Snape Syndrome in Japanese dramas

[ltgmars]

So let's talk about "Snape Syndrome" (arbitrarily named it myself; do you like it?), the last-minute ~redemption~ of an otherwise despicable character. I've named it after Snape because it's a famous enough example that many people understand what I mean specifically even if they haven't read Harry Potter to the end. For those unfamiliar, what

Comments

[chaos_harmony]

Oh god, it's the Draco In Leather Pants trope, except in canon instead of fanon. Occasionally it can be pulled off in a nuanced and worthwhile way, but more often than not, it has maaaaajor WTF factors. :|

ETA. Though one good way to make it work is if the appropriate hints are dropped beforehand, and if the story deals with the actual repercussions afterward. I read one character in Game of Thrones that's introduced as being all ruthlessly kill-happy and smilingly volatile, and then much later, you get his POV, which treats you to this massive PTSD fest that is equal parts kind of upsetting but also really interesting, if you look at his actions in that context, especially since he's basically like, "Yes, after a certain point, I learned to go away inside my head because I couldn't deal with what I was doing, and while I was in there... shit went down, and I'm finally getting my comeuppance, and now I need to figure out what the hell kind of person I want to be." It helps that he's also not especially glamorized even once you

[ltgmars]

Ahhhhhh I really need to get on Game of Thrones. It seems like there are plenty of characters there that are nuanced and complicated and messed up and lovely for it, and I can definitely appreciate an approach to a character that's even just a little deeper than "I'm bad but now I'm good so it's okay~"

[jadeswallow]

Tbh, I'm a big fan of HP series but I never understand the hype of "Snape is actually a good guy!!!" after the ~reveal~
Meh. I don't really think the ~reveal~ is so important, it's VERY predictable actually, from my POV. Was I the only who have seen it coming and read the ~reveal~ chapter without much excitement? XD
And idk, it doesn't change my opinion of him whatsoever. He's definitely a complex character, but that's about it.

[ltgmars]

Haha I can't say I was as perceptive about it as you were. I think there were some people who saw it coming, but I was kind of along for the ride and I took things as they came. So it was pretty shocking and interesting, and I liked how it colored all of the past events in the story, but it never actually changed the fact that he did all of the things he did, you know? He was still awful, even if he had a "reason" behind some of it. And yeah, it's the hype that gets to me most, really. :/

[ltgmars]

Welp. Sounds like Japan, at least.

[azurevanillasky]

:l Ugh, insta-redemption is the worst. I'm so curious as to what drama series this is, because I totally agree, it happens quite frequently. (Also, that is a pretty awesome name for the syndrome, yes.)

On a point in relation to Harry Potter, that's why I don't really have too much effort to finish watching the movies. I never got into the books, but, ugh. As a fan of terrible asshole characters who love them for being their terrible asshole self with their drum of the antagonist, I am just so disappointed in hearing about that. It can be done well, but just, no.

(So, about halfway through this I realised which account I'm in, and I'm far too lazy to do anything about it.)

On that note, in the end, I really don't have much of interest to add to this, but this was such a great post to read and so very, very interesting.

[ltgmars]

I think the sudden change in any character (without proper buildup or consequences) is really hard to handle, but it's especially when it's bad-turned-good that it's really annoying. Let the bad guys be bad! It's okay! :| :| :|