Villain Episode: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"We're the Hive Five and this is our show now!"''|Jinx, after interrupting the ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' opening.}}

A [[Villain Episode]] is a type of [[Lower Deck Episode]] or [[A Day in the Limelight]] which focuses on the antagonist. In all cases, the villains get the majority of the screen time. The heroes might not appear at all, or they might appear but get much less screen time than usual. Either way, a villain episode presents an alternative view of the show by showing details of the villains' daily life, their hopes and dreams, and how they interact with their minions during downtime.

A '''Villain Episode''' is a type of [[Lower Deck Episode]] or [[A Day in the Limelight]] which focuses on the antagonist. In all cases, the villains get the majority of the screen time. The heroes might not appear at all, or they might appear but get much less screen time than usual. Either way, a villain episode presents an alternative view of the show by showing details of the villains' daily life, their hopes and dreams, and how they interact with their minions during downtime.

In an episodic show, a villain episode is usually used just for the sake of [[Something Completely Different|something different]]. For example, if a show normally revolves around a [[Five-Man Band|group]] of [[Magnificent Seven|heroes]] fighting a [[Monster of the Week]], being defeated, learning [[Aesop|a valuable lesson]], and defeating the monster, a [[Villain Episode]] shows the villain coming up with an evil scheme, creating a monster specifically to take advantage of [[Monster of the Aesop|a problem being faced by one of the heroes]], and releasing it, only for it to be defeated again. In quite a few cases, these are considered some of the best episodes by fans.

In an episodic show, a villain episode is usually used just for the sake of [[Something Completely Different|something different]]. For example, if a show normally revolves around a [[Five-Man Band|group]] of [[Magnificent Seven|heroes]] fighting a [[Monster of the Week]], being defeated, learning [[Aesop|a valuable lesson]], and defeating the monster, a '''Villain Episode''' shows the villain coming up with an evil scheme, creating a monster specifically to take advantage of [[Monster of the Aesop|a problem being faced by one of the heroes]], and releasing it, only for it to be defeated again. In quite a few cases, these are considered some of the best episodes by fans.

In an [[Arc]]-based show, a villain episode is a good opportunity for [[Character Development]]. It allows the writers to reveal details about what drives the villain and how they feel about the constant defeats at the hands of the heroes. Often, the villains become more sympathetic after getting such exposure.

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Sometimes the entire episode will be mostly [[Villains Out Shopping]]. Sometimes literally.

Note that in a series with a [[Villain Protagonist]], a [[Villain Episode]] would technically be one which focuses primarily on the good guys.

Note that in a series with a [[Villain Protagonist]], a '''Villain Episode''' would technically be one which focuses primarily on the good guys.

See also [[Breakout Mook Character]], [[Perspective Flip]], [[Sympathetic POV]], [[Lower Deck Episode]], [[A Day in The Slimelight]], [[Something Completely Different]], and [[Villain Shoes]].

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* The "Yoshikage Kira" chapters of ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' part 4. Part 4 in particular does this so often with Kira that it seems like half the story is being told from his perspective.

** To a lesser extent, the chapters with Doppio {{spoiler|(who's [[Big Bad|Diavolo's]] alter-ego)}} in Part 5, particularly the "King Crimson vs. Metallica" sequence.

* The [[Ecchi]] anime ''Musumet'' did one when it focused on their [[Evil Counterpart~~|Evil Counterparts~~]].

* The [[Ecchi]] anime ''Musumet'' did one when it focused on their [[Evil Counterpart]]s.

* Lust, from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' received one in [[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|the 2003 anime version]]. It's basically scary as shit, depressing as eternal damnation, and a [[Downer Ending]] rolled into one Villainous Joint. (The episode is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsnkR8xmlVg "Reunion of the Fallen"].)

* King Dedede and Dr. Escargon/Escargoon of ''[[Kirby of the Stars]]'' have several episodes dedicated to themselves like "Escar-gone" where nobody recognizes Escargoon due to the effect of Boukyakku/Erasem being inside his body and "Sweet & Sour Puss" where Togeira takes away Dedede's ability to get angry and makes him stay calm and friendly through all of the pain inflicted on him by everyone else just to store his anger for one big crazy mega-attack.

