Suggestion: Bromantic Foil

This came from the Image Picking thread for Sensitive Guy and Manly Man a long time ago. It didn't really work for that, but I think it'd go great on Bromantic Foil, especially if someone edited out all the dialog but the bit on them being childhood friends.

The text that's cropped out should be removed completely.

Agreed.

How's this?

EDIT: Okay, running that through PNG Gauntlet may have been a mistake...I'll redo it.

EDIT #2: Much better.

edited 20th Nov '13 8:16:17 AM by Willbyr

It works.

I don't see how.

According to the description, the Bromantic Foil is a character whose purpose is to be "everything the protagonist is not", apparently to his own detriment.

The picture shows two best friends that are fundamentally different, but that's it.

Where's that detriment part coming from?

Where does it state that? From what I read, the description merely says that Bromantic Foil is about a main character's Heterosexual Life-Partners who happen to be his Foil as well.

What? The entire description is about that.

The second paragraph flat out states what the purpose of the character is.

edited 21st Nov '13 5:36:36 AM by KingZeal

Being in a Beta Couple kind of says it's not necessarily to his own detriment.

You seem to be ignoring the absolutes of what the trope is defined as in favor of the bits that refer to common traits. While it would be nice to have some more of the common traits you mention, I don't think it disqualifies the image to not have them.

"The function of this character" is not an absolute? I mean, practically the entire description of the trope is listing traits that make him a Butt-Monkey. So I think it's kind of important that that comes across. If that isn't the point of the trope, then I don't see where it differs from The Lancer.

Except that's not a requirement of the character. In fact, the sentence is written as if it's a concession. "If he does...blah blah blah..."

edited 21st Nov '13 9:31:00 AM by KingZeal

"This is a male character common in any media with a romantic plot. He serves as a foil to the male lead, both for the audience and for the potential love interests in the work. Often he has an outwardly abrasive personality. Despite that, he is the main character's primary male companion. Common developments for the character include some sort of falling-out with the main character, often over a very serious issue. He is often a Chivalrous Pervert or Loveable Sex Maniac, and meets with the disapproval of the female cast members in various ways, from exasperated sigh to Megaton Punch. Sometimes this is taken to the point of being a Butt Monkey. If the work has an Official Couple featuring a stereotypically attractive female, he'll probably publicly and futilely lust over her right up until the main character's interest comes out in the open.

As the main character's foil, his function is to show by example what the main character is NOT. Often, by contrast with him, it is no surprise that the main character has an Unwanted Harem. If he does end up in a relationship, he's probably part of the Beta Couple. If he gets together with the main character, it's through a Gay Option. Often he is also the Plucky Comic Relief."

The italicized parts are the definition and role in the story. Everything else are common elements to him, but not part of the definition. Hell, if the main character is the one loud and outgoing, then his Bromantic Foil is going to be the meek nice guy. All that matters is he's different from his bro. What that means precisely depends on who the main character is.

That isn't what the trope says, though. There's nothing in the description, in those "common traits" which suggests that the character is merely the inverse of whatever the hero is. Literally every example of a common trait is one that makes him the outgoing, lusty, comic relief character.

Again, if that's the trope, and all of the Butt-Monkey stuff is just window dressing, then what is the difference between this and The Lancer?

EDIT: And the Laconic says that this trope is exclusive to romantic leads.

edited 21st Nov '13 10:29:04 AM by KingZeal

"Except that's not a requirement of the character."

Good thing I didn't say it was, then.

This trope has issues, one for TRS?

Laconic can be misleading/badly written... Well, the trope name itself does imply the inclusion of a "romance" element, but I don't believe it should be limited to such situations.

edited 21st Nov '13 6:35:44 PM by theAdeptRogue

Clock is set.

Clock's up; locking for inactivity. No action is to be taken based on this thread.