Why we love/hate/admire Miguelito Loveless

[California gal]

We should not be admiring a horrible villain who not only wants to kill our favorite agents, but to destroy the world. But it's very hard NOT to. One might even be able to love him for the wonderful character that he is.

He certainly is complex, and we've learned more about him than any other villain, primarily because he appeared in more episodes (10 versus Count Manzeppi, the next up, with only 2).

He's a brilliant. Perhaps more than brilliant. His IQ score would probably go through the roof. He's also egotistic, sadistic, perhaps even masochistic. Why else would he continually devise these complicated means to kill Jim West, only to see Mr. West elude him again. So instead of just shooting him, he comes up with another deadly idea. Even the time he had Jim in his gun sight (Bogus Bandits) he went into an oration instead of just pulling the trigger, giving Artie a chance to effect a rescue.

And of course Miguelito Quixote Loveless was fabulously, brilliantly portrayed by Michael Dunn, another performance that could never be equaled.

[rielle]

thanks CG again! Great idea!

I don't want to love Loveless, I surely didn't want to during most of the first season... He was just so ... peevish with James and Artie! LOL
However, with time he won me over and these are the reasons:

first of all, very superficially, I love Miguelito because he's literally the little guy fighting back at the whole 'big' world. I"d rather call him Miguel bc I don't see him as tiny a bit.

Secondly, again not profoundly, I love that W3 gave him the middle name Quixote, because who did more than the good doctor at tilting with windmills [giants] than he?

But lastly for now, I can't help but adore the vastly talented Michael Dunn, a wonder worker of an actor and one incredibly courageous human being. What Michael had to deal with all of his life, on a physical basis alone would make most people cringe off to cry in a corner somewhere... not take the world on! But Michael fought back, and amongst other great things, got himself an Oscar nomination!

He's up there in lights with that same delighted gleam in his eye that Ross has and Robert does to, but doesn't show quite as often when he's playing the somber Mr. West. He never flinches from daring 'the giants' to stop him. And they never quite do stop him, for which all W3 fans should be grateful to say the least!

He's having the time of his life, running the world, or as much of it as he can get his minions to grab for him, at least. He's never wrong, and never mistaken, and yet he doesn't spend nearly the amount of time other W3 villains waste screaming at their henchmen and women...

If they annoy him, [as in the teaser for Bogus Bandits, or in the middle of Lightnin',] he shoots 'em down like the dogs they are] and shrugs and goes on with his latest projects.

If they get clingy or even too crazy for him, such as Belladonna, Kitty, and others, Miguelito simply dispenses with them... and goes on his merry way.

I only become unhappy with the good doctor when he regresses... as in 'Loveless Died' ... for three quarters of an hour he's cheerfully fooling Jim and getting the agent to protect his backside, and then it all goes south and he's gonna give our blue-green-grey-hazel eyed agent a lobotomy for peets sake!

I also object to the fact that Jim never once cops to the doctor's disguise... but that's another post entirely, maybe a whole nother thread. Wonder if the disguise-maven, Artie would have 'seen through it'?

[California gal]

Good thoughts, Rielle. Speaking of "Loveless Died," I sometimes wonder whether Jim's lack of perspicacity where Dr. Liebnicht is concerned is due to his trust in Artie. After all, once Loveless reveals himself, Jim says "you can't blame me for believing you were dead after the tests Artie did" (or something to that effect). He simply believed that Loveless was dead, and that was that. (And I guess he thought dwarfism ran in the family!)

One of the great things about Loveless is his ego and the fact that he is "never wrong"--when he is actually always wrong. He simply cannot see it. He sees what he wants to see. He "knows human nature," yet he misjudges so many people.

[Nydiva]

Ahhhh - I was hoping someone would bring up one of my favorite characters (next to Artie, but only by a hair).

How can one love/admire a villian? For me, Michael Dunn made it easy - the way he so brilliantly portrayed the character. Even delivering the silliest lines: "My underwear is made entirely of rubber" was said with gravitas and conviction (and perhaps with a bit of his tongue in cheek). In anyone else's hands, Miguelito would have been a caricature.

There's something intrinsically childlike and, yes, even innocent the way Miguelito views the world. He genuinely believes he's doing good and can't see past his own focus (much like a child) - however sadly skewed that focus is.

