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They say its good to be bad but which TV villains arethe very bestat being bad?

Below, TVLine has compiled an updated list of small-screen foes who made an indelible impression with their evil plots and wicked ways. These memorable enemies, from shows such asBuffy the Vampire Slayer, Arrow, Once Upon a TimeandSupernatural, range from crafty opponents to downright despicable human beings. And lest you think only genre shows breed troublemakers, weve also included some classic villainesses fromDynasty, Falcon CrestandMelrose Place.

Plus, weve selected a handful of characters who arecurrentlydelivering dastardly performances onThe Boys, Evil and The Walking Dead universe. Our refreshed rankings also feature baddies from Doctor Who, Succession, Smallville, Sons of Anarchy and more shows!

Note:We limited our picks to just one villain per series/franchise, which certainly wasnt an easy task when it came to the plentiful options in the Vampire Diaries and Arrow universes or onGame of Thrones. That said, one actor issogood at being bad that he appears on our ranking twice, for two very different roles!

So whos the best of the worst? Review our list, then hit the comments with any evildoers who missed the cut!

Theresplenty of sexual deviance onBig Mouth, and luckily for Nick and Andrew, the Shame Wizard was around to keep them in line! (Were kidding.) But we did getmanylaughs from watchinghimspreadembarrassment andcausemanic spiralsthroughout.Whenever we sawthe kids squirming, wewerealwaystickled bytheWizards ghoulishhavoc-wreaking.This is oneevildoerwe can get behind.

Former drug peddler Blaine DeBeers is best known as the guy who turned heroine Liv into a zombie. He ran an underground and very illegal brain delivery service, which sourced its inventory by killing street kids, fueling the fear between zombies and the general public. His love for money was only topped by his love for creating chaos. After being cured, he faked amnesia to stay close to Peyton, proving one doesnt have to be a zombie to be a slimeball!

Regina may have been the queen of mean, but the Dark One was a sinister, slithery piece of work. Plus, where Regina was for so long laser-focused on making Savior Emmas life hell, Rumple had his scaly green fingers in multiple pies, battling Miss Swan as well as Hook, Peter Pan, Zelena, Mother Goethel and others.

If something smelled rotten in the Aloha State, chances are that Wo Fat was involved. Off and on during the CBS reboots first four-and-a-half seasons, the criminal mastermind (played by Mark Dacascos) would dog top cop Steve McGarrett, going from framing him for the assassination of the Hawaii governor to, with his dying breath, revealing that Steves mother Doris veritably adopted him as a youth. Oh, brother!

Sure, hes a lifelong criminal with some problematic views and a nasty violent streak. But Boyd Crowder was a charmer as well, thanks to Walton Goggins charismatic performance, and he proved to be a very worthy adversary (friend-versary, even?) to Timothy Olphants deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Boyd may have been a thief and a liar, but just like Raylan, we cant quite bring ourselves to hate him.

Evil, glamorous and campy as hell, Sabrina Spellmans nemesis-turned-mentor is among the Netflix series most spellbinding personalities, whether shes taking the form of mousy teacher Ms. Wardwell or wicked seductress Madam Satan. As for her being two-faced, we think this photo speaks for itself.

Join us, wont you, in raising a glass of sour grapes to Jane Wymans queen of mean, whose age and Little Orphan Annie hairdo gave the entirely false first impression that she was a sweet old lady. So frosty was the First Lady of Tuscany Valley, she could kill a nemesis crop just by fixing it with her withering gaze.

TheDallasspinoffs answer to J.R. Ewing had hair as big as her ambitions, dramatic bedroom eyes and absolutely no sts to give. Time and time again, Donna Mills sardonic supervixen proved that she thought of other women as mere hot plates: something to keep their husbands warm until she had a craving for one of em.

When it comes to Jessica Langes femmes fatales on the FX anthology series, the wicked witch that she played in Season 3 reigns Supreme. The lethal beauty was living proof that vanity kills. Yet, despite her misdeeds, she stood on the right side of history, tasking former slave owner Delphine with serving a Black enchantress as she remarked, Theres nothing I hate more than a racist. You go, bad girl!

When a character snaps an innocent infants neck as if it were a dandelion stem, you know that character is someone to fear. But Tricia Helfers character at the start of the sci-fi reboot was more than that: infinitely interesting, slinkily intimidating and coldly capable of taking out an entire civilization without mussing a hair on her Cylon head.

In a lesser actors hands,Dexters most famous serial killer couldve come across as a silly cartoon. But John Lithgows ability to infuse Arthur with flashes of humanity made the character all the more terrifying. And for a man in his 60s, Arthur possessed the kind of super-human strength that could make anyones hair stand on end.

Had Siobhan Finnerans miserable maid merely been a mean-spirited gossip, we couldve written it off as a side effect of her station in life. But Thomas fearsome frenemy was anythingbutall talk: She not only tried to get dear Carson arrested, she tried to do the same to Thomas! And dont even get us started on the soap incident that caused Cora to miscarry.

