->''"We're the Hive Five, and [[HostileShowTakeover this is our show now]]!"''
-->--Jinx, after interrupting the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' opening.

A VillainEpisode is a type of LowerDeckEpisode or ADayInTheLimelight which focuses on the antagonist. In all cases, the villains get the majority of the screen time. The heroes might not appear at all, or they might appear but get much less screen time than usual. Either way, a villain episode presents an alternative view of the show by showing details of the villains' daily life, their hopes and dreams, and how they interact with their minions during downtime.

In an episodic show, a villain episode is usually used just for the sake of [[SomethingCompletelyDifferent something different]]. For example, if a show normally revolves around a [[FiveManBand group]] of [[MagnificentSeven heroes]] fighting a MonsterOfTheWeek, being defeated, learning [[{{Aesop}} a valuable lesson]], and defeating the monster, a VillainEpisode shows the villain coming up with an evil scheme, creating a monster specifically to take advantage of [[MonsterOfTheAesop a problem being faced by one of the heroes]], and releasing it, only for it to be defeated again. In quite a few cases, these are considered some of the best episodes by fans.

In an {{arc}}-based show, a villain episode is a good opportunity for CharacterDevelopment. It allows the writers to reveal details about what drives the villain and how they feel about the constant defeats at the hands of the heroes. Often, the villains become more sympathetic after getting such exposure.

Sometimes the entire episode will be mostly VillainsOutShopping. Sometimes literally.

Note that in a series with a VillainProtagonist, a VillainEpisode would technically be one which focuses primarily on the good guys.

See also BreakoutMookCharacter, PerspectiveFlip, SympatheticPOV, LowerDeckEpisode, and SomethingCompletelyDifferent.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''{{Manga/Dorohedoro}}'', in all its [[GreyAndGrayMorality ambiguous]] [[CrapsackWorld glory]], usually has at least one every couple of chapters.
* ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'' episode "Separated Sisters", which focused on the Black Beauty Sisters.
* Several episodes of ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' which focus on Team Rocket, such as "Holy Matrimony", "Go West Young Meowth", and "Meowth Rules".
* ''[[Franchise/LyricalNanoha Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' has a few of these. In particular, in the [[AllThereInTheManual second Sound Stage]] of the first season, which featured the backstory of the then [[TheDragon Dragon]] Fate, and in two volumes of the second season's [[ComicBookAdaptation supplementary manga]], which portrayed the daily lives of [[AntiVillain Hayate and the Wolkenritter]], Nanoha didn't even appear at all.
* The "Yoshikage Kira" chapters of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' part 4. Part 4 in particular does this so often with Kira that it seems like half the story is being told from his perspective.
** To a lesser extent, the chapters with Doppio [[spoiler:(who's [[BigBad Diavolo's]] alter-ego)]] in Part 5, particularly the "King Crimson vs. Metallica" sequence.
* The {{Ecchi}} anime ''Musumet'' did one when it focused on their {{Evil Counterpart}}s.
* Lust, from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' received one in [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]]. It's basically scary as shit, depressing as eternal damnation, and a DownerEnding rolled into one Villainous Joint. (The episode is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsnkR8xmlVg "Reunion of the Fallen"]].)
* King Dedede and Dr. Escargon/Escargoon of ''Anime/KirbyOfTheStars'' have several episodes dedicated to themselves like "Escar-gone" where nobody recognizes Escargoon due to the effect of Boukyakku/Erasem being inside his body and "Sweet & Sour Puss" where Togeira takes away Dedede's ability to get angry and makes him stay calm and friendly through all of the pain inflicted on him by everyone else just to store his anger for one big crazy mega-attack.
* After being blown away by Luffy, the ''Manga/OnePiece'' anime spent two episodes following Buggy around as he tries to retrieve the rest of his body and find his crew. This was, at first, a story cover-arc in the manga, but was important enough to warrant the anime to expand on it.
** Other villains (Or members of a QuirkyMiniBossSquad) are given their own cover-story arcs; 'Django's Dance Carnival', which shows Black Cat Pirate Django the Hypnotist joining the Navy, 'Hatchi's Sea-Floor Stroll' where Arlong Pirate Hatchan the fish-man becomes a Takoyaki salesman, 'Wapol's Omnivorous Hurrah'...the list goes on. They also combine these with VillainsOutShopping.
