reveal that in reality, anyone could be a sociopath.

5. Gregory House from House

Dr. House is more of a misanthrope than a blatant sociopath, and that manifests first and foremost in his choice of a profession. House knows medicine like the back of his hand and saves the patients anyone else would have given up on, but his severe lack of social skills and cynicism alienate others and make him look borderline evil.

4. Hannibal Lecter from Hannibal

For all we care, Hannibal Lecter is the pinnacle of a TV show sociopath. Hiding behind the mask of a civilized and delicate person, Lecter helps the people around him as much as manipulates them — all to fit his solemn device. Hannibal Lecter is a savior and a monster in a two-for-one package who's only on the lookout for himself.

3. Jim Moriarty from Sherlock

BBC took a distinct approach to portraying James Moriarty: from a textbook sociopath he used to be, turned into an agent of chaos. Brilliant and cunning, Jim cherishes his own superiority and enjoys being the concealed mastermind behind crimes all around the world. For him, crimes are art, and art is worth anything.

2. Dexter Morgan from Dexter

Another protagonist sociopath, Dexter resembles Dr. Lecter in more than one way. He, too, is plagued with hideous desires and indulges in them, but also keeps up the facade of civility and normalcy. Dexter is both the hero and the villain in his own story, and you can't help but sympathize with him while hating him at the same time.

1. Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock

Sherlock describes himself as a "high-functioning sociopath," using this image as a shield from the outer world. For him, the world consists of puzzles to solve rather than people to relate with, though it changes as the show goes on. Though Sherlock was never meant to be a people person, friends and fans adore him to no end.