History Main / TheHeavy

This can be the BigBad, but is more often TheDragon, since keeping the BigBad mysterious generally makes him scarier. TheHeavy is more about a role being played by an actor. In the original ''StarWars'' trilogy, Emperor Palpatine may be the BigBad, but Darth Vader is TheHeavy. He's seen more. He has more to do. He dominates the films, and as the prequels prove, the story is ''about'' him.

Will often overlap with the BigBad, but not always (although in those cases he's almost always TheDragon.) TheHeavy is more about a role being played by an actor. In the original ''StarWars'' trilogy, Emperor Palpatine may be the BigBad, but Darth Vader is TheHeavy. He's seen more. He has more to do. He dominates the films, and as the prequels prove, the story is ''about'' him.

* This type of villain was one of Shakespeare's specialties, three of the most notable being Iago in ''{{Othello}}'' and the titlular characters of ''Richard III'' and ''{{Macbeth}}''.

Compare DragonInChief, which is when TheDragon fills this role specifically because he overshadows the BigBad as a threat. Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, the {{Heavyworlder}}, or the GravityMaster. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2''. Likely to intersect with TheVillainMakesThePlot.

Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, the {{Heavyworlder}}, or the GravityMaster. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2''. Likely to intersect with TheVillainMakesThePlot.

Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, the {{Heavyworlder}}, or the GravityMaster. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2'' ([[MemeticMutation cry some more]]). Likely to intersect with TheVillainMakesThePlot.

* ''{{Smallville}}'': [[MagnificentBastard Lionel]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Luthor]] fullfilled the role in Seasons 1-3 (especially 3), [[CompleteMonster Brainiac]] in Season 5, LexLuthor in Seasons 6 & 7, and [[ColonelBadass Major Zod]] in Season 9. Each was also TheBigBad of the season in question. The others are a lot more ambiguous about it, with multiple villains, numerous {{Big Bad Ensemble}}s, and a lack of plot direction.
* In the PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians book series, Kronos is the BigBad, but Luke is TheHeavy, as Kronos has no physical form [[spoiler: until ''Battle of the Labyrinth'', when he [[DemonicPossession possess Luke]]]], and can only plot and scheme.

* In the PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians book series, Kronos is the BigBad, but Luke is TheHeavy, as Kronos has no physical form [[spoiler: until ''Battle of the Labyrinth'', when he performs a GrandTheftMe on Luke]], and can only plot and scheme.

* ''{{Smallville}}'': Lionel Luthor fullfilled the role in Seasons 1-3 (especially 3), Brainiac in Season 5, LexLuthor in Seasons 6 & 7, and Major Zod in Season 9. The others are a lot more ambiguous about it, with multiple villains, numerous BigBadEnsembles, and a lack of plot direction.

*** Though [[MadScientist Hojo]] and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive]] Rufus have a few turns being Heavy themselves.

* Slade, whenever he shows up in ''TeenTitans'' - even when serving under [[{{Satan}} Trigon the Terrible]] (see Vader and Palpatine - while not the BigBad, Slade is a menace through the season, while Trigon is a menace in the last three episodes.)
** Trigon, in the fourth season when he actually appears.

* Inverted in ''SinCity'' in which the heroic roles drive the plot.

* Sauron is the BigBad of ''LordOfTheRings'', but Saruman (and to an extent the Witch-King) are much more visible and involved villains, especially in the movies.

Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, a {{Heavyworlder}}, or a GravityMaster. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2'' ([[MemeticMutation cry some more]]). Likely to intersect with TheVillainMakesThePlot.

Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, nor a {{Heavyworlder}}. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2'' ([[MemeticMutation cry some more]]). Likely to intersect with TheVillainMakesThePlot.

* Slade, whenever he shows up in ''TeenTitans''.

Not to be confused with TheBigGuy, nor a {{Heavyworlder}}. Also has nothing to do with the Heavy from ''TeamFortress2'' ([[MemeticMutation cry some more]]). Likely to intersect with TheLawOfBruce.

TheHeavy is the villain whose [[VillainsActHeroesReact actions drive the plot.]]

* The Joker in Tim Burton's ''Film/{{Batman}}''.
** [[strike:Arguably,]] in 2008's ''TheDarkKnight'', as well.

Examples:

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* Slade, whenever he shows up in ''TeenTitans''.

TheHeavy is the villain whose actions drive the plot.