Hi, okay, this might not make sense but let me explain: I was watching a video by Jenny Nicholson on YouTube in which she's talking about her Avengers Endgame opinions. She starts talking about how she never really liked Rocket Raccoon or Tony Stark because they seem like tropes or "wish fulfillment." Basically, she says that she doesn't like them because she doesn't like that type of character. My question is, are there any character types you simply don't like, regardless of how well developed they are/how good their character arcs are?
Is there a character type you dislike? Why?
The classic Bad Boy of course.
And why is that?
Harem protagonist….. BOOM case closed! XD
This may just be because I don't like anime generally, but I hate it how the most average looking guy on the planet (With now saving personality or interests), gets 6 girls that all fall in love with him at one stage or another!
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I love Jenny!!!
- The Gay Best Friend and the Black Best Friend (attempts at diversity that don't go beyond a character's sexuality or skin color, especially when the Friend in question is only there to provide 24/7 support to the straight and white mc)
- The Bad Boy (the modern version that is rude and harsh, and often abusive, but always ends up with the mc)
- The Plain Jane ("Oh, I'm so plain! I have big baby-blue eyes, wavy golden-blonde hair, a slim figure but still with big breast. But I'm so ugly!! :(" )
- The Soulless Asexual (lack of sexual and/or romantic attraction does not equal emotionless robot)
- Show Don't Tell Traits (a character is hyped up as being badass or witty or smart, but it's always stated and never actually seen in-text)
- The Slutty Bisexual (No. Just no.)
- The Cardboard Cutout Bitch (that one girl that's there solely to be mean to the mc for no reason, and to show how the mc 'isn't like other girls')
- I'm Not Like Other Girls (pretty obvious)
I agree with all of these :P
(But, isn't every girl not like other girls?)
GalaxyWolf223 …… True….. very true :)
Yeah, so, if @JynnieHas11Protons hates all girls that are 'not like other girls' doesn't that mean she pretty much hates every girl in the world?
(just saying)
I agree with most of these, but they don't exactly address my question: My question is, are there any character types you simply don't like, regardless of how well developed they are/how good their character arcs are?
So one-dimensional tropes are obviously terrible, but say you have a Black Best Friend character who is…a great character and isn't reduced to the basic traits of what is usually considered a "Black Best Friend".
For an example, let's take the Slutty Bisexual. Say you have a well-thought out and well developed bisexual character who likes to sleep around. Is that inherently bad? Why or why not? What is it about that trope that, regardless of the effort the author puts into the character, makes you dislike that character?
Yeah, so, if @JynnieHas11Protons hates all girls that are 'not like other girls' doesn't that mean she pretty much hates every girl in the world?
She means the trope where girls think they're special for being "not like other girls." You know, those female characters who hate other women and only hang out with dudes because "less drama."
Oh…okay
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Yeah, so, if @JynnieHas11Protons hates all girls that are 'not like other girls' doesn't that mean she pretty much hates every girl in the world?
I hate everyone in the world regardless of gender ;)
But seriously, there's no need to be a dick because you haven't heard of the 'not like other girls' trope
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I agree with most of these, but they don't exactly address my question: My question is, are there any character types you simply don't like, regardless of how well developed they are/how good their character arcs are?
So one-dimensional tropes are obviously terrible, but say you have a Black Best Friend character who is…a great character and isn't reduced to the basic traits of what is usually considered a "Black Best Friend".
For an example, let's take the Slutty Bisexual. Say you have a well-thought out and well developed bisexual character who likes to sleep around. Is that inherently bad? Why or why not? What is it about that trope that, regardless of the effort the author puts into the character, makes you dislike that character?
Ah, I see. In that case, I don't really have one, if an arc is done well I tend to like the character, regardless of who they are.
I'm not a huge fan of redemption arcs for the most part (mainly because of the whole redemption=death trend, how overused it's been, and how bad some have been handled, especially in YA) because I feel like unless it's in the middle of a series, nothing much comes out of it. I mean, I'm glad they turned on the villain, but now what? Jail time for war crimes? Does everyone instantly forgive them? Does no one forgive them? We don't get a lot of followup, and with the interpersonal relationships among characters, B might easily forgive them, but they might have killed A's brother so A won't.
Yeah I agree. Most redemption arcs don't put in the work, and as a result come off as feeling cheap or completely expected. The only good redemption arcs are the ones that come much earlier in the story, and the character has time to come to grips with their potentially terrible actions and completely overcome the influence of whatever evil force they're rebelling against. Example: Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender. The best redemption arc I've ever seen, because the show takes its time and really develops that arc.
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Another pet peeve of mine is when a character is rich, good-looking, or smart and that somehow gives them a free pass to be an asshole to everyone they see.
Hmm, that one is kind of tricky. To me it depends on the reactions of the people around the asshole character, and how the character changes. For example, I don't really understand BBC's Sherlock. He's a well written character, there's no doubt about that, but the fact that people accept his constant ridicule and erratic behavior is a bit unrealistic. On the flip side, though, if the characters had reacted to him like normal people would, forcing Sherlock to grow up and work well with others, I'd enjoy his character arc for that reason. Like Rocket Raccoon, lol. He learns to work in a team and actually be a decent person.
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I feel like it's one thing if people call them out on it, but if not then I dislike it
person_off
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Welp, I like redeeming muh villains. I'll rarely kill them off, but I also keep them from doing too much heinous shit so it's actually making sense in-plot and out of plot. I like redeemable assholes, what can I say?
person_off
Deleted user
But I do dislike "token characters", those who are there to add diversity and nothing else. Alex Fierro, hon, cool though you may be, I'm sorry, you just… bleh.
But I do dislike "token characters", those who are there to add diversity and nothing else. Alex Fierro, hon, cool though you may be, I'm sorry, you just… bleh.
I wanna push back a little there. Say you've added in a character for diversity. You write that character with a great character arc and you fully develop that character. Even if the character was initially added just for diversity, the character can still be well-written, right? Do you still dislike that type of character?
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I dunno. I just don't like the pity, is all. Can people not just judge everyone's opinions every single time, please?
I wasn't being a d***. I was just pointing out that's what it sounded like you were saying, in my opinion.
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I wasn't being a d***. I was just pointing out that's what it sounded like you were saying, in my opinion.
Immidiately jumping to the conclusion that I 'hate every girl in the world' is dickish, so….disagree
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But I do dislike "token characters", those who are there to add diversity and nothing else. Alex Fierro, hon, cool though you may be, I'm sorry, you just… bleh.
I wanna push back a little there. Say you've added in a character for diversity. You write that character with a great character arc and you fully develop that character. Even if the character was initially added just for diversity, the character can still be well-written, right? Do you still dislike that type of character?
I feel like the thing that makes a character a token is when they are 2-D and just there to make it seem diverse. If a character is gay, but also has a complex personality then I wouldn't say they're a token, but if a character is gay and their only personality trait is being gay (which isn't a personality), I would say they are a token then.
I think a character can be both a token and a good character. But when the token part takes over the character's personality falls. Nico
I dunno. I just don't like the pity, is all. Can people not just judge everyone's opinions every single time, please?
Wait what? I made this thread to discuss character types??
I think a character can be both a token and a good character. But when the token part takes over the character's personality falls.
Nico
Yeah, I agree. In my opinion, as long as the character is fully developed, I have no innate dislike for any character type.
I think we might like all characters as long as they are done right.