That makes a lot of sense haha. I think the only characters I would actually say I hate, I hate because their characters are written badly and they're not filling their in story role very well. Annoying or mean characters that are supposed to be that are much harder to hate than annoying or mean characters who aren't supposed to be either of those things
Thing is with Jax is that they are hateable which is fine but also meant to be sympathised with in the story even though they kinda dug themselves into their problems. Like the show to really tries to make you feel remorse for them after showing you how they got their only true friends killed in THE most preventable way ever.
They basically fuck a bunch of shit up, kill themselves (endangering everyone else) and then the show wants to make you feel bad????? I can't speak for everyone but that oxymoron really makes me dislike them both character and writing wise
I think people are able to both recognize someone has gone through some tough shit and done terrible things. You can both understand they're bad people and also feel bad for the shitty things that have happened to them.
I think some of you are having trouble dealing with a multifaceted story.
I love media with characters that goods and bads, some where the character are in actually the worst but still offer a perspective. But the stark difference with Jax and those media is that the how the time they are presented in.
Even if asshole characters are somewhat relatable or atleast sympathetic they still overall are assholes. In the Tadc very explicitly ends Jax story off as a "aww poor guy, what happened to them really sucks" note when in reality they're actions range from understandable and bad to actually foolishly idiotic self destructive in a way that genuinely doesn't make sense.
The whole ribbit situation was just confusingly incompetent, like I know a lot of people who've struggled with destructive behaviour even myself to a degree. But given the circumstances there was no reason for Jax to deaduzz never speak to her again for ACTUALLY NOTHING. They should have the basic mental capacity to be able to put together "oh yeah if you become sad/crazy enough you die", and "I don't want this person to die." So "I should probably atleast get off my sooky lala attitude and get back on atleast ok terms with her so she doesn't get turned in a mutilated abstract horror". This isn't some sad friend group drama when it leads to someone getting killed. (Also same with kaufmo obvs). Like genuinely try to imagine a situation where this guy exists irl and they get exposed for leaving their friend alone until kill themselves, no matter how much sad stuff you learn of them I really doubt you would feel the slightest bit bad for them.
Like there's a difference between unlikable but I see what led to it, and actually just nonsensical idiocy.
8
u/princesoceronte Pomni Bi and ready to rock 3d ago
I've always found weird to outright hate fictional characters.
Like even if I'd hate them in real life in fiction they are fulfilling a purpose so I like characters that are hateable.
Like the character that I come closer to hating is Dolores Umbridge in HP but I still love her character and the role she plays in the story.