Marvel: Writing the Perfect Villain

[@MadridHou]

The winter soldier isn’t the villain in Cap 2 he’s just a tool by the actual villain Alexander Pierce and Hydra

[@TheDeninator]

Darth Vader isn’t the villain in Star Wars A New Hope, he’s just a tool by the actual villain Grand Moff Tarkin and the Empire

[@antona.8659]

@@TheDeninator, Darth Vader willingly joined Palpatin. Bucky was brainwashed.

[@tedward1382]

@Pouty MacPotatohead not in the same way. Anakin was tricked through Palpatine’s genius but ultimately made the choice. Bucky was literally brainwashed using code words and mental manipulation. They were controlled in very different ways.

[@Mirrorcomics24]

Still an antagonist

[@Mirrorcomics24]

@@TheDeninator I hope you get more likes then the op

[@senorincredible]

This is a great video but I'm still not completely convinced that Killmonger stands head and shoulders above say, Loki or The Vulture. I LOVED the take on The Vulture as being this blue-collar ordinary joe who was in it for purely financial reasons and had been screwed over by the actions of The Avengers; and I love Loki's familial-based rivalry with Thor as the younger runt of the litter, which is honestly a sympathetic position to start off with. Both of these motivations and characterisations have has much value as Killmonger's aims in my eyes, and would, as you hint, make them heroes in a different movie.

[@alliemcg1223]

amen.

[@josephkrausz9557]

As far as Loki is concerned, I felt that his motivation in the first movie stayed much clearer and more interesting than it was in later movies, though he's always fun. It would have been nice to keep a bit more of that "wanting a better place in the family" idea into other films.

[@letspretendsomemore]

While I understand Loki’s POV, he was cast away by his real father then left with an inferiority complex by his surrogate dad it doesn’t make me actually wanna root for him the way Killmonger does who’s motivations are both emotionally motivated and rational, its the fact that Killmonger was right in the way that Black Panther was wrong, much like Ozymandias was over the other Watchmen, also the fact that Killmonger is a villain so overwhelmed by his purpose he willingly dies for it while Loki like fake dies like four or five times in the MCU lol

[@Riley_Says]

The Winter Soldier isn’t a villain. He is a victim of circumstance & Captain America’s weakness. Cap has no physical weakness & he is morally very sound so how do you get to him? Through his best friend. Bucky was just in the wrong place at the wrong time & his story is a tragic reminder to Steve that he wasn’t there to save him.

[@jordanread5829]

And that is why Zemo went after Bucky, knowing that Steve would do anything to protect his friend, which helps divide Tony and Steve by putting Cap on the wrong side of the law. Also why Bucky was the perfect "fist of Hydra". It is important to note that after Cap knows who the winter soldier is, their next encounter has Bucky without his mask.

[@rayquan777765555344]

Eirinn Everett exactly when he said it made him mechanical it irritates me cause it’s like he’s brainwashed experimented on and forced to kill at the snap of a finger

[@shauryasingh9725]

Still counts as a villain though. Either that or we can collectively agree Darth Vader was never a villain.

[@Partyruler221]

I would say The Winter Soldier is the antagonist of cap 2, as he mirrors aspects of Steve, but he's not really the villain. Robert Redford is the main villain, but his 'good' opposite is Nick Fury rather then Cap

[@swanpride]

He doesn't. The Villain of the movie is Hydra, represented by Alexander Pierce (who has an understandable but completely misguided motivation), Zola and Crossbones.

[@gabcard2767]

Bucky was not the villain of TWS. He was an antagonist and the most physically imposing, but the true villain was Pierce. He is the one behind everything.

[@Paglavc1]

So Darth Vader is not a villain? Cause the emperor was behind it...

[@gabcard2767]

@@Paglavc1 Not the main villain at least.

[@wosso3342]

I agree with you on some points of this video, but I find some of the villains you call boring characters very interesting, like the winter soldier, I find him interesting because he has a emotional band with the hero, Steve Rogers and because every time I rewatch the Winter Soldier, I just want him to become good so bad and I like how they made him a hero in Civil War and Infinity War

[@alliemcg1223]

I saw Loki and Bucky and Killmonger. I clicked.

