Unlikable Characters: THIS IS GOOD!

[@rubyr8922]

"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."

[@rhymenoceros3303]

Thank you, I’ve been saying this for so long. An unlikeable character does not automatically make them bad. I’ve even heard people say it’s unrealistic. For Christ sake there are people in real life who are unlikeable, why should it be unrealistic for there to be guys like that in a fictional world?

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Unlikable characters are only a problem if the show thinks you like them. For example, Star Trek: The Next Generation thought the audience liked Wesley Crusher; the patron saint of mary sues. The audience hated him. But at least the creators listened and fixed him.

[@Semi-Addict-Gamer]

There are characters that it’s obvious they want you to like, but damn the writing fails to make me like them. The girl from Infamous second sun is a great example.

[@sparxstreak02]

1:13 Bow DID have his limits though. He let Glimmer know when she crossed boundaries in ‘Princess Prom’ & ‘Stranded’ the latter of which took him some time to forgive her even after she apologised & this was something that was needed for Bow in order to let people know that even the nicest of people have their breaking point.

[@tallswordlady6642]

^^^

[@SleepyHollowKnight]

1:18 you have no idea how happy I was to hear this because my protagonist is a complete asshole and I was concerned if that was going to be a problem

[@robbycooper6787]

KZbin once recommended me a graphic novel dub where everyone was just unlikeable to so unlikeable that it made the unlikeable characters look like enjoyable likable characters by comparison, or the were just bland trope, dull plot device, or no personality.

[@sparxstreak02]

5:05 Keep in mind that while Catra did indeed play a major part in the invasion of Salineas (most likely as it’s tactician), she wasn’t the sole person who took part in this - all the Horde did (while Hordak manned the cannon that actually KILLED people, so I put the majority of the blood on his hands rather than Catra). As part of the audience, we never actually see her raise a weapon during this attack (again, unlike Hordak) & given her mental state in S4 I’m not sure how much of the ‘killing in cold blood’ she would’ve done directly, instead doing it from the shadows where it’s easier not to think about what you’re doing. This in NO way excuses what she did, but this is just my take on it & I don’t think it’s fair to put ALL the Salineas killings on her shoulders (especially when we literally see Hordak doing the blowing up & yet somehow HE’S given a 2nd chance too!) - though the following ep ‘Boys’ Night Out’ seemingly implies the Rebellion managed to save everybody from the kingdom so it’s never fully clear (at least to me) whether the writers made you want to think that death occurred or just destruction 🤔 Plus Mermista’s reaction was V.E.R.Y. underwhelming for someone who’s kingdom got destroyed & many of whose people supposedly died 😑 (seriously, who goes through an ice cream depression when your own people DIE?!) when her reaction in the previous ep ‘Mer-Mysteries’ was far more realistic.

[@fRkOdCmK]

I always found it odd how folks just assume that Catra has killed people during the invasion of Salineas but never question that Zuko probably killed some people during the years of his search for the Avatar. Nor question how many people has Uncle Iroh killed back when he lead the Fire Nation's military

[@tallswordlady6642]

Oh yeah Iroh is one of the worst offenders

[@fRkOdCmK]

@@SirenChats in my comment I didn't mention redemption at all. I just pointed out why folks assume Catra has killed people despite the fact that that was never shown on screen while Zuko and Iroh are never charged of murder despite doing the exact same things. But since you brought up redemption arcs, so far i haven't heard a rational argument for why Zuko's redemption arc was better than Catra's. Zuko also tried to kill Aang. Plus he was toxic and abusive towards his uncle and his Fire Nation minions. Yet when Zuko and Aang become besties nobody calls it a toxic friendship. Suki's village got destroyed by Zuko but she seems fine being his bodyguard. And why nobody questions if there was a democratic process between the surviving kingdoms on what to do with the Fire Nation's royal family. If this was in real life they would've wanted to dismantle the entirety of the royal family's wealth and power to take back what was stolen from them during the war. At least when SPOP ended Catra didn't magically become the queen of the Fright Zone. These are fictional stories made for children and yet Catra is judged on a higher standard despite the fact that she didn't have the luxury of being born into royalty and never experienced the parental love that Zuko had with his mom and uncle. Catra pays the ultimate price for her sins in Save the Cat. She was tortured by Horde Prime and later dies on Adora's arms. I think that's more than enough to convince Adora and her friends into giving Catra a second chance. So i don't get why people say that Catra had it easier than Zuko when by any objective measure the opposite is true. Follow my TikTok for more based takes: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRq2KQeg/

