TheNarutoseries features a number of well-written andequally fearsome antagonists, yet none come close to the menacing nature of Orochimaru’s villainy. Despite being a heinous character with downright evil goals, Orochimaru quickly became an iconic villain for the series. His name became synonymous with fear, and every mention of his existence left the main characters perplexed and ridden with despair.
Despite having no proper goals other than achieving immortality, Orochimaru quickly rose to fame among the show’s fanbase. Many attribute his popularity to his horrid yet compelling characterization, and the aura of death and fear that surrounded him. However, this portrayal eventually dissipated inShippudenafter the distasteful events that surrounded Orochimaru, withBorutobeing the final nail in the coffin for this once-iconic villain.
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Orochimaru’s Initial Characterization
Orochimaru’s initial character is impossible to forget, as the rattling skirmish in the Forest of Death left a lasting impression on most. The events that followed quickly cemented him as a major antagonist, especially after hehumiliated the Hidden Leafby killing the Hokage on their own home turf. He even took a chance at killing the series’ protagonist, and tried his best to put the Hidden Leaf at a disadvantage.
His obsession with attaining permanence and unraveling every single jutsu in the world further added to his twisted character. His past crimes and immorality painted himas an irredeemable character, one that could go to any lengths to achieve his otherworldly goals. The thematics surrounding him also added a harrowing touch to his presence, as his snake-like body and accompanying soundtrack left an impression of impending doom and despair.
The events in the entirety of part 1 built up a menacing personage for Orochimaru, even trickling down to the early parts ofShippuden. From his first appearance during the Tenchi Bridge arc to his supposed demise at the hands of Itachi’s Totsuka Blade, Orochimaru never failed to disappoint the audience with his spine-chilling performance. Even with theAkatsuki taking overShippuden’snarrative, Orochimaru’s initial legacy allowed him to maintain his place among the series’ villainous landscape for some time.
An Anticlimactic Demise
The initial profundity and significance associated with Orochimaru was short-lived as he was quickly sidelined after his demise atthe hands of Itachi. His supposed death was extremely anticlimactic, with little to no build-up surrounding his sudden entrance. For a villain that has played such an integral role in the series, dying mere seconds after making an appearance was rather disappointing and poorly written.
The entire ordeal seemed more like an inconvenience rather than an actual threat to Itachi. Naruto is renowned for its compelling death scenes (even for villains), yet Orochimaru’s demise was nothing short of shallow and distasteful. While he did make an appearance among the living later on, viewers at that time were led to believe that this was thelast of Orochimaru’s schemes, tainting his entire villainous legacy.
A Shallow Redemption
The process of redeeming villains is a tricky route, with a certain amount of growth and effort needed to be convincing enough to viewers. However,Orochimaru’s redemption offered nothingof the sort, almost seeming like a plot device to bring back the Hokage. Orochimaru being brought back in itself was highly inconsistent and discrepant, seeing how Sasuke was able to conjure up his entire consciousness and physical body by reversing Anko’s curse mark.
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Orochimaru’s reasoning of letting go of his villainous ideals were also hastily written and had little to no profundity. He stated thatwitnessing Kabuto failmade him realize his path was wrong, and following Sasuke and observing his journey allowed him to see the faults in his own ways. After a half-baked monologue, Orochimaru was off the hook for his hefty crimes and acts of high treason. The entire scenario surrounding his redemption further made him seem like a nonsensical character with little to no depth.
Orochimaru’s Place in Boruto
The airing ofNaruto’ssequel,Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, was the final nail in the coffin for Orochimaru’s character. After being redeemed, Orochimaru became a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, albeit with thorough surveillance. He eventually took on the role of a parental figure and adopted a mellow role in the series overall.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with settling down and starting a family, witnessing Orochimaru’s character go from the most renowned villain in the entire shinobi world to a gag character is nothing short of disappointing. What viewers see now is a husk of Orochimaru’s former self, and the remains of a well-written character that was eventually neglected and sidelined. Wasting the potential of such a profound villain may have been one of Kishimoto’s biggest mistakes in theNarutoseries.
