Category:Scapegoat

A Scapegoat is a villain who is punished much more than he/she would actually deserve. They are the opposites of Karmas Houdini, although certain rare cases can apply for both, especially if a villain becomes more sympathetic due to Flanderization (see example 8).

Just being a "bad guy" and having bad intentions is never enough to suffer such a punishment, which must be given according to acts. Some villains, however, are submitted to a retribution that can be very harsh, even unfair, thus winning over the audience's sympathy.

Scapegoats can include:
 * 1) Incompetent villains, whose recurring defeats are often humiliating.
 * 2) Comic reliefs who are defeated or punished in a slapstick manner.
 * 3) A villain that has a horrible life that almost never improves or even gets wors.
 * 4) Minions that are often unfairly abused or killed by their master, either for failure or because they've outlived their usefulness.
 * 5) A tragic villain who, in the end, suffered more than he or she made suffer.
 * 6) Villains who are constantly revived and killed over again.
 * 7) Anti-villains who intend to do good, but just go about it the wrong way.
 * 8) Former Karma Houdinis who can no longer get away with their actions because their karma has reached the inescapable point.
 * 9) Remorseful villains who wanted to redeem themselves, but died before they could.
 * 10) A villain whose fate is so horrific that the audience almost feels pity for them.