I wasn’t actually planning on making this post… Somehow though, I couldn’t let my thoughts rest after talking about why villains are the greatest and I started mulling over which crooks are the very best at being bad guys…
AKA what villains could I not live without? Well, I’m here to tell you which baddies are some of my faves:
Captain Hook– there’s a very obvious reason why I named Hook in the title of this post- he’s probably one of the best villains of all time! (not just because I love the movie Hook) As a man who grew into a tyrant, he is the perfect foil for someone who doesn’t want to grow up at all. There is no better symbol of what a person can become if they let their worst impulses get the better of them. Indeed, what would the world be like without Captain James Hook?!
Richard III– I’m mostly trying to avoid putting anti-heroes on this list, because then I really could go on forever. Still, out of all Shakespeare’s villains, this is the one I find most compelling. I especially wanted to mention him, because I was reading the most incredibly thoughtful post a couple of days ago from Cameron @Here Be Wyverns (seriously recommend checking it out), where he described how you can’t make someone less villainous with a backstory and, well, I thought that’s it exactly. Characters like Richard III are a great example of this- they’re the sort where you see where they’re coming from and yet it’s impossible to excuse their actions. Plus I had to include dear old Richard; he’d have got the hump if I didn’t 😉
Joffrey Baratheon– GRRM has created some of my all-time favourite villains- yet I don’t think there’s any that I loathed more than Joffrey! (and that’s saying, especially since Ramsay Bolton was in the running!) One of the reasons he’s my pick is not only because he’s one of the first big bads in the story, he also somehow managed to get a lot of the action rolling by being such a vicious idiot. Also, as Drew pointed out in my why I love villains list, he’s a very notable villain- this one’s for you Drew 😉 I don’t think I can formulate the words “I love Joffrey as a villain” though- he’s not even remotely lovable.
Cathy Ames– aside from how much I love her introduction, she’s one of the most spiteful, vicious characters in literature. I love to loathe her.
Lydia Gwilt– it’s fairly simple why Armadale is one of my favourite classics: it has one of my favourite villains. I adore this femme fatale- she’s not one to be underestimated.
Mrs Danvers– MRS DANVERS IS EVIL. That is all. (Seriously, I’ve hated this woman since I was 10)
The Grand High Witch– I always get the heebie jeebies whenever I think about the Witches- those long nails, bald heads and basically the fact that she’s pure evil made me terrified of her- arghh- like I said I don’t like to think of her!
Dragwena– it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I read this trilogy, I will always be terrified of the witch characters in Doomspell. With extra sets of teeth and a snake wrapped around her neck, there’s something endlessly ominous about her.
Hollowgast– that name is pretty genius, embodying a period of time and sense of dread, and subsequently demonstrating some of the inventiveness that made this series so powerful for me. I don’t always find myself fearing generic monsters in books, however, there’s something so unsettling about the creatures in Peculiar Children.
Sauron– a lot of people would perhaps argue that Sauron is more of a force of evil and so not the best villain. However, not only is he creepilicious as a dark force overshadowing Middle Earth, having read the Silmarillion now, I can see how fully fleshed out he is, well, minus the actual body 😉
Dolores Umbridge– more sinister than Voldemort, more unsettling than the Dementors, Umbridge definitely takes the biscuit for being my most hated Rowling villain. There are no words to describe how much I loathe this woman.
Smaug!!! I was desperately trying not to include two Tolkien villains- but I can’t help it! I pretty much love all of Tolkien’s baddies, nonetheless, Smaug takes all the gold medals for being my favourite fictional dragon.
And finally some “you know who” villains ie ones that would be spoilery to name:
So what do you think with my list? Agree or disagree with any of them? And who are some of your favourite villains? Let me know in the comments!
Captain Hook is the best!!!!
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He really is!!
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That Dolores… even Voldy seems nice compared to her 😄
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hahaha I know right!?!
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Joffrey! Joffrey! Joffrey!😂👍😂👍
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hehehe 😉
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Such a good list of incredible villains! the ones I already knew made me smile for being so much fun, and the ones I didn’t i clearly need to check out!
(Also, thank you so much for such a lovely shoutout!)
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Thank you!! Brilliant!!
And you’re welcome!
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Joffrey was the worst! Almost too evil. Can someone really be that evil? That’s a dumb question I suppose, it’s clearly possible. Great character who makes me feel very angry just thinking about him!
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hehehe so agree!! I know right- the thing about how good those characters in GOT are is that I can’t see any of the actors faces anymore without thinking of their characters!
