History PlayingWith / TheUnFavourite

** Charlie is a Nobel Prize-winning millionaire marine biologist/astrophysicist/inventor/engineer who cured cancer. However, Alice and Bob refuse to stop talking about David, who just got named "Unworthiest Human Being on Earth" by the Guinness World Records.

** David is a Nobel Prize-winning millionaire astrophysicist who cured cancer. However, Alice and Bob refuse to stop talking about their little Charlie, who just got named "Unworthiest Person in the World" by CNN.

** [[AbusiveParents Alice and Bob]] actually hate Charles even more than they hate David, and they manipulate David into feeling jealous so he [[BigBrother bullies]] Charlie.

** Alternatively, David is actually a [[EnfanteTerrible demon in child's body]] and Alice and Bob know that.
** Alternatively, Charlie is a high-strung musical prodigy, while David is just kind of average and seems emotionally sturdy enough that his parents figure he'll understand the situation and turn out fine with minimal support.

** It was decided by Charlie and David's ''entire extended family'' even before either was born that the former would be the favored one.
** [[MySistersKeeper David is a]] WalkingTransplant [[MySistersKeeper for the terminally ill Charlie]].

** Carles and David show much more affection towards each other than their parents.
* '''Subverted''': Neither parent seems to have a favorite. It turns out that David is just a whiner.

** See "Justified" 6.

* '''Exaggerated''': Charlie is treated like a prince, with every one of his wishes granted. David has to live outside in a tent, only allowed in to clean up.

** David is actually a ChildByRape.

Go back and clean up [=TheUnfavourite=]. Then get your brother a drink. And if you piss in it again, your life won't be worth a lead penny.

Go back and clean up [=TheUnFavourite=]. Then get your brother a drink. And if you piss in it again, your life won't be worth a lead penny.

Go back and clean up TheUnFavourite. Then get your brother a drink. And if you piss in it again, your life won't be worth a lead penny.

-->"[[[=TakingAThirdOption=] All three of them, and I'll give you $50]] [[SelfMadeOrphan if I can kill them myself]]".

** ParentalFavoritism and the resulting Sibling Rivalry have messed the teenaged David up so badly that he ends up [[DrivenToSuicide taking his own life]]. The furious police officer who deals with the incident viciously [[[=CallingTheOldManOut=] berates]] his mother and father for their lousy parenting - but they don't care, since their favourite, Charlie, is still with them.

-> '''David''': [[[=CallingTheOldManOut=] Up your ass with broken glass.]]

%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

-->"[[[=TakingATHirdOption=] All three of them, and I'll give you $50]] [[SelfMadeOrphan if I can kill them myself]]".

-> '''David''': [[[=CallingTheOldmanOut=] Up your ass with broken glass.]]

** "[[IllBoy My brother Charles was always a sickly child.]] Thus, our parents always lavished attention on him, while leaving me to fend for myself and do most of the chores. When I was younger, I rather resented this. However, something about him, mostly his grey skin, thin lips and bruised eyes, inspired in me the same feeling of sympathy they so obviously felt. Looking back, I feel rather sorry for him."

** ParentalFavoritism and the resulting Sibling Rivalry have messed the teenaged David up so badly that he ends up [[DrivenToSuicide taking his own life]]. The furious police officer who deals with the incident viciously [[CallingTheOldManOut berates]] his mother and father for their lousy parenting - but they don't care, since their favourite, Charlie, is still with them.

-->"[[TakingATHirdOption All three of them, and I'll give you $50]] [[SelfMadeOrphan if I can kill them myself]]".

-> '''David''': [[CallingTheOldmanOut Up your ass with broken glass.]]

** Or in reverse, David is a high-strung musical prodigy, while Charlie has a learning disbility that badly needs the parents' care and support. David is also an InsufferableGenius and seems emotionally sturdy enough that his parents figure he'll understand the situation and turn out fine with minimal support.

** David develops extremely low self-esteem and latches onto anyone who will show him affection.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Downplayed''': ???

** "My brother Charles was always a sickly child. Thus, our parents always lavished attention on him, while leaving me to fend for myself and do most of the chores. When I was younger, I rather resented this. However, something about him, mostly his grey skin, thin lips and bruised eyes, inspired in me the same feeling of sympathy they so obviously felt. Looking back, I feel rather sorry for him."

** "My brother David was always a sickly child. Thus, our parents always lavished attention on him, while leaving me to fend for myself and do most of the chores. When I was younger, I rather resented this. However, something about him, confined as he was, to his bed most days, slumped in his wheeled char, or walking in a slow, lurching fashion with aid of a cane when he was feeling especially spry, inspired in me the same feeling of sympathy they so obviously felt."