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* Recently DC made Lex Luthor the main character of [[Action Comics]].

* [[Dark Reign (comics)|Dark Reign]] was basically one long villain episode for Marvel.

** The [[Dark Avengers]] concept was specifically revisited in ''New Avengers #18'', which centered around Norman Osborn assembling a new incarnation of the group and forging bonds with HYDRA, A.I.M., and the Hand. Not a single ~~hero -- much~~ less an actual member of the ~~Avengers -- appeared~~ in the issue.

** The [[Dark Avengers]] concept was specifically revisited in ''New Avengers #18'', which centered around Norman Osborn assembling a new incarnation of the group and forging bonds with HYDRA, A.I.M., and the Hand. Not a single hero—much less an actual member of the Avengers—appeared in the issue.

* Marvel recently put out a series of one shots celebrating [[Captain America (comics)]] 70th anniversary. Each one-shot starring one of Cap's allies. However two of these one-shots star two of Cap's villains. One has [[Complete Monster|Crossbones]] as the protagonist and the other has [[Friendly Enemy|Batroc the Leaper]].

* The ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|Sonic Universe]]'' arc "Scourge: Lockdown" is all about [[Dark Action Girl|Fiona]] and [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|the Destructix]] helping [[Evil Twin|Scourge]] escape from Zone Jail.

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* A planned miniseries for [[Avatar: The Last Airbender Revised|ATLAR]] would have introduced and developed Azul, the series' [[Big Bad]], leading up to her main-series introduction in the eighteenth chapter, which would've been entirely from her perspective.

* ''[[Queen of All Oni]]'' already has Jade as a [[Villain Protagonist]], but chapters still tend to be evenly mixed between focusing on her and on the J-Team's attempts to stop and capture her. Then comes chapter 10, where aside from two very short cameo scenes, the heroes don't show up at all, and the chapter focuses on [[Smug Snake|Lung's]] attempts to [[Evil Versus Evil|break Jade to his will]], and [[Co-Dragons|Left and Right's]] attempts to save her.

** The following chapter, the heroes likewise barely appear, as the plot focuses on Drago's attempts to [[Make Wrong What Once Went Right|alter history]] in his ~~favor -- the~~ heroes do eventually confront him, but only after he's spent the entire chapter [[Evil Versus Evil|dealing]] with [[Future Badass|Karasu]] and [[Enigmatic Minion|Blankman]]. The rest of the chapter deals with [[Super-Powered Evil Side|The Queen]] consolidating her hold on Jade's mind, and Jade herself recovering from the previous chapter's events.

** The following chapter, the heroes likewise barely appear, as the plot focuses on Drago's attempts to [[Make Wrong What Once Went Right|alter history]] in his favor—the heroes do eventually confront him, but only after he's spent the entire chapter [[Evil Versus Evil|dealing]] with [[Future Badass|Karasu]] and [[Enigmatic Minion|Blankman]]. The rest of the chapter deals with [[Super-Powered Evil Side|The Queen]] consolidating her hold on Jade's mind, and Jade herself recovering from the previous chapter's events.

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** Not to mention the ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' two-parter ''In A Mirror Darkly'' focusing entirely on the [[Mirror Universe]] characters. Complete with different intro scenes.

* The third-season ''[[Farscape]]'' episode 'Incubator' focused on [[Big Bad|Scorpius]], [[Dark and Troubled Past|his backstory]], [[Character Focus|and how he came to be the person he is]].

* The second season ''[[Prison Break]]'' episode "Unearthed" is that show's best example of a [[Villain Episode]]; while the audience sees newly-introduced [[Anti-Villain]] Alexander Mahone operating under the thumb of the series' [[The Dragon|dragon]] Kellerman (a new revelation, as he'd previously been portrayed as the [[Inspector Javert]]), protagonist Michael digs around into Mahone's [[Dark and Troubled Past]] and [[Incredibly Lame Pun|unearths]] his deepest, darkest secret.

