History Main / VillainEpisode

* 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:Girfriend]] Mrs. the Monarch.

** "[[BeachEpisode The Beach]]", which spent substantially more time on the Zuko crew sunbathing and {{Breakfast Club}}bing than on the Gaang being pursued by [[ProfessionalKiller Sparky Sparky Boom Man]], because EvilIsSexy.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' has done this quite a few times:

** One issue of Dan Slott's run is told from the perspective of the Sinister Six as they prepare their latest evil plan and get into conflict with another supervillain gang. Spider-Man never appears, only being obliquely mentioned as the Six's enemy.
** Another Slott-penned story was told from Hobgoblin's perspective as he tries to escape or fight off a vengeful [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]]. Hobgoblin later got another spotlight story during ''{{ComicBook/Axis}}'', in which he attempts to [[HeelFaceTurn go straight]] in [[OnlyInItForTheMoney the worst manner possible]].

* The plot twist of ''WebVideo/TruthInJournalism'' is that it's a Villain Episode for [[spoiler:''Franchise/SpiderMan''. Specifically, it's about ComicBook/{{Venom}} getting an amateur documentary crew to film him and see what he gets up to when he’s not tormenting Spider-Man or murdering hapless criminals]]. Pointedly subverts and [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] the "make them sympathetic" part; not only does [[spoiler:Venom]] arrange the documentary in a deluded effort to improve his public image, but getting his side of the story just makes him look like a crazy, pathetic loser.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5'': The Season 2 episode "Uprising" is mostly about Captain Kalus (one of the main villains of Season 1) getting usurped as the Vandal Warlord by an upstart named Grimian, and focuses on Kalus's subsequent struggle to reclaim leadership over the Vandals.

** The story "Cretaceous Hunters and Pennsylvanian Giants, Oh My!" focuses on Eggman and N, during the time when the latter was still part of the Eggman Empire, where N has a disagreement with Eggman on whether or not Pokémon should be modified by humans when he sees the doctor modifying two seperate fossils to create the Mythical Pokémon Genesect (Formerly Omnisect).

* The ''Series/CriminalMinds'' episode "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS3E10TrueNight 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 episode "Killer" - as its title suggests, it focused on the murderer.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'' episode "Lightspeed" focuses on the H.I.V.E. Five confronting Kid Flash while the regular Teen Titans are out of town. Despite the title, it focuses more on the former, especially Jinx. Notably this episode also serves as a vehicle for [[spoiler:Jinx]]'s eventual HeelFaceTurn.

* Minigames found in ''Videogame/SpookysHouseOfJumpScares'' feature the game's antagonist Spooky as the playable character, and they are also [[{{Parody}} pastiches]] of other popular arcade games such as ''VideoGame/PacMan''. They are also very gory, although it is all PlayedForLaughs.

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'':
** 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.
** "The Deep Dark Woods" is this for a lowly {{Mook|s}}.

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' had several, including "Operation: P.A.R.T.Y." and "Operation: "F.L.U.S.H."

* ''ComicBook/Trinity2016'' #7 stars Lex Luthor, [[Characters/BatmanRasAlGhul Ra's Al-Ghul]] and [[Characters/WonderWomanRoguesGallery Circe]], complete with their own versions of the narrative captions Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}}, Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}} and Characters/{{Wonder Woman|TheCharacter}} usually provide.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' episode "Lightspeed" focuses on the H.I.V.E. Five confronting Kid Flash while the regular Teen Titans are out of town. Despite the title, it focuses more on the former, especially Jinx. Notably this episode also serves as a vehicle for [[spoiler:Jinx]]'s eventual HeelFaceTurn.

* Team Rocket has over a dozen episodes of ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' themed around them, individually or as a group. They tend to be considerably more dramatic than other episodes, have an emphasis on their friendship, and be quite sweet. More than a few use the {{Recycled Plot}}s of "A member thinks of leaving; drama occurs" and "Pikachu teams up with Meowth".

** There was a famous issue during Creator/JohnByrne's run that centered on ComicBook/DoctorDoom and did not feature a single member of the titular team.

