Dione Nightly
Foxie Loxie
I never understood that either.
There is nothing wrong with finding bad guys compelling, and I don't mean for this to sound rude, but not understanding that is a little naive. You mean to say there was NEVER a bad guy you rooted for, or felt sympathy towards, ever? I was always more interested in Professor Snape than any of the good guys in Harry Potter, even back when the book first came out when I was in.. like, the 6th grade. I know that in the end he was a good guy, but that was ambiguous up until the end. And honestly, the character I'm most into in ASOIAF is Littlefinger, despite everything he does. Because it's the way he does things that fascinates me. The words he chooses to use, which strings he pulls... it's damn near poetic. And whats even better is sometimes he bites off more than he can chew (like spilling the beans to Cersei and her almost having his throat cut) because that makes him human.
There are dozens of reasons to like a bad guy/girl character. You find them attractive, you find them sympathetic, you identify with them in your darker nature (which absolutely everyone has), or you just find their antics amusing. That isn't even all of the reasons out there, just a few I could think up. I'm not saying any of those are the reason the OP has, because I'm not the OP. But to assume that there is no reason to like bad guys or that there is something wrong with doing so, which is the vibe I got from your posts, is just not right. If that wasn't what you meant, well, I'm sorry for misinterpreting. It's hard to tell tone in blocks of text like this. I'm not trying to be mean or confrontational, I'm just trying to explain how someone could like a character like Joffrey. I, for one, find his antics .. if not amusing, well, interesting to observe from a psychological stand point. Like in last nights episode *SPOILERS AHOY!*
When instead of having sex with Ros and the other prostitute he has Ros beat the other prostitute, first with a belt, then with.. I think it was a candlestick. My boyfriend and I were afraid he wanted her to.. use the candlestick in a different way. Also, when he was torturing Sansa in public. *end spoilers*
I think some villains have redeeming qualities and cause you to have a love/hate relationship for them. Not in all cases though. At a certain level cruelty cannot be forgive.
Some people/characters you can grasp where they came from and why they ended up the way they did. Your example of Snape for instance. I thought he was so well written. I wish the movies gave him more time on screen. I honestly at first found myself hating Snape and then by the end of the 5th book I loved him. With Snape we see that he does know how to love. He does care for people. He's not perfect...he's human. We learn about his inner struggle with Harry. He has sworn his life to protect him out of his love for Lily but at the same time Harry is too much his father's son. Every time he looks at him he is reminded of all the horrible pranks that James did. Does he act coldly towards Harry, yes. But when it counted, when it was important, he did everything he could to save him.
You can love the fact that someone makes a good villain.
Voldermort, I have no love for. He was completely evil even as a child. I have a hard time identifying with people who have no redeeming qualities. He made a good villain. When something/someone is pure evil they always make for a good villain. Good vs Evil always appeals to people.
Joffery....I hate that blond little monster. He was wrote to be hated and the actor surely makes you hate him on screen. He has no sense of empathy, no love, no compassion. I place a lot of blame on Cersi for the way he grew up.
When Stanis is talking to Davos about Jeoffry...telling the story about the cat. He killed a pregnant cat, then cut open her stomach and killed each and every one of the kittens. I was deeply sickened by it. Then all the hells that he puts Sansa through. First the emotional pains he put her through. Watching her father be killed, constantly reminding her of it. Telling her how he is going ot do the same to her brother. Then there is him having her beaten. He had her stripped in front of his guard. Then when she finally thinks that she will be free and safe from him because he is marrying someone else. He tells her of how he plans to rape her over and over again. He leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He like his mother wants complete power but he uses it to fuel the fires of his hatred. If he wasn't such a sissy I am sure it would be even worse. I could see him growing up to be a serial killer if he ever grew some balls.
Again, I sill blame Cersi for the way he is. I mean if you look at the other 2 children, they are normal. Tommen infact is a very sweet and loving child. But they were raised more by teachers and servants I feel.
As for Little Finger. I like his character. He is very intelligent. He would be an expert at chess. He is very good at making people into pawns and moving them where he wants them to go. Although, there are some things are are beyond his control for sure. i.e. Ned's death. He didn't want him dead, just out of the way.