10 TV Shows Where The Villain Became A Hero

8. Deadwood - Al Swearengen

Deadwood Ian McShane
HBO

In the first episode of Deadwood, Al Swearengen (Ian McShane on career-best form) steps on the neck of a prostitute. It's a moment of brutality that would serve as a sign of things to come: over the course of the series, Swearengen was a vicious, law-breaking bastard.

And yet, despite that, Swearengen genuinely loved the town of Deadwood, and while he served his own ends - often in horrible ways - he also always wanted to do what was best for his hometown as well.

As the show went on, that included him become more of a heroic character, if again not in the traditional sense. As George Hearst begins to spread his influence across Deadwood in Season 2 and especially Season 3, rising up as the show's Big Bad, Swearengen frequently works with those he's often butted heads with to thwart him. So yes, he's still awful, but also on the side of 'good'.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.