He's vulnerable. He depends on his minions to do the things he physically cannot - and you can tell that having those limitations hurts him.

He's brilliant. No other mind can match his. His inventions are beyond anything conceivable at the time. The tragedy is that they were not put to use for the benefit of mankind.

And who couldn't fail to love/admire the wonderful songs that Miguelito and Antoinette delighted us with. And the man had style!

What could have been if life had been kinder to Miguelito in his earlier years!

I could have easily seen Artie and him as the premier scientific team of their age. (And there's a fanfic rattling around in my head for just such a future teaming.)

So while I can't condone his acts of villany, I still can sympathize with the man himself and admire both Miguelito and his incomparable portrayer, Michael Dunn. I will never, never, EVER forget the sheer power of those penetrating eyes the one time I met him.

[Artiespet]

Who couldn't love his wonderfully devilishly mind? He comes up with the best and most diabolical ways to get back at our boys.

He tries not to let the differences that others see as a weakness get in his way or keep him from what he wants. I like that and I respect that. Time and time again he gets away from the best agents the country has to offer that has to say something for his character and tenacity.

[California gal]

I thought of another reason I like Loveless: He is wonderful to write about in a fanfic! I mean, the range of his evilness is endless. Plus you can come up with any totally wild, impossible, diabolical invention or plan and it's perfect for him. My only problem is to not include him in every story!

[loveless]

What's not to love!! I'm a genius!! I'm brilliantly clever and I love to mess with my favorite evil secret service agent Mr. West and his meddling partner Mr. Gordon. Oh they make me so mad some times!!!

But they just inspire me to invent more impossible technologies. And I, Doctor Miguelito Loveless continue to be a thorn in their side. Ha ha ha ha

After I torture Mr. West and Mr. Gordon I let them get away to play another day. tehehehe!!!

I have no weaknesses!!! What are you people talking about?! I maybe different from you bigger people but me having weaknesses....NO! For shame and how dare you judge me by my size!!!

Of coarse I'm never wrong!! I also know human nature so don't we all see what we want to see?!!

Some of you people here don't have a clue to who I am!! My suggestion is to go back and watch me again in those most wonderful WWW episodes staring me!!! Doctor Miguelito Quixote Loveless

[artiesniecewannabe]

*snerk... snick... bwahahahahaha!*

[lilyfortune]

Casting Micheal Dunn in the role of Loveless was sheer genius. No-one else could have played it so skillfully and convincingly. I can't imagine what the show would have been without him, certainly a LOT less enjoyable.

There are so many facets to the personality of Loveless there was bound to be something admirable to find in him despite the fact that he's basically an evil little sadist. I have always found it fascinating that he seems to have, against all odds, a soft spot for Jim and Artie. He has a weird sort of code he goes by; it just wouldn't be sporting to kill the boys outright and proceed with his current evil plans even though having them out of the way would make his takeover of the world so must simpler. Some part of him needs them, he craves having worthy opponents and there's none more worthy than the team of West and Gordon. His ego tells him he will always be victorious even though time and time again Jim and Artie have beaten him, proving that he's wrong. It's like fuel for the fire to have them defeat him, like he thrives on the game of finding a way to come out the winner over them.

I think he needs Artie and Jim more than he's willing to admit. He admires them in a twisted kind of way because of the enjoyment they give by matching wits with him. If Loveless could actually take over the world I don't think he would be satisfied----the "chase" would be over and he needs the chase more than he needs victory. Matching wits with Jim and Artie feeds his ego and his intellect and without that I think he would wither away.

He has the most crafty and devious mind of any villain our favorite agents have confronted and that makes him exciting to watch----just what will the evil little wizard do next? Whatever it is he is so tenacious, he will keep coming back as long as Jim and Artie stand in the way of his diabolical plans. He envies Jim his physical prowess and admires Artie's intellect (and would love to find a way to use it toward his own evil ends if he only could) but I also think he takes pleasure in the fact that it takes the two of them to foil his plans. In his mind that makes him even more superior and worthy to rule the world. If he could find a way to divide them permanently, that would be the key but he never can.

I'm never sad to see Loveless go down in defeat, watching the boys "win" again just guarantees we'll see Loveless return somehow, somewhere with another plan-----the never-ending battle between good and evil.

