Character developments you weren't keen on.

[The Funslinger]

This can be in a book, game, film, show, whatever. Characters that when they changed, you found them less likable/entertaining.

For me, I'd have to say Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother. I still love the show to death, but Ted is a little irritating.

He's still Barney's foil (less so, I guess as they're really starting to want the same things) but I guess I preferred him when he was fulfilling that role by being down to earth and sardonic, whereas Barney was/is cheery, absurd and womanizing. I find him distinctly less entertaining as an ex-hipster/nerd, rather effeminate individual. It's also slightly jarring that his future narrator persona seems to have more in common with the original Ted than how he's become.

 

[Rose and Thorn]

I am not keen on characters that don't get much character development, unless the point of the character is mystery, you know, if the less you know about the character is what makes that character who it is.

Hmmm, one movie kind of pops into my mind. Wanted, the movie with James McAvoy in it. When I saw this movie the main character goes from complete coward to complete badass so fast it is a little against my liking. I didn't hate it though and it wasn't done all that bad, just really fast *with the use of a montage*.

Also, lest I forget how bothered I was that the movie did not follow the book at all. I was pretty annoyed at that, Wesley Gibsons character development was done much better in the book, although the book was much more fantastical.

I didn't hate the movie, it is fun, and James McAvoy did good in it, but I would have done his character development a little different.

 

[The Funslinger]

I am not keen on characters that don't get much character development, unless the point of the character is mystery, you know, if the less you know about the character is what makes that character who it is.

Hmmm, one movie kind of pops into my mind. Wanted, the movie with James McAvoy in it. When I saw this movie the main character goes from complete coward to complete badass so fast it is a little against my liking. I didn't hate it though and it wasn't done all that bad, just really fast *with the use of a montage*.

Also, lest I forget how bothered I was that the movie did not follow the book at all. I was pretty annoyed at that, Wesley Gibsons character development was done much better in the book, although the book was much more fantastical.

I didn't hate the movie, it is fun, and James McAvoy did good in it, but I would have done his character development a little different.

Along the lines of things done too fast, let us not forget Eragon's combat proficiency in the titular novel.

 

[Fappy]

Well considering I just watched it and it's fresh in mind I'd say Cal's character development in the anime Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom was probably the weakest part of the 3rd act of the anime. Not only does she unrealistically age for a little girl to a smoking super model in two years, but her motivations for being as insane as she is really makes no sense at all. She's an incredibly exaggerated character near the end that doesn't mesh well with the realism of the rest of the cast.

 

[Rose and Thorn]

snip bip

Along the lines of things done too fast, let us not forget Eragon's combat proficiency in the titular novel.

Oh boy, everything about the Eragon movie disgusted me.

Me and a friend would read the Inheritance novels together and talk about them at great length, so when Eragon the movie was announced of course we were thrilled. After leaving the theatre I think we both needed to vomit.

Now in the novel I didn't personally find the combat proficiency done poorly. He was a practised archer/hunter at the beginning and throughout the first novel he was most comfertable using his bow, and even through all the sword combat training him and Brom did he still couldn't beat an Elf in one on one combat by the second book, not even close. I liked the magic training and sword training, I felt you could really feel Eragon struggling with everything he does and by the last book he is a pro, I liked how that was done.

The movie however was stupid, everything about it. One thing I will say about speedy character development is Saphira's aging process in the movie compared to the book. In the book she starts small and throughout the first book, although she ages fast she still ages. In the movie she is born, flies up into the clouds and is magically grown into a big dragon. Awful.

I am curious to hear your opinions on Eragon's combat proficiency in the novel however. I never found it rushed or anything, after all the characters were on the run and everything was done in a rushed manner. I liked how the first time he used magic it was by accident and he thought the word he was using was a curse word.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

I am currently reading through A Song of Ice and Fire (Just started A Feast For Crows) and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with what's happening with Tyrion. He was easily my favorite character up until A Storm of Swords, but now he just seems like a downer to be around. Don't get me wrong, if he could always talk and scheme his way out of everything unscathed there's be no suspense wherever his character is concerned, and it's suspense that Martin does better than any writer I've encountered before, but where Tyrion once seemed like a real contender in the game, able to hold his own against even Varys and Littlefinger, and having the balls to stand up to Cersei and Joffrey when no one else will, he now seems to have become completely beaten and emasculated at the drop of a hat. I can totally understand why he feels the way he does, the world has been completely unfair to him, but the combination of his increasing internal bitterness along with his apparent inability to stand up for himself makes him less sympathetic. He just becomes whiny, impotent, and no fun to be around.

