The curse of perfection

[graculus]

If there's one thing (just one? ha!) that drives me insane about some fic it's the curse of perfection. I've noticed this in a few fandoms, but the most recent example I came across was a Harry/Snape story, so I'm going to use that as my example.

How it works is like this: our hero (in this case, Harry) is thrown into a difficult situation with his nemesis/future paramour if it's slash or het (in this case, Snape). Despite the trials and tribulations they face, Harry is to all intents practically perfect in every way, toiling nobly at various thankless tasks while Snape misunderstands/ignores him until suddenly! Revelation! Oh noes, he has been so mean to poor ickle Harry (including some dodgy sexing, if it's a slash or het story)! How can Snape ever make it up to him? *wibble*

Pfft. Didn't you ever read the HP book with all the emo!capslock!Harry ranting? He's a teenager, FCOL!

Perfection is an unnatural curse, because perfect people aren't human beings, they're robots. Go back to The Source, dudes, not the sparkly characters who only exist in your head. That is all.

Comments

[cycnus39]

At the moment, I'm being irritated by stupid writers lowering the intelligence of characters to a ridiculous degree because they're too simple minded to grasp things like basic physics. Yes, the Doctor has absolutely no understanding of physics. Time Lords are famously stupid, after all. *cries*

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Yes, sadly you have to be reasonably intelligent (or at least able to fake it!) to write a character who is reasonably intelligent and that certainly lets some people off the hook...

Ouch.

[auctasinistra.livejournal.com]

It's not a good thing (or is it?) that I see myself in this mirror. ;-)

I hate astute readers who point out weaknesses in my writing meanies like you. :-)


Rethinks some future scenes ...

Seriously. I'm glad you said this. I hate the extra work, but ultimately I'm always glad when someone points out a problem in my writing - I'm not assuming you were speaking of my work, but what you said applies nonetheless damn you.

Re: Ouch.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Oh, the story which made this rant possible was an exceptional example of Practically Perfect Potter - selfless, magnanimous, perfect in every way, obliging to Snape's nasty brutish sexual demands, yadda yadda yadda...

This is no excuse for you to not get your current WiP finished, damn it. ;)

Re: Ouch.

[auctasinistra.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it wasn't mine, but still ... your point is a good one, and I felt it. :-) It's one thing to write a mature Harry at 30, but at 19 or so? Probably not.

(And I'm working on the darn thing. But what you said has made me realize I really am making him too mellow. So that will change *g*)

Re: Ouch.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

The story that sparked all this off is Book 7 period, and Harry is just so gosh-darned reasonable, before descending into a puddle of self-loathing now that Snape is actually being nice to him (but only because he's had The Revelation and/or is being a possessive prick).

Jeez, it's a bad romance novel where The Rogue treats The Misunderstood Heroine badly but she redeems him in the end because she is so wonderful. Bleurgh.

Re: Ouch.

[auctasinistra.livejournal.com]

I sort of have this problem with Snape-Hermione. That is, the romance-novel-muckmire of cliche - I actually can see Hermione being patient with Snape where Harry would fly off the handle and stomp away in a rage.

Does Harry have slim hips and a slender neck, and does Snape call him "chit" while treating him as a combination of idiot and sex-toy? (God. Romance novels. Ack)

But yeah, Harry shows little sign of being the self-sacrificing heroine, although I believe him capable of moments of selflessness (like any teenager *g*).

[dementordelta.livejournal.com]

*sigh* You just totally described my upcoming Snarry Games fic. Back to the drawing board...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Uh oh. People are going to be hunting me down with pitchforks at this rate... ;)