Characters in Movies/TV Shows

Annnnnnd we're coming in after midnight again. What else is new?

This is the final post of Character Week, and I'm ending it with some of my favorites from movies and TV.

Last post, I struggled to fill the spots with appropriate characters. This week, I'm struggling to cut my list down to five! Due to the mass amount of characters I love, I'm going to add a focus on variety for this list.

Yada yada yada, only the last spot as any significance, yada yada yada.

Here we go!

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Tristan Thorn

(Stardust)
I tried, for the most part, to keep characters from film-based movies off this list. The film Stardust, however, is different enough that I don't feel bad including it (that, and this is my blog, so bite me). Also, it's one of the very few movies that I enjoy more than the written story.

Tristan starts out as a boy who thinks he is in love. We follow him on his journey when he grows into a man that knows he is in love. This journey just happens to take him to the mystical land of Stormhold, where all sorts of magical crap happens.

I like Tristan because his transformation from shop boy to swashbuckler was done so well and, despite the universe it is set in, feels plausible. He has his whiny moments and his badass moments and the latter far outweighs the former. He's a character you love to love, and his history, while not the biggest twist, is still fun to see revealed.

Shop boy...

...Swashbuckler.

Donnie Darko

(Donnie Darko)

I did say disturbed, right?

Donnie is a disturbed young man. He's on medication (when he feels like it), but it doesn't stop his friend Frank, the giant bunny-thing, from visiting him. Donnie does what Frank says and ends up causing a lot of well-deserved ruckus in his small town. Frank being a product of time travel or a damaged psyche is debatable but, whatever the truth, makes for a very interesting dynamic in Donnie's development.

Donnie feels like that slightly odd friend you know. When we see him interact with other characters, we see a good guy that doesn't always know how to express himself, or at least express himself appropriately.

He decides to try and unravel the mystery Frank presents him with while making or building on connections with friends, and it is a rare movie that has a hazy plot even at the end but, due to the character, is still worthwhile.

This is one of my favorite movies, and I've watched it many times. I never get tired of the character of Donnie.

Rory Gilmore

(Gilmore Girls)
Rory was a character I pretty much wanted to be growing up. She was smart, polite, and driven. She was also female, but that's not part of it.

Rory is on this list because I connected with her having an unusual family dynamic and being in a generally different head space than the rest of her family, yet still maintaining strong relationships. She also interacts
with a host of different characters that were all interesting and dynamic, and all of which made Rory more interesting and more dynamic by being around.

Best mother/daughter relationship ever?

Also, Rory is a reader. I don't read quite as much as I used to, but that was a big connection I made to the character when watching the show as a younger person. This is now one of the few shows I own physical copies of every season, and it is completely worth it.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood

(Trigun)
I've spoken about Trigun before, so I won't go too long into this.

I love Wolfwood because he is a walking, talking, contradiction. He's a good guy on a bad guy's mission, he's an immoral priest, he seems to hate everyone yet runs an orphanage, he loves Milly but stays aloof, and respects Vash yet disagrees with him most of all.

Physically, Wolfwood fills the "badass" role for me. Dark glasses, a preacher's suit, and a giant cross that is really an armory/weapon, finished off with a crushed up, lit cigarette.

I'm half tempted to make Trigun my first mange read, simply because it deals with the character so much differently than the anime. That being said, the only flaw with the anime is that it takes so long for Wolfwood to be introduced.

Agent Dale Cooper

(Twin peaks)
Like Trigun, I've spoken about Twin Peaks before.

Agent Cooper is, in a word, eccentric. In three words, he's really friggin' eccentric. He mixes intuition, mysticism, and a youthful optimism that really should be fitting on an FBI agent, but it works. When his dreams say something, even garbled nonsense, he listens. And then tells Diane via recorder.

