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Description
The Generic Doomsday Villain is an overpowering antagonist without a believable goal, motive or plan or even a personality. They do not fancy themselves to be doing the right thing, they're not Driven by Envy, they have no personal vendetta against any of their victims, they are not in it for the money, they're not seeking Revenge for any real or imagined wrong done to them, and they're not even trying to satiate their excessive Pride.So, why are they evil? Because they're spreading destruction and misery.
And why are they spreading destruction and misery? Because... they're evil.
They are always Chaotic Evil. And are most often Complete Monsters (and even more often literal ones)
I find this types of Villains very Boring, unbelievable, unrealistic, and just plain ridiculous. A story needs a Villain to drive the plot forward and to give the heroes something to foil. This villain needs to be powerful enough to stump the protagonists at least for An Arc. The Generic Doomsday Villain serves these purposes, but he's all power and no personality. I also find them all to be stupid evil (and not in a funny way) by definition. And they treated more like an obstacle for the hero to overcome rather than a true character.
Basically a Generic Doomsday Villain is a villain that calling a character is like calling the meteor that is going to destroy the world or the title way that's going to destroy the city a character.
Magnificent Bastard is basically the oppose trope.
Examples
All monsters of limited intelligence like the Alien from the movie of the same name.
The some what of a Trope Namer; Doomsday (the caracter above.) His kill everything he sees just because he's programmed to.
The Ultimate Carnage the it is justified as its a mindless monster made from Peter Parker's blood.
Regular Carnage isn't much better. As he as also no character out side of being an ax crazy, nihilistic, chaos loving, sociopath.
King Sombra from My Little Friendship Is Magic definitely qualifies. He setΒ up an intricate security system to prevent anypony from getting the Crystal Heart in the past, but other than that, his characterization is nonexistent. He as no background or motivation, has no real interactions with any of the characters, hardly any lines, and the closes thing he has to a goal is his desire to destroy the Crystal Hearts and generally being a tyrant
From many of Bleach's fandom the only thing saving Big Bad Aizen from this trope is the fact the he dose have a plan. (ridiculously complicated plan that relies morning blind luck actual planing.) And even then many fans still see him as one. T
Not helped at all that many of is henchmen are more interesting and fleshed out then he is.
Brain from Fairy tail. Unlike most other major villains his backstory and motivations are relatively unexplored has is never get any sympathetic movements ( even Acnologia get more sympathy then he does.) His split personality Master Zero intentionally invoke this as he doesn't want a motivation for his destruction and just wants to do it for its own sake.
And to a lesser extent Future Rogue he as a sympathetic backstory but his actions directly go against it. and in the end admits that he doesn't really care about it.
also lesser villain Tempester from Tartaros. he barley speaks, shows little personalty, has limited screen time, and his powers are remained poorly defined. The fact that he loss his memory every time he's time his body reforms at Tartaros' HQ, dosen't help. In fact he doesn't even bother to remember his name and as to have it told to him.
Vaatu in the second season of Legend of Korra He's the Spirit of darkness and chaos and seeks to dominate the world and bring about a reign that would bring about the end of humanity, and has little characterization beyond that.
In Teen Titans, Trigon was easily the most powerful villain of all, seeing as how he destroyed the world approximately 12 seconds after entering our dimension. However, being the "incarnation of evil" doesn't seem to leave much room for a complex or interesting personality. Luckily, every episode with Trigon in it also had Slade around acting as The Dragon.
Most of the villains in the show seemed to be wreaking havoc just 'cuz. Though it doesn't help that the show had a general aversion to origin stories.
The Cybugs from Wreck It Ralph. But they are mindless monsters so they can,t be evything but Generic Doomsday Villains.
Demise for The Legend Of Zelda Skyward Sword has been accused of being this by many Zelda fans. Several other villains are this to.
Malladus from Spirit Tracks is even worse in this regard no personality or interesting goals and it doesn't help that he has almost no screen time and only one speaking line.
