Revenge stories on TV thrive on the allure of justice served cold, weaving tales of vigilantes, wronged friends or family and moral betrayals. These narratives elevate characters who turn pain into purpose, seeking retribution for framed or harmed loved ones or targeting those who have cost them everything.
From the methodical vengeance fromThe Gloryto the petty all-out war between two strangers inBeef, these narratives expose the gray area between seeking justice and pure obsession. Whether it’s vigilantes like Dexter (Michael C. Hall) or victims retaliating against self-righteous oppressors, these shows captivate with their intricate and character-driven plots.
10’The Glory' (2022–2023)
Created by Kim Eun-sook and Ahn Gil-ho
Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) is scarred by the brutal bullying she was subjected to during high school. Since then, she has meticulously planned revenge against her tormentors. After years of preparation, Dong-eun becomes a teacher at the school of her main bully’s child, placing her close to her targets. She manipulates and destroys her enemies’ lives. With the help of allies like Hyeon-nam (Yeom Hye-ran) and Yeo-jeong (Lee Do-hyun), a doctor with his own vendetta, Dong-eun orchestrates intricate schemes of retribution that bring her justice.
The Glorydepicts an incredibly relentless takedown of people who have caused Dong-eun so much pain.Dong-eun’s diligent revenge echoesthe pain her tormentors inflicted. Her plans set off a domino effect as the bullies turn on each other.Murders are exposed, weaknesses are weaponized and harm is done, whether physical or emotional. Dong-eun’s entangled vengeance upends her bullies’ lives, ensuring justice for each. This well-written series carries out a powerful narrative on important issues that plague schools.
9’Kevin Can F**k Himself' (2021–2022)
Created by Valerie Armstrong
Kevin Can F**k Himselfuniquely blends sitcom and drama formats to explore the life of Allison McRoberts (Annie Murphy), a woman trapped in a miserable marriage to immature and self-centered Kevin (Eric Petersen). The show contrasts their sitcom-like moments, filmed with bright lighting and a laugh track, against Allison’s darker, single-camera world where she is free from Kevin’s insufferable behavior. Discovering Kevin has depleted their savings, Allison spirals into resentment, fantasizing about murdering Kevin and taking measures to carry out her plot.
Annie Murphy ofSchitt’s Creekfame demonstrates her versatility in this brilliant and fresh genre-bending series. Allison’s pain as an overlooked and unappreciated homemaker is palpable. The series begs reflection on the characters of beloved sitcoms, prompting a deeper reflection on real-life roles and values held by society.Kevin Can F**k Himselfis unlike anything else on TV, and it remains an underrated showin its short, two-season run.
Kevin Can F**k Himself
8’Lupin' (2021–)
Created by George Kay and François Uzan
Assane Diop (Omar Sy), a master thief inspired by the fictional Arsène Lupin, seeks revenge for the injustice that took his father, Babakar (Fargass Assandé) from him as a child. After his father is wrongfully accused of stealing a priceless necklace and dies in prison, Assane grows up determined to expose the truth about the powerful Pellegrini family who framed him. Using wit, charm, and disguise, Assane pulls off daring heists while exposing a web of corruption among the wealthy and powerful people he targets.
Assane seeks to avenge his father inLupin, which proves difficult through social disparities that work against him and work for the series' bad guys, namely business mogul and Babakar’s employer, Hubert Pellegrini (Hervé Pierre). Assane’s elaborate heists aim to expose Pellegrini, prioritizing themes of injustice and social hierarchy.TheRobin Hood-esque criminal Assaneand his thoroughly entertaining schemes force viewers to confront their own code of ethicsand its roots. The line between ethical and unethical favors the powerful unless someone like Assane stands up for those cast aside.
7’Happy Valley' (2014–2023)
Created by Sally Wainwright
In rural Yorkshire, Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) deals with a life steeped in tragedy, following her daughter Becky’s suicide which fractured her family. While grieving Becky, she raises her grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah), conceived from Becky’s rape by Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton). When Tommy is released from prison on other charges, Catherine is certain he still poses a danger to the community. As Catherine investigates the kidnapping of a woman named Ann Gallagher (Charlie Murphy), she discovers a connection to Tommy, leaving her to confront the man who caused her daughter so much pain.
Catherine and Tommy both feel wronged by each other in BBC One’sHappy Valley. The dynamic between the two of them is thrilling as both proceed with very different plots for revenge, framed within a police procedural and crime drama. As Ryan grows up, viewers are privy to the burdens he feels as he is pulled in different directions while untangling the complicated circumstances into which he was born.Happy Valleyis written well to immerse viewers in the dramaof its beautifully complex characters.