[@in_dyy]

thank you for a really good take on this. I've tried talking to friends about this and I've never said the right thing but you've explained it so well.

[@leuanasantos1288]

I kept thinking of Clay from Moral Orel.

[@leonst.7471]

OSP made a simmiliar video about Magnificant Bastards where it almost boils down to the same.

[@L0rdOfThePies]

When i meet a grumpy worker irl i say "this is bad writing because only good people are written good"

[@Guruc13]

Thank you again for the Dark Heart in Carebears 2 rep. I feel seen

[@Z-ranker]

1:26 protagonists definitely shouldn't always be likable. I mean, look at Bojack Horseman and breaking bad for example. Walter and Bojack are both terrible people and They star 2 of my favourite shows. However, protagonists should always be sympathizable, Which is different.

[@Brenilla]

I love a lot of unlikeable characters. The main point that makes them likable in the end is their intent to be written as “unlikeable.” It gets to be an issue when a character is an unlikeable character but it isn’t intentional nor is it addressed. (My main example is Korra from LoK, could’ve been great to have a more unlikeable protagonist but she never got her comeuppance till it was too late) Nice video BTW!

[@mdtisthebest6249]

Comeuppance? Sound like an autistic kid’s flawed view of justice

[@SpiderandMosquito]

Algorithm boosting comment algorithm boosting comment

[@chickenflippers]

I really liked Naoka Ueno! Always a wildcard whenever she showed up. What would Koe no Katachi be without its ruthless melodrama, haha. Her character is explored a bit more in the manga, like the rest of the cast. I like your explanation for the antagonists being entertaining. Like Game of Thrones with the Lannisters.

[@shantichislon4129]

Thank you.

[@analyzgolden7774]

I always find it weird when people say they hate a character simply because they did something bad. Ever considered that maybe that's the point? Maybe those characters are human and make bad choices? Some of my favorite characters in media are the ones who make bad choices. It makes me intrigued in how they're gonna handle it. (If the argument was 'I don't like HOW the writing handled their bad choices and negative traits' that makes more sense) I will always preferred a flawed, dislikeable character to love and cherish over a bland character.

[@idk-ye7ur]

I personally hate when characters do something bad and the writing makes it so it doesn't matter or has little value. It's really hard for me to actually hate a character, but this two have done it: Bakugo and Nagito, both are "gray" guys that do good stuff, but the writing is weird with them and not in a good way.

[@analyzgolden7774]

@@idk-ye7ur Did Nagito do anything good? Yeah he wanted everyone to be 'hopeful' in the darkest of times, but more often than not, he CAUSES the dark times. People hate him for that. Then when he learned about their rule with Junko, he tried to get them all killed. So I'm kinda curious why you said he did good stuff. I don't recall him doing anything noble.

[@mcwaivi7349]

Damn another great video. How do you do it

[@cosmicspacething3474]

What about an unlikable bigoted character who changes for the better?

[@SF-hn5um]

#AzulaRedemptionArc just saying

[@cosmicspacething3474]

I mean there was a half redemption arc

[@SF-hn5um]

@@cosmicspacething3474 Apparently she's getting a solo comic in Summer 2023. Fingers crossed it's actually going to let her heal and improve and not just double down on the problematic depiction of mental illness.

[@vanessitamontoya9671]

there only good and likable characters in great kids shows like trollhunters,kid cosmic,gumball,wander over yonder,slugterra,phineas and ferb the others like owl house,amphibia and shera are super horrible and trash.