Bellum from Phantom Hourglass is one of the most infamous examples it's really more of a hungry monster then a true villain.
Filler Villain Onox Oracle of Season. Veran in Ages is at least somewhat fleshed out while Onox displays very little personality outside of being evil and being arrogant.
Vaati Four Swords kidnapped Zelda and forced her to marry him because?
And then theres Nightmare from Link's Awakening, Zelda's most forgettable villain.
Ganon of all people was one in his original game before he was fleshed out.
The Crusader/Not Important from Hatred. His only known motivation or going on his "Genocide Crusade" is his extreme hatred of humanity and desire to die violently. On top of that he's a walk list of edgy cliches.
From anyone who as never read The Silmarillion or any of the sub plots of the Lord of The Rings Sauron is this. Subverted as the sub plots and the Silmarillion reveal him to be a Magnificent Bastard.
Kid Buu, Majin Buu's original incarnation from Dragon Ball Z. Both of Buu's other incarnations cause destruction simply for fun but they can be semi reasoned with. Kid Buu is completely mindless, never speaks, and does nothing but try destroy everything he sees.
Broly couts in his first three movies appearance (though his third appearance was a clone instead of actually his). However his official integration into the canon redid his characterization making him much more sympathetic, advertising this trope now.
Surtur from Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes. He wants to destroy everything, just because. Doesn't help that the show was cancelled before he made anything but the most brief of appearances.
Surtur in actual Norse mythology isn't much better. His only real characterization is that he and his army are a big part of Ragnarok (Norsemen doomsday) they invade Asgard, he kills Freyr and engulfs the world in fire. And that's it.
Surtur in Thor Ragnarok: is portrayed the same way he is in Norse mythology. Possibly played for laughs as Thor very doesn't take him very seriously.
Darkseid's portrayal in Justice League: War. He his given no explanation as to who he is or motivation for his invasion of Earth other then he's a alien evil overlord and that's just what he does. He's able to that all the hero's on at once, but has little screen time doing anything else. And what little dialogue he has is just generic "I'll kill you!" or "kneel before Darkseid!"
Maekith the Accursed in Thor: The Dark World. He's out to destroy the universe and return everything to darkness. Why? Because light annoys him and he wishes it was gone.
Riot in Venom (2018) has no discernible personality other then being evil, and is given no real reason for try to lead a alien invasion other then that's just what alien's do.
The Villains of the terrible webcomic called Sonichu are either Generic Doomsday Villain or Designated Villains.
Likewise in the ( in)famous MLP hate/fix fic My Little Unicorn/ My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic. All of the characters both good and evil are intentionally written to be one-dimensional (do to the author stating that he hates complex characterization/character development stating that they get in the way of the plot even though his plots are just as simplistic.) So all of the major villains are Generic Doomsday Villains. But the one that stands out the most (for lack of a better term) is the first Big Bad Titan who is a walking list of Saturday Morning Cartoon Villain cliches. He also as a very unoriginal design. And he's neither funny nor intimidating.
The Lich from Adventure Time.
The Rival from The Flash (2014), a minor villain from the start of season 3.
In Once Upon a Time: In the pilot episode, the Queen is supposed to be this, untill Snow White says she wants to be Fairest of Them All. It isn't the case, as she wants Revenge, and, later, keeping her power and her son. (And It's good thing She didn't turn out to be this because like in said I find Generic Doomsday Villains very Boring, unbelievable, unrealistic, and just plain ridiculous And Regina is far from being that)
The Night King and to extent The White Walkers as a whole from Game of Thrones. He and his army never speak (or show much emotion) have no really personalty, there only goal is to end all life, and their motivation for seems to be nothing more then because they hate the living. They are less of a character and more of a force of nature (one could say they are Winter.) This is also probably do some as part of the Cosmic Horroresqe Aesop that all of are political struggles ultimately
meaningless.
In The Dark Knight The Joker wont's you to think he's this. (Though he's far from boring.) And at times, it's implied that something happened that made the Joker how he is.