* [[spoiler: Miyo Takano]], the BigBad from ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi.'' Especially the episode after the BigBad [[MoralEventHorizon kills Rika, and her entire village]]. In this episode [[CryForTheDevil it recounts the villain's backstory about how they lost their parents in a bus accident, and then went to the]] ''OrphanageOfFear'', [[CryForTheDevil and was rescued by the only one researching Hinamizawa Syndrome at the time (who the Big Bad called Grandfather afterwards), and how the Big Bad became obsessed by trying to prove to the other doctors that their grandfather wasn't a nutjob.]] Hardly sympathetic, isn't it?
** The episode is an extremely shortened version of an arc in the sound novels and manga. So, [[spoiler:Miyo]] has her own arc.
* ''[[Literature/WarriorCats The Rise Of Scourge]]''
* In the anime version, Tier Harribel of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' got one of these in the form of a WholeEpisodeFlashback, largely to make up for the fact that in the manga, she's one of the only Espada ranked among the top 6 out of 10 that doesn't either get a fair amount of CharacterDevelopment or a flashback explaining their motives. This episode ended up turning her from possibly the least developed Espada to one of the most developed.
* Zenigata (who is a HeroAntagonist) in ''Manga/LupinIII'' has a television special (''Memories of Blaze: Tokyo Crisis''), focusing more on his daily activities as the inspector in the Tokyo Metropolitan, and his successful efforts in arresting a criminal far worse than Lupin. This is also one of the few television specials where he is not as ButtMonkey-ish, but more focus is given on his BadAss aspects.
* ''Anime/SDGundamForce'', season 2 has two episodes that focuses on the QuirkyMiniBossSquad's attempts to survive.
** ''Big Revival! We're the Heroes?!'' stars Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom and the Zako Soldiers as they reorganize and try to take over the Gundamusai after their capture at the end of season 1. They are suitably repelled by the Gundam Force.
** ''Genkimaru; Samurai Number One!'' features that same gang wandering around Lacroa's caverns after they fell from the Gundamusai. Meanwhile, Bakunetsumaru discovers Talgeese, thought to be killed by DemonicPossession.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* There was a famous issue during JohnByrne's run on ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' that centered on SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom and did not feature a single member of the titular team.
** Mark Waid's run on the book also included an issue in the same manner, which served as a prelude to an entire arc featuring Doom.
* Issue 4 of ''JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'' ended with Johnny successfully dying at last. The next issue was all about two of his prisoners trying to escape the TortureCellar, with Johnny himself only appearing in a few panels at the very end.
** Wait... Isn't that a HeroEpisode?
*** Not really. It would be more accurate to call this trope "Antagonist Episode", but that just didn't have the same ring to it.
* Although ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' does not have a regular hero ''per se'', the Eisner Award winning story "Show 'Em All" is devoted to showing a typical superhero tale from the villain's perspective.
** And "The Voice of the Turtle" detailed the life story of AntiVillain Mock Turtle.
** Another issue is devoted to a shapeshifting alien spy, who is deciding whether or not he should give a go signal to invade the Earth. [[spoiler: He does]].
** Despite technically being the ''Samaritan Special'', one issue concerns Samaritan's archenemy Infidel far more than his heroic counterpart.
* One issue of ''{{Franchise/Superman}}'' had a fairly brief sub-story in which SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor thought-balloons about what to get his little nephew Val (apparently part of an estranged family) for his birthday. His {{Mooks}} speculate about what scheme he's working on as Lex demands not to be disturbed in his laboratory, figuring he's coming up with a way to defeat Superman or {{take over the world}}. Lex then dodges police as he surreptitiously delivers his invention to Val's doorstep, and is caught and led away to jail immediately afterwards. Val opens the mysterious package to discover someone has given him a Superman cape that even stretches like the real one. Val is thrilled, but at the end says, [[spoiler: "Too bad it isn't a ''Batman cape''. He's my REAL hero."]]
