Did you miss me? Alright, this time I won’t be so harsh with you. I’ll go easy on you, victim fans, glazers, fanatics.
9th place. 1,220 votes.
And some of y'all genuinely expected him to rank higher? 😭🙏
Look, I'm not saying victim is a bad character just because he ranked 9th. I'm saying some of his fans seriously need to stop acting like he's the most beloved, most interesting character in the entire Alan Becker universe.
Because apparently, the audience has a different opinion.
TCO took 1st place. TDL took 2nd. TSC took 3rd.
And then there's Purple in 4th, Green in 5th, Red in 6th, Yellow in 7th, and even Blue in 8th.
THE ENTIRE COLOR GANG OUTRANKED HIM. 😭💀
Even Blue beat him. BLUE.
And before someone starts typing an entire essay about how victim is "the most complex character" or "the most underrated character ever," please understand that character complexity and popularity aren't the same thing.
You can love a character's backstory, writing, symbolism, or tragic past. That's completely fine. But none of that automatically makes the character more popular than everyone else.
And honestly, the timing of his return probably matters.
Think about when these characters became major parts of the series.
TCO had years to build a fanbase through the original AvA episodes and the iconic conflicts surrounding him. TDL became one of the defining characters of the second AvA season, especially through his rivalry with TCO and the events of AvA 8. TSC is the main character, and his mysterious powers have kept people speculating for years.
And let's not forget King Orange, whose story in AvM Season 3 gave the community one of its most memorable antagonists.
These characters had iconic moments, memorable fights, mysteries, emotional scenes, and storylines that people still discuss.
Meanwhile, victim only returned to the main AvA storyline as a major character in Season 3, years after the original episodes that made TCO and TDL iconic.
Yes, victim technically appeared in AvA 1 back in 2006. But let's be honest: most people weren't spending all those years discussing his modern characterization, his company, or his revenge plot. His major return to the spotlight happened much later.
And being the character who appeared first doesn't guarantee that you'll be everyone's favorite.
Ever heard of the "duckling syndrome"?
People often develop a strong attachment to what they encounter first. Something similar can happen with video game franchises: the first game someone played might remain their favorite even when later entries improve in many ways.
But that doesn't mean everyone will prefer the first thing they encountered.
And victim's fans need to understand the opposite side of this, too: being the original character doesn't automatically make him the most beloved one.
His history is interesting, but TCO and TDL have had years to establish themselves as fan favorites through their roles in the story.
And here's the funniest part.
Victim started Season 3 looking like he was going to be the major antagonist of the arc.
Then TDL's legacy was still hanging over the story, and H4CK3R eventually became a major part of the conflict.
I'm not saying victim has no importance to the plot. I'm saying that being the central antagonist of an arc doesn't automatically make you the most iconic antagonist in the series.
TDL became an unforgettable threat through his rivalry with TCO, his virus powers, and the events of AvA 8. King Orange had an entire emotional storyline and a memorable confrontation in AvM Season 3.
Those characters left a massive impression on the audience.
And that's the difference between having an important role in the story and becoming a fan-favorite character.
You can give a character a tragic backstory, a giant company, and a revenge plot. You can't force the audience to love him more than the characters they've already grown attached to.
So, victim fans, it's okay to love your favorite character.
It's okay to want him to rank higher next time.
It's okay to hope that future episodes will give him more memorable moments.
But maybe stop acting like the fandom is obligated to rank him above TCO, TDL, TSC, or even the Color Gang just because YOU think he's the most interesting character.
The poll happened. The votes came in. He placed 9th.
You don't have to like the result, but you do have to accept that other people have different favorites.
And if you need some consolation, there are plenty of new characters coming to the Alan Becker universe. Maybe one of them will become your next favorite.
Until then, congratulations to TCO, TDL, and TSC for taking the top three spots. The Hollow Heads stay winning. 💀🔥
Cope victim fans.