[@alliemcg1223]

Okay I’ve finished the video and lemme say this: Bucky is NOT one-dimensional and Loki is NOT mechanical. They’re both flawed and their stories are deeply emotional. Eric was great as well but I honestly think you got it wrong with at least those two characters.

[@brandonmuse5532]

I thought you kind of looked at Bucky one sided. Cap had a real internal painful struggle after finding out who he was Winter Solider

[@tTaseric]

Yeah, cap had the struggle, not bucky

[@JustinY.]

The perfect villain is the one to take in as much money as possible in the box office, according to executives.

[@eliasfrahat7074]

Justin Y. The best villain is the guy how pretend to be a good guy while hiding darkness in his heart cunning is what give the villain his value

[@Tsukiko.97]

First you ran out of generic comments to post and now you are out of logic...

[@timy9197]

The perfect villain of quality movies is Hollywood executives

[@eliasfrahat7074]

Abyssinia Empire are you talking with me

[@Tsukiko.97]

Elias Frahat no, no. Not you brother 😀.

[@KitKat_293]

I really think killmonger is on of the best antagonists of all time. I feel like you really laid out why that is. Especially how his ideas were incorporated by tchalla in the end to make the protagonist face his own wrongdoing and grow

[@AlexLove631]

Regarding Bucky, I think he's great because as he says in Civil War, "I remember all of them." Think of it like the sunken place from Get Out. Part of Bucky is in there, but he has no control. It's heartbreaking and makes you feel for him. For me at least... Great video tho! Killmonger was amazing, but we needed more screen time.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yeah, that truly is tragic that he remembers all the people he killed. And yeah, Killmonger needed more screen time, but I'd rather the creators leaving me wanting more than to overuse him until I get tired of the character. So glad you enjoyed the video! :)

[@AlexLove631]

That's true. And I think after all is said and done, Killmonger really made a big impact. Challenged the protagonists ideology and really drove his point home with that last line. Probably one of the most memorable lines in recent memory, delivered masterfully by Michael B. Jordan.

[@jakesmith5955]

I find some of the points you make contradictory. You say "The family link between Killmonger and T'Challa is good" but then you disregard the family link that made Ego an interesting villain. You say that villains are 100% evil aren't interesting, but then you dont mention the Joker or Loki. Just saying if youre going to heap all this praise onto one character, then atleast compare him to good characters as well as bad characters.

[@luxar92]

But the Joker more than a character is a symbol of chaos. And it is there not really as a human, but as an avatar for an opposing force to everything that Batman stands for. Has no growth, no motivations, and its only purpose is to create chaos in the ways that affect Batman (and it's allies) the most. Even the background for the Joker is untouched for that exact same reason, once you humanize that force of chaos, the whole concept for the Joker loses some of its appeal.

[@afonsolucas2219]

This is because Killmonger isn't really that interesting. The best of Marvel are Loki and Ego. Even Zemo. Erik, could have been great if we got a bit more of him and his motives were a bit different. Instead it only falls in the category of taking over the world. OF COURSE! It isn't that interesting. I was expecting more of a drama, afterall it's the same guy who did Creed, but since it's a superhero movie, it had to be action. Boring action. Not inventive or fun. Generic and shaky. I found myself more intrigued with the conversations and ideas presented than the action.

[@BroockPhilipp]

Joker doesn't really fall under any of those "rules", but still interesting (most interesting villain?!) and you cannot say the same about Killmonger. He got "human part" and "human motivation", but his POV is not really relatable (as writer claims) and the way trying to make he is plan work is straight up stupid. All his words are boring and uninspired, except maybe the ending. Still, he is a lot of drama which is completely undercooked. And I believe it's not only a villain but whole BP's world made that way, inconsistent, patchy. I guess it teaches us that good villain or whole movie are not about rules (otherwise everyone can write a good one) they help tho, but about the art of writing.

[@BroockPhilipp]

Also, the video named Hel a cliche due to her desire to conquer and gave her people power, while Killmonger wanted exactly the same. Author claim that Killmonger got "human reasons" based on the death of his dad and his land of birth while forgetting that Hel got an issue with the father who made her who she is, then betrayed her and their views. So it got some contradictions for sure. I feel like whole this work had been done to defend mediocrity of a villain.