A white supremacist,rapistandpedophile? T-Bagwas so vile hemade our skin crawl.Buthe was fascinating,too,as he usedhiscunningto blackmail Michael andshoehornhimself intotheir big break.Wevegot to hand it to actor Robert Knepper, whose certain je nesaisquoi kept us glued to our screens as wewatchedthissickeningmadmansreign of terrorunfold.

Was it any wonder that Joe had no problem rallying minions to his serial-killing cause? The Edgar Allan Poe-obsessed literature professor was so damn charming that his followers voluntarily gouged out their own eyeballs and did far worse to others at his say-so. And the mind games he played with FBI agent Ryan Hardy for years? Just bloody icing on the icky cake.

Heres the thing, we dont totally disagree with The Carvers mantra beauty is kind of a curse on the world! but we also dont approve of how the serial stabber went about teaching that lesson to their victims. Say it with us: We. Do. Not. Cut. Up. Peoples. Faces.

The computer hacker/serial killer tormented Brennan, Booth & Co. for seasons with his almost omniscient-like technological skills, draining Hodgins bank account and leaving behind haunting clues for Bones. Somehow, Pelant always seemed to be one step ahead of the Jeffersonian team, making him a worthy foe for the intellectual squints.

London detective John Luther more than met his match in this evil genius, played by an icy Ruth Wilson. Alice was a coldblooded killer, and a good one, using her considerable smarts and ruthless cunning to avoid getting caught. She and Luther engaged in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that stretched over several seasons as Alice worked her way into Luthers psyche, Hannibal Lecter-style. Luther took on other cases, but none were as bloody thrilling as Alice Morgan.

Calculating, manipulative, and oh-so cold-hearted, Rachel was raised to be a cutthroat clone who made savage decisions that benefitted an evil corporations agenda rather than her ownsestras. She only feigned empathy when it seemed to benefit her, making her motives and allegiances permanently gray areas. The power-hungry clone even kidnapped sweet little Kira! Though she eventually turned around to help Sarah and the others, we never, ever fully trusted her.

Zachary Quintos Big Bad wasnt just a soulless serial killer. He was a soulless serial killer who could manifest anyones super powers and use them for evil. Scary combination!

With all due respect to the Master/Missy, these are theWhodevils thatreallymake our skin crawl. The quantum-locked Angels are creepy but impassive stone statueswhen youre looking. When youre not, they attack with terrifying speed, flinging victims back in time, where they essentially live to death. Give these lonely assassins fifty points for originality and Gothic horror vibes, plus a million for nightmare fuel. Dont. Blink.

On one hand, hes an esteemed psychiatrist with a refined palate, interesting fashion sense and a seductive manner of speaking. On the other hand, he kills people and eats them. So while we certainly have a healthy fear of Hannibals dark side, we do admit we developed a taste for him over three seasons. (From a safe distance, of course.)

Honestly,anymember of the HBO dramas chain-smoking Guilty Remnant couldve earned a spot on this list, so appallingly indifferent was the cult to humanity. But Ann Dowds unfeeling leader of Mapletons chapter was particularly vile and terrifying, what with a commitment that ran so deep, she slit her own throat just to ensure that tormented Kevin couldnt get in the last word.

Who among us didnt cheer when Miss Rosa purposely struck and killed Vee with the prison van? (Always so rude, that one!) Lorraine Toussaints sociopathic alter ego wasnt necessarily the most vicious villain inOITNBs storied run, but she was easily the most ruthless (and most frightening) antagonist due to her uncanny ability to manipulate and deceive those she took under her wing, including Suzanne, Poussey and Taystee.

Like a cat toying with a mouse before going for the kill, Helen McCrorys seductive rhymes-with-bitch delighted in messing with our protagonists literally, in the case of besotted patsy Sir Malcolm. (Ahem.) But, despite her considerable powers and warped creativity, the leader of the Nightcomers never could quite get under her thumb daughter Hecate, who set up Mommie Dearest to be werewolf Ethans scratching post.

Before revealing herself to be a total softie in the musical comedys final season, Sue was a living nightmare for the students at McKinley High, stopping at nothing to destroy the lives of anyone associated with its precious glee club. Should we really be surprised that she eventually became a conservative news correspondent before getting elected Vice President of the United States?

When Lucy Lawless Roman spitfire wasnt acting as an accessory to her wretched husband Batiatus many war crimes, she was perpetrating diabolical acts of evil herself. In fact, she has more murderous notches on her belt than any other female character in the series.

Rosewoods textual terrorist was so frightening, it took but a single letter to send a chill down the spine of any liar, pretty or otherwise. And while a number of beautiful sociopaths assumed the dreaded moniker over the course of the shows seven-season run, A was very much an entity unto itself and it was a bitch.

The billionaire corporate titan played by Brian Cox loomed over every frame of HBOs Emmy-winning drama, ruling his sprawling media empire with an iron fist. He belittled his children, scoffed at anygenuinedisplay of human emotion and dismissed all those who challenged him with a gruff Fk off. He was so formidable, we didnt even believe it at first when he suddenly passed away midway through the final season. If anyone could cheat death, its Logan Roy.

