–“Have you ever thought about the raw deal Roy Batty, the supposedly ‘evil’ Nexus-6 replicant from Blade Runner, got? Here’s a cyborg, engineered to mimic human thoughts and feelings, who’s condemned for doing what most humans would – fight for survival. Sure, he gets a bit rough, but when survival is on the line, who wouldn’t? Maybe we’ve been looking at this ‘bad guy’ all wrong. Could Roy Batty be the ultimate misunderstood hero?”
Just a few days ago, Redditor u/armedshutter posed a fascinating question that got the internet buzzing, “What villain was actually the good guy?” This intriguing query sparked an avalanche of responses, leading to a fresh look at some of our most notorious TV and movie villains. Brace yourselves, as we plunge into this riveting re-evaluation and reveal who might not be as villainous as we once believed! Here’s what the Reddit hive mind has unveiled:
1.”Consider Iceman from Top Gun. While he’s shown as the rival and foil to our hero Maverick, all he was really doing was pointing out Maverick’s reckless tendencies. And let’s face it, Maverick indeed had a penchant for living on the edge!”
–“Back when I was a 15-year-old rebel, I was immensely irked by Iceman for constantly trying to rain on Maverick’s parade. He seemed like such a spoilsport… and for the longest time, I held onto this notion. However, when the sequel was announced, my wife and I decided to revisit the original. Boy, was it an eye-opener. Iceman was spot on. Looking at it through the lens of a 52-year-old, I realized Iceman was merely speaking his truth and managing the situation the best he could.”
2.”Remember Ken, the bewildered boyfriend from Bee Movie? Who wouldn’t be taken aback if their girlfriend decided to leave them for a…bee? Yes, you read that right, a bee! It’s safe to say that his reactions were perfectly reasonable under such extraordinary circumstances. After all, trading a human partner for an insect doesn’t exactly scream sanity, does it?”
3.”Let’s take a moment to appreciate James Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean. All he was doing was fulfilling his duties, standing as a bulwark against piracy – striving to bring to justice a breed of criminals notorious for plunder and senseless violence. So was he really the bad guy, or just a misunderstood defender doing his utmost to keep people safe?”
–“The peaceful Port Royal fell victim to a savage onslaught by immortal pirates, looting and killing at will. And there stood Norrington, the lone figure striving to cease this reign of terror. Yet, he gets painted as the ‘bad guy’. Talk about a plot twist!”
4.”Let’s not forget Roy Batty from Blade Runner. Here’s a cyborg, designed to think and feel like a human, who finds himself under the threat of annihilation. He only wishes to extend his lifespan, a desire that propels him to resort to violence for survival. Under the circumstances, can we really blame him?”
–“As a 30-year-old watching this for the first time, I remember thinking, ‘Am I supposed to be cheering for this character?’ And when I reached the climax… well, my gut feelings were affirmed. Rooting for him did feel like the right thing to do.”
5.”Let’s talk about Stu from Mrs. Doubtfire. Interestingly, he’s portrayed as the villain, but he’s far from being a terrible person. He’s a solid partner to Miranda and a supportive father figure to her children. The reason he’s labelled as the ‘antagonist’ is simply because his actions run contrary to the goals of our main character.”
7.”Ever thought about Captain Harris from Police Academy in a different light? Sure, he seems rigid and stern, but all he was trying to do was weed out the incompetents, deceivers, small-time crooks, and unstable personalities from the force. If anything, his actions were geared toward public safety.”
8.”And then we have Tom from the classic ‘Tom and Jerry’. Let’s be real, Tom is just fulfilling his duties as a housecat – keeping his family’s home free from intruders. His actions are an expression of the natural predatory instinct inherent to his species. He’s providing an invaluable service to his humans, safeguarding their food from potential contamination, and protecting them from rodent-borne diseases like hantavirus.”
–“And if we’re applying human norms to these animated critters, isn’t Jerry the real culprit here? With his constant breaking and entering, and relentless stealing, he’s no innocent party. Jerry is essentially an uninvited guest in a home where Tom rightfully belongs.”