Darth Maul in Star War Episode One. Who display minimum amount of character and pretty much just exists to kill Qui-Gon Jinn. In spite of this he still managed to be one of the most popular things in the film that he was brought back for Star Wars the Clone Wars were he was given more fleshed out characterization making him no longer this.
Supreme leader Snoke in The Last Jedi who's backstory is never revealed before being killed off a third of the way through the movie. And in the grand scheme of things feels more like a plot device rather than a character.
To be fair Emperor Palpatine was more or less portrayed the same way in Return of the Jedi (minus dying before the climax of the film) but got more of a backstory in the prequels and expanded universe. Even still his motivation for his villainy is purely ambition and sadism however he's so charismatic and cunning that he still feel very three dimensional in spite of this.
The Sith Emperor Vitiate from the Old Republic era. He's more of a plot device/force of nature then a character. His alternate persona Valkorion is a bit better.
Related content
Comments: 49
Hexidextrous [2023-05-03 02:02:42 +0000 UTC]
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aqdrobert [2020-12-17 12:53:53 +0000 UTC]
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UltimateOswald [2019-05-16 08:12:04 +0000 UTC]
I'm thinking, what is called opposite of trope, for heroes, who don't have good motivation or personality. Are they... Generic Save-Day Heroes?
Hmmm. Actually it sounds quite good.
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Chaser1992 In reply to DinoLover09 [2018-12-18 04:16:26 +0000 UTC]
Not exactly becauseΒ he's made of evil (he literally complied to commit evil acts even when he's trying not to,) And it's not really far to say he has no personalty.
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UltimateRex786 [2018-05-12 02:36:18 +0000 UTC]
Thatβs why heβs literally called Doomsday.
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LadyLambdadelta [2018-01-17 14:31:49 +0000 UTC]
Does the Lich really fit this bill? he has a personality (albeit an exceptionally malevolent and sadistic one).
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Redlight47 In reply to LadyLambdadelta [2019-01-03 10:02:21 +0000 UTC]
Yeah. He's basically more of a force of nature than a character. He's like a machine, always looking to end the most amount of life as possible because... because. There's no rhyme or reason, no motivation beyond bringing oblivion, he just kills because he does. It's like he's a programmed supernatural deathmachine.
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DinoLover09 [2016-09-01 19:38:41 +0000 UTC]
Zombies definitely.
How about King Ghidorah? Or Galactus?
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Rekt4evar In reply to DinoLover09 [2021-03-13 23:11:06 +0000 UTC]
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masonicon In reply to DinoLover09 [2018-08-24 04:22:21 +0000 UTC]
like Max Brooks' one that destroys life on earth just because they're carnivores
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Anon200 [2016-08-23 03:45:51 +0000 UTC]
Is Lord Dominator technically a Generic Doomsday Villain? She might be humorous about it, but she pretty much wants to destroy the galaxy just to be evil.
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Chaser1992 In reply to Anon200 [2016-08-25 03:08:11 +0000 UTC]
Unfortunately I haven't seen Wander Over Yonder yet.
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Anon200 In reply to Chaser1992 [2016-08-25 03:15:35 +0000 UTC]
Neither have I. I just looked up scenes featuring her on YouTube, but she seemed that way...having no real motivation other than she enjoys being evil and destroying planets.
Although she apparently also likes mocking people who think, simply because she's a female, that she'll end up as a love interest, being a more sympathetic character, or eventually do a Heel Turn Face.
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bagginos In reply to Anon200 [2017-03-16 10:30:37 +0000 UTC]
Nope. Not in the slightest. She has blatantly obvious characterization.
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Redlight47 In reply to bagginos [2019-01-03 10:04:05 +0000 UTC]
That may be true, but none of that explains her motives. She does this because she wants to and she's evil, that's all that there is according to the show.
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bagginos [2016-04-20 14:49:44 +0000 UTC]
Ironically, Generic Doomsday Villains AREN'T considered Complete Monsters because they lack the characterization required for the latter trope.
