Episode 1.3: ‘If We Were Villains’ by ML Rio
ML Rio’s 2017 novel is the natural predecessor to ‘The Secret History’, and is the second-most quoted book in the Dark Academia genre after Donna Tartt’s.
Oliver Marks is released from prison for a crime he may or may not have committed. Over the course of the novel, Oliver recounts the tale to the now retired detective of the case.
Following his fourth year at the prestigious Dellecher Classical Conservatory, we are privy to a story of strained friendships, failed romances, and a murder most foul. A cautionary example of the pressures of being in the spotlight, and the lengths one might go to stay there. Oliver, James, Filippa, Meredith, Alexander, Richard… Who was the true villain? And why was the fall so hard to bear?
Are you seeing some similarirites to ‘The Secret History’? Us too!
In this episode we discussed:
How ‘If We Were Villains’ fits into the dark academia genre, and it compares and contrasts to ‘The Secret History’
Representation of women and LBGTQ+ people within the narrative, particularly in reference to Alexander and James
The theatre and Shakespeare - it’s presence in the novel, it’s relation to the characters and women’s roles on stage and in theatre
Close character analysis of Oliver and James (and we briefly touch on Pip and Richard too)
You can give it a listen right here:
TEXTS MENTIONED
A/N: the full bibliography and references are also available to Patreon subs as well as show notes.
‘If We Were Villains’ by ML Rio
‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt
‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare
‘King Lear’ by William Shakespeare
‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
‘Madam’ by Phoebe Wynne
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