History Main / EvenEvilCanBeLoved

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler:Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia is TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's convicted and executed for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Hazakura Temple when they were young instead of just Iris so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]] -- she believes that if Dahlia had been treated with any modicum of love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler:Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia is TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's convicted and executed for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]] -- she believes that if Dahlia had been treated with any modicum of love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

Do take note that a CompleteMonster is the vilest and worst of all evils, and therefore ''cannot'' be loved and ''do not'' seek love.

** Despite being [[AbusiveParents an abusive father]], the new version of Broly deeply cares about Paragus, [[spoiler:and flies into an UnstoppableRage when he's killed]]. Tragically Paragus did truly love his son in the past, but after getting stranded on [[DeathWorld Vampa]] became an angry, bitter man. Throughout the film Paragus' desire for revenge conflicts with his desire to keep Broly alive, and he goes back and forth from demanding his son fight harder, to worry for Broly's safety.

* In ''Film/TheFly1986'', Seth's unwitting SlowTransformation into a HalfHumanHybrid after a TeleporterAccident involves a SplitPersonalityTakeover and initially manifests itself in ways that give him a DrunkWithPower feeling. As a result, he grows increasingly selfish and nasty towards his lover Veronica, especially once she starts pointing out that he didn't act this way ''before'' he teleported himself so his invention ''must'' have had something to do with it, and finally tosses her (almost literally) out of her apartment. However, her love for him never flags because she knows that he's ''sick''. When he finally reestablishes contact with her after a month, having realized what's actually happening to him and reclaimed his better self, she becomes a faithful LivingEmotionalCrutch to him even though he's now TheGrotesque -- until he sends her away because he knows that his mind will eventually fully succumb to the instincts of an insect and he ''will'' be dangerous to her. Alas, he learns afterward that she's pregnant and doesn't intend to keep the child, and [[spoiler: goes on to kidnap her before she can have an abortion, and maims her ex-lover when he comes to rescue her]]. Even then she still sees good in him and wants to help him with his last-ditch plan to save himself. [[spoiler: Too bad it involves Romantic Fusion.]] In the end, [[spoiler: after she's rescued from this fate while Seth is turned into a twisted Clipped-Wing Angel for his trouble, she's ''still'' reluctant to fulfill his request to end his misery by blowing his head off with a shotgun. But she does]].

* The page quote from ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryFreakShow'' is about PsychopathicManchild, Dandy Mott. Throughout the season, he's shown to be a modern version of being RoyallyScrewedUp, which contributes to him becoming an AxCrazy murderer. Yet despite it all, his mother Gloria loves him, murderous intents and all. She even goes so far as to [[AccompliceByInaction instead of doing a thing about his murders,]] cover them up. [[spoiler: Tragically, his mother's love wasn't enough to stop him from [[{{Matricide}} killing her.]]]]

* [[TheHeavy Sho]] from ''{{VideoGame/Persona 4 Arena Ultimax}}'''s actions are partly motivated by wanting to [[AvengingTheVillain Avenge The Villain]], [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/Persona3 Shuji Ikutsuki, his adoptive father]],]] no matter how much he won't admit it. [[spoiler:[[AbusiveParents Ikutsuki]]]], for his part, discarded him like trash after discovering Sho was useless for his purposes, and never once displays any sort of real affection for him.

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler: Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia is TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's convicted and executed for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]] -- she believes that if Dahlia had been treated with any modicum of love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* ''Webcomic/ImTheGrimReaper'': Liam never stops loving Ana, [[spoiler: not even after he finds out she’d killed her own son.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': [[PosthumousCharacter Pink]] [[EvilOverlord Diamond]] of the [[GreaterScopeVillain Diamond Authority]] is an unusual example of a villain humanized by the love of other villains and antagonists. While very little has been revealed as of this post, we DO know that [[HundredPercentAdorationRating her court adored her]], [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes her sister Diamonds loved her]], and even [[BigGood Rose Quartz]] ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo who shattered her]]) [[MyGreatestFailure shows deep regret for her actions]]. The writers give as much weight and legitimacy to her mourners' grief as they do for Rose's own loved ones, making this yet another [[EvilCounterpart point of contrast between the two]]. [[spoiler:{{Subverted|Trope}} as she ''is'' the person everyone thinks shattered her and was GoodAllAlong (though her family and subjects don't know that).]]

