You have to admit, Batman: TAS did show us as an audience that even the villains can be normal people when they aren't terrorizing people. I don't know if it was the first to have us follow villains for segments of stories, but it certainly comes up as a good example, especially in the episode "Almost Got 'Im".

So, well... I hope some things that try this do it right. Not making a martyr out of the villain, but showing that they aren't completely heartless monsters, but rather, have their own opinions and grievances they're coping with.