[@isaiahcurtis619]

Ego was better than most, but I think it's safe to say his motivations were a little vague. He wanted to take over all the planets because he was disappointed with their life? Kinda odd, and can't really wrap your head around it. So ego was an amazing villain characterwise (probably my favorite) but his motivations were a little lack luster and Loki definitely is an awesome character and I think he may have deserved a little more spotlight in the video also the joker isn't a marvel character so I think that's why he didn't talk about him.

[@hjcinc1]

I don’t exactly agree with the whole Ego part of the argument. His whole speech about how he was disappointed with life in general and he wanted it to be in his image or ‘better’ seemed like a good motivation for a god. Great analysis everywhere else though.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I need to rewatch GotG2. I just remember him needing a son so he could fully engulf every planet as connections of himself. But terraforming them would kill everyone on those planets. My memory might be fuzzy.

[@someghostinthewild]

Alexander Pierce, Hydra & The Winter Soldier were bad villains? Kingpin? Klaw? Vulture? Ego? Obadiah Stane? Loki? Cottonmouth? Killgrave? Hive? Aida?

[@Jingles6466]

He didn't say they were bad, just that Kilmonger is better.

[@jjmaster322]

ChurrascoPaltaTV winter soldier is just a really skilled hitman until he's revealed to be bucky. Hydra and alexander pierce are underdeveloped unless you look at agents of shield(which I dont). Loki works better as an antihero. The netflix villians arent really a fair comparison because they've had way more time to be developed. Killmonger just has this film and is able to leave just as much impact as the netflix villians. My top 3 mcu villians would probably be Killmonger Loki Vulture

[@EntertainTheElk]

Not necessarily bad across the board. Just didn't check all the boxes to make them completely engaging and sympathetic. Btw, I liked Kingpin in the TV series. Terrifying.

[@jordanburton9819]

I couldn't agree more on the awesomeness of Black Panther's villian. Truly one of the greatest villains in a Marvel movie, you can't help but relate to his righteous cause

[@nlmatta]

I'm going to disagree with you on The Winter Soldier. The pathos with that character is that we do have the background of him as a hero. So when we see him become The Winter Soldier, we've seen his (literal) fall and we know the kind of man that he used to be. It's like dealing with a family member fighting with addiction: we know how they are when they aren't using but when they are, they're the complete antithesis of who they are when sober. It's even more difficult to watch in Civil War, where Barnes is set up and forced to become The Winter Soldier against his will and relapses into that villain role. He goes to Wakanda basically to "get clean" of his past sins and hopefully become a person who will never be The Winter Soldier ever again.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I completely agree! His character definitely checks those boxes really well. But his ability to make his own decisions is stripped from himself, which merely makes him a puppet. But you're right in that he's tragically mechanical and a shell of himself, used for evil.

[@ColArana]

I'm forced to disagree with your assessment of Loki, as simply someone trying to get power. That power is means to an end. Loki's motive is a little more subtle than that. Loki is looking for recognition. He is someone who has spent his entire life living in his brother's shadow. He always sees himself as being treated less than Thor, that Thor has all the attention, and respect. Loki's whole motivation is that he wants to get out of Thor's shadow and earn some true respect and recognition, and he sees gaining power as the easiest way to do that.

[@jwiking62]

Not my favourite of the movies on a whole but the villain was great

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[@wavedash-]

I feel like people think this video is about Killmonger, when in reality it's actually about villains.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yep. Agreed. That was my fear. I just changed the thumbnail image. Hopefully that will help.

[@DorkyKirikai]

I disagree with what you said about Ultron, Loki, and Ego but I thought the video was very well made

[@EntertainTheElk]

Glad you enjoyed it, despite your disagreements!

[@JohnSnow3]

11:03 You are wrong. Greed is a powerful motivation. Hans Gruber from Die Hard was like that and he is a great villain!

[@soup6874]

You're explanation of Black panther makes it sound like it's a black lion king

[@EntertainTheElk]

Hmmm

[@SendoPLUS]

Lion king is black lion king

[@KotoCrash]

Lion's aren't black, they're lions.

