Jerks in cartoons

Alright, I've decided to make a thread regarding the types of jerks in western cartoons. Feel free to add characters to any of the three categories. Villains cannot count for this one

Here are the three categories:

• TYPE 1: Either justified or Jerk with a Heart of Gold or well-intentioned
• TYPE 2: Fun to watch
• TYPE 3: Completely unlikable

So, here are the characters in each category:

1. TYPE 1: Squidward Tentacles, Patrick Star (namely pre-movie era), Helga Pataki, Pacifica Northwest, Buttercup, pre-cancellation Peter Griffin, Rainbow Dash
2. TYPE 2: Bender, Cartman, Angelica Pickles
3. TYPE 3: post-movie Patrick, Squidward in "Little Yellow Book", post-cancellation Peter Griffin, post-cancellation Lois Griffin, Kevin and Sarah from Ed Eddn Eddy, DW Reed, Peppermint Patty, post-movie Mr. Krabs, post-movie Spongebob, the townspeople of Bikini Bottom ; Quahog; and Springfield (though only post-movie for Bikini Bottom, post-cancellation for Quahog, and post season 10 for Springfield), Lisa Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Jimbo, Dolph, Kearney, Diamond Tiara

Homer and Bart Simpson are both categories 1 and 2. Marge can be both categories 1 and 3. Eddy and Lucy van Pelt are the only known characters to my knowledge that can be all 3. Depending on the episode/special.

Eddy is justified because of his bro's abuse, he can be entertaining to watch at times, and others he's unlikable.

Lucy is largely depending on the special. In some she has that heart of gold (namely in Charlie Brown Christmas and Great Pumpkin), most of them she's just fun to watch, and there are only two specials where she is Type 3 (It's Your First Kiss Charlie Brown and You're The Greatest Charlie Brown. For the movies she's type 2 in Boy Named Charlie Brown, isn't really a jerk in Snoopy Come Home, and is Type 3 (alongside Peppermint Patty, Sally, and Marcie) in Race For Your Life. She only makes a cameo in Bon Voyage Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!!), so she doesn't have much jerk moments in that one.

I am aware that some of us here would put post-cancellation Peter and Lois in Type 2, Type 3 is largely opinion based for me. (And Type 2)

I appreciate this thread, but I have a bad feeling that it would turn into a complaint thread.

Let's lay this ground rule:

This is NOT to complain about a character you don't like.

I would argue you could probably put Po (in his tv series iteration) as either type 1 or 3 depending on the episode: sometimes he's just a doofus who does or says incredibly stupid/jerky things without knowing why it's bad, sometimes he's just a dick, who (fails to) learn the same lesson in multiple episodes...

Mandy and Bloo are a 2 or 3 Depending on the Writer. In some episodes they're really funny but others make you want to punch them in the face.

Garfield (He did have two animated series) is most likely a 1. He has been shown to have heart.

Grunkle Stan would be a definite 1. He's a conniving conman who deeply cares about his loved ones.

edited 29th May '15 6:22:42 PM by MagnusForce

Dan is most definitely Type B. He's an utter jackass with a very warped view on life, but man he's so entertaining to watch. It helps he has Chris and sometimes Elise to bounce off of and has his moments of likeableness(like his relationship with his cat and his brief relationship with Hortenese). And those moments that show that he's his childhood had some sort of shit that went down.

Corey I think counts as a Type A, but Trina can usually be a Type B but occasionally a Type C. Corey can be a bit of an ass towards Trina, but considering all of the shit that he'll put him and the band through, him sending her into Diary Mode is satisfying to watch. Trina, as much as a whiny, self centered, asshole teenager she is, is still pretty fun to watch. She strikes a balance between being the typical {Alpha Bitch} that's been done many times before but also being much more entertaining than a typical Alpha Bitch. Helps that she also has her moments of likeability and that she wasn't always such a cruel person. But the reason why I peg her as a Type C sometimes is due to her having wanted both Corey and his band to get killed several times before and how poorly she can treat Mina. And that the only person she was willing to save when the Earth would possible be destroyed was Nick Mallory (who didn't even want to date her but she still took the guy against his will) instead of her best friend Mina. I really hope Mina calling Trina out will lead to some character development between the two if Grojband returns.

Brittney is a Type C, no question. At least as of now. She's nothing more than a annoying, 1D, cliche Alpha Bitch that has had no sort of character so far and is just a pain to watch. The fact that an episode with her as a major character was the last one to air before the show went on a hiatus only makes me dislike her more.

edited 27th May '15 5:17:01 PM by ScottPilgrim2013

Bloo and Sarah(from Ed edd n eddy) are jerk no.3. Sarah gets bonus points since she acts like a 'spoiled brat'. Some of the things Bloo did to his own creator make it to number 3, it makes me question why Mac still hangs around with Bloo.

Rainbow Dash is a likable jerk. Since she's got a bit of heart of gold.

edited 27th May '15 7:22:40 PM by Playedforkeeps

Pacifica started out as a Type C with her introduction, where she was nothing but a shallow Alpha Bitch bully character. This changed to a Type A when Season2 gave her Hidden Depths and character growth that actually validated her jerkiness.

I'd add Gilda the Gryffon (Rainbow Dash's old friend) in type 3, but she only appeared in one episode.

She just came back in an episode. Although, they gave her a bit of a heart in the episode.

Gilda now has a Hidden Heart of Gold.

Bloo actually ranged all types. First season he was a type one, in latter seasons he bounced back and forth between type 2 and 3 depending on the episode. He was often a prick, but was he fun to watch? That came down to the writing.

and I haven't started Season Five yet.

The episodes should be on youtube.

Idiots and jerks have formed the backbone of many comedy works for a long time.

Not every idiot or asshole has worked, though. Their are plenty of well written assholes and idiots as well as poorly written assholes and idiots.

Not to mention that there are assholes that make you wanna strangle them.

and As someone whose seen their fare share of bad comedy or writing of characters in general - enough to rant about it as well..... I most certainly know that feeling. Stupidity and comedy don't completely mix - at least, not anymore, judging by the overall negative recepiton of it (and all for good reason(s), too.).

I'm sorry but the very idea of this thread seems like nothing but bad news and and outlet for more over-offended whining (as if this forum didn't have enough of that).

I can name a type 2 that no one has talked about: Eustace Bagg. The guy is a massive asshole, but he's hilarious and made even funnier by the fact that he's The Chew Toy {Sometimes in a literal sense} in almost every episode he appears in {Which is most of the series}.

Do villains count too? Cause if they do, I have to mention the Beast Wars version of Megatron. He's pretty much a Complete Monster {Which is made more apparent in Seasons 2 and 3 then in the first one, where he just seems like a typical jerk villain}, but he's fun to watch thanks to his hammy tendencies and the funny interactions he has with his minions. He's also really awesome about it too.

edited 9th Jun '15 5:49:08 PM by marston

Like, we just lost the Teen Titans Go! thread because of that. Can't you people get the hint?

I already laid out a ground rule being that you can't whine.

Plus, this was made before the TTG thread got canned.

Everyone in Teen Titan Go is a 3. (Sometimes a 2)

I haven't even watched that show and I've heard fans complaining about how unsympathetic the Titans are.