What do you like in a Bad Guy?

[mtjm]

What do you like in your bad guys? Myself I like a bad guy who is very smart, and who has a little bit of a sense of humor. thats just me though, anyone else?

[chesilbeach]

That's a good start, and I'd add to that suave, devilishly handsome with a beautiful accent (Italian, Scottish, French will do me) and preferably with a great back story to show why he's a bad guy.

[Chrissy]

I think that pretty much sums it up for me too!

 

There should be a level of devious genius, an immorality that doesn't quite reach cruelty, but has an edge that suggests that my bad guy could be cruel if he so chose. A sense of humour is a must, and I want absolutely no hint of petulance. I want my bad guy to be self aware, creative and to have a code of honour, even if that code is not quite on a par with the good guys.

 

Hannibal Lecter has a lot of these aspects for me, but his cannibalism took him too far to 'the other side'. I remember at one point in one of the Thomas Harris stories that he leaves a certain guard alone when he escapes. He does this because the guard always treated him with respect, and this was how he repaid him.

[Echo]

I like one that is completely ruthless, deadly, intelligent, and with a definite mean streak. I don't like my bad guys too watered down!

[Coffin Nail]

Wit, intelligence, unpredictability all work for me.

 

But that could be said for my flavour of good guys too.

 

There's a fine line between the two. Many of my good guys are deeply flawed characters.

[Nollaig]

I like morally ambiguous bad guys. Ones whose actions are definitely wrong, but who you actually find yourself understanding, relating to, and even sympathizing with to the extent that they make you question yourself and the nature of right and wrong, good and evil. I hate nothing more than black and white characters. Charisma is another huge thing.

[pontalba]

I like morally ambiguous bad guys. Ones whose actions are definitely wrong, but who you actually find yourself understanding, relating to, and even sympathizing with to the extent that they make you question yourself and the nature of right and wrong, good and evil. I hate nothing more than black and white characters. Charisma is another huge thing.

 

Good points.

I also like the bad guy to be ingenious, and a bit twisty.

[Guest Eliza1]

I like bad guys to have all those characteristics that make him a bad guy (scheming mind, vengeful streak, deadly patience, cunning, venomously articulate etc), but I also like them to have some kind of underlying vulnerability. Whether it is linked to why they are the way they are, or if it's simply the flaw in their "bad" character, that makes them somewhere deep down, good, like the rest of us. I think a good example for me is the phantom, in phantom of the opera.

[Kell]

Doesn't matter to me whether my "bad guy" is male or female, but I like them to be good-looking, charming, manipulative, intelligent and incredibly twisted - they crueller the better! They must really relish the idea of making people suffer! And they must be super-good at getting away with it too.

[Raven]

What do you like in your bad guys?

 

Nice eyes and good teeth.

 

BTW, this is sexist, what about bad girls?!

 

(In which case I will add "a nice bottom").

[Chrissy]

Nice eyes and good teeth.

BTW, this is sexist, what about bad girls?!

(In which case I will add "a nice bottom").

 

 

The term 'bad guy' I took to being used in a non gender specific context.

 

And a nice bottom is essential whether the bad personage is male or female!

[Guest Eliza1]

Nicola six , in Martin Amis' London Fields is a brilliant "bad guy". She's so cruel, but it's great!

[emelee]

My ultimate bad guy:

Handsome, sexy and preferably dark-haired, in good physical shape.

Sarcastic and good sense of humor.

Enjoys having power over others.

Never hesitates after making up his mind.

Ruthless when it comes to his goals and how to achieve them.

Never falls in love but can have affairs/flings.

Would murder and torture if needed.

Not much of a conscience.

Not scared of anything, but comes to life in hardships.

Very intelligent and knows how people usually work. Calculating.

A loner. Does not have much if any contact with family.

Has a dark past, which explains why he is bad.

Would never willingly show weakness unless pretending.

No remorse for his actions.

Charming and nice at times when it suits him.

Well dressed.

Master manipulator.

Outspoken about his opinions.

Uses somewhat twisted logic so that his actions will make more sense.

Enjoys watching his victims suffer.

Very vengeful, even if the logic doesn't completely add up.

 

(If it's a bad girl, the same goes for everything above).

Edited September 7, 2010 by emelee

[Kell]

Two of my favourite villains come from the same novel - Les Liaiasons Dangereuses. Valmont and Merteille are both so manipulative and vindictive, completely ruthless and prideful, charming and attractive, intelligent and sly. Although Valmont appears to have a slight change of heart at the end, it could also actually be taken as a last chance for revenge rather than a noble gesture. They are both so perfectly corupt that it's almost impossible not to adore them!