[@uno1646]

You're completely right. Even though killmonger is the anti-hero. I nearly cried at the ending with him and Black Panther watching the sun set as he was dying. It really surprised me how much I empathised with the villain. Great video though

[@EntertainTheElk]

Completely agree! Glad you enjoyed the video. :)

[@daniel_netzel]

I've fallen so far behind in the MCU at this point, but I actually really wanted to see Black Panther and the more I hear about it, the more I want to see it. Every villain should be the equal and opposite force acting against the hero, otherwise things just get boring. Great video Adam!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks buddy! The video was full of spoilers! Hope it doesn't deter you from seeing BP.

[@daniel_netzel]

Nahhh, I'll just probably be the slow boy and wait for it on Netflix XD

[@geneparmesan8748]

I don't see the MCU as a series you need to see every one of. The MCU is *VERY* good for the fact that its movies stand alone perfectly well, and reward viewers who have seen the other films with neat Easter eggs, not crucial plot information. I've fallen behind on it, too, but went to see Black Panther due to the hype.

[@irrevenant3]

The villain needs to be equal and opposite *and* different to the hero. The big issue with Obadiah Stane as a villain was that he was *too* much just "evil Iron Man" for example.

[@jackmayor3574]

There's way more involved when making a perfect villain. Being relatable isn't always enough. A perfect villain also needs to be formidable. Formidable in a way where the protagonist struggles immensely when dealing with him. To the point where the protagonist(s) are forced to grow as individuals in order to overcome the massive obstacle. (Think Darth Vader, think Joker, think Voldemort, think Jack Torrence, think Agent Smith, etc. etc.) You can give a villain the most touching sob story known to man. But if they can't pose a real threat to the protagonists, it's barely worth shit.

[@clarkparker4860]

Killmonger is definitely my favorite MCU villain. I mean Hugo Weaving was charismatic as Red Skull, but Michael B. Jordan stole every scene + he changes the protagonists opinion. In a way, he wins. My only issue is that they killed him off in the end. I don't know how or who will they choose as a villain in the sequel. I don't know how they will up the stakes and how they will find a villain that can impact the story and the protagonist so profoundly as Killmonger did.

[@jblue1622]

I disagree I think The Winter Soldier is interesting because he has his own moral conflict with trying to stick to what he knows while dealing with the conflict inside of not following his orders from Hydra completely or disregarding them altogether in attempting to kill Cap, it's that conflict inside that makes him interesting to some, but ultimately a good villain/hero is subjective, although obviously you're attempting to be objective though I think Killmonger's motivations along with other characters are ultimately subjective and empathy is relative, certain people don't like or agree to Killmongers motivations and see him as 100% evil

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yep. I mean art in itself is mostly subjective. There's some principles and rules, but nothing is set in stone or universal.

[@ReedRichardsPhD]

I swear to God this channel is soooooooo underrated.

[@jerrettbarkley456]

I do think performance helps too. The Joker had one goal too but Heath’s performance was so good it elevated the villain. I think every movie can’t be in the same situation so I do think some of these heroes needed to be front and center to build the world but I do think Zimo is an underrated villain.

[@Kolajer]

I was just recently discussing the "only as good as the villain" principle in storytelling with a friend, and now your video shows how little I knew about it. Thanks a lot for the wonderful work you do.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much! Really glad you enjoyed the video. :)

[@HurricaneDDragon]

I completely agree with all of your points... except when it comes to Winter Soldier. Yes, his motivations as a villain are weak due to his programming, but I always felt that his personal connection with Cap, having been best friends, and the struggle to regain his former self were what made him compelling.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Totally, that connection is what makes their dynamic great.

[@Lmedham]

A truly great villain is one who could be viewed as heroic in another story. Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to do evil today." I respect Killmonger, even if I vehemently disagree with him, because he has a point. I think he is up there with Loki and The Joker as far as memorable villains go.

[@skwam7202]

true

[@lauri.lyijymaali]

Liam Molenda The Florida shooter did

[@EntertainTheElk]

Agreed!

[@someghostinthewild]

Sorry, but the Joker, hero?

