Giancarlo Esposito has become TV's master of villainy

The Ringer

"Even for 2020, Esposito has had an eventful year, pulling triple duty on television in Better Call Saul, The Boys, and most recently, The Mandalorian," says Miles Surrey. "Despite Esposito’s antagonistic standing in all three, these series couldn’t be more different: Better Call Saul is the brilliantly understated prequel to one of the best dramas of the century; The Boys is a profane, gory takedown of superhero culture; The Mandalorian is a series about a bounty hunter learning to nurture the cutest merchandising opportunity in the galaxy and has become a much-needed bright spot for the Disney era of Star Wars. Esposito hasn’t always assumed sinister roles—his early career highlights include a wholesome turn on Sesame Street and appearances in several Spike Lee films, most notably Do the Right Thing. But as far as the 21st century goes, Esposito serves a familiar purpose within these three shows: His eerie presence signals that sh*t’s about to go down.