Is it wrong to root for the villain? (2025)

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Dec 4, 5:56 PM

#1

Dragevard

Offline

Apr 2018

3205

We’re conditioned to believe they’re the "bad guy," and cheering for them could be seen as supporting wrongdoing. But on the other hand, many villains are incredibly well-written, and sometimes they present more compelling arguments or face struggles that mirror our own. Is it possible for the villain to have a valid perspective or be misunderstood? Can rooting for them ever be justified?

Dec 4, 6:01 PM

#2

deg

Offline

Jan 2009

101236

i love thanos i think his belief that all things should be balance is right but i do know his population control is immoral since his is genocide and not birth control methods like condoms and sterilization

so yes villains are cool in our fantasy but in reality there is no way they should exist

so separate fantasy from reality as the saying goes

Dec 4, 6:17 PM

#3

DesuMaiden

Online

Jul 2013

6234

Well, given that our entire society is a Satanic conspiracy, rooting for a villain sounds hardly bad. Like I said, our entire civilization is one super, super evil conspiracy. And this conspiracy is 100% legalized and ubiquitious.

Dec 4, 6:48 PM

#4

piroriparopirira

Offline

Nov 2019

42

They don't even need to be good written. If the MCs are annoying but the villains are more interesting, then I'll root for them (looking at you Fate apocrypha). Also the vast majority of people that like pure evil villains would never agree with them in real life nor do they think their actions are good.

As Simone Weil said “Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.”

Dec 4, 6:52 PM

#5

justmaya

Online

Jun 2024

1610

I don't think it's wrong to root for villains, because I'm sure most people can differentiate fiction from real life.

Also, some MCs are so boring or annoying, and the villains are often more compelling, so it's inevitable.

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (8)

Dec 4, 6:56 PM

#6

MyFriendIbis

Offline

Nov 2020

53

One of my favorite characters, Satou from Happy Sugar Life, is very much not a good person for being a murderer and a kidnapper. However, I find it fun to indulge in rooting for her due to her goal of protecting the one thing she truly cares about. Plus, everyone else around her makes her seem like a saint.
I think it's possible to find a valid perspective and to justify their beliefs, but you'd have to add so many asterisks for your reasoning and of course criticize the villain's actions for going about their plans.

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (10)

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Dec 4, 9:02 PM

#7

Serafos

🍅 Tomato 🍅

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Feb 2020

100095

"Is it wrong to root for the villain?"

Definitely not.

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (12)

Dec 4, 9:12 PM

#8

ForgotEyeWasHere

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Feb 2023

438

No. Sometimes, the supposed "villain" is actually the good guy.

Dec 4, 9:19 PM

#9

Catalano

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Oct 2010

21173

that's why Orsted is best character in mushoku

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (16)Is it wrong to root for the villain? (17)Is it wrong to root for the villain? (18)

Dec 4, 10:12 PM

#10

TheDarkLordOtaku

Offline

Nov 2013

1629

Reply to ForgotEyeWasHere

No. Sometimes, the supposed "villain" is actually the good guy.

@ForgotEyeWasHere *Always.

A good anime is often defined by the quality of its "villain"

Dec 4, 11:47 PM

#11

Forain

Offline

Nov 2024

147

I rooted for Light in "Death Note", because wanted to see what kind of World will be without criminals, but alas.
I think rooting for Kiyama Harumi from "Toaru Kagaku no Railgun" is justified to some degree, because she was refused the other way.
Hachiman from "Oregairu" is portrayed as villain, but actually he is a smart guy instead of being hypocrite (although they ruined his character in next seasons).

I apologize for my mistakes, because it's not my native language.

Yesterday, 1:24 AM

#12

Guilmon1

Offline

Apr 2024

1361

No because it doesn't mean you agree with them
If a villians is very interesting, I'll want more from him and root for him
If the writers are so bad that they try to make the villain look wrong but can't convince me, I'll root for them (if the writers of gundam seed can't give an argument to why humans should live, I will support the antagonist even if IRL he's objectively wrong)

Yesterday, 1:53 AM

#13

Spunkert

Offline

Mar 2023

2625

I only root for the villains if they are attractive.

