Why do we love the bad boys?

by Diana Black

The Perfectly Flawed Character – why we love them so

As writers we’re complicated beasties – we bring to the table not only immense creativity but attributes that sometimes work against us – empathy and compassion. The aforementioned may help us enliven a lovable hero who’s having a shit of a time, but in the end saves the day – what’s not to love about them?

But what about the character we have to create and live with – over the life of the series, who happens to be supremely flawed? The one that’s chronically: selfish, evil, cruel, violent, ditzy, stupid/dumb, greedy, petulant, superficial and/or supercilious, the loser of all losers, manipulative, sluttish, smug, murderous, arrogant, delusional, irritating beyond belief, emotionally clueless or a hopeless romantic etc. read article

by Diana Black

Come on, fess up, who amongst us have ‘loved’ and desired the rebel/bad guy/gal – in school, College, University, on the big screen or in the television show? Be careful what you wish for. You might have married one (or were): daily having to tread a fine line between exhilaration and fear, between violence and bliss. Funny, neither gender seem to be liked/suffered nobly in the workplace – but in that arena, it’s all about being a team player not the lone rebel/psychopath.

So why do they ‘reel us in’ – involving us in their complicated, often dysfunctional lives? And what makes them especially compelling when we view them on the big screen or ‘little box’?

From a biological POV, rebels tend to take risks, live precariously, face danger and either through luck or sheer ‘ballsyness’, often reap the rewards of their daring – but not always. Failures can be spectacular and collateral damage is a given. They live and die by the sword – but they live and life on the edge is strangely intoxicating – if you survive. read article