TOPIC 2: Characters and How We Portray Them (Vile, Yoh, K.I.T.T., Chyna) (Female Characters)

This is another issue Chyna and I have encountered during our time here. Certain authors portray certain characters differently, and we would like to bring up two authors (besides ourselves- to make it more fair), the famous and Yin-Yang Yoh. And for this essay, we will be discussing the female characters in particular.

We are only being honest. This is how we see THEIR writing; no lying, no beating around the bush. This is what we truly feel about their writing. IF in any way you feel the need to defend them, you are obviously blind and need to take a second look at things.


Ah, the famous Vile. The most popular in the ZEXAL archive, because of his...Numbershots. I admit, they are somewhat alright in terms of grammar, word usage, etc. However, the Duels are confusing, somewhat. Also, there is one thing both I and Chyna dislike about his stories for ZEXAL.

The way he portrays the characters, especially the females.

Now, don't get me wrong, I used to enjoy his stories, but once Jenaveve came into the picture... Most of my interest disappeared. Jenaveve would definitely be a better character if she was more... interesting. She's just a cardboard cutout clinging to Kaito (who is also very OOC for loving her... but that will be another essay).

Droite, too, as Vile portrays her, is only just clinging onto Gauche. Ah, no. Yes, I know his stories are AU, but that doesn't give him an excuse to make them out-of-character. And do not get me started on the other females, ESPECIALLY Anna. Just...no.

Chyna says:

I respect Vile because of how he made his own universe, which has changed the entire Zexal section. However even though I admire his stories and I know quite a few people who do, I have to admit at times that certain characters (Yuma, Kaito, Shark, Kotori and Anna) can be OOC at times. OOCness isn't always a bad thing because it can be fun seeing a different side to the characters that you love. However they can only be OOC to a certain degree before you look at that character and think, 'who the heck is this' because your favorite character would never act this way.


Yin-Yang Yoh

I respect Yoh a lot, I really do. However, and I do not mean to offend, but he is just a fanboy of Vile. He does a lot of the same things Vile does, as in, making characters OOC (especially when it comes to Proctorshipping.). Just look at Mia and Number 13. Point proven.

A lot of the same things said about Vile go for Yoh as well.

I have been friends with Yoh for a while, but I still hold my opinion.

Chyna says:

Ying-Yang's stories are hilarious and have awesome duels, but I feel like Kotori is OOC at times because she feels like she's not good enough or perfect for Yuma. Although that does seem to be a recurring theme in Skyshipping stories, which contrasts Kotori's character. Kotori may care for her friend's and other people but she isn't insecure. On another note, Vector is OOC in the sense of how comical he is, being portrayed as a villain who's evil plans never go to plan because they are being foiled by the dream team (Yuma and Kotori). In the anime, Vector's plans are so devious they do work for a while before failing but it isn't meant to be funny when it happens! Vector isn't very funny, quite frankly his evil side has expanded so much that I think he should be respected instead of being laughed at like some two bit villain.


K.I.T.T. RIDER

I have my own reasons for being OOC on some of the characters. I may have my own universe with Barian Storm, but I try to keep the characters in character as much as I can on it. Since I write mostly Anxietyshipping fanfiction, I know Droite and Kaito's characters quite well, and I keep them in character. However, I look outside the box, and with my straightforward style of writing, I tend to make them seem a little OOC.

I also have a small obsession with torturing the characters, hence why they lose their composure so often. I tend to like dire and extreme suffering situations, which also explains some of it.

Also, I apparently have a habit of making Droite a seductress when it comes to my lemons. This is because I assume she would take control of such a situation.

Chyna says:

Kitt Rider...okay her stories are so AU that I think certain characters (ie Droite and Kaito) have to be OOC to a degree because of the situations they are placed in. But one thing is for certain, her portrayal of Droite in her lemons is just...wow. Droite is portrayed as a seductress who prays on an emotionally weakened Kaito. I view this side of Droite in a new light because to me, it just shows an adult woman who is able to use the power that all women have on men which is an accurate portrayal of real life. So while KR may not win awards for keeping Droite in character for lemons (though who is actually in character during sex because people change due to being in a more vulnerable state), I have to commend her on showing an accurate portrayal of real life.


Chyna Costello

Chyna is my dear friend. A close friend indeed. I enjoy her writing a lot, but sometimes the characters are OOC. However, she has her reasons for this, and they are good reasons indeed. Must I say more?

Chyna says:

Chyna Costello has also written some characters OOC as well in a few of her stories. Her portrayal of Gauche in one of her oneshots was off because she portrayed him as a bit shy towards Droite when he confessed his feelings of 'love' for her. In return, Droite was also OOC because she made Droite act embarrassed when she replied to Gauche. Being OOC can also be visible when a character is made too harsh (even if that character was already harsh as it is). I'm talking about when Chyna writes about Shark, yes we know he's a closed off to most people but he isn't that harsh.


Final Opinion:

Not all OOCness is bad. Just get your female characters straight. And with what Chyna said about the lemons... There is good reason for the characters to go into a slightly different state of mind while in that position. Just don't take it too far.
That is all.

Chyna says:

OOCness can make or break a fanfiction and I've seen this happen on several occasions, authors criticized for writing too OOC and being flamed for it which can sometimes be understandable, though being too OOC isn't a bad thing. But when some characters are greatly OOC and the author being praised for it, I turn my head to the side and think what has happened to fanfiction? Writing characters in character is a great and useful skill to have if you want to have a future on this site.