SINISTER, YET SYMPATHETIC
Imagine Little Red Riding Hood: ruddy cheeks, basket full of goodies, off to Grandma’s house with not a care in the world. She’s taking in the sights, smelling flowers, throwing that towel over her meat pies to keep them warm and fresh. The very picture of innocence: unaware that these woods hold danger.
Then, BAM! You know what happens next.
Except this time, it doesn’t.
No wolf emerges from the forest, salivating over the savory treats. No heroic woodcutter, no gobbled granny. No threat. No danger. No salvation.
Where’s the story in that? Without tension or drama, there’s no story at all. And none of it can happen without the most important character: the villain.
Without an antagonist, Little Red Riding Hood is a nature walk, Jaws is a day at the beach and First Blood is just Rambo sleeping rough. Without a villain, Harry Potter’s parents are never murdered, Gotham City’s worst crime is jaywalking and Luke and Leia grow up in a stable, non-planet-destroying household.
Bad guys, please save us from these boring outcomes!
You already know that a story needs a villain. Where we all struggle, however, is making our antagonist convincing, memorable
