Toph Beifong is such a groundbreaking character for subverting this trope. She’s by all means “the big guy” in spirit and skill, but physically she’s this petite tween blind girl. Easily one of the best characters in fiction.
I love the fact that on one hand she's this tiny, blind person and on the other hand she's literally the muscle of the Gaang, only to have moments of vulnerability where she isn't ashamed to ask for help. Like, SPOILERS I loved that in the end of ATLA she is literally saved by Sokka, who is a non-bender and also a complete break of all those non-bender stereotypes, on top of the reverse Avatar, so to speak (because he learns all the fighting styles from the nations throughout the series) Masterful series, simply said.
Just to answer the Question for Zoro, just a week ago there was a World wide popularity poll where fans voted for their favorit Character of OP, and Zoro got second just behind Luffy.
@@inspiringer6418 well hehe some of his fans say [spoilers ahead] He'll get untied and defeat a calamity with his 30 broken bones for the sake of friendship power
One of the best early Zoro moments that shows you so much about his character is when they're trapped in the wax on the island with the giants fighting and he needs to get out so he just starts instantly sawing at his legs. He doesn't stop to think about it, he doesn't complain or himhaw around. He wants to fight these guys, but he's stuck, well I'm going to cut my feet off and kick your ass. It just shows so much about the character.
At the same time, when he was sure he wasn't going to be able to get out of the wax, he decided he was going to die in a heroic pose. Zoro is hilarious.
I instantly thought of that scene in the Princess Bride where Inigo is trying to break down a door and is screaming for Fezzik to help and he does. He just walks up, pushes the door open and helps his friend even as he's fighting a bunch of people. Fezzik fits so perfectly.
In Stormlight Archives, Rock is a big guy but lets not forget Dalinar, aka the Black Thorn, in the first 2 books (and flashbacks in the 3rd book). The Black Thorn has some very epic moments fighting hundreds of Parshendi or being the ultimate weapon that is let loose by his brother on their enemies.
My husband is this character and its one thing i absolutely love. He is huge and similarly huge hearted and kind and watching him carry our 3yo daughter on his shoulder just makes my heart so happy.
Garnet from Steven universe is also a perfect female example of this trope! And one of the best freaaking characters to come out of children’s animation
As far as female characters having these traits, Brienne of Tarth from ASOIAF fits this perfectly. She's incredibly loyal and devoted. She's also physically big and strong.
I love this character type! Fezzik in The Princess Bride is absolutely my favourite example, but there are many good ones. If this is the time to talk about one's own work...the comedy I co-write has a female Big Guy! (A wise woman by profession, but also the protagonists' bodyguard.)
ZORO ON THE THUMBNAIL?! I subscribed cause I’ve been enjoying you and Daniel about to get your minds blown by one piece. Can’t wait till you reach Water 7 & Thriller Bark and see what Zoro really is. He starts out the big guy on the surface but he’s a different kind. This isn’t anything new I’m about to say but..Zoros while theme is “Self-Sacrifice” without saying too much. Think back to how he was introduced. He was suffering for a town despite the fact most people thought he was a devil. He ate that little girls rice ball off the floor and told her it was delicious. Man don’t mind mine just here gushing over ZORO.
I would say Nona from "The Book of the Ancestor" is kind of the female, main-character version of this. Maybe? She certainly will do anything and everything for her friends...
I would say that Clay, the MC from Kings of the Wyld, definitely fits the big guy archetype (most of the time) Edit: it’s like he got tired from his friends bs, but can’t help to be there with them
This was my immediate thought when she mentioned that she couldn’t think of any main characters that fit the bill. Even down to the fact that his weapon of choice is a shield, because he’s all about protecting his friends
Indeed! Clay fits the definition quite perfrctly. His motivation is to help his best friends, the mission is not his own, and yet he is such a fantastic main character! I love Kings of the Wyld so much!
Yeah, Clay is a big guy, but Gabe says it himself: Clay is the leader. Ganelon is more the big guy. TBF the band seems to be purposefully off from the 5 man band trope. Like, Moog is the "Smart Guy", but there isn't actually an intelligent person in the band to be seen (Except Ganelon apparently who is really good at chess). Clay is quite the "Big Guy" as Merphy describes and I agree, but Ganelon is definitely the muscle of the group. Gabe is the front man but Clay is the leader. Etc.
