Question Alpha - Hero/Vigilante/Villain

[Buffyverse Fan]

So at this point, do you think Alpha is truly a Villain, Vigilante/Antihero, or a Hero?

Obviously from the Dollhouse's perspective he's a villain, but they're sort of the villains of the story themselves.

Sure, Alpha's been massacring the Dollhouse employees, but they're bad guys. Think about Angel & Wolfram & Hart, the employees he deemed irredeemably evil lost their heads, literally.

 

[Revolver]

So far, Alpha strikes me as a spaceship pilot who likes to joke around and resents his wife's respect for their mutual captain. I'm not sure where I'm getting that from though.

 

[Flannen]

At this point, I'm going with villain.

So at this point, do you think Alpha is truly a Villain, Vigilante/Antihero, or a Hero?

Obviously from the Dollhouse's perspective he's a villain, but they're sort of the villains of the story themselves.

Sure, Alpha's been massacring the Dollhouse employees, but they're bad guys. Think about Angel & Wolfram & Hart, the employees he deemed irredeemably evil lost their heads, literally.

He's not just taking out the Dollhouse staff, which would suggest he's a vigilante, he viciously murdered many of the dolls who are completely helpless and innocent and 'victims' of the Dollhouse just like himself.

And his attack on Victor in 'Briar Rose' was completely unjustified. So for me, right now, he's a villain.

 

[DrusillaRox]

question - what's the difference between a villian and an antihero?

 

[Flannen]

question - what's the difference between a villian and an antihero?

An anti-hero is kind of like a flawed hero. They try to justify a crime of some kind but go about it in the wrong ways, through violence etc. But they still retain the 'things' that define a hero.

A vigilante is someone who takes it upon themselves to avenge a crime or an unjustified action by taking out the people they feel were involved in it.

They are pretty similar though.

That's how I define them anyway. Others may have different ideas 🙂

BUT http://dictionary.com describes a vigilante as

any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime...done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures

And a hero as:

a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.

Hope that helps 🙂

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

An anti-hero is kind of like a flawed hero. They try to justify a crime of some kind but go about it in the wrong ways, through violence etc. But they still retain the 'things' that define a hero.

A vigilante is someone who takes it upon themselves to avenge a crime or an unjustified action by taking out the people they feel were involved in it.

I think you misread DrusillaRox's question 😉. But all your definitions were spot on, Vigilante & Antihero are similar, that's why they're listed together (DRox wanted to know the difference between Antihero & Villain).

re: DrusillaRox
Like Flannen said, Antihero Vigilantes technically do good things, but their motives and methods are often extremely suspect. Batman is often considered to be an Antihero, but most are less altruistic and more violent than him. The Punisher is really the best example of a Vigilante Antihero since he will often fight for revenge rather than justice. And the Punisher has no problem murdering people.

 

[Fusions2]

Obviously he's made out to be the villain but right down to it I see him as a victim more than anything. He's not like the other dolls and has been completely flawed from all the wipes he's had. He's fragmented and theres no real way to wipe him from being a harm to anyone else. He's got some deep issues that he can never escape but I think in next weeks episode they'll probably determine his true nature on whether he is a villian, vigilante or a hero.

 

[Flannen]

I think you misread DrusillaRox's question 😉. But all your definitions were spot on, Vigilante & Antihero are similar, that's why they're listed together (DRox wanted to know the difference between Antihero & Villain).

Haha, so I did. That's what happens when I try and post and 3:30am waiting for the boxing to start! Sorry DR!

 

[WhiteHat]

I think to answer that question we need a more complete picture on the true, underlying purpose for the Dollhouse. Was Frankenstein's 'monster' a villain or victim?

 

[disturbedvanity]

I see him as a vigilante...because he is reacting to what was done to him (or so I think now)