Several of the greatest video games ever made belong to the fantasy genre. But dark fantasy isn’t like your good ol’ regular fantasy, oh no. These are video games where morality is far more grey, where hope and clear-cut heroism are in short supply, where the atmosphere is grim and even scary, and where the characters’ goal is pure survival rather than just triumphing over evil.

Indeed, this is a genre that has produced several of the most beloved video games in history. It’s one thing for a game to be great, however, and a whole other thing for it to be downright perfect. From classics like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask to modern gems like Elden Ring, there are only a handful of dark fantasy game masterpieces out there which could reasonably be said to be flawless.

10

‘Fear & Hunger’ (2018)

Image via Miro Haverinen

The iconic indie game Fear & Hunger was practically a one-man project. It was Finnish developer Miro Haverinen who created the entirety of this survival horror masterpiece, from the writing to the music to the programming. Set in a Medieval dark fantasy setting as atmospheric as it is creepy, it’s nothing short of one of the best dark fantasy video games of all time.

It’s a dungeon crawler unlike any other, one whose grueling difficulty and disturbingly morbid tone feel like they could have only possibly been the product of an indie development. The game is utterly uncompromising in both its gameplay loop and the grimness of its atmosphere, and that’s precisely why it’s a must-play for adult dark fantasy fans.

9

‘Diablo II’ (2000)

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard’s Diablo series was born with the original game all the way back in 1997, instantly establishing itself as an action RPG franchise to look out for going forward. Its sequel, Diablo II, came only three years later, and fans still widely consider it the best of the bunch. It improved the gameplay and story progression of its already-phenomenal predecessor in substantial ways, and it’s still one of the best 2000s video games worth playing over and over.

Where does that infinite replayability come from? Perhaps from the game’s legendary randomization and tremendously deep character customization, features that fans of dark fantasy RPGs are pretty much guaranteed to appreciate. Some core mechanics definitely feel a bit dated nowadays, but they only add to the timeless charm of this wonderfully immersive experience.

8

‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2005)

Image via Sony Computer Entertainment

As a gorgeously-built game that has often been interpreted as one of the most profound character studies gaming has ever offered, Shadow of the Colossus is usually part of any conversation about why video games deserve to be considered an art form. Originally conceived as an online multiplayer experience, the game eventually transformed into the single-player masterpiece that fans know and love today.

It’s one of the best video game masterpieces of the last 50 years, a massively influential gem whose clunky controls never get in the way of the emotionally stirring story, the jaw-dropping visuals, or the addictive gameplay loop. With a dark setting whose tone blends poignancy and the wonder of discovery in perfectly equal measure, Shadow of the Colossus has aged as one of the most groundbreaking games of the 2000s.

7

‘Dragon’s Dogma’ (2012)

Image via Capcom

Capcom’s action RPG Dragon’s Dogma is set in the dark high fantasy world of Gransys, heavily inspired by Sicily. It’s the perfect setting for this wonderfully diverse, uniquely inventive, and satisfyingly challenging gaming experience, one of the most fun that the 2010s ever had to offer. As far as open-world games from the era go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

It’s a cult classic full of groundbreaking action, side missions that make the world feel incredibly alive and vibrant, and a level of tactical depth that few modern RPGs have ever been capable of replicating. All in all, it’s one of the best RPG game masterpieces of all time, an incredibly addictive fantasy experience that refuses to ever hold the player’s hand and is all the more rewarding as a result.

6

‘Dragon Age: Origins’ (2009)

Image via BioWare

It’s rare for a video game series’ very first installment to be the one that ages the best, but in the case of the groundbreaking BioWare franchise Dragon Age, that’s precisely the case. When fans rank the Dragon Age games, Origins is typically right up there, and for good reason. Heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, this dark high fantasy masterpiece is one that every fan of the genre should play at least once.

