History Main / SympatheticVillainDespicableVillain

Most stories benefit from a good villain, but sometimes, writers struggle to decide whether the villain should be sympathetic, perhaps [[HeelFaceTurn capable of reform]], or a completely [[BeyondRedemption irredeemable]], [[TheSociopath pure evil villain]]. This trope occurs when the writer decides "hey, why not both?"

And when a MagnificientBastard gets pairied with a CompleteMonster, the former will always be the sympathetic one and the latter the despicable one.

Most stories benefit from a good villain, but sometimes, writers struggle to decide whether the villain should be sympathetic, perhaps [[HeelFaceTurn capable of reform]], or a completely [[BeyondRedemption irredeemable]], [[TheSociopath pure evil villain]]. This trope occurs when the writer decides, hey, why not both?

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', the two most important villains are Scarecrow, the BigBad of the game with the intentions of submitting Gotham City to fear, and the Arkham Knight, his DragonInChief that is primary interested in killing Batman at all costs. Is eventually revealed that the Knight is none other than Jason Todd, the former Robin who was [[ColdBloodedTorture horribly tortured by the Joker]] and presumed dead back then. When Batman discovers the truth, he only feels remorse for Jason and what happened to him. Scarecrow, on the other hand, is nothing more of a deranged {{Sadist}} with no redeeming qualities, that wants to destroy the myth of Batman and [[HopeCrusher every hope left in Gotham]]. In the end, [[HeelFaceTurn Jason saves Batman from Scarecrow]], and the latter is [[FateWorseThanDeath reduced to an eternally scared, shadow of himself.]] [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine With nothing more than his own fear toxin.]]

* ''VideoGame/Fallout1'': [[BigBad The Master]], for all the trouble he caused by creating the Super Mutants, genuinely wants to rebuild a society unhampered by the radiation and toxins spread by the bombs, [[spoiler:and will destroy himself and the Super Mutant production labs if you prove to him that his plan won't work]]. His CoDragons, the Lieutenant and Morpheus, lack his good intentions and only serve the Unity for power.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': [[spoiler:Whether you oppose Edelgard or Rhea, both women genuinely want what they believe is best for the people of Fódlan, though their views are skewed by the horrible tragedies they've experienced. Those Who Slither In The Dark, also known as the Agarthans, are simply fascistic would-be conquerors who are entirely responsible for the tragedies that drove both women to make the questionable decisions that end up setting them against each other.]]

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', the two most important villains are Scarecrow, the BigBad of the game with the intentions of submitting Gotham City to fear, and the Arkham Knight, his DragonInChief that is primary interested in killing Batman at all costs. Is eventually revealed that the Knight is none other than Jason Todd, the former Robin who was [[ColdBloodedTorture horribly tortured by the Joker]] and presumed dead back then. When Batman discovers the truth, he only feels remorse for Jason and what happened to him. Scarecrow, on the other hand, is nothing more of a deranged {{Sadist}} with no redeeming qualities, that wants to destroy the myth of Batman and [[HopeCrusher every hope left in Gotham]]. In the end, [[HeelFaceTurn Jason saves Batman from Scarecrow]], and the latter is [[FateWorseThanDeath reduced to an eternally scared, former shelf of himself.]] [[ATasteOfHisOwnMedicine With nothing more than his own fear toxin.]]

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', the two most important villains are Scarecrow, the BigBad of the game with the intentions of submitting Gotham City to fear, and the Arkham Knight, his DragonInChief that is primary interested in killing Batman at all costs. Is eventually revealed that the Knight is none other than Jason Todd, the former Robin who was [[ColdBloodedTorture horribly tortured by the Joker]] and presumed dead back then. When Batman discovers the truth, he only feels remorse for Jason and what happened to him. Scarecrow, on the other hand, is nothing more of a deranged {{Sadist}} with no redeeming qualities, that wants to destroy the myth of Batman and [[HopeCrusher every hope left in Gotham]]. In the end, [[HeelFaceTurn Jason saves Batman from Scarecrow]], and the latter is [[FateWorseThanDeath reduced to a broken shelf of himself due to his own Fear Toxin.]]

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', the two most important villains are Scarecrow, the BigBad of the game with the intentions of submitting Gotham City to fear, and the Arkham Knight, his DragonInChief that is primary interested in killing Batman at all costs. Is eventually revealed that the Knight is none other than Jason Todd, the former Robin who was horribly tortured by the Joker and presumed dead back then. When Batman discovers the truth, he only feels remorse for Jason and what happened. Scarecrow, on the other hand, is nothing more of a deranged, Sadist with no redeeming qualities that wants to destroy the myth of Batman and [[HopeCrusher every hope left in Gotham]]. In the end, [[HeelFaceTurn Jason saves Batman from Scarecrow]], and the latter is [[FateWorseThanDeath reduced to a broken shelf of himself due to his own Fear Toxin.]]