[California gal]

Jan 12, 2012 10:30:15 GMT -8 lilyfortune said:

I think he needs Artie and Jim more than he's willing to admit. He admires them in a twisted kind of way because of the enjoyment they give by matching wits with him. If Loveless could actually take over the world I don't think he would be satisfied----the "chase" would be over and he needs the chase more than he needs victory. Matching wits with Jim and Artie feeds his ego and his intellect and without that I think he would wither away.

I think you are absolutely right there, Lily. In Murderous Spring? Jim actually told Loveless that. The good doctor was much too outraged to be believed. "I don't need anyone! I have myself!"

[MissRedhead]

Today at 1:30pm, lilyfortune wrote:


I think he needs Artie and Jim more than he's willing to admit. He admires them in a twisted kind of way because of the enjoyment they give by matching wits with him. If Loveless could actually take over the world I don't think he would be satisfied----the "chase" would be over and he needs the chase more than he needs victory. Matching wits with Jim and Artie feeds his ego and his intellect and without that I think he would wither away.

I think you are absolutely right there, Lily. In Murderous Spring? Jim actually told Loveless that. The good doctor was much too outraged to be believed. "I don't need anyone! I have myself!"

I like it when Loveless says something to the extent of "I need you? Now who's being egocentric? Why, you may as well accuse the sun of being egocentric because it shines"

[California gal]

I knew there was something else he said in that scene. It's a great scene, with Jim completely disinterested (presumably because he believes he lost his mind and killed Artie).

I like it when Jim says "uh-huh," and Loveless has a fit. ;D

[Dieter]

Very well said, Lilyfortune--I agree the show would have had a big chunk of incomplete if Dr. Loveless was never written in as a recurring adversary for Jim & Artie to deal with. That was so perfect to have him keep returning for more plots to take over the world and annoy the boys.

And I also can't imagine anyone else playing the part other than Micheal Dunn either--same like RC as James West and Ross as Artie, this part was made for him and is what Micheal will always be best remembered for.


Oh-- and Ugh, dude, I don't remember seeing you in any of the 10 Loveless episodes---Where'd you come from??? Ha!

[snish]

I am totally not keeping up on any of these threads, alas. But I do have a couple minutes--which means a chance to talk about one of my favorite WWW topics, the Psychology of Miguelito Loveless!

I love (or love to hate) and admire the character for reasons others have already said very well. I'm also very intrigued by two things. One, he always says he's going to kill Jim, yet he bungles it everytime. Two, he never says he's going to kill Artie, even though Artie's just as involved in foiling Dr. L's plans. I've said before that I don't think he has any real intention of killing Jim. Much as he hates Jim, he also admires and envies him, and he really doesn't want to lose the object of so much feeling.

And why does he seem to ignore Artie, never recognizes him in disguise, and knows very well he's going to come to rescue Jim but never prepares adequately for it? I think it's because he can't admit that he really doesn't want to kill Jim. He has to keep up this facade, and he's subconsciously counting on Artie to rescue Jim so he doesn't have to make good on his threats. If he admitted how effective Artie is, he would have no excuse not to kill them both. And besides, maybe, deep down, what he'd really like is to have dinner with Artie and talk shop! I'm sure Artie would have some interesting ideas about how those paintings worked in Surreal McCoy, and Loveless would delight in talking about it to someone who can understand it.

[Nydiva]

I have ALWAYS thought that Artie and Miguelito would have made a great team. And someday, some distant someday, there'll be a fanfic proving my hypothesis.

[Artiespet]

Jan 13, 2012 10:56:59 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

I have ALWAYS thought that Artie and Miguelito would have made a great team. And someday, some distant someday, there'll be a fanfic proving my hypothesis.

Hey wait a minute! Did you peek on my computer? I have been toying with a story along those lines for a while now. Either that or get OUT of my head please ;D

[Artiespet]

Jan 13, 2012 10:47:26 GMT -8 @snish said:

I love (or love to hate) and admire the character for reasons others have already said very well. I'm also very intrigued by two things. One, he always says he's going to kill Jim, yet he bungles it everytime. Two, he never says he's going to kill Artie, even though Artie's just as involved in foiling Dr. L's plans. I've said before that I don't think he has any real intention of killing Jim. Much as he hates Jim, he also admires and envies him, and he really doesn't want to lose the object of so much feeling.

