History Characters / TheNostalgiaCriticTheCriticTropesAToE

** His completely forgetting that everyone has a right to like what they want, including TMZ, and calling anyone who did out as worthless virgins (to put it nicely), had real-life consequences and hurt [[http://tgwtgsecrets.tumblr.com/post/51729890214/a-defense-of-tmz-from-an-avid-fan a friend's feelings]].
** His SK-TBF year had him learning the benefit of other people's opinions, culminating in very innocently asking Roger how things can be liked but still widely mocked. ''Film/BridgeToTerabithia'' has him outright say "Well, I'm not one to disagree with other people's opinions... unless they're stupid and not mine.", and ''The Guyver'' review has him ignoring Sage's calling him out of being more insulting than he was.

** The Critic also spent the entire ''Film/MoulinRouge'' review learning the nature of GuiltyPleasures, despite having ''used the term himself'' several times.
** Ironic considering he actually referenced Moulin Rouge! in the Mamma Mia! review, but the “guilty pleasures” song appears to have been driven out of his brain. He has huge complaints about women liking ''[[Film/ThePrincessDiaries The Princess Diaries 2]]'' and ''Film/MammaMia,'' even though people who enjoy them usually say they know they're dumb but they're fun popcorn movies usually made for eye candy purposes, and they like plenty of actual good stuff too. Perhaps he sees this is an example of EveryoneHasStandards.
** More bittersweet than usual in ''Christmas With The Kranks'' as after a sad speech about changing, self-loathing and how at least if you're aware of the bad things you've done you shouldn't hate yourself so much, he goes right back to arguing with Tamara and Malcolm and treating them badly.

* BadDreams: PlayedForLaughs until WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee hit, where he was having nightmares about the PlotHole and waking up in a panic every time.
** By ''Jurassic Park III'', he still gets them, but he also gets “night-memes” - memes that he never wanted to do again but keep popping up anyway.
** A theme in “Is Eyes Wide Shut Artsy Porn”, where he explains nightmares as “scary faces in the dark exposing you at your very core” and after Will gets a rape threat, asks “how many nightmares have you had where you were naked and exposed to everyone?”.
** Used as a pretty telling sign of PTSD in “The Sixth Day”, where he casually says he wakes up every morning screaming and swearing from a bad night.
** According to "Battle Of The Commercials", the problems of Canada made him have nightmares.

* {{Adorkable}}: His awkwardness has a tendency to ''really'' come out during the "Old vs. New" segments and his intense, enduring love for Christmas was very sweet until Doug went DarkerAndEdgier and twisted said love into [[http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-grandma-got-run-over-by-a-reindeer/ psychosis]]. He's still a nerd who tends to get enthusiastic over certain things and it's endearing to watch, like how he was so excited to review ''Lady in the Water'' and his {{squee}} over the appearence of the original Mary Poppins in ''Mary Poppins Returns''. Plus he has an [[Franchise/{{Frozen}} Elsa]] clipboard.

* BrokenAce: Comes off like this in the reboot. Gets the voice actors to act out Pinky And The Brain splitting up, takes down TMZ, lectures executives constantly on where they're going wrong... is losing more of his mind and is confirmed to hallucinating/reality warping a lot, wants to be back in the PlotHole on several occasions, and has pushed away everyone who once cared about him because he was such an asshole upon return. Lampshaded hilariously harshly at the start of ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'', when the announcer asks why someone of so little worth gets so many favors from famous people.

** In “The Review Must Go On” he rides Mark Wahlberg's fake dick to make Doug feel uncomfortable, and in ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'' he says it'd be every woman's dream to buy the guy.

** Also in the early days, he talked about kids' short attention spans and getting easily bored. With his hate for LullDestruction, can you imagine him saying that now?

