No Good Deed Created One Of The Best TV Villains Of This Year And I Need To Talk About It

As a long-time admirer of Linda Cardellini’s versatility and talent, I must say that her portrayal of Margo in “No Good Deed” was nothing short of extraordinary. Margo is a character that I found myself rooting against from the very start, but Cardellini’s performance made her impossible to ignore.

“The Netflix series ‘No Good Deed’ boasts an impressive and skilled ensemble of actors, with headliners Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano joined by Linda Cardellini, Teyonah Parris, Poppy Liu, Denis Leary, Abbi Jacobson, Luke Wilson, Anna Maria Horsford, and O-T Fagbenle. Each actor delivers a delightful and nuanced performance, but it’s Linda Cardellini’s character Margo who stands out as one of the most compelling in ‘No Good Deed’.

In collaboration with Liz Feldman, Christina Applegate starred in the series Dead to Me. Given their fruitful partnership, it’s evident that Judy, played by Applegate, and Margo are among her most outstanding performances. What’s intriguing is that these characters exhibit striking differences. Judy is a sweet soul, bordering on naivety, while Margo, on the other hand, is not someone to be taken at face value.

Her complex nature makes her one of the best aspects of No Good Deed. In fact, she’s one of my favorite TV villains of 2024.

Warning: minor No Good Deed spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

No Good Deed’s Margo Is Deliciously Wicked

Margo exhibits an over-the-top villainy, akin to the dramatic characters from soap operas. She’s much like the iconic soap opera stars who were always up to no good, concocting schemes, plots, and plans, often involving the theft of someone’s spouse or fortune – sometimes even both. Her actions, while predictable due to her soap opera persona, are entertaining. What’s more, her deceitful nature in a comedic context suggests that the writers of “No Good Deed” might be paying tribute to the beloved soap divas we adore.

Margo has the potential to go head-to-head with many of fiction’s most malevolent antagonists. While I don’t necessarily believe she would outsmart them due to her lack of intellectual superiority compared to some TV villains, I think she possesses enough determination, resourcefulness, and tenacity not to back down or lose easily.

For most of No Good Deed, Margo is a very funny foe. It’s hard to take her seriously, which makes her an entertaining comedy villain. I want my comedy bad guys or bad gals to have the vibe of a cartoon villain whose plans are constantly foiled by the Power Puff Girls or Kim Possible. In most of Season 1, Margo is a silly villain but her villainy never feels so cartoonish that you don’t take her danger seriously. She’s always someone to fear.

Her Bad Deeds Become Worse As The Show Continues

By the finale of “No Good Deed,” Margo undergoes a chilling transformation, shifting from a witty adversary to a truly terrifying figure. Her actions become increasingly malicious, and each new twist in her plan unfolds with escalating intensity. A character once amusing and intriguing becomes someone whose comeuppance I eagerly anticipated.

The show’s portrayal of the character becoming progressively wicked is intriguing, as it fuels the anticipation for her demise. By the finale, one finds themselves eagerly awaiting her destruction, even if they initially liked or sympathized with Margo. It’s fascinating when a series can alter my feelings towards a character, showing skillful writing and an actor who excels in adding depth.

No Good Deed Excellently Captures The Idea Of An Irredeemable Villain

Many TV series often feature characters with redemptive storylines. These characters, who may initially be morally ambiguous or downright reprehensible, are made more appealing by undergoing a transformation through their actions over the course of several episodes or seasons. While I can appreciate this approach at times, there are instances when I feel it’s better to leave the antagonistic figures as they are.

A show can become more engaging and accurately portray human nature when it shows diverse behavior, including negative traits that may not be easily changed. Unfortunately, some individuals are stubbornly unchanging, even in the face of love, enlightenment, or support. It’s essential to recognize that a villain might simply remain evil, and character popularity shouldn’t dictate the writers’ decisions regarding character development, especially if it means sacrificing authentic storytelling for the sake of prolonging a beloved character’s presence.

From the finale of “No Good Deed”, it appeared the story might conclude in one season, leading me to believe we won’t see Margo again. If the series resumes, I hope the writers avoid resurrecting her as a reformed character. The show “Dead to Me” did an excellent job by not rehabilitating a villain, but instead finding creative ways to keep the actor involved. This series could similarly devise fresh methods to keep Linda Cardellini in the storyline without Margo being part of future plots.

Margo And Mikey Both Start No Good Deed Villainously, Which Makes Them Interesting To Compare

Initially, Mikey (Denis Leary) appears as an antagonist, but as the story unfolds, we discover that he’s not merely villainous; instead, he’s a complex character with layers. His journey towards redemption is justified and well-deserved, and it outweighs any actions taken by Margo in the series.

In this story, the authors cleverly introduce two intriguing antagonists: one character named Mikey experiences redemption, while another character called Margo remains unforgiven. What makes these characters captivating is that Mikey’s transformation adds depth to his character, whereas Margo maintains her intrigue due to her unyielding nature. The outcomes and treatment of both characters effectively suit their respective arcs.

I Rooted Hard For Her Downfall

I am not a fan of characters who cheat on their significant other. Therefore, I automatically didn’t like Margo, but I was open to seeing if she was more than an unfaithful spouse. Some episodes in No Good Deed make me start to like her and think maybe there is a soul beyond all her shallow pursuits.

Margo and Lydia (played by Lisa Kudrow) develop a connection at some point, leading me to speculate if this was the moment when Margo might begin to improve. However, it becomes clear that, yet again, her motives are questionable. I didn’t particularly like Margo from the start, but my disdain for her intensified in the last few episodes as her true malevolence and poor choices became apparent. There are some characters who only deserve bad things, and Margo is definitely one of them.

Margo Reminds Me Why Linda Cardellini Is Such A Top-Notch Actress

Linda Cardellini, a seasoned actress, may have been around for many years, but it’s as if audiences are just now truly recognizing and valuing her skills. I believe the film No Good Deed will serve as another reminder of her remarkable talent to adapt herself into diverse roles. The character Margo, being so unsympathetic, appears quite unlike the usual roles Linda Cardellini takes on.

Watching her is even more entertaining now, as it’s rare to see her portray a villain role compared to other characters she has played.

One captivating option among Netflix’s top picks is the series “No Good Deed,” which offers a compelling binge-watching experience, particularly for those who enjoy the portrayal of an intriguing antagonist such as Margo.

Stream No Good Deed on Netflix.

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2024-12-27 18:07