A well-written villain can make all the difference
in a story, but does that mean a complex portrayal of a character who believes
in what they’re doing just as much as the hero? Or does it mean a guy with a
black hat who’s a horrible bastard?
Intellectually we would probably all claim to
prefer the antagonist with depth, but in reality people don’t particularly want
their villains to be assorted shades of grey.
The idea of a specific, clearly defined baddie is
very appealing. Seeing them get their comeuppance creates a sense of great
satisfaction. The more uncompromising the depiction of them as evil, the easier
it is to enjoy their downfall or even their death.
Posts