[@Lunwi88]

Says you. Every morning I wake up, get out of my evil bed, walk into my evil bathroom, and say to my evil self in my evil mirror “I’m going to do evil today” and then I do it. I need no complex perspective with actual reasoning

[@julianzabala9010]

I disagree about Ultron and Ego though. The audience can eventually understand their values if they just take a closer look at the things they say and do or have been through. I found Ego's to be interesting, because those are loneliness, superiority and egocentricity. All these are parallel or are even present in Star Lord. The fact that Ego spent thousands of years in loneliness caused him to evaluate and appreciate himself in detail, therefor causing him to have very high expectations of what other lifeforms were like, eventually setting himself up to be disappointed. But unlike Peter Quill, he didn't embrace them how they were, he wanted a family that was just like him. Peter instead held on to what little he had learning the value of a real family, eventually ignoring his superiority to save his friends. I could write about Ultron too but I don't feel like it right now.

[@inglesemmovimento3895]

I have never thought about that, but one of the aspects you've mentioned made me see good villains differently: they have a relatively good amount of good reasons and a emphatical philosophy. The strongest argument for this that you've shown, in my point of view, is the fact that even the main character ends up by learning from his or her (or its kkk) Nemesis.

[@matthewgensburg2964]

Why is the joker such an amazing antagonist if all of this applies to creating the perfect antagonist?

[@TheFalconCaptain]

Kingpin is also fuckin god tier

[@EntertainTheElk]

Agreed. But I was focusing on the films in this essay.

[@TheFalconCaptain]

Entertain The Elk 👌🏻🔥

[@caliber5523]

The problem with Ivan in Iroman 2 is the cut off more scenes of him than they used.

[@Srirachatabasco]

Best video of the channel so far, had to watch the movie first before checking this essay. Love the perspective you give in your videos, keep it going

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks, Victor! Really appreciate that. :)

[@rampta6522]

Finally, a video about villain that i watched till the end

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@rraptor158]

You produce exceptional, in-depth video content. Thank you and please continue. I only wish good things for this channel.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks, Ryan! Really appreciate that. :)

[@therocketboost]

Black Panther is pretty good and Killmonger is a charming villain but is hardly the BEST VILLAIN or BEST FILM ever. Marvel's got a working formula and they're sticking to it.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yep. Formula, formula, formula. What's your favorite Marvel movie and villain?

[@mko-ai]

Hela is my favorite. She was incredible.

[@Lunwi88]

I love your video but I have to slightly object with your claim that Loki’s desire for power renders him one dimensional at certain times. Loki’s motivations for wanted to achieve power stem from his desire to win the approval of his father and to the one up his brother. There is also a sense of entitlement in his actions. As the adopted son of Asgardian royalty and the biological son of Laufrey king of Jhotenhiem, Loki feels that being a king is his birth right. I’ll admit these motives aren’t always crystal clear (specifically in the first Avengers film), but one doesn’t have to think to hard to figure it out if you have the context of the other films

[@EntertainTheElk]

These are great points! I think Loki has become better with context and other films that have better informed and shaped his character. I didn't like him at the beginning, but now he's one of my favorites. Glad you still enjoyed the video! :)

[@justinpershall2445]

This video is really really good, well thought out and great attention to detail.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you!

[@huell938]

Winter soldier was a good villain as we all knew, as soon as it was Bucky, there was something underneath the metaphorical mask he was forced to wear. He didn't remember who he was and he was acting for Hydra,something that is entirely contradictory for Bucky's character from the first CA film.

[@Decembirth]

I would hope this motivated people to check out some older Black Panther comics that feature Killmonger. He is indeed the perfect opponent for T'Challa and Wakanda.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I need to check out some of those older comix.

[@draven9481]

As I go deep in this video I fully understood why joker in the dark knight is the greatest villain ever written

[@mmem4264]

You made a lot of points I never thought about like they're treatment of women and possibly why I've never been able to think of Bucky as a villain. Thank you.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Great! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@sandrarivera1262]

Bucky was a victim

[@EntertainTheElk]

Right. He was a weapon used as an antagonistic force.