** "My brother David was always a sickly child. Thus, our parents always lavished attention on him, while leaving me to fend for myself and do most of the chores. When I was younger, I rather resented this. However, something about him, confined as he was, to his bed most days, slumped in his wheeled char being pushed by our governess, or walking in a slow, lurching fashion with aid of a cane when he was feeling especially spry, inspired in me the same feeling of sympathy they so obviously felt."

** "My brother David was always a sickly child. Our parents always lavished attention on him, while leaving me to fend for myself. When I was younger, I rather resented this. However, something about him, confined as he was, to his bed most days, inspired in me the same feeling of sympathy they so obviously felt."

-->"All three of them, and I'll give you $50 [[SelfMadeOrphan if I can kill them myself]]".

** [[WalkingTransplant David]] begins to consider [[LittlestCancerPatient Charlie]] a "parasite," and takes no pains to hide the fact. Charlie would prefer to die than put up with his brother's contempt, not to mention the pain of his condition. Alice and Bob are oblivious to either's wishes. Eventually, David demands either Charlie or their parents pay him back in some fashion, or he's happy to let Charlie rot...

* '''Justified''': Despite a secure and loving upbringing, David despises his parents and doesn't hesitate to let them know it. He humiliates them in public, [[ManipulativeBastard does everything he can to get them in trouble]], and has been known to physically attack them. Charlie is sweet natured and loyal, and regularly comes to his parents' rescue.

* '''Inverted''': Charlie and David treat their mom Alice with more favor then their dad Bob.

* '''Parodied''': Prior to the birth of David, his mother is seen reading a book: "Choosing a Favorite Child: Natural Selection in Action."

** See Justified 6.
* '''Deconstructed''': Being the less preferred child takes its emotional toll on David, as he grows up unable to attach to anyone because his parents didn't love him. Meanwhile, Charlie is no better off, because the frequent attention of his parents means he's unable to grow as a person.
** David develops extremely low self-esteem and latches onto anyone who will show him affection.
** David disowns his family and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere leaves]], never to be seen by them again.
** David harbors a ton of and hatred and [[TheResenter resentment]] toward Charlie and [[CainAndAbel kills him in a fit of mad jealously]], [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone only to deeply regret it]].
* '''Reconstructed''': David's lack of attention ends up spurring him on to greater things - and Charlie overcomes the frequent attention.
* '''Zig Zagged''': The parents' favorite fluctuates between/among their kids.

* '''Played For Drama''': ParentalFavoritism and the resulting Sibling Rivalry have messed the teenaged David up so badly that he ends up [[DrivenToSuicide taking his own life]]. The furious police officer who deals with the incident viciously [[CallingTheOldManOut berates]] his mother and father for their lousy parenting - but they don't care, since their favourite, Charlie, is still with them.

** Alice and Bob constantly play down Charlie's bad traits and play up his good traits, while doing the inverse with David. Eventually, the villain kidnaps Alice, Bob, and Charlie. He gives David a choice: Either the parents or the brother dies. David unsurprisingly chooses the brother. Alice and Bob disown and abandon David for leaving their precious to his doom, rather than thanking him for saving them.
*** Alternatively
-->"All three of them, and I'll give you $50 if I can do it myself."
** After David snaps and disowns his entire family, Charlie begins to feel that all the love his parents give him is meaningless if his brother resents him. He begins to hate his parents as much as David does for driving a wedge between them, and, due to David's assetations that they're dead to him, considers them to have "killed my brother."

* [[CallingTheOldmanOut Up your ass with broken glass.]]

<<|PlayingWithWiki|>>

* '''PlottedAGoodWaste'''
* [[WalkingTransplant David]] begins to consider [[LittlestCancerPatient Charlie]] a "parasite," and takes no pains to hide the fact. Charlie would prefer to die than put up with his brother's contempt. Alice and Bob are oblivious to either's wishes.

** [[MySitersKeeper David is a]] WalkingTransplant [[MySistersKeeper for the terminally ill Charles]].

** It was decided by Charlie and David's ''entire extended family'' even before either was born that the former would be the favored one.

** After David snaps and disowns his entire family, Charlie begins to feel that all the love his parents give him is meaningless if his brother resents him. He begins to hate his parents as much as David does for driving a wedge between them.

** After David snaps and disowns his entire family, Charlie begins to feel that all the love his parents give him is meaningless if his brother resents him for being the favorite. He begins to hate his parents as much as David does for driving a wedge between them.