How do you feel about the 'classic' villain monologue about their plans?

[xena]

A lot of older stories used the monologue as a convenient way to explain the plot to the audience. Sometimes it’s theatrical, sometimes it feels artificial. Like you said with the Laura Croft examples, there are moments where the villain conveniently explains everything while the protagonist “accidentally” overhears and if it's not done correctly, it can feel like a cheap way out.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

A lot of older stories used the monologue as a convenient way to explain the plot to the audience. Sometimes it’s theatrical, sometimes it feels artificial. Like you said with the Laura Croft examples, there are moments where the villain conveniently explains everything while the protagonist “accidentally” overhears and if it's not done correctly, it can feel like a cheap way out.

Done right the laura croft example can work.
But if it's just 'randomly' thrown in, yeah, it's blatantly obvious the information isn't intended for the character in question (In this case Laura)
That seems to happen quite a bit throughout the Toomb Raider series, though the most egregious ones are the reboot series. Where she just literally happens to arrive as the enemy big bad is explaining plans. (And somehow gets away with it by hiding behind some crates or shit, I mean plot armor gonna plot armor but still, yikes.) Often, she hears just enough of the guy's plan to go 'ok they're crazy' lol

 

[Insolent Lad]

A lot of older stories used the monologue as a convenient way to explain the plot to the audience. Sometimes it’s theatrical, sometimes it feels artificial.

Yes, it works great (at least sometimes) on the stage where a character is explaining his inner thoughts not to another character but to the audience. We can use the interior monologue for that but stories these days rarely do an omniscient peek inside the villain's head.

 

[Adam Scribentis]

In the 1980s, L. Neil Smith wrote a trilogy of Lando Calrissian novels. The third contained one of my all-time favourite sentences from a book: "Unlike a fictional villain, Rokur Gepta had not gloated and revealed his plans to Lando Calrissian." !

 

[A. E. Lowan]

In the 1980s, L. Neil Smith wrote a trilogy of Lando Calrissian novels. The third contained one of my all-time favourite sentences from a book: "Unlike a fictional villain, Rokur Gepta had not gloated and revealed his plans to Lando Calrissian." !

I think I read those! I was 11 or 12, but I remember something about a vacuum-dwelling leviathan and needing to help it?

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

I think I read those! I was 11 or 12, but I remember something about a vacuum-dwelling leviathan and needing to help it?

I think the book series I was reading at that age was.... Goose Bumps and Animorphs. Yep.
(Also I posted the thread about my fae folk XD I don't have all the colors listed though)

 

[The Dark One]

I have trouble taking that sort of monologue seriously, although it does have its place in certain types of film.

I don't ever use them myself in my stories, instead I let the reader build their own picture of what the antagonists are up to and why. That way I can also leave a few red herrings and other plot hooks along the way to the reveal.

Yep, works for me.

 

[Adam Scribentis]

I think I read those! I was 11 or 12, but I remember something about a vacuum-dwelling leviathan and needing to help it?

Alas, I have forgotten most of the plot, but I remember Lando, his droid Vuffi Raa, Rokur Gepta the sorcerer of Tund, and some of the jokes.

 

[Calin Sarbu]

classic villain monologue feels cheap to me because it is never intended for the hero, but for the reader/viewer. It is basically the easiest way to tell the plan, which does lead to the feeling that the author did not feel he needed to spend time to find a interesting solution. Often the easy solutions to reveal information to the reader is not the answer. Even heard published authors in interviews say you should never go with the first solution.
Now that can be extreme. if you have a good idea 1st try, roll with it, I'd say. But regarding the monologue about the evil plan, let's think what sounds more interesting:
1. villain chapters the hero and tells him how he has been amassing an army of dragons under his control to burn down the kingdom of Azure
or
2. the hero uncovers documents that tell the villain has a massive interest in growing, breading and training dragons. and it is a lengthy investigation he has to perform to obtain these documents and realize they are related to the villain. even more, everyone knows this guy was sworn he will burn down the kingdom. Also, the hero encounters one of the dragon the villain is trying to subdue and ends up fighting the dragon and defeating it, so the villain cannot use it. All of a sudden, as a reader you can feel like you have been right there, piecing all these details and uncovering what the villain's plan is together with the hero. you're not listening to a potentially boring monologue. you've lived the actions of this evil plan and are thinking how can the hero stop all of this.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