-> John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

* On ''Series/NCIS'', this trope is instrumental in Ziva's HeWhoFightsMonsters breakdown and subsequent departure from NCIS. At the start of her time on the series, she assassinated her brother, Ari, after he had gone rogue and joined a terrorist organization. Eight years later, she returns to Israel and runs into Ari's fiance, who still sees him as the boy next door she loved, and holds resentment towards Ziva. Dina reminds Ziva of Ari's humanity, and Ziva is hit with the FridgeHorror that everyone she has ever assassinated working with Mossad and NCIS was loved by someone. And reminds her that ''she'' loved Ari, as her brother, once upon a time. No amount of insistence from Tony that she was right to take him out, because he wouldn't have stopped hurting people, is enough to pull her out of her HerpicBSoD, and she decides to leave law enforcement and discover who she was before being turned into a TykeBomb by her father.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': [[spoiler:This trope leads to the defeat of [[BigBad Anti-Pops]]. Despite all the evil he's committed, deep down Pops still loves him because they're brothers and nothing will change that. Anti-Pops' powers are based entirely on destruction and misery, so [[GoodHurtsEvil positive emotions like kindness and love]] cause him to be BroughtDownToNormal. Thus, all it takes to destroy him forever is Pops hugging and reassuring him, followed by [[HeroicSacrifice hurling both himself and the weakened Anti-Pops into a nearby star]].]]

** [[TheHero Adora]] still clearly cares about [[EvilFormerFriend Catra]], even as Catra continues down her spiral, continually offering her second chances even after Catra tries to kill her. [[spoiler:It's a major oh-shit moment when Adora finally concludes that [[BeyondRedemption trying to redeem Catra is just wasting her time and dulling her edge]], and it takes Catra trying to end the world to push Adora that far, and even then Adora cannot bring herself to hate Catra and ultimately does love her in spite of everything. Adora understands that she cannot change Catra, but she will be there for her when she's ready to get her life together]].

* Elan in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has an exceptional amount of empathy for his evil twin brother Nale, despite Nale being an unrepentant CardCarryingVillain with almost no redeeming qualities who repeatedly threatens Elan's and his friends' lives. That they were SeparatedAtBirth, with Nale [[FreudianExcuse raised]] by their FauxAffablyEvil megalomaniac nutcase of a father, makes Elan question whether they would have grown up in each other's roles if their positions had been reversed (and he makes the connection about why growing up he'd sometimes find his mom alone in her room crying about a "lost nail"). [[spoiler:When Nale is murdered in front of him, Elan is devastated.]] In fact, Nale's ''only'' redeeming quality is his surprisingly sincere [[UnholyMatrimony relationship]] with the [[HornyDevils succubus Sabine]] who was originally sent to him to guide him into deeper evil, but genuinely fell in love with him. [[spoiler:When Nale is murdered, Sabine's reaction is ''unbridled vengeful fury!'']]

** TrueNeutral [[ForScience science nerd]] Entrapta (who's on the Horde's ''side'', but mostly indifferent to their actual plans) and BigBad Hordak become extremely close. Both characters show surprising vulnerability around each other in season 3. Hordak sees [[CrushFilter lights flash]] behind Entrapta when she talks about the beauty of imperfection; Entrapta works the First One word for "loved" into an upgrade she makes to Hordak's life support armor. [[spoiler:Catra secretly has Entrapta exiled to Beast Island and lies to Hordak about it, telling him that Entrapta defected to the Princess Alliance. When Hordak discovers that this was a lie, he goes ''ballistic'' and attacks Catra with his arm cannon, destroying large swaths of the Fright Zone in the process.]]

