The qualities of a Big Bad

Wesley Junior

Wesley Junior

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What do you consider to be the key qualities of a Big Bad villain and which Big Bad villain in the Jossverse have matched them all?
 
I would say they have to be genuinely scary and threatening, and they have to have charisma or personality. Examples would be Spike, Angelus, The Mayor, Glory, Lindsey, Lilah and even The Master. Not Adam or The First or Holtz.
 
I think they have to understand humanity and therefore how to mess with it. The reason the Mayor and Angelus were the most effective BB's IMO was because they had an connection to the human world, and were able to play on the Scoobies on a whole new level. Also, through their personalities they got the right mix, of charasma, being scary, and having depth.
 
Key qualities of a big bad..... charisma, determination and ability to strike pure fear into their opponents. A physical threat is great, but we know Buffy can outmatch it. Emotional threat is something else. The best villains held the emotional threat card; Angelus, The Mayor, Glory - each could strike the Scoobies on an emotional level.

They tried it with The First Evil, but it fell flat having it incorporeal and also only being able to mimic the dead. Had it been able to mimic the living, it would have been a hell of a lot more interesting and would have messed with people's minds a lot more.
 
They have to have an emotional connection to Buffy or somebody close to Buffy.
Also they have to work as a metaphor for something about Buffy's journey that season.

Spike/Dru, Angelus, The Mayor/Faith, Glory- which are the most effective- have that link to the main character and the themes of the Season.
 
Although Willow was the big bad of the season, you could argue that Warren was the worst foe of any season, because he inflicted the most damage, and he possessed very few of the characteristics we look for in a bb. He certainly wasn't charismatic, though he was clever, determined and creative
 
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Priceless said:
Although Willow was the big bad of the season, you could argue that Warren was the worst foe of any season, because he inflicted the most damage, and he possessed very few of the characteristics we look for in a bb. He certainly wasn't charismatic, though he was clever, determined and creative
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There was a (interesting) topic when it comes to Warren / bb a few months ago, maybe someone can link that. 🙂
 
Buffy Summers said:
I think a big bad has to actually make you afraid for the heroes. If there isn't a part of you that thinks the bad guy can win, it doesn't work. Therefore Angelus, or Glory.
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Agreed 100%. That's why I never really thought much of the Master as a big bad. I just didn't buy him as a real threat.

And I agree with the others. The big bad has to have charisma, personality and if they're really good at being a big bad, then they know how to attack the slayer from her weakest point---her family and friends.
 
For me, a big bad need to have a personality (sorry Adam), charisma, but also need to pose both a physical and emotional threat to Buffy. That's why Angelus worked as a great Big Bad. I would have also liked the big bads to have a little bit more of a plan and try to accomplish things. Angelus doesn't have a plan until Becoming pt 1, Glory drags out her plans, The First gives up on it's own plans, and I'm still not %100 sure what Adam's plan was. The Master and the Mayor had plans they worked to execute throughout the whole season. The Trio just doesn't really pose any threat for Buff which is why Warren uses the gun.
 
Priceless said:
Although Willow was the big bad of the season, you could argue that Warren was the worst foe of any season, because he inflicted the most damage, and he possessed very few of the characteristics we look for in a bb. He certainly wasn't charismatic, though he was clever, determined and creative
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He was completely terrifying, because he was human. He inflicted the most damage because he was human. He possessed few of those characteristics, you could argue, because he was human.

He's unique in that respect.
 
Athena said:
He was completely terrifying, because he was human. He inflicted the most damage because he was human. He possessed few of those characteristics, you could argue, because he was human.

He's unique in that respect.
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Totally agree. He possessed none of the qualities of a bb, but he was the most terryfying for me because what he did could and does happen in the real world, outside of Buffy-the-tv-show. His crimes were the most shocking because of that. Nowhere is it written that a big bad has to be supernatural
 
Screenpresence/charisma is number one for me. It's why Angelus worked and The Trio didn't- he was having FUN. If the bad guy is having fun then I'll want to watch them, whateve they're doing.
Even Caleb, for all his limited screentime, was effective because of his charisma. Even though there wasn't much else going on there- no connection to Buffy- he was a lot better than The First 'bag of wind'. 🙂
 
They need to pose a real threat and create enough tension.

Characteristics and charisma are not that important. Even a volcano or a tsunami can be a great big bad.
 
from a narrative point of view i'd say a good big bad shuld be truly threathning, like the First for example but what works best for me its when the bb is underrated, like Warren. He was considered a joke until dead things, and then when katrina happend it was shocking and ugly
 
Fuffy Baith said:
For me, a big bad need to have a personality (sorry Adam), charisma, but also need to pose both a physical and emotional threat to Buffy. That's why Angelus worked as a great Big Bad. I would have also liked the big bads to have a little bit more of a plan and try to accomplish things. Angelus doesn't have a plan until Becoming pt 1, Glory drags out her plans, The First gives up on it's own plans, and I'm still not %100 sure what Adam's plan was. The Master and the Mayor had plans they worked to execute throughout the whole season. The Trio just doesn't really pose any threat for Buff which is why Warren uses the gun.
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I agree. The Mayor's plan was a perfect example of a slow burning plot which builds across the season and has credible twists and turns along the way. I also like his plot because there are links going back to early season 2, maybe even before then. I think the Master's plan would have been more effective if he was in more episodes.
 
Fuffy Baith
Fuffy Baith
Yes I agree, more Master! Which is partly why I love The Wish! lol
Athena said:
Key qualities of a big bad..... charisma, determination and ability to strike pure fear into their opponents. A physical threat is great, but we know Buffy can outmatch it. Emotional threat is something else. The best villains held the emotional threat card; Angelus, The Mayor, Glory - each could strike the Scoobies on an emotional level.

They tried it with The First Evil, but it fell flat having it incorporeal and also only being able to mimic the dead. Had it been able to mimic the living, it would have been a hell of a lot more interesting and would have messed with people's minds a lot more.
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Plus the Trio & the First had the combined charisma of a paper bag. 🙄
 
ChaseRules
ChaseRules
You said it :)
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