Television has always struggled with its portrayal of criminals. Since these shows like to glamorize their characters by giving them compelling characterization, the viewers are often placed in a moral and ethical dilemma as they tend to overlook their crimes.
This is particularly relatable to several 'career criminals,' who are seen to break the law over and over but are given a 'pass' because of the writers' belief that they can be redeemed one day. While some of these criminals have proven to be more likable than others (especially since a few can be pretty unbearable), everyone will agree that they are memorable in their own right.
10 Vinnie O'Neill (Brassic)
Vinnie O'Neill (Joe Gilgun) was born into poverty in a Northern English town. He knows no other way to survive but crime. At the age of seven, his father taught him how to blow up safes and become a master criminal. Along with his five friends, Vinnie earns money on the outside of the law.
Like many career criminals, Vinnie also has to live outside of the system to avoid arousing attention. He lives on the outskirts of his town in a shack in the woods, which can affect his bipolar disorder and exacerbates his social issues (caused by a dysfunctional childhood and a system that failed him).
9 Avon Barksdale (The Wire)
Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) was the most feared drug boss in Baltimore's projects. Born into a notorious drug-trafficking family, Avon ran the block with ferocity and precision, determined that his family legacy never leaves Barksdale's hands. Avon had no problem ordering hits should anyone double-cross him or act as a threat to his empire. He profited from the suffering and addiction of the people in his neighborhood.
Still, Avon had a code and there were lines that he did not cross. He also had a sense of humanity and, in an ironic twist of fate, gave back to the community that he so badly damaged.
8 Fat Tony (The Simpsons)
Springfield's mafia boss and resident "whacker," Fat Tony has made a great business in town from his very many illegal activities. The shrewd businessman is able to spot a gap in the market that he can exploit to line his personal pockets. When Springfield went back to prohibition, for example, Fat Tony was on hand to provide the residents of Springfield with bootleg alcohol.
Tony also runs numbers in Springfield and opened his very own club, 'The Legitimate Businessman's Social Club'. To make sure his legitimate business sees no interference from the law, he bribes Mayor Quimby regularly, knowing it's the cost of doing business.
7 Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
Probably one of the most notorious mob bosses on TV, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is one of the capos of the DiMeo Crime Family. Tony has no problem killing other people or calling for the murder of enemies of the family. In fact, Tony's first kill was to initiate him into the mob.
Tony is a very troubled man. He represents how crime leads people to very dark places. He has seen his father and uncle torture people as a child. His own mother would later plan to have him killed. Tony's chaotic and violent childhood, and the pressures of working as a mob boss, have, ultimately, turned him into a sociopath.
6 Doug Judy (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Doug Judy (Craig Robinson) is Jake Peralta's (Andy Samberg) best friend and most elusive enemy. He and Jake are two peas in a pod, who bonded over their similarities. However, Judy is a criminal mastermind on the side, and always avoids being caught by the nine-nine team.
Despite Judy's outwardly calm persona, he is always two steps ahead of Peralta, (and other criminals too). Doug Judy is a refreshing departure from the serious, grim portrayal of criminal masterminds like Avon Barksdale or Tony Soprano. While he does enjoy the criminal lifestyle, his arc proves that not everyone desires power. One can love the simple things in life.
5 Jax Teller (Sons Of Anarchy)
Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) was born into a life of crime. His father was one of the founding members, and the first President of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club's Redwood Original (SAMCRO), a club based on the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Jax longs to leave behind a life of crime, and be a good father to his sons. On the other hand, he desires to live up to his father's legacy and to keep the club running.
Unlike many shows about career criminals, Sons of Anarchy chases after generational redemption through Jax. The Vice President, and later President of the club, Jax discovers that his father wanted to eliminate criminality from the club, so he pursues this goal.
4 Piper Chapman (Orange Is The New Black)
Loosely based on the real-life story of Piper Kerman, Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) is a college graduate, whose life takes a dramatic turn when she begins dating an international drug smuggler. Piper is eventually sentenced to prison for money laundering and criminal conspiracy after she was caught transporting drug money across international borders for her girlfriend. A college graduate from a wealthy family, her imprisonment goes against the assumed trajectory of her life.
As many of the fans know, Piper can be very manipulative - especially when it comes to business. On several occasions, she has sabotaged the other inmates and their businesses to make sure that she comes out on top. She also didn't seem to care about who she hurt in the process. Her selfishness was one of the characteristics fans didn't like about her.
3 Joker (Batman: The Animated Series)
Joker needs no introduction. He is one of television and movie's most notorious criminals. In Batman: The Animated Series, Joker wishes to take over Gotham City and fully turn the city into his money-making machine. Joker is Batman's deadliest arch-nemesis because he is very intelligent.
Born Jack Napier, Jack was a small-time crook for a Gotham mob before he became the Joker. Joker steals from, threatens, and murders the people of Gotham in the realization of his ultimate goal: to conquer Gotham, murder Batman, and make everyone else suffer the way he has.
2 Lincoln Burrows (Prison Break)
Another morally good criminal, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. Lincoln had a very rough childhood and became his younger brother, Michael's (Wentworth Miller), caretaker when he was just a child himself.
Although the boys were placed into the care system, Michael and Lincoln were abandoned and abused by the system. Lincoln was forced into a life of crime in order to provide for his brother. By the end of the show, Lincoln ended up becoming most famous for breaking in-and-out of prisons as well as participating in his brother's heists.
1 Walter White (Breaking Bad)
The life of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a tragedy. The former science teacher turns to making and selling drugs to pay for his cancer treatment. What begins as a means to an end takes over not only Walter's life but the lives of everyone around him. Eventually, Walter's hubris would destroy him, forgetting that the best career criminals have been destroyed by their very own greed.
Walter's downfall reflects the real lives of big-time drug lords, some of whom met a doomed end because they believed they had become too big for the law.
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February 15, 2021 at 04:30AM
