EdFringe Review: Juliette Burton: Villain Era

The concept of declaring one’s “villain era”—casting off societal expectations, ditching people-pleasing, and refusing to apologise for who you are—is a promising vein for modern comedy. In Juliette Burton: Villain Era, the comedian sets out to align her own life as a neurodivergent, polyamorous cosplayer with the misunderstood antiheroines and villainesses of pop-culture lore.

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On paper, using figures like the X-Men, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and The Witcher to dissect real-world double standards ought to make for an incisive, high-concept hour. In practice, Burton delivers a warm-hearted, engaging show that feels less like an embrace of wickedness and more like a cheerful celebration of self-acceptance.

Even so, Burton is a bona fide nerd, and her unadulterated joy in geek culture is genuinely infectious. Walking us through slide-show presentations of herself in full cosplay outside regional conference centres, her enthusiasm easily carries the audience. She is entirely right in her core thesis: many of the choices she embraces so openly—from her neurodivergence to polyamory—would have seen a woman castigated as a villain in past eras. Yet her framing leans far more toward empowerment messaging than hard truths or dark-side mischief. Her willingness to flirt awkwardly with the room is thoroughly charming, but it underscores a central paradox: she is far too much of an innate crowd-pleaser to play the antagonist. Just a little venom mixed in her patter could work wonders.

Infectious Energy and Missed Mischief

Where the show shines is in Burton’s natural stagecraft. She is exceptionally likeable and personable, possessing the warmth, wit, and energy required to entertain a room whether performing to ten people or a packed house. She tells a good story, knows how to deliver a punchline, and holds the space with confidence. When she allows her comic instincts to roam free without worrying about didactic point-scoring, the laughs land cleanly. A brilliant, recurring routine comparing the grizzled Geralt of Rivia to Paddington Bear offers genuinely good fun, showcasing a fine eye for absurd juxtapositions.

My main reservation is simply that there is far more mischievous fun to be had from the darker reaches of baddie culture. A show anchored in villainy begs for a bit more edge, yet the show backs away from its thornier themes. Tantalising glimpses of higher-stakes personal territory—such as her foray into BDSM and sex parties—are glossed over in favour of safer pop-culture analysis and familiar moral takeaways.

Ultimately, Juliette Burton: Villain Era may not deliver the virtuous malice its title teases, but it remains a thoroughly enjoyable, uplifting hour. Burton may still be on a journey to fully embrace her inner villain, but her infectious passion, sharp storytelling, and charm ensure her audience leaves firmly on her side.

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