Fandom responses to the presentation of the ideology of antagonists

Villains and antagonists have inspired much debate in fandoms. The motivations of villains are often dissected and discussed, to try to understand their actions. 
A villainous character may be viewed sympathetically by fans and may even be considered an anti-hero, if their actions are justifiable. Some fans hope that their favourite villain will get a redemption arc in canon, allowing them to make up for their previous misdeeds. Redemption fics are common in fanfics focused on villainous character. 
However fans may be criticized as villain apologists, for excusing a character's evil deeds based on extenuating circumstances, such as a tragic backstory. Villain apologism is often categorized as woobification. 
Enemies to Lovers and Enemyslash fics, pairing two enemies in a romantic or sexual relationship, are common for villains. Often a villainous character is paired with the hero of the story. This trope is often criticized for pairing characters who may have had violent or abusive interactions in canon. 
There are also Villain AU stories, where a heroic character is reimagined as a villain. Many of these stories are also Role Reversal AUs, where the villain and the hero swap roles, and the villain becomes the hero of the story. 
 
==Sympathetic Villains==
Many fans criticize the portrayal of villains with valid grievances and criticisms of the status quo, only to have their ideals apparently invalidated by heinous crimes that aren't inherently related to those ideals. These villains may be considered something like "revolutionary", while the heroes may be considered something like "reactionary".
On the other hand, some fans assert that recognizing sympathetic villains as still villainous is valuable as a moral lesson, as "the road to Hell is often paved with good intentions" and "he who fights monsters should take care not to become one" and all that, and stanning can distort perceptions of the morals that characters are supposed to represent. 
Discussions of sympathetic villains often discuss cultures of "victimhood", "good victims", "bad victims", and "victim-blaming".
Some TV Tropes articles discuss related phenomenon.Villains Act, Heroes React, Villain Has a Point, Designated Villain, The Extremist Was Right, Protagonist-Centered Morality, The Complainer Is Always Wrong
File:2019-02-11 alexlawdraws.jpg|comic by alexlawdraws (2019-02-11)
File:2023-12-22 let-them-fight.jpg|alt="A comic structured in 4 panels. In the first panel, a black stick figure with black text above its head saying: “Hello. I am a character who is fighting for social/civil change. I may be alone in this, or I may be apart of/leading a larger group of those like me, but either way my main given goal is to stand up against my/our oppressors and get justice for all the wrong we have been dealt by society. I fight back via “unconventional” methods, but it is all to serve a cause that will help benefit those like me in ways the current status quo did not, as well as said methods being the only way my/our cause can be heard.” In the panel next to it, a blue stick figure is standing next to the black stick figure, and blue text above them says: “Hi. I am the main character. You’re literally worse than your oppressors and always have been + you’re really mean.” In the third panel, below the first box, black text above the black stick figure says: “How could I forget. You are right, main character. I am worse than my oppressors. In fact, I always have been. I also never cared about my own oppression, nor the oppression of those I’m fighting for. In fact, I’ve never cared about the people I’ve been fighting for. I secretly just wanted to take over the world. And blow up apartments full of nun babies. And kill everyone. because I am secretly an abusive egotistical incel creep terrorist unforgivable monster scapegoat bully worthless pathetic irredeemable asshole and always have been. I deserve to die horribly and graphically.” Next to the black stick figure is the blue stick figure, with smaller blue text over its head saying: “Thank you for finally realizing this.” In the fourth and final panel, the black stick figure is laying in a red pool of blood, presumably dead. Large blue text over the whole scene says: “Guys we did it. The status quo is safe.” The blue stick figure is still standing under this text."|can we stop doing this trope by let-them-fight (2022-12-22), tagged with various media including #mcu #atla #the legend of korra #rwby #bioshock #the clone wars #dc comics
== Some fictional villains==
* DC Comics
** Batman: Anarky, Poison Ivy, Jason Todd
** Joker (2019 film): Arthur Fleck
* Death Note: Light Yagami
* Fire Emblem: Three Houses: Flame Emperor
* The Legend of Korra: Amon and the Equalists, Kuvira, Zaheer
* Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe
** Loki
** Black Panther: Killmonger
** The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Flag Smashers
** X-Men: Magneto
* Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Kyubey, Akemi Homura
* RWBY: The White Fang
* Voltron: Legendary Defender: Prince Lotor
==Villains and redemption ==
: See Redemption (trope)
==Further reading==
*POV you’re a radical leftist freedom fighter that the narrative has chosen to turn into a terrorist so the protagonist can learn the horrors of radicalism and choose moderate reform instead by lesbianboboberens
* Kay and Skittles: The Ideology Of Falcon And The Winter Soldier and 'The Swerve'
==References==
Category:Discussion