Avuncular on the outside and a Rambaldi zealot on the inside, Sydneys SD-6 boss spent half his time trying to kill her (and a not-inconsiderable amount of time gunning for people she loved R.I.P, Danny). His fervor for chasing down Rambaldis secret to immortality made him merciless, but karma got him in the end: After achieving eternal life, he was trapped in a cavern, doomed to spend the rest of time alone and underground.

A master of seduction, infidelity, kidnapping and, of course, returning from the dead, this killer queen wouldnt just blow up your life, shed blow up your entire apartment complex and shed do it with a smile on her face.

When first introduced, the fallen archangel was far from what the Winchesters and viewers were expecting. The baddie was almost soft-spoken and contemplative but that didnt mean that he didnt have an agenda that he wouldnt stop at anything to achieve. And even after Sam sacrificed himself to trap Lucifer, Lucy still found his way back to Earth, eventually even spawning a Nephilim son (who, thankfully,turned out to not be like his bio dad).

Of all the characters you didnt want to cross on FXs biker drama, you really didnt want to cross Clay. Ron Perlman brought an unnerving intensity to SAMCROs onetime president, who shifted the energy of a room just by walking into it. During Sons of Anarchys early seasons, Clay had a formidable amount of influence over the club and its allies but what made him truly terrifying was his casual penchant for violence, from which no one was safe until Clays demise in Season 6.

The Saviors former leader may have been rebranded as a lovable antihero before being spun off ontoDead City, but were as likely to forget his past villainy as his wives. How could we when we still have nightmares about the time Jeffrey Dean Morgans Chatty Cathy forced Carl to sing? (Shudder.) What? Did you think we were gonna say the time he struck out Abraham and Glenn? Did youhearCarl sing?

Whereas the super-A.I. known as The Machine was out to do good (by dispensing Social Security numbers that could help stop forecast crime), its evil twin, Samaritan, was out for Greer and the other Decima goons while going to any lengths necessary in the name of self-preservation. Samaritan saw everything and knew everything, making for a nearly inescapable adversary.

Easily the most hated man in Springfield, this crusty, coldblooded billionaire takes great pleasure in making others miserable, whether hes squeezing every last penny out of the less fortunate or releasing his hounds to maul any trespassers. He even tried to blot out the sun at one point! Its no wonder that, when he was shot back in Season 6, nearly everyone in town was a suspect.

We decided early on that Leland was a wicked, manipulative and dangerous psychological mastermind and that wasbeforehe maneuvered himself into the role of father to Kristins lost embryo, now gestating in his oblivious pawn. Though he provides plenty of comic relief, dont be deceived: Leland is a monster, and were absolutely terrified to find out whatelsehes capable of.

Well be the first to admit that Cigarette Smoking Man, aka Cancer Man, aka C.G.B. Spender, lost a little of his creepiness as the seasons went on. (A jacked-up, retconned backstory will do that to a bad guy.) But think back to when he was the silent, shadowy figure lighting up in the corner of Blevins office in the pilot, and we defy you not to shiver.

The deeply flawed husband and father seemed to have no limit when it came to despicable behavior: He physically and psychologically abused his sons, tormented his ex-wife Deb so much that she turned to booze and pills, and, worst of all, killedhis own brother.So when a dog ate his donor heart, it felt like karmic payback.

How can you possibly defeat someone who has the power to control others minds? In the first season of Netflixs comic book drama, even Jessica Jones who doesnt fear much of anything was tormented by the very thought of Kilgrave, who once kept Jessica under his thumb for months and convinced her to do awful things. Kilgraves ability to turn even innocuous actions into torturous punishments, like ordering a man to turn and face a fence forever, made him an especially chilling baddie, and David Tennants deliciously twisted take on the role kept us fixated on our screens no persuasion needed.

The super-slithery serial rapist/sometime killer, played so well (meaning detestably) by Billy Burke, taunted not only The Closers Brenda Leigh, but also her teenage would-be ward Rusty, in the procedurals Major Crimes offshoot. Any time Stroh showed up, you got a chill sensing that something was about to go very, very wrong.

Take Slade Wilson a badass with a legitimate beef and jack him up on Mirakuru, and you get the most formidable, and personal, of foes for Oliver Queen. The way that one-eyed Slade slid back into Olivers life still gives us chills, while his brutal kills (not Moira!) made us double over, as Oliver did, in anguish.

As if it werent bad enough that Fred Waterford participated in state-sanctioned, ritual rape every month and it was so,sobad Gileads merry misogynist had the audacity to play humiliating mind games with his handmaidandchop off his own wifes finger when she dared step out of line.At least he eventually got what was coming to him, courtesy of his victim, June, and a bloodthirsty band of former handmaids whod had enough.

Nina Myers was24smost twisted badguy.Originally second in command at CTU: L.A.,shehad everyone fooledwith her deep cover and liesus included!The molesold classified government information right under everyones noses, and attempted to buyand sella deadlyvirus afteralreadyreceiving a presidential pardon.Plus,she killed Teri Bauer! JackBauerfoughtheaps of terroristsover the course of his career, but this one was painstakingly personal.