classic villain monologue feels cheap to me because it is never intended for the hero, but for the reader/viewer. It is basically the easiest way to tell the plan, which does lead to the feeling that the author did not feel he needed to spend time to find a interesting solution. Often the easy solutions to reveal information to the reader is not the answer. Even heard published authors in interviews say you should never go with the first solution.
Now that can be extreme. if you have a good idea 1st try, roll with it, I'd say. But regarding the monologue about the evil plan, let's think what sounds more interesting:
1. villain chapters the hero and tells him how he has been amassing an army of dragons under his control to burn down the kingdom of Azure
or
2. the hero uncovers documents that tell the villain has a massive interest in growing, breading and training dragons. and it is a lengthy investigation he has to perform to obtain these documents and realize they are related to the villain. even more, everyone knows this guy was sworn he will burn down the kingdom. Also, the hero encounters one of the dragon the villain is trying to subdue and ends up fighting the dragon and defeating it, so the villain cannot use it. All of a sudden, as a reader you can feel like you have been right there, piecing all these details and uncovering what the villain's plan is together with the hero. you're not listening to a potentially boring monologue. you've lived the actions of this evil plan and are thinking how can the hero stop all of this.

Gotta love the smell of conflict in the morning.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

classic villain monologue feels cheap to me because it is never intended for the hero, but for the reader/viewer. It is basically the easiest way to tell the plan, which does lead to the feeling that the author did not feel he needed to spend time to find a interesting solution. Often the easy solutions to reveal information to the reader is not the answer. Even heard published authors in interviews say you should never go with the first solution.
Now that can be extreme. if you have a good idea 1st try, roll with it, I'd say. But regarding the monologue about the evil plan, let's think what sounds more interesting:
1. villain chapters the hero and tells him how he has been amassing an army of dragons under his control to burn down the kingdom of Azure
or
2. the hero uncovers documents that tell the villain has a massive interest in growing, breading and training dragons. and it is a lengthy investigation he has to perform to obtain these documents and realize they are related to the villain. even more, everyone knows this guy was sworn he will burn down the kingdom. Also, the hero encounters one of the dragon the villain is trying to subdue and ends up fighting the dragon and defeating it, so the villain cannot use it. All of a sudden, as a reader you can feel like you have been right there, piecing all these details and uncovering what the villain's plan is together with the hero. you're not listening to a potentially boring monologue. you've lived the actions of this evil plan and are thinking how can the hero stop all of this.

The 'monologuing' only works for super villains.
Regular Villains I feel just need to keep their trap shut and grin evilly in the corner.
A rare exception to this would be (secret third option) if the villain is feeling chatty with their secretary for no reason.

Also I personally feel like it depends on the tone of the story.
Most of what I write it'd be just fine, but a much more serious tone story. Debatable.

I just don't like it when it's presented as 'information for the viewer/ reader' and it's not just something said bad guy does regularly. (much to their minions dismay) A good switch up would be to have the villain constantly monologuing about what he/she is going to do next. And I mean on a comical level.

"I will now spread the toothpaste on my tooth brush, activate it's sonic plaque destroying capability and have a SUPER CLEAN mouth muahahaha'

 

[pmmg]

The 'monologuing' only works for super villains.

Maybe turn it on its head, and have the hero monologue instead.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Maybe turn it on its head, and have the hero monologue instead.

And here you say you don't 'do' comedy. That sounds like a good bit if not overplayed.
Though I do hope you mean a proper 'hero' and not 'villain who is the hero of his own story'

 

[Calin Sarbu]

Maybe turn it on its head, and have the hero monologue instead.

Monologue about how he will defeat the villain?

 

[pmmg]

Or, he could do the villains monologue for him.

Such as...You thought you were clever, I but I knew when you sent the robots to the reservoir it was only to drive me away from your true plan....


As always, many ways it could go.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Or, he could do the villains monologue for him.

Such as...You thought you were clever, I but I knew when you sent the robots to the reservoir it was only to drive me away from your true plan....


As always, many ways it could go.

I believe this exact thing is what Sherlock Holmes does in most versions?
Holmes catches villain preparing to do [thing] and then talks in circles explaining to the audience what villain was planning to do. [epic fight]

 

[pmmg]

Yes, but with Moriarty, there was a lot of... Ah, but I knew, you knew, that I knew, that you knew, that I knew you would do that, and so....

 

[Karlin]

Just put in your Greek Chorus, and problem is solved!
I've see "Gentle Reader, our hero is not aware of Mr. X's plans, but we know he is going to scrape the cream out of all the Oreo Cookies."

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Just put in your Greek Chorus, and problem is solved!
I've see "Gentle Reader, our hero is not aware of Mr. X's plans, but we know he is going to scrape the cream out of all the Oreo Cookies."

The mental image of this is great.
Imagine this line of narration as Sepheroth's theme plays in the background.
Would make for a great ProZD style Skit

 

[nelldarcy]

That one scene from the Incredibles movie always pops into my head -- "You sly dog! You've got me monologuing!"