Signs your protagonist is just a placeholder with a name
✦ Their personality is "chosen one" and nothing else
✦ No hobbies, interests, or opinions until the plot needs one
✦ Described as average-looking but everyone finds them magnetic (hm)
✦ Has a tragic backstory that never actually affects how they act
✦ Good at everything after one training montage
✦ Their greatest flaw is "caring too much"
✦ Every side character exists to tell them how special they are
✦ Makes the right decision every time except when the plot needs them not to
✦ Two love interests, no chemistry with either
✦ Refuses help, gets in trouble, accepts help, learns nothing
✦ Their "character development" is just getting stronger
✦ Delivers inspirational speech they have no business delivering
✦ Survives everything because the plot isn't done with them yet
✦"i'm not like other [-------]" said unironically
✦ Parents dead or absent. always. no exceptions. ever.
✦ The prophecy is about them specifically (of course it is)
✦ Refuses to use their power until chapter 24 when it's dramatically convenient
✦ Has one (1) flaw mentioned in chapter two, never seen again
✦ Enemies become allies purely because they met the protagonist
✦ Their internal monologue is just the theme of the book, stated plainly
✦ Never wrong about anything that actually matters
✦ Wins the final fight by believing in themselves (the power was inside them etc)
✦ Described as funny but nothing they say is funny
✦ Best friend is more interesting but that's not the author's intention
✦ Doesn't eat, sleep, or use the bathroom during the entire adventure
✦ Their name means something in a dead language. light. hope. chosen. destiny. we get it.
✦ Trauma mentioned once, processed instantly, never brought up again
✦ Every room goes quiet when they enter (every single room)
✦ Makes a huge mistake, apologises once, fully forgiven by everyone immediately
✦ Their arc is "learns to trust people" but they trusted everyone from page one
✦ Described as an outsider but beloved by literally everyone they meet
✦ Their defining character trait is determined by what the plot needs that chapter
✦ Gives up everything to save the world. gets everything back by the epilogue. sacrifice: meaningless.
discoholicmusic
snowghoul
areudirty
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
ellievsbear
andulkaphoto
theartofmadeline
origamiaround
