“What’s A Story Where The ‘Bad Guys’ Are Actually, Completely, 100% Right?” (39 Answers)

From when we were little, we have been taught that we should like the “good guys” in the stories and hate the “bad ones.” Then, as we grow up, we start to realize that sometimes those “bad guys” aren’t as bad as the story portrays them.So, when someone on Reddit asked people to share which villains—in their opinion—aren’t wicked, netizens didn’t hold back. So, let’s look through the examples they shared and decide whether we agree with them or not!More info:RedditThis post may includeaffiliate links.

So, when someone on Reddit asked people to share which villains—in their opinion—aren’t wicked, netizens didn’t hold back. So, let’s look through the examples they shared and decide whether we agree with them or not!

More info:Reddit

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Dennis the Menace. The older I get the more I sympathize with Mr Wilson. Get off my lawn, you little s**t.

Mr Wilson from “Dennis the Menace”, representing a story where villains might be completely right.

The mother in “Mrs. Doubtfire.” For years, she’d been dealing with a man-child who undermined her, upstaged her, and caused messes which she wound up having to clean up.Then, instead of making serious efforts to clean up his life, he decides to make her look like the bad guy and disguise himself to sneak back into her home.In the end, the movie makes the mother look like she learned a lesson, when it should have been him.

The mother in “Mrs. Doubtfire ”from the topic of villains actually not being that bad.

Parents in “Dirty Dancing”, representing a story where the ‘bad guys’ are actually right.

Every story has aprotagonist—the main character—the one that the people consuming the story should care about the most.Then, there’s the antagonist—the character that opposes the protagonist. While the antagonists are usually viewed as the villains of the story, they do not always have to be. Sometimes the main character is the evil one.

Every story has aprotagonist—the main character—the one that the people consuming the story should care about the most.

Then, there’s the antagonist—the character that opposes the protagonist. While the antagonists are usually viewed as the villains of the story, they do not always have to be. Sometimes the main character is the evil one.

Jaws from… well Jaws, the poor shark just be sharking.

Shark from “Jaws”, representing misunderstood bad guys in stories.

The Jungle Book. Shere Kahn didn’t want the man cub around because “he’ll set the jungle on fire.” By the end of the story, what does Mowgli do? Set the jungle on fire.

Shere Khan in “The Jungle Book”, representing perspectives where the ‘bad guy’ may be right.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ferris is a manipulative narcissist and the teacher was right.

Ferris Bueller from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, a story were a teacher, who is a “bad guy” is actually right.

It’s called theanti-herotrope. This character lacks traditional heroic qualities, such as a strong moral code, making them far from a good person. Such characters include Walter White fromBreaking Bador The Beast fromBeauty and the Beast.Vastly differentexampleshere, but they show how varied anti-heroes can be.Yet, even if the protagonist is considered to be the good force in the story, that doesn’t mean that the antagonist is bad. In fact, from time to time, antagonists are portrayed as thevillainsof the story, but when you consider their actions and motivations, you realize they aren’t so bad.

Yet, even if the protagonist is considered to be the good force in the story, that doesn’t mean that the antagonist is bad. In fact, from time to time, antagonists are portrayed as thevillainsof the story, but when you consider their actions and motivations, you realize they aren’t so bad.

The insurers requiring additional proof of safety at Jurassic Park.

The dinosaur from “Jurassic Park”, representing a story where “bad guys” were actually right.

SpongeBob. Every feeling Squidward has is completely valid and once you’ve realized you’ve now reached adulthood.

Spongebob and Squidward from “SpongeBob SquarePants”, in which the latter character is portrayed as a villain, despite not being so unreasonable.

The dude in the “Bee Movie”, in theme of misunderstood villains being right.

That brings us to today’s topic. A few days ago, a Reddit user went to r/AskReddit and asked: “What’s a story where the ‘bad guys’ are actually, completely, 100% right, to the point where it’s weird thestorykeeps calling them the bad guys?”

Hermione trying to give the elves rights in Harry Potter. The books portray her as in the wrong but she’s 100% right.

Hermione from “Harry Potter”, who was villanized for caring for elves, relating to a discussion about the ‘bad guys’ that are right.

Bugs Bunny. Rewatched some of the old cartoons and Bugs is a total a*****e in nearly every episode.

Bugs Bunny from “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” smiling with book titled “Victory Thru Hare Power,” holding a carrot, from the topic of villains actually not being that bad.