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UltimateOswald In reply to bagginos [2019-01-11 12:45:17 +0000 UTC]
I can consider few personally (like Megabug and Negativitron) personally, but not normally.
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12kez90 [2015-02-17 00:03:53 +0000 UTC]
I know I'm late to this but the Lich has been shown in later episodes as more of a force of nature. He literaly is the end itself.
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Chaser1992 In reply to danitaguty [2015-01-13 06:46:09 +0000 UTC]
Sorry for the long wait but I've edited it to explain why he's on on her.
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Red-Jirachi-2 [2014-09-25 04:55:46 +0000 UTC]
I have thought up a way to do this trope well: I call it the Unity. It's a sentient virus that emerged before life on Earth, that is driven only by its instinct to propagate itself. But it does have a superficial mentality: it is confused at our "goals" and "motives", and has a bemused view of our complex minds. Its happy to just be a force of nature, but it has a number of quirks(likes to watch nature at work, enjoys a clean room, generally has fun) and does have a personality of sorts(it doesn't understand why we're like the way we are, and likes to "fix" us). When we say "why do you want to assimilate us?" it says "You don't need a reason to breathe and reproduce, do you? So don't lecture me." The Unity has no true goal beyond survival, so its motivation is generic. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have a personality. In a similar vein, the Orks are generic doomsday villains but are so fun you aren't bored in the slightest
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GodDragonKing [2014-04-26 19:19:48 +0000 UTC]
Doctor Who managing to make this trope work with the Weeping Angels. The things are pure nightmare fuel, the can show up from anywhere, and if you know they're after you, can't look away or even blink your eyes or they'll get you, and they can easily get you without you knowing. The fact that they are heartless and will kill just because they can adds to the fear.
In general, I notice that Bigger Bads that are meant to stay the background plot tend to be this. The Ancient Spirits of Evil in both Thundercats incarnations, the evil general from Airforce One, Skynet, etc.
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Chaser1992 In reply to GodDragonKing [2014-04-29 23:26:48 +0000 UTC]
I suppose that the Weeping Angels fit this trope. But it doesn't have anything to do with why there so scary.
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GodDragonKing In reply to Chaser1992 [2014-04-29 23:31:42 +0000 UTC]
I feel like it does, but I guess that's a matter of opinion. To me, I feel they wouldn't be as frightening if they're motives weren't as malicious and had any sort of humanizing traits.
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Red-Jirachi-2 In reply to Chaser1992 [2014-09-25 05:03:29 +0000 UTC]
They kind of do: they feed on time energy, which is why they send people back. Granting it means they're basically animals, but still it's enough to not be totally generic
The Midnight Entity counts as this done right. If we figured out what it was, it'd be much less scarier
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Xenomaster [2014-02-17 22:16:55 +0000 UTC]
You don't know diddly, do you?
Doomsday kills everything, because that's all he knows!
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Chaser1992 In reply to Xenomaster [2014-02-18 17:52:55 +0000 UTC]
That what I implied. A justified example is a example. Though to be fair he as moved on some what since its original appearance. But he was originally just the guy who killed anything in him path and is the one who beat Superman
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Xenomaster In reply to Chaser1992 [2014-02-18 18:03:34 +0000 UTC]
the point is you called him "generic"
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Chaser1992 In reply to Xenomaster [2014-02-18 18:29:14 +0000 UTC]
That's the terms name. And when he was first introduced he was more of a obstacle in a character.
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Xenomaster In reply to Chaser1992 [2014-02-18 18:52:26 +0000 UTC]
then he became full on monster
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NextGenerator [2013-12-11 03:49:03 +0000 UTC]
Doomsday was engineered to become the ultimate life form. After being killed so many times, he thinks everything is a threat to him, so he kills every life form. Even his creators, he remembered how they kept throwing him out into the wilderness to be killed so many times, he went ahead killed them. I wouldn't say Doomsday is too much of a boring villain, I mean, he IS THE MOFO WHO KILLED THE MAN OF STEEL!!!
