What villain actually had a good point?

Alright… Today’s writing prompt is extremely interesting. And I think this is a conversation I could have over a cup of coffee with some of the best friends… However, as they are not available at the moment for one or the other reason, let’s talk about this together.

”What villain actually had a good point?’‘

Now, that’s a dangerous question. Because, when you are a child, the answer is simple. None of them. They are the bad guys, the villains. End of discussion.

But, somewhere between paying bills, waking up before sunrise and getting excited over a new frying pan you find at the store, you start seeing things a little differently.

Take Captain Hook, for example…

When I was younger, Peter Pan was everything I wanted to be. Flying, adventurous, never growing up, no responsibilities… It sounded like the perfect life.

But what about now?

I mostly wonder how Captain Hook managed to keep his sanity… Imagine trying to run a pirate ship – which already sounds like a full time job – and every other day a flying child breaks into your life, laughs in your face, ruins your plans and convinces everyone that you are the problem. Honestly, I’d probably be grumpy too.

Then, there’s Maleficent.

Let’s be clear. Turning into a dragon was a bit excessive. Cursing a baby was definitely not the healthiest way to express disappointment… But… Can we talk about the invitation? Or rather the lack of one.

Imagine discovering the whole kingdom had been invited to the biggest celebration of the year. The king, the queen, the three fairies, half of the village. Probably even that cousin nobody actually likes… Everyone.. Except you. I’d be offended. I wouldn’t curse anyone, not really. But I’d make a sarcastic comment, eat an unreasonable amount of biscuits and tell myself I didn’t want to go anyway. I’d still be offended, though.

And then, there’s Hades.

I believe that Hades deserves a holiday. The poor man spends an eternity doing his job. No appreciation. No promotions, no benefits. Meanwhile Zeus lives on a cloud throwing lightning bolts around like he’s starring in his own action film. If anyone had earned the right to be slightly sarcastic, it was Hades.

Come to think of it, he wasn’t even evil. He just seemed tired. Which, as an adult, feels relatable…

The funny thing is, I don’t actually think these villains were right. I just think, they remind us of something Disney rarely talked about. People don’t become difficult for no reason. They are hurt, they are frustrated, they are overlooked and they have had one bad day too many.

Of course, Disney villains chose to deal with all those feelings by kidnapping people, casting curses or attempting world domination. Which, admittedly, wasn’t ideal. They were probably healthier coping mechanisms available. Therapy. Or coffee.

The older I get, the less I see stories as heroes versus villains. Life isn’t that tidy. Most people are simply trying their best while carrying around things nobody else can see. Some handle it with kindness. Others… well… others buy capes and dramatic theme music.

Maybe that’s what growing up really teaches us. Not to cheer for the villains, but to realise that everyone has a story. Even if some stories involve pirate ships, green flames and a remarkable amount of sarcasm.

Personally, I’d still rather invite everyone over for coffee. It seems far less destructive.