What is your Least Favourite Protagonist Archetype?

[JeanGuillet]

who has brains like Gaston?
entertains like Gaston?
Who can make up these endless refrains like Gaston?

see I knew he was the hero all along. that movie is a tragedy.

obviously my least favorite protagonist archetypes are those poor souls who don't use antlers in all of their decorating. brb eating eggs, getting large.

[foxnflames]

I hate self-righteous characters. And not even the type that have obviously flawed logic that foils the ideals of everyone else in the story. I mean those who the author obviously makes as an archetype (doing little to flesh them out into a fully realized character) to make them some sentient PSA for their beliefs and whatever lessons we learned along the way throughout the story.

Their dialogue is usually stilted and their development is usually nonexistent until the end of the story where they’re faced with whatever is supposed to change them and it just...happens.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

The obvious and idealized author self-insert (no, adding some insubstantial flaws or making the character as ugly as them do not count) which is always treated nicely and favored by the god of said fictional universe (the author themselves!).

Multiply by ten if some of the times the character also purposed as a mouthpiece of propaganda for author's ideology, or they always get a love interest to simp and be their love slave for just being a normal person (e.g. helping people in danger when it is their responsibility/ability, being not outwardly perverted, just being themselves), or everyone who is mean to them is either going to be reformed into their best friend fan and fight narrator or mercilessly crushed to their soul by the god of the universe (the author!).

I am sorry to be harsh, but I cannot help but thinking "I get it, you are a loser, author," when seeing such characters.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

It is funny that. . .

I have seen people comparing the MC's appearance and name to the real author, and saying it is a self insert (I personally cannot judge although they do look like each other). Is not it just sad, in a case if she is really a self insert, that the character based on a real person whose personality should be known best by the author (herself!) is the blandest and underdeveloped of all?

[arxianfall]

how do you recognize a self insert?

[DiegoPalacios]

An interesting question.....i think it may require knowing the author to some degree to notice some similarities between them and their character......

Also, to pay attention how the story threats said character....

[carloswebcomic]

"The chosen one", specially if it ivolves a prophecy.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Telltale because admittedly no surefire way. People usually tell by characteristics below for or the more obvious ones. IMO while many main characters of a series is a self-insert to a degree, the one actually called self-insert is those of more obvious one. You can also create self-insert while not realizing it. Self insert in itself is not bad I think (people are basically self-centred and it is normal that they want to see themselves in their creation, especially with the lack of representation), but when it is obvious and written poorly it leaves a bad taste.

• Similar look or resemblance to author, or having the look that author really desperately wants to have. This is what people usually notice first, and they will judge by it. No matter how you deny it, or how different the personality is, people will more likely believe your clone in your work is a self insert.
• Similar to same way of behaving (look at how author speak in social media and compare them, sometimes you can feel is not like they are two same people?), interests and jobs, and mindset/ideology.
• Author's statements (IDK how often is this).
• Unhealthy obsession to said character, like if you criticize them it automatically mean you are offending the author. This is IMO what sets bad self inserts which is often the type I mentioned above, with character that is simply inspired by the author or harmless self-inserts.

[PaulDevers]

The super duper soft-spoken, never contributing demure girl. The ones that are Rei, but without any of subversive and deconstructing uncanny-valley tropes she was playing.
So basically this trope:

Rei Ayanami Expy - TV Tropes

[Kaydreamer]

Mine are at two extremes.

• The archetypical idiot shōnen protagonist. I used to have more patience for them, but they're just abrasive to me these days.
• The personality-less protagonist. We all know the ones. They're left deliberately bland, so the reader can project onto them. Much as I loved the Harry Potter series, Harry was one of the least interesting characters in that book. He got a little better toward the end, but just barely. I want to adore the main character, not find them boring.

[DiegoPalacios]

Is rare noticing a well written self insert because they are often subtler. Maybe they are a character that is on the sidelines giving commentary in a non-preachy way, or the protagonist may have some traits of their creator, but not exactly the same.....or even, the narrator may be a self insert too.......

Personally, i try to avoid the trope unless i consider it neccesary for the story i am telling.....or for a meta joke when a character interacts with their creator.......

[ar-ninetysix]

It's okay, dude. You can tell us. You clearly aspire to be a rock, and I will support you every step of the way

[arxianfall]

You hate Kuuderes

[Eiranyx]

I'm not saying all but it's the female josei manga protag where the set up is usually involving an adult woman in their mid-20' who tends to be either completely 'innocent' and 'oblivious' to the point they aren't doing anything or they can't help it whether the ML (typically their hot-bosses) is sexually harassing them and they aren't even bothered by it for the sake of showing that they're such 'an innocent virgin' --- like these settings make it seems like they have no actual personality at all ...

[djourner]

Finally someone who hates this trope to! I HATE CHOSEN ONES WITH A BURNING PASSION!

[FafasMcMelt]

Gaston is the hero we needed, but didn't diserve

[indagold]

A character who literally has no flaws and has no conflict to their growth as a character but is portrayed as being clumsy and dumb which the writer thinks counts as depth. Bonus is if the character is an insufferable a-hole that is suppose to "grow" but never does.

[Iridium]

I have to agree hahahahaha Nowadays I see the tragedy Beauty and the Beast truly is xD

Okay, you convinced me xD

[nostalgicroxas]

"Chosen one" because you were born with super magical powers and those powers are never fully tested because "too OP" / must relinquish the powers that have never even been used because too OP, so there's never a full grasp or understanding on what the powers are or were or could have been.

[surenlicious]

Most male characters annoy the shit out of me. Poorly written, zero personality, no emotional intelligence, arrogant beyond belief, the pervert who gets off on panty/tit shots-

Also why in the holy frick are we still on about Mary Sues? By now they should be extinct and a reminder of Deviantart toxic-ass OC police.