In Once Upon a Time, villains often walked the fine line between darkness and redemption, with many eventually finding a path toward the light. However, some characters were so deeply entrenched in their own evil that redemption was never truly an option. One of the darkest villains to ever set foot in Storybrooke—or more accurately, the Underworld—was Hades. While he may have had moments of charm and charisma, make no mistake: Hades was a monster through and through.
From the moment Hades appeared, he exuded an air of confidence and power that made him an intimidating force. Unlike many villains who relied solely on brute strength, Hades used manipulation as his primary weapon. He didn’t need to physically overpower his enemies—he controlled them with fear, deals, and deception.
His approach to ruling the Underworld was particularly sinister. Instead of allowing souls to pass on, he kept them trapped, feeding off their despair. He manipulated the pain of others, tricking them into making deals they couldn’t escape. This wasn’t just about maintaining control—it was about making people suffer, which is what truly made him evil.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Hades’ storyline was his romance with Zelena. At first, it almost seemed like he was capable of love—after all, he wanted to be with her and even claimed that his heart beat only for her. But when you look closer, it’s clear that his love was conditional and self-serving.
Hades didn’t want to redeem himself for Zelena; he wanted to reshape the world so that he could rule it with her by his side. He was willing to kill anyone who stood in their way, including Zelena’s own sister, Regina. When Zelena hesitated to go along with his plan, he tried to manipulate her into choosing him over her family. That isn’t love—it’s control.
Hades’ thirst for power knew no bounds. He didn’t just want to keep control over the Underworld—he wanted to take over Storybrooke and rule the living as well. His actions showed a complete disregard for human life, as he was willing to kill anyone who got in his way, including heroes and villains alike.
Unlike other villains who sought revenge for past wrongs, Hades’ motivations were purely selfish. He didn’t have a tragic backstory that made him sympathetic—he simply wanted power for the sake of having it. This made him one of the most dangerous enemies the heroes had ever faced.
Many villains in Once Upon a Time were given second chances, but Hades proved that not everyone deserves redemption. He had the opportunity to choose love over power, but he ultimately chose destruction. He wasn’t a victim of circumstance or a misunderstood soul—he was a being who thrived on fear and suffering.
In the end, his downfall came not because he was outsmarted, but because his own arrogance led him to believe he was untouchable. He underestimated Zelena’s ability to make the right choice, and it cost him everything.
Hades was one of the darkest villains in Once Upon a Time because he embodied true evil. He didn’t care about redemption, he didn’t seek revenge for a past wrong—he simply wanted power and control. His ability to manipulate, his cruel treatment of lost souls, and his unwillingness to change made him one of the most chilling antagonists in the series.
While many villains in OUAT found a way to redeem themselves, Hades proved that some evils are simply too dark to be undone. What do you think? Was Hades truly irredeemable, or do you think there was a way he could have changed?
