Invader Zim alternate character interpretations

I meant that it's the fans I see picking up the Dumb Is Good idea and running with it. Not at all from the show itself. The show itself seems to hate the very idea.

Yeah, I knew what you meant and I totally agree with it.

I think a large part of Invader Zim is just Jhonen having a really dark sense of humor, and fans reading too much into it sometimes. Like, is Dib the hero? Is he a villain? Is Zim a Complete Monster, or just desperately trying to compensate? Who cares? It's hilarious to watch.

Might just be me, tho.

I think a large part of Invader Zim is just Jhonen having a really dark sense of humor, and fans reading too much into it sometimes. Like, is Dib the hero? Is he a villain? Is Zim a Complete Monster, or just desperately trying to compensate? Who cares? It's hilarious to watch.

Might just be me, tho.tongue

Yes and no?

I thought the fun thing about doing a kids' show like that is, you've got all these people rooting for someone who is trying to destroy the audience. The only person who's trying to save the Earth (Zim's arch rival Dib) has as much contempt for his fellow human beings as the person he's trying to stop. Because of his intelligence, he's kind of looked down on by most of the other kids. He's a freak. It's fun that the "alien" is on both sides; Dib is as much an alien to his own people as Zim is. I've always loved the idea of ambiguity between good and evil. What's great is, even though I'm thinking of that stuff on my own and no one's going to pick up on it, they're going to enjoy the show. But I've actually gotten kids who have been talking about that! "Who's the bad guy here?" they say. "I don't care. They're both funny!" And that's really cool.

He's thought about it. He's totally cool with you looking at it and thinking "who cares?", but an intentional ambiguity was an explicit part of his thought process.

edited 3rd Nov '10 3:58:25 PM by Tyoria

The amibigiouty makes it funny when you look at it from a perspective of both of them viewing themselves as the heroes.

GIR is too stupid and useless to be a force for good or evil.

Zim is the protagonist, but not the kind you root for. If they really did kill off Dib in "Bad Bad Rubber Piggy", I don't think I would've kept watching.

At times, to be honest, I really wonder why it's such a big deal that this show was cancelled. It was good while it lasted, but what's the point of a "Grand Finale" if nothing is going to get better?

And sorry, but I am still baffled as to how that goddamn sister character is such a fan favourite on this site. I guess depth and character motivation don't matter as long as you have violence, pizza, and misanthropy.

edited 8th Feb '14 3:14:45 PM by Snailfish

Re: Zim being autistic: I don't think you can really apply that to him, since he is an alien who was raised in an alien culture with different concepts of how to act and such. Sure, he's still somewhat off from his own race, but I don't think you can assign an inherently human mental condition to that.

If you're looking for depth of characterization, why the blue hell are you watching Invader Zi M?

This forum seems to be about exploring character depth and motivation. And it's not so much the character that bugs me, it's the fact that I seem to be the only one on this site who doesn't gush about how "awesome" she is.

edited 9th Feb '14 1:25:32 PM by Snailfish

You must have encountered a very vocal minority because I haven't encountered anyone on this site who gushes about her.

I guess so. But really, i'd like to know if i'm the only one who truly despises this character and the fact that unlike most of the cast, she got whatever she wanted. All. The goddamn. Time.

Yes. Yes you are.

I respect your opinion, but it somewhat sounds like your saying, "What's wrong with you, you can't dislike this character, STFU and get out."

There's nothing wrong with disliking a character, but you seem to rant about this character in every single post you make with the kind of vitriol most people only reserve for someone who murdered their entire family right in front of them. Maybe try tempering yourself a little bit and talking about something other than this one character of whom you seem to have an unnaturally huge hatred?

Agreed. This guy isn't the only repeat offender as far as being over dramatic about fiction, however, and I think this is a fine general rule of thumb people should try and follow. Just don't get carried away, alright?

edited 27th Feb '14 3:31:25 PM by LightPhaser

I'm sorry to cause a disturbance, it just seems like everyone on this forum thinks my opinions are absurd.

Simply put, I just hate it when over the top abuse is played for laughs and the bully gets away with it.

You must hate The George Lopez Show.

Abuse, whether physical or verbal, is one of the core backbones of comedy. In nearly every joke, there is a victim.

edited 24th Mar '14 11:19:32 AM by TobiasDrake

I'm not as bitter as I was years ago. Given the topic of this forum, do you guys think Gaz has a different side to her than what the show initially presents?

There was a great post I saw on tumblr about Gaz's character. I'll have to remember to link it when I get home.

Edit: The post was more about why Gaz doesn't hate Dib.

edited 23rd Apr '15 3:44:15 PM by ScottPilgrim2013

I'd say probably not, given the world she inhabits and how everyone else is too.

I doubt that she has a different side during the show. I imagine that when Gaz was younger she did and she will probably appreciate Dib's company more when she gets older (considering he's pretty much the only family she has around) but the again she just seems to hate the human race in general so it's probably just not going to happen.

Zim definitely has two sides though if you ask me. That flashback of his parent back on Irk makes me wonder sometimes. I have seen Gir portrayed as insane a few times or as a character you do not want to a piss off in fanfiction. Some people think he is just acting stupid or insane....

"I love you, cold, unfeeling robot arm!"

I generally find it hard to see Gaz as anything more than an evil self-absorbed little prick. So tell me, what "redeeming qualities" are there for her?