** One issue had a fairly brief sub-story in which ComicBook/LexLuthor thought-balloons about what to get his little nephew Val 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."]]

** The second chapter of ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'' introduces [[BigBad Lesla-Lar]], narrates the events of the first chapter since her point of view, and goes into her motivations to mess up with [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]].

** Another issue focused on Johnny Guitar, a z-list villain recruited by ComicBook/NormanOsborn's take on the Initiative to essentially be cannon fodder.

* ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]] #85'' focuses entirely on ComicBook/TheJoker, who gives a warped-but-mostly-accurate rundown of his history with all three Robins so far.

** During Creator/MarkWaid's run there was an issue focusing on the ComicBook/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 stymied by a ruling that a) the Skull was a CardCarryingVillain, and b) despite this, he [[ButNotTooEvil couldn't actually be racist]].)

* September 2013 was when ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'' debuted and was also Villains Month, in which all the heroic ongoing series were replaced with one-shot issues featuring various villains. While many were about [[OriginsIssue the origins of]] [[StartOfDarkness the villains]] ({{ComicBook/Darkseid}}, [[ComicBook/LightsOut Relic]], etc.), some were tie-ins to ''Forever Evil'' ([[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Black Manta]]), and some were [[TakeAThirdOption both]] ([[Comicbook/SuicideSquad Deadshot, Harley Quinn]]).

** Another Slott-penned story was told from Hobgoblin's perspective as he tries to escape or fight off a vengeful ComicBook/NormanOsborn. Hobgoblin later got another spotlight story during ''{{ComicBook/Axis}}'', in which he attempts to [[HeelFaceTurn go straight]] in [[OnlyInItForTheMoney the worst manner possible]].

* ''ComicBook/Trinity2016'' #7 stars Lex Luthor, ComicBook/RasAlGhul and ComicBook/{{Circe}}, complete with their own versions of the narrative captions Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman usually provide.

* The eighth episode of ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'', "[[Recap/Daredevil2015S1E8ShadowsInTheGlass Shadows in the Glass]]", gives special focus on [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]], telling his backstory, exploring more about the difficulties he's facing, and developing his relationship with his love interest Vanessa.

* The ''Videogame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity'' {{DLC}} gives each of the Champions an optional spotlight level. It also gives one to Kohga and Sooga, narrating their [[EnemyCivilWar split with Astor]].

** The ''Recap/StartOfDarkness'' prequel book focuses on how Redcloak, Xykon, and the Monster in the Dark first met, and goes into detail on what their EvilPlan hopes to achieve.

* [[Literature/TheDemigodDiaries "The Diary of Luke Castellan"]] is a short story told from the POV of Luke Castellan, the main villain of ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. The story actually focuses on Luke ''before'' his turn to evil and documents his StartOfDarkness.

* 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 ''{{Series/Fringe}}'' episode "[[Recap/FringeS03E04DoShapeshiftersDreamOfElectricSheep Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?]]" is partly told from the perspective of one of [[{{Mooks}} the Shapeshifters]], named Ray Duffy. The episode spends a significant amount of time developing Duffy, showing that he started a family while in his current disguise and steadily [[BecomingTheMask became the mask]]. He's established as a tragic and reluctant figure who's secretly scared of both being called back into duty (he would have to change forms again and thus be separated from his family) and that his family would view him as a monster if they learned his true origins. [[spoiler: In the end he's murdered by Thomas Jerome Newton after his clash with Fringe Team, as Newton realizes that Duffy won't willingly aid him anymore because of his devotion to his family.]]

* ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'':

* ''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 ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' episode "Downloaded" for the Cylons, and later an entire villain movie ("The Plan"), focusing mainly on Cavil.

** The fifth-season 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. "Who Are You" focused on Faith.
** One half of the Season 9 comic ''The Hero Of His Own Story'' focuses on the pasts of Pearl and Nash and Whistler explains his backstory to Angel in the other half.
* 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 ''{{Series/Fringe}}'' episode "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?" is partly told from the perspective of one of [[{{Mooks}} the Shapeshifters]], named Ray Duffy. The episode spends a significant amount of time developing Duffy, showing that he started a family while in his current disguise and steadily [[BecomingTheMask became the mask]]. He's established as a tragic and reluctant figure who's secretly scared of both being called back into duty (he would have to change forms again and thus be separated from his family) and that his family would view him as a monster if they learned his true origins. [[spoiler: In the end he's murdered by Thomas Jerome Newton after his clash with Fringe Team, as Newton realizes that Duffy won't willingly aid him anymore because of his devotion to his family.]]