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Chaser1992 In reply to NextGenerator [2013-12-11 06:41:11 +0000 UTC]
Yeah I guess so. He is a justified example. But he still just go's and causes some senseless destruction just because. Though I think we can agree that if he is one thing that is intimidating. After all he killed Superman (Gary Stu mixed with God mode Sue) and beat Darkside (or however you spell that.)
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Red-Jirachi-2 In reply to Chaser1992 [2014-09-25 04:58:54 +0000 UTC]
They at least explained why he's a mindless monster. Since Doomsday becomes less threatening when he gets a personality, I see it as a fair trade off. Plus there's not much depth you can get out of someone who's instinct is "is that another living thing? ENEMY ALERT!"
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Red-Jirachi-2 [2013-05-12 10:41:03 +0000 UTC]
Well, the Lich does have an excuse-he's a living WMG. Plus while the guy doesn't have much personality, he's a genius manipulator and so terrifying/cool we don't care
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TheRisenChaos [2013-04-07 04:10:59 +0000 UTC]
Some Generic Doomsday Villains can be effective as threats. But they're never really interesting characters, 'cause they're...well, generic.
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The-Forgotten-Writer [2013-04-03 05:24:23 +0000 UTC]
While I see your point and agree that these can be boring, sometimes it's fun to take a break from the tragic characters and grey morality and just sit back and watch a good, old fashion good VS evil fight.
Plus, sometimes the villain is just cool enough to get excused, sure the Lich was one dimensional and had no visible motives for trying to kill everything (The fact that he almost never talks doesn't help.) but he was cool and when he did talk he was voiced by Ron Perlman! But the point is, because he was pure evil, you didn't need to feel bad for him when he lost.
Really, it depends on what kind of experience you're looking for, if you want a emotional experience then having a sympathetic villain is good. But some people don't want to ponder the morality of what the character is doing and just wants to see some action. I personally, can do with either type of villain depending on my mood. I'm pretty easy to entertain though.
Also, may I ask why you preferred Slade over Trigon? Besides the fact that Slade was just completely awesome he really wasn't much different then Trigon in terms of motives, they don't outright say what Slade seems to want in the long run. (Again, he made up for it by being completely epic in everything he said and did.)
Also, I'm not trying to be critical or implying that you're wrong. I'm just talking from a different point of view.
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Chaser1992 In reply to The-Forgotten-Writer [2013-04-03 13:49:09 +0000 UTC]
true in season one Slade was a high-functioning Smug Snake due to his overconfidence and habit of grabbing the Villain Ball at inopportune moments but He has his moments of magnificence though, especially after becoming Trigon's henchman. Unlike some other Smug Snakes, Slade does learn from his mistakes. in the three-part season finale "The End" he graduates to full Magnificent Bastard by orchestrating the downfall of a nearly all-powerful demon at no real cost to himself, getting his humanity back (which was his main goal all along) and doing it with style. Of course, being voiced by Ron Perlman helps.
And lets not forget that Slade is deathstroke the terminator
but to be far he still is kinda two dimensional character but Trigon is a one dimensional
Lich hes is borderlineing Villain Sue as Isaid in my rant on Adventure Time
remember a Generic Doomsday Villain doesn't just lack a motive but also a plan and a goal a just wont's to kill everything just 'cuz
needless to say you can have a good old fashion good VS evil fight with normal villains to they may not always have a motive
But they most often have a plan or and list a goal.
a Villain can be a Complete Monster and not be a Generic Doomsday Villain.
And a sympathetic villain is most often a Anti-Villain
there are four types of Anti-Villain
Type I: Noble Anti-Villain A Noble Anti-Villain is a villainous character with a code of honor.
Type II: Woobie Anti-Villain a Villain you feel extremely sorry for.
Type III: Well-Intentioned Anti-Villain The Well-Intentioned Extremist. They may believe in a good goal, but use whatever means there are to achieve it.
