Thread:LucidPigeons/@comment-24469175-20160518184507/@comment-26205772-20160529073852

A Villain by Proxy is a morally-neutral character forced into a villainous position or circumstance, e.g. a Punch-Clock Villain. A Designated Villain is a character who the narrative intends as a villain, but through some fault (be it bad writing, protagonists who are just as bad or even worse, "villainous" actions that aren't really that villainous, etc.) aren't really as villainous or as unsympathetic as intended.