The bestStar Trekbaddies since the original Klingons, this collective of alien cyborgs were a terrifying vision of A.I. run amok, with a relentless drive to assimilate any and all beings they encountered. Their hyper intelligence and lack of human emotion made them formidable enemies, and if you dared to stand in their way? Even Jean-Luc Picard learned that resistance is futile.

Few villains in TV history were as flat-out fun to watch as the stylish assassin played to perfection by Jodie Comer. We shouldnt have liked Villanelle: She was a bloodthirsty psychopath who delighted in making people suffer. And yet we did, because she turned killing into an art form, bringing a playful flair to her grim calling. She was always the bad guy but she was just so damn good at it.

Theres been many portrayals of Lex Luthor over the decades, but watching his Smallville journey from Clark Kents friend to Supermans nemesis, with all its complicated relationships and shady moves, made for an especially gripping villain story. And because he started out as Clarks pal, that made all the terrible things that Lex would go on to do all the more awful and painful.

Joan Collins scheming, acid-tongued antagonist was as groundbreaking as she was popular; the characters dramatic arrival in the Season 2 premiere gave the initially ratings-challenged ABC soap a much-needed shot in the arm, propelling it to the top of the Nielsens and paving the way for generations of primetime female evildoers to come.

Picking just one villain from HBOs fantasy drama was a daunting task on its own. But for us, Ramsay tops em all even the snot-nosed Joffrey and menacing Night King because he reached levels of diabolical we didnt even know existed. Even worse? He absolutely relished each one. To be clear, we dont approve of the way Ramsay endlessly tortured Theon, or his utterly despicable treatment of Sansa. But ofThrones many adversaries, Ramsay will forever stick out as the most sadistic and dread-inducing; not even a literal army of the undead could scare us as much.

The first of his kind, this vampire-werewolf hybrids unspeakable reputation preceded him, making Klaus an imposing presence long before finally appearing at the end of the shows sophomore season. And even though he received a thorough redemption arc along with a five-season spinoff to further explore his demons hell always be remembered as one of the most fearsome beasts to walk the streets of New Orleans. (Wed be remiss if we didnt also mention Kai Parker we immediately loved to hate Chris Woods snarky psychopath be were keeping this list to one baddie per show/franchise.)

The Sevens twisted leader fights super villains, and yet, hes as far from the definition of hero as you can get. Devoid of empathy and capable of squishing a skull in seconds, Homelander is an unpredictable, narcissistic sociopath with serious mommy issues, making him one of the most dangerous (and complex) supes on the series.

Sure, the Smoke Monster had moves (and made that discomfiting rattling-chain noise), but Ben as a mortal among humans was a more tangible threat to Jack, Kate et al. First introduced as meek Henry Gale, Ben was soon revealed to be the leader of the Others, setting in motion a domino chain of dastardly reveals. In the end, he was good, but when he was bad, he was awful.

As diabolical as she was gorgeous, the most vicious of Earths Visitors would stop at nothing to hasten her rise to power. (And it showed she eventually became Supreme Commander.) But the scene that will always stay with us and no, therapy hasnt helped is the one in which we caught our first glimpse of the secret lizard lady unhinging her jaw and swallowing a guinea pig whole.

If Davids psychotic ex-wife ever challenged you to call her a simple bitch, you obviously didnt do it. Not because Angela Robinsons character was really all that complicated, but because youre still breathing to read this. Veronica was as crazy as they come: a homophobic thirst trap who shot first, asked questions never, and once drove her long-suffering gay son to stab her in the breast implant. In. The. Breast. Implant.

Sure, the likes of Mr. Freeze, Ma Parker and Egghead had their campy, Caped Crusader-vexing charms, but the recurring threats posed by Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Riddler (Frank Gorshin is our pick), Joker (Cesar Romero with that painted stache) and Catwoman (lets go with Eartha Kitt) is what kept us tuned into that same Bat Channel every Bat Time.

Long before he romanced Phoebe Waller-Bridge asFleabags Hot Priest, Andrew Scott terrorized Benedict Cumberbatch as the Big Bad Moriarty. The legendary villain was a psychopath, yes, but he was a brilliant, clever, eccentric, unpredictable lunatic. And there was nothing he wouldnt do to destroy his longtime nemesis, including shooting himself in the head in order to compel Holmes to take his own life.

The demonic possessing spirit spent most of his time inhabiting other bodies, but it was in his true form that of a long-haired vagrant played to creepy perfection by the late Frank Silva that he was the most terrifying. He was a literal nightmare come to life.

Walter White may have been the one to break bad but no one was badder than Gus Fring. Played with chilling precision by Giancarlo Esposito, Gus was an unassuming drug lord, so mild-mannered that he could double as the manager of a fast food chicken joint and no one would look at him twice. But underneath that calm demeanor was a stone-cold killer who used his keen intellect to rule the local meth trade and crush his enemies with ruthless efficiency. Were gladBetter Call Saulbrought him back: Even though we already knew his fate, we still wanted more Gus.

The fact that the late, great Larry Hagman appeared to take such delight in playingDallas iconic scoundrel put J.R. in a class by himself, making the character alternately charming and despicable. Hagman also never let the audience lose sight of the fact that J.R.s treachery was driven by his love of family, however misguided that love often was.

