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crazysamaritan MOD Since: Apr, 2010
4th Nov, 2019 08:13:37 AM

Considering the trope is about the action rather than the relationship/character (see Parental Substitute instead), I'd say it doesn't belong on the Characters/ subpage at all.

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XFllo Since: Aug, 2012
4th Nov, 2019 08:25:31 AM

Contrary to what crazysamaritan says, I'd say both. It says something important about both the metaphorical parent and the metaphorical kid. (Then again, it'll probably contribute to character pages' bloat.)

crazysamaritan MOD Since: Apr, 2010
4th Nov, 2019 10:04:07 AM

What does Like a Son to Me say about a character that Parental Substitute doesn't?

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.
HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
4th Nov, 2019 11:10:48 AM

It seems to me that the tropes usually overlap if the sentiment is mutual, but not if the relationship is one-sided (or at least, lopsided) in some way.

For example, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the Terminator is a Parental Substitute to John Connor (see the page quote to Parental Substitute), because John Connor has grown up without a father and is desperate to put a strong, protective male figure in that role. But John Connor is not Like a Son to Me to the Terminator, because the Terminator lacks the capability for paternal affection.

Parental Substitute is about the desire of the child for a symbolic parent. Like a Son to Me is about the desire of the parental character for a symbolic child.

Edited by HighCrate
WarJay77 (Troper Knight)
4th Nov, 2019 11:11:55 AM

Similarly, a child can be "like a son" to an adult without the adult becoming a Parental Substitute. They just have to feel a parental bond with them.

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