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' the two most important villains are Scarecrow, the BigBad of the game with the intentions of submitting Gotham City to fear, and the Arkham Knight, his DragonInChief that is primary interested in killing Batman at all costs. Is eventually revealed that the Knight is none other than Jason Todd, the former Robin who was horribly tortured by the Joker and presumed dead back then. When Batman eventually discovers the truth, he only feels remorse for Jason and what happened. Scarecrow, on the other hand, is nothing more of a deranged, Sadist with no redeeming qualities that wants to destroy the myth of Batman and [[HopeCrusher every hope left in Gotham]]. In the end, [[HeelFaceTurn Jason eventually saves Batman from Scarecrow]], and the latter is [[FateWorseThanDeath reduced to a broken shelf of himself due to his own Fear Toxin.]]

** ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' has this relationship between [[Big Bad Witch Bandora]] and [[GreaterScopeVillain Dai Satan]]. Bandora is a LikeableVillain who treats her henchmen like family, while Dai Satan is a GenericDoomsdayVillain who took advantage of Bandora's grief to use her to devastate the world.

** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': The final two villains of the story are Wiseman/Sou Fueki, a man who [[RunningBothSides runs both the wizards and the Phantoms]] in order to create a ritual to revive his daughter Koyomi; and Sora Takigawa/the Gremlin Phantom, a SerialKiller who was already a monster even before becoming a Phantom, delights in sadism, and is unrepentant of his actions to the bitter end.
** ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'': The final two villains of the story are Storious, who despite enacting a ritual to cause the end of the world only did so because of his fear that all of creation would end up meaning nothing in the end; and Isaac/the current Master Logos, who allies with Storious in order to use the power of the Seikens in order to rule the world for his own amusement. At the end, Storious [[DyingAsYourself dies as himself]], and is seen conversing with Touma alongside his fellow Megid having clearly reformed, while Isaac doesn't even get a chance at redemption.

* ''Anime/CastleInTheSky'': Dola at first appears as the sole villain in the story, as she and her crew attempt to steal Sheeta's necklace and she and Pazu must escape from her. However, [[VillainRespect their success in this impresses Dola]], and she allows them onto her ship. She shows a kinder side and has a [[MirrorCharacter moment with Sheeta that shows they aren't so different.]] She is also shown to care deeply about her crew, who also doubles as her family. It is even pointed out by Pazu that she [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold isn't as mean as she pretends to be.]] Muska is later revealed to be the true BigBad, who wants to use Laputa's power as a weapon of war to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the world.]] His role as the despicable villain is further solidified when he murders the soldiers who accompanied him, as well as threatening to [[WouldHurtAChild shoot Sheeta and Pazu]]. He is one of the only [[Creator/HayaoMiyazaki Miyazaki]] villains who is a complete HateSink with no redeeming qualities.

** Seasons 12 and 13 reveal that Felix is the '''Despicable Villain''' between them. After he reveals himself to the Reds and Blues to be a traitor and has also been involved in escalating the war for his and Locus' employer, he gradually brings out the person he truly is: [[BitchInSheepsClothing A sadistic, narcissistic, and overall remorseless megalomaniac]] who does what he does purely to make a profit for himself. He shows [[ManipulativeBastard he has zero qualms with manipulating and using deceit against his former allies]] [[ForTheEvulz for shits and giggles]], lacking anything remotely resembling compassion or humanity. Additionally, his former UNSC background presented him as stern and merciless, which is only exacerbated in the present day as he lets free his true self.

* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' features Locus and Felix, two mercenaries supposedly on opposing sides of a civil war introduced during the Chorus Trilogy. Initially, Locus is portrayed as what he considers a true soldier -- emotionless, ruthless, and solely dedicated to his orders, while Felix is sarcastic and wise-cracking, yet friendly. While their initial appearances do not exactly cement this, it's made clear who's who in their dynamic later on:

* "Series/TheBrothersSun": The BigBadEnsemble is composed of Grace, Bruce's LoveInterestTraitor and high-ranking member of [[VigilanteMan the Boxers]], a [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds tragic]], if [[KnightTemplar fanatical]], WellIntentionedExtremist who wants revenge on the Triads who ruined the life of so many people ; and [[ArchnemesisDad Big Sun]], the father of the titular brothers who turns out to be an abusive HateSink who preaches "family must be protected" while actually being ready to manipulate and even kill them if it suits his ambitions of expanding his criminal empire.

** The series finale is complete with two showdowns. [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] is a ruthless leader who seeks to commit genocide on the Earth Kingdom. While his daughter, [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderPrincessAzula Princess Azula]], was the one to suggest the idea, it's made clear that her upbringing stunted her ability to do the right thing, and she's devastated upon failing to stand up to her father's pressure.