For instance, antiheroes and villains often represent the underdog or outcast, resonating with those who’ve faced similar struggles. In the context of ‘what is beautiful is good’, we have the ideology that when a person with good looks will possess good traits like intelligence, honesty etc. Before days, cinema portrayed a villain character as someone terrific in his look. Nowadays in modern cinema, villains are always characterized as good-looking, intellectual, powerful, and holding authority. We attribute the good-looking villains to possess good personality traits and tend to develop likenesses towards them.
The recent Netflix show about Jeffrey Dahmer drew controversy, for example, because the portrayal of Dahmer by an attractive actor seemed to blunt some fans’ horror surrounding his actions. This tends to happen most often when fictional villains are portrayed by attractive actors or illustrated in that way. In the case of Daemon Targaryen, showrunner Condal was confused by some fans’ recoding of the dangerous and dark character as someone heroic, something he confirmed was not intended in the writing.
Dark Protagonists in Video Games: Interactive Moral Ambiguity
They are both highly Creative, Innovative, Skilled, and Unique Thinkers who take viewers on a journey that has us sitting on the edge of our seats wondering what they’ll do next. Applying StoryFit’s character analysis tool helps us evaluate the strength of a script’s major and minor characters as well as their character traits. What makes manga quiz anti-heroes complex is their compilation of traits – both positive and negative – and how they are applied together.
As I noted earlier, people with dark traits prefer a social strategy that uses aggressive and antisocial solutions to get their way. Hence, people with dark traits might feel an affinity for antiheroes because they simulate how these people would prefer to deal with their own problems. The 1940s film noir era, with movies like Double Indemnity, introduced dark protagonists to explore fears8. The 2000s TV era brought antiheroes like Breaking Bad’s Walter White, changing how we see characters8.
“It Must Be Exhausting Always Rooting for the Anti-Hero”
For example, StoryFit measured these two anti-hero leads to analyze the breakdown of their personalities and unique distribution of pro social vs antisocial traits. This dynamic character evolution would not be possible without the catalyst of his cancer diagnosis. We can all relate to feeling out of place or different – it’s what makes us human.
As audiences want real stories, they need to see the effects of antiheroes’ actions24. Fans love to analyze every move of antiheroes online, sparking big discussions. A survey found 65% of viewers prefer characters with flaws over perfect heroes18. Fans debate whether characters like Joker or Tyler Durden are villains19. This interaction has become a key part of modern storytelling. The journey of the antihero from ancient myths to today’s screens shows how storytelling trends have changed.
The Blurring Lines Between Good and Evil
Their partnership is built on mutual ambition and a shared desire for power. This dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue to the show and keeps viewers invested in their story. These characters break free from the “good girl” stereotype. Audiences find perfection exhausting; flaws make characters human. Walter White registers as a Gold Standard Character, but he isn’t the only one.
Antiheroes like Walter White or Tony Soprano are loved for their complex morals. Fans might ignore the harm done by a character if their story is engaging. Video games let players shape morality by making choices that change stories. Games like Mass Effect and The Witcher have stories that branch out based on what you decide. This makes the characters feel like they’re yours to control. This trend challenges old norms where women were seen as less important or simple.
One theory proposes that fantasies act as scripts that allow a person to mentally rehearse behavioral patterns (Gilbert & Daffern, 2017). A parallel theory suggests that dreaming evolved as a platform in which to simulate behaviors that can be used to deal with common problems. From this perspective, media preferences may fulfill a similar function to fantasy, one that is not entirely detached from reality but that simulates personally relevant strivings. Fantasy and storytelling may serve to mentally simulate solving particular problems. Antiheroes are also predominantly male—although female antiheroes are certainly gaining traction—and tend to have stereotypically “hyper-masculine” characteristics of being callous or aggressive. Antiheroes are intriguing characters that dance on the tightrope between good and evil.
Jax’s leadership is constantly tested by the challenges he faces within the club and from external threats. His efforts to steer the club towards legitimacy are often thwarted by the violent and criminal activities that define their way of life. One of the key elements of Frank’s character is his relationship with his wife, Claire.
That can result in fandom infighting when some fans revise the character to turn them into less of a villain or demand a redemption arc that might not be forthcoming. One of the reasons may be in the way these fictional characters are written—or drawn, in the case of that famous Jessica Rabbit quote. Villains are usually complex, with detailed often tragic backstories. “Moral ambiguity humanizes characters, but audiences also crave growth,” note analysts tracking post-peak antihero demand26.
According to Script Magazine, Walter White, the mild-mannered chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine kingpin, is a quintessential anti-hero. His transformation from a desperate man trying to provide for his family to a ruthless drug lord is both tragic and mesmerizing. Throughout “Breaking Bad,” Walter’s actions become increasingly indefensible, yet viewers remain hooked on his journey. Research suggests that viewers are not necessarily attracted to the characters themselves, but to the things they do which are socially forbidden. Dark characters act on impulses we all have but cannot act on, which allows viewers to explore what that might feel like. Actor Sam Reid, a fan of the book series himself, portrays Lestat.