The first season of Twin Peaks introduced us to Agent Cooper and his unusual ways, and it is a masterpiece. The second season becomes mired in a convoluted series of plot twists and shunts that really killed the series. That being said, even the second season is worth watching, if only so you can spend more time with Agent Dale Cooper and the sleepy town of Twin Peaks.

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As a member of many fandoms, including Supernatural, Sherlock, Doctor Who and more, NOT including any characters from those shows feels wrong. In all of those series, however, there are too many awesome characters to settle on just one. I think I'll work on a fandom series soon enough, so stay tuned for that.

Other than that, who are some of your favorite characters in movies and television? Let me know in the comments!

Characters in Video Games

You though I forgot, didn't ya! ... oh, crap. It's after midnight.

Ok, fine, I forgot.

Same style as Monday, only this time we're talking about my favorite characters in video games. I realize this is probably going to be more difficult, simply because I normally play games for their stories, which does NOT always mean they have good characters -- for example, Bioshock's character is a silent protagonist who literally makes maybe one choice for himself the entire time (and even that's debatable). So... Well, here we go.

And remember, these are five of my favorites in no specific order other than the fifth slot is the best of the best.

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Cole MacGrath

inFamous 2 Cole. I've already got the bag...

(inFamous series)
Cole is a bit of a gruff hero, even when following the canonical light side path in the two games. He's on this list for three reasons:

Lightning powers are awesome, and the way he gets them is beyond interesting.

His reactions to events in the world around him are interesting, if not always unique. And he gets put through a lot of crap that would make many characters get all emotional. He just keeps zapping away, but it doesn't feel as if the game lacks emotion; it's simply fueling something more. And his drive to become stronger is a multi-faceted one that I respect, which isn't something I can say about a lot of characters.

If I ever do make it out to San Diego Comic Con, this is who I will most likely cosplay as. Word.

Yu Narukami

(Persona 4)
Ok, technically this character is only awesome because he's a composite of his relationships with the other wonderful characters in this game but, since I can't pick all of them (it's the [arbitrary] rule), I'm sticking with Yu.

He's forced to live with his uncle and cousin during the school year while his parents are away, and he is thrown into a new school, a new social climate, and a new mystery at every turn. Even though the player chooses Yu's responses, any number of them make for a slick, cool character that is in control and a focal point for the lovely supporting cast.

Maybe not my favorite looking character, but that's ok.

His family, Dojima and Nanako, is a strong bond in particular that really helps to articulate an otherwise silent character. Special note: most of his cast, while falling into an anime-style harem, is made up of some pretty badass female characters, which this list is severely lacking.

Link

Silent(ish) but deadly.

(Zelda series)
Link is the only silent protagonist I think fits on this list for me. Yes, he's quiet, but in this case it feels like he's
a man on a mission more than a stand vessel for the player's reaction. Link gets shit done like a dutiful soldier in his perpetual battle to defeat the darkness and save Zelda. Or Hyrule. Or Midna. Or...

His iconic tools also add to this character, and he was a personal favorite in the Smash Bros. games.

As a deep character, Link comes up a bit short, but not every character needs to have a psych profile hundreds of pages long. The strong silent type works for the man in green.

Minsc & Boo

Crazy made corporeal.

(Baldur's Gate series)
This is a duet because they wouldn't have it any other way. Having recently played some Baldur's Gate for the first time, I was immediately thrilled to meet Minsc & Boo. Minsc is an insane tank-style warrior. Boo is his "miniature giant space hamster" and is a plug for the craziness that can only arise in a pen and paper format.

Minsc... is another character that lacks depth. That being said, he's the most batshit insane character you never want to leave your side, which really does reflect on any good D&D group.

This is also the only example of a non-player character on this list, which is intentional -- if I was to dig
through supporting casts, you'd find a lot of Bioware characters up here, me thinks.

Darth Revan

(Knights of the Old Republic series)
If you haven't played the first KotOR game, there are MAJOR SPOILERS in the section below. You've been warned.

