Some of TV’s most unforgettable characters are the ones who know how to manipulate those around them.
Whether through charm, deception, or psychological games, they pull the strings and stay a step ahead, making everyone else dance to their tune.
These characters blur the line between hero and villain, creating their own reality and bending others to their will.
Manipulation isn’t just a tactic; it’s their weapon and what makes them so compelling.
Their ability to deceive, control, and outwit keeps us hooked — no matter how twisted their methods may be.
Here are 19 TV characters we think are true masters of manipulation.
Logan Roy — Succession
Logan Roy from Succession is the epitome of corporate manipulation. He uses his ruthless tactics to control his family and media empire.
Every conversation and every decision is a calculated move to maintain his power, even if it means playing his children against each other.
Logan’s ability to manipulate allies and enemies with a combination of fear, charm, and sheer force of will makes him a formidable player in business and family drama.
His cold, calculating nature leaves everyone around him questioning their own loyalties — especially when survival is at stake.
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Livia Soprano — The Sopranos
Livia Soprano from The Sopranos is a master of emotional manipulation, using guilt, passive-aggressive behavior, and cunning to control those around her.
As the matriarch of the Soprano family, she manipulates her son, Tony, and the rest of her family with ease, often sowing chaos to maintain power.
Livia’s ability to twist situations and play on others’ weaknesses makes her a formidable force in a world of crime and family drama.
Her manipulations are subtle but run deep, leaving a lasting impact on everyone she encounters.
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Nandor — What We Do in the Shadows
Nandor the Relentless from What We Do in the Shadows may not be the sharpest manipulator, but his ancient vampire charm and outdated sense of authority make him a surprisingly effective schemer.
As the leader of his vampire household, Nandor attempts to command respect, though his manipulations often fall short due to his cluelessness and ego.
Despite his incompetence, Nandor’s overconfidence and attempts to control those around him — especially his fellow vampires — show that he can still be a master manipulator in his own delightfully awkward way.
His mishandling of power often leads to hilarious consequences, but it’s always rooted in his need for control.
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Wendy Byrde — Ozark
Wendy Byrde is the queen of manipulation. She takes a calm, calculated approach to navigating the criminal world and family dynamics.
From managing the cartel’s operations to controlling her family’s future, Wendy expertly pulls the strings to get what she wants — often at any cost.
While her husband, Marty, focuses on numbers, Wendy uses her sharp mind and persuasive skills to manipulate everyone from ruthless criminals to local politicians.
Her ability to remain composed in high-pressure situations and make ruthless decisions makes her one of the most powerful characters in Ozark.
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Oswald Cobb — The Penguin
Oswald Cobb, a.k.a. The Penguin, is a master of manipulation in the criminal underworld of Gotham.
With a sharp mind and a twisted charm, he manipulates allies and enemies to climb his way to power while hiding his true intentions behind a polished exterior.
Whether he’s playing factions against each other or leveraging his influence via intimidation, Oswald’s cunning knows no bounds.
Every move he makes is calculated to ensure his rise, proving that manipulation is the key to survival and success in Gotham’s underworld.
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Garak — Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Garak is a master of manipulation, blending charm, mystery, and political intrigue in his pursuit of power.
As a former Cardassian operative turned shopkeeper, he’s an expert at playing both sides, using his wit and persuasive skills to manipulate those around him.
Whether weaving complex lies, creating elaborate schemes, or subtly influencing others with his calculated words, Garak keeps everyone guessing about his true motives.
His manipulative abilities are often shrouded in ambiguity, making him one of Deep Space Nine’s most fascinating and unpredictable characters.
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Vic Mackey — The Shield
Vic Mackey from The Shield is the epitome of a morally complex manipulator. As the leader of the Strike Team, he uses his power and influence to navigate the fine line between law enforcement and criminality.
Vic is a master of manipulation. He often uses his position to exploit the system for his own gain while keeping his team under his control.
He’s skilled at bending the truth, making deals, and pulling strings behind the scenes while maintaining his image as a hero.
His manipulative nature isn’t just about survival — it’s about ensuring his dominance, no matter the cost.
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Cersei Lannister — Game of Thrones
Cersei Lannister’s manipulation is as deadly as the poison she’s willing to use to secure her family’s power.
From orchestrating political alliances to plotting the demise of her enemies, Cersei’s ability to control and deceive knows no limits.
She uses her beauty, wit, and unyielding ambition to outmaneuver everyone around her, making her one of the most dangerous players on the Game of Thrones.
Her manipulation isn’t just about gaining power; it’s about keeping it,
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Frank Harkness — Slow Horses
Frank Harkness from Slow Horses is a master manipulator of the highest degree. A former CIA operative turned mercenary, he has a twisted vision of loyalty and power.
His methods are brutal, including impregnating women to form his own private army of assassins known as the deniable assassination squad.
Harkness thrives on secrecy, operating from the shadows while pulling the strings of international politics, using his deadly connections and skillset to play everyone in his path.
A true master of bending others to his will, he’ll stop at nothing to maintain control — even if it means manipulating his own family and former colleagues.
With chilling calmness, Harkness keeps his true intentions hidden, always staying one step ahead in the dangerous game he’s playing.
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Monroe Fuches — Barry
Monroe Fuches is the ultimate manipulator, playing both mentor and villain in Barry.
As the man who pulled Barry into the world of crime, Fuches constantly manipulates the hitman-turned-actor, using guilt, threats, and subtle persuasion to control him.