* {{Adorkable}}: His awkwardness has a tendency to ''really'' come out during the "Old vs. New" segments and his intense, enduring love for Christmas was very sweet until Doug went DarkerAndEdgier and twisted said love into [[http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-grandma-got-run-over-by-a-reindeer/ psychosis]]. He's still a nerd who tends to get enthusiastic over certain things and it's endearing to watch, like how he was so excited to review ''Lady in the Water'' and his {{squee}} over the appearence of the original Mary Poppins in ''Mary Poppins Returns''. Plus he has an [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Elsa]] clipboard.

* BiTheWay: [[TransparentCloset Even if he goes back and forth in being okay with it or not]].
** In "''X-Men'': Raiders Of The StoryArc", he basically comes out when he replies to a subtextual conversation with "I thought we were like this because the conservative right said we chose it" in a normal voice.
** In ''Forest Warrior'', despite the [[invoked]] MisaimedFandom of thinking Chuck's homophobia is just misunderstood, Film Brain replies “thought you might” to Critic liking “[[DoubleEntendre hard wood]]”, and Critic tells him at the end that he loves him. “And I do mean in that way”.
** In ''BMX Bandits'', he's into Nicole Kidman (though as he vehemently says, not as a sixteen year old), Angelo D'Angelo and whoever Kidman's male stunt double is, saying that a guy doing her biking tricks makes his jerking off to it "both more and less awkward".
** According to a ShipTease joke in Tamara's review of ''Film/TheFly1986'', he takes regular showers in both her and Malcolm's houses.
** DepravedBisexual: Slots into the role a little too well in "The Review Must Go On", as he coos that Doug is cute, rides Mark Wahlberg's fake penis in ''Film/BoogieNights'' just to freak him out, threatens him while calling him 'Tinkerbell' and behaving like he's checking off a lot of items on the {{Domestic Abuse}}r list.
** The first couple of retooled ''WebVideo/PopQuizHotshot'' episodes had him hitting on all the male contestants he kidnapped, and flirting with General Anesthetic, first wanting to be invited to an S&M party and second asking if he looks pretty in a pink tiara.

* ByronicHero: An impulsive cynic who has a TraumaCongaLine backstory. He ''wants'' to be good, but his self-hate and temper keep getting in the way.

** He gleefully mocked part of his audience at the end of “Rise Of The Commercials”, where he innuendoes plenty on how to give good blowjobs, and when that makes them boo instead of the Canada rape jokes, he says he looks forward to losing them as viewers before leaving.

* DrinkOrder: Cupcake vodka. He has it in the PlotHole, and he wants it again when he's hallucinating in ''Film/TheShining''.

** He was always ditzier and more childlike in the ''Child's Play'' reviews with Phelous. Ended up contributing to their DramaticIrony dynamic [[spoiler: Phelous is WrongGenreSavvy because he thinks Critic is still a cowardly manchild, but in reality he's an atoning DeathSeeker]] in ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'' though, so TropesAreNotBad.

* DistractedByTheSexy: Dulcia of the ''PowerRangers Movie'' defeats a mob of "giant black chickens" by swinging two stick-weapons "throwing them into some kind of hypnotic trance":

** In ''Film/SuicideSquad'', while Joker annoys him, he's perfectly happy with lime green anal beads until Joker reveals they've been used.

** The death of Ma-Ti in ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'' slowly eroded away what was left of his sanity and it all came to a head at the beginning of the ''ScoobyDoo'' review.

* CosplayOtakuGirl: A RareMaleExample. An [[WebVideo/{{Kickassia}} M Bison]] costume that he brags got him tons of pussy, a {{stripperiffic}} [[WebVideo/SuburbanKnights Link outfit]], and, for his review of ''{{Transformers}}'', an Optimus Prime suit with a conspicuous crotch bulge that we get to look at every now and then.

