I enjoy the occasional irredeemable, evil for evil’s sake villain who nevertheless has a goal and the competence to carry it out. It was also cool when he

did a thing

came back from death just to scold Hermes for… let me check my notes… not being evil enough.

 

Valens on the other hand? Dude can burn for all I care. He was sadistic for no reason, he only wanted power at any cost, and relied on the technology and experience of others that he ultimately couldn’t control. The only good thing he did was

the reason it's the best raid series.

giving Gaius a redemption arc.