Good and Bad Instances of a Character's Popularity Affecting the Story (may contain spoilers)

The Blind Eternities forum

Posted on Aug. 3, 2017, 10:42 a.m. by DemonDragonJ

In any fictional story, it is only natural that some characters may become popular, and, sometimes, if a character becomes sufficiently popular, the writers notice that and may possibly alter their story to give that character greater prominence.

However, this occurrence can be either a positive or negative one, depending upon the nature of the character and how the increase in their prominence is executed. Therefore, I shall start a thread to discuss both good and bad instances in which a character's popularity affected the story in which they appeared. Although I am starting this thread in the literature section, it can be used to discuss any type of media.

First, I shall mention several instances where I believe that it was a very good thing that a character's popularity affected the story (covered with a spoiler tag for length).

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Next, I shall mention several instances where a character's popularity affecting the story was a negative occurrence, in my opinion.

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Now, I shall mention several instances where I feel that it may be either positive or negative that a character's popularity affected the story, depending upon the perspective of the viewer.

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What does everyone else say about this? What are some instances where you feel it was either good or bad that a character's popularity affected the storyline? I would recommend covering any plot-sensitive material in spoiler tags, and I eagerly await your responses.

Qolorful says... #2

There was an instance of the opposite of what your talking about in Star Wars as well (theoretically I might add, but with strong evidence to back it up if your interested) in which jar jar was intended to be a counterpart to Yoda, only as a Sith. It the first trilogy Yoda was introduced as a bit off, but ended up being a Jedi master. Jar jar was to be similar in style, but was so hated by the fans that they ditched that plot (supposedly) which I think was for the worse. Imagine jar jar and Yoda dueling in episode 2

August 3, 2017 10:53 a.m.

Gidgetimer says... #3

So to address the elephant in the room since apparently you didn't want to. The whole "Gatewatch" fiasco took a well written and interesting story and turned it into a "monster of the week" type, shallow, boring, predictable story. This was all in service to put the planeswalkers (or at least a group of them) front and center in the story because "people like planeswalkers".

August 3, 2017 10:59 a.m.

Qolorful says... #4

I do believe ixalan will not be featuring the gatewatch though, thanks bolas for kicking the absolute crap out of them! Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm fairly confident here

August 3, 2017 11:16 a.m.

Gidgetimer says... #5

From what I heard there were enough people voicing their opinion that the gatewatch ruined the story that they have decided to go back to how they told the story pre-BFZ.

August 3, 2017 11:25 a.m.

Qolorful says... #6

I'm hoping that's the case. I started playing during bfz so the gatewatch has been most of what I experienced throughout playing. I'm excited for non gatewatch planeswalkers, and non gatewatch story

August 3, 2017 11:27 a.m.

Dredge4life says... #7

The Gatewatch is still going to be central to the plot, but it won't be all five of them at the same time.

August 3, 2017 12:38 p.m.

Argy says... #8

Current Dr Who Spoiler Show

August 3, 2017 1 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #9

Fuck I was hoping to go back to a pre-gatewatch multiverse where central characters were actually in danger and not everything was solved with friendship, ex-machinas, and rainbow farts.

August 3, 2017 1:13 p.m.

maxon says... #10

I have yet to run into a problem that a rainbow fart can't fix.

August 3, 2017 2:39 p.m.

Qolorful says... #11

Apparently Bolas

August 3, 2017 2:44 p.m.

Dredge4life says... #12

Gidgetimer Such a fool you were to believe that anyone could defeat the Jacetice League!

August 3, 2017 2:49 p.m.

Fyi. Ixalan is likely to have some center on the gatewatch. Each member plansewalked away and so at least one is probably on ixalan.

August 3, 2017 5:48 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #14

Qolorful, I have heard some people joke about that, regarding Jar-Jar Binks, but I have never heard any credible sources say that he was supposed to be secretly a Sith. The Sith are ruthless, so they would never allow someone as moronic and incompetent as him to join their order, nor would any Sith ever deliberately pretend to be so incompetent, because they would consider doing so to be below their dignity.

August 3, 2017 6:28 p.m.

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