** Tywin Lannister is a grim, cold man responsible for widespread death and destruction throughout the series. In spite of that though, he's still loved by both [[NobleTopEnforcer his brother, Kevan]], and his sister, Genna. Tyrion -- his son who despises him -- has a very sobering moment when he realizes that the man who has abused him all his life is as beloved by his brother as much as Tyrion loves his own brother, Jaime.
** Stannis Baratheon is another grim, cold man. The readers see him most often through the eyes of Davos, who is a good guy, and ''fiercely'' loyal to Stannis.

* Downplayed with Padme in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels, who is the only one still loving Anakin and believing in his goodness after his fall to TheDarkSide -- too bad she doesn't stick around to influence the Rebels, and the only person she expresses her belief to (Obi-Wan) already views Anakin as irredeemable. Luke from the original trilogy would count, but he never even knew his father, so his desire to redeem him in Episode VI stems more from him being an [[AllLovingHero all-round good guy]] and falls under a IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight.

Do take note that a CompleteMonster is the vilest and worst of all evils, and therefore ''cannot'' be loved.

* The final book of ''Literature/TheZodiacSeries'', ''Thirteen Rising'', reveals that [[spoiler:[[AntiVillain Ophiuchus]] and [[BigBad Aquarius]] were romantically involved before the former's initial death. In the present day, Aquarius, while [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned]], also destroys ''several'' planets, [[TheChessmaster manipulates everyone for his own ends]], and is willing to [[HumanSacrifice kill Ophiuchus]] ''[[HumanSacrifice]] again'' [[HumanSacrifice to open the portal to Earth]] (which he is well aware of)...and yet Ophiuchus still loves him, enough to outright lie about his identity to protect him even after [[HeelFaceTurn changing sides]].]]

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler: Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia is TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's convicted and executed for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris, so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]]. She believes that if Dahlia had been treated with love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler: Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia is TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's tried and convicted for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris, so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]]. She believes that if Dahlia had been treated with love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler: Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia was TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's tried and convicted for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris, so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]]. She believes that if Dahlia had been treated with love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* William of ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'' is a serial mass murderer, and his subordinates' deep and boundless affection for him nearly ruins his entire plan. One of his brothers loves him so much he agrees to care for the entire world in William's absense, and the other loves him so much he goes to prison to attempt to spare his reputation. Even Sherlock Holmes, William's greatest rival and antagonist, cares for William so much he [[spoiler:jumps off the Tower Bridge after him hoping to save his life]].

* The first recounting of the origins of Marvel Comics' ComicBook/DoctorDoom is told by Boris, the faithful servant of the Von Doom family who served as surrogate father to young Victor Von Doom after his family was slain by an arrogant aristocrat. Boris sees Doom as the champion of Baltic gypsies, after turning medieval Latveria into a showpiece of Europe. Latverians are shown heartily supporting Doom as well.

* There have been a few ''ComicBook/XMen'' stories in which a young ComicBook/KittyPryde gets to know ComicBook/{{Magneto}} a bit better and humanizes him as a result, during the time period in which he tries to serve as headmaster to the Xavier school in respect of Charles' last wishes.

* ''ComicBook/DarkTimes'': Jennir killing [[ChildEater Dezono Qua]] causes him to have a bounty placed on his head by the man's vengeful family, despite the fact that Qua was a murderous cannibal scumbag.
* ''ComicBook/SuperboyPrime'': [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. When Superboy-Prime finally comes home, he is shocked to discover that his parents and girlfriend read ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', ''ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar'', ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'', and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' - Legion of 3 Worlds, and are now terrified of him. It is implied that he killed Laurie Lemmon and his parents let him live with them out of fear. While he becomes more possessive and controlling of his parents, he still wants them to love him. However, it is clear that all the love they had for him has been replaced by fear. This is best shown in Adventure Comics #4, when Superboy-Prime demands that his parents take him to Jet's Comics, as it was a matter of life and death. They do as he commands, and along the way his father, Jerry Kent, begs Prime not to hurt them. Prime asks why in the world they would think that he would hurt them. His father points out what he had done to Laurie, to which Prime responds that he had done it because she didn't like him anymore. Prime then asks Naomi, his mother, if she loves him, to which she replies that she is terrified of him. Upon arriving at Jet's Comics, Prime tells Naomi he loves her, apparently ignoring her previous comment. When Prime leaves the car, Naomi tells Jerry to drive away, to anywhere. Jerry refuses, pointing out that he would just find them like he did last time.