[@pratikbrli]

after 1 year...i cant believe how much they resonate thanos and make him the perfect villain

[@boounce211]

U hit the nail on the head sir 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks!!

[@ailasinober4420]

This was great! I am currently trying to rank all the MUC-movies. And I think you just convinced me to bump Black Panther from nr2 to first place.

[@AngusStewart01]

vulture and the Netflix villians are my favorite marvel villians

[@EntertainTheElk]

Fisk is great. I haven't watched Jessica Jones but I've heard Killgrave is great too.

[@Jdw-xc2ey]

Can't wait to watch this video! Sadly, I've not been able to watch Black Panther yet but I definitely will soon so I can enjoy this video (which will be excellent as always). Thanks in advance.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy the movie and my essay afterwards! :)

[@hibernianinitiate]

Prometheus in the DC show arrow perfectly fits what this video calls a good villain, and he, imo, is the best villain of the series, or at least one of the best. this doesn't have much to do with the video but this video made me think of it

[@EntertainTheElk]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@SoopaCoopa]

Keep up the good work man! You have really grown!!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@zeil2ify]

great video, great content, good voice, hard facts, great edit. big fan already, keep goin! good job man!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you thank you thank you! Really appreciate that!

[@SOULFORESAKER]

Hard to relate to a villain who wants to save people based on skin color.

[@thomasgrindol9124]

My problem with this argument is that sometimes you only need one of these rules to make a good villain, and not all 6. The Terminator has no viewpoint and wants only to kill, but he’s still the best part of the movie. Darth Vader had no moral argument in the first movie and never even interacts with anyone but Leia and Obi-wan in the first movie but was still considered great. And in other movies the Antagonist isn’t tangible. My point is that what makes a good villain isn’t something on a list, you like the villain or you don’t.

[@Dhan-ta-Don]

Fantastic work, mate! Very insightful video. Looking forward to see more of such stuff. Also, here's a video topic suggestion : How Christopher Nolan treats his movie and why it always has multiple layers to it so as, when you watch it every other time, you get to see and learn something different, every time. Lots of love from India! 😊

[@EntertainTheElk]

Hello from Los Angeles! Thanks so much for watching. :)

[@Horrodity]

This is a VERY dope analysis!! Keep them coming!!!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much!! :)

[@Horrodity]

Entertain The Elk NO! Thank YOU!

[@Wolffman109]

6:27 Don't forget Karli Morgenthau.

[@brandonmuse5532]

I with you on this. Great video.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much!

[@juliusjohnson376]

Very, very, insightful man. I loved hearing your point of view on this. My favorite Marvel villain is Killmonger. My favorite D.C. villain is Bane. The two are similiar in a few ways (one or two) but they both really challenge the hero and push them beyond the fabric of their character. You can't appreciate the good until you know the bad....is what I say. Anyway keep it up man. Keep it up.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you so much, Julius! :)

[@ObaREX]

I'd like to make a case for Ego. His values were pretty well defined. Even if they were a bit too simplistic. He's an egotist. His standards are just too high. Like Quill, he was searching for some fantastical sense of belonging. But when he finally found reality... he found it... not *wrong* but disappointing. He didn't know what was missing but he felt something was. And after spending most of millennia alone and with immeasurable power... he decided that the best model for the universe... was he himself. He just wanted everything to be... him. Part of him. That way he won't be alone but... he won't be surrounded by disappointment. Or that's what he believed. Honestly. I think if he succeeded. There is an 100% chance he would've come to regret it. And live the rest of eternity alone and disappointed.

[@tca199]

Phenomenal Video. Thx man 💯✊️🔥

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you!!

[@battling_murdock]

I agree with pretty much everything you said but I don't consider the Winter Soldier a villain per se, just an antagonist. He's used as a tool, by Alexander Pierce and Zemo as a means to an end, not necessarily as a big bad like Killmonger, Ego, etc.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yes, I'd totally agree with that. He's just the puppet while the puppet master is Zemo or Redford's forgettable character.

[@jocallahan5195]

I love this video!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks!

[@curiousone]

Love the review.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks!!