9.”And who could forget Cole Turner from Charmed? A man who sacrificed himself for his fiancée and her family, only to be duped into being possessed by the very evil they sought to vanquish. Despite his best efforts to resist, the evil overcame him. His sister-in-law condemned him as evil, never bothering to lend him a hand even after he had saved her on numerous occasions. To eliminate the evil within, he had to die. He clung onto hope while being stuck between planes, but understood that he’d forfeit his chance at an afterlife if he lingered in the wasteland for too long. Despite knowing all this, Phoebe turned her back on him and left him to his fate.”
–“When Cole discovered a way to return, she instantly labelled him as evil, even trying to gaslight him into believing he could never escape his wickedness. Numerous demons and other wrongdoers would surface, for which he held no responsibility, yet she’d always point the finger at him. In fact, she would even lash out at him, blaming him for problems he was actually trying to prevent. It’s no wonder he eventually reached his breaking point. Phoebe’s constant antagonizing, coaxing him into reacting only to use it against him, is a classic manipulation tactic – a form of emotional abuse. Can we really blame Cole under these circumstances?”
10.”Let’s discuss Benny from Rent. Despite his portrayal, he was actually quite accommodating towards the main characters, even allowing them to live rent-free for an extended period. While he may not have been entirely blameless, his aspiration to transform an empty lot into a community arts center – a space where impoverished artists could live and create at no cost – hardly seems like an act of villainy.”
11.”Ever considered Captain Hook’s side of the story from Peter Pan? Here’s a man seeking retribution against the individual responsible for his missing hand, all while grappling with the trauma caused by the crocodile who was the actual perpetrator. Maybe Hook isn’t such a villain after all.”
12.”Then we have Sharpay Evans from High School Musical. A character whose actions are always transparent and devoid of deceit. Surprisingly, in all three films, it’s Chad and Taylor who indulge in more villainous antics than Sharpay. Yet, they manage to escape any backlash. Is Sharpay truly the villain, or just a scapegoat?”
13.”And let’s not overlook Clyde Shelton from Law Abiding Citizen. Portrayed by Gerard Butler, he’s labeled as the ‘bad guy’ primarily due to the film’s perspective. In the realm of ‘revenge movies’, there are numerous protagonists who have taken lives for less significant reasons than Clyde’s.”
14.”Let’s recall Inspector Jamal from The Chipmunk Adventure. Initially, we’re made to think that Jamal is just another smuggler, especially since Claus and Claudia seem to despise him for disrupting their shady deals, and the eerie music that accompanies his appearances in the first act. However, in a thrilling turn of events, we discover that Jamal is far from being a smuggler. He’s actually an Inspector for Interpol. Upon learning of a child in danger, he doesn’t hesitate to spring into action and provide assistance. Now, does that sound like the actions of a villain to you?”
15.”Finally, let’s not forget Zaheer from The Legend Of Korra. His stance was justified given the ineptitude and corruption that ran rampant within the world’s governments, Republic City’s included. If the creators of the show intended for the ‘agent of chaos’ to be the villain, then they should’ve perhaps painted the world’s order in a more competent light.”
–“Moreover, his confrontations with Korra were driven not by personal animosity, but by ideological differences – he disagreed with her intent to support the flawed system of royalty. He genuinely attempted to reason with her, only to be met with rejection, perhaps influenced by her close ties with the royal circles. While the subsequent seasons might have somewhat redeemed his character, it’s undeniable that his portrayal in his original season was significantly skewed against him.”
16.”And of course, there’s Sid from Toy Story. Let’s be fair, the poor guy was clueless about the toys possessing sentience. Yes, his actions might seem disturbing to some, but aren’t they just a kid’s way of exploring his creativity in a non-traditional, albeit misunderstood, manner? From his perspective, his actions were completely harmless.”
–“Absolutely! It’s crucial to consider that our perception of Sid is solely through the lens of the toys’ perspective. Who’s to say that he wasn’t just a lonely kid with an abundance of untapped potential? Perhaps his creativity and ability to think outside the box were early indicators of his future success. After all, some of the most accomplished individuals in life are those who embrace their creativity and showcase inventive thinking.”