Clay Cooper in Kings of the Wyld is the best example I can think of for a big guy being the main character. If you haven’t read it yet I suggest you do ASAP it’s got all of that sweet sweet friendship you’re looking for.
idk if it fits, but an example of a female main character could be Vin (mistborn). I mean, sure, she's not physically huge, but she's the strongest character in fights (along w Kelsier) and everybody feels safe around her +++ she has a heart of gold and always puts the others first
Nynaeve is a woman who fits this trope to some extent (even if the more obvious Wheel of Time examples are Perrin and Loial). The Wheel of Time has a bunch of these. I guess Jordan really like this trope or something. An example of a lead character who is like this is Buffy, the vampire slayer. Buffy doesn't just kind of fit the trope. She 100% does. Another lead character that kind of fits this trope is Malcolm Reynolds as much as he'd hate to admit it.
Lan is another great example of the big guy. I've only read up to book 6 of Wheel of Time so far, but despite the little page time he gets, I can't help but love him.
I'm not saying it can't be done as an MC, but I do think part of the charm of this sort of character is in what we don't know. Because we as readers don't fully see the absolute limits of this character type, it builds mystique and makes us beg for more, rather than less. They're extremely useful, because of personal elements that allow them to support more detailed and nuanced characters, and it's their love for the MCs that make them easy to adore and root for. But I wonder if we'd have the same feelings if we were given a deeper dive into their POVs. You're so correct that in making them MCs, even in multi-POV narratives, their inherent and necessary plot-armor could dull some of what makes them such compelling and practical story elements. Perhaps part of what makes them so fantastic as characters is rooted in how potentially expendable they might be at any point the story calls for? Would that kill our fascination and love for them? I'm 100% with you in my love for these characters, and they're usually the ones I not only adore but want to straight-up marry, yet so much of what makes me fall for them is their seeming invincibility, be that mental, emotional, physical, what have you, and their devotion to more complicated MCs. Thrusting them into the limelight might shatter that illusion. Aleksei Drago mostly walks this line for me, but I think a bit of this character element gets muddied because we know what he's thinking, and how he's interpreting the insanity of the world he occupies. Does that make him more or less loveable? Maybe not, but it probably does make him fit this specific role less effectively, as in being less one-note (and it's a great note), you lose some of the incorruptibility that these characters often possess. Samwise is really well-handled in this regard, and a character like Perrin Aybara seemed meant to fit this profile, but got weighed down with a lot of extraneous brooding, not to mention the apparent need for conflict with Rand, and the whole spanking-within-his-marriage thing (though if he'd just spanked Rand, I think a lot of this could have bettered both their character arcs). I dunno, there was SO much spanking in that series. But I love these characters, and I'd love to see a female character effectively written into this role! Erza Scarlet is probably the best one that comes to mind. Hope you feel better soon!
I feel like Loial fits this absolutely perfectly (I mean, Ogier rage is a thing)! Also Perrin as a main character? He’s my favorite because he’s the only one that’s always thinking about supporting his friends and not hurting people, but also will go berserk for that if he has to.
Of the 3 main boys, he absolutely is "the big guy". Big hammer, physically largest of the 3, and considers himself the "slow" one of the group. And creator have mercy on anyone that goes after Faile....
Yes, but the 3 are very independent characters in fact. They are all main characters and all natural leaders, so Perrin is a much more complex version of the big guy
but the real big guy is armstrong, specially in the first anime were he was closer to mustang than he is in brotherhood, im not sure what is the name of the archetype of riza, but other snipers share this one, like yoko from guren lagan, maybe the female version to big guy is big gun lady, in trigun the female duo has a big girl with a big gun too, the only big girl i remember that fights upclose in Toph
I think Brienne from A Song of Ice and Fire is definitely a female main character that suits this archetype. One of my favourite examples of this character is Brand from The Tarot Sequence, but I don't expect anyone to know what that is.
