Let’s all agree that there are some villains out there that deserve a little less hate and little more respect. Yes, the Evil Stepmother locked Cinderella in a tower. But wasn’t she just looking out for the interests of her (also evil) daughters? And yeah, the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland enjoyed chopping people’s heads off—but I’m sure she had a good reason for it, right? You’ll have to check out Queen of Hearts, the start of Colleen Oakes’ epic new series (read the first four chapters here!), to get the full story behind Wonderland’s most infamous villain, but for now Colleen is here to share with us the villains she thinks deserve our appreciation!
Colleen Oakes’ Most Misunderstood Villains of All Time
1. Ursula from The Little Mermaid
Her brother, King Triton, lives in a beautiful under-the-sea palace adorned with golden spirals and his sister lives in the skeleton of a decomposing sea-beast. This already feels vastly unequal, and everyone knows that royal sibling rivalry usually leads to bloodshed. Also, how stupid was Ariel to go there in the first place?
2. Javert from Les Mis
As a die-hard Les Miserables fan, I am never hoping that Javert finds Jean Valjean, but I am rooting for him as a character. One of the most heart-breaking moments of a heart-breaking show is when he takes his life as mercy and breaks his utter devotion to the law. The song Stars trumps Bring Him Home for this fangirl any day.
3. The Queen of Hearts
I’m biased towards her of course, but has anyone ever bothered to ask – why is she so angry? That was the question I wanted to answer, and of course the only answer could be love. She routinely loses her temper at anyone who questions her methods and is fond of screaming “Off with their heads!” Her husband quietly goes behind her, pardoning the guilty. Does their story need to be told? Absolutely. (PS- You can start reading about the Queen of Heart’s origin story here!)
4. Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad
Look, sometimes a crazy girl just wants to have some fun and beat some folks. Harley Quinn was just a nice girl, interning at Arkham Asylum when she met the Joker and things went downhill from there. Was she crazy before she met the Joker or after? Only time will tell!
5. Frankenstein
Geesh, even his name is misunderstood as people forget that Frankenstein is the main character of the novel and NOT the actual monster. As a scientist and doctor, Frankenstein did something amazing – he raised a creature from the dead and ordered it to live against its own will. At the very least, he deserves our respect – and fear.
6. Kylo Ren
Played by the amazing Adam Driver, by far the best part of Girls, Kylo Ren was a terrifying presence in the beginning of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and yet when he takes off his helmet – surprise! There was vulnerability and a lot of hair under that mask. His scene with Rey is one of the best in the movie, and I can’t wait to see where this conflicted villain’s story takes us in the zillion movies to come.
7. The Phantom of the Opera
Hey, it’s dark down there –but how bad could it be, playing house with the Phantom in his creepy candlelit and yet understated lair? Okay, probably pretty bad, but he does have that soothing, gorgeous voice to balance out his murderous rage and serious stalking problems…Christine doesn’t know what she’s missing.
8. Maleficent
An embodiment of all that is wicked and attractive at the same time, Maleficent is a villain in every sense of the word; she’s diabolical, intelligent and cruel. She has a raven that sits on her shoulder, for god’s sakes, I mean – what other accessory screams “villain” quite that way? She’s misunderstood in that everyone should do what she says all the time and no one listens to her. Oh wait, did I mention SHE TURNS INTO A DRAGON? Bow before the Queen, ya’ll.
9. Dolores Umbridge
I’m just kidding, she’s the worst.
Who’s your favorite villain? Tell us in the comments below! And pick up a copy of Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes today!