** In “A Talking Cat?!”, he quickly goes passive with Lupa when he annoys her and she yells at him (like he used to do with other female producers and Lupa herself in ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights''), whereas with Rachel and Tamara he's hit them for much less. And while he does shoot her (which Doug lampshades in the bloopers as shittier than when she does) later on, she shoots him right back.
** One with his reboot self. When he's with Black Willy Wonka in ''Film/TheLorax'', suddenly all the preaching about pandering vanishes and he would much rather have money than praise.

* {{Adorkable}}: His awkwardness has a tendency to ''really'' come out during the "Old vs. New" segments and his intense, enduring love for Christmas was very sweet until Doug went DarkerAndEdgier and twisted said love into [[http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-grandma-got-run-over-by-a-reindeer/ psychosis]]. He's still a nerd who tends to get enthusiastic over certain things and it's endearing to watch, like how he was so excited to review ''Lady in the Water'' and his delight by the appearence of the original Mary Poppins in ''Mary Poppins Returns''. Plus he has an [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Elsa]] clipboard.

* {{Adorkable}}: His awkwardness has a tendency to ''really'' come out during the "Old vs. New" segments and his intense, enduring love for Christmas was very sweet until Doug went DarkerAndEdgier and twisted said love into [[http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-grandma-got-run-over-by-a-reindeer/ psychosis]]. He's still a nerd who tends to get enthusiastic over certain things and it's endearing to watch, like how he was so excited to review ''Lady in the Water''. Plus he has an [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Elsa]] clipboard.

** DepravedBisexual: Slots into the role a little too well in "The Review Must Go On", as he coos that Doug is cute, rides Mark Wahlberg's fake penis in ''Film/BoogieNights'' just to freak him out, threatens him while calling him 'Tinkerbell' and behaving like he's checking off a lot of items on the DomesticAbuser list.

* DomesticAbuser: In ''Film/TheShining'', it takes him no time at all to slip into abusive husband role to Rachel. She also acts like an abuse victim, rationalizing his behaviour and carrying on trying to help even when she's crying and he's toying with her.

** Mara Wilson is gonna be angry that you had to learn about child stars ''[[http://blip.tv/nostalgiacritic/the-review-must-go-on-6510378 again]]'', Critic... Even then you didn't learn, agreeing with Zordon in ''Turbo'' that all child stars know how to do is go crazy, being mean to Anna Sophia Robb by focusing on her looks in a negative way instead of her acting, and adding a {{rimshot}} to mocking fun of Dakota Fanning.

** In ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' and ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', he actually talked to people and took the chance to make friends/strengthen the relationships he already had, not to mention helping everyone in the PlotHole. With the reboot he's back to being alone (not even interacting with Chester), the Santa Christ call implying out of guilt.
** His very potent determination to never hurt people again (and succeeding at being a BigGood) was replaced with maiming cats, more personal insults, hitting kids, suggesting torture that not even the devil thought of, and beating three people to near-death with a baseball bat.

*** A little more understated and understandable because major SanitySlippage, but "Kubrick's not perfect" was made a major deal in the ending of ''AI'', so it's a little odd that he has to relearn that at the end of ''Series/TheShining''.
** At the end of ''Princess Diaries 2'', he “learns” not to stay in the constructs of his gender. That he had to learn this at all is news to the audience, as even in early days being a girly brat was always a big part of Critic's personality. (Might be justified with his admittance in the ''Uncanny Valley'' review that he's dying from repression, but doubtful.)

** He ventures into UnscrupulousHero & NominalHero when he's angry, and has stayed here since coming back from the PlotHole as he's the devil's favorite. Lampshaded in ''Spawn'' when Kermit-Devil wants him to be the leader of the demon army ''because'' he's so awful now.
* TheAntiNihilist: The world sucks and he's all too aware that he's useless, but he still wants to do good.

