SPOILERS!
Who doesn't love a good villain or anti hero? Sometimes we find ourselves more drawn to a well crafted bad guy than to the protagonist we're meant to be identifying with, and when those characters are forced into an uneasy alliance it results in some of the most satisfying stories. The answer to this slightly uncomfortable tendency to find the villain engaging is the redemptive character arc. A good redemption arc can often enrich or even trump the main plot. But what exactly qualifies as redemption? What's the difference in narrative terms between reader forgiveness, suffering and atonement? This week the dragons take a look at anti heroes who try to make amends. Under the microscope in this episode - Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Boys and many more.
Please be aware that as Jules and Madeleine are looking at complete character arcs, this episode will include spoilers for Unveiled, The Boys and The Harmatia Cycle.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 334: Devotion, Betrayal & Misadventure - Queer Romance in Speculative Fiction
Episode 333: Manners Morals & Monsters - the Growing Trend of Regency Fantasy
Episode 332: Girls With Glass Slippers - Tracing the Origins of Cinderella
Episode 331: Every Act of Creation is an Act of Parody - Filk Music & Fandom in Speculative Fiction
Episode 330: Soaring Brooms & Leaping Sharks - Sport in Speculative Fiction
Episode 329: The Heart of the Carnival - Circuses Amusement Parks & Fair Grounds in Fiction
Episode 328: Getting Your House in Order - 15 things writers shouldn’t do and 5 things they should
Episode 327: White as Snow, Red as Blood - Tracing the origins of Snow White
Episode 326: The Buttery Goodness - What Makes a Story Grab it’s Audience (Part Two)
Episode 325: The Buttery Goodness - What Makes a Story Grab its Audience (Part One)
Episode 324: Dodging the Pulpit - Preachiness in Speculative Fiction and How to Avoid It
Episode 323: Judge Me Not By My Works - The Problem of Labelling Authors
Episode 322: Girls Who Stray From the Path - Tracing the Journey of Little Red Riding Hood
Episode 321: Lesbians against Drink Driving - The Problem of the Activist Character in Speculative Fiction
Episode 320: Within these Hallowed Halls - Dark Academia in Speculative Fiction
Episode 319: Love Never Dies - Romance and Obsession in Speculative Fiction
Episode 318: Mjolnir, Carnwenhau & Sting - Signature Weapons and Combat Mistakes in Speculative Fiction
Episode 317: I Want Candy! - Giving Your Characters a Balanced Diet in Speculative Fiction
Episode 316: Vampire Detectives and Snarky Female Cops - Urban Fantasy Tropes that need a Change
Episode 315: Vampire Detectives & Snarky Female Cops - Urban Fantasy Tropes that need a Change
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