I love Mary Sue/Gary Stu protagonist!

[BlackKnightX]

As counterintuitive as that may sounds, I really like story with Mary Sue or Gary Stu protagonist. The character who is badass and literally perfect and good at everything.

The problem for this is obvious, not many people like them. They said, “there is no challenge, excitement, nor tension if the character is perfect!”, or, “I can’t relate to such character!” But strangely, I‘ve never met such problem at all.

Rather, I find it hard to relate to character with a lot of flaws and need a lot of development. A character who act like a scared child just for the sake of comedy or the character who’s just too much of a douchebag.

For me, fiction and story are entertainment and escapism to make me feel good. I don’t like story with too much tension and drama. I love it to be easy to digest and just purely for fun.

Are there anyone like me? If there are then, can you recommend me some story from any mediums at all with such character? Thanks in advance~

 

[ForestDweller]

Yeah, I've heard that sentiment from people criticizing my story.

 

[rain-090]

A Mary Sue and other variants aren't bad because they are 'perfect', they are bad because they are never in the wrong and are always right. If they say 1+1=3 then they are correct, this is what a real Mary Sue.
They are also generally hypocrats who are never called out and don't even do the proper stuff to get where they are.

 

[Echimera]

I mean, you left out some key components that differentiate a Mary Sue or Gary Stue from competent character.
Stuff like the missing explanations for why they are so good at everything relevant or how they are inexplicably liked by everyone (including the plot) for no reason, to the point where they can make blatantly wrong decisions and still everything turns out alright for them.

There is also a difference to where in they personal journey a character is. A character that just left Space Academy has no reason to be able to constantly be better than characters with decades of experience.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Yeah, I've heard that sentiment from people criticizing my story.

I get the reason why a lot of people don’t like this kind of character, but I think it’s the matter of taste. I read a lot of the so-called “bad written novel” or “amateurish novel” on this site, but strangely enough, I enjoy it a lot.

As I stated before, I love easy to digest story that read just for fun without thinking too much about it, and the so-called “bad written story” with Gary Stu character seems to have what I want.

I mean, you left out some key components that differentiate a Mary Sue or gary Stue from competent character.
Stuff like the missing explanations for why they are so good at everything relevant or how they are inexplicably liked by everyone (including the plot) for no reason, to the point where they can make blatantly wrong decisions and still everything turns out alright for them.

I see. So at the end of the day, it all comes down to believability right?

 

[Echimera]

I see. So at the end of the day, it all comes down to believability right?

Among other things. Maybe you could throw us a few characters you are thinking of and we can discuss if they actually are a Mary Sue type or if they get mislabeled as such.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

I only hate a Mary/Gary Sue if the author portrays them as the 'best' and all the characters are just a one-dimensional background. Like my character is pretty much a Gary Sue in terms of power and skills, but I make sure the other characters still have their own flaws and personalities that the MC doesn't 'fix' in the snap of a finger. I dunno why but to me a Mary sue character is much more fun to read if they have side characters that are more than "omg mc is so cute/cool/perfect."
Edit: Perfection can be an imperfection of it's own anyways(ex: One Punch Man, Lazy King)

 

[BlackKnightX]

Among other things. Maybe you could throw us a few characters you are thinking of and we can discuss if they actually are a Mary Sue type or if they get mislabeled as such.

Like Kirito from SAO. To be honest, he has flaws but a lot of people labeled him as being a Gary Stu just because he’s somewhat OP.

I only hate a Mary/Gary Sue if the author portrays them as the 'best' and all the characters are just a one-dimensional background. Like my character is pretty much a Gary Sue in terms of power and skills, but I make sure the other characters still have their own flaws and personalities that the MC doesn't 'fix' in the snap of a finger. I dunno why but to me a Mary sue character is much more fun to read if they have side characters that are more than "omg mc is so cute/cool/perfect."
Edit: Perfection can be an imperfection of it's own anyways(ex: One Punch Man, Lazy King)

Have you every watch The Fruit of Grisaia? I love that kind of protagonist, but I didn’t know how to describe it.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

As counterintuitive as that may sounds, I really like story with Mary Sue or Gary Stu protagonist. The character who is badass and literally perfect and good at everything.

The problem for this is obvious, not many people like them. They said, “there is no challenge, excitement, nor tension if the character is perfect!”, or, “I can’t relate to such character!” But strangely, I‘ve never met such problem at all.

Rather, I find it hard to relate to character with a lot of flaws and need a lot of development. A character who act like a scared child just for the sake of comedy or the character who’s just too much of a douchebag.

For me, fiction and story are entertainment and escapism to make me feel good. I don’t like story with too much tension and drama. I love it to be easy to digest and just purely for fun.

Are there anyone like me? If there are then, can you recommend me some story from any mediums at all with such character? Thanks in advance~

The only problem with this kind of character is they are badass, OP and perfect but always follow the rules and never just really let loose and do whatever the hell they want.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

Like Kirito from SAO. To be honest, he has flaws but a lot of people labeled him as being a Gary Stu just because he’s somewhat OP.