That’s because with its incredibly deep tactical combat and fantasy world, its impeccably written story, and its fascinating lore and world-building, this is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy video games of the 2000s. Player choices feel incredibly meaningful here, and that’s pretty much the main thing that anyone should want out of an RPG.

5

‘Bloodborne’ (2015)

FromSoftware’s Dark Souls became such a massively influential groundbreaker that it led the gaming community to coin a new game genre: the “soulslike,” any game sharing Dark Souls‘ unique DNA. Unsurprisingly, it has been FromSoft themselves who have dominated the soulslike space throughout the years, and few of their games have ever achieved the kind of cult status that Bloodborne still holds to this day.

Inspired by the works of dark fantasy and horror masters like Bram Stoker and H. P. Lovecraft, Bloodborne is the ultimate Victorian video game out there. Gothic to the core and unapologetically difficult from beginning to end, it’s simply one of those fantasy video games that are perfect throughout.

4

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

Image via CD Projekt

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Andrzej Sapkowski‘s The Witcher books were quite popular in their native Poland from day one, but it wouldn’t be until CD Projekt Red released the 2007 game of the same title that the franchise would be catapulted straight into the mainstream. From that trajectory came what many would confidently refer to as the greatest piece of Witcher media ever: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards and widely regarded as one of the greatest action RPGs in history, this dark fantasy masterpiece is easily one of the best story-driven video games of all time. You can get hundreds upon hundreds of hours of everlasting fun out of Wild Hunt, thanks to the balance between the engrossing narrative and the richness of the open world.

3

‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)

Image via Team Cherry

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Saying that Hollow Knight is one of the best Metroidvania video games of all time would be an understatement. Thanks to its dark yet charming art style and its lack of graphic content (especially compared to many of its dark fantasy peers), this modern classic may look kid-friendly on the surface, but make no mistake: At its most challenging, Hollow Knight can be gleefully punishing beyond comparison.

But just like the best hyper-difficult video games, Hollow Knight always knows how to best balance that level of challenge with satisfying rewards that make blasting through the immersive Hallownest map a blast from start to finish. The bosses are legendary, the Metroidvania elements are perfectly balanced, and the whole experience is as addictive as it is replayable.

2

‘The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask’ (2000)

There are those who may argue that Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda franchise is the single biggest and most important fantasy video game series in history, and it would be hard to argue against them. There is only one Legend of Zelda game, however, that truly fits into the dark fantasy box. Fittingly, it happens to be many fans’ favorite installment: Majora’s Mask.

When fans rank the 3D Legend of Zelda games, Majora’s Mask almost always gravitates around the top, and that’s because it truly is one of the most perfect video games ever created. Its unique “save the world in three days” time loop mechanic makes for one of the most enthralling gaming experiences the dark fantasy genre has ever had to offer, and the depth of the mechanics and world make this a top-tier Zelda masterpiece.

1

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment

Co-written by George R. R. Martin of “everything but finishing A Song of Ice and Fire” fame, Elden Ring has given gamers four years to allow any kind of recency bias accusations to die down. And yet, they haven’t. That’s because at this point, it’s almost a universal truth that this is not only FromSoftware’s best and biggest game to date, but also one of the best video game masterpieces of the last 50 years.

As far as dark fantasy gaming goes, it doesn’t get much more essential than this flawless open-world RPG. The unparalleled sense of discovery, the depth of the combat mechanics, the sheer density of it all—everything in Elden Ring comes together perfectly to offer one of the most irresistibly entertaining gaming experiences anyone could ever possibly have, regardless of what genres they usually gravitate to. The soulslike difficulty that fans of the series know and love is there for those who crave it, but the gargantuan openness of the experience also makes this the perfect gateway point for those who have never played a FromSoft game.