Geralt from the Witcher is a Big Guy main character, pretty much 100% of his plot drive comes from wanting to save Ciri and Yen and nearly all subplots come from saving everyone else he comes across
he only lacks the personality most big guys have, he is good, but also too stressed and many characters dont like him even when they need him, while big guys usually dont have this problem, everybody likes them
@@devforfun5618 then why is everyone following him, I agree with you he’s too stressed and isn’t laid back, unlike what the trope is but cmon, Dandi, Milva, Regis, Zoltan, Angulem, they were ready to throw their lives away for him and his destiny. I didn’t include Cahir because of his weird relationship, connection, to Ciri. Also all the sorceresses like him 😂😂 oh and count The Count out of the people throwing their lives away lol he’s drinking wine and writing 50 years of poetry or whatever 🤣
Do you consider Perrin from WoT as an example of this character type? Maybe his distance from Rand, and his focus on Faile, prevents him from scratching this itch?
I feel like Vin almost fits this archetype in the second and third books with Elend, she’s the muscle, Elend has that sense of safety because he knows Vin is there
Zoro is the second most popular character in one piece based on official popularity polls. He only loses to Luffy most of the time. So the one piece fans are obsessed with Zoro.
I really think you would like Fruits Basket. Its a Slice of Life/Drama Manga, so its got no action, but the main character is very big hearted and kind and just wants the best for everyone.
Caramon Majere from Dragonlance is a great version of this type, hampered by the fact that he needs to be needed. He'll die for his friends, he'll die for his family, he'll do anything for them, but if he's not needed, he falls apart. Getting him past that to the point where he can be a person who can do anything for his friends and family but doesn't have to just to function is one of my favorite character arcs of anything ever.
I feel like you might be able to make a case for "the big guy" being the main character in the manga Toriko. He's sort of the reliable muscle to his mostly helpless sidekick.
Hello Merphy! I’m a One Piece fan and one of my favorite things is discovering people who are new to the series and are falling in love with it. So thanks for that and I do enjoy your review and takes. Addtionally I’d like to recommend since you’re reading online, there’s a site that hosts the OP chapters in full official digital color. It’s going to make you appreciate the series and its world even more. Good luck on your journey! *talking about Zoro says “Gets lost in a scene” NICE
If you consider Mat and Perrin it be main characters along side Rand in Wheel of Time, then Perrin is kinda "the big guy" as a main character. But yeah, not a lot of them as main characters, they usually fit very well in that supporting cast. It's an old character type too like Little John from Robin Hood. Most recent one I read was a character called "Tiny" in the Art of the Adept series, who gets bonus points in my book for also being quiet and letting people think he's slow but is in fact quite intelligent and thoughtful.
I think it might be a fav character for many, because its one of the traits in ourselves we find most redeemable about ourselves, and I think everyone has it in one way or another. Like when I dreamt that my sister got killed in front of me when I was a kid, I screamed in the dream realizing I would do ANYTHING to stop it. Those dreams still has some trauma, but it made me realize that there are people that I care so much about that my security and lifespan is not as important. When we recognize that part in others, and can relate, I think it is very comforting and motivating. Hope I made sense. :)
YOU PUT A NAME TO IT I LOVE IT! Jean is one of my favorite characters ever and i love that you put a name to the "archetype", because i'm a sucker for it. and holy shit, the mc version who is also a girl you were wondering about? THAT'S LITERALLY GIDEON THE NINTH! a woman who is the muscle, would do anything for her necromancer AND is the book's pov... and it's so interesting and well done! idk if you read it already, but this made me realize why i love her so much, BECAUSE SHE FITS THE ARCHETYPE!
Bobbie Draper from The Expanse is a female version of this character trope. I’d argue that Starbuck from the 00’s reimagining of Battlestar Galactica is this type of character is as well, though she’s more of the “big guy” in presence and prowess, as opposed to actual physical size.
This video hit me at an odd moment. You helped me realize the main character of the book I just finished writing fits the concept of a big guy in the leading story position. Hmm... I may need to do an essay/vlog to explore this because for a long time I worried that the hero being, as you said, in the servant role, is tricky structurally. My MC's story problem is always trying to help/save/protect the other POV character. I handled the issue of action vs. reaction by putting obstacles in the character's path that would prevent him from serving the role he wants to take. Anyway, this comment is growing long. Nice, thoughtful video!