The Redcoat captain may have looked exactly like Claires gentle husband, but thats where the similarities ended. The 18th-century sadist received way too much pleasure from endangering the lives of Jamie Fraser and his British bride and thats way before the abominable assault that happened at Wentworth Prison near the end of Season 1.

When Buffys boyfriend experienced a moment of true happiness and lost his soul, he wenttrulyevil, snarking about his and Buffys night of passion and, worse yet, tormenting her loved ones with almost sadistic zeal. After Angelus eagerly snapped Jenny Calendars neck in a tragic twist were still not over, it became abundantly clear the show had done the unthinkable: turned its romantic lead into its most formidable enemy.

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Best TV Villains, Ranked: 60 Baddies From Vampire Diaries, Game ... - TVLine

With a new series underThe Walking Deadlabel now out, fans are getting their weekly dose of zombies back on TV. However, there are not as many zombie anime shows and movies compared to live-action horrors. Its just a matter of time, though, before anime catches up with the world of practical and digital effects. For more zombies on your screen, heres a list of the best zombie anime series up to date. Note this list isnt in a particular order just because each entry is so different from the other.

Highschool of the Dead is widely considered the best zombie anime to date. This is because it presents a familiar yet thrilling Western-style zombie apocalypse story. The series revolves around five high school students who must find safety amidst a zombie outbreak.

The sudden rise of the undead throws Japan into utter chaos. Now, Takashi Kimuro and Rei Miyamoto are trapped within their schools deadly confines. Escaping the horrors within, they find themselves in a society already consumed by the pandemic. Determined to reunite with their families, Takashi, Rei, and their fellow students embark through the undead world.

It is worth noting, however, that the story remains unfinished due to the untimely passing of the writer and the artists decision not to continue. Also, please be aware that Highschool of the Dead features excessive fan service.

School-Live! is hard to describe without spoiling the first episode (it being on this list is spoiler enough). This anime is really one of those that a viewer should go in blind. The synopsis for the show reads;

Yuki Takeya loves her school so much that she does not want to ever leave! Megurigaoka Private High School is a unique and lively place! Yuki enjoys her carefree life as a third-year high school student and member of the School Living Club. On top of meeting after classes, the members must live within school grounds, from sleeping over to eating meals!

Sunday Without God is an anime combining fantasy, mystery, and the supernatural elements. It occurs in a world where humans are no longer capable of procreation or death. The story revolves around God abandoning his creations and appointing grave keepers. Now, these supernatural beings are tasked with guiding the living dead to eternal rest.

Although the zombies depicted in this anime differ from traditional walkers, they follow similar rules. When individuals pass away in this realm, they continue to move without decaying. The story revolves around Ai, a young protagonist, who joins forces with an immortal gunslinger. Here, she must uncover the truth behind their world and ensure the peaceful repose of the living dead.

Is This A Zombie? is a comedic anime that cleverly blends elements of zombies and absurdity. The series revolves around Ayumu, a character whose life takes a tragic turn when he is killed by a serial killer. However, his fate takes an unexpected twist when he is resurrected by Eucliwood Hellscythe, a silent and adorable magical girl necromancer. Now, Ayumu must set out to find his killer and unravel the mystery.

But this time, Ayumus death doesnt spell the end for him. Thanks to Hellscythes magical abilities, his undead body is brought to life. The anime delves into a realm of ridiculous romance and danger through encounters with demons and murderers. Amidst all the wackadoodle themes and ideas, the series manages to weave a memorable and humorous story that goes beyond mere slapstick comedy.

Surprisingly, Is This A Zombie? offers more than just laughs, striking a balance between humor and character-driven storytelling, creating a highly entertaining and engaging anime.

Taking place during the Industrial Revolution, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is frequently referred to as the steampunk Attack on Titan. Instead of titans, this world is inhabited by resilient undead creatures known as Kabane.

The primary similarity between the two series lies in their shared concept of protecting humanity from these threats. In Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, this is achieved through fortified stations and colossal walls, mirroring the methods employed in Attack on Titan.

Fans of the South Korean zombie film Train to Busan will undoubtedly find joy in its animated prequel, Seoul Station. This zombie anime film has garnered a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Seoul Station centers around a young womans struggle for survival amidst the chaotic outbreak of alarmingly swift zombies in downtown Seoul. With a focus on three main characters, the movie offers a direct and fast-paced narrative, complemented by a mind-blowing twist that is sure to captivate any zombie enthusiast.

The 75-minute GYO: Tokyo Fish Attack OVA takes inspiration from the horror manga of the same name. Junji Ito is the author of the original title. In this peculiar tale, Tokyo faces an unusual menace as it becomes besieged by putrid undead fish, which pose an additional threat due to the infectious disease they carry.

Amidst the chaos, a young girl named Kaori embarks on a quest to locate her missing boyfriend. GYO: Tokyo Fish Attack is one of the most eccentric zombie anime. The inclusion of metallic legs for the fish zombies enhances their menace on land, creating a blend of silliness, disturbance, and surrealism all in one package.