Having aired for an impressive 10 seasons and 217 episodes, Smallville ended in 2011 with a bang as Clark Kent (Tom Welling) finally became Superman. In many ways, Smallville ushered in a new era of superhero television, proving that comic book heroes could in fact still work on the small screen in our modern age. Over a decade, Clark battled many enemies, including his former best friend Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum). Still, despite Lex’s destiny as Clark’s greatest adversary, there is another who rose and took his rightful place as the Man of Steel’s arch-enemy: General Zod.

General Zod Remained a Villain All Throughout ‘Smallville’

Despite the character’s often messy comic book history, General Zod has been one of Superman’s most consistent rogues since his first appearance in 1961’s Adventure Comics #283. Nearly two decades later, the character was re-imagined by director Richard Donner for Superman: The Movie and its immediate sequel, where he was played by Terence Stamp (who, coincidentally, voiced Jor-El on Smallville). Zod only returned to the big screen several decades later for 2013’s Man of Steel, this time played by Michael Shannon, but before that, he made his mark on Smallville.

What’s great about Lex Luthor, his father Lionel (John Glover), and his half-sister Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) is that they’re all complex characters who teeter between good and evil. For the first half of the series, Lex fights his dark destiny, hoping that Clark can help him overcome his family’s personal darkness. Ultimately, Lex succumbs to his dark side, and thus their eternal rivalry is born. By contrast, Tess and Lionel go from being antagonistic figures (and in Lionel’s case, downright evil) to redeeming themselves as some of Clark’s closest allies before their untimely deaths at Lex’s hand.

There’s no denying that without the Luthors, Smallville wouldn’t have been half as good as it was. They always had the best lines, monologues, and character arcs, and that was by design. On Smallville, just because you’re a Luthor doesn’t mean you’re evil. But where the Luthors (and the Kents, in contrast) are portrayed as normal people navigating an extraordinary world, villains like General Zod possess incredible powers, have a deep hatred for our hero, and elevate Smallville to greater heights. From the first time Zod’s name is uttered in Season 5 to his final appearance in the back half of Season 10, the Kryptonian general is entirely focused on turning Earth into his New Krypton and taking revenge on the famed son of Jor-El.

General Zod’s Villainy Goes Back to the Last Days of Krypton

Image via The CW

The way Smallville explains it, General Zod is actually the reason that Krypton was destroyed in the first place, killing not just Clark’s entire biological family (save his paternal cousin), but his entire race as well. After going to war against the Kryptonian Council, Zod built himself an army of devoted followers, corrupted Jor-El’s version of the Brain InterActive Construct (aka James Marsters‘ Brainiac), genetically engineered “the ultimate destroyer” Doomsday (later played by Sam Witwer), and, allied with Jor-El’s brother Zor-El (Christopher Heyerdahl), ignited the planet’s core and caused its destruction. In many ways, Zod is either directly or indirectly responsible for the biggest tragedies in Clark’s life, including the famed meteor shower he arrived in.

For someone who wants the Kryptonian race to thrive, Zod sure has a funny way of showing it. His ultimate goal was to create a New Krypton in his own image and slaughter his own people to do so, hoping that Earth would be a better template for his design. This meant that Doomsday’s goal to wipe out humanity, Brainiac’s mission to corrupt our technology, and even Zor-El’s plan to use cloning as part of the means toward repopulation were all by Zod’s design. While the Smallville mythos can be a bit confusing at times, everything relating to Krypton and alien invaders always finds its roots in the original General Zod.

Because of his crimes, Zod was stripped of his physical body and was sent to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El and the Council. At the end of Season 5/beginning of Season 6, Zod is unwittingly released by Clark, only to possess Lex’s newly superpowered body. Michael Rosenbaum’s performance as Zod is powerful and commands a type of respect that would make even Lex kneel. Up to this point on the show, everything had been leading to this. Two meteor showers, Zod’s disciples, and Brainiac all pave the way for the General to arrive on Earth. Had Clark not been able to defeat him, he would’ve taken over right then and there. Season 7’s “Apocalypse” emphasizes this when Jor-El shows Clark what the world would look like if he never arrived on Earth. Here, Lex (now the President of the United States) still becomes Zod’s vessel via Brainiac’s influence, though with Clark’s cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoort) as his bride. Thankfully, Clark expelling General Zod from Lex and sending him back to the Phantom Zone stops all that.

