Villains 101

In Villains 101, Dr. Erica McCrystal welcomes you to an audio lecture hall where you will discover the history behind some of the greatest villains of literature and media. Dr. McCrystal discusses different critical perspectives and interpretations of a new villain in each episode. She also looks at the ways in which the villain has been adapted, as each adaptation helps build a better understanding of the character.

IT 04/07/2019

IT It, who often goes by Pennywise the Dancing Clown, is the terrifying villain from Stephen King's 1986 novel It. In this episode, I discuss the complexities of the creature, its place in pop culture and folklore, and why clowns are so terrifying. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/9298091

The Queen of Hearts 03/01/2019

The Queen of Hearts The Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an emotional, heartless ruler. This episode looks closely at passages from the novel, examines the history of beheading, and thinks about the mythological roots of her character. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/8833967

Episode 18 - Harry and Marv 12/13/2018

Episode 18 - Harry and Marv Harry and Marv, the Wet Bandits/Sticky Bandits, are the hilarious villains of the classic Christmas films Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. In this episode, I will discuss the various types of crimes they commit during the films, the injuries that they sustain, and their skills as criminals. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/7909226

Scar 11/14/2018

Scar Disney villains are legendary, and Scar from The Lion King is not one to mess around with. This episode analyzes Scar from different perspectives, including comparing his behavior to that of lions in the wild. It also compares Scar to others in literature and history. Ultimately, this episode raises the question, does Scar behave naturally or is he a horrible dictator? /episode/index/show/villains101/id/7562054

Episode 16: The Sanderson Sisters 10/11/2018

Episode 16: The Sanderson Sisters The classic Halloween film Hocus Pocus brings us a wonderful trio of villainesses, the Sanderson Sisters. This episode looks at the history of witches and trends in popular culture while analyzing three of the most iconic witches. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/7154390

Episode 15 - Moriarty 09/11/2018

Episode 15 - Moriarty Moriarty is the brilliant arch nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle created a worthy foe for the great detective. This episode analyzes Moriarty's character and discusses why he has become such an iconic and often adapted villain. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/7032228

Gaston 05/01/2018

Gaston Gaston is the chauvinistic, self-absorbed villain of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. This episode describes the ways in which Gaston's villainy emerges and finds him to be an especially terrifying villain because he is a human with qualities that we may recognize in others. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6542484

Napoleon 04/18/2018

Napoleon The boar Napoleon from George Orwell's novel Animal Farm becomes an oppressive dictator. This episode looks at the parallels between the novel and Soviet Russia and examines Napoleon's rise to power and tyrannical rule. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6492941

Judge Doom 03/28/2018

Judge Doom Judge Doom is the deliciously evil villain of the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Doom is a sinister villain with dreams of expansion that cause him to make genocidal plans. This episode analyzes Doom's character and looks at the history of human devastation of land and life around the world. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6417417

Judge Holden 03/13/2018

Judge Holden Judge Holden is the cold-blooded, violent villain of Cormac McCarthy's novel Blood Meridian. In this episode, I analyze different interpretations of his character and The Judge's philosophy and teachings of the world. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6358819

Mr. Burns 02/27/2018

Mr. Burns Mr. Burns is the hilarious, evil villain of the TV series The Simpsons. With his ridiculous schemes, Mr. Burns serves as pure entertainment. This episode examines the types of crimes that Mr. Burns is guilty of committing and looks at different aspects of his character that make him into a timeless villain. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6304649

Maleficent 02/13/2018

Maleficent In adapting an old fairy tale, Disney created a truly menacing villainness for Sleeping Beauty. This episode looks at the elements that make Maleficent a perfect villainness. It also analyzes her transformation into a heroine in the recent film Maleficent. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6255356

Dracula 01/30/2018

Dracula With Count Dracula, Bram Stoker created a perfect Gothic monster who arouses fear as he systemically tries to expand his vampire race. But Dracula can also be read as a victim who is hunted and attacked. Tune in to hear more about the history behind the Count and what he potentially represents in the real world. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6202580

Hans Gruber 12/19/2017

Hans Gruber Hans Gruber, the mastermind behind the Nakatomi heist in the film Die Hard, is a brilliant villain. He is a fast thinker and a composed killer. In this episode, I examine the strategy, intellect, and skills of this great Christmastime villain. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6059491

Darth Vader 12/11/2017

Darth Vader The Star Wars film franchise has shown audiences the transformation of passionate, fiery Anakin Skywalker into evil, heartless Darth Vader. In this episode, I analyze Vader from political, philosophical, and psychological perspectives. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/6032156

Dr. Evil 11/28/2017

Dr. Evil While many villains are terrifying and keep the reader or audience in nervous anticipation, Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers film trilogy brings humor to villainy. This episode digs into a villain who struggles to fulfill his ridiculous plans but who never fails to make us laugh. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/5983589

The Joker 11/14/2017

The Joker This episode brings a history and analysis of Batman's nemesis, the Joker. The Joker is an intriguing villain because he is unpredictable, wild, and irrational. This episode looks at different versions of the clown prince of crime in comics and film to see how he is the perfect embodiment of evil. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/5932765

Freddy Krueger 10/22/2017

Freddy Krueger In Episode 3, Dr. McCrystal discusses Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. This segment provides an analysis about how monstrosity is created and fueled, what kind of monster Freddy is, and where he is located. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/5865028

The Wicked Witch of the West 10/15/2017

The Wicked Witch of the West The Wicked Witch of the West is an iconic villain who is popular in literature, film, and musical theatre. This episode discusses the ways that evil is manifested in an individual. The Wicked Witch has represented uncontrollable forces and evil passions, but she has also been adapted to expose the ways society can fail an individual. This episode looks at L. Frank Baum’s novel, the 1939 film, and Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked and its musical adaptation. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/5842318

Mr. Hyde 09/28/2017

Mr. Hyde Episode 1 discusses Mr. Hyde from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This segment focuses on degeneration and monstrosity in the nineteenth century and the ways in which Mr. Hyde has been adapted over time to actually become a heroic figure. /episode/index/show/villains101/id/5788338

Villains 101

TOPICS