Commentary: Do Fans Like When Heroes Become Villains?

There are many similarities between the hero’s and villain’s journeys. Fans particularly love to watch them unfold. In fact, these journeys can go so far that the hero and villain can eventually come full circle and wind up on the other side. It’s always compelling to see a villain rise up and be heroic. But is it equally as popular to see a hero fall and become a villain? This type of story requires a level of disappointment. Someone the audience rooted for is now someone to root against. It’s an interesting dichotomy worth exploring.

There are many instances of the villain redemption arc in stories. The Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn’t be the same without Loki (Tom Hiddleston) becoming an unlikely hero in not just Avengers: Infinity War, but also in his own series. Zuko (Dante Basco) from Avatar: The Last Airbender also had a very long and complicated redemption arc that is considered one of the most compelling in recent memory.

Likewise, the hero’s fall is usually well received when it’s expected. The great instance of this is when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) became Darth Vader. His eventual transformation into a Sith Lord was a notorious part of Star Wars lore fans had been waiting to see dramatized for decades. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise and wasn’t as heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Marvel is doing something different right now with their Ben Reilly character. Initially a hero as Spider-Man’s clone, he struck out as his own hero: the Scarlet Spider. Now he is taking a turn as a villain known as Chasm in the Marvel event Dark Web. After rooting for a character for so long, it is difficult for fans to shift and suddenly not like someone they grew up cheering for. It’s an interesting dynamic that stories should pay more attention to when chronicling a hero’s journey to villainy.