While he does get his own back in the end, by the time that happens he's barely recognizable as Tyrion any more. When we first met him, he's instrumental in helping Jon rise above his status as a bastard, just as he has had to rise above his status as a dwarf, and you root for him because that's exactly what he does. Rather than just whine about how unfair his life is, he takes the insults that are thrown at him, turns them on their head, and exposes his detractors for what they really are. Compare that Tyrion to the Tyrion at the end of A Storm of Swords, and it becomes much harder to root for him. What he said to Jaime was just needlessly cruel, especially considering Jaime had just saved his life, and had never been one of the people plotting against him. All Jaime had done was tell him the truth. A hurtful truth maybe, but the truth nonetheless, and not his fault; and what does Tyrion give him when Jaime only asks for the truth in return? A lie that's specifically designed to hurt him, not to mention insults and threats.

 

[The Funslinger]

snip bip

Along the lines of things done too fast, let us not forget Eragon's combat proficiency in the titular novel.

Oh boy, everything about the Eragon movie disgusted me.

Me and a friend would read the Inheritance novels together and talk about them at great length, so when Eragon the movie was announced of course we were thrilled. After leaving the theatre I think we both needed to vomit.

Now in the novel I didn't personally find the combat proficiency done poorly. He was a practised archer/hunter at the beginning and throughout the first novel he was most comfertable using his bow, and even through all the sword combat training him and Brom did he still couldn't beat an Elf in one on one combat by the second book, not even close. I liked the magic training and sword training, I felt you could really feel Eragon struggling with everything he does and by the last book he is a pro, I liked how that was done.

The movie however was stupid, everything about it. One thing I will say about speedy character development is Saphira's aging process in the movie compared to the book. In the book she starts small and throughout the first book, although she ages fast she still ages. In the movie she is born, flies up into the clouds and is magically grown into a big dragon. Awful.

I am curious to hear your opinions on Eragon's combat proficiency in the novel however. I never found it rushed or anything, after all the characters were on the run and everything was done in a rushed manner. I liked how the first time he used magic it was by accident and he thought the word he was using was a curse word.

As someone who is a practiced sword fighter, his progression is far, far too quick. Elves aside, he's frequently described as one of the best human sword fighters. He matches Murtagh, who had been trained for years, and the only thing separating him and the elves was physiology. They're frequently described as being on another level, and when he gets enhanced in that ceremony, he's able to overcome someone who will have been practicing for thousands of years.

And his initial training is set over weeks. You don't get that good over weeks.

Honestly, while I enjoyed the books as a kid, I've found much better stuff out there. I mean fair enough that you enjoy them, and I still remember those books fondly, I can just see a collection of irritating flaws in hindsight. I guess that irritates me more than it should because those books made me want to be a writer. Something I have pursued to a small time professional level and hope to take further soon.

But yeah, his sword prowess is unrealistic as balls.

 

[krazykidd]

Kathiss from the hunger games .

She started as a strong female lead in the first book. To a weak and scares little girl in the second . To a babbling idiot in the third. I do not approve .

 

[The Funslinger]

I am currently reading through A Song of Ice and Fire (Just started A Feast For Crows) and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with what's happening with Tyrion. He was easily my favorite character up until A Storm of Swords, but now he just seems like a downer to be around. Don't get me wrong, if he could always talk and scheme his way out of everything unscathed there's be no suspense wherever his character is concerned, and it's suspense that Martin does better than any writer I've encountered before, but where Tyrion once seemed like a real contender in the game, able to hold his own against even Varys and Littlefinger, and having the balls to stand up to Cersei and Joffrey when no one else will, he now seems to have become completely beaten and emasculated at the drop of a hat. I can totally understand why he feels the way he does, the world has been completely unfair to him, but the combination of his increasing internal bitterness along with his apparent inability to stand up for himself makes him less sympathetic. He just becomes whiny, impotent, and no fun to be around.

While he does get his own back in the end, by the time that happens he's barely recognizable as Tyrion any more. When we first met him, he's instrumental in helping Jon rise above his status as a bastard, just as he has had to rise above his status as a dwarf, and you root for him because that's exactly what he does. Rather than just whine about how unfair his life is, he takes the insults that are thrown at him, turns them on their head, and exposes his detractors for what they really are. Compare that Tyrion to the Tyrion at the end of A Storm of Swords, and it becomes much harder to root for him. What he said to Jaime was just needlessly cruel, especially considering Jaime had just saved his life, and had never been one of the people plotting against him. All Jaime had done was tell him the truth. A hurtful truth maybe, but the truth nonetheless, and not his fault; and what does Tyrion give him when Jaime only asks for the truth in return? A lie that's specifically designed to hurt him, not to mention insults and threats.

