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QOTD #91: Relatable Characters

Discussion in 'Tilted Entertainment' started by genuinemommy, Oct 6, 2016.

  1. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    What characters do you relate to?
    Be it a character from a book series, a movie, a TV show, etc.

    At different times in your life, have you related differently to various characters?

    When I was a tween and teen I related 100% to the character of Belle, from Disney's interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. Even before I saw the film, I would walk to and from school, reading a book and daydreaming. As an adult, I still see similarities.
     
  2. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    I tend to relate to characters who are isolated or otherwise ostracized because I've spent most of my life feeling like an outsider. One of the earliest protagonists I related to (and please don't laugh) is Drizzt Do'Urden, the drow elf from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting/novels.

    In essence, this is the type of characters I relate to—the loner type for good or for ill.

    In film, a good example is Bastian Balthazar Bux from The NeverEnding Story. I related to him hard as a kid, and in many ways I still do very strongly.

    On the other hand, I don't generally relate to many characters. I'm actually not that keen on the idea of having characters be relatable. Quite often, I'm relieved by the fact I can't relate to them. I often read to explore other lives, and I don't necessarily need to see myself in these lives. In many cases, I relate more to themes or events.

    Some of my favourite novels have protagonists I certainly cannot relate to, especially considering one of them is Lolita. Humbert Humbert is a prime example of a character who is decidedly unrelatable (not to mention unreliable, narrative-wise) but nevertheless is featured in one of the greatest novels ever penned.
     
  3. fflowley

    fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

    Mr. Spock is my man. Started watching original Trek a s a wee one and always looked up to his character.
     
  4. omega

    omega Very Tilted

    Grendel.
     
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  5. Japchae

    Japchae Very Tilted

    Bones.
     
  6. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Leonard H. McCoy or Temperance Brennan?
     
  7. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    A long time ago I started a similar thread (this one is more broad, so by all means leave them separate).

    Here was mine:

    https://www.thetfp.com/threads/do-you-ever-see-yourself-in-tv-movie-characters-better-yet-do-other-people-see-you-in-them.


    First vid doesn't work any more so...


    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtyPEc2t18k
     
  8. Japchae

    Japchae Very Tilted

    Brennan, of course.
    I feel a very strong connection to her character.
     
  9. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Too many to count...

    Pug from Feist's Magician
    Silk from The Belgariad
    Vlad Taltos from Brust's Dragerian series
    Fred from Little Man Tate
    Sean Maguire from Good Will Hunting
    Cameron from Ferris Bueller
    Any of the 3 guys from Friends. (likely mostly Chandler)
    and so on...

    I'm either the sardonic angst-driven intelligent outcast or the cocky corrupt cunning rebel.
    Older Luke vs. Younger Han

    I have both sides to me.
    Depends on what mood you get me in.

    But never a politician...I'm definitely not a politician.
    It's a skill I wish I had.
     
  10. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    I think that there are two previous threads broaching this topic (see Borla's link for one), or possibly the question was asked within a thread.

    I've never really related to a fictional or real life character in any media; I'm excluding being a kid wanting to be like certain characters.

    I recently read The Drop by Dennis Lehane, haven't seen the movie. I totally related to the character Bob Saginowski:
    Seemingly an Average Joe.
    A guy least likely to be noticed.
    Not considered stupid per se, but definitely not considered bright.
    A guy who doesn't say much, esp about himself, not that anyone wants to listen to him, or get to know him.
    A guy with a soft, caring side.
    A guy capable of extreme violence, with no remorse when he feels that the violence is justified.
     
  11. Fangirl

    Fangirl Very Tilted

    Location:
    Arizona
    Ripley from Alien, played by Sigourney Weaver.
    I was a young woman when I first saw it and I related to the character. Strong, smart, troubled, fearless and finally (seemingly) utterly alone, the last person standing. I relate to all of it.

    Also, many Jeff Bridges characters: unconventional, bright, troubled/tortured, witty, warm, honest.

    Let's see, more recently, Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones: smart, strong, fearless, troubled/tortured, intelligent, resourceful, blunt, profane, alienated from most everyone.
    Bonus: I've always wanted to be a superhero.

    I guess we like the characters who reflect our own qualities or have qualities that we admire or wish to emulate.
     
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