And Type IV: Villain in Name Only These characters either lack any villainous traits whatsoever or have so much concern over others that any signs of villainy are nearly completely drowned out. Frequently, these characters are called villains only because they fight against the hero. Basically, these guys are NEVER actively malevolent.
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The-Forgotten-Writer In reply to Chaser1992 [2013-04-08 00:53:13 +0000 UTC]
I actually got a good video game example of a Generic Doomsday Villain: Yami from the game "Okami" he's only mentioned once or twice in the game right until the end where they build him up as this ultimate evil that wants to cover the world in darkness for no apparent reason. He also never says anything so he has no personality at all and seems to just be there to kill everything.
He's still a pretty good boss fight though and at least he's somewhat creative in his design. (If not creative, then "Different") but I think he counts as a Generic Doomsday Villain.
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The-Forgotten-Writer In reply to Chaser1992 [2013-04-03 22:58:56 +0000 UTC]
Trigon is supposed to be the devil so it makes sense for him to be pure evil but I agree that Slade is far more entertaining then him.
I don't think Lich is a mary-sue because he has weaknesses and has been defeated several times. Plus, he had a plan in his second appearance. I admit he's not the best villain ever made but I still like him. To each their own however.
Anti-villains are actually some of my favorite villains because they often make me torn on who to root for.
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Red-Jirachi-2 In reply to The-Forgotten-Writer [2014-07-10 11:58:04 +0000 UTC]
The Lich isn't a Mary Sue because his victories are plausible-he just realized "hey, I should do what it takes to not end up being beaten like last time." And the generic? He's proven to be a smart and sadistic individual, has a reason why he wants to kill everyone(he's a sentient doomsday weapon) and even if that's not enough he's such a powerful symbolic threat that no-one really cares
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JohnDoe10001 [2013-03-22 23:34:25 +0000 UTC]
While I agree this is a valid character type, I just want to say...
The alien was driven by a need to propagate it's species, even in the first movie (see Director's Cut).
The Joker's mostly an agent of chaos, but his intention is to get people to think that morals, laws, and all the rest is just "a big joke" that don't matter in times of crisis. However, at a more basic level, he's only out to try and push Batman over the edge. If Batman wasn't around, he literally wouldn't have any reason to exist and he'd be a vegetable. Even in "The Dark Knight", he truthfully says he doesn't want to kill Batman. "What would I do without you?"
However, I'd go so far as to say almost all "kid cartoon" villains are like this, if for no other reason than they have to be one dimensional by society-standards so kids can be "free to hate them without worrying about the morality of hating an individual". Also, most Final Fantasy final bosses are this (Cloud of Darkness, Zeromus, Neo Exdeath, Necron, etc.).
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Chaser1992 In reply to JohnDoe10001 [2013-03-24 01:02:14 +0000 UTC]
The alien just kills to survive
I said The Joker wont's you to think he's this not that he actually was one. remember The Joker is a The Magnificent B@!$%^& and is far far from boring, unbelievable, or unrealistic. At times, it's implied that something happened that made the Joker how he is. so he doesn't qualify.
And true a lot of kid cartoon" villains are like this but not all Some one who was a believable goal, motive or plan doesn't qualify. most Villain's kid cartoon or not do have a believable goal, motive or plan.
A The Generic Doomsday Villain is evil or no reason and just wont's to kill everthing for no no reason.
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JohnDoe10001 In reply to Chaser1992 [2013-03-24 02:12:47 +0000 UTC]
Ah yes, I think I recall seeing your "Magnificent Bastard" one.
Alright, I can understand that. But I still think a number of Final Fantasy "final bosses" fit this description. Particularly "last minute ones", ones that pop in after you think you've beaten the real final villain and end up just wanting to destroy everything because they're evil.
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Chaser1992 In reply to JohnDoe10001 [2013-03-24 21:49:38 +0000 UTC]
yeah I hate it when people do that, put a villain together at the last minute.
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