[@johnjohnrn8655]

Wonderful comparison about the main characters’ treatment of women. That’s something I didn’t see. Hopefully movie writers will address our desire for better villains.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Glad you enjoyed the video! :)

[@HeyNikko]

Thank you for this video it's goning to help me alot in my writting/story telling

[@EntertainTheElk]

Great!

[@craigjtan]

Great video. Perfectly explains my thoughts on why Killmonger is a great villain 😊

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks! :)

[@thomasgrindol9124]

I think Agents of Shield has really great villains. Grant Ward, AIDA, Hive, Calvin Zabo, Gideon Malick, and Kasius have all been interesting villains.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Sure sure. I was sticking to the films. Otherwise I would've included Fisk and other TV greats.

[@Fragile_Media]

Wilson fisk is my favourite villain in the MCU. He is fucking terrifying yet I still sympathise with him.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Wilson Fisk is one of my favs as well! I hope he comes back in future seasons.

[@Vickqyttor]

Did I mention I f**king love your essays? I just wanna get up and start writing a narrative right away now lol

[@EntertainTheElk]

YES! Thanks so much! :)

[@romemubarak13]

Elk, First of all excellent coverage and the scenario you laid out can be applied across the board in different genres. Your clairvoyance on the differences and elements required to make a good protagonist comes from the power of the antagonist was stellar. I will be listening to this a few times a day as I get through my first action-thriller screenplay. A point of departure from the drama -inspirational storylinea I have written. If you have any books or literature to recommend on antagonist-protagonist writing please feel free to let me know.Best Regards,

[@EntertainTheElk]

Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it. Anatomy of Story, Story, Hitchcock/Truffaut for suspense.

[@romemubarak13]

Entertain The Elk awesome! On Amazon looking to order now!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Love it! :)

[@The3ddfan]

I disagree with assessments of some of these villains. For example, Loki may seem mechanical in his quest for power, but the root of that quest gives everything life. His goal is power. His motivation is more closely related to his family and his place therein. Ultron is somewhat similar in this regard in that his goals and motivations are different but linked. Yes, we do have an idea of his motivations. He's an AI gone rogue, yes, but his motivation seems to be based on his original programing. Tony wanted to protect Earth against something huge. Ultron wanted to make sure that what remained on Earth could withstand something huge. The parallel is made more obvious when you realize that Ultron has some aspects of Tony's personality, and it's made more interesting because Ultron became the sort of thing that Tony feared. I can't have you throwing good villains away like that. There are kids in third world countries who would love a good home-cooked villain. So wasteful.

[@peppy619]

Those 2 books are mentioned quite a lot in writing-channels, I should totally buy them...

[@EntertainTheElk]

They're great! Though you might be able to find PDF's online too.

[@peppy619]

Yep, found them! xD

[@risky_busine55]

Viewing the winter soldier as fully brainwashed to being bad is fair, but I think it's flawed because the most important characteristic is the inner conflict of Bucky vs the winter soldier

[@REfan001]

Bucky really isn't fully evil though, he was being brainwashed into being the Winter Soldier against his will, what made him a compelling antagonist was the relationship between him and Cap established in The First Avenger and Cap's fight to save his best friend throughout Winter Soldier and Civil War

[@mysterymastermind175]

Black Panther respects wahmen

[@Sourinksoda]

Just wanna say excellent choice with lemmino music wise 👌

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@quill9918]

This was super well done. I think the only real argument that I'd make is that the Winter Soldier wasn't the villain of catws. If he'd been the more cognizant version he was in the comics, he could have been, but as it is, I think he's meant to serve as more of a tool for the villain characters like Peirce and Rumlow.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Victor-qx3vx]

Amazing Aaron Sorkin teaching screenwriting in an add before this amazing video! Talk about 2 for the price of one.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Love that! I signed up for that Sorkin class. Really enjoy it.

[@idontuploadanym0re]

Also, look at T’Challa’s and Kilmonger’s upbringings. While Killmonger grew up without a mother figure, T’Challa’s mother was ever present through it all. As a result, one respects women, and the other doesn’t.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Yes yes yes!

