Wonder and CCThe last few Superhero shows ended recently, and I’m relieved that they broke a growing trend in the superhero genre. Villain-centric projects are becoming more popular at both studios. Audiences love a good villain, and these projects pull back the curtain behind these characters to contextualize their actions and make them more empathetic. The latest Marvel and DC shows, Agatha all the time and The penguinFocus on the villains in your franchise and explain what makes them so despicable.
Agatha all the time revolves around Agatha Harkness, the witch who manipulated Wanda into Wandavision and tried to steal her powers. The series follows her as she embarks on the Witch’s Road to regain her powers. The penguin takes place in the film by Matt Reeves Batman universe, following the events of the first film. It chronicles Oz’s rise to power amid a power grab among criminal gangs in Gotham following the death of Carmine Falcone. These shows are different in many ways, but they offer a refreshing perspective on villains that other projects are afraid of.
Agatha All the Time and the Penguin ends without rescuing its main character
The penguin and Agatha all the time they’re about villains, and the shows make a point of emphasizing that fact. While there are times when I root for the main characters, the series is quick to remind me that these people are up to no good and that I should condemn their actions. Agatha is initially helpful to Teen and her coven, leading them to the Witches’ Road to give them what they seek. However, the Agatha all the time the ending ends with the revelation that Agatha has been planning all along.
The Witches Road isn’t real, and she has lied to witches throughout the story to kill them and steal their powers. Although the series shows that Agatha was initially killing witches to try to protect her son, her decision to continue this approach long after his death is much less morally complex – especially since she admits that she intended to repeat this trick with her own coven. While Agatha’s sacrifice suggests there’s some moral complexity to her, she still seems unrepentant for all her past mistakes, underscoring that the series isn’t about giving the character a redemption arc.
The penguin ends with Oz defeating Sofia and taking control of Gotham’s criminal empire. Although I initially cheered Oz and Vic, the show pulled the rug out from under us by having Oz kill Vic to remove his only weakness. It’s a quick reminder that Oz is a monster, brilliantly transforming the audience into Oz before Batman hopefully destroys him.
Recent superhero movies and shows tend to turn their villains into heroes
I’m happy to see Agatha all the time and The penguin refuse to turn their villains into heroes, like many recent comic book projects. Show how Loki and Peacemaker took characters labeled as villains and made them the heroes of their story, even if they still have moral flaws. Likewise, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe films turned many of Spider-Man’s best villains into sympathetic heroes. The problem with this approach is that it wouldn’t make sense for Morbius or Venom to fight Spider-Man, since they have no evil ambitions.
Another character who has transitioned into a hero is Harley Quinn. Projects like Birds of Prey and the Harley Quinn animated series gave Harley back the Joker’s power and made her autonomous. Although she remains a criminal, she still fights many of Batman’s villains, even helping him in some circumstances. While this direction might work for characters like Harley, it doesn’t work for everyone – especially if it’s overused – and I’m relieved that Penguin and Agatha can still be seen as villains after their CC and Wonder show.
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