# Evil Character You Can't Help Liking **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470 "2005-01-19T00:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/1 "2005-01-19T00:53:49Z")
Sort of the opposite of a recent thread on hateful comic characters, what’s a villain that you like in spite (or because of) the way they’re portrayed? My list - Kefka, _Final Fantasy VI_ (a villain that’s gleefully evil instead of being all conflicted and tortured _luvs_) Lex Luthor, _Smallville_ (it helps that he’s very cute :D) Xelloss, _Slayers Next_ (another villain who enjoys his job) (Not including all the pretty boy villains, because I’m sure my hormones are interfering with my judgement in those cases. _coughs_) ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/2 "2005-01-19T01:01:07Z")
Jon Irenicus from _Baldur’s Gate 2_ The Evil Genius from _Time Bandits_ Alex from _A Clockwork Orange_, though like is pretty strong… And I’ve always had a soft spot for Lord Foul, from Stephen R Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant books, he’s just so good at being a villain. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/3 "2005-01-19T01:09:18Z")
Hannibal Lector would be an obvious choice. Elric of Melnibone he is evil but also the hero so not sure if that counts also he is a bit of a whiney prick at times. Ming the Merciless just has so much style in the 1980’s movie, and his daughter is hot. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/4 "2005-01-19T01:39:03Z")
> [@dotchan](#): > > (Not including all the pretty boy villains, because I’m sure my hormones are interfering with my judgement in those cases. _coughs_) So, uh, does Spike count? From Buffy? (I _still_ refuse to believe he willing became a ‘good guy’)… And I have a completely inexplicable fondness for the team of evil folk in an SF novel by Elizabeth Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/5 "2005-01-19T01:47:27Z")
Most of the Warner Bros. cartoon villains although I’m sure I like them more because I hate the heroes so much. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/6 "2005-01-19T01:51:24Z")
Alan Rickman as the Sherrif of Nottingham in that crappy Kevin Kostner flick. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/7 "2005-01-19T01:53:31Z")
_The Baroness_, chief Espionage Officer of the Cobra terrorist organization. ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/8 "2005-01-19T02:12:39Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > And I have a completely inexplicable fondness for the team of evil folk in an SF novel by Elizabeth Moon. ooo, which one? which one? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/9 "2005-01-19T02:39:00Z")
“Blackie” DuQuesne, from E. E. Smith’s “Skylark” series. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/10 "2005-01-19T02:40:39Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Alan Rickman as the Sherrif of Nottingham in that crappy Kevin Kostner flick. I’m sorry. I completely disagree. His portrayal as a campy villian in what was supposedly a serious film was what totally ruined the movie for me. Emile Lizardo from Buckaroo Banzai. Blackadder and Fawlty are two villians I like that were mentioned in the other thread. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/11 "2005-01-19T02:49:00Z")
I never did decide whether LeCroix was a god guy or a bad guy in the series Forever Knight, but I really thought he was kinda likeable. You know, in a pale, sickly-looking sarcastic vampire kinda way. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/12 "2005-01-19T02:56:19Z")
Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane) on Deadwood. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/13 "2005-01-19T02:59:40Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Alan Rickman as the Sherrif of Nottingham in that crappy Kevin Kostner flick. Never saw it. But I nominate him for his villainous turn in Die Hard. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/14 "2005-01-19T03:11:34Z")
Both Mr. Morden and Bester from _Babylon 5_. Tony Soprano. Randall Flagg, Lloyd Henreid and Harold Lauder from _The Stand_. Darth Vader. Mayor Wilkins from _Buffy_. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/15 "2005-01-19T03:13:19Z")
Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, played by my future husband Michael Madsen. _swwoonn_ The Evil Queen in Snow White. Tom Cruise in Collateral. Gollum in Lord of The Rings. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/16 "2005-01-19T03:27:22Z")
**Emilio Lazardo/Lord John Worphin** A most excellent bad guy. **Alan Rickman** in anything he’s been a baddy in. **Al Swearagan** is possibly the best bad guy to come along in the last 10 years on TV or the movies. Brilliantly evil. Delicously Bad. I luvs him. **Terry Benedict** in Ocean’s 11. ( haven’t seen 12) He is actually the good guy, but is perceived to be the bad guy because we are suppose to be rooting for the bad guys who are the good guys but really the bad guy. Cause he delivers his lines with soft, bloodless precision. Run and hide. Run and hide. **Mr. Joshua** (Gary Busey) in Lethal Weapon. Despite the fact he has the gayest badguy name as of late, he is lets his boss burn his arm with a cigerette lighter. Albino Jackrabbit Sociopath. I don’t think the role was a stretch for Busey. Really, what is not to love? **Lucius Malfoy** (Jason Issacs). and the Colonel in The Patriot. Deliciously Snide and oh, so WASPY. YAY! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/17 "2005-01-19T03:27:38Z")
> [@cbawlmer](#): > > Both Mr. Morden and Bester from _Babylon 5_. Tony Soprano. Randall Flagg, Lloyd Henreid and Harold Lauder from _The Stand_. Darth Vader. Mayor Wilkins from _Buffy_. You reminded me of another: the Troika from Buffy S6. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/18 "2005-01-19T03:28:15Z")
Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman, again) from _Die Hard_. Vic Mackey from _The Shield_. George W. Bush, from _The United States of America_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/19 "2005-01-19T03:37:59Z")
I’ll second Hannibal Lecter. Especially in _Hannibal_. Kefka is a poof. Theron Ware, from _The Devil’s Day_ by James Blish. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470/20 "2005-01-19T03:42:50Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Alan Rickman as the Sherrif of Nottingham in that crappy Kevin Kostner flick. “That’s it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas!!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-character-you-cant-help-liking/285470.md?page=2)