* ApologizesALot: Doug's tendency to feel guilty for stuff that isn't remotely his fault soaks into Critic's persona the most, or at least until Donnie came into the picture, and after he died, Critic isn't apologizing for anything as Sage found out.
* ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster: Post-reboot, one of the most meta examples. [[http://ozscarface.deviantart.com/art/Who-controls-whom-355796707?q=favby%3ADouglasDarien%2F32971852&qo=106 This art favorited by Doug]] sums it up, as Critic is still broken and pathetic, but he treats his underlings like his dolls, characters are created to make things go his way, he can insult Doug whenever he wants, and he doesn't always fail when he rebels against actually being a character.

* BeingGoodSucks: His very conscious decision to atone for his mistakes and sacrifice himself to save the world got turned into a parodox by RealLifeWritesThePlot, so he gave up and TookALevelInJerkass. Referenced in ''Is There Another Good Shyamalan Movie?'', as there's a notable pleading tone to his voice when he talks about how YouCantFightFate fucks over people who hadn't even wanted to be mean. There's also his great umbrage at ''WesternAnimation/TheChristmasTree'' having the moral of “you always win when you are good”.
** Subverted in ''I'll Be Home For Christmas'' as he rants that being nice to people who want him dead is going to be ''so'' hard, and he'll fuck up, but he wants to try because he has to get better.

** If a movie has heavy-handed symbolism and religious metaphors, the Critic will show it no mercy (though he was fairly even-handed with the ''"Chronicles of Narnia"'' films in his Disneycember segment and called out the anti-Christian overtones of the 1984 version of "Children of the Corn").

* {{BFG}}: To demonstrate that he's got more power, "A Talking Cat" and "Disney Afternoon" swap out his small iconic handgun with a bigger, scarier gun.
** The gun he uses to threaten Hyper Fangirl with in her third vlog is big enough to actually scare her into leaving him alone for once.

* BreakTheCutie: Finally driven home in the "Commercials Special" when he bemoans that he used to have such dreams and promise. And in a more simple use of the trope, any time he gets a seriously bad movie - ''Film/TheNeverendingStoryIIIEscapeFromFantasia'' springs immediately to mind.

* BreakTheHaughty: He thinks doing a LetsPlay is going to be '''so''' easy, much easier than actually analyzing something. He really gets proven wrong.

* CameBackWrong: ''Something'' has changed from the self-loathing atoner from 2011/2012[=/=]WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee and the MessianicArchetype he was. Announcing his return, he had the same PsychoticSmirk he kept wearing in his torment of Doug, shouts more than he ever used to, the opening joke of Timothy Green is him killing a cat, insults people even '''more''', his {{Stepford Smiler}} traits have been flanderized, slurs at women get shoehorned in, and he's back to HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday after years of indulging.
** Gets another boost in ''Turbo'', as Zordon gets angry at him for not doing the honorable thing and taking the easy way out but Critic is not apologetic. Remember that even in ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'' Ma-Ti praised him for being loyal and strong.

* CaptainObvious: Yes darling, you're white and male. You don't need to keep asking or stating that fact.
** Unless they're sad (like his "zombies are a metaphor for getting used to depression" theory), editorials usually have a talent for stating what everybody already knows. Nobody really needed to be told again that kids should watch scary moments in movies but in moderation.

* CatBoy: Much to [[http://thatchickwiththegifs.tumblr.com/post/140712794040/catnc-vs-dognc-cats-and-dogs-review tumblr's enjoyment]], the mother in “Cats And Dogs” makes him bat string like a cat, and play fetch like a dog. The announcers also literally call him a poodle, canon that fangirl fandom has gleefully taken to heart.

** "I'll Be Home For Christmas" has {{continuity nod}}s back to ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', with him being tired of always failing and wanting to do better.

* CharacterDevelopment: He's a ManChild with a DarkAndTroubledPast and lots of issues. The past couple of years however, he's still of course a brat, but also a PapaWolf who has basically declared himself a defender of kids well-being and intelligence.
** There's been a nice shift in power dynamics with his relationship with WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick. At first, he's condescending and just treats her like an extension of him, also being so awkward that he has to pretend to be Rasputin to hit on her. But as she grew into the sociopath we know and love, he trusts her ([[WebVideo/{{Kickassia}} to almost dumbass degrees]]), wants her to be proud of herself and wants to spend time with her.

