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Original poster

Have you ever found yourself cheering on the villain?

169 replies

TwoScoopsPlease · 24/09/2023 18:40

In a book, tv show or movie?

I usually find the villains to be more interesting than the heroes but generally I'm happy for the heroes when they achieve their goal but I find it incredibly hard to root for The Three Musketeers because they're so unlikeable and because of their blatant misogny. I appreciate that it was written a long time ago and set even earlier but I found myself wanting Milady to win.

Have you found yourself liking a villain more than the hero(es)?

OP posts:
NooNakedJacuzziness · 25/09/2023 07:56

Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain. They ridiculed her for her voice, which she couldn't help, humiliated her in public and ended her career - no wonder she was pissed!

lljkk · 25/09/2023 07:58

I fervently want Coyote to catch roadrunner.

Is Hank a baddie in BB? He's not evil like Tuco or Gustavo, but he's not our hero, either. I enjoy every scene with Hank in it even though he's inherently unlikeable.

DanielsDancingMonkey · 25/09/2023 08:08

Alec D Urberville. Angel Clare was a sanctimonious bastard.

Saschka · 25/09/2023 08:13

DanielsDancingMonkey · 25/09/2023 08:08

Alec D Urberville. Angel Clare was a sanctimonious bastard.

True. I thought the point was that all men abused Tess, even the supposedly “holy” ones. He came across as a hypocritical, smug little shit who immediately moved on to her little sister IIRC, and I’m sure Hardy can’t have been unaware of that!

DanielsDancingMonkey · 25/09/2023 08:38

@Saschka good point. To be honest, Tess was bloody annoying as well. I detested that book.

Cazzovuoi · 25/09/2023 08:42

Joe Goldberg in You.

He always reasoned his murders so well, I didn’t want him to get caught.

alldakatz · 25/09/2023 08:47

lljkk · 25/09/2023 07:58

I fervently want Coyote to catch roadrunner.

Is Hank a baddie in BB? He's not evil like Tuco or Gustavo, but he's not our hero, either. I enjoy every scene with Hank in it even though he's inherently unlikeable.

Hank started out as comic relief, but developed into a hero, albeit not a glamorous one.

I agree about RR, he's very irritating. It's a pity he wouldn't even make a substantial meal.

VikingLady · 25/09/2023 09:11

CatChant · 24/09/2023 20:13

Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, and Mary and Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park, as other posters have said, because they are all so much more fun than the very dull and worthy heroes and heroines. I know who I would rather go to the pub with.

Annie Joyce in Patricia Wentworth’s The Traveller Returns because she was clever, and audacious, had been treated shabbily by her rich relations, then cheated of a promised inheritance and finally abandoned to the mercies of the Germans during the invasion of France.

Becoming an imposter, a fraudster, an accessory to murder and being up to her neck in espionage and treason still doesn’t make her an unsympathetic character. I still want her to have got away with it!

Absolutely. I felt so sorry for Annie!

Saschka · 25/09/2023 09:13

DanielsDancingMonkey · 25/09/2023 08:38

@Saschka good point. To be honest, Tess was bloody annoying as well. I detested that book.

I can’t stand Hardy at all honestly! So mawkish. Jude the Obscure is just an unreadable misery-fest.

Saschka · 25/09/2023 09:18

Not really a villain, but Signora Madeline from Barchester Towers was so much more entertaining than any of the leads. Also clearly made of stern stuff, if she could escape an abusive marriage and make her way home across Europe under her own steam, after being seriously disabled. She deserved her own book.

VikingLady · 25/09/2023 09:19

I read something ages ago (but can't find it now) pointing out film villains frequently are written to do at least one heinous act so you realise they're villains, because they're so often right.

Thanos? He had a good point.
Poison Ivy and Mr Freeze? Wanted to save the planet against the trust fund billionaire.
Killmonger had a point.

I reread Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six recently and I totally understand the bad guys wanting to save the planet!

IvorTheEngineDriver · 25/09/2023 09:28

I cheer for the Templar, Sir Brian, in Ivanhoe. Wish he'd ended up with Rebecca - what a combination!

Catsmere · 25/09/2023 09:31

Saschka · 25/09/2023 09:18

Not really a villain, but Signora Madeline from Barchester Towers was so much more entertaining than any of the leads. Also clearly made of stern stuff, if she could escape an abusive marriage and make her way home across Europe under her own steam, after being seriously disabled. She deserved her own book.

This was the series rather than the books, but both Geraldine McEwan's Mrs Proudie and Alan Rickman's Mr Slope. Their confrontations were wonderful. Also loved Nigel Hawthorne's Archdeacon Grantly - not a villain but sort-of an antagagonist at times. The whole series was brilliant.

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 25/09/2023 13:50

Drippy Lily Dale in the BCs drives me nuts.

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 25/09/2023 16:01

This was the series rather than the books, but both Geraldine McEwan's Mrs Proudie and Alan Rickman's Mr Slope.

Oh yes. Alan Rickman's first big role, I think, and he stole pretty much every scene he was in.

It was something of a breakout role for Nigel Hawthorne too, I think. Previously he'd been one of those actors who was quite well known because he was in lots of things, but never in a starring role.

ChannelLightVessel · 25/09/2023 16:55

Shylock, obviously. If people treat you like shit, why should you be nice to them?

VenusClapTrap · 25/09/2023 17:08

Amanda in Motherland. Probably because I did my (thankless) time in the PTA

Catsmere · 25/09/2023 21:52

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 25/09/2023 16:01

This was the series rather than the books, but both Geraldine McEwan's Mrs Proudie and Alan Rickman's Mr Slope.

Oh yes. Alan Rickman's first big role, I think, and he stole pretty much every scene he was in.

It was something of a breakout role for Nigel Hawthorne too, I think. Previously he'd been one of those actors who was quite well known because he was in lots of things, but never in a starring role.

Yes, I think it was his first big role! And what a role ... who but Alan Rickman could make the odious Mr Slope so appealing? 😆

Needhelp101 · 25/09/2023 21:55

VenusClapTrap · 25/09/2023 17:08

Amanda in Motherland. Probably because I did my (thankless) time in the PTA

In the last Christmas special of Motherland (Last Christmas) I found myself REALLY rooting for Amanda.

EasternStandard · 25/09/2023 21:56

I was on Logan’s side in Succession

wizzbitt · 26/09/2023 03:45

I quite liked Tybalt. Romeo was so bloody annoying.

NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 26/09/2023 03:49

Wylee Coyote… Road Runner was an utter smartarse. Really annoying! Also Wyler’s trompe l’oeil train tunnel paintings were very impressive.

Catsmere · 26/09/2023 04:07

wizzbitt · 26/09/2023 03:45

I quite liked Tybalt. Romeo was so bloody annoying.

Especially when played by young Alan Rickman!

Whitepeacelily · 26/09/2023 06:18

Captain Poldark. I think you are supposed to love him but he does something awful in series 2 or 3 (will not give details) and bullied the 'evil one' as a child due to class, so I do have some sympathy with George, the villain. Neither character is wholly good or evil. It's thought provoking.

greengreengrass25 · 26/09/2023 18:19

Miss Marple was quite annoying too

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