In 2008, Sakura Minamoto, a high school student with dreams of becoming an idol, has her life tragically cut short when she is unexpectedly struck by a truck while on her way to submit her idol application. However, a decade later, Sakuras story takes an unexpected turn. Alongside six other girls, each hailing from different eras of Japans history, Sakura is resurrected as a zombie by a man named Kotaro Tatsumi.

Kotaro has a unique vision to breathe life back into Saga Prefecture by forming an idol group consisting entirely of zombies. This motley crew of undead girls, known as Franchouchou, embarks on a remarkable journey to revive their once-forgotten dreams of becoming idols. Together, they aim to captivate audiences and bring renewed vitality to Saga Prefecture through their performances.

The story of Sakura and her fellow zombie idols is a tale of second chances, unexpected alliances, and the power of pursuing ones passion against all odds. As Franchouchou navigates the challenges and obstacles that come their way, they strive to leave an unforgettable mark in the world of entertainment.

Ajin tells the story of Nagai Kei, a student who discovers he is an Ajin after a fatal traffic accident. In this world, a few humans known as Ajin possess immortality and extraordinary regenerative abilities that activate upon death.

Due to their abilities, the general public views Ajin as dangerous and non-human, leading governments to capture and exploit them. Consequently, Ajin, who manages to escape government custody, including the main antagonist Satou, seeks revenge against the government.

On the other hand, Kei desires no part in the emerging conflict between Ajin and humans. However, he strikes an agreement with Japanese governmental agents: in exchange for his freedom from government experimentation, he agrees to fight against Satou.

Hellsing Ultimate is an OVA that continues the original Hellsing anime series, closely following the storyline of the manga.

At the core of Hellsing Ultimate is the clandestine Hellsing Operation, dedicated to combating the onslaught of supernatural creatures that haunt England. Taking center stage is the iconic character Abraham Van Helsing, renowned as a vampire hunter with unwavering determination. His expertise extends beyond vampires, as he fearlessly confronts and eradicates any and all undead threats.

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The 10 Best Zombie Anime To Watch - The Nerd Stash

As after almost every failure, the opposition parties in Turkiye have already started to blame each other for the defeat they suffered during last months general elections. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of a coalition of opposition parties, has said it is my duty to lead the ship to a safe harbor, but he did not say why he could not do this in the last elections. In fact, he has lost all 10 elections that he has participated in. Political analysts underline that, in a country where democracy is properly digested, political leaders should step aside if they fail in one or two successive elections. Despite this and despite pressure coming from his partys hierarchy, Kilicdaroglu seems to be intent on continuing his fight. In the first round of the presidential election on May 14, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the leading candidate, but by less than half a percent of the votes. In the second round, Erdogan, of the ruling Justice and Development Party, obtained 52.14 percent of the votes versus opposition leader Kilicdaroglus 47.86. For now, there are three candidates for the chairmanship of the main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party, which is known as the CHP. One is Kilicdaroglu. The second is Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, who won this position by digging the ground with his fingers. The third is Ozgur Ozel, a young and ambitious member of the party. He has publicly announced that he would not avoid taking on responsibility, adding that he would not hold back from sacrifice either, which means that he will run for the presidency only if Kilicdaroglu supports him. There is a feeling in Turkiyes opposition party circles that a sea change has become necessary. So far, only Imamoglu has come up with a structured report and underlined the specific areas where the coalition of opposition parties failed. This report highlighted many failures. Firstly, it stated that the main opposition CHP and its allies could not turn the last election into a referendum for or against Erdogan. Secondly, Erdogan transformed the elections into a choice of whether the electorate should vote for stability or chaos and the opposition parties watched this from a distance as bystanders. Thirdly, the campaign became an effort to make Kilicdaroglu a candidate for the presidential post, rather than winning the elections. Finally, the opposition parties could not explain to the electorate that continuing with Erdogan would mean the further impoverishment of the Turkish people. On Wednesday last week, Kilicdaroglu and Imamoglu held a two-hour meeting on the outskirts of Ankara. People close to Imamoglu emphasized that radical changes are necessary in the party, while Kilicdaroglu thought that the election of a new chairman had to be postponed until after the local elections that will be held next year. This means Kilicdaroglu is not prepared to leave the leadership of the party until after then at least. The other participants commented that a positive atmosphere dominated the meeting.

Despite pressure coming from his partys hierarchy, Kilicdaroglu seems to be intent on continuing his fight.