Not so much a “bad guy” as he was an antagonist, but Ice Man was totally right about Maverick in Top Gun.

Ice Man from “Maverick in Top Gun”, discussing when ‘bad guys’ might be right.

Without giving too much away, we can say that the list includes the man from the infamousBee Movie,The Wicked Witch of the West (or simplyElphaba) inThe Wizard of Oz,and many others. Check it out for yourself and upvote those you agree with!

At the same time, in many stories, the villains are actually villainous, and still, people love them, sometimes even more than they do the hero. Here, just remember that characters like The Joker, Maleficent, and Pennywise are such avariety, right?

The Wicked Witch of the West was certainly nasty, but on the other hand, just wanted her dead sister’s shoes! That b***h Glinda comes floating in in her bubble and steals the shoes off a fresh corpse, and when the dead woman’s sister wants the only thing that survived a house falling on them, Glinda’s like “they must be powerful because she wants them so bad”.No! You just denied a grieving woman an heirloom that belonged to her sister, you absolute monster. Glinda’s the real villain of The Wizard of Oz.

The Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz”, relating to a topic where “bad guys” weren’t as bad.

Emily from Friends. She was made out to be over-controlling and possessive, but wouldn’t you be if your husband said his ex-girlfriend’s name at the alter, tried to go on your honeymoon with said ex-girlfriend, and then kept lying about hanging out with her? Then Ross ultimately ends his marriage because he doesn’t want to stop hanging out with his ex-girlfriend. He literally put an ex over his wife. Emily was totally justified to be pissed imo.

Emily from “Friends”, from a topic where “bad guys” are completely right.

Sarah Silverman character in school of rock.Jack black is a sponge who takes advantage of her fiance. He then steals his identity and puts his whole career at risk, but then she calls the police she’s portrayed as some kind of major a*****e. .

Patty Di Marco in “School Of Rock” in a debate about the antagonists being justified.

In other cases, some people find villains more relatable, and more similar to themselves. If you’re worried about people who can relate to villains, don’t be. The study found that while they tend to likefictionalbad guys, choosing real-life criminals doesn’t seemappealingto them.

Tragic backstoriesthat make viewers/readers sympathize with them, iconic dialogue lines that people remember for a long time, and many other things make the villains likable. After all, to each their own when it comes to the kind of people we find charming on screen (or on the page)—and it’s completely okay, as long as the crimes in the story remain there and aren’t brought toreality.

Jack and the Beanstalk. First he irresponsibly trades in his mother’s cow for some beans. Then he steals a bunch of st from the giant who he then murders. Jack is an a***e.Edit: most of you understood what I was trying to say here, so thank you. For those who didn’t, I was actually trying to defend the giant as not a bad guy- I should have been more clear. And yes, I know this does not apply to all versions of the story: some actually depict him as a more evil character.

Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk”, symbolizing a story with justified antagonists.

Emily in The Devil Wears PradaShe worked hard at Runway Magazine and lived and breathed fashion. She still deserved to go to Paris.

Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada”, in a debate of stories where the ‘bad guys’ might actually be right.

Magneto was right.

Magneto, embodying the concept where ‘bad guys’ may be completely right.

Thomas the Tank Engine: Day of the Diesels. The diesel engines rebel because they’ve been totally neglected and all they get is a lecture about being jerks.

The diesel engines from “Thomas the Tank Engine: Day of the Diesels”, illustrating a story where antagonists are right.

Bob from “What About Bob”, a movie where a therapist, who was actually right was perceived as a “bad guy."

The duck from the duck song is such a dk dude.He goes to this man selling lemonade and harasses him for grapes when he’s obviously selling lemonade. The man is actually a saint and buys the duck some grapes and then the duck says fk you, i wanted lemonade, not even from your stand.A personal rant i’ve been thinking about.

Duck from “The Duck Song”, who is an actual villain of the story.

The hyenas in The Lion King, I think. I don’t remember well, but… Weren’t they starving? If that was the case, it’s normal they would support a new king that promise them food.

Hyenas from “The Lion King”, who weren’t actually as villainous, since they were starving.

That children’s book about the Rainbow Fish. You don’t want to give away body parts to appease the other fish who don’t even like you? A*****e.

Fish from “Rainbow fish” from a topic of characters, who are actually villains in their stories.