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (22)

Yesterday, 1:55 AM

#14

Szczelajo

Offline

Jul 2017

91

Most of my favorite characters are villains, It's not wrong to root for them really, wanting more of villain on the screen does not mean agreeing with them + a lot of villains are just more interesting and make the plot happen anyway XD.

still what I would like to see more are actual evil protagonists [not another demon lord that is actually a good guy or a guy that kills only bad people] or some true enemies to lovers - meaning the villain needs to be f*cked up in the head, with close to none redeeming qualities, like truly something interesting and not another fake bad guy XD.

Yesterday, 5:56 AM

#15

Zarutaku

Offline

Sep 2016

10383

Is it wrong to root for the villain?


In fiction? Never.

In reality? Usually, but it depends on the crime.

No, this isn't my signature~desu.

Yesterday, 6:36 AM

#16

BigBoyAdvance

Call me Oniichan

Offline

Jan 2007

1668

I wish more shows were brave enough to have dark endings where the antagonist wins and the world suffers as a consequence. Or stories where the protagonist slowly loses faith in humanity and switches sides after understanding the demons weren't the true evil in this world. But no, there's too much moralfagging among normies that consoom the media. They cannot for one second step out of their indoctrinated way of thinking.

Yesterday, 6:42 AM

#17

logopolis

Offline

Apr 2012

3327

Depends on the villain. Some villains actually have politics than the heroes. But if you're rooting for King Hamdo, you should probably ask yourself what's really going on there.

Yesterday, 11:26 AM

#18

bucciest

Offline

Aug 2019

1708

No, sometimes the villain is right and I'm more on board with them than I am with the "good guys." Stories aren't always being told from the side I'd agree with and/or they're very biased in skewing the perspective of the series.

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (28)

Yesterday, 1:54 PM

#19

Kruszer

Offline

Dec 2012

9623

If it's one of those series like Death Note where the protagonist is immoral and the "villains" are the good guys, yes. Normally, I wouldn't root for the villain though.

"The name's Gambit. Remember it."
-Gambit "X-Men '97"

12 hours ago

#20

TRC_Randy

Offline

Aug 2020

3035

Nah my boy Garou roots for villains too
Is it wrong to root for the villain? (32)
Is it wrong to root for the villain? (33)

11 hours ago

#21

Mirai_Kuromaru

Kuroni_Kuru

Offline

Dec 2020

928

Absolutely nothing wrong with rooting for a villain. There are a lot of villains who are sympathetic, morally correct (or at-least ambiguously correct) and/or simply more entertaining than their heroic counterparts. Heck, I'm pretty sure most Death Note fans were rooting for L, and he is technically the villain since the story is told from Light's perspective...

Formerly known as Kuroni_Kuru

10 hours ago

#22

Sheol01

Offline

Jul 2024

1369

Not in fiction. Personally, I always loved Deslock/Desslar from OG Starblazers. The guy just had more charisma than any other character in the show. And they never killed him off, either. LOL

10 hours ago

#23

Sheol01

Offline

Jul 2024

1369

Reply to BigBoyAdvance

I wish more shows were brave enough to have dark endings where the antagonist wins and the world suffers as a consequence. Or stories where the protagonist slowly loses faith in humanity and switches sides after understanding the demons weren't the true evil in this world. But no, there's too much moralfagging among normies that consoom the media. They cannot for one second step out of their indoctrinated way of thinking.

@BigBoyAdvance My friend watch the OG EVA Movie. The ending will shock you.

9 hours ago

#24

Hikinekomori

Offline

May 2012

1011

No it is not. Aside from the wicked who only want to do evil for their own gains, there are often wicked people who are convinced they are doing good. Usually there are two opposing points of view: A and B. Unfortunately this is extremely limiting, the truth is that there are many more points of view C, D, E, F, G, H, I. And they are all right but all partial, the first who understands this and who comes to have a more complete vision of the truth is the one I root for, even if he/she is the wicked one. There are good heroes/M.C. who, as a matter of principle, make choices that lead to greater evils through consequences. The typical example is "to not kill" because killing is wrong and this choice ends up causing much more suffering in the future to innocent people.

8 hours ago

#25

KittenCuddler

Offline

Dec 2021

1452

Is this theoretical villain doing something lame and icky like trying to molest a bunch of kiddos, or something rad and based like whacking a good-for-nothing healthcare CEO?

Is it wrong to root for the villain? (36)

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