Zod’s Personal History With Superman’s Family Is Intense

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While Clark and Lex’s story starts that miraculous day on the bridge, Zod’s rivalry with the House of El extends further into Kryptonian history. Back when Zod was just a Major (Callum Blue), he and Jor-El (Julian Sands) enjoyed a friendship that paralleled the Clark and Lex dynamic. As allies in the war against the terrorist group Black Zero, Jor-El and Zod were part of a cloning program meant to be the salvation of their species if an extinction-level event ever occurred. But the war followed them home.

After Zod’s wife and son are murdered in the destruction of Kandor, the Major asks Jor-El to bring them back through cloning, but the scientist refuses on ethical grounds. This apparent betrayal fractures the relationship between Zod and Jor-El, and sets the former on his dark path that ultimately leads to Krypton’s destruction. So, when a clone of Major Zod arrives in Smallville during the show’s Season 9, he attempts to forge a similar bond with Jor-El’s now-adult son. Hoping to see good in this younger Zod, who had yet to commit the same atrocities that his counterpart did, Clark tries to befriend the clone and lead the Kandorians on a better path. Unsurprisingly, Zod’s militaristic ambition and quest for power lead to a similar falling out between these Kryptonian blood brothers, which comes to a head in the epic Season 9 finale “Salvation.”

But rather than making the younger Zod a one-note villain, Season 9 expands on the character’s personal history and complex morality. At times, it seems like there may be good in Zod after all, even if most of the time his choices are questionable at best and horrific at worst. The Kryptonian clone may not be as menacing or powerful as his original counterpart, but Blue plays a mean Zod that surpasses what Rosenbaum was able to do with his limited screen time as the character. After all, Blue had a whole season to explore Zod’s motives, while Rosenbaum only got two episodes.

Each Version of Zod Impacted ‘Smallville’

Image via The CW

While alternate takes on characters via parallel universes, timelines, and even through the use of drugs, Red Kryptonite, or shapeshifting doppelgängers were commonplace on Smallville, rarely did the series ever introduce two versions of the same distinct person, especially not characters who made a serious impact on the show. Clones on the show usually only got an episode or two, with all their development crammed into a single story. The Zod clone, on the other hand, was granted Smallville main cast status upon his first appearance and made his mark on thirteen episodes of the series in its final two seasons.

Both versions of General Zod be it the phantom from the series’ middle years or the clone from Season 9 have an air of authority to them that they take everywhere. The character’s trademark phrase, “Kneel before Zod,” commands respect, submission, and attention. It’s no wonder then that his actions always enforce those words. To make things even more interesting, after a whole season of wondering what would happen if the clone Zod and the original phantom met, Season 10 merges the two of them together. As a merged entity, General Zod retains the knowledge and memories of two lifetimes, which means that the original’s rivalry with Jor-El and the clone’s with Kal-El are both at the forefront of his mind as he sits trapped in the inescapable Phantom Zone.

The original Zod’s combat and leadership experience paired with the younger version’s physical body, knowledge of Earth, and hatred for Clark makes this Smallville villain one of the show’s best. Unlike Lex, who loses all his memories in the series finale (an odd choice indeed), Zod’s dual memories only fuel the fire of this alien tyrant. If there’s one villain from Smallville you don’t want to mess with, it’s General Zod. His ruthlessness, competence, and single-minded rage are powerful motivators in his quest to rule his own domain. No wonder his “son” Doomsday is a literal “rage monster.”