And why does he seem to ignore Artie, never recognizes him in disguise, and knows very well he's going to come to rescue Jim but never prepares adequately for it? I think it's because he can't admit that he really doesn't want to kill Jim. He has to keep up this facade, and he's subconsciously counting on Artie to rescue Jim so he doesn't have to make good on his threats. If he admitted how effective Artie is, he would have no excuse not to kill them both. And besides, maybe, deep down, what he'd really like is to have dinner with Artie and talk shop! I'm sure Artie would have some interesting ideas about how those paintings worked in Surreal McCoy, and Loveless would delight in talking about it to someone who can understand it.

I look at it this way...Loveless is all about intellect. He wants more more more and he admires that in Artie. He probably thinks if he kills Artie there might be somethings lost that he could have learned. Whereas Jim with his "perfect" body as Loveless likes to taunt him about in Loveless' eyes has nothing to bring to the table other than his brawn. I do think sometimes Loveless underestimated Jim in that regard.

[Nydiva]

Jan 13, 2012 13:06:09 GMT -8 Artiespet said:

Jan 13, 2012 10:56:59 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

I have ALWAYS thought that Artie and Miguelito would have made a great team. And someday, some distant someday, there'll be a fanfic proving my hypothesis.

Hey wait a minute! Did you peek on my computer? I have been toying with a story along those lines for a while now. Either that or get OUT of my head please ;D

As is no secret, I LOVE the Miguelito character. I've got the teensiest part of the opener done, but have to put it WAY, WAY on the back burner. I'm talking late 2012 at the earliest. Too much other stuff on other burners - in RL and in WWW land.

Oh - the title will be: TNOT Unlikely Allies Artie and Miguelito team to rescue Jim from the clutches of....! Nope, no more!!

[California gal]

Did I read a story somewhere with a similar plot? Or is it simply something I had way way back in my head at some point? Or dreamed it? I just have this thought that I read something.

Which certainly doesn't mean that someone else couldn't write the same basic idea. There are all sorts of ways to present it.

Hey Pet! Do you hear that whip cracking?

[Nydiva]

I will swear on a stack of bibles, that I've personally read no such similar story. Not that there couldn't be some out there of which I'm not aware.

And I'm willing to bet that Pet gets to her story a heck of a lot sooner than me. I just hope she doesn't have the same adversary in mind!

[California gal]

Loveless definitely resents Jim's physical appearance and ability. He commented on that more than once I do believe, most notably in Bogus Bandits. I do agree he probably underestimates Jim's mental abilities, though one or two times he did compliment Jim on his sharpness. Can't think exactly what he says but he does comment on it in Surreal McCoy when they are talking about the invention of the paintings.

I don't think Loveless really got to know Artie until Murderous Spring. They had very little interaction in the first 3 episodes. And of course, he learned that Artie was going to show up to try to rescue Jim.

In both Raven and Green Terror, Loveless captured both of them, possibly thinking that that way Artie couldn't help Jim. But he did. In Raven Artie was able to throw Jim the sharp object to fend off the poor kitty, and in Green Terror Artie discerned the mace was loaded with explosives, not to mention rescued him from the Indians.

In Surreal McCoy Artie interfered by replacing McCoy and foiling Loveless's plans to Lightnin' to gun down Jim in the street. In Dr. Loveless Died, once more Artie was able to interfere with the plans to destroy Jim.

So Loveless certainly realized that Artie was a problem, and had brains. Especially if he realized Artie was the one who created the various gadgets. Can't recall if that was ever specifically mentioned.

Even so, Loveless appeared to envy Jim the most because Jim possessed the "perfect body" and he himself did not. Quite likely he imagined himself tall and athletic--like the mirror image he saw in Murderous Spring--and still possess his own intelligence. The perfect man.

[California gal]

Jan 13, 2012 15:09:55 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

I will swear on a stack of bibles, that I've personally read no such similar story. Not that there couldn't be some out there of which I'm not aware.

And I'm willing to bet that Pet gets to her story a heck of a lot sooner than me. I just hope she doesn't have the same adversary in mind!