His name is escaping me, but the main character in Kings of the Wyld (the narrative voice) fits this trope and is the lynchpin of the group. you should check it out if you havent. Hilarious fantasy novel. Good pace. Interesting world. Fits your trope.
Jean Tennen is the best! Especially in Red Seas Under Red Skies! Basically the main characters right hand man who is able to get the job done doing the dirty work! Def an a character type I enjoy as well! Zoro is probably my favorite character in One Piece... He's such a force people mistake him for the captain, but he's so aloof & carefree lol.
I know you've already dropped it (and I understand your reasons for dropping it), but Guts from Berserk is very much "The Big Guy" as a Main Character.
My book I finished writing a year ago has a classic chosen one type hero who gets systematically unchosen throughout the book and then book 2 we follow the best friend who has been "the big guy" supporting and sacrificing for our previous chosen one throughput book 1. It is a really fun dynamic to play with.
Something that makes me happy about your videos is when your family is in them. If I ever get married and have a family I hope one of our best qualities as a family is to be loyal. I have a feeling that's why you love the type of character you talked about. Anyone that is supportive and loyal,and willing to do anything for each other is family. Thanks.😊 And get well soon. If you aren't already feeling better
Awesome editing sound 5:30! I like how the character you're describing is more than just the "tank"/ muscle type, but that is an aspect of the person. Good video
I think it's interesting when it isn't a human Big Guy. I immediately thought of Huon, the Hound of Valinor (gosh I hope my decades old memory has that right), who helped Beren and Luthien. It was prophesied that he wpuld speak only three times before dying and he used up all three on their quest. Fought the Lord of Werewolves IIRC.
I'll be honest; I've never and most likely will never use squarespace (I just don't need websites). That being said; I love that they're a consistent sponsor of Merphy. Consistent support is so important for content creators
One example of a protagonist who is the 'big guy' trope when it comes to protecting his friends is Drizzt Do'urden in the SA Salvatore novels. He is the main protagonist, but he is also the most skilled fighter among them and he would sacrifice anything for his friends. He is definitely worth the read.
Got yourself another subscriber (for One Piece, admittedly). Love to hear more of an academic and avid book reader-type expound on this story (perhaps manga in general). Outsiders’ reaction are always much more interesting to watch. For the type of character you are describing: Berserk. Seriously, Berserk is the exact type of stoic, ride or die, and unselfish character you are attracted to as well as him being the protagonist. I sincerely think you will really like it; and Dark Horse (publisher) released a pretty spectacular deluxe edition that combines several volumes very well (also in a larger format). I think you’d love it!
In the one piece anime, there's an arc that comes right after Skypiea and that filler arc is called the G8 arc, and it is so good, it honestly deserves to be watched by manga readers. It's episodes 196-206~7. Plus, you get to hear what each of them sound like in the anime lol
Detritus the troll and Cuddy the dwarf from Discworld. Not only does it feature the BIG guy, but it puts characters together from races that in most fantasy fiction, absolutely hate each other.
Cassian from ACOTAR! who does become the protagonist in the latest in the series and we really see beyond the ‘sarcastic-tough guy’ to the ABSOLUTE HEART OF GOLD below. Rhys is always the one celebrated for his self-sacrifice but I think Cas always gets forgotten about because he’s the ‘tough’ kinda-macho sidekick for the original trilogy, but he’s always protecting the vulnerable and the first to jump in front of his brothers/friends when they’re in danger (even though usually they’re able to take care of themselves) and NEVER seeks (or is ever really given) credit for it despite literally being TORN TO SHREDS in every book he appears in.
I feel like you would love Hopper from Stranger Things. That show has some of your other favorite tropes, as well, like found family and a creepy town with mysterious things happening.
