[January Meme] “What kind of villains do you like/despise?"

[grimorie]

What if the villain is better known than the hero and should we sometimes cheer them on? The woobyfication in fandom is obviously a thing, and I know you have feelings about that, but you can skip that discussion if you’d rather pull up some examples and ramble a bit” for lovecanbesostrange​

I’ve certainly loved my fair share of villains/antagonists and most of the things they have in common is self-awareness.

I love villains who are self-aware about who they are and the choices that led them to that moment. They don’t shift the blame to someone else, and if they do, the narrative is aware that they are, hell, most of the time when they do blame someone it’s a mind game. Or it’s part of a complicated backstory.

I have had it up to here with all the villains blaming other people for being villains. A better villain is a villain who chooses who they are, they are clear-eyed about this with no need of artifice with themselves, to other people? They’d obfuscate about it. 

They know who they are.

Here are the list of my favorite villains in no particular order: Azula, Katherine Pierce, Cora Mills (more younger Cora than older Cora).

On the other side villains/antagonist turned team good: Tess Mercer, Root, and in a far corner because her heel turn was late in the game but still very valid, Rachel Duncan.

(Missy | The Master is here too— they’re so bat dren crazy and switch so many times depending on their mood, the color of the sky, or if the Doctor annoyed them that day…)

They all have something in common (aside from being awesome villainous women with fantastic hair): agency. 

Even if fandom woobifies them (although fewer than common fandom woobification) they themselves would sneer at being woobied.

They are all very cognizant about the path they’re own to differing degrees and they would no sooner snap someone’s neck if people so much as imply that they are in the position they’re in because of circumstances or other people.

The inciting incidents may have placed them on the path but they’re on the top of the pyramid because of their efforts and willpower and the sheer, single-minded focus that it takes to stay on top of the food chain.

And when they do turn to the side of good, it’s because of their own choosing, and no one else’s.

As for when the villain/antagonist is more popular than the hero— oh boy, this is where my contrary side emerges. There’s even odds that if fandom is so into a villain, I’d find myself liking the hero a bit more. I can appreciate a good villain and I probably appreciate the villain but I’d also find myself looking into the main character’s perspective and go to bat for them more often.

I get... very contrary.

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