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That’s so true. Poor kid who played Joffrey, I’ll never buy him as some sweet boy in a movie or show no matter how well he acts. I’ll always be expecting him to impale someone.
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hehe yes!!
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I don’t know many of these I’m afraid but totally agree on the ones I do know. Joffrey is possibly one of the most evil and twisted villains but then GoT seems to have a lot of great villains.
I’m a little on the fence about Captain Hook. I’m not sure I’ve ever read the original but a lot of recent retellings have flipped things around and actually had him as the good guy and Peter as the villain. I have always found Peter a bit creepy though.
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Ah thank you!! He really is!! it really does!
Oh yes, they’ve done that a lot- but I’m like you, I find Peter Pan a bit creepy and dark too (maybe I’m a bit biased from my reread a few years ago though, cos it was much darker than I remembered) but hook will always be a bit creepy for me as well.
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Oh yeah… have to agree with Joffrey. He was just terrible. I think mostly because he was aware of what he was doing where in comparison to like Ramsay, who just seemed not right in the head anyway, Joffrey takes the cake.
I know this is a movie villian here but I have to say Clyde Shelton (played by Gerard Butler) in Law Abiding Citizen is one of the most cunning villians I’ve seen in a movie as well. If you haven’t seen that movie, you should. He’s excellent.
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Yeah he really was- and yes, Ramsay is more of a generic psychopath, but Joffrey, like you said is more aware of what he’s doing and that’s more terrifying to me.
Oh I don’t know who that is… just looked up the trailer and *wow*. I have to watch that!!
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He’s like a modern day Joffrey. The dialogue he spouts and the way his mind works, oh man you won’t be disappointed.plus Gerard Butler is nice to look at even though he’s evil in this film haha
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Oh wow!! Definitely want to see it!! haha!
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I was going to ask ‘where is Dolores’ and then I scrolled to her 😀 For those I read I totally agree, I’d add Joker from The Killing Joke if that counts 🙂
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hehehe of course I had to include her 😉 (I legit hate her so much!) Ooh good one! The joker’s an amazing villain!
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Me too, I even met her perfect look-alike and even though the girl is really nice and kind, I can’t help myself, I always stare and I’m a bit afraid of her haha 😀 Yeah, he’s one of my favorites in any form and adaptation! (except that last one we won’t mention)
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Yes, Joffrey is such a good villain!
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I know right!!
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Arghhhhh Lydia Gwilt!!! I adore her!!! Mrs. Danvers is just sublime!
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Ahh yes!! I know right!!! So agree!!
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This is an awesome list! The Grand High Witch is one of my favorite villains too, I remember finding her so scary as a child and that hasn’t changed. I haven’t read Doomspell, but now I really want to. I just love reading about creepy witches… And the villain in Illuminae was the best part of the book for me!
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Thank you so much!! Ah yes I know right!! Oh definitely recommend it!! I loved that trilogy! YES! Snap!
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I love Joffrey! One of the few that I loved the translation from book to show as well 🙂 (And I’m going to admit it but sometimes I did feel sorry for him.) But of the ones I’ve read on your list Umbridge might have to take the top prize.
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So agree with you there!! And I get that!
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I don’t think I have ever hated anyone more than Joffrey 😷….oh and they Umbridge woman 😂
Shakespeare made Richard the third to sound awful…..but apparently a lot of it isn’t true. (And I only say this as my son is learning about Dickie in school and he is fascinated with him!) 😂
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I see villains, I click like! No, but in all seriousness, another great post. James Hook is one of my favourites as well. As for GoT villains, I never liked the crazy ones like Joffrey and Ramsay as much as the quietly scheming ones like Littlefinger, but I suppose he never saw himself as a villain and maybe he wasn’t.
And uhm … I wanted the Hollows as pets … I am an odd person hahaha
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This is a great post, and I agree with so many of the characters you picked as well. Joffrey was probably my most hated character on Game of Thrones (until Ramsey Bolton came along that is) and Umbridge is definitely, 100% my most hated character in Rowling’s books full stop. Even more than Voldemort no competition. 🙂
I loved the villain in Illuminae, (if we’re thinking of the same character that is) the book wouldn’t have been the same without them.
Again great post! 🙂 ❤
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This is a great list! I like Captain Hook too! I also can’t live without Darkling from Grisha Trilogy, and AIDAN from Illuminae.
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Dolores Umbridge is definitely the worst. I can’t even think about her without getting mad all over again 😅
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Mrs Danvers is evil! I think I was about 10 when I started hating her – great minds 😀
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I love the consensus around Umbridge being worse than Voldemort! She is te actual blurst!
