I dont like "Misunderstood villain" trophe

[Maxmillian 98]

Because it makes them seem redeemable.

Though when i think of a parody of that, i think of this joke video. Except anyone listening to a long monologue of that, would likely have called it nonsensical at this part 0:24

 

 

Which is why this is my favorite video to burst that bubble.

 

I dont mind knowing the motivation of a villain, or having depth. But in the end one makes a choice. Thats it. Take "Two Face" in Dark Knight movie. An Idealist who fell rock bottom when exposed to the horrors of reality, but in the end he still made that choice. To me thats way better written than "We are all just misunderstood people". Which i just hate.

I consider "Scorpion and the turtle" story to be the best example of explaining reality of evil, because in the end you always have a choice.

[Megas 27,786]

The problem is that some writers seem to think making them misunderstood is enough to absolve them of all their misdeeds or to make them seem more sympathetic. When its done well it can be really good but I think more often than not it's usually done for the sake of subversion

[OverTheStars 202]

I think it's less about the trope itself and more about bad writing. There are some antagonists that are redeemable and have really good redemption arcs (think Zuko from Avatar), but I think it's only lackluster if the villain has done irredeemable things or if their arc to become better is lacking or rushed.  I feel like if either of those things happen it just reflects poorly on the protagonists. Like what do you mean you're okay with (insert atrocity here) because the villain said they're super sorry? I think it might be a result of lazy/rushed writing because the writers want to have a peaceful solution but don't want to have to actually put in the work into making the villain actually work to be redeemed.

That being said, a misunderstood villain doesn't always mean that they are intended to be redeemable. There are some villains who start off as misunderstood with the potential for redemption but then spiral into being irredeemable.

Edited Thursday at 07:46 PM by OverTheStars

[Winter Flower 596]

it is an overdone trope and it gets the weirdo joker memes goin with angsty teens thinkin' they are "to deep",

MLP show fim had a similar thing going but prolly a product of its time or usually justa thing to teach kids to think beyond black or white 
 

[ThePinkestofPones 3,471]

I know exactly how you feel, the trope can be done well, but in a series I watch it is NOT done well at all