Why is it so interesting for a villain to come close to winning?

[Singe 2,111]

It's not like FIM is going to pull a Mistborn to have the villian win in the Season Finale. Then the next Season is spent with the villian still in control while the heros continue on in the new world until the villian is overthrown in the end.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,305]

A couple of alternatives would be:

1. A villain who gets stomped right out of the gate and is no threat whatsoever.

2. A villain who succeeds and permanently impacts Equestria in a negative way.

 

The first might be amusing. xD  Like, if Snips & Snails decide to try out evil.  Just for the first five minutes of an episode.  Then they're defeated by, Idunno...  A Breezie.  Two Breezies, tops.

 

But I don't want the second one; I'm invested.  I *gasp* care.  And I tire of hearing how some members of the fandom would like FIM (a show about colorful equines and magic and friendship) to be darker.  Edgier.  Darker / edgier does not automatically = good.  And it doesn't mesh well with what's been established by the series thus far.

[Rainboom Dash 1,056]

When a villain comes particularly close it's very interesting for me, particularly when a hero's normal maneuvers haven't worked. They'll lose of course, it ends up being a matter of how.

[Jeremiah 1,586]

Shogo Makashima is one of the most ruthless and most badasss villian ever! he came so close to his one goal that he nearly succedsed .....NERALY

my critreia for a villian is simple:

dark

semi brooding

ruthless

interseting motive

got dat broadway swagger

and amazingly crafted diagloue

also they have to be smart

and have an emotional connection with the protagonist and work from the shad0ws

[Pastel 7,630]

The closer a villain comes to winning, the more suspense there is.

Edited April 11, 2015 by Blobulle

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

It's more of a cliche than anything but it's a necessary one

 

 

Mostly because the antagonist is the primary source of tension in those kinds of episodes. They usually dominate until the very end where the protagonists usually end up winning.

 

In a show like mlp we'll see this often but in other shows the villan may actually win

[CC_Maud_Pie 6,431]

- It's unique because for the most part, we're too used to seeing the heroes win in fiction.

 

- It'll show how possible it is for a villain to defeat a hero.

 

- It makes the plot more interesting and intense.

[KraznorG 28]

Despite what all have said, I feel that at a point having the same trope occur over and over makes the heroes seem incompetent, to allow similar threats to occur and not being able to anticipate them by drawing upon their past experiences (which is growing quite extensive as we are approaching 100 episodes). I kind of like situations that involve a clear antagonistic character, but they are more than just a psychopath wishing to take over the whole kingdom. Someone like a Trixie or Iron Will, who cause some manner of trouble for our characters but aren't defeated through an out and out fight but some other display of our hero's virtues. 

 

Part of my preference for this type of story comes from the fact that conflicts being resolved by violence is in a lot of other media so having a show where characters throw a party, or have a friendly competition, or talk things out in order to solve their issues was really refreshing. The majority of the show is still comprised of this but I felt season 3 was a bit imbalanced in this respect as many of the episodes had fairly conventional conflicts of good vs evil fighting it out. The comic book episode, the season premiere, and even Trixie was more overtly evil due to a cursed artifact. Daring Do's various villains being made real was also a bit absurd to me. Anyway. That first season. Wow. Watch it again if its been awhile. I really really like how they mix things up in that one. 

[Twilight Frost 271]

I think the villain should win every once in a while. It would make shows, movies or whatever it is more interesting.

[justabug 23]

Would we really consider them villains if they couldn't come close? Sure, a villain's goal might not be world domination, but whatever their nefarious plan is, it has to be something within their ability.

 

 

 

Actually, now that I say that I really want to write something with an incompetent, unambitious villain. That sounds kind of fun.

[INACTIVE USERNAME 383]

Story, sitting on the edge of your seat, the plot, the action, the explosions, (BOOM! CRASH! BANG!) the fighting, the ending.. PROFIT!

[Jeremiah 1,586]

is a villian neccasry in a story??? with all this disscusion i wanna bring that up

[Mars Orbit 729]

This happens so they could show some proof that said villain is stronger than them in their current state

[SunflowerPrincess 345]

is a villian neccasry in a story??? with all this disscusion i wanna bring that up

In my opinion, a villian, and by villian I mean an evil character, isn't always necessary in a story, but every protagonist, the main character in a story, needs an antagonist, their opponent, that doesn't really need to be evil, they might be good but have different believes from the protagonist or whatever.

[Jeremiah 1,586]

why do we need good vs evil, i sometimes think it gets boring why dont we need a batlle of ideals?

idealism is far better and more deeper and sometimes its more immersive watch Fate/Zero if u wanna know what i mean

[Tao 8,837]

is a villian neccasry in a story??? with all this disscusion i wanna bring that up

 

All stories did some kind of conflict to move them along but it can be:

 

pony vs pony

pony vs nature

pony vs society

pony vs self

 

So you dont always need a bad guy to get a story in which we have seen the writers use a bit.

[yeet 2,027]

Because hasbro find it funny to see all of us getting butt hurt from their plot twists xD