Yasar Yakis

There are two opportunities that the willing members of the CHP would like to use to take command of the party. One of them is the partys general congress. The regular biennial general congress of the CHP was due to be held last year, but it was postponed to this year. The preparatory meetings have to be held at the village or neighborhood level, to be followed by the district and then provincial levels. The second is the local elections. This requires at least three months to organize. The municipal elections are expected to be held on March 31, 2024, if there is no decision made to change the date. Therefore, the parties will have to hold their intra-party elections months before so that the new administrations can launch their campaigns. Opinions are divided as to whether the general congress of the CHP should be held before or after the local elections. If it is held beforehand, Kilicdaroglu may not be reelected, meaning his dream to lead the ship to a safe harbor may not materialize. Kilicdaroglu is on the record as saying that he is not opposed to the candidacy of any member of the party, but that the wrong choice should not allow the CHP to lose a major metropolis like Istanbul. The most important thing is to avoid a fight within the party, because such a division may cause a split. Ozel, the chairman of the CHPs parliamentary group, clarified his position by emphasizing that he would definitely support any candidate who is designated by Kilicdaroglu. Kilicdaroglu would not want to take a decision that might harm the political party he has been leading for 13 years. However, human beings have their choices. In a democratic environment, people also make mistakes. Therefore, the right way will again be found by intensifying the dialogue. Another major factor that has to be taken into account is the case of Meral Akseners IYI Parti. In last months parliamentary elections, this party obtained 9.69 percent of the votes and 44 seats in the parliament. The party made a mistake by withdrawing for three days from the six-party opposition coalition. This unwise move caused unease within the party and must have produced a substantive loss of support among the electorate. Erdogan has repeatedly said that, in Turkish elections, the one who gets Istanbul will also get Turkiye. We may presume that he will do everything he can to ensure he does not lose Istanbul in next years local elections.

Yasar Yakis is a former foreign minister of Turkiye and founding member of the ruling AK Party. Twitter: @yakis_yasar

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

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Turkish opposition eyes local elections after loss to Erdogan - Arab News

Sigur Rs, as cliche as it may be to say, make magic. Ever since their breakout album, gtis byrjun, the Icelandic project has redefined post-rockand music writ largeuncovering the cool, cathartic possibilities in orchestration. Jnsi Birgissons falsetto vocals, often in a self-made language, alongside the cello-bowed guitar give the music a transhuman quality, suggest something more ethereal, more fluid and more atmospheric than what humans naturally manifest. But where 90s post-rock often leaned cerebralbeautiful in many ways, but often difficult to embraceSigur Rs found a way to maximize the shine so much that listeners forget theyre listening to something novel. Their music is wide-eyed and billowing, careening through valleys and peaks of human pathos with supernatural breadth.

The band has titillated fans over the past year with trickles of news: the return of Kjarri, European and North American orchestral tours and the announcement of a new song entitled Blberg. It all leads here, to TTA, the bands eighth studio album and first in a decade. Blberg is less of a single and more of a snippet. While TTA is split into ten tracks, each song encroaches on the next, requiring a continuous listen back-to-front, as if listening to a symphony or an opera. Undergirding the whole experience is a 41-piece orchestra, and while the music is, as one might expect, beautiful, there are hints of torment and desolation that are hard to ignore, even if Birgissons singing evokes a certain Planet Earth-type of awe.

The gleeful opening movement, Gl, crescendos with terrifying ease, rising to the absolute top of expressive possibility before a sudden cliff dive, eventually leaving a stark hum from which Blberg will emerge. Over seven minutes, strings and winds fill the room with sonorous strokes, creating jagged bloodstone peaks that recall the nihilism that director Johan Renck depicted in his moving video for the track. Skel has an attractive denouement, reaching a crystalline climax in its middle as Birgisson lurches for the peak of his falsetto while the cello wails underneath.

Where the vocals and dynamics are most breathtaking is on Andr, with Birgisson front and center over a sea of strings and swirling piano. Like an inhale and exhale, the dynamics creep up and down on Andr. Again, Birgisson is the star on Gold, uttering occluded but faintly intelligible lyrics in rare form. He works in extremes on Ylur, bellowing conversationally in a human voice before ascending his falsetto so high he transcends his own corporeal formdirecting his utterances and the orchestra toward the heavens. This stretch offers ample moments of reflection, but no respite; as charming as the music of Sigur Rs is, it asks much of its listenership.

The titles on TTA are simple, with respect to Sigur Rss conventions; many of their greatest hits present polysyllabic titles, occasionally necessitating sounds that English speakers cannot quite place. Many track titles on this album are one quick syllable, with names like Gold, Fall or Skel. The albums title itself is, simply, the Icelandic word for eight. The concluding track is also 8; it oscillates and grows into a formidable, punctuated meditationbefore closing with precise engineering and piano keystrokes that welcome a slow-burning, reverberant moment of tranquility. It is an ideal bookend to the album; something that embodies all the turns and trials that Sigur Rs present on the preceding tracks and repackages it into something coherent and memorable that shrinks into something miniscule. When 8 wraps up, it feels as if you can put the album in your pocket.

For three decades now, Sigur Rs have been one of the most recognizable bands in a grand discourse about what music can do outside of its popular form. How can a couple of bright-eyed musicians conjure the most incredible emotions out of rock fans without using most of the common tools of rock music? What possibilities arise without the use of conventional language or without the strictures of tempo? Sigur Rss expansive music demonstrates the breadth of potentialities, and their latest album contributes greatly to their discography. TTA is a welcome return to form and beyond for the band, ten years removed from their last studio release, and their partnership with a 41-piece orchestra is both logical and awe-striking. Its a significant milestone, a step towards musical immortality that Sigur Rs feel destined for after having blown the possibilities for post-rock wide open.

Devon Chodzin is a critic and urban planner with bylines at Slumber Mag, Merry-Go-Round and Post-Trash. He is currently a student in Philadelphia. He lives on Twitter @bigugly.

