LogFAQs > #935950966

Been watching Sharpe -- which, like so many other things, started with YT clips (and some things I've really just seen from clips -- which has served to increase my appreciation for the sometimes-underappreciated villain/antagonist trope: the ineffectual, cowardly asshole in a position of authority (often of the lawful evil alignment, where they enforce draconian rules with malicious glee). In particular, I've enjoyed the comical Sir Simmerson and -- to a great extent -- the mannerisms of the blowhard Lt-Colonel Girdwood.

They're part of the greater trope (and reality of the time) of gentlemen officers who bought their way into or were granted high station despite having little-to-no military experience or a dismal military record. (Who, for added points, scorn officers who came up from the ranks simply for not being gentlemen.)

These villains are kinda great because they're so easy to scorn, given that they lack any redeeming characteristics, while not needing to simply rely on major acts of evil (although both do heinous things). Granted, the other reason I might like them more is simply that they get the best comeuppances and find themselves put in their place rather than simply killed like a typical movie villain. (And, of course, I wound up watching some of their comeuppances before seeing most of their shit.)

Sharpe in general has been a pretty awesome series, but the combat kinda irks me. I imagine that the marching in formation was a real tactic (despite the obvious danger), but you'll also have them break into individual melee where people just pair up to fight, often running among each others' ranks, instead of observing any real formation or tactics.

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There are precious few at ease / With moral ambiguities / So we act as though they don't exist.