** He's become a lot more respectful towards women, dislikes stereotypical manliness (he's quite a SissyVillain himself) and has undying love for badass girls. The "Top Eleven Hottest Animated Women" list had skeeviness reminiscent of WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses.

** It also helps that he now has a [[{{BigBeautifulWoman}} Big Beautiful Woman]] wife.

* ConvertedFanboy: While played straight with WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender, Critic gaining memories of Doug's vlogs and calling it his most favorite show ever, oddly subverted with WesternAnimation/AdventureTime; Doug often talks about how it's made him feel better and safer when he watches it, but while references to it have seeped into the show, Critic is more resistant to the strangeness and only calls it a case of stupid comedy that works. This changed in “Are Kid Shows Now Better Than Ever” though, as he praised it for “I Remember You”, canon gay with PB/Marcy being ex-girlfriends, tackling Bubblegum's need for political control in a sympathetic way, and being a comedy that isn't afraid of going into depressing territory.

* CreepyGood: When he wants to be disturbing, his mannerisms and voice are reminiscent of HIM from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''. Just listen to him at the start of [[http://blip.tv/nostalgia-chick/nostalgia-chick-bratz-2723840 this]].

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Remember that video with ''Bebe's Kids''? Remember how he complained so much? Remember how he did not complete the game? Apparently he is a good enough gamer to slam Angry Joe into next week in ''Marvel vs Capcom 2''.
-->'''Angry Joe:''' This man WHUPPED MY ASS!"
** He gets a BreakTheHaughty CurbStompBattle once Joe gets a [[http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/02/mvc3-grudge-match-angry-review/ brand new joystick though]].

* CuteBookworm: He may not have all that much common sense, but have you ever noticed the vast amounts of books he owns?
* CuteButCacophonic: He sounds like a howler monkey when he really gets worked up with shouting, and there are people who don't even like his normal voice, stating they watch his episodes muted.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Doug said once that he chose the black suit jacket to establish the Critic as the asshole to the Nerd's white-clad "hero", but also had the red tie and white shirt to offset any BlackAndWhiteMorality that may have came from it.
* DarkSecret: Accidentally strangling a hooker to death after WebVideo/{{Kickassia}} and while still in Reno. He admits this while thinking the camera's not on yet.

* DatingCatwoman: According to Doug and Lindsay, he and the Chick have this sort of relationship. There's an interesting contrast between the Chick's crazed addiction to get Todd noticing her and her mutually bitchy but fun and warm dynamic with the Critic.

* DoesNotLikeShoes: He's nearly always barefoot when playing around in his house.

* DynamicCharacter: He's grown up in a lot of ways, but has suffered SanitySlippage in other areas.

* EthicalHedonist: He admits that the nexus - where you feel nothing but timeless joy and don't care about anything else - would be awesome, but he still gets irritated at Kirk for doing a 180 from "I need my pain" to "I don't want responsibility".

** More dickish than evil but in “Why Do We Love Stupid”, he talks about watching the Dalai Lama's video on compassion but a few minutes later shows he didn't quite understand by putting in three screamers in a row [[note]]something that people with anxiety especially really hate[[/note]] and then telling people to admit they liked the first screamer they saw. To put this into perspective, the Ask That Guy episode with a screamer [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/ask-thatguy/505-ask-thatguy-episode-5 had a warning]].

* BeneathTheMask: He's really scared of someone manipulative going inside his head and finding out all the nasty stuff he's feeling, so puts on a JerkassFacade and settles for complaining about being NotEvilJustMisunderstood.
** Enforced in ''Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer'', as a chill patch makes him cute and safe and marketable about his love for Christmas, but when Tamara rips it off he turns into an embodiment of his NightmareFuelStationAttendant traits.