AMA Meme Answer 12

[potentiality_26]

What's a fictional trope/cliche/character type you can't stand? (from whimsicalnixie)

I really dislike the character type- mainly found in sci-fi and fantasy genres- that has really cool powers or the opportunity to go an awesome adventure, and spends all their time whining about how they just want to be a normal person who does normal things.

It can be effective, of course (for instance, in early Supernatural Sam's decision to leave hunting to live a normal life made a really interesting contrast to his brother, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer did a really good job of selling how hard her life was, making it easier to understand why she might wish she could have regular teenage worries instead) and I'm not saying that on a case by case basis it doesn't work- I'm talking about it as a basic trope that writers pull out time and time again in the genre- and as a trope I really dislike it.  I don't know why they think fans of what is essentially escapist fiction would find a protagonist like that compelling.

Like, I'd be a wizard if I could.  I'd travel with the doctor if I could.  At least a little part of most nerds want to do these things and like to imagine that they'd be awesome at it and have a great time, and watching someone who actually can do magic or whatever conclude that it's much more important to just go to work tomorrow instead is sort of painful.

Again, it's obviously a trope that works in some situations, but I've quit reading books because of it in the past, so I'd say it qualifies as something I can't stand.
  

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Not overly keen on that trope myself...

*HUGS*

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

Like I say, sometimes it works- I just don't get why it's so common.

*hugs*

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

That's very true, it can work in some situations, but it's annoying when writers use it all the time as an easy source of angst. It's really not that relatable to watch or read about someone complain about how much they hate being special

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's really not relatable at all- especially because most of these genres exist in the first place so people can fantasize about being special. Obviously not everyone does, and obviously some SF/Fantasy worlds would not be a fun place to live, but in general this kind of "being special is so haaard" narrative is really at odds with what the intended audience is actually interested in.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I don't know why they think fans of what is essentially escapist fiction would find a protagonist like that compelling.

Exactly. It's one thing to take full advantage of such a trope by exploring both the positive and the negative aspects of someone being special in some way (your example of BTVS is perfect) which would offer up the emotional complexities of their situation, but it's another where such characters basically whine the entire time when they legitimately have no reason to. It makes such a character unappealing, especially if they're supposed to be the protagonist that the audience should be relating to.

The trope that I cannot stand is the "I'm not like those other girls" mentality of the protagonist. It annoys me so much. There are better ways of presenting the character for the audience to identify and relate to than that, ffs.

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the "I'm not like those other girls" trope is pretty annoying, and I don't get what the target audience is supposed to be.