TV series, where villains are sometimes better than the protagonist. But the ones who always seem to outsmart everyone take the cake. It's not just about being clever; it's about being a step ahead. Sure, some might end up losing, but they leave an impact because they're ruthless, pragmatic, or just plain powerful. Their intelligence makes them unpredictable, giving us those jaw-dropping, edge-of-our-seats moments. Check out the smartest TV villains below.

Ross McCall as Matthew Keller in 'White Collar'

C. Thomas Howell as George Foyet in 'Criminal Minds'

Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter in 'Hannibal'

John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell 'The Trinity Killer' in 'Dexter'

Giancarlo Esposito as Stan Edgar in 'The Boys'

Sarah Clarke as Nina Myers in '24'

Andrew Scott as Jim Moriarty in 'Sherlock'

Aiden Gillen as Petyr Baelish in 'Game of Thrones'

Micheal Emerson as Benjamin Linus in 'Lost'

Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul'

-Britney Jones