History Main / LovetoHate

Not to be confused with DracoInLeatherPants, which is when a villain's fandom will gloss over the actual nastiness of a villain and insist that he or she is just misunderstood, i.e they ''throw their sympathy to them'' even though [[UnintentionallySympathetic they don't deserve it]]; in this, fans acknowledge the atrocities the villain has done but they ''like them for their villain traits''. Also not to be confused with when the ''heroes'' [[WhyCantIHateYou would love to hate the villain, but just can't manage it]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'': Finnegrin is a sadistic, abusive, and power-hungry pirate who [[spoiler:is extremely verbally abusive to his bodyguard Elmer and tries to have Rayla killed out of spite against Callum.]] He also lacks any complex qualities most of the show's villains have. Despite this, he is often liked for his cool and threatening presence, as well as Tariq Leslie's performance, with fans admitting that he and the pirate story arc are some of the best things about Book 5.

* Master Shake from ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' is a [[LazyBum lazy]], [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] {{Jerkass}} with absolutely zero humanizing or redeeming traits. However, his penchant for InsaneTrollLogic, his genuinely funny [[DeadpanSnarker snarky comments]], and his [[LargeHam over-the-top personality]] makes him hilarious to watch.

* Zorg in ''Film/TheFifthElement''. With his weird plastic outfit, hammy scenes, and CoolGun, he's one of the most ridiculously over-the-top things in the whole ridiculously over-the-top movie. It helps that he's played by Creator/GaryOldman, who is a master of these characters.

** Ciampa was so hated as a heel that, during his feud with Gargano in NXT, his entrance music was ''''[[RealityHasNoSoundtrack no music]]'''''. He would simply walk out, with no announcement and no music, and the crowd booing would be '''deafening'''.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesKuroNoKiseki'' has Gerard Dantes and Melchior who are the BigBad and TheDragon respectively. They cause a lot of destruction, mayhem, and actually kill people onscreen, including [[spoiler:nuking an entire village just because they could]]. They're also well-beloved by fans due to the fact that the ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'', especially [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure Azure]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel and the]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsIntoReverie Erebonia arcs]] had villains who were all over the place, making the most of them UnintentionallyUnsympathetic, with some of them going with the KarmaHoudini route. ''Kuro'' makes sure that [[spoiler:these two, alongside all of Armata if the player chooses to, die at the end of the game.]]

* ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpaAnother2'' has Kanade Otonokoji. Initially, she seems to be a very shy, submissive girl who's often pushed around by her older twin sister Hibiki. However, Kanade not only proves to be a huge help in investigations and trials, but she reveals she's a lot more forceful, stern, and even cruel when she wants to be. All of this culminates in the third trial with [[spoiler:TheReveal that not only is she really the dominant sister, but she's a ruthless, manipulative SerialKiller who's murdered and maimed well over ''60 people'' for getting too close to her sister. A sister who she's also sexually attracted to and has been gradually breaking down psychologically into her submissive puppet. Thanks to this, she also executed the longest and most complex murder situation in the entire game, killing CoolBigSis Setsuka just for getting too close to Hibiki, and in the end, she gets both herself and her sister killed so they could be together in death.]] All of this has come together to make her simultaneously one of the most popular and [[HateSink despised]] characters among the fanbase.

** Weyoun, played by Trek veteran Creator/JeffreyCombs, is another popular villain. Weyoun has smarm down to a science (helped along by genetic engineering), always trying to convince whoever he's talking to that they really ''will'' appreciate that dagger in their back, it's a mark of the new friendship between them and the Dominion. The moments when he experiences CloningBlues give him just enough sympathy.

%%** Megatron from the original ''{{Transformers}}'' series.

** [[EnfanteTerrible Desil]] [[PsychoForHire Galette]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Gundam AGE]]'' is also heading in this direction. A seven-year-old SociopathicSoldier who becomes the hero's {{archenemy}}? That'll get you on the fandom's radar.
** [[BadassBureaucrat Rustal]] [[FourStarBadass Elion]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans]]'' is easily one of the most hate-able [[BigBad main villains]] in the franchise. Why? He actually ''[[TheBadGuyWins wins]]'' in the end, and [[KarmaHoudini gets away with everything]], mercilessly crushing Tekkadan while [[{{Hypocrite}} violating his own moral principles]] and [[WrittenByTheWinners painting himself as the victor of the whole conflict]]. It almost makes it hard to ''not'' hate him.

** Also from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' Char Aznable is treacherous, hypocritical and sociopathic at times, but he's also an extremely skilled pilot able to mount a serious threat to the protagonists and has such a charisma to him that it's hard not to enjoy him whenever he's onscreen. It also makes it all the more fun to root against him when Amuro Ray finally settles his rivalry with him in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack''.
** [[DarkMessiah Paptimus Scirocco]] is a ManipulativeBastard who deceives and betrays just about everyone, while [[SociopathicSoldier Yazan Gable]] acts as Scirocco's enforcer and has a [[BloodKnight bloodthirsty love]] of killing. Despite this, the two of them are among the most enjoyable characters in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' even as they're doing despicable things. Scirocco for being the only intelligent character in a show full of immature children, for being a BadassNormal HeroKiller in a series where [[PsychicPowers Newtypes]] are usually the only characters to achieve anything of import.
** Haman Khan of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]''. She's a devious bitch who does some very bad things, but she's so ruthless and diabolical you can never truly loathe her even if you're rooting against her. ''ZZ'' also has Glemmy Toto, who's enough of a bastard to make Haman seem nice (particularly in [[DarkerAndEdgier the manga]]).
** Katejina Loos of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory Gundam]]'' is well-loved for her insane personality, being a major HeroKiller and her memorable moments in the series, and at the same time hated for all the horrible things that she has done to the point where her fate is considered to be fitting punishment by many fans.