** The ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]'' two-parter "In A Mirror Darkly" focusing entirely on the MirrorUniverse characters. Complete with [[SpecialEditionTitle different intro scenes]].
* The ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' season 9 episode "Meta Fiction" focuses on the evil Angel who has become the new BigBad. The episode opens as [[BreakingTheFourthWall he directly addresses the audience]] to tell them a story about how he outsmarted the Winchesters and has [[AGodAmI become as omnipotent as a god]]. He proceeds to rewrite everything as he sees fit to cast himself as a "hero" against the "villain" Castiel. Even the intro title is changed to reflect his name instead of that of the show.

* In the fourth-season of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', episodes "Live Bait" and "Dead Weight" focus entirely on the journey of the Governor post Woodbury.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' had a few over the years. "Musings of a Cigarette-Smoking Man" details the backstory and StartOfDarkness for the titular character (the BigBad for much of the show's run), [[UnreliableNarrator though how much of it is true is debatable]], since it's told from [[ConspiracyTheorist Frohike's]] perspective and parts of it clearly contradict what had been revealed about CSM's past up to that point. "Hungry" and "Orison" both focus on the MonsterOfTheWeek, with Mulder and Scully playing supporting roles and the latter barely appearing at all in "Hungry".

* Every end of chapter segment in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' has Bowser as a playable character. Due to Bowser being regulated as the game's ButtMonkey, he's always a step behind Mario, gets humiliated in every way, most [=NPCs=] won't take him seriously, and any brief moment of success [[YankTheDogsChain is quickly yanked from him]]. There's also three chapters where the player gets to control Bowser through some platforming levels, which are a parody of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros''.

* The 'Become the Villain' DLC for VideoGame/FarCry6 lets you play as villains from the previous games, with Vaas: Insanity focusing on [[VideoGame/FarCry3 Vaas]] trying to escape his own mind.

* ''WebAnimation/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory'': Ridiculously Epic, the BigBad, takes center stage and is treated as the main protagonist during episodes 2 and 7, “Ten Steps to Saving the World that Totally Won’t Work” and “The Most Epic Supervillain Origin Story” respectively.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'':
** ''I Love Wolffy'' and ''I Love Wolffy 2'' are wolf-centric.
** ''Mr.Wolffy, Mr.Right!'' is centered around Wolffy and his relationships.

* ''Anime/Persona4GoldenTheAnimation'': Episode 6 "I told you Yu" focuses on the SerialKiller [[spoiler:Adachi]].

* Lust received one in the 2003 version of ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' called "Reunion of the Fallen".. It's basically scary as shit, depressing as eternal damnation, and a DownerEnding rolled into one Villainous Joint.

** The "Oingo Boingo Brothers" and "Hol Horse and Boingo" arcs from ''Manga/StardustCrusaders center around Boingo and his attempts to use his [[PropheticFallacy precognitive]] stand Thoth to help his current partner defeat the Joestars. In both cases the arc eventually turns into something almost akin to ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''.
** ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'' gives Yoshikage Kira, the SerialKiller with [[ALoveToDismember a hand fetish]], multiple POV episodes that help viewers get into his twisted mindset.

** The "King Crimson vs. Metallica" chapters of ''Manga/VentoAureo'' follow Doppio, who's [[spoiler:the SplitPersonality of [[BigBad Diavolo]]]], fighting one of his treacherous minions.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* 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 'Oingo Boingo Brothers' and 'Hol Horse and Boingo' arcs from [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Part Three]] center around Boingo and his attempts to use his [[PropheticFallacy precognitive]] stand Thoth to help his current partner defeat the Joestars. In both cases the arc eventually turns into something almost akin to ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''.

* ''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.