I Hate Novel Extra Villains

[Arch9CivilReactor]

I don’t mean specifically in The Novel’s Extra storyline. It’s more that I hate how people forget how to write villains when they use the Novel Extra trope. Mostly because they’re disconnecting themselves from the more dangerous aspects villains can bring them.

You don’t see villains giving themselves introductions in Re:Zero. They just exist and he dies horribly as a result. When a villain appears they should be menacing. You don’t see narrators saying “Hey, thats the joker and he’s evil. Let me explain why”. The evil acts they do usually cement them as villains on introduction.

If your introduction as a narrator is “Oh! That there is the villain of part B scene 1!”… Well, it’s hard to get the sense of how evil they are even if it’s directly stated. The only time I saw a Novel Extrs story do this was the timeloop arc of The Academy Extra’s Survival Guide.

Either way, I personally agree with how Re:Zero handles villains. They make a massive impact upon their first appearance and keep on doing just that until the protagonist adapts. Sure, not all stories can have their MC killed every time a villain appears but them staying in the background to look menacing isn’t interesting.

It’s too boring if the villain is waiting patiently to have his plans foiled.

 

[NotaNuffian]

I don’t mean specifically in The Novel’s Extra storyline. It’s more that I hate how people forget how to write villains when they use the Novel Extra trope. Mostly because they’re disconnecting themselves from the more dangerous aspects villains can bring them.

You don’t see villains giving themselves introductions in Re:Zero. They just exist and he dies horribly as a result. When a villain appears they should be menacing. You don’t see narrators saying “Hey, thats the joker and he’s evil. Let me explain why”. The evil acts they do usually cement them as villains on introduction.

If your introduction as a narrator is “Oh! That there is the villain of part B scene 1!”… Well, it’s hard to get the sense of how evil they are even if it’s directly stated. The only time I saw a Novel Extrs story do this was the timeloop arc of The Academy Extra’s Survival Guide.

Either way, I personally agree with how Re:Zero handles villains. They make a massive impact upon their first appearance and keep on doing just that until the protagonist adapts. Sure, not all stories can have their MC killed every time a villain appears but them staying in the background to look menacing isn’t interesting.

It’s too boring if the villain is waiting patiently to have his plans foiled.

Basically, have the villains show how villainous they are before getting kekked?

I thought that is writing 101, character establishment?

 

[Deleted member 84247]

You don’t see villains giving themselves introductions in Re:Zero.

The villains do give themselves introductions in Re: Zero though. "I am a sin archbishop of the witch's cult, Representing Envy, En-chan desu!"

 

[DaelyxLenAuphydas]

what the heck is "the novel extra trope"?

 

[Agdistis]

what the heck is "the novel extra trope"?

From a quick search online.

"The "Novel's Extra" trope refers to a story where the main character is a character from a novel, often a side character or extra, who is now living in the world of that novel. This character often has knowledge of the original plot, which they can use to their advantage, but also faces the challenge of navigating a world that is now real and potentially dangerous."

I am familiar with the trope, I just wasn't aware it had this name myself.

 

[SternenklarenRitter]

The "Novel's Extra" trope is usually just amnesia with a sprig of parsley for garnish. It can be done well, but the fact that the MC resembles a character in a book they read in their past life usually has little impact on the story overall.

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

The villains do give themselves introductions in Re: Zero though. "I am a sin archbishop of the witch's cult, Representing Envy, En-chan desu!"

My bad forgot they also do that. Then again the Sin Archbishops are the only ones willing to do that. Subaru dies a bunch before the assassin introduces herself… to Reindhart.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

Outside of the villain needing to be menacing I agree with everything, because antagonist which fits more in the context are supposed to be obstacles which should be made obvious.