The Evil Queen Cannot Forgive A Bad Ending

Okay, real talk. Remember that time you watched a movie – maybe a rom-com, maybe a high-stakes thriller – and the ending completely ruined it? Like, you were invested, you cared about the characters, and then BAM! It all fell apart in the last five minutes? Yeah, me too. I’m *still* not over the ending of that one show… you know the one. The one that everyone pretended to like? We're not naming names, but some wounds never truly heal.

But it got me thinking. If we, the humble viewers, can hold onto that kind of bitter resentment, what about the characters themselves? Specifically, what about the Evil Queen?

The Queen's Dilemma: More Than Just a Mirror

We all know the story. Beautiful princess, jealous stepmother, poisoned apple, happily ever after (for some people). But have you ever stopped to consider the Evil Queen's perspective? I mean, sure, she was obsessed with being the fairest of them all (vanity's a killer, folks), and maybe her methods weren't exactly... ethical. But think about it: she dedicated her entire life to maintaining power and control, meticulously crafting her image, and then some random teenager comes along and steals the spotlight? Talk about a midlife crisis!

And then, *the ending*. She’s defeated. Humiliated. Sometimes even brutally killed. All because… well, because she was a villain. But is that really the whole story? Can we truly expect someone like the Evil Queen to just shrug, accept her fate, and say, "Oh well, guess I'll go knit sweaters in the underworld"? I think not. The Evil Queen cannot forgive a bad ending.

Why? Let's break it down:

Ego, Darling, Ego

Let's be honest, the Evil Queen is not exactly known for her humility. Her ego is practically her defining characteristic. She *believes* she deserves to be the fairest, the most powerful, the most admired. To have all of that stripped away, especially in such a public and humiliating way, is a devastating blow. This isn't just about losing a beauty contest; it's about losing her entire sense of self-worth. And someone with that much invested in their own image isn’t going to just let it go. Imagine working your entire life to be the best at something, and then losing to a newbie with beginner's luck. Wouldn't that sting?

*Side note: I'm not saying the Evil Queen is right. Just that I understand where she's coming from. We all have a little bit of Evil Queen in us, right? …Right?*

The Injustice Factor

From the Queen's perspective, the ending isn't just bad; it's fundamentally unfair. She invested in power, resources, and cunning, and what did she get in return? Defeated. Punished. Forgotten. All because of some arbitrary notion of "good" versus "evil". She might genuinely believe that she was simply acting in her own best interest, protecting her position, and that Snow White was an entitled brat who didn’t appreciate the privilege she was given. (Okay, maybe I'm projecting a little bit here.)

Think of it like this: you're playing a game with rigged rules, and you're punished for playing to win. Would you feel like the game was fair? Would you just accept your loss gracefully? Probably not. You'd probably be plotting your revenge, right? That's the Evil Queen's mindset. And I’m just saying, sometimes rigged games deserve to be overthrown.

Lost Opportunity for Self-Improvement

Most fairy tales don't offer the Evil Queen a chance for redemption. There's no "aha!" moment, no sudden realization that she was wrong, no heartfelt apology to Snow White. She's simply portrayed as inherently evil, destined for a tragic (and often violent) end. That's a missed opportunity! What if, instead of being vanquished, the Evil Queen had been given a chance to learn from her mistakes, to use her considerable intelligence and resources for good? Wouldn’t that have been a more satisfying ending? (Maybe even a sequel!) The lack of any possibility for personal growth is a bitter pill to swallow, especially for someone who (deep down, maybe buried under layers of vanity and resentment) might have longed for something more.

Imagine being *forced* to be the bad guy. Never given a chance to show your good side. That's the Evil Queen's curse. And who wants to be stuck in a role they didn’t even choose?

The Power of Narrative

Ultimately, the Evil Queen is a victim of the narrative. She's a character in a story, and the story demands a villain. Her role is pre-determined, her fate is sealed. She doesn't get to write her own ending; she's forced to play the part assigned to her. That lack of agency, that inability to control her own destiny, is incredibly frustrating. It’s like being stuck in a terrible TV show and knowing you're going to be written off in the next season. You’d be pretty upset, wouldn’t you?

Think about all those stories where the hero gets to choose their own path, defy expectations, and rewrite their own destiny. The Evil Queen doesn’t get that. She’s trapped in a narrative loop, destined to repeat her mistakes until someone finally puts an end to her. And that's just not fair.

Moving Beyond the Mirror: A New Perspective

So, what can we learn from the Evil Queen's inability to forgive a bad ending? Here are a few thoughts:

• Empathy is Key: Even villains have their reasons. Try to understand their motivations, their fears, and their desires. You might not agree with their actions, but you can at least appreciate their perspective.
• Redemption is Possible: Don't write anyone off completely. People can change, even the Evil Queen. Give them a chance to prove it.
• Narrative Matters: Stories shape our perceptions of the world. Be mindful of the narratives you consume and the narratives you create. Are you perpetuating harmful stereotypes? Or are you offering new perspectives?
• Endings Aren't Everything: While a satisfying ending is important, it's not the only thing that matters. Focus on the journey, the characters, and the lessons learned along the way.

*Seriously, though, that one show... still stings.*

Reclaiming the Narrative

Maybe it's time to rewrite the Evil Queen's story. To give her a chance to tell her side of the tale. To explore her complexities and her contradictions. To offer her a different ending, one where she finds redemption, or at least finds peace. After all, every story deserves a second look, especially the ones that we think we already know.

Perhaps the Evil Queen's real tragedy isn't her obsession with beauty or her thirst for power. Maybe it's her inability to accept the story that was written for her. Maybe, just maybe, she deserves a chance to write her own ending.

And wouldn’t that be a truly *fair* ending for everyone?

So, next time you watch a fairy tale, take a moment to think about the Evil Queen. Think about her motivations, her frustrations, and her unwavering refusal to accept a bad ending. You might just find that you have more in common with her than you think.