I think this is missing a critical point. In say a game where you play a criminal one of the key plot points is when you find out "crime does not pay". Which allows you to humanize the people involved and make a firm statement at the end that this is wrong. I think that's what a lot of this discourse is missing, you can make somebody look like a human while still showing that they are WRONG. And part of that is showing them falling as they pursue things that are wrong.

That's how you humanize these people, make people think "that could be me" without making them think "that should be me".

This reminds of the type of where I got angry during thr COVID lockdown and had dark thoughts on many groups I was dislike. However it was until other people notice and me really thinking to my myself on how hateful and deranged I sound. It may sound cliche and corny but hate can get the best of you and never let it control you.

Also it reminds show villains that does have their humanity moments can ironically as more scary and evil in a way because they feel more real rather then some force of nature or symbol.