Coined by Twitter user @buggy_con, the John Walker Effect is when in any form of media, the writers unintentionally make the antagonist characters
-Far more entertaining
-Far more believable as characters
-More sympathetic
-More heroic than the stale and downright evil protagonists/heroes
Typically you will see the writers project all the attributes they view as evil onto these characters in order to make a straw man to pit against their oh so perfect heroes. However, this unintentionally causes these characters to be beloved by the audience (or at least a section of the audience who believe that the ideas they embody are good), for they are the only ones who
-Call out the protagonists' bullshit for what it is
-Have actual ideas and motivations that aren't selfish
-In some way or other represent the ideal of the ideology they embody (since a writer cannot tear down an idea without first building it up)
Oftentimes these characters have to be amped up to cartoonish levels of evil in order to try and make the audience root against them, which usually does not end up working and in some cases just makes the audience love them more.
-Far more entertaining
-Far more believable as characters
-More sympathetic
-More heroic than the stale and downright evil protagonists/heroes
Typically you will see the writers project all the attributes they view as evil onto these characters in order to make a straw man to pit against their oh so perfect heroes. However, this unintentionally causes these characters to be beloved by the audience (or at least a section of the audience who believe that the ideas they embody are good), for they are the only ones who
-Call out the protagonists' bullshit for what it is
-Have actual ideas and motivations that aren't selfish
-In some way or other represent the ideal of the ideology they embody (since a writer cannot tear down an idea without first building it up)
Oftentimes these characters have to be amped up to cartoonish levels of evil in order to try and make the audience root against them, which usually does not end up working and in some cases just makes the audience love them more.
Rorschach from Watchmen, Tyler Durden from Fight Club, and Colonel Quaritch from Avatar are all examples of villains that suffer from the John Walker Effect.
by janh47 July 23, 2023
Get the John Walker Effect mug.I woke up this morning and had 62 new texts! I thought something bad had happened, but then I realized I had just been hit by a Walter.
by BillyMayser July 3, 2010
Get the hit by a Walter mug.Related Words
Masturbating while at work.
by Barmy Army October 10, 2017
Get the Cracking a Wadders mug.by Chuan Phing Tang September 15, 2019
Get the Sexy Granny Walter mug."My name is Walter Hartwell White. I live at 308 Negra Arroyo Lane, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104."
by Dread winters October 21, 2023
Get the My name is Walter Hartwell White mug.by Thatgaybee October 16, 2018
Get the walterboro mug.by drockafella16345 January 23, 2008
Get the professional walker mug.