Being the Bad Guy
©2016 Kari Carlisle
What’s a story without a bad guy? Granted, the “bad guy” could be something other than a person, such as a natural disaster or aliens or even one’s own subconscious. The point is every story needs someone or something for the protagonist to conflict with, i.e. the antagonist. This is story-writing 101.
I started thinking about this while watching the red carpet interviews of the cast of Outlander for their second season. It was a little thrilling to hear the actors’ perspectives, especially those who play the two main protagonists, Claire and Jamie. Then, suddenly, the actor who plays the antagonist, Tobias Menzies, stepped up to the interviewer and began answering questions about what it’s like to play his character, Jack Randall.
Now, if you are not familiar with Outlander, I promise no spoilers. Suffice it to say, the antagonist is about as psychotically evil as one can be. Let’s just say, he is not someone whose attention you want to attract for any reason. Because God-forbid he should take an interest in you. You will not psychological survive a relationship with him, and he will believe that his actions are 100% not only justified, but pure. Oh, he knows he causes pain and suffering, but to him it’s a beautiful thing.
Back to Menzies’ interview. He talked about the story and how his role in the story is so important. Inside, I begged him to please say something, or even flash a big, charming smile, something that would re-humanize him, the actor, in my mind. You see, it was my bed-time, and I really didn’t want to go to sleep having the man’s face be the last thing I see before dreams, nightmares, took over.
But he didn’t. His interview over, I was left wondering what is this person like in real life? He did nothing to dispel the overwhelming feeling I had that this person IS his character. That this evil person is roaming the earth, the same earth I occupy, and not just a character in a TV show. I begged him, I really did. Why didn’t he become the “good guy” in real life?
I have forgiven every other bad guy. If I met James Earl Jones, I would give the big lug a bear hug. When Alan Rickman passed a few weeks ago, I literally cried. How do the “bad guys” get forgiven, but I could not bring myself to see the real person behind the Randall character?
Perhaps only time, and other less evil roles, will put Tobias Menzies in a better place in my mind. For now, he will have to take my feelings as the highest compliment – that he is perhaps one of the best actors who ever played an antagonist. To the point where I cannot separate the fiction from the reality. Kudos.
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What’s a story without a bad guy? Granted, the “bad guy” could be something other than a person, such as a natural disaster or aliens or even one’s own subconscious. The point is every story needs someone or something for the protagonist to conflict with, i.e. the antagonist. This is story-writing 101.
I started thinking about this while watching the red carpet interviews of the cast of Outlander for their second season. It was a little thrilling to hear the actors’ perspectives, especially those who play the two main protagonists, Claire and Jamie. Then, suddenly, the actor who plays the antagonist, Tobias Menzies, stepped up to the interviewer and began answering questions about what it’s like to play his character, Jack Randall.
Now, if you are not familiar with Outlander, I promise no spoilers. Suffice it to say, the antagonist is about as psychotically evil as one can be. Let’s just say, he is not someone whose attention you want to attract for any reason. Because God-forbid he should take an interest in you. You will not psychological survive a relationship with him, and he will believe that his actions are 100% not only justified, but pure. Oh, he knows he causes pain and suffering, but to him it’s a beautiful thing.
Back to Menzies’ interview. He talked about the story and how his role in the story is so important. Inside, I begged him to please say something, or even flash a big, charming smile, something that would re-humanize him, the actor, in my mind. You see, it was my bed-time, and I really didn’t want to go to sleep having the man’s face be the last thing I see before dreams, nightmares, took over.
But he didn’t. His interview over, I was left wondering what is this person like in real life? He did nothing to dispel the overwhelming feeling I had that this person IS his character. That this evil person is roaming the earth, the same earth I occupy, and not just a character in a TV show. I begged him, I really did. Why didn’t he become the “good guy” in real life?
I have forgiven every other bad guy. If I met James Earl Jones, I would give the big lug a bear hug. When Alan Rickman passed a few weeks ago, I literally cried. How do the “bad guys” get forgiven, but I could not bring myself to see the real person behind the Randall character?
Perhaps only time, and other less evil roles, will put Tobias Menzies in a better place in my mind. For now, he will have to take my feelings as the highest compliment – that he is perhaps one of the best actors who ever played an antagonist. To the point where I cannot separate the fiction from the reality. Kudos.
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www.readmota.com
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