Spoiler: Don't read here if you're not at Ninja's point yet

I can't quite remember what was going on with him in Feast, but I seem to recall he has an overarching plan at that point. In any case, I won't spoil Dragons for you, but I'm betting in the next book (whenever that comes out) he's gonna pull some shit.

 

[Realitycrash]

Sheldon from BBT was a socially inept, obsessive yet relate-able person in S1. After S1, he became a whiny, over-the-top narcissistic, childish and self-centered nutjob which I want to tie to a pole in the garden during a rainstorm until he promises to behave.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

I am currently reading through A Song of Ice and Fire (Just started A Feast For Crows) and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with what's happening with Tyrion. He was easily my favorite character up until A Storm of Swords, but now he just seems like a downer to be around. Don't get me wrong, if he could always talk and scheme his way out of everything unscathed there's be no suspense wherever his character is concerned, and it's suspense that Martin does better than any writer I've encountered before, but where Tyrion once seemed like a real contender in the game, able to hold his own against even Varys and Littlefinger, and having the balls to stand up to Cersei and Joffrey when no one else will, he now seems to have become completely beaten and emasculated at the drop of a hat. I can totally understand why he feels the way he does, the world has been completely unfair to him, but the combination of his increasing internal bitterness along with his apparent inability to stand up for himself makes him less sympathetic. He just becomes whiny, impotent, and no fun to be around.

While he does get his own back in the end, by the time that happens he's barely recognizable as Tyrion any more. When we first met him, he's instrumental in helping Jon rise above his status as a bastard, just as he has had to rise above his status as a dwarf, and you root for him because that's exactly what he does. Rather than just whine about how unfair his life is, he takes the insults that are thrown at him, turns them on their head, and exposes his detractors for what they really are. Compare that Tyrion to the Tyrion at the end of A Storm of Swords, and it becomes much harder to root for him. What he said to Jaime was just needlessly cruel, especially considering Jaime had just saved his life, and had never been one of the people plotting against him. All Jaime had done was tell him the truth. A hurtful truth maybe, but the truth nonetheless, and not his fault; and what does Tyrion give him when Jaime only asks for the truth in return? A lie that's specifically designed to hurt him, not to mention insults and threats.

Spoiler: Don't read here if you're not at Ninja's point yet

I can't quite remember what was going on with him in Feast, but I seem to recall he has an overarching plan at that point. In any case, I won't spoil Dragons for you, but I'm betting in the next book (whenever that comes out) he's gonna pull some shit.

[/quote]

Spoiler

He's not in Feast. That book focuses mainly on introducing new characters. I do hope that he'll come back from his current predicament, changed yes, but not completely broken. I just much preferred him when he's outsmarting his opponents, not strangling them and shooting them with crossbows.

Another point I should have made before... I find it most hypocritical of Tyrion to have expected Jaime to go against their father and tell him the truth about Tysha from the outset, when Tyrion does absolutely nothing of substance to stand up for himself where Lord Tywin is concerned, not until right at the end anyway. Oh he feebly protests, but he's smart enough to know that will not get him his way and beyond that he does nothing. Tywin takes his job, he lets him; Tywin takes his claim to Casterly Rock, he lets him; Tywin marries him to Sansa, he let's him; and then he turns around and acts like Jaime not doing something that Tywin had explicitly ordered him not to do like it's a massive betrayal.

 

[The Funslinger]

snip

Spoiler

Actually, I didn't find that bad at all. The point of Tyrion is he's smart. Acting out and potentially losing what influence and resources he has isn't in his nature. The point of him, I always thought, is that he's doing Cersei's job better than her. Plus, he kind of knew the King's Hand position was temporary as is. His father sent him to hold down the fort until he could get there. Plus, he's been in that position with his father since he was a kid. That's kind of hard to break out of. I'd have said being made Acting Hand is the closest Tywin ever came to acknowledging Tyrion's ability.

As for the Tysha thing, this was a woman he genuinely loved. Her 'betrayal' of him is what shaped his worldview, and he went through his father's punishment of her, and the rest of his life thinking she'd just been paid off. In actual fact, Tywin did that to her because of his own dislike for the mistress his father had taken after his mother's death, and because Tyrion's mother died in childbirth. If I were him, I'd be pissed at Jaime for hiding that, too.

