You: Why We Root For The Bad Guys
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Not all villains are created equal.
There are bad guys you love to hate. There are bad guys you just flat out hate. But there is also a rare breed. Truly awful characters, who have done terrible, heinous things…but you kinda still want them to succeed. Or worse, see them get away with it.
What does that say about us, then? Is it that some of us are closeted serial killers living vicariously through on-screen personas? Well, if you listen to Fox News, probably – but frankly what are you doing here? This isn’t for you.
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More likely than that, is that is that every one of us have seen unjust situations where people do bad things and get away with it, or justice doesn’t seem to be served. Seeing someone like Dexter Morgan bring his code to for murder victims where the ‘Justice System’ has failed, gives us catharsis.
These characters become the wielders of Cosmic Karma. It may not be the “just thing” but to us, it is absolutely the right thing to happen. No amount of money, influence, or power can protect you when one of these villains comes for you. Most people reading this article will have wanted to scream or lash out at an unfair situation they have found themselves in. We project ourselves into this power fantasy, and onto these protagonists.
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A guy cuts you off in traffic. Rude. Well, Hannibal Lecter deals quite well with rude people. It doesn’t mean you want to eat the person who did it, it’s more a safe release for that tension…just one that is dialled up to 11. Everyone reading this article is a good (and handsome) person, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be intrigued by the Dark side.
In addition to this, we are all suckers for a charismatic villain. Joe Goldberg is a creepy stalker who has a substantially higher body count than most mild-mannered book salesmen, but there’s a reason we want to see his exploits for 4 seasons, and even at his worst…kinda want him to get away with it – just to see what happens next. Many of these villains are horrendous individuals – but there is a spark of good in them, a reason for why they are the way they are. At the heart of any of these fictional characters that is what makes the difference.
You can laugh at a scenery chewing villain like the Sheriff of Nottingham and be entertained. But a truly well written villain is one that you can empathise with. You won’t and don’t agree with what they do. But you understand why. This is why characters like Dracula, Loki, Darth Vader, and Snape have such deep fan bases.
Image Source: TV Guide
On a separate note, Tim Curry’s character in Home Alone 2 is portrayed as an antagonist in the film – but he is a damn hero and deserves recognition. He was trying to save a child in a strange city. THAT is why we love him. Don’t at me.
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