This list is great, but so different to what mine would be… I think the villains I love are the ones who make evil a little bit seductive, who make you question your ethical beliefs… Hook definitely counts there, at least as played by Dustin Hoffman
That’s it, I’m writing a Top 10 “Villains who make you want to be evil” list! 😀 😀 😀
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I always had a fascination with Hook, even as a child. And now with the dishy version of him on Once Upon A Time, as well as some very intriguing renditions in numerous YA novels, he’s at the top of my list of favorite villains. Dolores Umbridge is so foul she almost ruined the color pink and kittens for me!
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Nyyaaargh Dolores Umbridge. So much worse than Tom. Just pure evil for the sake of it.
When we were about 8 our school showed us the witches film and it absolutely scared the shit out of me, even though I’d read the book and knew what was going to happen. I still can’t watch it now. Terrifying! Why show that to kids? Different times, eh?
Also Mrs Danvers was just so insidiously evil – all passive aggressive scheming – but she’s the main reason I love Rebecca so much.
I’d like to shout out Patrick Bateman from American Psycho (actual evil) and Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neverwhere – there was something about them being able to sense where you were that really creeped me out.
Great couple of villain posts! I didn’t realise how much I loved the dark side!
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The witches are terrifying!
And I agree about mrs danvers!
I still need to watch american psycho! But I agree about Mr Vandemar!
hahaha!
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I think I was liked Shelob more than Suaron as a vilain…..
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If by like you mean makes me want to pee my pants, then yes, I agree.
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Exactly🙂
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hehe that’s a fair point!
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I would throw in a vote for Professor Moriarty who, even though he only appears in one Conan Doyle story, has a strong influence in another, and is referred to a few other times, makes a huge impression.
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And yeah, Dolores Umbridge is easily the most hated character in Harry Potter. Voldemort gets a little sympathy, but she is just horrible.
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I agree about Joffrey and Umbridge SO much. It’s hard to surpass someone as evil as Voldemort but at least with him you know exactly what you’re getting into. Umbridge was just so much more vile! A tiny woman with a sweet voice and pink clothes? Gave me chills!
Joffrey was so spiteful and you’re right, it’s hard to be worse than Ramsay but somehow he managed it. Then again, Martin is kind of a genius when it comes to villains and destroying his readers, basically.
I loved the villain in Gone Girl. It was just so deliciously sick, it was like watching a trainwreck and hoping everyone would die screaming in it. (Just kidding! Haha. Or am I?) Seriously, though, what a twist!
I really am super intrigued with East of Eden. I’ve heard so much about it and Cathy, I really must know!!
Brilliant post, as always ❤
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What a fantastic list of villains! I do think Moriarity has to go on it though…Sherlock is one of my most beloved characters..so (if only he were really Benedict Cumberbatch or vice versa). And the White Witch from The Lion, the With, and the Wardrobe was a terrible villain-what she did in Narnia was just psychotic. Wait, the Wicked Witch of the West was just awful too but there would be no Oz without her! LOL. Witches….they make such great villains! 😉
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Great post! Yep, it has to be Dolores Umbrage for me too, without a doubt. Apparently, Stephen King said she was the greatest villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter! Funnily enough, I have a son who adores villains. In all make-believe, he wanted to play the baddie, and his first absolute hero (villain) was Darth Vader. Bless him…
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Thank you so much! Ahh I know right! oh fair point- I’m a bit too freaked out to actually check that out (I scare easily) hehe Darth Vader is a brilliant choice!! (he’s one of my favourites!)
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Yeah – thinking about it, if you had to go head to head with a villain, at least Dolores wouldn’t actually eat you for dinner with a nice Chianti. (She’s more of an Ovaltine sort of person anyway)
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hahaha yes! Very true! haha!
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Cathy terrifies me lol.
I have to say, the character I loathe is Briony. Mothereffin Briony from Atonement. Gah!!
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Umbridge may be one of the most hated characters in literature haha. I despised her!! But a very well written character I have to admit. I must live under a rock as I am not familiar with most of this list.
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I’ve already mentioned my Darth Vader obsession but Captain Hook has always been up there at the top my list too and I almost mentioned that the other day. LOL
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The villain in Illuminae–oh. my. god.
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Thanks to Shakespeare, I think Richard III has been turned into a villain even without solid proof that he was one. There’s been a lot of compelling theories on him in the past few years that are showing that maybe he really wasn’t this awful person after all and closer to a victim of all of the political turmoil occurring during the War of the Roses. In that way, I think he’s probably one of the most interesting villains in history!
