Which Villain Can You Relate To Most?

Villains, if written well, can be the most interesting types of characters of any story. They can drive plots forward, up the action and even provide some emotional tension. Villains, if written well, can be a lot more human than any hero. They’re usually brimming with flaws and traumatic life events, which have caused them to turn to the dark side. Despite their wishes to destroy the world, these flaws and histories can make a villain surprisingly relatable.

This month, our team was asked the question to which villain they can relate most – and here are their answers!

Alexander Miller – Roy Batty (Blade Runner)

Life is frequently hard, unfair, confusing, and we are helpless to control our fate. These are things that most humans are forced to deal with, and yeah, life isn’t always a picnic. Now imagine if you were a humanoid cyborg, who survived a brutal slave revolt; you have a predetermined lifespan, and someone whose made career for themselves killing (or retiring) your kind is out to get you.

Well, that’s the dilemma for Roy Batty in Ridley Scott‘s Blade Runner. Dutch-born actor Rutger Hauer has enjoyed a respectable career in the states playing heavies, but this villain is one of the most dynamic and sympathetic of his distinguished career. Roy Batty is powerful, dangerous, and a killing machine. However, all he wants to know is where he came from, and why he can’t live longer than designed.

Batty is a cyborg (or replicant), and yet he’s the most humanized characters in the film. The famous “tears in the rain” speech at the end of the climactic fight between Decker and Batty is considered to be one of the most well written soliloquies of all time. As far as character arcs go, Batty’s is one of the best examples of narrative storytelling. He’s at times sadistic, but if you consider the condition of his existence, the horrors he’s seen, and the perplexing nature of artificial intelligence you can’t help but understand his plight.

Whether you are a Blade Runner or a Skin-Job, the nature of existence is often difficult and hard to understand. Batty is a villain, but one that’s easy to understand, and even empathize with.

Rachael Sampson – Count Olaf (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

I can relate to Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events, mainly because he isn’t a serious villain, he’s just bizarre.

This villain isn’t hateable, instead he’s particularly annoying. In the book series Olaf is portrayed to be tremendously cruel and wicked, though the film adaptation makes him out to be wicked in a humorous sense, and I like to think I can be like that occasionally. Olaf is a recluse, but he doesn’t display any signs of loneliness, possibly disguising it behind humour which is something I can relate to as well. Furthermore, this antagonist aspires to be an actor, and I too have that same career goal, though it’s probably best that I go about it in a different way.

Strangely, I see Count Olaf as a style icon. I like his flamboyant outfits, in particular his pristine pinstripe suit and his vintage coat with the long train, and I would happily wear those outfits myself. Olaf also has the ability to transform into many different versions of himself in the film, and I like to think I also possess this chameleon quality.

Overall, Olaf is simply crazy and doesn’t take himself too seriously, which is something I admire about his character. I would say I am similar to him in this respect, because being someone who embarrasses themselves daily, it is important to not care or worry about what others think, and strangely the character of Count Olaf has taught me that. I know The Count has cruel intentions but I love him regardless. I would say that this villain is my alter-ego purely because he is unique (in every sense of the word). Then again, what character played by Jim Carrey isn’t unique?

Raul Marin – Batman’s Mr. Freeze

It is often said that on stage, it is always more fun to play the villain. I’ve had the pleasure of doing that, and I completely agree with the statement. There’s something great about performing as a character that is a polar opposite of who you are in real life – in many ways, it’s like living your fantasies. The possibility of being a villain on stage is very intriguing.

Which villain do you most relate to? This is a question that required a lot of thinking and research. I would never see myself as a villain, and neither would people say that about me. However, since Batman is my absolute favorite film character, the Batman villain that I relate to most is Bane in some ways, and Mr. Freeze in others. Up to this point in my life, I’ve made some achievements that I am very proud of, but this journey has also been a very tough battle. It continues to be a battle, and like Bane, I despise having any sign of weakness. I must constantly prove to myself that I can do even better.

I would never consider myself to be a shy person, but depending on whom I am with, like Mr. Freeze, I can feel very isolated from others. Once I’ve made a great connection with someone though, it leaves a very lasting impression, and it becomes difficult for me to let go of that connection.

Manon de Reeper – Loki (Thor, The Avengers, et cetera)

I like Marvel’s Cinematic Universe’s Loki. I like him a lot, and I’m not even that big a fan of Tom Hiddleston‘s (though I did begin to understand some of the fascination after I saw Only Lovers Left Alive). While I’m not adopted (that I know of), not generally as jealous, and probably wouldn’t kick my brother off a throne he deserved, I can relate to Loki when it comes to his witticism, sense of humor and intelligence, and I don’t like being lied to either – trusting others is tough! And I, like Loki in Thor: The Dark World, would pretend to be OK while really I’m not. Furthermore, I like Loki’s style choices – while the green he’s often seen in is probably symbolic for his jealousy, it does look rather well on him, doesn’t it? I like to think green is a color I wear well, too.

I like my villains smart, intellectual and at least somewhat rational (if their motivations for evil are too sappy, personal and emotional, I’m out). Loki does tick these boxes, even if he’s a tad too jealous and can get a bit sappy, but it’s all well-balanced. In the end, while I wouldn’t kick my brother off any throne, I probably would secretly think I’d be a better ruler. Sorry bro. Now that I come to think of it, we are a bit like Loki and Thor – I’m the dark-haired introverted hermit, socially awkward yet smart, while my brother’s the blonde, brawny, social good guy. Huh.

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Now that we’ve shared some of our deepest secrets with you when it comes to our wishes of world domination and the destruction of mankind (we’re actually disappointingly normal, aren’t we) – please share with us your thoughts:

Which villain can you relate to most?

We’re very curious.

(top image: Star Wars – source: 20th Century Fox)