The difference between a 'likeable' and an 'interesting' character

[ARealArchaeologist]

I think it's more realistic to have characters who are interesting. It's not like there is one universally loved person, behavior, culture, morals, and perception color the characters (and real people for that matter).

[ciannwn]

I'm still struggling to find any of the SGU characters really interesting although I do find Greer sort of interesting. Maybe this is because the characters I found most interesting in SG-1 and SGA included only one contemporary Earth human - Jack O'Neill. The others were Bra'tac, Ba'al, Kolya and Todd.

[MelanieOZ]

Originally Posted by The Mighty 6 platoon

That we are great comrades but there's still plenty of interservice rivalry. Still this reminds me of a joke I heard

This came across the US Armed Forces Radio Station, Okinawa, in 1959.

"HELLLLLLOOOOOO Okinawa!!!!!

For all you civilian employees the time is now 4:30.

For you guys in the Army and Air Force that's 1630 hours.

For you guys in the Navy that's 8 bells.

For you Marines.....the big hand is on the 6 and the little hand is right in between the 4 and 5."

Old but still funny

Koyla was an interesting character, but there is no way you could like him. Todd the Wraith on the other hand was both, he was interesting in the begining, in the end he was really likable

[Bareassedmunky]

Originally Posted by MelanieOZ

Old but still funny

Koyla was an interesting character, but there is no way you could like him. Todd the Wraith on the other hand was both, he was interesting in the begining, in the end he was really likable

He would happily suck the life out of your body!

Every time he was on Atlantis, they had to have him chained up and in a cell...you don't do that to people you like!


This is what I am trying to get at. If someone would happily kill you, your mother, the man next door and everyone else they can...are they really likeable? Todd was interesting and fun to watch, but that does not make someone likeable...unless you are a german who likes to be eaten!

[MelanieOZ]

That was my meaning, yes in the begining, you didn't feel safe around him, but towards the end, he got more liberties, and he actually made an effort with the retro virus, even though it failed. I think he genuinely was tired of the Wraith sucking cycle

[Sealurk]

Originally Posted by Bareassedmunky

This is what I am trying to get at. If someone would happily kill you, your mother, the man next door and everyone else they can...are they really likeable? Todd was interesting and fun to watch, but that does not make someone likeable...unless you are a german who likes to be eaten!

I suppose the problem can arise because even evil and dangerous characters can be likeable purely because of their charm. Some of the most evil people who've ever existed exuded charm - and it was this charm that sometimes allowed them to do what they wanted.

[Bareassedmunky]

Originally Posted by Sealurk

I suppose the problem can arise because even evil and dangerous characters can be likeable purely because of their charm. Some of the most evil people who've ever existed exuded charm - and it was this charm that sometimes allowed them to do what they wanted.

The fact that hitler was a charming orator does not excuse anybody who supported them. Even if he was the life of the party, he was still an extremely unlikeable individual if you knew the full truth about him.

I think the confusion is between likeable to know, and likeable to watch. I'd put the likeable to watch in the interesting category if they are not likeable to know.

[Sealurk]

Originally Posted by Bareassedmunky

The fact that hitler was a charming orator does not excuse anybody who supported them. Even if he was the life of the party, he was still an extremely unlikeable individual if you knew the full truth about him.

I think the confusion is between likeable to know, and likeable to watch. I'd put the likeable to watch in the interesting category if they are not likeable to know.

Just for clarification, I wasn't thinking about Hitler - I wasn't even considering individual examples, but I know they exist (I was thinking more along the lines of certain murderers).

But your point still stands, however I'd say things differ when you're considering fictional characters. There are characters in fiction who could be considered the most evil people ever, but because they are imaginary people don't feel repulsed by them. Because these characters are fictional, people know they haven't actually done any of the abhorrent things that are attributed to them and so don't judge them the way real life murderers and tyrants would be judged.

[Soledat]

Originally Posted by Bareassedmunky

He would happily suck the life out of your body!

But he saved John Sheppard, so he's not a life-sucking psycho. He just needs human energy to survive and can't starve himself to death just because he's more tolerant towards human race.

Every time he was on Atlantis, they had to have him chained up and in a cell...you don't do that to people you like!

It depends if you talking about liking character by other characters or by fans?

Even if you think about other characters, Todd ended up being liked by Sheppard, McKay, and even Ronon, with all his hate towards Wraith - managed to cooperate with him.

This is what I am trying to get at. If someone would happily kill you, your mother, the man next door and everyone else they can...are they really likeable? Todd was interesting and fun to watch, but that does not make someone likeable...unless you are a german who likes to be eaten!

A pig likes you, even if you kill all her family

[The Mighty 6 platoon]

Originally Posted by Soledat

But he saved John Sheppard, so he's not a life-sucking psycho. He just needs human energy to survive and can't starve himself to death just because he's more tolerant towards human race.




It depends if you talking about liking character by other characters or by fans?

