Every show we watch seems to have the one “villian” character. The one we all seem to bond over with shared “hatred”, or stirs up chaos just by being themselves. Whether it’s Huda in the beginning of Love Island or Fannita on Inside: USA, the screen time always seems to focus on the character we all love to hate.
But let’s be honest, these characters are 70% of the reason we watch the show.
These so-called villains are often the reason we keep watching. We want to see what they end up doing and the drama they stir up excites us. They are who make the plotlines dramatic and keep the audience engaged. To be honest, without someone to root for again, reality TV would lose its bite. Viewers are always commenting and saying that they can’t stand a contest, but they’re also the ones who pause their day to scroll on Tiktok edits to see what happens.
But is this right?
Should reality TV have this villain figure? Editing plays a huge part in shaping who we think someone else is. Producers sometimes purposely cast out those who they think could become the potential “villian” of the show to bring attention and clout. The producers know that conflict sells, so they will highlight and edit in every side-eye and snarky comment. And maybe it was just a moment of frustration, but the editors can turn it into their personality.
What’s interesting is how these villains often become the most memorable people long after the season ends. Take Huda for example, who is one of the people who are the epitome being both loved and hated. Some would even compare her to Kim Kardashian. Her strong fan base supports her endlessly, but her haters also say she has a manipulative personality. However, at the end of the day, she is the one getting the interview, the brand deals, and fans who defend her fiercely online.
At the end of the day, reality TV villains hold up a mirror to us as the viewers. They remind us how easily we just follow the band wagon and listen to what is said online. They also show what TV shows what they want us to think. We quickly judge just because of what we see on the screen for a few moments. Yet, we also can’t look away.