* There's also the comic book ''Comicbook/LexLuthorManOfSteel'', which goes into Luthor's motivations for opposing the [[HumanoidAliens unknowable alien]] whose [[PhysicalGod effortless superpowers]] make a [[HumansAreSpecial mockery of mankind's efforts]]. Subverts the 'makes them sympathetic' aspect, however, in that while we've gotten a glimpse into how Luthor thinks and what would seem to be a more sympathetic approach to his worldview, it's still made pretty clear that he's evil, and all the worse for it because he's deluded himself into believing he's righteous.
* Several issues of ''[[ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative Avengers: The Initiative]]'' during the ''SecretInvasion'' crossover event are told from the perspective of Crusader, secretly an advance scout for a Skrull invasion.
** Key word there -- ''a'' Skrull invasion. The particular Skrull invasion featured in ''Secret Invasion'' was a surprise to even Crusader himself.
** Another issue focused on Johnny Guitar, a z-list villain recruited by NormanOsborn's take on the Initiative to essentially be cannon fodder.
* A "Faces of Evil" FifthWeekEvent from DC consisted of villain spotlight issues of many of their major titles.
** An earlier FifthWeekEvent was "New Year's Evil".
* Creator/GeoffJohns' run on ''TheFlash'' featured periodic issues spotlighting one of the {{Rogues|Gallery}}.
* An issue of Franchise/GreenLantern, intended to be a prelude to ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'', shows us what William Hand's childhood was like and how he eventually became the supervillain Black Hand. The main books in the ''Comicbook/BlackestNight'' saga focused on Black Hand's thoughts on each of the emotional spectrum corps at the end of each book in a feature called the book of black.
* Creator/PaulCornell made SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor the main character of ComicBook/ActionComics.
* Comicbook/DarkReign was basically one long villain episode for Marvel.
** The DarkAvengers concept was specifically revisited in ''Comicbook/NewAvengers #18'', which centered around NormanOsborn assembling a new incarnation of the group and forging bonds with HYDRA, A.I.M., and the Hand. Not a single hero -- much less an actual member of the Avengers -- appeared in the issue.
* Marvel put out a series of one shots celebrating Comicbook/CaptainAmerica's 70th anniversary. Each one-shot starring one of Cap's allies. However two of these one-shots star two of Cap's villains. One has Crossbones as the protagonist and the other has [[FriendlyEnemy Batroc the Leaper]].
** During MarkWaid's run there was an issue focusing on the RedSkull ... which was subjected to such ExecutiveMeddling that [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/18/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-86/ Waid had his name removed from it]]. (Essentially, Waid's attempt to get into the head of a Nazi was stymmied by a ruling that a) the Skull was a CardCarryingVillain, and b) despite this, he [[ButNotTooEvil couldn't actually be racist]].)
* ''[[Comicbook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic Universe]]'' managed to pull three villain arcs in a row, for a full year's worth of issues.
** The "Scourge: Lockdown" arc is all about [[DarkActionGirl Fiona]] and [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Destructix]] helping [[EvilTwin Scourge]] escape from Zone Jail.
** The "Babylonian Rising" arc was mostly about the Babylon Rouges and the Battle Bird Armada [[EvilVersusEvil competing to get into the Babylonian Gardens.]] Sonic and his friends show up midway though it's still mostly the villains' story.
** And finally, the "Scrambled" arc is about [[BigBad Eggman]] dealing with [[TheStarscream Snively's]] latest betrayal.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
* One chapter in FanFic/AeonNatumEngel is focused to the cultists and the citizens of the Order controlled Iceland, and with what will happen later, it will make you feel somewhat sympathetic for them.
* The ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' fanfic [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/125998 "IMP"]]. Focuses on one of the eponymous [[TheGoomba imps]], as he keeps getting killed by TheHero and respawning elsewhere, accepting this fate in a happy-go-lucky manner.
* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4318613/60/The_Tainted_Grimoire Chapter 60]] of FanFic/TheTaintedGrimoire focuses on Khamja and Duelhorn ending with Duelhorn [[spoiler: declaring war on Khamja]].
* A planned miniseries for [[FanFic/AvatarTheLastAirbenderRevised ATLAR]] would have introduced and developed Azul, the series' BigBad, leading up to her main-series introduction in the eighteenth chapter, which would've been entirely from her perspective.