1.Of course there are examples of that character type being a female: it is what you would call a mother. 2.You can by the way set a story around this character being the main character, and have the stakes be derived either from the moral question of weather they will succeed in making the sacrifice each time and what does it cost in them, or from the question weather they will succeed in saving the people they care about. 3. Hearing you gush is always delightful
"I am taking about The Help for our main charecters, i mean i have many examples but i am going to talk about Lies of Locke Lamora." As expected! For me Samwise Gamgee, is the perfect example for this trope. Like he is the friend I wish I had. That Carrying Frodo scene was so powerful and was also portrayed beautifully in the movies. However my favorite character type is the Joker of the group, the one who has his skills, but is there to add a comical effect until the time comes like Neville Longbottom, even Gimli and Finnick from Hunger Games to some extent.
I think Trigun is the series for you, Vash is this character archetype as the main character, but also Milly is this character archetype as well as a female.
damn Trigun deserves a remake, i love this anime so much to bad it is not as popular, it deserves the evangelion treatment, i also mentioned Milly in another comment she is the only Big girl i remember that is actually big, they usually replace the muscles with a sniper when making the female version, resulting in yoko and riza hawkeye
Oh yeah, this is one of the GOAT character tropes. To me, from Watership Down, Bigwig is one of the biggest Big Guys ever. It's in the name, he earned it. "My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run, and until he says otherwise, I shall stay here." And who he says that to? Yoooo...
About the stakes: I don't thik there would be less stakes, I actually think they would be quite high, not because the main character's life is in danger but because he values his friends over everything else. So the stakes would be if they make it out
Samwise from LTR, Michael Carpenter from Dresden, and Perin Abarra from WOT. Are all my favorite characters from my favorite series. For me it was always because I am that character. the kind hearted big guy willing do do anything for others. I could list many others but those are the ones that stand out to me.
I feel like my MC fits this description in some ways and she's a girl! She's more like samwise though especially in the second book. She's super loyal and there for another character to help them reach their goals. The book is called "First Voyage" and it's the first book in a trilogy called "The Sky Sailor Trilogy"!
I've got *the goods* on exploring "the big guy" - funny, I was pimping this story to you 2 days ago - but *Dragonlance Chronicles* gives us Caramon Majere who epitomizes all these traits of being the strong warrior support to his frail mage twin-brother, Raistlin. The story asks us: when does constant loving support and loyalty become a crutch in a destructive co-dependant relationship? Now, Caramon and Raistlin are not the main characters in Chronicles because it's an ensemble of all the DnD character archtypes traveling together to save the world (the story derived from a campaign) and the spotlight is constantly moving - but finish that trilogy and move on *Drangonlance Legends* trilogy, and they are allowed full space to evolve as characters, with the POV shared mainly by one or two others. Both stories are my long time favorites.
I highly recommend watching Overly Sarcastic Productions's trope videos. She called them the powerhouse and had an excellent breakdown that describes these characters excellently.
Toph Beifong is such a groundbreaking character for subverting this trope.
She’s by all means “the big guy” in spirit and skill, but physically she’s this petite tween blind girl. Easily one of the best characters in fiction.
Oh my gosh how did I forget Toph!!!
I love the fact that on one hand she's this tiny, blind person and on the other hand she's literally the muscle of the Gaang, only to have moments of vulnerability where she isn't ashamed to ask for help. Like, SPOILERS I loved that in the end of ATLA she is literally saved by Sokka, who is a non-bender and also a complete break of all those non-bender stereotypes, on top of the reverse Avatar, so to speak (because he learns all the fighting styles from the nations throughout the series)
Masterful series, simply said.
Her name is Toph, cause it sounds like tough.
Also, Mikasa from Attack on Titan.
I was wondering if she should count. I don't really remember if she made any sacraficial and it sounded like it was a requirement.
"(Zoro) he's one that's easily lost in a scene..."
I see what you did there
"Go north"
Heads up a building'
Yeah even when Zoro stands in the middle of manga panel, nothing happens
Just to answer the Question for Zoro, just a week ago there was a World wide popularity poll where fans voted for their favorit Character of OP, and Zoro got second just behind Luffy.
Yup just barely.
Luffy was 1.6 when i looked and zoro was 1.4 million.
