Today's the day I'm supposed to list my favorite heroes and villains for the Heroes and Villains blogfest.
But, when it actually comes down to actually writing names, things aren't that easy. There are so many characters that I've loved that narrowing them down to a few names becomes a bit of a chore.
So, I'm going to share the one thing that my favorite heroes and villains have in common.
Complexity. I don't want saints. I don't want pure evil. I want a saint with a tough side. Or evil with a charming smile. Even better... Evils with a personality so cool, that you can almost imagine yourself making friends with that person. Almost.
So... some characters I've loved, be they heroes or villains (keeping it to the classics)...
Sherlock Holmes
Phantom
Rocheford
Milady
Athos
The Artful Dodger
Huck Finn
Jean Valjean
Javert
Who are your favorite complex characters?
(Sorry about News Day, lovelies. The break-in threw me for a loop. Will be back to normal next week. Promise!)
Hannibal Lecter is one of mine. Nice list and Sherlock Holmes seems to a favourite in this bloghop.
ReplyDeleteSherlock is a great choice. Not a saint by any stretch and even some fairly questionable personality quirks and defects.
ReplyDeleteTim
The Other Side
Darth Vader. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteA number of years ago, I read a book called Saints Behaving Badly, profiles of some saints (and a few Venerable and Blessed people) who weren't always so holy. It's more interesting to read about someone who was human and had flaws, instead of someone who was always perfect, saintly, and squeaky-clean.
ReplyDeleteSherlock is a great hero. He's been on several lists today.
ReplyDeleteNot a classic--yet--but my vote is Professor Snape. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Richard III. He's a villainous murderer, but he's so darn charming and likable at times. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved Phantom in my teens!
ReplyDeleteNas
The Phantom is another good choice I totally forgot about. Great list and I had Holmes on my list, as well :)
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this blogfest?
ReplyDeleteI like complex characters. I'm now thinking of who I'd put on my list.
I've never read Sherlock Holmes, but watching both the new British version and the American version of this character makes me want to read the books.
ReplyDeleteThe best characters have light and shade - even if what they see as good, most see as bad, and vice versa. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI mostly like my characters complex, especially if I'm reading them, rather than watching them. Having said that, the ones I agree with you most on, Javert and Jean Valjean, I've only watched on stage and on film. Javert is truly complex, because on the surface he is so ordered, so sure of himself, the law is the law and is righteous, but when he finally lets Valjean go to save Marius, a whole boiling mess of emotional conflict surfaces.
ReplyDeleteOne of the villains I can see myself actually liking and being friends with is Loki (from Thor, not The Avengers when he is insane, although he does have flashes of charm even in Avengers, especially when he is talking to Hawkeye, rather than when he is ranting at crowds of people). In Thor, he's eloquent, charming and does love his brother and his skills and cunning are something that are useful to his fellows, it is the lies and revelations that turn that cunning against his family and friends.
Sophie's Thoughts and Fumbles
Purely good heroes tend to be annoying and purely evil baddies tend to be boring, so I totally see your point. That's not to say I don't like some heroes that are traditionally all good, like Luke Skywalker and Captain America, but they both have a rebel side as well. Both of them had to run away to become great and to basically stick their fingers up at the establishment.
ReplyDeleteSoph already mentioned Loki as a great villain above and I'll just say, ditto :).
Tasha's Thinkings
Great list Misha, Sherlock Holmes is on many lists.
ReplyDeleteComplexity in character is important in heroes and villains - I totally agree with you there. I love the recent version of Captain Hook in Once Upon a Time because even though he's a villain, he's likeable at the same time.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
Athos is an excellent choice!
ReplyDeleteAnd your statement: "Evils with a personality so cool, that you can almost imagine yourself making friends with that person. Almost." ... this says it all. So very true.
Thanks for participating in the blogfest!
Yes, yes, yes - I'm with you on complexity. I think because I like to believe these people could be real, and I've never yet met a real person who's all good or all bad.
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