Darth Revan is awesome on many levels. When you first learn about him, he's a badass looking Sith master who, along with his apprentice Malak, almost took over the entire galaxy. Of course, he apparently went down in a blaze of glory when Malak betrayed him, but that's not important because, before that, Revan was able to discover dark side secrets and mysteries of the galaxy that gave him incredible power.

That you later learn that the player character IS a mind-wiped Revan, the awesome factor is kicked up to a scale of eleven. And what does the newly reminded Revan get to do? Bring some lightsaber-to-the-face revenge against his Mr. Clean looking former apprentice.

As a plus here, Revan has decently flushed out Light and Dark choices (even if the darker ones are NOT Bioware's best work), meaning the character can grow into two distinct personalities, both of which are awesome in their own right (though only the Light side is canon).

Revan as seen in The Old Republic MMO.

The Revan mythos has been expanded in comics, novels, and The Old Republic MMO. These additions generally detract a bit from the badassery of Revan, but not enough to dethrone him from the spot as my favorite video game character to date.

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So, I found an even bigger problem than I thought in doing this list! Most of the games I play are strategy games, which don't always have to have interesting characters! And the RPGs I've played, unfortunately, didn't have any standouts for me. I have a strong feeling I'll love Cloud and Sephiroth from FF7, but I haven't gotten far enough in the game yet!

I'll have to do another round of these with supporting cast, or possibly play some of the many suggestions I have for games with great characters (looking at you, Metal Gear Solid!), but for now, I'm happy with this list for the first (to-be-annual) Character Week!

Characters in Literature

You thought I forgot, didn't ya?! Well I didn't, here's part one of three for Character Week.

I'm going back to my old Top Five style, where the order doesn't matter except for the last slot meaning best of the best.

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Scarlet Spider/Ben Reilly 

(Several comic books series)

Hopefully making a comeback!

If you didn't except to see some Scarlet Spider love here, you're new. I love Spider-Man. I love that Peter Parker is a relatable guy who just happens to be able to do whatever a spider can. He has girl problems, money problems, and bad guy problems.

Ben Reilly, if you didn't know, is his clone. During the '90s, when Marvel was trying to retire Peter Parker (the first time, anyway), they brought in Ben. He has a tormented past and, due to more plot twists than you can shake a stick at, identity issues. Marvel played around with him being the real Peter Parker, just replaced years prior.

I espeically enjoyed Ben because he was everything Peter was, but with a darker tint. When he fought characters like Venom or Carnage, he had his own reasons for doing so and his own approach. He was a damaged character that did his damnedest to do right.

Also, I loved his Scarlet Spider AND Spider-Man costumes.

Corwin of Amber 

(The Amber Chronicles)
If you have no idea who this is, I forgive you. The Amber Chronicles are a series of books written by Roger Zelazny. One of his other characters, Jack of Shadows, almost took this spot, but Corwin pulled ahead by having one of the most interesting introductions ever.

Gotta love that cover art.

Well. Most interesting cliche introduction, anyway, because we meet Corwin when he's waking up in a hospital bed with amnesia. The thing is, amnesia doesn't stop our boy from being suspicious of everything, and we follow him along as he breaks out of the hospital and, using proto-Jason Bourne skills, slowly discovers the truth about who he is.

And THAT'S when shit really hits the fan. Corwin is a Prince of Amber, one of the two "real" worlds. Everywhere else, including our Earth, is a "shadow," a twisted, shaped reflection or refraction of the two real worlds. And we learnt his all through Corwin as he stumbles blindly into a fantastical world of literally infinite possibility.

When Corwin does get his memories back, we find out that he actually blows Jason Bourne out of the water in regards to awesomeness. His character continues to evolve in the five novels that follow him (and the others he appears in) and, while it does get pretty weird, it still makes for an engaging character you support the entire journey, even when he's a revenge-seeking tyrany-wannabe. Or a blind prisoner, confined for years. Or when he... Well... I don't want to spoil anything more. Read the books, they're amazing, and 90% of that awesomeness is pure Corwin.

