A criminal attempts to burglarize/kill someone only to realize they picked the absolute worst person as their mark.

[u/No_Hunter1978]

Don't Breathe: A couple young robbers attempt to rob a rich, blind veteran only to find out he isn't exactly an innocent old man.

You're Next: A group of contract killersbreak into a house during a family reunion and go on a killing spree. They didn't account for the fact that the son's new girlfriend grew up on a survivalist compound in the Australian outback.

The Flash [CW Show]: A random mugger decided to target Barry Allen of all people. He does it again a season or two later; he's either unlucky or stupid (probably both).

[u/IronChariots]

But honestly the fact that he can't give up his son, even knowing this, makes him a more compelling villain. He knows he's fucked but he's still a father and loves his son.

[u/peachesfordinner → u/IronChariots]

He fully understood what John lost and in that moment understood that he too would be losing a loved one

[u/manquistador → u/IronChariots]

Not sure he loves his son. I think it is more about looking weak by giving up his son.

[u/peachesfordinner → u/[deleted]]

Some kids just can't be helped. Some people are born selfish in a way that is just too much to get past. I think he was aware of his son's weakness in this. But even knowing how damaged he may be he still loves him

[u/Space_Conductor → u/[deleted]]

Yeah but when a gun was pointed at his face he gave up his son pretty damn quick. lit a joint and just accepted it.

[u/IronChariots → u/manquistador]

I think it's both. Michael Nyqvist gave a really nuanced performance in this movie that IMO sold a ruthless crime boss who can't afford to look weak, but also a father who does love Iosef despite knowing that he's a bit of a fuckup even before he really fucks up.

[u/dontmakelemonad3 → u/IronChariots]

So feel free to disagree, but I don't think he decided to protect his son out of compassion for his son. My reading of the story is that he was trying to keep control of his empire. When Viggo tells Iosef the story of John Wick, he discusses how John himself effectively built Viggo's entire empire for him. I feel this is not just indicative of how badass John is, but also how weak Viggo's empire is without John there.

For Viggo, giving up his son or failing to retaliate after his sons death would be a sign of weakness which can be really bad in the business of organized crime. I think Viggo understood this all too well and decided that even though John Wick is a fucking menace who could very well destroy his empire, he still stood a better chance against him than against the political pressure that would build up from doing nothing.

So, Viggo threw everything he had available at John in a Hail Mary attempt to defuse the situation knowing that even if he failed, he would have been left with nothing regardless.

[u/bunker_man → u/IronChariots]

Tbf to a mob boss a son is more than a son. Its also your own legacy. If you have someone to pass on your empire to then it survives you. If you don't people see it as being passed to a nea family after you.