But yeah, I remember now. Don't worry, he does shit in Dragons.

 

[Random Argument Man]

Playing through Mass effect 3 right now for the first time. Illusive Man passed from "For the best interest of humanity" to "HAR HAR HAR I'M EVIL KILL KILL".

I do not approve so far..

Good thing that the season 3 of Walking dead exists. God that season 2 took a long turn down the gutter.

 

[Saladfork]

Playing through Mass effect 3 right now for the first time. Illusive Man passed from "For the best interest of humanity" to "HAR HAR HAR I'M EVIL KILL KILL".

Well, he kind of had more of an excuse than most

Spoiler

Namely, Indoctrination

but I very much agree about any kind of villain that goes from "I have understandable goals that I truly believe will result in the greatest overall benefit possible" to "LAWL KILL TEH BABIES".

 

[Lionsfan]

I really really hated the turn JD took on Scrubs, pretty much that whole show pissed me off near the end, but he's the largest example.

He went from being a normal guy with some father-figure issues, and a little bit of a wimp, to a girly-girl "sensi" who can't handle more than one or two appletini's, and craving anything from Dr. Cox

 

[The Funslinger]

I really really hated the turn JD took on Scrubs, pretty much that whole show pissed me off near the end, but he's the largest example.

He went from being a normal guy with some father-figure issues, and a little bit of a wimp, to a girly-girl "sensi" who can't handle more than one or two appletini's, and craving anything from Dr. Cox

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's basically what I'm pissed they did to Ted, as I mentioned in the OP.

 

[lechat]

i agree on both JD and ted
they both started out as likeable but flawed characters and devolved into whiny little bitches that you no longer feel for because every bad thing that happens too them is a product of their own ridiculousness

 

[Ishal]

Commander Shepard in Dragon Age 2. Didn't like him and really didn't like his family.

 

[Oroboros]

For TV shows, Lyta from Babylon 5, in the fifth season. I was sympathetic towards the plight of the rogue telepaths up until the Byron story arc. By the end I felt myself more sympathetic towards Psycorps than the telepath underground. Bester and his thugs were horrible, horrible people, but the actions of Lyta and Byron's terrorist cult validated the reasons that psycorps was created in the first place. It's bad writing when Bester comes off looking better than the 'good guys'.

In Movies, I would say Kirk's character progression in Star Trek 2009. I didn't care for the adaptations of a lot of the characters in the movie, but I found Kirk to be especially irritating. He is an insufferable arrogant brat from beginning to end. Not only is his character bad, but there really isn't much character development at all, except to see what new lows of jerkiness he will sink to in the next ten minutes.

In Games, I would have to say the main character in Genforge 3. The Geneforge games lack an import feature for past game data. Seeing as they are indie games with a rather low budget, this is understandable, but no less irritating when starting up Geneforge 4and finding out that the 'canon' ending for G3 was that the protagonist joined the rebel faction in G3. The rebels are at their absolute least sympathetic over the span of the entire series in G3, IMO. Unlike the other games the player is only given the choice of two factions to side with. Compared with the Shaper faction, the rebel faction measure up horribly in just about every concievable measurement-morally, rewards, logic, etc. Considering that the protagonist starts off as a Shaper student, and their first encoutner with the rebels is them killing nearly everyone at the academy the protagonist is studying at-including almost all of the innocent, unarmed students-there is little concievable reason for the player to be anything other than hostile towards the rebels if they have even a hint of roleplaying sense. It was a baffling and irritating decision of Jeff vogel's part in my opinion- that marrs my enjoyment of what is otherwise my secodn favorite game in the series-knowing that unless I paly my character as an idiot and a psycopath, my playthroguh gets hit with the big rubber stamp of 'didn't happen' in the rest of the series.

Not necessarily unique to the series, but it does irritate the heck out of me when a game with a branching storyline lacks import data in the sequel/or vagueness on the events of the first game sufficinet to allow for more than one playstyle.

 

[Raine_sage]

I'd have to say Anders in Dragon Age 2. I got the DAO bundle pack which came with the what was it... Warden's Keep DLC? Eh the one where you have a castle and some cool side characters. Either way it was the first time I was introduced to Anders as a snarky, kind of world weary mage who just wants to get out from under the Templars and live however he damn well pleases. He was nice, if a bit prickly about some topics, and he liked kittens. All in all a pretty chill guy.

Aaaand then he goes nuts and decides the best way to show the templars that they shouldn't keep all the mages locked up, it to blow everyone to kingdom come. I don't hate DA2, but that was probably one of its biggest low points for me.