‘Smallville’ Opens the Door for General Zod To Return to Face Superman in the Future

Though Smallville often introduced Superman villains long before Clark officially took flight, there was always hope that many of those antagonists would return again once our hero was sporting a red cape instead of a jacket. Doomsday being buried beneath Metropolis seemed to imply a potential return in a Death of Superman-like story, while Toyman’s (Chris Gauthier) knowledge of Clark’s secret made him a formidable opponent worth revisiting in the future. Others such as Brainiac, Parasite (Brendan Fletcher), Livewire (Anna Mae Routledge), and Bizarro (Tom Welling) were either reformed, killed off, or disregarded in a way where it would be unlikely if they ever fought a suited-up Superman. Thankfully, General Zod falls into the former.

In Zod’s final appearance in Season 10’s “Dominion,” he and two of his new Phantom Zone lackeys (likely Ursa and Non from Superman II fame) are last seen trapped in the Zone, floating off into space in a manner that echoes the original Christopher Reeve Superman films. While the continuation comic book Smallville Season 11 doesn’t revisit Zod and his companions, given that the merged Kryptonian now has twice the hatred for Kal-El, it’s unlikely that he won’t return down the line seeking revenge. “Dominion” sets up the conflict between Superman and General Zod made famous by the source material and Superman II, a film which Smallville took clear inspiration from throughout its run. It’s clear that while Smallville developed the Luthors as antagonists, General Zod’s hatred for the Man of Steel remains strong, and the show wouldn’t have been the same without his presence.

Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on July 24, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:

• Olivia Culpo revealed she is planning a C-section for her second baby because a VBAC was not an option after delivering daughter Collette via C-section in July of the previous year. The model scheduled the procedure around husband Christian McCaffrey‘s San Francisco 49ers training camp so he can be present for the birth.

• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Angie Katsanevas teased “evolving” relationships in season 7, telling Us the cast’s bonds are deepening after years together. She named Heather Gay her “ride-or-die” this year and praised the level-headed costar for keeping her accountable.

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• Former NBA player Derek Fisher and Basketball Wives alum Gloria Govan have split after five years of marriage but are not planning to divorce. The couple has been living separately and remains in constant communication as they work through their issues.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance

There have been relatively few oceanic adventure epics made in recent years, and even fewer that have tapped into the grounded horror of pre-20th century aquatic travel. Even if the notion of oceanic exploration is frequently associated with high-octane swashbuckling crowdpleasers, the grim reality is that it was a highly dangerous form of transportation that required those with the coldest of hearts to participate. The North Water feels like a piece of old-fashioned epic filmmaking, as its scope and scale are equivalent to a classic from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The cinematic qualities should come as no surprise, given that the series was created and directed by the brilliant British filmmaker Andrew Haigh. Although Haigh’s movies up until this point have primarily fallen in the social drama genre, The North Water applies the same emotional gravity to a historical epic filled with graphic horror.

Based on the acclaimed 2016 novel of the same name, The North Water follows a group of sailors who travel on a whaling expedition into the Arctic Ocean in 1859, shortly before the whale oil trade began to decline. Leading the crew is Captain Arthur Brownlee (Stephen Graham), a veteran of maritime travels who assembles a crew filled with misfits and miscreants; among those who join his team are the surgeon Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell), the ex-criminal Henry Drax (Colin Farrell), and the caustic first mate Michael Cavendish (Sam Spruell). Brownlee describes the journey to his men as being a true journey into hell, and his description is apt for the disturbing, frighteningly operatic epic that The North Water becomes.

‘The North Water’ Is an Old-Fashioned Maritime Epic

The North Water is smart in identifying how expeditions like this required men of a very specific personality and lifestyle to take part in them, as nothing about the extended trips from home was for the faint of heart. The series suggests that a trip to the Arctic is an escape of sorts for those who want to erase or reflect upon their past. In some cases, it is a noble pursuit, as Sumner is attempting to move past his guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder after not being able to save the lives of patients that were under his care; on the flipside, Drax is wanted for his crimes and is trying to start a new life where he will no longer be constantly in fear of being identified. While these are compelling characters who are seemingly all that they appear to be, Haigh is brilliant in revealing layers as the series continues and the journey becomes even more perilous. Despite being a man of honor, Sumner does have a darkness that resides inside of him that he has to suppress; alternatively, Drax does occasionally ponder if he can truly be redeemed, even if he feels that his actions have ensured that he will forever be damned.

