Not that I'm complaining about more of my favorite Prince Hal...

[colliemommie]

...by why is everyone acting like Tom Hiddleston's Loki is the first time a villain/antagonist has been more interesting and attractive than the hero?

Did everyone else actually spend their formative years lusting over the hero, rather than his brother/cousin/enemy with the drinking problem who just needs someone to take care of him?

Looking back at my fictional crushes from being young, it was Francis Poldark in Poldark and Mark in Flambards (good gods was young Steven Grives hot), both of whom are gateway drugs to having a serious antagonist fixation.

Neither of these guys is evil, but they each grew up poor with jackass fathers and no mothers, fall in love with a girl who loves their brother figure, and cover the hurt with sarcasm. In Francis' case it's such an obvious front it's painful. Francis actually gets the girl, but then can't cope with the fact that she doesn't love him much. He's weak, and wastes his life gambling and drinking, which of course does nothing to make him more popular with his wife. I still want to give him a big hug and ask how his day went whenever I read or watch. He was savable.

Mark goes the asshole route, mostly because he identifies with jackass father to save himself the abuse. The war is probably the best thing that could have happened to him, if only because it forces him to realize other people are actually real too. The first three books and the miniseries have him get a happy ending, with a wife of his own, and a decent relationship with his sister-in-law and her children. A good enough life. The fourth book I like to pretend doesn't exist.

So flist, tell me about your fictional crushes! I can't be the only one who found the heroes boring. (Except for the Georgette Heyer reformed rake heroes. I like those guys!)

Comments

[ginger]

I don't get the Tom Hiddleston thing. I think he looks like a greasy ferret, heh.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

I am not a fan of the Loki wig at all. But this:

is very much my deal.

[ginger]

Still not my thing, hehe, but he definitely looks less rodent-like there!

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Ooh, here, this is my favorite.

I have a thing for tall skinny guys who give good iambic pentameter.

[northernwalker]

Thank God. I thought I was the only one who couldn't see his appeal.

[pinkminx.livejournal.com]

Well, it started with Skeletor...

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

You, madam, win the Internet.

[northernwalker]

I still have a mad crush on Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan- heroic, flawed and very complex.

Ditto Illvan from Paladin of Souls- smart, funny, listens to the lady.

Betsy-Tacy's Joe Willard- complex, smart, funny and respectful.

I think I have a type.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Damaged/disadvantaged heroes with a good sense of humor. Sounds like a pretty good type!

My type seems to be antagonists with no mommy who need a hug and someone to ask how their day went.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

With the sense of humor too.

[northernwalker]

The sense of humor is a requirement in my book.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Definitely! Otherwise my fictional lovers would end up breaking up with me because they would think I was making fun of them, When really it's just my endearing sense of humorous perspective.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

You are a person after my own heart -- Miles, Illvin, and Joe Willard. What a lovely list.

[northernwalker]

Thank you! I think they're much healthier literary crushes than, say, Heathcliff or Mr. Rochester. One is an emotional abuser and the other is an older, wealthy man who takes advantage of a young, poor and inexperienced girl who works for him. He's actually married, has been for years and will never divorce his wife, who is mentally ill and who has tried to kill Jane.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I would add Radcliffe and Ramses Emerson to your list, too.

I never did like either Heathcliff or Mr. Rochester.

[northernwalker]

Good addition- and good taste!

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Rochester is a creep. The power dynamics there are so screwed up.

And Heathcliff falls into my "back away slowly" category. But I don't find stalkery or abusive behavior attractive, No matter how hypothetical.

[northernwalker]

Ditto. Don't get me started on Twilight or 50Shades or we'll be here all night!

[agameofthree.livejournal.com]

I find the real, honest-to-goodness, no shadowy side heroes to be boring, too. I've always had a thing for the anti-heroes. Captain America and Superman? Boring. Batman and Wolverine? Yes, please.

I'm trying to think of straight up villains I like, and besides Loki and Vader, am coming up short right now. I'm sure I'll think of some once I hit send. ;)

I think more than villain vs. hero, though, I'm attracted to the brooding, angsty, bad boy types, and if they have a warped sense of humor as well, then I'm done for.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

The sense of humor is a very important factor!

Batman is the only hero type I really fancy, and he regularly verges on anti-hero.

I might just have a protagonist aversion. I mean, you'd think hamlet would be my type, but I've always had a thing for Horatio. (Especially if it's Nick Farrell. I definitely have a thing for tall skinny guys who give good iambic pentameter.)

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

Mad Martigan from Willow...

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

I had completely forgotten about him!

Now I'm laughing hysterically remembering the whole "Why are you looking at my leg" exchange.