Even if you think about other characters, Todd ended up being liked by Sheppard, McKay, and even Ronon, with all his hate towards Wraith - managed to cooperate with him.

They cooperated with him because it was in their best interests, they don’t like him. Hell Sheppard told him he would kill him without hesitation or remorse if he screwed them over one little bit in EATG. That’s not usually how you treat people you like.

[Bareassedmunky]

Originally Posted by Sealurk

Just for clarification, I wasn't thinking about Hitler - I wasn't even considering individual examples, but I know they exist (I was thinking more along the lines of certain murderers).

But your point still stands, however I'd say things differ when you're considering fictional characters. There are characters in fiction who could be considered the most evil people ever, but because they are imaginary people don't feel repulsed by them. Because these characters are fictional, people know they haven't actually done any of the abhorrent things that are attributed to them and so don't judge them the way real life murderers and tyrants would be judged.

I only mentioned hitler because it was an extreme example of the point I was making.

Your point about fictional vrs non-fiction likeability is an interesting one. It must be a question of how much suspension of disbelief you have. The more you have, the more you can empathise with the fictional victims in the same way you would in the real world. The less you have, the more you realise that as the victims aren't real people, then the less you will find their evil actions as being relevant to your overall perception of them.

Originally Posted by Soledat

But he saved John Sheppard, so he's not a life-sucking psycho. He just needs human energy to survive and can't starve himself to death just because he's more tolerant towards human race.

Should we just allow lions to roam the city streets, eating whoever they want?

It depends if you talking about liking character by other characters or by fans?

I've dealt with that since the post you are quoting, so I won't repeat myself

Even if you think about other characters, Todd ended up being liked by Sheppard, McKay, and even Ronon, with all his hate towards Wraith - managed to cooperate with him.

Like Mighty 6 platoon said, they only ever suspended hostilities when there was a greater good to be achieved. I actually think the writers realised that they had made Todd too cuddly, and in later episodes intentionally had Sheppard make noticeably strong comments about how little he trusted him to try to undo the perception in the audience that he was a god guy.

A pig likes you, even if you kill all her family

In this analogy...am I the pig?


Last time I checked, I was a little smarter than a pig...

Spoiler:

not by much, but a little

[Soledat]

Originally Posted by Bareassedmunky

Should we just allow lions to roam the city streets, eating whoever they want?

If you gave exaple like this... Should we kill all lions because they are potentially dangerous. Can we label them as murderers because they kill to live?
This was my point I never said that we should welcome Wraith to feast on us. No matter how much I like Wraith.

I've dealt with that since the post you are quoting, so I won't repeat myself

I know, it was more to other people, who join in and the problem resurfaces again.

Like Mighty 6 platoon said, they only ever suspended hostilities when there was a greater good to be achieved. I actually think the writers realised that they had made Todd too cuddly, and in later episodes intentionally had Sheppard make noticeably strong comments about how little he trusted him to try to undo the perception in the audience that he was a god guy.

I considered what you said and yes, you're right. But I think that Sheppard had a nice spot for Todd even if he wasn't about to admit it. Just my tiny little feeling that he had.

In this analogy...am I the pig?

It's my miserable English again I think

My point was more like that: If you own a bunch of pigs and kill most of them, the ones you left will still like you, despite what you did.

It wasn't my intention to insult you in any way, so no offence please

Last time I checked, I was a little smarter than a pig...

And than me also, becuase your English is way much better than mine. There are moments when I feel dumb. Being misunderstood by you was one of them.

[MIZA]

well i don't like Greer on SGU he is kind of a jerk, but the actor who is playing him as a jerk is awesome , thats how i think about it !!

[MelanieOZ]

This is not exactly a character, but I suppose he/she will develop a personality over time. The Destiny, would have to be the ugliest ship to come out of Stragate, but it is interesting though, so I guess I'll get to like it

[SoulRe@ver]

Originally Posted by MelanieOZ

The Destiny, would have to be the ugliest ship to come out of Stragate

oh

[MelanieOZ]

Originally Posted by SoulRe@ver

oh

Well it is

[SoulRe@ver]

Originally Posted by MelanieOZ

Well it is

hey it's ok. everyone can have their own taste - or lack thereof. we're still a free society :|

[MelanieOZ]

I used to think the Ori toilet bowls were ugly, but compared to Destiny, they are almost pretty

[SoulRe@ver]

ori ships are not toilets !

[Sgt Detritus]

Originally Posted by Lid

To me a likeable character does the right thing. Interesting characters make me say"Whats wrong with that person and and i want to know why the characters so messed up.

Originally Posted by Iffy

I rather liked Greer when he floored Spencer. He's Young's man and Greer realizes that one loud mouth is all it takes to get people riled up.

Lid, that's part of the reason why Spencer is one of my favourite characters.

Iffy, I really started to dislike Greer when he knocked out Spencer