20 Film/TV Villains Who Were Just Misunderstood

1) Loki – Thor/The Avengers/Thor: The Dark World

One of the wittiest characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also one of the most popular, Loki is caught in an eternal dilemma over his birth, which causes him to fluster out of control in all three of the films that he’s tricked his way into: Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World.

At the heart of it, though Loki can be stripped down to an insecure, envious little boy with a power complex, he proves time and time again that his family means more to him than anything else. After all, being told you’re adopted is one thing, but being told your “real” family is the sworn enemy of the realm you wish to rule is another. No one can blame Loki for lashing out and reawakening the war between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants, but at the same time, it was a bit excessive, even if it was fuelled by his desire to prove himself a true Asgardian or a true member of the family.

Even after his stint on Earth, he agrees to help Thor take down Malekith, giddily addressing him as “brother” the entire time, a sentiment that Thor shares as well. Interesting to note is that none of the Warriors Three or Sif seem particularly threatened by Loki. They’re cautious of him, but probably know that he isn’t inherently evil. And yet, he remains a villain, as the last scene of Thor: The Dark World reveals.

Tell us, which villains from film and television do you think were misunderstood? Did we miss any picks? Sound off below!