* ''FanFic/QueenOfAllOni'' already has Jade as a VillainProtagonist, but chapters still tend to be evenly mixed between focusing on her and on the J-Team's attempts to stop and capture her. Then comes chapter 10, where aside from two very short cameo scenes, the heroes don't show up at all, and the chapter focuses on [[SmugSnake Lung's]] attempts to [[EvilVersusEvil break Jade to his will]], and [[CoDragons Left and Right's]] attempts to save her.
** The following chapter, the heroes likewise barely appear, as the plot focuses on Drago's attempts to [[MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight alter history]] in his favor -- the heroes do eventually confront him, but only after he's spent the entire chapter [[EvilVersusEvil dealing]] with [[FutureBadass Karasu]] and [[EnigmaticMinion Blankman]]. The rest of the chapter deals with [[SuperpoweredEvilSide The Queen]] consolidating her hold on Jade's mind, and Jade herself recovering from the previous chapter's events.
* [[DieAnstalt Dr Wood]] gets one of these in Fanfic/APosseAdEsse.
* FanFic/TheNuptialverse has "Metamorphosis", which is all about Chrysalis reflecting on her [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 recent defeat]], remembering her StartOfDarkness, and finally [[SequelHook swearing revenge]].
* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeriesChaosVerse'', the last third of ''Luna and Celestia: Unwanted Half'' is written from the perspective of the BigBad [[spoiler: Nightmare Phobia]].
* Three different chapters of ''FanFic/YouGotHaruhiRolled'' have focused on [[EvilCounterpart the Anti-SOS Brigade]]. Chapter 39 is a story about what would happen if Sasaki found a Manga/DeathNote. Chapter 64 makes fun of the LoveDodecahedron trope by applying it to the Anti-SOS Brigade.[[note]]See AllLoveIsUnrequited for details.[[/note]] However, the greatest example is Chapter 84, named "Fun Times with the Unfab Four", which contains three short stories that, put together, tell the story of [[VillainsOutShopping the Anti-SOS Brigade members' daily lives]], written specifically for his friends, who are fans of the Anti-SOS Brigade.
* In ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated'', the chapter "A Common Enemy Without A Common Cause" focuses on the [=SUEs=] ([[ParodySue Parody Sues]] who are in opposition to [[MaiHime the Himes]]), specifically what would have happened if they had been forced to work together. [[spoiler:They end up killing each other before they even encounter the Himes]].
* In ''Fanfic/ThePrayerWarriors'', the fifth chapter of "The Evil Gods Part 1" has PercyJackson meeting with Satan, who demands that he kill Jerry and says that there is [[TheMole a traitor]] among the Prayer Warriors.
* The ''FanFic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'' side story/sequel "Another Happy Mother's Day" is written from the perspective of [[BigBad Checker Monarch]] [[spoiler: after her defeat and [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness decent into insanity]] at the end of the main fic.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* In a Russian movie ''The Secret of the Snow Queen'', said Queen has many in-built episodes in which her personality is explored.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]
* The ''Literature/EightySeventhPrecinct'' novel ''He Who Hesitates'' is told from the POV of the murderer with the cops who are the usual protagonists of the series only appearing when they cross the killer's path.
* VISSER, of the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, is a book written from the perspective of Edriss Five-Six-Two, better known Visser One (the ''first'' one; the Yeerk that infests Marco's mother). Individual chapters of ''Hork-Bajir Chronicles'' are written from the perspective of Esplin Nine-Four-Double-Six, the Yeerk that would later become Visser Three (and, even later, the ''other'' Visser One).
* In the first-person ''{{Literature/Everworld}}'' series, there is a book called ''Inside the Illusion'', the ninth in the series. It focuses on the main antagonist, HotWitch [[MagnificentBastard Senna Wales]].
* The ''Literature/NightWatch'' series novel ''Day Watch'' centers upon and is told from the perspective of the members of the Day Watch, who would be the bad guys of any other series. Anton and the other Night Watch protagonists are relegated to secondary roles.
