Just a quick reminder for everyone:
randomslasherā:
You are allowed to like villains.Ā
You are allowed to like characters who have done bad things.Ā
You are allowed to like characters who are mean, manipulative, abusive, coercive, murderous, or just plain evil.Ā
Liking aĀ ābadā character is not the same thing as condoning their actions. Villains are fun. Itās genuinely okay to like them! It doesnāt mean youĀ want to be a villain, or that you are a bad person, or that you donāt recognize the issues with what theyāre doing.Ā
Thereās this really huge trend in fandom to try to redeem villains, or excuse their behaviors, or make them into woobies who arenāt really doing anything wrongāall for the purpose of being allowed to like them. I think itās honestly part of the wholeĀ āpurityā culture (tied in closely with the anti culture)āthis idea that you arenāt permitted to be a fan of, write about, or enjoy reading about anything that isnāt 100% ethically sound, and that if you do, you are inherently condoning it.
And likeā¦thatās just bullshit? You donāt have to redeem a character to be allowed to like them. Donāt get me wrong, you absolutely can if you want to, because sympathetic redemption arcs are super fun too, but I just want to throw out the reminder that you really donāt have to.Ā
You are allowed to like villains as-is.Ā
You do not have to make excuses for liking villains. You do not have to defend your own moral stances in order to like a villain. You do not have to make up reasons or justify why you like them, or reconcile your own beliefs with your appreciation of them. You do not have to defend yourself against anyone who would try to attack you or your ethical stances just because you like a villain, because you are not doing anything wrong.Ā
You are allowed to like villains.Ā
Honestly, the only thing you owe anyone else vis-Ć -vis liking a villain is to respect the fact that some people donāt, and that is alsoĀ okay. It is not your responsibility or your place to try to change their mindābut it is also not their responsibility or place to try to change yours, because neither of you is doing anything wrong.Ā
So, my villain-loving friends,Ā go. Freaking. Nuts. Enjoy the heckĀ out of those maniacal bastards.Ā
And have fun, everyone. Because thatās what fandom is supposed to be about.