* Aldo Rakan from ''Literature/ReflectionsOfEterna'' starts off a relatively likable individual but soon reveals himself as a [[JerkAss utterly repulsive]] and [[UnfitForGreatness power-hungry]] bastard who single-handedly brings about more evil and harm than any other villain in the series. Only his BestFriend Robert and his grandmother Mathilda, both fundamentally decent and honorable people, seem to harbor any sort of good will towards him at that point, despite realizing how morally bankrupt the guy has become.

* ''Literature/MercyThompson'' features [[spoiler:[[KillerCop Les Heuter]]]] and his father, senator [[spoiler:Benedict Heuter]]. [[spoiler:Les]] is a scumbag SerialKiller and SerialRapist who preys on innocent people and is thoroughly guiltless over his crimes and there isn't any indication that [[spoiler:Les]] cares about his father. Yet, his father still genuinely loves him enough to help him try and get away with said crimes via good lawyers and had a [[spoiler:breakdown after he was killed]].
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', Torak is an evil god who seeks to rule the world through a religion that practices human sacrifice. But even after everything he's done, his father UL still loves him. So do his brothers, Aldur and the other gods, and his "mother", the Universe, for that matter. [[spoiler:When Torak dies, all lights in the universe briefly go out, and then UL and the other gods sadly gather around him to mourn his death and bring his body to a proper place to bury him.]] It's eventually revealed that he wasn't always like that.
* The western novels of William Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone show this quite often. Quite a few HateSink outlaws and killers have brothers, parents, or cousins who hold them in high regard and generally come looking for revenge. Pete [=McLaren=] in ''Those Jensen Boys: Twelve Dead Men.'' Is a good example. He's a murderous YoungGun with practically no regard for anyone around him. Nonetheless, the local HookerWithAHeartOfGold thinks the world of him and Pete's execution for murder sends his outlaw brother on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.
* In the ''Literature/OctoberDaye'' novel, ''An Artificial Night'' after October [[spoiler:kills]] [[BigBad Blind Michael]], both his wife, Acacia and youngest daughter [[spoiler:mourn his death]] at least briefly. He was abusive to both of them and they both agree that [[spoiler:he had it coming]] but they still remember the years before his descent into evil and will always remember those memories even if he wasn't like that anymore.
* Subverted in ''Literature/WingsOfFire''. Darkstalker only appears lovable to his girlfriend because he's been brainwashing her to ignore his manipulations and abuse. The future- true- version of him is exactly as sadistic in daily life as you would expect of a genocidal torturer.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' DLC "Dawnguard", Serana the FriendlyNeighbourhoodVampire does her best to humanize her father, the omnicidal vampire lord Harkon. Her tragedy is that even she realizes that the parent she had once loved has long been consumed by his hunger for power, and there is ultimately no way of redeeming him.

* [[BigBad Cyrus]] from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokemon Platinum]]'' seems like a pretty cut-and-dry insufferable genius NietzscheWannabe. Until after you've finally defeated him, and you meet an old man who bemoans having not intervened in his brilliant grandson's childhood, instead simply standing by, silent, as the boy's parents pressured him into being absolutely perfect, demanding unrealistic expectations be met, and ultimately drove a once-happy child into a life of resentment and misanthropy. It's pretty obvious who the old man is talking about, [[CryForTheDevil and it is gut-wrenching to hear]].
* Sibling example in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' with [[spoiler: Dahlia and Iris. Iris genuinely loves Dahlia, despite the fact that Dahlia was TheSociopath, that she more than once asked her to help in her criminal activities, and in the end only thought of her as a backstabber. Iris knows the kind of person Dahlia is (or rather, was, since she's tried and convicted for murder in the first case of the third game, and comes back as a spirit in the final case) but pities her nonetheless, wishing that their father had dropped the both of them off at Kurain temple when they were kids instead of just Iris, so Dahlia too would have found a mother figure in Sister Bikini to replace their [[EvilMatriach power-hungry mother who never really loved them]]. She believes that if Dahlia had been treated with love growing up, she wouldn't have become so cruel, callous, and vindictive. She tells Phoenix that Dahlia was always strong, independent, and never once complained about her horrible lot in life.]]

