Ozymandias (Watchmen) - Hero or Villain?

[DigDog]

I didn't really pay attention to social media around the film when it came out, but i saw a couple of posts lately about this and i got confused on how people see this character. And so here we are.

What do YOU think of Ozymandias? Hero? Villain? Anti-Villain?

In the same story you got Rorschach, who is an anti-hero because he does the heroic things he does, but bad. Dr Manhattan also skirts the anti-hero trope, he is so perfect, so clean cut, that he doesn't understand the needs of "inferiors" - silly things like, "please do not expose me to radiation".
The Comedian isn't really a hero, he's a Harbinger, his sole purpose is to foreshadow things to come.

Ozymandias saves all of humanity, not just those alive at his time, but their very existence. The murder - or, if you prefer, sacrifice - of 3M people is inevitable, mandatory. While Rorschach has a choice in how to go about his business, Ozymandias doesn't.

I thought the film (and book) were fairly clear on this. This is the very reason why Dr Manhattan destroys Rorschach, but does not destroy Ozymandias - he understands that Ozymandias is right, and that he (DrM) did not understand humanity. He is willing to accept the sacrifice to save humanity, Rorschach isn't willing - or capable - of even keeping his mouth shut to let humanity live and prosper, because he is flawed, and Ozymandias is not. While Dr manhattan may be the perfect being, Ozymandias is the perfect human.

So, poll:

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

None of the above? He was a human as flawed as any other, but able to see just a little further down the road and willing to do what was required to keep humanity trundling along a little further.

I'd be curious about the writer's intent for his character once he died and a charismatic dictator took over his one world government utopia.

 

[dank69]

I guess Thanos was a goddamn hero as well?

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I guess Thanos was a goddamn hero as well?

No, Thanos was short sighted. Wiping out half of life only really matters for a generation or two, and creates large power vacuums while not really doing anything about the population densities. He should have done 99% of life, that'd at least give life a chance to 'reset' the way he intended. He also probably could have kept potato farming in peace.

 

[DigDog]

I guess Thanos was a goddamn hero as well?

50% is too little.

No, Thanos was short sighted. Wiping out half of life only really matters for a generation or two, and creates large power vacuums while not really doing anything about the population densities. He should have done 99% of life, that'd at least give life a chance to 'reset' the way he intended. He also probably could have kept potato farming in peace.

this is correct.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Yes.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The popular opinion is he is an Anti-Villain. I voted GODDAMNED HERO.

He did his best to correctly employ the "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet." strategy. The idea that the only way to get humanity together, is to have an external threat to the entire planet, is a good trope.

DC ruined it by having Robert Redford use the info to get elected POTUS. Resulting in the world going to hell in a handbasket. Rorschach was batshit crazy, so no one believed his written account. Containing the outcome to the Watchmen graphic novel, he pulled it off brilliantly. Absolute legend. The psychic images in people's minds would have really sealed the deal.

Rorschach is my favorite character from the film though. The mentality underlying "I'm not trapped in here with you! Your trapped in here with me!" Love that shit. Almost everyone says you are either afraid or crazy. But they never consider a third choice - Its just another day at the office.

 

[NTMBK]

He's a mass murdering dickhead who thinks he knows what's best for humanity. Villain.

 

[brianmanahan]

steve jobs was the real hero

 

[Captante]

Voted "villain" but the only really "correct" answer is:
"no no no you are completely wrong".

 

[nakedfrog]

Why not both?

 

[BudAshes]

I remember that movie being bad enough that I didn't bother remembering anything else about it.

 

[gorobei]

He identified a problem, initiated action, overcame challenges, achieved a resolution.
technically he is the protagonist.

also, the movie sucked.

 

[sdifox]

I loved the movie. I would probably do the same thing Ozymandias does in the film if given the chance.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Depends on who gets to write the history book

 

[Captante]

Watchmen was overall a fail IMO. It does however have some great "Youtube-worthy" scenes .... in particular Rorschach in the cafeteria-line!