Antagonists and villains

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." – Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

In our last meetup, we explored protagonists — the characters we root for. This time, we’re flipping the script to examine antagonists and villains: the ones we resist, fear, admire, and sometimes even cheer for.

Topics we’ll cover:

What makes a villain frightening, fascinating, or charismatic?

Why do audiences sometimes sympathize with or even idolize villains like Joker, Scarface, or Rorschach?

Are villains a reflection of cultural anxieties — or of ourselves?

Do villains reveal more about human nature than heroes do?

Can a character shift from hero to villain in our perception over time?

Who this is for:
Anyone interested in books, films, comics, or pop culture — especially those curious about how we perceive “the bad guys.” No prep needed, just your perspective.

Wrap-up:
We’ll end with the question: If Harvey Dent is right, where’s the line between hero and villain — and who decides when it’s crossed?