See, there's the difference. You would probably have different characters, different location, different reasons for their collaboration. And I'm not positive I read such a story. Just something in the back of my mind and I have no idea where it came from!

[Nydiva]

I say the more Miguelito, the better! Long live Loveless!!!

And while I have my story's adversary picked out, I still have the lion's share of even the outline to go. As I said, this is going to be looooong in coming.

I should actually get off now and do other stuff!

[snish]

Jan 13, 2012 15:14:51 GMT -8 California gal said:

Loveless definitely resents Jim's physical appearance and ability. He commented on that more than once I do believe, most notably in Bogus Bandits. I do agree he probably underestimates Jim's mental abilities, though one or two times he did compliment Jim on his sharpness. Can't think exactly what he says but he does comment on it in Surreal McCoy when they are talking about the invention of the paintings.

I don't think Loveless really got to know Artie until Murderous Spring. They had very little interaction in the first 3 episodes. And of course, he learned that Artie was going to show up to try to rescue Jim.

In both Raven and Green Terror, Loveless captured both of them, possibly thinking that that way Artie couldn't help Jim. But he did. In Raven Artie was able to throw Jim the sharp object to fend off the poor kitty, and in Green Terror Artie discerned the mace was loaded with explosives, not to mention rescued him from the Indians.

In Surreal McCoy Artie interfered by replacing McCoy and foiling Loveless's plans to Lightnin' to gun down Jim in the street. In Dr. Loveless Died, once more Artie was able to interfere with the plans to destroy Jim.

So Loveless certainly realized that Artie was a problem, and had brains. Especially if he realized Artie was the one who created the various gadgets. Can't recall if that was ever specifically mentioned.

Even so, Loveless appeared to envy Jim the most because Jim possessed the "perfect body" and he himself did not. Quite likely he imagined himself tall and athletic--like the mirror image he saw in Murderous Spring--and still possess his own intelligence. The perfect man.

I think it's true that a good part of Loveless's obsession with Jim comes from the fact that it was Jim alone who foiled Loveless's first plot, and 2nd and 3rd as well. Loveless did learn about Artie, but it's strange that he never learns to recognize Artie in disguise, even when they're face to face. Other people can recognize Artie once they've seen him as himself. I think it's hard to explain that one away without simply saying "plot hole" so I've gone with pyschology.

Loveless is so self-centered, though, that I doubt he's really all that impressed with Artie's intellect. Really brilliant people tend to think that everyone else is stupid. (Did you see the movie "The Social Network"? That's what I mean.) If Loveless wanted to talk with Artie, it would be more to impress Artie with his brilliance than to listen to Artie's ideas.

While Loveless is deeply envious of Jim's physical abilities, I think there's more to it than that. Jim is everything Loveless is not--a greater contrast than Artie. Loveless's plots are concocted for entirely selfish reasons, whereas Jim is selflessly devoted to duty to something larger than himself. Loveless is too cynical and selfish to serve any other master, but deep down he envies Jim for believing in something enough to serve it that way.

Ace, interesting question! I think if Loveless killed Artie, it would strain Jim's determination to bring in the doctor alive to be judged under the law. Would Jim kill the doctor? Would it be an "accident"? Or would we see him at his most stoic, ceaselessly guarding Loveless until they put him in some high-security prison while they tried him for murder?

[California gal]

How many times did Artie actually appear in disguise in a Loveless episode?

Not in any season 1 episode that I can recall. His disguise in Whirring Death was for Bessie.

Not in Raven.
Not in Green Terror (his disguise was for the Indians)
In Surreal McCoy, of course.
In Bogus Bandits
In Dr. Loveless Died

Am I right? Only 3 times?

[artiesniecewannabe]

Yes, I went through my notes (an episode guide to which I have appended both disguises and Great-Aunt Maude mentions), and it's just those three times:

The Lightnin' McCoy disguise fooled Loveless till the shooting actually started in the gun duel.

The fake Fargo the blacksmith disguise in Bogus Bandits fooled Loveless until Artie could lay the trail of volatile liquid and ignite it (and, really, did NO ONE but Jim notice that the old man was releasing a fluid from the canteen as he walked away?!).

And the French doctor disguise in The Night Loveless Died fooled Loveless till Artie could pass Jim the knife to free himself.