There's a certain
type of character that defies such definitions as
hero or villain, good or evil, friend or enemy. Love him or loathe him, you have to admire him. And at the end of the
day, there's only one thing we can call him... a Magnificent Bastard.
The Magnificent Bastard is intelligent, capable, supremely competent, and always in control. He can be playing everyone from both ends, or making it up as he goes along with such consummate
skill he gets away with it. He might be cynically exploiting all around him for his own ends, or persuading everyone to do everything for him. He might be a lying sneaky bastard playing everyone for his own
selfish ends, but he goes about it with such breathtaking
skill and panache you admire him for it. Above all else, what defines a Magnificent Bastard is his ability to evoke not just amazement, but grudging admiration, from friend,
foe and audience alike.
