Villains

A lot of kids think that they are being clever by starting an essay with a dictionary definition of the theme that they are covering.  Teachers can usually see through this simple introduction method and recommend a more original formula.  I have perfected the art of intros for essays, so I am going to ignore that teacher suggestion at the moment and start with a definition, provided by Dictionary.com.

A cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime.

Heroes called its third, and often berated, season "Villains" because of its focus on the apparently evil in almost every character, and the unability to determine who was a villain and who a hero.  What?  All of a sudden Sylar is good and Mohinder is killing guys?  No no, I don't see that.  It made it hard to understand what the show wanted to do or see happen, but I didn't hate it.

However, typically when I hear the word villain, I think of Disney villains, not NBC villains.  Who is the first villain that you think of?

The wicked queen from Snow White?

Jafar from Aladdin?

Malificent from Sleeping Beauty?

All of these and more are the most hated, scariest characters that we could imagine when we were little.  They were always in purple or green, maybe an homage to the Wicked Witch of the West (whom we now love, thanks to Wicked and the charming Elphaba), and they were always fierce.  The fiercest, meanest, scariest character of all to the still blonde, pre-walking Sandy was the demonic octopus of The Little Mermaid, Ursula. 

To target my baby bulimia problem when I was about two, my parents took me to the hospital for some tests.  They strapped me to a table and apparently Joel had a fit.  I don't remember any needles or stool (poopy I guess to a 2-year old.  Or to me when I'm feeling young) samples or straps or panicked fathers.  I just remember Ursula. While I was on that table, the nurse put on a copy of The Little Mermaid and left me along with the movie and my blankie.  Maybe the most terrifying moment of my life, because I have never forgotten, despite the 18 years since and the inability to retain memory at that age.  

Every time that stupid Ursula came onscreen, I would panic and cover my head with Blankie.  Why would a children's movie create such a terrifying character?  I bet I am not the only person with some traumatizing memories of Disney villains.  I realize that Disney made those films for adults as well, duh, we have all seen the boner on the priest, they were primarily for kids.

The point here is, is that villains are scary.  Whether on Heroes, in Disney, in The Dark Knight, or in Camden, all villains are scary.  Except for the bumbling ones, like in any Mary-Kate and Ashley movie.  Or in Home Alone.  1 and 2.  I don't approve of any of the Home Alones (Homes Alone?) after that.  

If I ever start showing villainous characteristics, please point them out to me, so I can cease and desist.  

Love always, 

Sandy