Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: Objective or Subjective? 
, started by EternalSeptember on Feb 6th 2011 at 11:53:03 AM
Previous Trope Repair Shop thread: Trope Decay, started by Qwertz on Jun 10th 2011 at 8:17:47 AM
FYI there is a cleanup thread for this trope happening here. Post proposed examples in that thread.
Edit: copy-paste this link: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15391212720A38366900&page=1
What's the trope namer for this, or is there one?
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I was thinking the same thing honestly. ^^; What's a woobie?
"Hell exists not to punish sinners, but to ensure that nobody sins in the first place." - Eikishiki Yamaxanadu (Touhou)
It's a comfort blanket in American. Something a child hugs to make themselves feel better.
I get the trope, but I don't get the title. Who came up with the name "Woobie", and why?
"If the character is The Chew Toy, Butt-Monkey, or is a Jerkass he is not The Woobie."
The Chew Toy, I get. A Jerkass with woobie tendencies is a Jerkass Woobie. How did Butt-Monkey manage to get listed here? The Butt-Monkey trope itself is mood neutral and:
Aspects of Butt-Monkey: suffers disproportionately
Aspects of The Woobie: suffers disproportionately, is negatively affected, and is seen as sympathetic
Not to mention the description contradicts itself and later says that a Butt-Monkey can be a woobie if tortured too mercilessly.
Edited by PPPSSC Hide / Show Replies
A character can't really be both at once. A Butt-Monkey can become The Woobie if tortured too mercilessly and not Played for Laughs, while The Woobie can become a Butt-Monkey if their abuse becomes comedic rather than dramatic. But they can't be both at once; in a sense, they're the same trope, but Butt-Monkey is Played for Laughs and The Woobie is Played for Drama.
See, that's the thing. A Butt-Monkey doesn't have to be Played for Laughs; it often is, but it can also be played more seriously or even to varying degrees of humor depending on the type of torture. It's a lot broader of a trope than this one or its true humorous opposite The Chew Toy.
This page is long enough to justify an opening quote to catch interest. There's plenty of options in the quotes page - I'm personally partial to the Laléna quote.
What do you guys think?
Can we please add the Animated Films and Live Action Films examples in their separate pages? There seems to be way too many in that film page section already. It's also confusing as to which one is the animated films and live action films.
Perhaps Judy Prava from Phoenix Wright Devil's Attorney counts as a woobie, given her revealed backstory. Not sure where she would fit in though.
The Dream Soldier
I think Squidward was only The Woobie in 2 episodes: "Band Geeks" and "Can You Spare A Dime?". However, in the latter, he became a Jerkass Woobie by making Sponge Bob his slave.
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I would say Squidward is a Jerkass Woobie due to his role as the Only Sane Man.
I'm a Troper!!!
Poor Woobie page, being made into a YMMV. I feel so sorry for it. =(
Edited by Surenity My tropes launched: https://surenity2.blogspot.com/2021/02/my-tropes-on-tv-tropes.html
What is the difference between The Woobie and Moe? Is it the cause of audience sympathy, the treatment of the character within the story, or are they the same?
Edited by 71.233.220.112 Hide / Show Replies
Moe is just cute. Woobies are sympathy magnets. However, a lot of examples for the latter are cute.
I Like Woobie.