Top 10 Times TV Characters Went Beast Mode
#10: Hawk Exorcises His Demons
“Cobra Kai” (2018-) What better way to kick off this list than with a show dedicated to fighting? When sensei John Kreese invites local athletes to join Cobra Kai, the brainwashed Hawk sees an opportunity to get some payback on a schoolyard tormentor of his, Brucks. After Hawk unflinchingly volunteers to square off against Brucks, Kreese makes sure he has full rein to go beast mode. And Hawk does not hold back. Despite Brucks’s desperate pleas for mercy, Kreese spurs on the beatdown, though we imagine Hawk would’ve been liable to continue anyway, flashing back to his own trauma. The rest of the students are visibly shaken, and we can’t exactly blame them.
#9: Killing the Messengers
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“The Witcher” (2019-) Fans of “The Witcher” franchise had high hopes in terms of the live-action Netflix series, and whether or not those expectations were met, the first episode at least established how much of a badass Geralt of Rivia is. Nowhere is that more apparent than in this scene, when hired goons try to deter him from performing his witcherly duties. As begrudging as Geralt is, he shows just how quickly he can release the beast by dispatching the messengers in brutal fashion. He’s then confronted by the ringleader, Renfri, but her own rage only prompts him to put her out of her misery. It just goes to show that Geralt isn’t afraid to take his aggression out on others if provoked.
#8: Air Vamp
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“Preacher” (2016-19) Speaking of pilot episodes, “Preacher’s” too sets the tone early on with one of its characters, this time in the form of Proinsias Cassidy, an Irish vampire who’s more than willing to get his hands dirty, not to mention his fangs. While tending bar aboard a private jet, Cassidy soon learns that the gents he’s serving are actually vampire hunters. With the sun on the rise, Cassidy quickly makes them wish they’d never taken up the profession. Cassidy utilizing anything he can get his hands on as a weapon, we’re left to wonder in stupefied amazement how the tone of the scene could’ve gotten so unwieldy. Cassidy then pulls a D.B. Cooper and jumps out, leaving us to pick our jaws off the floor.
#7: Piper vs. Pennsatucky
“Orange Is the New Black” (2013-19) The ostensible good girl at Litchfield Penitentiary, Piper Chapman probably isn’t the first person you’d think would beat up another inmate - that’d be her victim, Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett. But when the latter tries to kill Piper in the Season 1 finale thinking she’s on a mission from God, things escalate quickly. Due to a myriad of factors - from CO Healy ignoring the situation to Pennsatucky insulting her self-worth to the endless frustrations she’s endured over the season - something within Piper snaps, and she lets out all her anger out on her would-be assassin. We find out in the next season that Pennsatucky survives, but based on this beatdown, we weren’t so sure initially.
#6: Not-So-Merry Merry-Go-Round
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“The Punisher” (2017-19) You gotta expect that a character called “The Punisher” would be dealing out some brutal justice, and this Netflix series certainly pulled through in that regard. Also a Season 1 finale, “Memento Mori” sees Frank and Billy’s sordid relationship come to a head at the carousel where Frank’s family died. Frank, now emblazoned with the iconic Punisher skull, makes Billy remember his own mortality by engaging in a near-death brawl for both sides. Both parties go beast mode here, but it’s Frank’s disfigurement of Billy’s face, giving him the Jigsaw appearance befitting his namesake comics counterpart, that really makes us step back in awe at the brutal ruthlessness that is Frank’s justice.
#5: Jack vs. Abu Fayed
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“24” (2001-10; 2014) Honestly, we could do a whole list of times Jack Bauer went beast mode on “24.” But if there’s one rough-and-tumble brawl that stands out the most, it’s his deadly one with extremist Abu Fayed. When an interrogation of Fayed fails, Jack and the CTU stage a rescue to trick Fayed into revealing the location of nuclear weapons. It doesn’t go too smoothly, but Jack does indeed manage to keep Fayed from activating them. After Jack takes out Fayed’s men, a lack of bullets forces him to get up and personal with Fayed. Though both go beast mode, it’s Jack’s ultimate ending of Fayed by way of chain that has us most shaken. Cold, savage, and oh so satisfying.
#4: Jesse Learns the Truth
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“Breaking Bad” (2008-13) Jesse Pinkman has a lot of reasons to hate Walter White. Only he doesn’t know of them until it’s way, way late in the game. Finally putting two and two together, Jesse realizes it was Walt who poisoned his girlfriend’s son, Brock. Incensed, Jesse barges in on Saul and forces him to confess, knowing he at least played an inadvertent hand. While Walt’s steely demeanor and cold-hearted nature makes him the scariest character on the show, Jesse exemplifies in this scene that when pushed to the emotional brink, he too can be ruthless. He proceeds to Walt’s house in an attempt to burn it down, but is ultimately talked out of it by Hank. Honestly, he probably should’ve lit up the place.
#3: Surviving the Ambush
“The Walking Dead” (2010-) Daryl Dixon became a breakout fan favorite character on this zombie show thanks to his tenacity and overall badassitude. And even as the show waned in quality, his abilities never did, as evidenced by this scene. Here, Daryl tries to get the jump on Whisperer leader Alpha in the woods, only to have his vision blurred and a knife in his leg. With both combatants injured, the disguised Alpha attempts to have walkers set upon Daryl. She clearly didn’t watch the previous nine seasons of the show, as otherwise she’d know trying to take out Daryl was a fool’s errand, who continually overcomes his hindrances to kill those that are already dead. Fans have always dreaded Daryl biting it, but we hardly need to worry.
#2: Stormtrooper Slaughter
“The Mandalorian” (2019-) Boba Fett is a character many fans believe was done dirty before “The Mandalorian.” And done dirty after, come to think of it. But his first full appearance on the first Disney+ series gave them exactly what they’ve always wanted. After Boba confronts Mando about his stolen armor, they’re set upon by Imperial troopers who attempt to capture Grogu. The way Boba dispatches the troopers with a gaffi stick is gratifying enough, but the moment he reenters the fight in his classic armor really seals the deal for us. The remaining troopers wisely attempt to flee, but Boba’s about ready to celebrate with some fireworks. Now that’s how a “Star Wars” character goes beast mode.
#1: The Mountain & the Viper
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“Game of Thrones” (2011-19) “Game of Thrones” is another one of those shows where characters are going beast mode on the regular. But never were we so entertained by it - and appalled, really - than when Oberyn Martell went up against Gregor Clegane. With Tyrion on trial by combat, Oberyn volunteers to be his champion if only to get revenge on his opponent Clegane for murdering his sister Elia (ellya). Though showboaty, Oberyn clearly has the upper hand. As much as we’d love to give him sole beast mode credit, his desire for retribution distracts him and allows Clegane to recover from a seemingly fatal wound and crush his head in with nothing but his hands. We guess that’s why they call him “The Mountain.”
