Explain the Villainess genre

[Reth]

i never ones read or binge this type of genre because i thought it just so generic shit ever

if you have a story with this genre or just enjoy it, now is the time to preach about it

"Sore aru!"

-Orimoto Kaori 2015

[darthmongoose]

I wouldn't necessarily say I "enjoy the genre" but I did enjoy reading this Villainess comic:

Beware the Villainess! | Tapas

It's a really fun series that uses the fact that the character gets reborn as a minor antagonist in a cliched reverse-harem Fantasy Romance to explore the misogynist themes common in Fantasy Romance stories in a funny way, as well as to make the main character kind of an awesome badass. She takes advantage of being already a pariah to take charge and stand up for those who need help, even if it breaks proper protocol.

A lot of "villainess" stories I don't really like because there's nothing especially villainous about the "villainess", it's always like the person reborn into the role is a cinnamon bun and it turns out the person she was reborn as was actually nice and just misunderstood and so perceived as a villain. I liked Beware the Villainess because the main character is reborn into the role of somebody who really was abusive and mean, and even though you can see how she ended up that way through being basically treated like an unwanted object, it's never just waved away, and it does cause genuinely understandable issues the character has to overcome.

Unfortunately many stories in the genre just want an excuse for the cool villain aesthetic and for the hero to be unjustly oppressed for drama, but often lack the guts to really have the "villain" protagonist do anything bad or be disliked by any nice characters.

[Reth]

to those who love/read this type of story, can you tell me

-What is the main selling point and what is the bad part about the genre

-What they should add in the story, should it be more mature or violent or etc

-if you hate this genre, please tell me why

[redfish]

Main selling point: seeing the satisfying revenge of a character turned into a villain by others around them, watching satisfying villain behaviour e.g. shady behaviour, getting the last say in some passive aggressive argument, getting to act powerful and confident. I think a lot of people realize they empathize with these villainess characters as they are usually imperfect, more grounded and even selfish goals (compared to angelic, pure female leads). Being the good girl isn't always fun.

What they should add in a story: honestly the villainess genre is very bloated right now. Nearly every variation has been done now I think. Villainesses doing a redemption arc and being better people, villainess deviating from the old plot and choosing a better life for herself, villainess going to war ect ect

Do I hate this genre? No. I think it has overtaken the webcomic scene, but there are a lot of charming things to it because again, we all love a good villain, especially a misunderstood one or a victim of circumstance.

Romances in villainess genres tend to be very bland, generic, formulaic. They usually come hand in hand in villainess stories as it's also a story about getting the prince charming they wanted/deserve. Would love to see other kinds of love interests.

[Jenny-Toons]

Since you've already made this topic before, I've moved the newer responses here and closed the other.

In the future, please just bump your previous thread instead of making the exact same one in another category.

Thank you!

[ishmerra]

I totally understand why people don't like the villainess trope, and even though I find comfort in the trope, I get tired of it too sometimes lol.

The above comments are really good at talking about the villainess stories done well, but if you're just thinking "How in the world do people enjoy this cliche!?" I'll give my two cents as a person who loves it

I think it's a more complicated version of the "push and pull" trope that basically any rom-com fanatic will know about. Since the villainess usually enters the story as a person who is hated by everyone, she assumes that she's not important to the story and if she just acts nice to everyone then disappears once the OG protag enters the scene, no one will care. But then! Everyone starts chasing after her and pampering her to try and get her to not leave.

Because the villainess in these kinds of stories has basically no expectations for anyone around her, it gets really addicting (albeit frustrating if overdone) to read about the side characters trying to, like, make her happier, or more dependent on them. Also, a little jealousy amongst the love interests doesn't hurt too much

The whole setting is in like a kingdom or an empire, and the male lead in this story is usually a king, emperor or duke. The idea of someone marrying to a person of higher power appeals to a lot of people, like how the "commoner marries CEO" story was (or still is, I'm not sure) popular

The thing that is usually added in these kinds of stories for spice are wars (doctor elise) or controversies with the church or people of similar power (fantasie of a stepmother(?)). Plus it's in a historical setting anyway so that kind of thing is usually expected to be added

I especially love the ones that involve family 'cause they make me cry (fantasie of a stepmother again, harley takes the house, who made me a princess)

To be honest, my taste in writing has diminished greatly since I developed my addiction to reincarnation stories (especially since I read a crap-ton of fan translations and mtl). I was reading merchant of venice and my mind was absolutely blown at how everything in the story tied perfectly together in the climax, and then I started to wonder if that kind of thing is normal and I've just forgotten how a non-fantasy story is written (but then again, it's shakespeare)

Yeah that's how much I can talk about it without cringing at my lack of ability to put my thoughts on the genre into proper words

edit: fixed random sentences

[system]

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