* In the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' series, a novel called "The Pillars of Creation" deals with two half-siblings of the main protagonist. He has no idea they even exist until they meet towards the very end of the book, when the main cast [[DeusExMachina shows up]] to interact with them. The only main character of the series to show up in the novel at any point up to that is the main antagonist (to manipulate the half-siblings) and the [[BadassBookworm First Wizard]], who [[StuffBlowingUp blows up]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction half the big bad's army]] in one scene. But, other than that [[BestKnownForTheFanservice one scene]], the novel was the second-worst of the series.
* For Literature/TheWheelOfTime there is a forthcoming novella titled "River of Souls", comprised of material cut for pacing reasons from the final books, that will focus on fan-favorite villain Demandred and deal with his rise to power [[spoiler: in Shara]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' shows the POV of a Wraith named Michael in the eponymous episode, which makes the main characters look morally ambiguous if not downright evil for their treatment of the Wraith-turned-human. The sympathies of the audience remain with Michael during most of the episode, and for a large part of the fanbase, well after Michael became a threat to the team in his own right.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "The Corps Is Mother, The Corps Is Father", which focused on Bester and the Psi Corps. The opening is even [[SpecialEditionTitle modified]] replacing the Babylon 5 shield with the Psi Corps insignia.
* The new ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'' episode "Downloaded" for the Cylons, and later an entire villain movie ("The Plan"), focusing mainly on Cavil.
* ''{{Series/CSI}}'' episode "Killer" - as its title suggests, it focused on the murderer.
** The later episode "Working Stiffs" also has the perp as the main character.
* An episode of ''Series/TheXFiles'' focused on the Cigarette Smoking Man. Another episode followed the misfortunes of the MonsterOfTheWeek, with Mulder and Scully only appearing towards the end.
* Ben's [[CharacterFocus centric episodes]] on ''{{Series/Lost}}''.
** "Across the Sea" as well, since it give sympathetic backstory to the Man in Black.
* One of the "His Story" episodes of ''{{Series/Scrubs}}'' focused on The Janitor; JD was locked in a water tank at the start of the episode and not released until the end.
* The ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' episode "Company Man", which also served as [[BadassNormal HRG's]] BackStory.
** Also the aptly named ''Villains'' in Volume 3, which served as backstory for that volume's BigBad and expanded it for a few other characters.
* The ''Series/{{Undeclared}}'' series finale episode Eric's POV does this for the most part, focusing on the protagonist's main rival and his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend Eric and his friends. The protagonist and his friends are given subplots and Eric is fleshed out.
* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', a couple of episodes are concentrated on Jem'Hadar, the Dominion soldiers. And there is one episode where we concentrate on Damar and VU-s... and [[spoiler: shortly afterwards Damar makes a HeelFaceTurn.]]
** Not to mention the ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]'' two-parter "In A Mirror Darkly" focusing entirely on the MirrorUniverse characters. Complete with different intro scenes.
* The third-season ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' episode 'Incubator' focused on [[BigBad Scorpius]], [[DarkAndTroubledPast his backstory]], [[CharacterFocus and how he came to be the person he is]].
* The second season ''Series/PrisonBreak'' episode "Unearthed" is that show's best example of a VillainEpisode; while the audience sees newly-introduced AntiVillain Alexander Mahone operating under the thumb of the series' [[TheDragon dragon]] Kellerman (a new revelation, as he'd previously been portrayed as the InspectorJavert), protagonist Michael digs around into Mahone's DarkAndTroubledPast and [[IncrediblyLamePun unearths]] his deepest, darkest secret.
* The ''Series/CriminalMinds'' episode "True Night" is arguably an example of this, as it has about 75% of the screentime going to the killer. We don't even get to see the BAU deliver the profile, which is otherwise a OncePerEpisode occurrence. Instead, we see the different parts of the profile on a whiteboard in the police station when the killer is brought in.
* The third-season finale of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' "The Gas Man."
* The fifth-season ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "Fool For Love" focuses on Spike and his backstory. At that time, present-day Spike [[VillainDecay wasn't that much of a villain any more]], but flashback-Spike certainly was.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Videogames]]
* One of the DownloadableContent for ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' takes the point of view from [[TheEmpire The Imperial]] {{Arm|iesAreEvil}}y, as led by Selvaria, [[TheEmperor Prince Maximillian's]] LoveMartyr [[TheDragon Dragon]].
* ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', which focuses on Roxas and his life with Organization XIII in the year leading up to the events of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.