Happy Valley
6’Alias' (2001–2006)
Created by J.J. Abrams
Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a college student recruited by a covert unit called SD-6, believes she’s working for the CIA—until years later when her fiancé (Edward Atterton) is murdered after she reveals her occupation. Sydney learns SD-6 is a rogue terrorist organization. She becomes a double agent for the actual CIA to dismantle the terrorist organization from within. With her estranged father, Jack (Victor Garber), also a double agent, and her CIA handler Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), Sydney battles terrorism and copes with betrayal and losses, all while juggling a dangerous double life.
Sydney’s decision to work as a double agent is driven by her own survival and the desire to hold SD-6 accountable for the years of deception working for it, the death of her fiancé and the threat they pose to America’s national security. This revenge plot is fleshed out immediately, hooking viewers with its episodic cliffhangers right from the pilot. The stakes are high inAlias,with action-packed seasons and complex storylines, making it one of thebest spy thrillers on TV.
5’Revenge' (2011–2015)
Created by Mike Kelley
Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp), assuming the identity of Emily Thorne (Margarita Levieva), returns to the Hamptons to avenge her father (James Tupper) who was framed for a crime by powerful socialites, Conrad (Henry Czerny) and Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe). Blending into high society, Emily is determined to dismantle the Graysons’ lives, uncovering dark secrets and betrayals. As her calculated revenge shakes the Hamptons’ foundation, her mission becomes complicated by romantic entanglements and questionable loyalty.
The premise ofRevengegets complicated as more about Emily’s past is unraveled and the real Emily becomes involved. As it turns out, the residents of the Hamptons have many malicious secrets, which Emily sets out to expose and ruin lives, one by one. The series was adapted fromThe Count of Monte CristobyAlexandre Dumas, and the first season does a nice job ofmeticulously setting up an intelligent plot with thought-provoking moral ambiguity.
4’Dexter' (2006–2013)
Created by James Manos Jr.
Dexter Morgan is a bloodspatter analyst who leads a secret double life as a vigilante serial killer. Trained by his adoptive father (James Remar) to channel his sociopathic urges into killing criminals who evade justice, Dexter balances his dark compulsion with his facade of normalcy. Between deadly encounters with other killers, he attempts to maintain relationships and dodge the suspicions of colleagues and friends.
Acouple of spin-off series later,Dexterremains influential and loved by audiences.His destructive tendencies, redirected toward criminals, prove a thoughtful lesson in morality for viewers. Played fantastically byMichael C. Hall, Dexter is a fascinating character, and the series' great writing demonstrates his multifaceted persona as a sociopath who attempts to act like an average guy.
3’Killing Eve' (2018–2022)
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Killing Eveis a spy thriller and black comedy that offers a captivating look into the intense and dangerous world of espionage. Tasked with capturing psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer), Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) becomes consumed by her obsession with the killer, sparking a dangerous, mutual fixation. Their entangled lives evolve into a twisted cat-and-mouse game as they pursue and challenge each other, veering off the paths of their respective missions.
The major revenge plot comes in the series’ fourth and final season, as Eve is determined to get revenge against The Twelve, the organization for which Villanelle worked as an assassin. Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, as Killing Eve’s female leads, have amazing chemistry.The two powerful women allow the series to explore femininity in a high-stakes setting, making it an important, novel asset to the spy thriller genre.
Killing Eve
2’The Punisher' (2017–2019)
Created by Steve Lightfoot
Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,The Punisheris a spin-off ofDaredevil, which explains the origins of the Punisher, also known as Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal). In the second season of Daredevil, Frank exacts revenge for the deaths of his wife and children by tracking down and killing the people involved. By the first season ofThe Punisher, Frank had retired the Punisher persona, but he soon learns that the massacre that took his family involved more groups than he initially believed. Assuming his vigilante role again, Frank continues his bloody journey to avenge his family.
Frank seeks to hold accountable the parties involved in his family’s murder in epic, brutal action sequences. Though not as creative and violent as the comics,Frank’s kills are consistently gruesome and graphic. As Frank takes justice into his own hands,ethics become a gray area in this series, comparable toDexter’s premise, as viewers can sympathize with Frank, though the violence and torture can be quite jarring.The Punishercan arguably be considered one of Marvel’s best series.
The Punisher
1’Beef' (2023–)
Created by Lee Sung Jin
Amy Lau’s (Ali Wong) life is not as sunny as it seems—she deals with general unhappiness stemming from marital strain and stress from trying to sell her business. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) is living with mood disorders, struggling financially and has a strained relationship with his brother (Young Mazino). When Danny nearly backs his car into Amy’s in a parking lot, road rage crescendos into an all-consuming feud between these two high-strung individuals.
Beefis a unique, refreshing take on revenge on TV. Amy and Danny’s underlying issues fuel their dark impulses, escalating the initial road rage into an ongoing battle of hilariously petty acts of revenge. Whereas the revenge plots in the other shows mentioned stemmed from a clear, life-altering act,Beeftakes advantage of road rage and pent-up frustrations to pursue its revenge plot. The result was this amazing, Emmy Award-winning dark comedy.
