YMMV / The Fourth

• Ensemble Dark Horse: Skärva The Second is very popular with the fans.
• Failure Is the Only Option: A large theme of the story is Skärva attempts to avert this trope, as summed up by this quote
  Courtney: Yeah, a lot of times the failure of villainy in a comical story can be attributed to the bad guys, from the workaday minion to the big boss, just being idiots. But it’s an important part of The Fourth that Skärva is competent and very smart and hardworking and, by and large, his minions are resourceful and flexible and know what they’re doing too. They lose because THE GODS. Because DESTINY. No matter how hard they try. Will this time be different…?
  Courtney: The Third accepted his apparent destiny and made a successful business out of it. The Fourth refuses to. Where will that lead him in the end?
• Tearjerker: Despite being a fairly light-hearted comic fantasy there are a lot of sadder moments throughout. For example;
  • Loreli has nightmares about being unable to heal Skärva[1].
  • The Third and the Fourth don't get along due to differing opinions regarding the curse and their place in the world:
  The Third: You're being too hard on yourself, son. Being a villain isn't about beating the hero, it's about being an important part of the community. You have to try your best, but don't be afraid to fail. It's your destiny, after all.
  The Fourth: What, and be a push over, like you were? Never!
  The Third: Son...
  The Fourth: I'm tired of you lecturing me about what kind of villain I'm going to be. Just because you were content to sit here and take the hero's beating every time, doesn't mean I am!
  The Third: I just wish... you would be more like me, for once.
  The Fourth: What, dead?

  The Third: Sigh. Why can't you just be happy doing what our family is known for?
  The Fourth: What? Losing?
  The Third: YES.

  • And this entire page[2]