* One of the DownloadableContent packs for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' lets you play as the darkspawn.
* There are six points of view available in ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'', slowly added as you get further into the game, one of which only becoming unlocked upon beating the game with all 108 characters. [[spoiler: The final POV focuses on the villains of the story, and what they were up to throughout the game's events. It's actually really interesting, and strikes a good balance between making the villains seem sympathetic while retaining their status as clear villains.]]
* Chapter 3 of ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' qualifies as one. It parallels the events of Chapter 2, but is from the villain's (primarily Fassad's) point of view. The Pigmasks that were enemies in Chapter 2 are perceived as allies in Chapter 3... that is, until Salsa gets set free. A lot of the cutscenes in Chapter 2 are repeated in Chapter 3, sometimes with modifications.
* ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'' has "The Knife of Dunwall" and "The Bridgemore Witches" [=DLCs=], which focuses on Daud, Corvo's EvilCounterpart and the Empress' assassin.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Strong Bad Emails on ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' started out as this; they became so popular that they ended up eclipsing the original concept of the site and turned Strong Bad into a comic VillainProtagonist. Although some of the emails are just Strong Bad making fun of other people, other times they go more into Strong Bad's personal life, such as his relationship with his [[TheEeyore whiny brother]] [[TheChewToy Strong Sad]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WebComics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'''s StartOfDarkness prequel book.
** And, on a smaller scale, the occasional plot threads that follow [[BigBad Xykon]] or [[ThePsychoRangers the Linear Guild]] for a while.
* ''Webcomic/EmergencyExit'' does this for Kyran and the 'villains' from time to time.
* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' did this with the "Meanwhile In The Dimension Of Pain" strips. Depending on where you place Oasis on the Good/Evil scale, the "Phoenix Rising" story arc might also count, and the appropriately named "Year in the Life of a Villain" arcs focuses around Dr. Schlock and Hereti-corp.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': The Midnight Crew Intermission, which focused on the alternate universe counterparts of the BigBad and his cohorts. We are later given a proper one after Jack [[spoiler: murders John and Rose's parents.]]
** There's also the Doc Scratch intermission.
** Act 6 Intermission 4 follows [[spoiler:Caliborn, who is the BigBad Lord English before he became so big. Still pretty bad though.]]
* ''Webcomic/VoodooWalrus'' has regularly shot back to stand alone pages and entire storyarcs following baddies Mac and Shmeerm. These always stand apart from the more regular pages in that the sex, violence, language, and mayhem are all turned up to eleven.
* ''{{Webcomic/Archipelago}}'' has one in the fifth chapter, entitled Snowflakes. It centers around the Captain Snow going and finding his (equally evil) wife and child. The chapter constantly zig zags between PetTheDog and KickTheDog moments, with Snow showing genuine concern for his child, then asking whether or not same child has tried to burn down the school.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]
* The first season of ''{{WebVideo/lonelygirl15}}'' included a three part villain story, "Subjects Apprehended"/"Psychological Torture"/"Communication Terminated".
* The Literature/WhateleyUniverse has done this several times. The story "It's Good to be the Don" centers on Don Sebastiano, the head bad guy of the Alphas at Whateley Academy. "Ask Not For Whom Belle Tolls" centers around four supervillains at the school who have some problems of their own to handle - like covering up a murder. "Bad Seeds" focuses on a campus club that you can't get into unless you're the child of a supervillain.
** [[spoiler: In all three, Karma is both swift and merciless. Interestingly enough, the Bad Seeds are all Ineffectual Sympathetic Villains at worse, though Jobe is competent. Jadis herself wants to be a ''hero''!]]
* ''Script/AHDotComTheSeries'' did this twice, once with the "Counterfactual" three-episode miniseries in Season 2 and then again with the episode "Whatever Happened to the CF.netters?" in Season 5.
* When WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick is captured by [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dark Nella]], the latter decides to do a [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/team-nchick/nostalgia-chick/30777-tron review]] of ''Film/{{Tron}}'' in an effort to understand (and mock) the nerdy mind.
