Scriptnotes Podcast

692 - Crafting the Perfect Villain

26 snips
Jun 24, 2025
Dive into the art of crafting unforgettable villains, where motivations and moral dilemmas come to life. Explore iconic characters like Gollum and Annie Wilkes, and the fine line between obsession and heroism. Discover the significance of henchmen and their relationships with antagonists. Unpack the complexities of villainy through various cultural lenses, and why even the scariest creatures might not always be the true villains. Get tips for making your bad guys compelling and relatable in any story!
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INSIGHT

Villain-Hero Goal Symmetry

  • Villains often share goals with heroes but lack the same moral compass or character growth.
  • Effective villains reflect and challenge the protagonist's journey and values, creating thematic resonance.
ADVICE

Balance Villain's Perspective

  • Balance how much villain POV you reveal; too much can overshadow the hero.
  • Use villain perspectives sparingly to maintain suspense and keep the hero central.
INSIGHT

Types of Villain-Hero Stories

  • There are two core types of villain-hero stories: morality plays and existential dread tales.
  • Some villains embody absurd, inexplicable evil enhancing fear without clear motivation.
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