TV Badasses #7-8

7.  Ham Tyler (Michael Ironside)—V

Media_httpmediatumblr_swdzc

Who He Is: An ex-CIA freedom fighter against the Visitors, weapons expert and all-around hard case.

Why He’s a Badass: I haven’t watched anything V-related (including the new series) since it all aired originally, but still, years later, Ham Tyler sticks out in my mind, and not whoever Marc Singer played, as the real hero of the series.  I’ve always preferred Han Solo to Luke Skywalker, like most right-thinking people.  So, I don’t specifically remember anything he did, and I’m not going to do the research to find out.  But I remember, and that’s good enough.

Badass Moment:  I think I already mentioned that I don’t remember anything specifically about Ham Tyler’s actions.

How Did He Go Out?  According to Wikipedia, he never did on the show, but odds are if he did go out, it while handing somebody their still-beating heart.

Badass Dialog: “Faith is for nuns and amateurs.”

8.  Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis)—The Shield

Media_httpmediatumblr_aeanj

Who He Is: Head of the “Strike Force”, a special unit of anti-gang cops in Los Angeles.  Crooked cop, family man, thug, philanderer, cop-killer…Mackey’s a complicated guy, who always believes that his methods, no matter how brutal or line-crossing, serve a greater purpose.

Why He’s a Badass:  See that photo up there?  It’s typical of most people’s first meeting with Vic Mackey.  In the pilot, if I remember correctly, he was chasing a perp who nimbly scaled a fence.  Mackey bulldozed straight through it, because that’s the way he gets shit done.

Badass Moment:  Mackey, alone in a room with a child-napper who won’t give up the location of a girl.  Mackey needs only himself and a copy of the yellow pages to get the information.

How Does He Go Out?  Mackey’s dubious deeds finally catch up with him, and he winds up serving out the rest of his career behind a desk, emasculated and powerless.

Badass Dialog: “One of your crew so much as hard-looks my guy, my reach will get you shivved.”