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Sigur Rs Make a Grand Return on TTA - Paste Magazine

Turkeys newly reelected president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has on a visit to northern Cyprus demanded the recognition of the breakaway state as a condition for negotiations on the future of the island. In this case, he is barking up the wrong tree.

Since 1964, when UN peacekeeping forces (UNFICYP) were deployed on the island to prevent fighting between the two population groups the Greek and Turkish Cypriots this has developed into one of the worlds longest standing conflicts.

In 1974 the conflict escalated when Turkish troops occupied the northern third of the island in accordance with the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee between Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, which allowed Turkey to intervene to prevent the union of Cyprus with any other state.

In July, the Cypriot president Archbishop Makarios was overthrown in a coup by a former EOKA gunman, Nicos Sampson, who, backed by the military junta in Athens, intended to declare enosis (union) with Greece. However, Turkeys occupation led to partition and finally, in 1983, the unilateral declaration of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), which is only recognized by Turkey.

From 1975, reunification talks began under the aegis of the UN with the declared aim of establishing a bizonal, bicommunal federation. A notable attempt in 2004, based on the Annan Plan for reunification, was accepted by 65% of Turkish Cypriots, but rejected by 76% of the Greek Cypriots. A week later, the rump state, designated as the Republic of Cyprus, found a safe harbor in the European Union.

The latest attempt, in what UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres has called a horizon of endless process without result, foundered at Crans-Montana in Switzerland in 2017. Guterres was undoubtedly correct in his belief that a historic opportunity had been missed, as Ersin Tatar was elected Turkish Cypriot leader instead of the pro-federal Mustaf Akinci in October 2020.

Tatar, a hardliner and backed by Ankara, goes in for a two-state solution. Failing this, annexation is a third option, which is not unlikely, given that northern Cyprus is de facto Turkeys 82nd province.

However, the game changer was the discovery of vast gas and oil reserves in the Levant Basin in 2010. Cyprus had already delimited its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and concluded agreements with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel. Turkey, which is not a signatory to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), insists that the extent of its continental shelf and shoreline overrides this principle.

The fact that Cyprus has awarded concessions to foreign companies for hydrocarbon exploration in its EEZ has led to continual conflict with Turkey, not least because it clashes with Turkeys Blue Homeland maritime doctrine.

One response has been the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, which has lasted a decade and includes a military dimension.

On another level, Egypt, whose Zohr gas field is the largest in the Mediterranean, in 2019 founded the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, which includes Israel, Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, but not Turkey. The US and the EU are observers.

ACCORDING TO former US ambassador to Turkey, Eric Edelman, Erdogan believes he can threaten his way in. On the other hand, also in 2019, Congress passed the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act in support of Greece as a valuable NATO member, Israel as a steadfast ally and Cyprus as a key strategic partner.

In addition, in October 2021 the US amended its MDCA (Mutual Defense and Cooperation Agreement) with Greece to include the port of Alexandroupolis as a key strategic hub.

In 2014, when Turkish professor Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkeys neo-Ottoman foreign policy, was appointed prime minister, he included in his manifesto a vision of Turkey as an energy corridor.

In 2009, the European Commission agreed on the construction of a Southern Gas Corridor to diversify its energy supply by bringing gas resources from the Caspian Sea to European markets. Commissioned at the end of 2020, it comprises the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) from the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) through Turkey and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to Italy.

Turkey has tried to lure Israel to commit to a pipeline from Israels Leviathan field to Ceyhan in southern Turkey, but so far Israel has resisted this siren call. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to arrange a meeting with Erdogan, but Erdogan will only meet with him if he delivers news on gas cooperation.

Turkey is also dependent on Russian gas through the Blue Stream and TurkStream pipelines, and Russia has proposed to Turkey that it acts as an energy hub for Russian gas to Europe after the Nord Stream blasts.

In January 2022 a non-paper from the US State Department put the kibosh on Greece, Cyprus and Israels plans to construct a 1,900 km. EastMed pipeline to transport gas from the Levant Basin via Greece to Europe. One of the reasons given for canceling the project was creating tensions in the region i.e. dont upset Turkey.

Against a background of a thaw in relations between Turkey and Egypt, due consideration must be paid to Egypt as a gas hub and the founder of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF). For example, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed in June last year between the EU, Egypt and Israel to export Israeli gas to Europe via two Egyptian LNG plants.

By the same token, there is no logical reason why Cyprus should not serve as the conduit for the transport of Eastern Mediterranean gas via Turkey to Europe. As Egypts ambassador to the United States, Motaz Zahran, has explained the EMGF is the perfect example of a regional approach to address the Israeli-Palestinian issue and regional economic integration.

The same could apply to the Cyprus issue and the standoff in Eastern Med.

In the process, a number of camels will have to be swallowed, but according to Hatem Zadek, a professor at Helwan University, Mediterranean gas can fix what politics has spoiled.

The writer is an international adviser at RIEAS (Research Institute for European and American Studies) in Athens.

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Standoff in Eastern Mediterranean: Erdogan is barking up the wrong tree - The Jerusalem Post