@Muddy I totally agree with what you’ve said, but I also agree with GGF that the characters should have flaws to make them interesting. If a character is perfect from their introduction they have no development and as a result are pretty boring. Take Rebecca, she is optimistic, easy-going, and overly helpful. There is nothing to be done with her, making all her stories very skippable.
Compare this to my personal favorite engine of the main cast, Gordon. He was first introduced in the books as a pompous, arrogant engine who looks down on those who are not as grand as himself. He refuses to except help from “lesser” engines like Edward and as a result gets himself into several, uh... unfortunate predicaments, to say the least. However, over time he learns from his mistakes and starts realizing that the other engines are just as good as he is. In Down the Mine and Paint Pots and Queens, he helps out Thomas and forms an alliance with him. He apologizes for his self-centeredness and in return for his good behavior is given the honor of pulling the royal train. Throughout the course of Wilbert’s books, he also gradually becomes friends with Henry (after being jealous of him when he returned from Crewe with his new shape). Then in Christopher’s books, he starts being faced with new challenges in the form of being replaced by new technology (Pip and Emma the HST) and eventually comes to accept them. He starts becoming more of a mentor to the engines and, by the end of the series, sort of turns into Edward. With all his experience from his many years on the NWR, he has learned that every engine has their time to shine and that he should be grateful for what he has and gracefully accept everything he’s given. He has truly gone through a journey, as have many of his colleagues. If he was always like this and never had to face any challenges he as a character would be pretty bland. And to add that, he was always my favorite because of his snarky dialogue and the ridiculous situations he consequently put himself into. He was interesting and entertaining and also had a great character arc.
I definitely think that Mattel has gone about the characters the wrong way recently though, they were all reduced to one prominent (and usually negative) personally trait and are not given any chance to grow.
TL;DR: Characters should have flaws at the beginning so that they can make mistakes and learn from them, which allows them to grow and makes their character journey interesting. This was done beautifully in the books and the Classic Series but Mattel has really dropped the ball with it. At least this is my take on the topic
Compare this to my personal favorite engine of the main cast, Gordon. He was first introduced in the books as a pompous, arrogant engine who looks down on those who are not as grand as himself. He refuses to except help from “lesser” engines like Edward and as a result gets himself into several, uh... unfortunate predicaments, to say the least. However, over time he learns from his mistakes and starts realizing that the other engines are just as good as he is. In Down the Mine and Paint Pots and Queens, he helps out Thomas and forms an alliance with him. He apologizes for his self-centeredness and in return for his good behavior is given the honor of pulling the royal train. Throughout the course of Wilbert’s books, he also gradually becomes friends with Henry (after being jealous of him when he returned from Crewe with his new shape). Then in Christopher’s books, he starts being faced with new challenges in the form of being replaced by new technology (Pip and Emma the HST) and eventually comes to accept them. He starts becoming more of a mentor to the engines and, by the end of the series, sort of turns into Edward. With all his experience from his many years on the NWR, he has learned that every engine has their time to shine and that he should be grateful for what he has and gracefully accept everything he’s given. He has truly gone through a journey, as have many of his colleagues. If he was always like this and never had to face any challenges he as a character would be pretty bland. And to add that, he was always my favorite because of his snarky dialogue and the ridiculous situations he consequently put himself into. He was interesting and entertaining and also had a great character arc.
I definitely think that Mattel has gone about the characters the wrong way recently though, they were all reduced to one prominent (and usually negative) personally trait and are not given any chance to grow.
TL;DR: Characters should have flaws at the beginning so that they can make mistakes and learn from them, which allows them to grow and makes their character journey interesting. This was done beautifully in the books and the Classic Series but Mattel has really dropped the ball with it. At least this is my take on the topic
plarail for life
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