Haigh’s perceptive writing style ensures that The North Water has a solid grasp on the way that members of a crew would interact with one another. While none of them are necessarily friendly, given that their sole purpose is executing a job, the heightened danger and confined setting mean that these strangers are forced to open up to one another. The North Water doesn’t shy away from the brutality of such voyages, as it explores how younger members of the crew were forced to endure horrific abuse at the hands of the older sailors. At the same time, Sumner becomes an inspirational figure on the vessel because he offers a glimpse of hope. At a time in which medical science was still developing, Sumner’s understanding of human body mechanics made him feel almost glorious to his shipmates.

‘The North Water’ Is a Brutal Survivalist Tale

The North Water is more than just another expedition disaster story because the series implies that the crew’s greatest obstacles are of their own making, with greed and deception ultimately to blame. While the series is breathtaking in exploring the perilous conditions of the Arctic, Haigh also finds the beauty in a side of nature that was perhaps meant to be left unexplored. The show may be telling a very specific story about a moment in history when the ocean was being monopolized by both governments and criminal groups, but its message about nature’s vengeance applies to any moment in time.

The North Water is unquestionably a challenging show, as it presents a toxic perspective on masculinity and shows how desperation can turn to barbarism. That being said, there’s also a message about the triumph of the human spirit that is quite moving; there’s a fascinating debate to be had on whether Haigh intended the series to be optimistic or pessimistic, as both perspectives are legitimate. Even at its darkest, the show never lacks humanity, which is a testament to the excellent performances from Farrell, Graham, and O’Connell in particular. Although multiple seasons of a show with such a downbeat tone and visceral encapsulation of violence might have been too taxing, even for those who enjoy gritty television, five episodes are more than enough to tell a complete and satisfying epic story on an impressive scale.

Ransom Canyon‘s wild second season had everything from a sibling love triangle to infidelity — and now Garrett Wareing is breaking his silence on Lucas’ actions.

Season 2, which is streaming now on Netflix, took a turn when Lauren’s (Lizzy Greene) romance with Lucas (Wareing) came to a shocking end after she kissed his brother, Kit (Casey W. Johnson). Lucas, however, had his own indiscretion with Ashley (Jennifer Ens).

“This is what is going to get the fans talking,” Wareing, 24, exclusively told Us. “Who is to blame? Who is really at fault here?”

Wareing acknowledged that Lauren wronged Lucas before his hookup with Ashley. At the same time, Ashley’s friendship with Lauren made the situation more complicated.

“With Lucas and Lauren, they both did each other wrong,” he argued. “One of my last lines this season is ‘And I have to reckon with that.’ So I think this is Lucas’ journey moving forward, reckoning with these mistakes.”

The actor didn’t rule out Lucas’ love life getting more of a shakeup in season 3. In response to a question about a possible new love interest for Lucas, Wareing said, “Wouldn’t that be something! I think this is going to be another moment where the writers are going to listen to the fans … who do you want to be Lucas with next? I think as Lucas matures, maybe his romance does too.”

Showrunner April Blair also weighed in on Lucas’ controversial decision.

“With Kit and Lauren, it was a kiss and she was like, ‘Stop.’ Meanwhile Lucas is getting down with her best friend in the car. It’s a little hypocritical to hold him too much to task for it. But I think that’s why Lauren comes back and they have this moment,” Blair explained to Us about the exes getting closure in the finale. “She is apologetic and it’s just emotional for her to realize that there are ramifications moving forward.”