The real Mary Sue in SAO is Yuuki lol. Kirito is just an action protagonist with OP plot armor and bs luck.

 

[BlackKnightX]

The only problem with this kind of character is they are badass, OP and perfect but always follow the rules and never just really let loose and do whatever the hell they want.

That’s the problem! I don’t know a better word to describe it, but I like character who is badass, OP, and just do whatever the fuck they want!

Alpha? Hedonistic? Gary Stu?

I want a character who’s OP and don’t hide it, you know.

 

[Echimera]

Like Kirito from SAO. To be honest, he has flaws but a lot of people labeled him as being a Gary Stu just because he’s somewhat OP.

I haven't seen it myself and I doubt I will, I just can't motivate myself for romance/harem-y stuff with male protagonists anymore.
That being said, from what I've heard he seems to be dancing in the grey area between a relatable OP protagonist and a Gary Stu, but leaning more towards being relatable, even with a very handwavy explanation for why he is so OP. Though I don't remember how old he is supposed to be outside the game, so that might be an aspect I missed.

 

[NotaNuffian]

The only thing I like about gary stus is the fact that they are my antithesis. That's it.

Though other characters, including the antagonists are also important especially when the source of progression is no longer the MC.

I haven't seen it myself and I doubt I will, I just can't motivate myself for romance/harem-y stuff with male protagonists anymore.
That being said, from what I've heard he seems to be dancing in the grey area between a relatable OP protagonist and a Gary Stu, but leaning more towards being relatable, even with a very handwavy explanation for why he is so OP. Though I don't remember how old he is supposed to be outside the game, so that might be an aspect I missed.

He is built different with the fastest reaction time in SAO. Then book 2 onwards with the author fucking his backstory up is when I lose traction. GGO broughr me back for a while but Alicization is where I dropped it.
#EugeobetterwaifuthanAsuna

 

[Armored99]

There's a difference between a strong no nonsense character, and a mary-sue.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Here’s the character I like.

- Takumi Usui from Maid-Sama!
- Yuuji Kazami from The Fruit of Grisaia
- Anos Voldigoad from The Misfit of Demon King Academy
- Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto
- Kazuma Yagami from Kaze no Stigma
- Hajime Nagumo from Arifureta

Imagine if one of these characters is the protagonist of some Japanese isekai harem story, it would be quite enjoyable~

​

​

 

[CupcakeNinja]

That’s the problem! I don’t know a better word to describe it, but I like character who is badass, OP, and just do whatever the fuck they want!

Alpha? Hedonistic? Gary Stu?

I want a character who’s OP and don’t hide it, you know.

Exactly. Like they don't always have to do badass things, but at least have them whimsically follow their desires while going "fuck you" to anyone who says different.

 

[EternalSunset0]

Here’s the character I like.

- Takumi Usui from Maid-Sama!
- Yuuji Kazami from The Fruit of Grisaia
- Anos Voldigoad from The Misfit of Demon King Academy
- Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto
- Kazuma Yagami from Kaze no Stigma
- Hajime Nagumo from Arifureta

Imagine if one of these characters is the protagonist of some Japanese isekai harem story, it would be quite enjoyable~

You should include Tatsuya too from Mahouka. I don't feel the same level of excitement in watching Mahouka as say, Arifureta, but Tatsuya's pretty damn OP.

Like Kirito from SAO. To be honest, he has flaws but a lot of people labeled him as being a Gary Stu just because he’s somewhat OP.

The Kirito thing is more of the anime's fault. Plus the "lack of personality" is also the anime's fault. I agree with the above poster that it's Yuuki who's the Mary Sue of the series. He does have a lot of BS luck, but a lot of the complaints, as far as his character is concerned, were adaptation-induced, and Progressive fleshes him and Asuna out a lot.

Even his god mode powers in Alicization were "earned" and he almost lost the final battle against an even bigger Gary Stu of a villain had it not been for said BS luck.

 

[rain-090]

Like Kirito from SAO. To be honest, he has flaws but a lot of people labeled him as being a Gary Stu just because he’s somewhat OP.

Have you every watch The Fruit of Grisaia? I love that kind of protagonist, but I didn’t know how to describe it.

He was a Gary stu because he pulled a bit of bs in a game

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Amen! Wish fulfillment rocks! My protagonist is basically a self-insert, though she has my flaws as well as my strengths. A flaw can be a strength in the right circumstance and vice-versa. Living a happy life is about accepting yourself completely, saying no to things that don't serve you, and saying YES to things that do!

 

[Mysticant]

As many people pointed out it is not about the character being perfect but the circumstances of the character to the rest of the cast. I would say most Mary/Gary exist in a world where the rest of the world has been nerfed 100-200 IQ less. If the perfect and competent character can exist and stay relevant and believable in our world's general population IQ level with their background, then they are just that good.

Is the character good because he/she works for it or did god delivered it to him/her on a platter while delivering a middle finger to every other character in the novel? If both the MC and the cast are just retards then what you are reading is just a braindead novel.