There are many arguments for what makes a good villain. A sympathetic antagonist who thinks they’re in the right can be just as much fun as an unapologetic monster without justification. One thing that most villains have in common is that they don’t like to lose. Very few baddies lower their sword honorably and accept their fate. Most prefer to suffer a complete Villainous Breakdown and collapse into madness.
Most heroes are underdogs. The audience should feel the hero’s struggle against the villain’s immense power. This means that when the protagonist finally gets one over on the antagonist, it’s rarely an immediate turning of tables. Instead, the villain’s defeat tends to be a drawn-out process. There’s usually plenty of time for the evildoer to see the error of their ways, consider their options, and double down to the point of absurdity.
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Imagine the villain during their big moment. They deliver an impassioned speech about the righteousness of their cause and the inevitability of their victory. But, against their expectations,the hero doesn’t die. The moral power of friendship, nobility, good manners, or inoffensive smell grants the protagonist the boost they need to turn the tide of the battle. Does the villain assess their circumstances and mount a well-planned retreat? Do they alter their strategy and attempt to regain control of the situation? Do they even consider the cost-benefit analysis of the conflict and decide to abandon their current goal to preserve their long-term ambitions?
No, they suffer an all-consuming Villainous Breakdown. All logic goes out the window as the cold, calculating facade gives way to screaming mania, self-destructive obsession, and suicidal recklessness. Many villains snatch defeat from the jaws of victory bymaking obvious tactical errorsin the throes of blind rage. This trope typically allows a villain’s moral failings to become their undoing. Even if they could win the day, their emotional issues cause them to fail. Maybe their ego is too fragile to withstand a single loss. Perhaps they see the hero as somehow beneath them, and a defeat at their hands would shatter their self-image. Sometimes they were already a bit unhinged, and the only thing keeping them in check was their position of power. Whatever the reason, the Villainous Breakdown trope exists to remind the audience that the strongest villains tend to be very weak on the inside.
The Romance of the Three Kingdomsis one of themost influential works of literatureever written. Released in the 14th century, Luo Guanzhong’s classical novel depicts the end of the Han Dynasty in feudal China. The story is a mixture of fact and fiction, leaving many scholars unsure of which elements actually happened. Some stories feature extraneous details that may be fabricated. One great example would be the death of Zhou Yu. Yu was a gifted general who served under Sun Ce and Sun Quan. He’s best known for defeating Cao Cao twice despite his forces being outnumbered in both battles. Zhou Yu died of disease at the age of 36. After his final plan fell apart, Zhou Yu reportedly burst out in a rage. His anger caused him to reopen an old wound, eventually leading to an infection that claimed his life. This is one of the first examples of the Villainous Breakdown, and it’s a literal case of death by anger.
It’s hard to find a villain in a major motion picture who doesn’t have a moment like this. Kylo Ren is a great example. He suffers breakdowns that last entire films. ThroughoutThe Force Awakens, he’s treated like an angry teenager with the powers of a god. In his earliest moments,Ren loses his temperand breaks things whenever something doesn’t go his way. When Rey slips out of his clutches, he destroys the room, kills his dad, and gets himself shot. When he loses control in the sequel, he kills his boss. Luke even takes advantage of Kylo’s tendency to break down under pressure in the climax ofThe Last Jedi. He’s baited into letting his enemies escape by a projection of his former mentor, causing him to sacrifice yet another huge advantage because he can’t control himself.Ren is the poster childfor the Villainous Breakdown.
This trope has a special place in video games. It tends to be a way to escalate a boss fight into its next phase.TheLegend of Zeldauses the VillainousBreakdown very frequently.Majora’s Maskfeatures a final boss fight that gradually shifts into the living tantrum that is Majora’s Wrath.Twilight Princessintroduces Zant, who gets to be a silly comedy character for the overwhelming majority of his screen time. When things stop going his way, he suddenly becomes a much more dangerous kind of crazy.Skyward Swordplays with the sadistic villain Ghirahim, who charmingly toys with Link for his first few encounters. When he breaks down, he’s a silent assassin who assures death to his enemies. Even Ganondorf gets to play with this concept inWind Waker. When the King of Hyrule starts the process of ending the world,Ganondorf sticks around tohave a sword fight knowing that he’ll die whether he wins or loses. It seems as if no one can face the Hero of Time and keep their sanity.
The Villainous Breakdown works in any genre. It raises the stakes in an action story, ramps up the tension in a horror story, and even brings outsome laughter in a comedy. Whenever they start to lose, villains start to lose their cool. Any hero has to be prepared to face their antagonist at their best and at their worst.