** [[EnfanteTerrible Decil]] [[PsychoForHire Galette]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Gundam AGE]]'' is also heading in this direction. A seven-year-old SociopathicSoldier who becomes the hero's {{archenemy}}? That'll get you on the fandom's radar.
** Rustal Elion of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans]]'' is easily one of the most hateable villains in the franchise. Why? He actually ''[[TheBadGuyWins wins]]'' in the end and [[KarmaHoudini gets away with everything]], mercilessly crushing Tekkadan while [[{{Hypocrite}} violating his own moral principles]] and [[WrittenByTheWinners painting himself as the victor of the whole conflict]]. It almost makes it hard to ''not'' hate him.

** Lalo Salamanca, in contrast to [[AxCrazy most of his family]], is both effortlessly charming and [[FauxAffablyEvil completely ruthless]], with an unpredictability and pragmatism that keeps the audience guessing as to what he's going to do next. He is both physically intimidating and intelligent enough that Gus Fring actively fears him, showing a side of Gus never seen before. He's a total departure from most other villains in the ''Franchise/BreakingBad'' universe, and a perfect foil for Jimmy and Gus both.

* ''Series/BetterCallSaul'' gives us Lalo Salamanca. In contrast to [[AxeCrazy most of his family]], Lalo is both effortlessly charming and [[FauxAffablyEvil completely ruthless]]. He's a total departure from most other villains in the Franchise/BreakingBad universe, and a perfect foil for Jimmy.

* The version of ComicBook/TheRiddler from the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Arkham]]'' franchise is such a smug bastard that you can’t help but chuckle at his antics. It also helps that he’s legitimately pretty funny and is the only one of Batman’s foes in the games that can go toe to toe with him in the intellect department. It’s no mean feat for a character for whom the delicate balance of keeping him smart enough for Batman but not having him dumbed down by constantly getting beaten by him has proved difficult.

* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': Both [[{{Troll}} Hazama]] and [[MadScientist Relius Clover]] exude this trope to the max. Hate their depravities, but admire their awesomeness while doing so, making them really solid villains to the series. Hazama started losing this as the series went on, but then ''Chronophantasma'' brought in a playable version of his alter-ego [[LaughingMad Terumi]], winning him a few points back.

** [[DarkMessiah Paptimus Scirocco] is a ManipulativeBastard who deceives and betrays just about everyone, while [[SociopathicSoldier Yazan Gable]] acts as Scirocco's enforcer and has a [[BloodKnight bloodthirsty love]] of killing. Despite this, the two of them are among the most enjoyable characters in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' even as they're doing despicable things. Scirocco for being the only intelligent character in a show full of immature children, for being a BadassNormal HeroKiller in a series where [[PsychicPowers Newtypes]] are usually the only characters to achieve anything of import.

** Rustal Elion of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans]]'' is easily one of the most hateable villains in the franchise. Why? He actually ''[[TheBadGuyWins wins]]'' in the end and [[KarmaHoudini gets away with everything]], mercilessly crushing Tekkadan while [[{{Hypocrite}} violating his own moral principles]] and [[WrittenByTheWinners painting himself as the victor of the whole conflict]]. It almost makes it hard to ''not'' hate him at all.

** Char Aznable of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack'' for being the charismatic and talented rival to the first protagonist of the series to the point of [[CharClone making an archetype for rival pilots in mecha shows both in and out of the Gundam series ever since]].
** [[DarkMessiah Paptimus Scirocco]] and [[SociopathicSoldier Yazan Gable]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'', the former for being the only intelligent character in a show full of immature children, and the latter for being a BadassNormal HeroKiller in a series where [[PsychicPowers Newtypes]] are usually the only characters to achieve anything of import.
** Haman Khan of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'', who is easily the franchise's most iconic LadyOfWar.

** Rustal Elion of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans]]'' is the first person who gave Tekkadan a difficult time and handed them their first defeat.

* Another good one from Creator/TheBBC is [[Series/BlakesSeven Madame President Servalan]]. Dear God, she usually walked away with whatever she was after and made the alleged heroes look like idiots in the process. Evil, but you just can't help but admire her sense of style.

* He's not exactly a villain, but in Series/{{Leverage}}, MagnificentBastard John Sterling. Never. Loses (by WordOfGod) -- and yet, despite the trouble he makes for Our Heroes, you can't help but enjoy every moment he's on-screen.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'' gives us The High Evolutionary. Even with an abundance of villain, the High Evolutionary still manages to stand out as one of the cruelest and most detestable {{Big Bad}}s in the entire Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse as is beloved because of this. It helps that Chukwudi Iwuji's intense performance makes the character an all the more enjoyable to watch and root against.