MovieChat Forums > Smurfs (1981) Discussion > Did anyone else actually root for Gargam...

Did anyone else actually root for Gargamel as a kid

posted 13 years ago by joshwinkler87
6 replies | jump to latest

I did. I always wanted him to capture and kill at least a few Smurfs because I found them annoying. In fact as a kid I kind of thought in my mind that perhaps the Smurfs had done something to Gargamel in the past that gave him a good reason to hate them. Am I alone or did anyone else actually pull for Gargamel?

I rooted for Gargamel in the 2011 Smurfs CGI movie too. Of course this film was a complete suckfest and Gargamel was the film's only positive trait.

[–] NeitherSparky 12 years ago

I am in my late 30's now and Gargamel is still my favorite cartoon character, ever. It wasn't just that he could never catch the Smurfs but he had a horrible life, with a terrible family who tortured him every chance they got. He just actually pretty smart, coming up with brilliant schemes from time to time. He was an inventor and a great actor when he wanted to be. He was suffered from Failure Syndrome no doubt instilled in him in his mother who made fun of him and told him he was nothing constantly, not to mention his controlling godfather. And then he got stuck with that little **** Scruple. He wasn't even always bad; sometimes he showed compassion such as the time when Balthazaar ordered him to kill Puppy and he couldn't do it. In any case I agree he deserved to get something he wanted. Think about it this way, the last season of the show had all the main Smurf characters getting lost in time, and then the show ended. No doubt with Papa Smurf and the other most useful Smurfs gone, Gargamel probably strolled right into that village and gathered all the Smurfs he wanted for gold and stew.

I haven't seen the movie, I've been afraid to. :P I did hear that Gargamel was pretty good in it though, so I may see it eventually through Netflix or something.

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[–] Furienna (3322) 4 years ago

I am in my late 30's now and Gargamel is still my favorite cartoon character, ever. It wasn't just that he could never catch the Smurfs but he had a horrible life, with a terrible family who tortured him every chance they got. He just actually pretty smart, coming up with brilliant schemes from time to time. He was an inventor and a great actor when he wanted to be. He was suffered from Failure Syndrome no doubt instilled in him in his mother who made fun of him and told him he was nothing constantly, not to mention his controlling godfather. And then he got stuck with that little **** Scruple. He wasn't even always bad; sometimes he showed compassion such as the time when Balthazaar ordered him to kill Puppy and he couldn't do it.

Now, I still don't want Gargamel to catch the smurfs.
But these are some good points about him being pretty much abused and deserving of some sympathy.

Think about it this way, the last season of the show had all the main Smurf characters getting lost in time, and then the show ended. No doubt with Papa Smurf and the other most useful Smurfs gone, Gargamel probably strolled right into that village and gathered all the Smurfs he wanted for gold and stew.

Nah...
I don't remember how that season ended, but I know that time travel stories don't normally work that way.
Thus, I guess that they came back just five minutes after they left from the perspective of the others!
Gargamel wouldn't have had time to cause any harm to the other smurfs before the time travelers were back.

[–] unapologetic_mocker 12 years ago

lol, I love this question and that it can get someone in their late 30s to contemplate and compose a detailed response regarding a fictional, cartoon villain's intention to capture and murder tiny, litlle mushroom-dwelling people, and why that is a legitimate course of action.

But to answer you, op: no. That's twisted. My six-year-old self is seriously side eyeing you right now.

(However I did think there was probably a good reason why he was after them and I did often pity him.)

[–] puredieselbc 10 years ago

My six-year-old self is seriously side eyeing you right now.

Yeah, the OP sounds like the class wierdo who used to rip the wings off butterflies.

Gargamel was far too cowardly to be truly evil. But his godfather Lord Balthazar, now there was a wizard you didn't mess with.

Happiness must be earned.

[–] hickengruendler 10 years ago

No. But I did root for Azrael all the time.

[–] Furienna (3322) 4 years ago

No, but I rooted for Brainy Smurf.
No, Brainy wasn't a villain like Gargamel.
However, it is like we're supposed to hate him and have a laugh when the other smurfs beat him up.
And I can't do that.
Maybe I just love my fellow nerds too much to find him as terrible as we're supoosed to.
He must be my favorite smurf though, and I don't see how all that abuse was ever funny or even justified.