Also, the Illuminae villain is absolute perfection and I will stand by that statement until the end of time. 😉
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LOL, I love the ending of this post. Villains who are too spoilery to name, heh. It’s true, though! Some stories have villains that are super sekrit.
I haven’t read Richard III or Miss Peregrine yet, but want to read both of them soon.
I’m totally with you on Jas Hook being my favorite villain, though. One of the things I love about him is that he has his own agenda, it’s not just that he’s evil because he’s the bad guy. He feels more real that way. And that’s why I also feel that Dolores Umbridge is a better villain than Voldemort, too. She feels more real, more deliberate, etc.
Great list!
PS: Dahl’s The Witches! Eeeee! I love finding other people who include this book on their lists.
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I had to chuckle because I did a similar post todat and see we are on the same track with villians this week!❤ We love them. I was so close to adding the high witch and hook to my own. Walder Frey won over Joffrey.. but dang Marting pumps out the nastiest fictional villians haha. Great post my friend! Hope you are well.
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Haha YES Mrs. Danvers definitely gave me the chills. She is one of the villains who scare me the most, all without any magical powers 🙂
I also really love Amy from Gone Girl. That woman is ingenious 🙂
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Oh Joffrey!!! I agree, he’s quite in a competition with Ramsey…
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Bugsy Malone! I loved that movie as a kid. The music still gets caught in my mind. I watched it with my kids a few years back and my kids looked at me funny. They thought it was weird that the kids in the film were so sexualized. As a kid myself I never even thought of that… 😉
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I love that you add three books at the end as a wink to everyone who has read them. *giggle*
Also, yes, the witches are my faves! Who cares about that stinky boy who becomes a mouse. Pff.
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Amy was the perfect villain!
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Oh yes definitely!
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Umbridge is a great choice, but you know, I love to hate Umbridge. You know which HP character I hate with every fiber of my being? Bellatrix Lestrange. I just feel so murderous every time I read her, see her picture, mention her. Ugh, the way she takes joy in hurting people! She doesn’t even care about Voldy’s cause, she just wants to torture people for fun. I HATE HER.
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Ah I can understand that- Bellatrix is *so evil*- and I hated her for everything she did to Neville’s parents and for killing Sirius, so I really hear you there.
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Haha I love all your choices here (especially Captain Hook, just cuz I freaking love Peter Pan), but I also love that you included the Grand High Witch; I’ve totally forgotten how darn creepy she was. XD
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Thank you!! She really is!
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I love Captain Hook! Definitely one of my favorite characters (and villains), though maybe for different reasons than you? I just find him really interesting, all the more so because he’s terrible, but he’s not ALL bad. And honestly I think Peter is scarier in some ways in the original story, so I guess that made me appreciate Hook more. But yep, Umbridge has got to be the most hated person in the entire HP series!
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Ah yes!! So glad you agree! Ah fair enough! I think that’s an excellent point! Peter Pan has done some pretty terrible things to him as well (cutting off his hand and throwing it to crocodiles). And yes!
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This such a great list of villains. I love to hate a good villain. Sometimes and dare I say this they are my some the most memorable characters in a story.
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Thank you so much! I totally get what you mean!
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I LOVE to hate Joffrey and Umbridge! Some of the greatest villains out there.
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Ahh I know right!?
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Love your picks!! They are certainly all quite different kinds of villains. I think Joffrey and Umbridge stand out to me as the kind of villains that I absolutely loathed – the ones where I was itching to see them finally get their comeuppance. I really admire writers who manage to create villains that loathsome.
I think if I had to pick some favourite villains myself I’d have to include Kilgrave from Jessica Jones (because he was vile, but also because he is possibly the only superhero villain I’ve ever felt truly frightened of), The Shrike from Hyperion (most terrifying monster ever!), and William Hamleigh from Pillars of the Earth (who was all the more plausible, hateable and disturbing because he had his own POV chapters).
Oh and I loved the “you know who” villain from Illuminae too 🙂
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Thank you!! Ah yes I really agree with you- I don’t think there’s any villains who I’ve enjoyed the downfall for more.
Oh yes, so agree about Killgrave!! He was both disgusting and terrifying. I don’t know the other two though (very curious since you hated/feared them so much!)
hehe he’s amazing!!
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Yes those downfalls were super satisfying – as was Kilgrave’s. And those other two villains were in great books so I can recommend them! (Hyperion has a clunky start but gets much better after the first 10-20pages)
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So agree!! Oh good to know!
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