What's a "Likeable" Character?

[Emperor-of-Dragons]

I feel that trying to figure this out is rather dubious. I mean how many people in your personal everyday life are actually likeable? lol. I think people want these puritanical morally white characters that has no offensive flaws. But then also you'll have people who hate characters for very superficial reasons. That's not getting into the subtle and not so subtle racist/sexist undertones about certain characters, cause that's a different can of worms. So who is a likeable character? i think characters in dramas tend to face this problem the most. Superheroes seems to kinda avoid this, so does action heroes for some reason. Some of the latter are definitely not likeable characters. I know there's such a thing as a character you love to hate, but i'm referring to likeable as a person.

[DrNewGod]

I feel that trying to figure this out is rather dubious. I mean how many people in your personal everyday life are actually likeable? lol. I think people want these puritanical morally white characters that has no offensive flaws. But then also you'll have people who hate characters for very superficial reasons. That's not getting into the subtle and not so subtle racist/sexist undertones about certain characters, cause that's a different can of worms. So who is a likeable character? i think characters in dramas tend to face this problem the most. Superheroes seems to kinda avoid this, so does action heroes for some reason. Some of the latter are definitely not likeable characters. I know there's such a thing as a character you love to hate, but i'm referring to likeable as a person.

At this point in The Big Two, almost every character has been put thru an arc (no matter how out of character) that undermines their likability.

[Madam-Shogun-Assassin]

I personally think people project their own prejudices and pet peeves onto characters. I also noticed that people tend to get frustrated with nuanced characters more than none nuanced characters. Reminds me of people hating on Olly from Game of Thrones, even though i felt he didn't deserve it.

[Powerboy]

Right now, I'm watching "Jessica Jones" season 2 but also watching "The Six Million Dollar Man" on DVDs. I think characters from old shows are more likeable because they tend to have few if any flaws and if they do have any, they are mild and totally relatable. Of course, there is an opposite extreme of characters who are totally deconstructed and that has to be done very carefully and not give the impression it's just for shock value. For instance, I think it works for Jessica Jones, probably because it's only the 2nd season, there are 13 episodes per season and quite some time between seasons. It doesn't work as well for Oliver Queen because there's a point where it happens so many times in so many ways that it just feels like melodrama.

But I do think some of the reasons for hating characters are silly but I do think a lot of us would prefer just a straight forward character in a straight forward adventure once in a while.

[Zodlike]

I personally think people project their own prejudices and pet peeves onto characters. I also noticed that people tend to get frustrated with nuanced characters more than none nuanced characters.

This is especially true today.

My personal view doesn't involve itself with the world of 'likes' and 'dislikes'. By which I mean, the socially engineered pseudo-reality of the screened-out world has come to dominate everything culturally, and this is not a good thing. It has led so-called 'fans' to hate comic books and their creators, demonstrably and disingenuously pretending to 'like' comics but doing everything they can online and IRL to undermine the medium and destroy its essence.

A good character has something ineffable about him or her, and has depth. You may or may not 'like' such a character, but still admit they are a good creation, or that they have admirable qualities.

It's not a liberal-v-conservative thing, either. At this stage, neither side can tolerate ambivalence or nuance of opinion or artistic taste.

[Emperor-of-Dragons]

Right now, I'm watching "Jessica Jones" season 2

That's actually a great example, along with the Game of Thrones one mentioned earlier. Those shows along with The Walking Dead are probably great poster children for this convo. I feel like certain characters fit their respective universes and their motivations, and sentiments makes sense. I think it only becomes a issue if the writers ignore the flaws of said characters and there's no "consequences" i guess (like Trish Walker from the aforementioned Jessica Jones). But even then i have seen TONS of liked characters get away with absolute murder just because they're popular. So there's a lot of double standards at play as well.

[MyriVerse]

I feel that trying to figure this out is rather dubious. I mean how many people in your personal everyday life are actually likeable? lol. I think people want these puritanical morally white characters that has no offensive flaws. But then also you'll have people who hate characters for very superficial reasons. That's not getting into the subtle and not so subtle racist/sexist undertones about certain characters, cause that's a different can of worms. So who is a likeable character? i think characters in dramas tend to face this problem the most. Superheroes seems to kinda avoid this, so does action heroes for some reason. Some of the latter are definitely not likeable characters. I know there's such a thing as a character you love to hate, but i'm referring to likeable as a person.

I don't think likeability has much at all to do with the morals or ethics of a character. For instance, I find Kate Bishop to be thoroughly unlikable, but I don't question her morals or ethics. I just find her personality grating and obnoxious. On the other hand, I'm cool with most of the antiheroes.

And I think most people in my everyday life are fairly likable. I cannot even remember the last person I ran into that I didn't like. Of course, most of these people I really don't have to tolerate for long periods. I don't think this is a very relevant thing to the topic, however, because I'm not buying anything about them with which to be entertained, nor do I look for aspects of my everyday life in my entertainment. I generally want the opposite of my everyday life in my entertainment. But I do generally want to watch and read about people I enjoy watching and reading about. Should be obvious, no? Exposing myself to unlikable things strikes me as sort of masochistic. I'm not going to listen to music I don't like. So why read about characters I don't like?

[Madam-Shogun-Assassin]

I don't think likeability has much at all to do with the morals or ethics of a character. For instance, I find Kate Bishop to be thoroughly unlikable, but I don't question her morals or ethics.

Of course, like i said earlier there's a lot of pet peeves involved imo. Something me and my sister discussed about how black female characters tend to be disliked. I'm just of the opinion it's hard to write good characters that aren't a WASPY male bad ass. So that excludes Kids, teenagers, minorities and women.

[Blastaar]

Likeable always = relatable imo.

[Madam-Shogun-Assassin]

black female characters are always either hated or complained about. Detective Joss Carter from person of interest, Tara from true blood, Bonnie Bennett from the vampire diaries, Mercedes from Glee, Martha Jones from Dr Who, Rochelle from Left4Dead, Sheva from resident Evil 5, Sasha Monroe from Third Watch,

Sasha Williams from the Walking Dead


Michonne from The Walking Dead is the only exception…so far, and Lisa Marie Turtle, but her character was originally going to be white so…

[MajorHoy]

Defining "likeable" characters is like defining obscenity.

As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said, "I know it when I see it."

[Emperor-of-Dragons]

Defining "likeable" characters is like defining obscenity.

As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said, "I know it when I see it."

it's not PORN, IT'S ART DAMN IT!!!

[MajorHoy]

it's not PORN, IT'S ART DAMN IT!!!

One humanoid's "ART" is another humanoid's "Keeping Up with the Kardashians".

[dancj]

black female characters are always either hated or complained about. Detective Joss Carter from person of interest, Tara from true blood, Bonnie Bennett from the vampire diaries, Mercedes from Glee, Martha Jones from Dr Who, Rochelle from Left4Dead, Sheva from resident Evil 5, Sasha Monroe from Third Watch,

Sasha Williams from the Walking Dead

Did people dislike Sasha? She's a bit bland, but completely inoffensive. I thought the hate in The Walking Dead was mainly reserved for Andrea.