* In Literature/{{Worm}}, the author regularly writes "Interludes," scenes told from a perspective other than [[VillainProtagonist Taylor]], and never uses the same character for an interlude. Thus, interludes have involved supervillains, [[HeroAntagonist superheroes]], civilians, or none of the above.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' had two:
** "Zuko Alone", in which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Zuko was the only main character to appear]] (except in flashbacks).
** "[[BeachEpisode The Beach]]", which spent substantially more time on [[FanNickname the Zucrew]] sunbathing and {{Breakfast Club}}bing than on the Gaang being pursued by [[ProfessionalKiller Sparky Sparky Boom Man]], because EvilIsSexy.
* ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'' had two:
** "Pepper, Interrupted", despite its title, focused mostly on Gene and his dealings with the Maggia and Pepper's attempts to form a friendship with him.
** "World on Fire" covers Gene's childhood backstory and hints at what his ultimate goals are after he collects the five Makluan rings.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'' had "Alive!", focusing on the Secret Society's EnemyCivilWar, with the heroes only showing up for a few seconds at the end (without any lines) and "Task Force X", where four BadassNormal villains infiltrate the Watchtower to retrieve the ContinuityNod stored there.
* Happens occasionally on ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''
** ''Generation 1'' episode "Triple Takeover" was about [[EvilVersusEvil Blitzwing and Astrotrain wresting leadership of the Decepticons from Megatron]]. The Autobots did appear, but didn't really do very much. The later episodes "Starscream's Brigade" and "Webworld" were similarly Decepticon-centric.
** ''[[Anime/TransformersArmada Armada]]'' had "Rebellion" in which the Autobots only appeared for a few seconds. Sideways even {{narrat|or}}ed the episode instead of Rad.
** ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Prime]]'' had "Crossfire", "Patch", and "Thirst".
* The ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' episode "Lightspeed," which features [[EnsembleDarkhorse the H.I.V.E.F.I.V.E.]] and Madame Rouge from the Brotherhood of Evil. Kid Flash, a minor hero, is also prominent. Notably this episode also serves as a vehicle for [[spoiler:Jinx]]'s eventual HeelFaceTurn.
* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' inverts this with several episodes that focus on HeroAntagonist Dib rather than VillainProtagonist Zim, with a few episodes leaving Zim out altogether. One could argue this happens so much the show has ''two'' protagonists, breaking the usual hero/villain mold.
** Also "Game Slave 2," which focuses on Gaz rather than Zim or Dib. She's not ''[[SociopathicHero technically]]'' a villain...but she's pretty close.
* The third season premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' centers almost entirely on The Monarch, Dr. Girlfriend and their respective {{Mooks}}, only briefly involving Dr. Venture and Brock Samson, neither of whom have any lines. The title characters are nowhere to be seen, and are even replaced in the opening sequence by the Monarch and Dr. [[strike:Girflriend]] Mrs. the Monarch.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' had a couple. "The Man Who Killed Batman" followed a two-bit thug who was thought to have killed Batman, while the titular hero was obviously absent through most of the episode. "Harley and Ivy" was basically "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Show]]" with the Joker as the guest star. "Almost Got 'Im" also qualifies.
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' goes one step further giving the Joker his own episode complete with a cold open where he destroys the future earth (with an appearance from obscure DC character {{Kamandi}}), his own title sequence renaming the show "Joker: The Vile and the Villainous" and a plot featuring him teaming up with obscure DC villain [[ADayInTheLimelight The Weeper]] against Batman.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode "Just Another Manic Mojo" features Mojo Jojo going through a normal day - which, for him, consists of [[VillainsOutShopping getting breakfast, reading the paper]], and plotting to destroy the titular heroes. The Powerpuffs themselves show up later on, but the focus still remains on Mojo.
** In "Custody Battle" he and Him fight over who gets to be the father of the [[ThePsychoRangers Rowdyruff Boys]] and in "Prime Mates" he has to deal with Mopey Popo (the girls appear briefly in the latter).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' - "Back to the Norm"-it focuses on [[LiteralGenie Norm the Genie]] and [[SadistTeacher Crocker]] as they try to destroy Timmy Turner. Norm spends most of it {{Deadpan Snark|er}}ing Crocker.