* The second season ''[[Prison Break]]'' episode "Unearthed" is that show's best example of a Villain Episode; while the audience sees newly-introduced [[Anti-Villain]] Alexander Mahone operating under the thumb of the series' [[The Dragon|dragon]] Kellerman (a new revelation, as he'd previously been portrayed as the [[Inspector Javert]]), protagonist Michael digs around into Mahone's [[Dark and Troubled Past]] and [[Incredibly Lame Pun|unearths]] his deepest, darkest secret.

* The ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' episode "True Night" is arguably an example of this, as it has about 75% of the screentime going to the killer. We don't even get to see the BAU deliver the profile, which is otherwise a [[Once Per Episode]] occurrence. Instead, we see the different parts of the profile on a whiteboard in the police station when the killer is brought in.

* The third-season finale of ''[[Homicide: Life On the Street]]'' "The Gas Man."

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* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' had two:

** "Zuko Alone", in which [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Zuko was the only main character to appear]] (except in flashbacks).

** "[[Beach Episode|The Beach]]", which spent substantially more time on [[Fan Nickname|the Zucrew]] sunbathing and [[Breakfast Club~~|Breakfast Clubbing~~]] than on the Gaang being pursued by [[Career Killers|Sparky Sparky Boom Man]], because [[Evil Is Sexy]].

** "[[Beach Episode|The Beach]]", which spent substantially more time on [[Fan Nickname|the Zucrew]] sunbathing and [[Breakfast Club]]bing than on the Gaang being pursued by [[Career Killers|Sparky Sparky Boom Man]], because [[Evil Is Sexy]].

* ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'' had two:

** "Pepper, Interrupted", despite its title, focused mostly on Gene and his dealings with the Maggia and Pepper's attempts to form a friendship with him.

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** Two more showed up in the final season. "The Princess and the Bounty Hunters" concerned an [[Anti-Villain]] bounty hunter who convinces several others to gang up on Jack to capture him. Jack shows up near the end [[Shaggy Dog Story|and defeats them easily]]. Another, "The Tale of X9", involves an old robot of Aku's with an [[Personality Chip]] forced to go after Jack after Aku steals the only thing he cares about. As you could expect, [[Downer Ending|it doesn't end well]].

* ''[[Dexter's Laboratory|Dexters Laboratory]]'' had two episodes devoted to [[The Rival|Mandark]]. The first centered around his attempts to impress Dee Dee in a surfing contest, with Dexter not appearing at all. Though the effectiveness of that episode wavers a bit considering, other than using his science to cheat in a surfing contest, he wasn't up to anything particularly villainous. The second was pure [[Villains Out Shopping]], with Mandark going through his morning routine to the meter of his [[Evil Laugh]] before going out to battle Dexter.

** [[Hostile Show Takeover|Taken one step further]] when a set of shorts were all dedicated to ~~Mandark -- even~~ the intro was altered with Mandark electrocuting Dexter instead of Dee Dee and the usual ''Dexter's Laboratory'' title card reading ''Mandark's Laboratory''. {{spoiler|Though Dexter does get back at him by the end of the show when he tricks Mandark into electrocuting himself much like Dexter in the intro.}}

** [[Hostile Show Takeover|Taken one step further]] when a set of shorts were all dedicated to Mandark—even the intro was altered with Mandark electrocuting Dexter instead of Dee Dee and the usual ''Dexter's Laboratory'' title card reading ''Mandark's Laboratory''. {{spoiler|Though Dexter does get back at him by the end of the show when he tricks Mandark into electrocuting himself much like Dexter in the intro.}}

* ''[[The Boondocks]]'' gives us "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" and "The Story of Jimmy Rebel", both of which star [[Boomerang Bigot]] Uncle Ruckus (no relation) and relegate the Freeman family to minor supporting roles. The episodes usually try to portray Ruckus as a slightly sympathetic figure (but only slightly). In the first, his self-hatred almost drives him to commit suicide. In the second, meeting him convinces a [[No Celebrities Were Harmed]] version of Johnny Rebel to give up anti-black music ({{spoiler|but not racist music}}).

* ''[[Wakfu]]'' has a bonus episode focusing on [[Tragic Villain|Nox's]] [[Start of Darkness]]. It's as much a [[Tear Jerker]] as one would expect.