[@Elliot-ow8vs]

The Winter soldier is more of a tool for the villain in winter soldier for me rather than the villain

[@-fd]

I waited for this video on Tuesday afternoon, but it came out at 12 pm on Wednesday. And only then I realized that we have a big time difference :D Classic stupid me XD Great video btw!

[@EntertainTheElk]

:) Thanks so much!!

[@MrOnboard]

"I Want My Bord" Greatest line in any movie ever

[@cryptoftriumph4576]

Amazing video!!🔥🔥

[@unionyankee1163]

I honestly thought that Stane was a pretty decent villain. He was able to exploit both Pepper Potts and Tony Starks health condition as weaknesses, and also seemed to be motivated by more than just power, as he was essentially trying to get rid of tony and replace him as the rightful heir to the company, not because he wanted power, but because he believed that the position truly belonged to him.

[@IamSnoogans]

All of these same positives in relation to Killmonger's character are present within the villain of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos. Likewise, I'm more impressed with the overall quality of Marvel's recent output (from the past two years) that has eventually lead to vastly improved villains. I hope this one-two punch with Killmonger and Thanos isn't just a fluke and will continue on for future films in the series.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I was surprised by how well they actually handled Thanos. They actually gave reason behind his actions and although we obviously don't agree, we can understand his reasoning.

[@brandontidwell9531]

Let’s watch a dude in an invincible suit fight a dude in another invincible suit for 3 hours. Great writing coogler

[@Ladondorf]

Excellent analysis. I've seen a lot of Video Essays on villains and have never really been able to take much out of them until now. The only point where I think you were reaching is in regards to T'Challa and Killmonger's treatment of women. Interesting, perhaps, but most likely unintentional.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Glad you liked the video! :)

[@connieallen6804]

I would disagree, I think motivations is another way to make a great villain, even if their argument isn’t strong. This is the case with Loki and Ultron, who we excuse their simple “take over the world” plans, as they have reasons and a different point of view

[@lucleblanc7029]

I want to see the future MCU Green Goblin as a perfect villain, just like Killmonger.

[@swanpride]

The Winter Soldier is NOT the villain of Captain America The Winter Soldier. He isn't a villain at all, he is a hero turned weapon. The actual villain of the movie is Hydra, represented by Alexander Pierce whose "Wouldn't you want to kill the bad people before they can hurt someone" sounds very familiar.

[@papanoted4328]

Great vid

[@gregmcamp]

Good points, but I will say this... Obidiah Stain is a good villain that doesn't get enough credit. He did a lot of work for this company and then feels like he has to sit back and take answers from a party boy. Though I agree money is rarely the best motivation, sometimes it does work (Hans Gruber).

[@TheMetalAllfather]

Magneto and Mister Sinister are both my favorites. It's just a shame Magneto is written so bland in the X-Men movies and we haven't seen Mister Sinister at all on screen.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I think Magneto definitely checks a lot of these boxes. You can totally relate to his desire to fight oppression of mutants, but he does it in such a violent way that it becomes hard to root for him. I think the relationship between T'Challa/Killmonger and X/Magnetto are very similar in a lot of ways. Both wanting the same thing but from different POV's.

[@Vvonter]

But while T'Challa is compelling is he as good as the other Marvel heroes? I suppose given he hasn't had a lot of exposure in comparison makes this question harder. Still the argument has a bit of ground considering the focus is more in Killmonger than Black Panther or even Wakanda rather than Black Panther. Also IMO the issue with the Marvel Universe villains is also a case of numbers, as we've come to have way more development on the heroes throughout different movies we mostly get one-movie villains. That's also why despite not having a big role, Ulysses Klaw, had presence despite acting for the most part as a goofy madman. That's also why comic book villains don't die in the comics, because them reappearing brings stakes because of their previous encounters with the hero. That's why the devil brings stakes, that's why the embodiment of Death brings stakes.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Very cool perspective!

[@HY-dd6sc]

Another great video.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much!! :)

[@mathieuleader8601]

Rhoda Penmark is a great underated villainess

[@EntertainTheElk]

Oh absolutely! The Bad Seed is terrifying. Saw it when I was in elementary school. Doesn't she die from getting struck by lighting on a pier or something?

[@mathieuleader8601]

she was killed by lightning and reminds me of Angelica Pickles