David Rice 

(Jumper)

David as I know him, sorry Hayden.

While the movie ruined the character, it still didn't tarnish my love for the literary David Rice. This is another example of a damaged boy getting great powers, but the novel follows David in such a way that it feels completely new.

David's father is abusive. This and David's attempt at running away cause him to "jump" for the first time. Then we get to follow a broken boy on a journey by himself to discover himself and a world where he can, maybe, be happy. It's not always easy, but it is always interesting.

Teleportation is my power of choice, and this novel sets up a character that will explore this ability, his past, and the future with a wonderful sense of reality.

And, in the two books of the series that I've read (have yet to read the recently released third), there are no Paladins, no Samuel L. Jackson character, and there IS an engaging romance.

The novel, mainly due to David, is also an easy read targeted to young adults. I'd suggest this for anyone at any age, however.

Lazarus Long 

(Multiple novels by Robert A. Heinlein)
Lazarus is a strange character. He has an excessively long lifespan that allows him to go on many adventures (and create enough progeny that he's almost related to everyone). I wouldn't want to pin him down in one novel, simply because his story is so widespread, but Time Enough for Love is a good sample of the strange character and the even stranger settings he's put in.

Yeah, they're probably related.

The biggest draw to Lazarus is his completely unapologetic outlook on life. He does what he wants, when he wants to and, as long as it fits with his arbitrarily defined morals, it's all kosher. His life, lasting over thousands of years, has had lots of impacts, and the best part about the character is watching him as he bounces along the universe like a stone across water, leaving spreading ripples in his wake.

If you want an unusual character involved in time travel, parallel dimensions, and the undying pursuit of free love, look no further, you've found your man. And many of his children. And possibly a clone or two. Oh, and his mother who he... oh. Well. Let's leave that at that.

Julian "Bean" Delphiki 

(Ender's series)
I've mentioned this before, but I read Ender's Shadow BEFORE reading Ender's Game. Because of this, I was slightly disappointed by Bean's portrayal in the actual origin novel, and I'm concerned with how my favorite character of all time will be shown on the big screen.

You wish they'd stay this small...

Bean is my favorite character simply because of his precocious personality. His bizarre back story helps, but we get to follow Bean as he grows up (and up and up) and watch his personality shaped by the people and
events around him, even as he knows that he is easily smarter than them all. His intelligence his unparalleled due to a genetic manipulation that also puts him on a quick path to a very young death. We see him in the beginning of the Ender saga, but then he heads back to earth and an entire series follows him, his friends, and his family.

I think I enjoyed Bean so much because I actually felt smarter while reading his thoughts, seeing the way he inferred large amounts of detail with very little evidence and, even more so, catching on to things slightly before this massive intellect given body did, simply due to an almost-unseen naivete.

One other thing that made Bean especially great, even when compared to Ender, was his arch-nemesis, Achilles. Their relation far outshines many rivalries I've come to enjoy, and I voraciously read any scene that promised the two going head to head.

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Well, there you have it. I know I'm leaving out plenty of characters, but I'm very happy with this selection for the first Character Week on the Arbitrary Nerd.


Special shout out to (pretty much) the entire cast of Saga. It's still early in the series life, but I love Marko, Alana, the in-laws, The Will, Lying Cat, and many others. There isn't a single character I dislike popping up across the panels.

Special! Next Week is "Character Week" on the Arbitrary Nerd.

I know it's been awhile since I've done a themed week or even posted mutliple times during a week, but I've been busy, so you'll have to forgive me.

Or not. That's ok too.

This week, I'll be looking into my favorite comic books/novels, video games, and movies/TV shows based on the characters in them. Some of these won't be the first time they've been talked about on the blog, but I'll be focusing more on the given characters than their books/game/movie.

Monday will be from novels and comic books.

Wednesday will be from video games.

Friday will be from movies and TV shows.

Stay tuned and be ready to discuss your favorite characters!