Here is my issue with the protagonists’ dying trope · 2:39am May 19th, 2022
Hello, guys. Mr. J here.
This is something that I’ve been thinking for a while now, and it’s always been something that constantly bothers me in most films and tv shows I’ve seen so far. It seems that writers are obsessed with having the main character die until they instantly come back to life for plot-related reasons or just because it’s a kids show. In my opinion, it’s one of the most overused and poorly written tropes I’ve ever seen play out in animation and in fiction. To me, it lessens the impact of the sacrifice or the death of the main character (or any other character) and makes it of none effect. Because what’s the point of killing off the character if they’re gonna come back anyway?
I know that death is something we don’t look forward to in reality, but it is part of life whether we like it or not. But that besides the point. When it comes to fiction, it can be played out however the writers decide it should play out. However, there are still boundaries and rules that have to be established in order to further ground that fictitious universe. Yes, it’s a cartoon made for kids, but it still has to make sense so it doesn’t treat its target audience like idiots. When it comes to killing off a character—especially the main character—it has to be both well-written and earned after a full series of character development and growth. Some people may disagree with me for saying this, but I prefer that characters stay dead rather than being brought back to life for no valid reason.
Look at Mufasa from The Lion King: he was sadistically killed off which sparked sorrow from millions of people, especially children, and expressed anger towards Scar. That was impactful, and it remained that way because he wasn’t brought back to life by some bullshit Disney magic (even though he is seen again as a spirit, he is still physically dead).
Unfortunately, there is an overuse of killing off characters until they later on come back to life. That’s what happened with Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Optimus Prime from The Transformers, Joe from Pixar’s Soul, Anne from Amphibia, etc. I really hate that trope. Why can’t we have characters stay dead anymore? In my opinion, it will cause children to have a wrong view on death in general and not be prepared for it in the future. Because in real life, death isn’t something where you can kiss a girl in her sleep (eww) and she comes back to life, cry over a dead body until tears drop on the corpse which magically resurrects the dead person, or go to heaven where a heavenly being says that you are the chosen one and that your time hasn’t come yet or whatever. It’s none of that cliche stuff. It’s overrated and bad writing overall.
That’s just my two cents on this topic. Feel free to disagree and explain your argument, but this is something that always bothered me ever since I’ve watched classic Disney movies or cartoons that just felt the need to use this trope time and time again. It’s so annoying.
At least Starscream has an excuse....
You okay, buddy?
5658414
5658423
Yipe
Optimus did stay dead...until Hasbro needed him back for merch.
Anne...I'd probably be split upon but harmless.
Palpatine...okay, I've not seen the last of the sequel trilogy but I imagine it was done via dumb.
Though...if you hate this trope, you're going to hate this girl (unfortunate as I adore her): static.wikia.nocookie.net/codelyoko/images/e/ec/AelitaThenAndNow.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130324170210
5658424
Ah, don’t be intimidated by him. Bill Cipher’s nothing but an overgrown and annoying baby no matter how tough he makes himself seem.
5658451
Yep
Some comic book characters only come back to life, because their writers and fans DEMAND that they do so:
By the way, I believe that the most insulting instance of Optimus Prime coming back to life was the first season of Robots in Disguise.
The most unsurprising one was Revenge of the Fallen.
Well, I have no problem of some characters dying and coming back to life. I can understand where you are coming from.
5658481
I’m aware of that, and often their reasons for doing so are fucking stupid and petty.
Huh. While going to college, a car bumped against mine and dad (don´t worry we´re ok but we have to fix the car). In class, our teacher talked about death. And now you talk about death too. What´s going today?
Now seriously, I am guilty of having used this trope, but I also agree with you. Kids are way smarter than we think and are mature enough to handle death. The reason why our teacher was talking about death was because in our profession there´s a chance that we work with patients with cancer and the topic of death is very common. She actually worked with kids with cancer, and some of them didn´t make it. And she told us that while scared and hopeless, they confronted death with acceptance. Death is a part of life and children need and deserve to learn about it. And us grown ups need to be conscious about it too.
5658451
Late reply, I know, but what’s your opinion on this subject I brought up?
5667484
Honestly, I’m incredibly unsure.
On one hand, I can see where you’re coming from. On another hand, though…it reminds me of how many characters I know of that I’m actually glad didn’t stay dead in the long run. It’s mainly because I’d either feel that it wouldn’t be the right way for their arcs to be concluded or it’d seem unnatural. There are even characters that I’ve grown to love so much that I could hardly stand the thought of them dying, and the only times I’d be okay with that happening are if it’d play out naturally and logically.
Heck, regardless of Palpatine being a villain, I was actually happy that he returned for the ninth Star Wars film. With how much the series’s world and beliefs were modeled after Buddhism, I’d be surprised if he didn’t. Something about how he died in the 6th movie also left me feeling dissatisfied, because I couldn’t help but wish more was done with him.
He was built up to be the very big bad of the series, and yet his story ends in the 6th movie in just the simple blink of an eye? Why?
5667569
At least there’s the prequels and The Clone Wars to give him more screen-time.
5667576
I know that, but still…
After all that, don’t you think his character arc should’ve been concluded in a way that was much more gratifying? Like a climactic battle?
5667577
No.
5667578
Well, I would, I’ll tell you that.
Basically, I was left underwhelmed by how everything seemed to end for him in the 6th film. It made me think little of him as a villain and not take him as seriously as Darth Vader.
5667581
You must be a big fan of him, huh?
5667582
Which character?
5667583
We’re literally talking about Palpatine. Are you a fan of him?
5667587
Well, he’s certainly among my top favorite villains.
5667588
Uh-huh. I see.
5667590
I think among the reasons for why he’s on the list is because his role and personality reflects that of a great many politicians in this world. Politicians that are corrupt and will often try to puppeteer things in order to have constant control and advantage over everything.
5667591
*groan*
5667596
To change the subject…
When it comes to what characters I would like to see be killed and stay dead, Sprout Cloverleaf is definitely one of them.
5667598
Sounds like you are obsessed with him. If you truly hated him, you would treat him like he’s non-existent just like how you treat Jerry Wang as non-existent.
Hmm, do you have a crush on Sprout?
5667599
Nah. I just really hate him.
Then again, part of that comes from how anti-G5 I am.
5667602
You won’t stop talking about him. He lives in your head rent-free!
5667603
Well, can you really blame me?
Any kind of movie or character I have an absolute hatred or dislike for tends to get stuck in my head forever. It’s hard not to get overly obsessive about it, especially when I feel as though there’s a seething anger inside of me that’s hard to dispel.
5667604
Hmmm, gooooood. Let the hate flow through you. Palpatine would be proud of you.
5667607
Yes, my lord.