Blair pointed out that Lauren saw where she was to blame, adding, “There’s just a fun, messy adventure to me. There are as many people who are obsessed with Kit and Lauren — or with Lauren and Lucas.”

Looking ahead, Blair promised that Lucas will “catch a break or two” after a difficult season. Wareing, however, enjoyed being challenged as an actor.

Related: Meet the Hot Cowboys From Netflix‘s Western Melodrama ‘Ransom Canyon‘

Netflix’s Ransom Canyon understood the assignment when building its cast of hot cowboys. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day The Trendiest […]

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“Our sweet boy Lucas kept getting blow after blow! He can’t catch a break this season,” he quipped. “But if we are talking about character arcs, there has to be an ebb and a flow — an up and a down — and to play that downward spiral as an actor was quite exciting for me and something that April, our writers, and I really worked on together. Lucas is, and will continue to be, the underdog.”

Blair, Wareing and even Johnson were all on the same page that Lucas and Lauren were the likely endgame of the show. For now though, the fictional couple had to part ways in order to hopefully find their way back to each other.

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“At the end of the day, she is still the love of his life,” Wareing noted. “When you love something, you have to let it go. So Lucas does because he loves her so much and just wants to see her happy. Whether that is with him, or without.”

He concluded: “If Lucas and Lauren aren’t endgame, I’m never believing in love again. They resemble, to me, the idealistic kind of youthful love and longing. I’d love to see that fantasy for them fully realized.”

Ranson Canyon is currently streaming on Netflix.

Arrow and, in turn, the “Arrowverse,” have no shortage of supervillains living within them. The number of evildoers living in The CW’s take on DC Comics is more than double that of its many heroes, like Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) and The Flash (Grant Gustin). Some of them are recognizable foes from DC’s rogues gallery, such as the master manipulator Reverse-Flash (Tom Cavanagh) and the ape conqueror Gorilla Grodd (David Sobolov), while others are more obscure B- and C-listers, like the maniacal Murmur (Adrian Glynn McMorran) and the diabolical Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough).

All worthy foes, but there is only one villain worthy of the title of Oliver Queen’s arch-nemesis. A ruthless killer who has cemented himself as one of the DC Universe’s most dangerous villains, he is capable of going toe-to-toe with nearly any hero in the Justice League and beyond. While this character hasn’t had his time to shine in live-action feature films outside of Joe Manganiello’s all-too-brief appearance in the Snyderverse, this deadly assassin made an unforgettable impression on television. This elusive figure is none other than Deathstroke the Terminator (Manu Bennett), whose brutal and deeply personal rivalry with Oliver remains one of the strongest villain arcs DC television has ever produced.

Who Is Deathstroke in DC Comics?

Before becoming the DC Universe’s most infamous assassin, Deathstroke was known as Slade Wilson. Slade was a military veteran who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. It was during that time that he met Captain Adeline Kane, who became Slade’s military mentor and eventual romantic partner. Slade’s impeccable training and remarkable service record eventually caught the attention of a covert experimental program designed to create super soldiers for the government. The procedure granted Wilson superhuman strength and an advanced healing factor, effectively making Slade Wilson the DC equivalent to Marvel’s Captain America. However, what Wilson lacks from Captain America is a sense of patriotic duty, as he left the military behind to pursue a career as the killer-for-hire, Deathstroke.

Slade’s assassin career is something he kept a secret from his now-wife Adeline, as well as their young son Joseph. That changes when a rival mercenary abducts Joseph, and while Slade can rescue him, Joseph permanently loses his voice when his throat is injured. Enraged by her husband’s secrets, Adeline shoots Slade in the head, leading the mercenary to lose an eye. Now ostracized from his family, Slade has no other attachments to prevent him from becoming a cold and heartless DC villain.

