Search results

Well, Lord Sovereign has more ideas as to what makes a good villain. The traditional Dark Lord is often viewed as cliche and boring, when he is in fact one of the most effective villain archetypes of them all. When it comes to exuding power, control, and menace, no one really does better. To...

Alright then, here's an example of how to do a villain right. The Daleks are a race of mutated octopuses riding around in pepper pot tanks. They constantly shriek "Exterminate" and have embarked on a campaign of universal genocide. About as far from intimidating as you can get, right...

I actually rather like Zurg having legs. It gives him this really hulking and imposing physique which is fitting for a galactic conqueror who rules via brute force and terror (indeed, the scary thing would be that Buzz, ergo star command, ergo Earth, has caught his attention now. Perhaps via...

So, as a more recent example of how not to do a villain, let's talk about the new rendition of Zurg in the new Lightyear film. Spoilers warning, of course. It's a shame really, as aesthetically they had a lot to work with. Zurg's theme is an absolute banger as well.

Having spoken of Voldemort, how about another case study in badly executed villainy? Kylo Ren's motives are as chaotic as his personality, which itself is about as consistent as a Pensioner's bowel movements. This isn't even the heir to Anakin Skywalker (a powerful person capable of getting...

A good few of the most hardcore Potterheads think that's just the Wizarding World's arrogance talking (and Rowling getting a bit caught up in her own world). Indeed, this could be another reason the version of Voldemort I've proposed could be so extreme and frantic is that he (much like Harry...

Actually, the "reeeeeeeeeeee muggles" motivation could have been quite compelling. Voldemort could hate and fear muggles because he can see them slowly outstripping the Wizarding World (the place that is his home, which he loves and is deathly afraid of losing. Let's face it, the man did not...

I think Rowling got carried away with herself and failed to live up to the build up. I never got the sense of "terrible, but great" from Voldemort. He should have been a bit of a badass, completely cold and calculating, with an actual vision that extends beyond "reeeeeeee, muggles," and capable...

You know, what with all the things we've discussed, I think Lord Voldemort's failure to live up to most of that makes him a little...underwhelming. As one of the most famous fantasy villains of all time, Tom Riddle is not far off from a case study in sub par villain writing, what with his...

One thing I've noted with at least the wider audience's views on villains, is that the ones with codes of honour get a great deal of respect. For example, Davy Jones of Pirates of the Caribbean is a literally heartless sadist but once he gives his word, he doesn't go back on it. And there's...

Here's another one of my thoughts on what makes a great villain: dignity in the face of death. An antagonist who accepts death honourably is automatically worthy of respect no matter how awful they were in life. It's one of the reasons Saren was such a badass villain in Mass Effect 1, if you...

And/or antagonist, I might add. For me, it is power. Not so much in overwhelming, god like power, but power that is proportionate to the story. The villain should have power, if not direct power over the protagonist, and exert it competently and consistently. Through this their influence is...