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The shapes that witches take on TV are similar to the ones they take in pop culture more broadly.
Theres the traditional ugly witch embodied in childrens characters likeH.R.
Pufnstufs WitchiepooorLooney Tuness Witch Hazel, both of whom wear pointy hats and have warts on their chins.
Those characters were introduced in the 1950s and 60s, respectively.
Since then, the paradigm has been complicated significantly.
When ranking these witches, personality, abilities, and their overall cultural impact came into play.
The more powerful and charismatic a witch, the higher she placed.
And although witches often gather in covens, only one from each series could reign supreme.
Paddock,The X-Files(Die Hand Die Verletzt)
20.
The monsters of the week onThe X-Fileswere rarely witches.
But when a witch did factor in to Agents Mulder and Scullys latest case, she went hard.
The episode revolves around the crimes committed by a Satanic cult at a suburban high school.
19.Witch Hazel,Looney Tunes
19.
Pins fly out of her hair when she gets angry, which is often.
An icon, in short.
18.Akko Kagari,Little Witch Academia
18.
Akko isnt naturally gifted in witchcraft, so she has to work harder than the other girls.
But her enthusiasm and persistence frequently save the day, even if her technique is a little clumsy.
17.The Wicked Witch of the West,Sesame Street
17.
Rogers Neighborhoodwas all about soothing childrens fears.
But Margaret Hamilton terrified kids whenthe Wicked Witch of the Westleft Oz and visitedSesame Street.
16.Bonnie Bennett,The Vampire Diaries
16.
And yet, shes still sidelined when the entire cast should be thanking her.
15.Regina Mills/Evil Queen,Once Upon a Time
15.
14.Mary Sibley,Salem
14.
And she never lets anyone least of all her elderly husband, whom she terrorizes with aplomb forget it.
But she does have a heart, albeit a bitter and conflicted one.
Mary has basically nothing to do with the historical figure shes named after, but thats fine.
No one on this show does.
13.Mother Aniseya,The Acolyte
13.
The Force is omnipresent inStar Warsmedia, but actual witchcraft is harder to find.
Mother Aniseyas reign onThe Acolytewas short, but her vision is generational.
12.Witchiepoo,H.R.
11.Diana Bishop,A Discovery of Witches
11.
The lead character in AMCs sleeper-hitA Discovery of Witcheshas an enviable life.
Not only does Dr. Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) have tenure at Yale!
In the history department!
But when youre the most powerful witch whos ever lived, its not really about you anymore.
10.Melisandre,Game of Thrones
10.
In its first season, sorcery is a relic of the past onGame of Thrones.
Sure, she uses shadow demons, blood magic, and seduction to further her cause.
But you cant make a messianic omelet without breaking a few eggs mens psyches, whatever.
9.Salem Saberhagen,Sabrina the Teenage Witch
9.
He needs her to give him his deworming medicine.
8.Prue Halliwell,Charmed
8.
7.Lafayette Reynolds,True Blood
7.
Anything for Queen LaLa.
6.Endora,Bewitched
6.
That leaves her mother, Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead, to keep the nonconformist witchy spirit alive.
Her disrespectful attitude and refusal to call her son-in-law by his real name is inspirational to haters as well.
Names hold great power in magic.
Why would you hand that kind of power over to some guy?
Just because he married your daughter?
5.Agatha Harkness,WandaVision/Agatha All Along
5.
Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is not a witch you want to mess with.
Viewers had already grown to love Wandas neighbor Agnes.
How could they hate her as Agatha?
Sure, she killed those little boys dog.
4.Zelda Spellman,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
4.
3.Marie Laveau,American Horror Story: Coven
3.
Theres also no shortage of witches in the Ryan Murphyverse, especially inAmerican Horror Story: Coven.
But Angela Bassetts regal turn as voodoo queen Marie Laveau is, well, supreme.
2.Vanessa Ives,Penny Dreadful
2.
Eventually, Vanessas inner turmoil weakens her to the point where she loses her way.
So is Greens performance, which captures her characters conflicted psyche with spellbinding intensity.
1.Willow Rosenberg,Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1.
