Started watching a show with one character that my friends just absolutely hate, like truly despise, they think he's shallow and see no sense of redeeming qualities or characteristics or anything, they cannot *stand* him, but I... think he's so far the most complex and compelling character of the series.
Like, sure, he's done some questionable things, he's very much the product of his terrible upbringing, perpetuating the cycle of abuse; he's not quote unquote "good," but he's interesting *as a character,* you see how he cycles between doing good things and bad, you understand why he is the way he is, you see how he digs himself deeper, and my friends said well, they prefer characters who *break* the cycle, who dig themselves out of it, which, yeah, that's fine, sure, but... you do realize it doesn't always work like that, right? Some people don't break the cycle, some people can't, and not always for lack of trying. And even if it did work like that, you do realize the difficulty of that task, right? Breaking that cycle doesn't just happen overnight (or over the length of a single episode or even several), it's messy, it's ugly, it's gradual, it takes time, and this particular show is still very much in its infancy.
Even then, if that really is their caveat, in this case, in the little details, even if he screws up more often than not and isn't directly shunned, even if it's not in conventional, accepted or huge ways, you can clearly see this character actually *is* trying? To be a better father, to care for his friends, amidst his own issues and his fear of being seen as vulnerable or taken for granted, underneath a very obvious mask *designed* to make people see him one way or be disgusted by him, but audiences have no patience anymore... and no ability to sense when a mask *is* a mask, even when it slips, even when presented on a stage.
I mean, I'm not saying they have to *like* this character, to each their own, he's weird, he is occasionally awful, I understand the distaste on that front, but it's genuinely disheartening to see all the other details of his personality just completely fly under the radar or over everyone's heads because no one wants to look beyond the surface, and no one wants a "damaged" character anything less than pure or palatable in specific ways. No one wants a less than perfect victim.
And yeah I know I'm overreacting a little, again, I reiterate, you can like or dislike any character you want for whatever reasons you please, god knows I hate plenty of characters and some don't have any redeeming qualities even writing wise, but... sometimes looking at things just a little longer or through a different perspective can give you a whole new respect or understanding you might never have thought of.
Characters are complex. People are complex. And sometimes, it really *is* that deep, and you can't expect every character or piece of media to hold your hand and directly spell out its moral code for you like it's made for children.
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Sun Wukong
Race: Faunus
Nationality: Vacuo
Ethnicity: Mixed Vacun & Mistrali
Weapon: Ruyi Bang & Jingu Bang
Gender: Man
Sexuality: Bisexual
Starting Age: 18
Birthday: Summer 1st
Aura Color: Yellow
Handedness: Ambidexterous
Complexion: Tan
Eye Color: Blue Im so sorry
Faunus Trait: Monkey Tail
Occupation: Haven student, Junior Detective, Boy band lead singer
Previous Occuppation: Thief (wanted for arrest in 5 places)
Long ago in a distant land, there once was a clan of nomads that traveled the desert. On one of their travels, they found a crying rock. Wondering how a simple rock could make such a sound, the strongest of their number took his weapon and struck the rock with all his might! The rock was split in two, and inside was a baby monkey faunus that had been crying all along. Not knowing where the baby had came from, the nomads decided to keep the boy and raise him as one of their own. This is the legend of Sun Wukong.
The boy was the most free spirited and reckless child the nomads had ever raised. While the nomads had taught all of their children that theft was okay as long as it was done out of nessacity, such as stealing food when you are hungry, Sun would steal at every city the nomads visited for the thrill of the heist. Even more infuriating, Sun was never arrested no matter how many times he was chased by authorities, which seemed endless to the nomads.
However, Sun's nature would help the nomads. Whenever they needed food or money, Sun would be the first to provide for them. But in Vacuo, it is every person for themself. That is why, when the nomads are lured into a trap and made to choose between Sun or the whole clan, they make the only choice a Vacun could make in that situation. Sun isn't even angry at them, even if it's not what he would do in that situation. A learning expierence, really.
For three days, Sun rampaged in Vacuo city. He couldn't find a way to escape, so he would make it the problem of everyone person there. It was only when Yù yin, the oldest and most beloved Huntress in Vacuo, appeared was Sun finally stopped. Using her semblance, Yù yin "pacified" Sun, and he allowed himself to be arrested. Using Quake Dust, Yù yin sealed Sun inside a cage made of solid rock, to be cut off from the rest of the world forever... if Starr Sanzang, a member of Sun's clan, hadn't become a guard at the prison he was being kept in. Without telling anyone, even Sun, she made tiny cracks inside his stone jail.
After a year of captivity, Starr smuggled in a Dust necklace and gave it to Sun so he could escape. And he did. Away from jail, away from the clan that gave him up, and away from Vacuo.
At 17, Sun traveled west of Vacuo, past the dark lands, and into Anima. With no one knowing who he is, and owning nothing but the clothes on his back, Sun wondered if he could start over here. He could turn a new leaf, go to school like always wanted to, renounce his wild ways... on his 18th birthday, Sun broke into Vasilias Enterpises and stole the experimental weapon, Ruyi Bang Jingu Bang. Unfortunately, Sun was out of practice and got caught.
When Sun was finally arrested, he was greeted by Leonardo Lionheart. The academy headmaster gave him a choice, face execution, or enroll in Haven Academy as a reform program student. Sun made the only choice he could make in that situation, and he has been happy ever since.
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