Though he claims to care about Barry, Fuches’s true motivations are driven by his own self-interest, making him one of the show’s most complex manipulators.
His ability to weave webs of deceit and guilt keeps Barry tethered to his past, making Fuches a constant force in his life — whether Barry likes it or not.
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Serena Joy — The Handmaid’s Tale
Serena Joy’s manipulation is a quiet but powerful force in the dystopian world of Gilead on The Handmaid’s Tale.
As one of the regime’s most influential figures, she uses her intelligence and cunning to maneuver within a patriarchal society, often manipulating those around her to maintain her position.
Beneath her composed exterior, Serena is a master of emotional manipulation, especially with her role as a wife to a Commander and her relationship with the Handmaids.
Her drive to protect her place in Gilead leads her to make calculated decisions, manipulating those closest to her to achieve her own goals — no matter the cost.
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Frank Underwood — House of Cards
Frank Underwood from the House of Cards is the definition of political manipulation.
With a calm demeanor and an iron will, Frank navigates the treacherous waters of Washington, pulling the strings behind closed doors to climb the political ladder.
He uses charm, deceit, and betrayal to eliminate anyone standing in his way, all while making viewers believe they’re in on the plan.
Frank’s ability to manipulate both allies and enemies- often with devastating results- makes him one of the most compelling and terrifying characters ever to grace the screen.
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Don Draper — Mad Men
Don Draper from Mad Men is a master of manipulation, using charm and calculated deception to shape not only advertising campaigns but the lives of those around him.
As a top ad man in the 1960s, Don’s ability to craft persuasive narratives made him a force to be reckoned with, whether he was selling products or his own carefully constructed persona.
Behind the polished exterior lies a man who manipulates his identity, relationships, and even his emotions to keep control of his world.
Don’s manipulation isn’t just professional; it’s deeply personal, making him both magnetic and deeply flawed.
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Shiv Roy — Succession
Shiv Roy from Succession is a skilled manipulator who expertly navigates the cutthroat world of media moguls and family dynamics.
With her political acumen and sharp instincts, she knows exactly how to play both her family and her business rivals against one another.
Shiv uses her intelligence, charm, and ambition to climb the corporate ladder, all while keeping her true intentions hidden.
Whether she’s making strategic alliances or betraying her own blood, Shiv’s manipulations are always calculated, positioning her to one day take the throne — if she can outwit everyone, including her own family.
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Red John — The Mentalist
Red John is a criminal mastermind whose manipulation knows no bounds.
As the elusive serial killer at the center of The Mentalist, he uses psychological games, charm, and fear to control his victims and stay one step ahead of the law.
His ability to manipulate both his followers and the detectives hunting him is chilling, and he remains a mystery for most of the series — until his shocking reveal.
Red John doesn’t just kill; he twists minds, plants doubt, and plays with his adversaries’ emotions, making him a dangerous, calculating force who thrives on control and deception.
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Jan Bellows — Only Murders in the Building
Jan Bellows from Only Murders in the Building is a master of manipulation. She expertly weaves lies to protect her fragile ego and conceal her darkest actions.
What starts as a seemingly sweet, quirky musician quickly unravels into a dangerous, obsessive individual driven by jealousy and a need to always be first.
Her manipulative tendencies are deep-rooted in childhood wounds and an insatiable desire for control.
Whether she’s charming Charles, plotting Tim’s murder out of petty jealousy, or hiding behind the facade of innocence, Jan’s psychological games keep everyone guessing.
Beneath her calm exterior lies a woman willing to go to any length — no matter how extreme — to maintain control over those around her.
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Chuck Bass — Gossip Girl
Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl is the ultimate schemer, using wealth, charm, and sharp wit to manipulate everyone in his orbit.
Chuck uses his power and status to control the people around him, especially regarding love and family, whether in the business world or his tangled relationships.
He knows exactly how to play the game, twisting situations to his advantage and keeping his true feelings hidden behind layers of arrogance and bravado.
With Chuck, manipulation isn’t just about getting what he wants — it’s about ensuring he always stays one step ahead.
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Kevin “Kilgrave” Thompson — Jessica Jones
Kevin “Kilgrave” Thompson is the embodiment of terrifying manipulation, with the ability to control anyone with a single command.
His power to bend people to his will makes him one of the most dangerous characters in the Jessica Jones universe.
Kilgrave’s charm is just as deadly as his powers — he uses his manipulative abilities to manipulate and torture his victims, always finding new ways to torment Jessica and those around her.
His lack of empathy and total disregard for others only enhance his ability to manipulate, making him a true master of psychological control.
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Wednesday Addams — Wednesday
Wednesday Addams from Wednesday is the queen of quiet manipulation.
With her sharp mind and stoic demeanor, she uses her intelligence and subtle charisma to manipulate those around her, often in ways that leave others unaware of her true intentions.
Whether she’s navigating the world of Nevermore Academy or solving dark mysteries, Wednesday bends people to her will with calculated moves and a complete lack of fear.
Her manipulations are more intellectual than emotional, using wit and observation to stay two steps ahead of her rivals — and it’s always done with that signature deadpan expression.
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Masters of the Game
These characters have perfected the art of manipulation, whether in politics, crime, or family drama. They use charm, deception, and intelligence to control their world — and everyone in it.
From power plays in boardrooms to quiet psychological warfare, their manipulative moves keep us hooked, making us both admire and fear them.
The best part? They make us question whether we’d be their pawn or their partner.
Over to you, TV Fanatics! Which TV manipulator do you think reigns supreme? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — let’s discuss who played the game the best!
