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[Sirus]

I need this shirt so badly.

Spoiler: picture (click to show/hide)

Is...is that referencing Wreck-It Ralph? 

ETA: I mean, in addition to Pulp Fiction.

[penguinofhonor]

Yes.

[Neonivek]

I am starting to feel pain from one sort of character archtype that is being used in a few shows lately.

You probably seen it from terrible shows but basically it is where the main character is nice to the shows critters.

I've seen it twice but the shows never EVER explain in any capacity why no one has ever done it before. It is always unjustified and just comes off as a way the show is trying to make their protagonist special without really changing the plot.

What is interesting is I've seen this done right. In an anime the main character treats ordinary objects with great respect, something that WOULD be unusual, and that is why another character likes him.

[Sirus]

...I'm sorry, what? Try again, but with less rambling.

[Neonivek]

...I'm sorry, what? Try again, but with less rambling.

Ok how may I put it.

You ever watched a show where people take care of monsters that fight eachother like Pokemon?

You know how in Pokemon it is expected that people take care of their monsters with love and respect?

Now lets pretend that you are now in a setting where no one gives these critters any love and respect... No one except the main character and possibly his friends.

Yet the show never explains why everyone treats these monsters so badly. It is such an accepted fact that it feels shallow and silly only there to make the main character seem special without doing anything.

I hate that.

[Sirus]

...Because some people have and still do treat animals poorly?
Because abusing animals is seen as a heartless act by many people?
Because contrasting the animal-beating villain and the kind-hearted hero is one of the easiest ways to help the audience identify with the hero?

Not sure what your problem is here, to be honest.

[Neonivek]

Villain, who said anything about a villain?

EVERYONE treats their monsters badly. To the extent that to everyone even treating a monster with any kindness is unheard of.

There is no point in the history of animal caretaking this concept would have been unusual. So historical context is out of the question.

It bugs me because... well lets put it this way.

An Idiot ball is when another character acts uncharacteristically stupid usually to further the plot. An Idiotplot is a plot that only works because everyone is an idiot. It is dumb because it relies on everyone being dumb.

In this case in order to make the main character feel special, by giving monsters respect, they make everyone else uncharacteristically unkind, thus making the setting dumber because there is no context for everyone being unkind.

[Sirus]

Might help if you named one of these settings, because in the ones I can think of it's only the villains (or other "bad people") who treat their animals badly. Hell, in a number of series even the "bad guys" take care of the animals.

[Sergius]

You mean kinda like How to Train Your Dragon?

[penguinofhonor]

Anyone see the new Adventure Time? It was average, definitely below average as a Jake episode.

[Jopax]

You mean kinda like How to Train Your Dragon?

Well that one had a reason for treating the dragons badly, what with them terrorizing the tribe, pillaging and looting (they were forced but still, the humans couldn't have known that).

Edit:

Watching Adventure Time, that episode with the door bandit thingy, they're just jamming to get the door to open.
Holy crap, never knew I'd like music numbers in my toons this much

[Lich180]

Anyone see the new Adventure Time? It was average, definitely below average as a Jake episode.

But no weirder than any other episode. Wasn't really that bad though, just... trippy.

Plus, Status Quo is God.

[kaijyuu]

Any good sources of Gravity Falls information out there? I'd like to know when the series is off hiatus (as in, I'd like a place to keep checking so I can hear the news when it first comes out). The wiki still says Dec 2nd 2013, which is like 11 months away, and there was that tweet that it'd be airing sometime this spring by one of the creator dudes.

[Neonivek]

You mean kinda like How to Train Your Dragon?

no as people mentioned there is a good excuse as to why everyone hated dragons in that

Unfortunately the two series I am thinking of in particular... One I don't remember the name of and another I am mixing up the name with every other one. Something like Kaijuto or something (and no it isn't anime... even if it is obviously modeling itself off of one)

[Sergius]

Well I said "kinda like" How To Train Your Dragon.