Unlike most villains in the world of DC, such as Joker and Lex Luthor, Deathstroke doesn’t really have an arch-nemesis in the comics. Granted, he is best known for facing the Teen Titans, and the young team of heroes does consistently manage to surprise a seasoned veteran fighter like Deathstroke, they are still a bit below Slade’s pay grade. Since his debut in 1980, Deathstroke has gone up against some of DC’s most recognizable icons, even holding his own against the technological wit of Batman and even the unmatched strength of Superman.

Slade Wilson and Oliver Queen Started as Friends in ‘Arrow’

Image via the CW

As fans of Arrow know, the story of Oliver Queen begins when the once-spoiled rich kid becomes marooned on a deserted island. At least, he thinks it’s deserted as he soon meets an exiled Chinese general named Yao Fei Gulong (Byron Mann), as well as his daughter Shado (Celina Jade). They quickly become mentors to Oliver as he begins his journey to becoming a master archer, but not before Oliver encounters a group of mercenaries also stationed on the island. Oliver is captured by these mercs and is tortured by an individual with Deathstroke’s signature black and orange mask. However, this individual is not Slade Wilson, but is Wilson’s former partner, Billy Wintergreen (Jeffrey Robinson), who is typically an ally of Wilson in the comics.

After escaping the mercs, Oliver has a run-in with Slade Wilson. While it takes some time for them to trust each other, Slade eventually reveals that he and Billy were Australian Special Forces sent to the island to find Yao Fei. They were intercepted by the mercenaries, and Billy betrayed his long-time partner to join the thugs. With the help of Slade, Yao Fei, and Shado, they’re able to put these would-be assassins down for good, even though Yao Fei perishes in the conflict.

After defeating the mercs, Oliver and Slade become much more than fellow survivors. They become legitimate close friends as they try to find a way off of this desolate island. However, the seeds of dissent are sown quickly, as a love triangle grows between Oliver and Slade over Shado. When the trio of companions encounters a new threat in the form of mad scientist Anthony Ivo (Dylan Neal), Oliver is forced to choose between Shado and his recently rediscovered friend Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) when Ivo holds them at gunpoint. Oliver chooses Sara, and Shado is killed as a result.

Slade succeeds in getting revenge on Ivo for killing his beloved Shado, but not before learning Oliver chose to let her die. Blinded by rage and anger, Slade and Oliver engage in a bloody conflict, ending with Oliver plunging an arrow in Slade’s eye. Leaving him for dead, Oliver eventually escapes the island, not realizing he probably should have finished the job. That’s because this more personally driven Slade survived this encounter and begins plotting his revenge.

Why Slade Wilson Is the Best Villain in ‘Arrow’

Image via the CW

Years after their fateful battle, Slade has been training and preparing for the day he can face Oliver again. Though this interpretation of Deathstroke is more sympathetic than many of his other adaptations, Arrow‘s version of him perfectly combines Slade Wilson’s unmatched physical prowess and genius-level criminal intellect. Since facing Oliver on the island, Slade has amassed a vast network of spies and operatives, essentially raising an entire private army to hunt down the Green Arrow.

Armed with state-of-the-art weapons and a durable suit of armor, Deathstroke defeats Green Arrow in several of their physical encounters. Before Oliver can even figure out how to defeat his fallen comrade, Slade deals a critical blow when he abducts Oliver, his sister Thea (Willa Holland), and his mother Moira (Susanna Thompson). Just like Oliver had to choose between Sara and Shado on the island, he now must choose between his mother and sister. The shocking twist results in Moira dying at Slade’s hands, leaving a permanent mark on the already damaged Oliver.

What makes this Deathstroke, so great is how he feels true to the character while also feeling like a unique interpretation. He has the iconic design, the unmatched fighting skills, and the devious intellect, but he also has a surprising backstory and an engaging personality. At times, the most tragic part of Deathstroke’s tale isn’t that he is an assassin who kills without remorse; it’s how he was a once-noble soldier who fell to the dark side.