The chosen one trope - hot or not?

[Benetnasch]

I tend to prefer unwitting pawns, but I don't mind the chosen one, if it's done well of course.

[scythe]

The chosen one, essentially a modern interpretation of a messiah, isn't so much a trope, but rather a genre in and of itself, so if you're writing within that genre, you'd be hard pressed to leave it out.

Like any trope or stereotype, they're not a priori no-no's, you should just try and be original with how it all works. I personally wouldn't actually use the words "the chosen one" though in my story. That's a bit too played out.

[beta1042]

When I first read your question my immediate impression was nah- overused. But then I thought about it some more and I realized a lot of my favorite stories use it, so maybe I actually like it. I think it really doesn't matter if a story has a trope or a cliche, if the story is interesting, fun, and well told I'll enjoy it.

I think on principle I prefer the idea of a person earning their success and I really enjoy character growth. Because I can relate to this, I can in theory practice/study/train really hard and do amazing things(if I decide to not be lazy). But let's be realistic, training/practicing for something is tedious and boring to watch. And so for stories I understand why people are born with a huge advantage or get powerups.

[punkarsenic]

i recently realised that my comic has the chosen one trope like heeeell and i dunno how to feel about it. i also dont know how it took me so long to notice.

i kinda like it as a trope? im really into fantasy, and i think its a key staple of the genre that has a lot of ways to be subverted that are interesting. throughout history gods have chosen heroes on earth, so clearly part of human nature is a bit obsessed with the concept.

that said, it sure can get boring, or really corny. oh man when it does bad is it cringey

[Rochrok]

I don't like it. Mainly because I've played way too many RPGs that use this as their go to trope to the point where I'm burnt out. That's why I found The Witcher 3 so refreshing. And I think that a character who steps up to the plate to fight evil when they don't have to is far more compelling than a character who is essentially appointed by some sort of divine right to be the hero.

[OliviaMerteli]

Not, for me. At least the classical trope Because there are some nice twists sometimes with this trope.

[indagold]

I can't stand it when it makes the main character basically perfect and flawless in every way, character doesn't have to make an effort to improve or learn, and the prophecy is always fulfilling no matter what so you never get too involved plot wise because the character is in never immediate danger because they're basically a hidden god.

I like it more when its not heavily implied and the character actually has to make an effort to improve and maybe even have the possibility of failure. Maybe be like a real life scenario where some religious sects claim someone is something important but in the end they're just a normal person forced into a position of power. Have it varied or add to it and not beat everyone over the head with it. I prefer it like that where it doesn't make you groan.

[Twoony]

It doesn't bother me so long as the character has flaws that make them human. I hate when "the chosen one" is perfect in every way because that's unrealistic, they still need to grow and EARN that title rather than just be told they have it. I currently have a story that I did for NaNo where my lead is "the chosen one" however, she's one of seven "chosen ones" so it's kind of like they still gotta battle it out to see who gets to be the "actual" chosen one. I get that it's an overused trope but when done right or given a twist it can be really amazing.

[Rhombik]

I'm not a big fan. I prefer it when the main character is an unwitting everyman who gets sucked in or somebody who has earned their way to the centre of the action.

"Chosen one" trope rules out all the background and characterisation that comes with finding out how they got involved.

[scythe]

I'm not sure these are mutually exclusive. I think there's a lot more grey area in there to work with.

Rey from Star Wars strikes me as an example of a chosen one that is just awesome at everything without having to properly learn things, whereas Harry Potter is the chosen one by dint of his unique relationship with Voldemort, who, aside from Ron is pretty much the worst Wizard in the series, yet nonetheless succeeds because he's unflinchingly brave and determined.

[Jenny-Toons]

For me, I think the Chosen One is such a cliche when it involves a "Good vs Evil" approach to it. I want some Grey area in the middle and some different elements to the story. Is the "Good" side wholly good or are they just the majority who wants to spite a minority? Does the Chosen one truly want to be the hero or are they forced to do so? There's also more development you can do when talking about the Chosen One or the people they care about. Does the main character even want this burden? Are their loved ones against their duty?

I think one way I've used the trope was through family tradition. For one of my comics, the main character is the "Chosen One", but only because of the duty that's passed down through her family. They took on the role, and it's her turn to carry it out. But even so, she's not willing to sacrifice her life that easily.

Cliches aren't bad per se. They're only bad when you take the same thing someone else did and just slap a new character in place. Sometimes, you gotta take them and twist it them a up like a pretzel.

[djwaglmuffin]

The main character doesn't always have to be the chosen one which makes it more interesting for me.

Slayers is a play on that idea. Otherwise, technically, main characters are chosen ones by default. At least, that's the way I look at it.

[yondoloki]

Honestly? That trope can go die in a fire for all I care.

Okay, with a bit less fire spitting, my usual reaction when I read the sentence "You are the chosen one!" in any story, is to start groaning. The only tiime I have seen it work without me cringing was actually the Star Wars Prequels, because it gets turned around to actually not being the best thing Anakin being the Chosen One. (actually that scene with Obi Wan yelling "YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!" is fucking heartbreaking.)

But again, with every other trope it's down to the execusion. This is just one of those, along with profecies you have to be very, VERY careful with how you execute it.

[violetsun5]

100% no for me.

There's gotta be a damn good reason for it. I don't like reading the same book 90,000 times and most chosen one books are pretty samey.

[MelancholicOtaku]

I tend to not like the chosen one trope, it's not a bad trope I've read stories where I enjoyed it for sure. Ironic since I think of my own main character as the 'chosen' one but instead it's more a curse.

[BlackRoses_RedRavens]

I've just started watching Buffy and oh my god the slayer chosen one stuff is terrible "I can handle this I'm the slayer" "i have to kill this vampire even though they have done nothing bad just because I'm a slayer" "I can jump a fence without breaking a sweat cause I'm the slayer" like dude just climb over the fence like a normal person.

Anyway most of the time its okay but it depends how its done. I'm kinda of writing a chosen one story but also kind of not. There is a prophecy made saying no man or woman can defeat the big baddies. My main character hears it and is like that means I can defeat them (they are non binary) and trains the self and the schools gsa to fight all motivated on a prophecy that wasn't eve saying that. Of course they are school kids with not proper training and terrible weapons so they only win cause the baddies thought they were worse than they actually are but two people still died and many with lost limbs and everyone ends up with PTSD. Someone ends up commiting suicide as well. Even though the main character thought they were basically chosen ones they had no special chosen one power they are only as good as how well they trained to be which the main character in particular finds out in particular is not too well.

[JimJom]

I can like it some times. However if they hint at like a special power or something then use it later, I'm ok with it. But when they use it as a means of "Oh, he's the chosen one he can do whatever" when it's convenient to the plot, it really annoys me.

[liquidlilium]

I usually don't care for it but any trope (subverted or not) can work if it's well-written. As long as there's still interesting character development I won't drop a story only coz it has a "chosen one".

[AngMerlo]

The challenge with the chosen one trope is that it's very easy to fall into writing a Gary Stu character. Make sure you're developing your character beyond the trope and that it actually fits your story.

[Im_moron]

chosen one I would describe as...

of you blindly use it the way it is, its frigging predictable

which is not a bad thing, its open to subversion