* Morinth from ''{{VideoGame/Mass Effect 2}}'' is an Ardat-Yakshi, an [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe asari]] with a rare genetic defect that means they kill their mates when they meld minds with them. Rather than spend her life cloistered away with the rest of her kind, Morinth fled across the galaxy and became an unrepentant SerialKiller. She grew addicted to the rush of killing, and each melding made her stronger. She was so bad that her own mother, Samara, became a [[KnightTemplar justicar]] and dedicated her life to finding and killing her. Yet when Samara finally does kill Morinth, she mourns her death, grieving that she was forced to kill the "bravest and smartest" of her daughters.
* ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'': The player character can fall in love with [[spoiler:Solas]], who is later revealed to be the GreaterScopeVillain responsible for not just the events of the game, but almost every problem plaguing the world of Thedas (albeit unintentionally in both cases). In the DLC story, ''Trespasser'', he reveals that he [[spoiler:plans to lead an army of Elven rebels to destroy the Fade which he himself created, even though he knows that this will kill most non-Elves.]] The PlayerCharacter can choose to say that she still loves him and wants to save him from himself, or she can even offer to throw away everything she believes to join him.
* Several times in ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'', it's possible to find e-mails to enemies from loved ones (a group of terrorists being asked by their loved ones just what the hell's made them desert LaResistance, mooks trying to compose e-mails to their buddies they left behind when they got exiled, a krogan henchman being told his old boss is perfectly willing to give him his job back if he stops working for an AxCrazy asari). Usually, these e-mails are found ''after'' Ryder has killed them.
* In ''VideoGame/KingsQuest2015'', Hagetha's nature as an AntiVillain is cemented by the reveal that [[spoiler:she was the original princess locked away in the tower, waiting for someone to rescue her. As time passed, nobody came for her, her looks faded and overuse of potions to maintain her beauty turned her into a hagged reptilian creature, so in her desperation Hagetha began tricking other princesses into getting trapped in the tower with her in the hopes that someone would come to rescue them all. Graham is able to redeem her by sympathising with her plight and using his love for her to break the spell trapping her there.]]

* In ''VideoGame/FableI'', the Hero can be a CardCarryingVillain with HornsOfVillainy and a miasma of flies, but if he marries a villager and doesn't mistreat them, they'll be vocally "thrilled with [their] man from the Guild", even while the neighbours run screaming from the sight of him.

* Yug in ''JustForFun/TVTropesTheWebcomic'' does his best to convince JustForFun/{{Report|Siht}} and the others that his brother Dab, the main antagonist of the Original Arc, is not beyond redemption and is still a good person inside. He is ultimately proven wrong, however.
* Elan in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has an exceptional amount of empathy for his evil twin brother Nale, despite Nale being an unrepentant CardCarryingVillain with almost no redeeming qualities who repeatedly threatens Elan's and his friends' lives. That they were SeparatedAtBirth, with Nale [[FreudianExcuse raised]] by their FauxAffablyEvil megalomaniac nutcase of a father, makes Elan question whether they would have grown up in each other's roles if their positions had been reversed (and he makes the connection about why growing up he'd sometimes find his mom alone in her room crying about a "lost nail"). [[spoiler:When Nale is murdered in front of him, Elan is devastated.]] In fact, Nale's ''only'' redeeming quality is his surprisingly sincere [[UnholyMatrimony relationship]] with the [[HornyDevils succubus Sabine]] who was originally sent to him to guide him into deeper evil, but genuinely fell in love with him. [[spoiler:When Nale is murdered, Sabine's reaction is ''unbridled vengeful fury!'']]

