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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
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
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
Also, some MCs are so boring or annoying, and the villains are often more compelling, so it's inevitable.
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.
Dec 4, 9:02 PM
#7
Serafos
🍅 Tomato 🍅
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Feb 2020
100095
Definitely not.
Dec 4, 9:12 PM
#8
ForgotEyeWasHere
Offline
Feb 2023
438
No. Sometimes, the supposed "villain" is actually the good guy.
Dec 4, 9:19 PM
#9
Catalano
Offline
Oct 2010
21173
that's why Orsted is best character in mushoku
Dec 4, 10:12 PM
#10
TheDarkLordOtaku
Offline
Nov 2013
1629
Reply to ForgotEyeWasHere
No. Sometimes, the supposed "villain" is actually the good guy.
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.
Yesterday, 1:55 AM
#14
Szczelajo
Offline
Jul 2017
91
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
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.
-Gambit "X-Men '97"
12 hours ago
#20
TRC_Randy
Offline
Aug 2020
3035
Nah my boy Garou roots for villains too
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?
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