** Later on there's "Crock Talk", focusing on Crocker gaining notoriety through his online talk show.
* The ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "Hail Doofania!" turns the show's [[StrictlyFormula usual formula]] on its head by focusing on Doofenshmirtz's daily scheme, inverting some of the lines (Phineas spouts the "entire tri-state area" line, Norm asks "Whacha doing?"), and instead of Phineas and Ferb's plan for the day being disposed of by Doofenshmirtz's invention, their invention disposes of his.
* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' had "Aku's Fairy Tales" where Aku, tired of all the hero worship Jack gets from the children, decides to tell stories with him as the hero and Jack as the villain. Jack himself only shows up in these stories.
** Two more showed up in the final season. "The Princess and the Bounty Hunters" concerned an AntiVillain bounty hunter who convinces several others to gang up on Jack to capture him. Jack shows up near the end [[ShaggyDogStory and defeats them easily]]. Another, "The Tale of X9", involves an old robot of Aku's with a PersonalityChip forced to go after Jack after Aku steals the only thing he cares about. As you could expect, [[DownerEnding it doesn't end well]].
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' had two episodes devoted to [[TheRival Mandark]]. The first centered around his attempts to impress Dee Dee in a surfing contest, with Dexter not appearing at all. Though the effectiveness of that episode wavers a bit considering, other than using his science to cheat in a surfing contest, he wasn't up to anything particularly villainous. The second was pure VillainsOutShopping, with Mandark going through his morning routine to the meter of his EvilLaugh before going out to battle Dexter.
** [[HostileShowTakeover Taken one step further]] when a set of shorts were all dedicated to Mandark -- even the intro was altered with Mandark electrocuting Dexter instead of Dee Dee and the usual ''Dexter's Laboratory'' title card reading ''Mandark's Laboratory''. [[spoiler: Though Dexter does get back at him by the end of the show when he tricks Mandark into electrocuting himself much like Dexter in the intro.]]
* ''ComicStrip/TheBoondocks'' gives us "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" and "The Story of Jimmy Rebel", both of which star BoomerangBigot Uncle Ruckus (no relation) and relegate the Freeman family to minor supporting roles. The episodes usually try to portray Ruckus as a slightly sympathetic figure (but only slightly). In the first, his self-hatred almost drives him to commit suicide. In the second, meeting him convinces a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of Johnny Rebel to give up anti-black music ([[spoiler:but not racist music]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' has a bonus episode focusing on [[TragicVillain Nox's]] StartOfDarkness. It's as much a TearJerker as one would expect.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'' has three episodes:
** "Aliens Among Us", focusing on Agent Bishop as [[WellIntentionedExtremist he plans his own alien invasion and kidnaps the president in order for him to get respected]].
** "Insane in the Membrane" has Stockman attempting to regain a human body, [[BodyHorror but it all went wrong]].
** "Hun on the Run" focuses on Hun as he tries to rescue Karai from Bishop.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' had an episode entirely from Asajj Ventress' perspective, followed by two more that also focused on Dooku and Savage Oppress. Jedi only appeared in supporting roles.
* ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'' episode "Power Grab" focuses entirely on the main villains of the series. Master Cyclonis and the Dark Ace leave Cyclonia in Ravess' hands while on a mission, and her obsessive control drives her brother and fellow commander Snipe to take command from her. However, ''his'' idiocy drives PsychoForHire Repton to take over, and then his brothers. Through it all, a nameless Talon commander tries to get the rank and prestige he wants.
* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' has "The Last One", which focuses on the Mooninites gathering together every villain in the series so far, to destroy the Aqua Teens. Predictably, all of them [[HilarityEnsues fail miserably]].
* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Ultimate Spider-Man}}'', "Me Time" ends up being this for Doctor Octopus. The episode focuses on Doctor Octopus trying to capture Spider-Man himself [[spoiler:lest he be played off by Osborn]], showing him ''winning'' the fight between Spider-Man, as well as [[spoiler:implying that his EvilCripple condition has taken a toll on his appearance, hygiene, and sanity]]. Before this episode, Doctor Octopus was scarcely seen except in scenes which are in his lab.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' episode "Skeletons in the Closet" focuses on telling Amon's and Tarrlok's {{backstor|y}}ies.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' had several, including "Operation: P.A.R.T.Y." and "Operation: "F.L.U.S.H."
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