10 TV Villains You Wish Got More Screen Time

10. Livia Soprano - The Sopranos

The case of Livia Soprano is a different one to the other antagonists found on this list. There was no bad writing or behind-the-scenes fallouts that ended the family patriarch's run in The Sopranos, but the untimely death of actress Nancy Merchand.

For the first two seasons of David Chase's seminal crime drama, Livia Soprano was the show's overarching villain, a dominating, troubled woman whose very existence caused her mob boss son to suffer panic attacks and admit to needing therapy.

In a much less cruel world, Livia's antagonism and influence would've carried the series through for many more seasons - maybe even to the very end - and audiences would've been graced with Merchand's exceptionally complex performance to boot.

In fact that was the plan, with Livia intended to have a major role in Season 3.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, as Merchand tragically died after a battle with lung cancer, and Livia was swiftly written out the show's third season as a result. Her absence is felt throughout the rest of the series.