What The Frock

What does it take to make a truly great villain? Is it power, evil intent, or just a misguided sense of righteousness? On this week’s episode of What the Frock?, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod embark on a deep and often hilarious journey into the nature of villainy—both fictional and real.

From the dark corridors of film and literature to the absurdity of modern-day politics and sports scandals, the duo tackle an age-old question: What makes a villain truly great?

The episode kicks off with a debate about the best villains in movie history. Friar Rod makes the case for Darth Vader, arguing that his journey from Anakin Skywalker to Sith Lord and eventual redemption makes him one of the most complex villains of all time. But is a villain still a villain if he finds redemption? Rabbi Dave challenges this notion, pointing out that the best villains don’t just do bad things—they truly believe they’re doing the right thing.

As they work through a who’s who of cinematic bad guys, the list includes Hans Landa (Inglourious Basterds), Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men), and the ultimate bad guy…the shark from Jaws? The debate rages: Can an apex predator really be a villain? Or is it just doing what nature intended?

And then there’s HAL 9000, the coldly logical AI from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Is HAL a villain, or just a computer following its programming? The same could be asked of real-life political figures—are they scheming masterminds, or just blindly following the machine of bureaucracy?

Of course, villains aren’t confined to fiction. As always, What the Frock? takes a turn into the absurd and the topical. This week, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod dissect Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s sudden shift on a major spending bill, questioning whether he genuinely believes what he says—or if he’s just playing the political game. If the best villains truly believe they’re doing the right thing, does that mean Schumer fits the bill? Or is he simply another opportunist, bending with the political wind?

Then there’s the bizarre case of a high school track star who whacked a fellow runner over the head with a baton—then claimed innocence despite video evidence to the contrary. A villain in the making, or just someone caught up in their own delusions?

The episode takes a detour into the wild world of airline seating disputes when a Brazilian woman refused to switch her window seat for a toddler—and subsequently became an internet sensation (and influencer). Was she the villain for not giving up her seat, or were the entitled parents the true antagonists of this airborne saga?

And speaking of airline disasters, the hosts share the story of a man who literally swallowed a rosary mid-flight in an attempt to protect himself from “Satan’s disciples.” If believing in one’s cause is the mark of a true villain, this guy was certainly committed.

Finally, as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod tackle another Americanized tradition built on historical fiction: the myth of corned beef as an authentic Irish staple. Turns out, the Irish never really ate corned beef—it was a British export. But much like all great villains, history gets rewritten to fit the narrative.

So who’s the real villain? The English, for forcing the Irish to produce corned beef? Or the Americans, for turning the whole thing into a green-beer-soaked excuse to party?

This week’s episode is packed with insights, laughs, and plenty of What the Frock? moments. Whether you love a good villain or just love to hate them, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about what makes a true antagonist.

Subscribe, listen, and let us know: Who do you think is the greatest villain of all time?