* Percy -- a blatantly good guy (if a sometimes misguided one) -- tends to have this sort of relationship with Diesel 10 and his QuirkyMinibossSquad in later episodes of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'', while the other engines generally loathe them to the point of FantasticRacism. It only gets exploited in "Day Of The Diesels" though they show their gratitude when he helps out Sidney in "The Missing Christmas Tree Decorations".
* Spildit is a more passive case in ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone''. She doesn't so much defend the Urpneys as seem naive to the extent of their villainous actions, viewing them more as naughty playmates, and aiding them whenever they aren't up to no good, a stark contrast to the rest of the Land of Dreams, who abhor anything that serves Zordrak ([[NoSympathy willingly or not]]). Since Frizz and Nug are more recessive {{Slave Mook}}s, [[PragmaticVillainy they don't seem to bother Spildit's company]]. Sgt Blob however sometimes uses this to dupe Spildit into helping with schemes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Azula, despite all of her evil actions, was still loved by her mother Ursa. Azula continually tries to deny this, claiming Ursa only ever thought of her as a monster, but the subconscious knowledge that her mother really did love her in spite of her behavior winds up being a major factor in Azula's [[SanitySlippage descent into madness]]. In later comics, Zuko is willing to try to make amends; but given Azula's mental state isn't stable enough to try to reciprocate, much less Zuko handling the issue very poorly the first time around; the two got driven further apart. Zuko comes to terms with the fact that Azula is hurting inside, and that he cannot change her, but it's his responsibility to be there for her when she's ready to get her life back together.
* Flug from ''[[WesternAnimation/VillainousCartoonNetwork Villainous]]'' is a CardCarryingVillain and MadScientist who loves what he does, that being spreading mayhem and evil through his inventions, but his pride and joy is the [[MoralityPet genetically-engineered bear 5.0.5.]], who couldn't hurt a fly; he treats him with boundless kindness and dotes on him constantly, and 5.0.5. loves him just as much.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': Asami understandably tries to disown [[EvilGenius her father, Hiroshi,]] after he is revealed as an Equalist and turns on her for siding with the Avatar, but deep down she still loves him because and is ultimately able to forgive him for his crimes. Tragically, however, she only fully admits this to herself just before [[spoiler:[[RedemptionEqualsDeath he dies saving her life]]]], leaving them unable to truly reconnect and make amends.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': [[PosthumousCharacter Pink]] [[EvilOverlord Diamond]] of the [[GreaterScopeVillain Diamond Authority]] is an unusual example of a villain humanized by the love of other villains and antagonists. While very little has been revealed as of this post, we DO know that [[HundredPercentAdorationRating her court adored her]], [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes her sister Diamonds loved her]], and even [[BigGood Rose Quartz]] ([[IDidWhatIHadToDo who shattered her]]) [[MyGreatestFailure shows deep regret for her actions]]. The writers give as much weight and legitimacy to her mourners' grief as they do for Rose's own loved ones, making this yet another [[EvilCounterpart point of contrast between the two]]. [[spoiler:{{Subverted|Trope}} as she ''is'' the person everyone thinks shattered her and was GoodAllAlong (though her family and subjects don't know that).]]

* Mr. Burns in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is a thoroughly irredeemable BadBoss and CorruptCorporateExecutive, whose only humanizing trait is that he has the UndyingLoyalty of his assistant Smithers.
* Bat-Bat implores this of the Cow in the Bakshi ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' episode "Night of the Bat-Bat." The Cow acquiesces.

* Flug from ''WesternAnimation/{{Villainous}}'' is a CardCarryingVillain and MadScientist who loves what he does, that being spreading mayhem and evil through his inventions, but his pride and joy is the [[MoralityPet genetically-engineered bear 5.0.5.]], who couldn't hurt a fly; he treats him with boundless kindness and dotes on him constantly, and 5.0.5. loves him just as much.

* In the ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/34938136/chapters/91170232 The Queen's Sins]]'', the Proper Human History version of Morgan was a ruthless woman that plotted to take the throne away from her sister Artoria, and she is willing to fight her own children for siding against her. Her sons Agravain and Gaheris loathe her, while Gawain and Mordred want nothing to do with her. However, her daughter Gareth still sees Morgan as her mother that loved her. Gareth admits to Barghest that part of the reason she wants to help Lostbelt Morgan is because its the closest chance she has to speaking with her version of mother that she has.