Luffy > Zoro for me in the end
Sorry ZKK fans 😖
@@inspiringer6418 of course he's the king of the pirates
@@inspiringer6418 well hehe some of his fans say [spoilers ahead]
He'll get untied and defeat a calamity with his 30 broken bones for the sake of friendship power
@@inspiringer6418 zkk is absolutely murdered lmao. Bled out, cold, dead.
One of the best early Zoro moments that shows you so much about his character is when they're trapped in the wax on the island with the giants fighting and he needs to get out so he just starts instantly sawing at his legs. He doesn't stop to think about it, he doesn't complain or himhaw around. He wants to fight these guys, but he's stuck, well I'm going to cut my feet off and kick your ass. It just shows so much about the character.
Zoro is great lol
I almost talked about this scene specifically but I was afraid it was too spoillery. But I totally agree!
Best Zoro scene was When "Nothing Happened"...
Yeah it was great when nothing happened
At the same time, when he was sure he wasn't going to be able to get out of the wax, he decided he was going to die in a heroic pose. Zoro is hilarious.
Your husband storming in and yelling “are you reading” was priceless.
That was the best ad I have ever seen. He really cannot pull off scary though haha.
Cory was amazing!!
Zoro is my favorite character in OP. His character will keep developing and you'll love him even more as you read further. 💚
agreed. zoro says so much saying nothing. Zoro and Sanji all day :)
"What the f-friendship is a thing that I love to read!"
WHAT A GENIUS EDIT!
The way of kings and Zoro in the thumbnail just makes me soooooo happy!!!!
I LOVE the world building of both stories!!!
I felt that sneeze so much, I hate that feeling when the sneeze is like: "just wait, I'll be comming, wait, wait... No, sorry I changed my mind." ^^
I instantly thought of that scene in the Princess Bride where Inigo is trying to break down a door and is screaming for Fezzik to help and he does. He just walks up, pushes the door open and helps his friend even as he's fighting a bunch of people. Fezzik fits so perfectly.
Fezzik was my immediate first thought too!
AHHHH YES, he just walks up so easily, casually kicks the door then leaves like eh, that was fun
INIGO AND FEZZIK!! YES! What a catch
Omg yes Fezzik is the best
Merphy just rename this video to "JEAN TANNEN IS MY FAVORITE FANTASY CHARACTER also some others like him"
Zoro is my babe
This makes me want to talk about a later Zoro event, but I can't because of spoilers
Nothing ever happen to him 😏
Truly the kings right hand man
@@papierre9287 shhhhhhhhhh
@@papierre9287 lies
oh yeah THAT moment
In Stormlight Archives, Rock is a big guy but lets not forget Dalinar, aka the Black Thorn, in the first 2 books (and flashbacks in the 3rd book). The Black Thorn has some very epic moments fighting hundreds of Parshendi or being the ultimate weapon that is let loose by his brother on their enemies.
My husband is this character and its one thing i absolutely love. He is huge and similarly huge hearted and kind and watching him carry our 3yo daughter on his shoulder just makes my heart so happy.
That’s wholesome
Garnet from Steven universe is also a perfect female example of this trope! And one of the best freaaking characters to come out of children’s animation
The fandom loves Zoro loyalty is Zoro all over
That's because Zoro is great.
As far as female characters having these traits, Brienne of Tarth from ASOIAF fits this perfectly. She's incredibly loyal and devoted. She's also physically big and strong.
Luffy is the only one who can take the cat eyes away from Zoro, and he does so in a spectacular fashion time and time again XD oooooo mistborn!
Where was Ham!? (Mistborn) He is extremely strong and yet has such a soft philosophers heart:)
yes an excellent example of this type!
I was thinking the same thing!
Also, Wayne, he’s not super strong but he’s really hard to kill and his abilities let him get wax out of trouble a lot.
Porthos from The Three Musketeers is my favorite of the muscle trope.
I love this character type! Fezzik in The Princess Bride is absolutely my favourite example, but there are many good ones. If this is the time to talk about one's own work...the comedy I co-write has a female Big Guy! (A wise woman by profession, but also the protagonists' bodyguard.)
I also feel like Shrek is an example of the main character being the Big Guy
I've not read Locke yet, but hearing that he has stilettos that he hides in unusual places has sent my imagination down an interesting path... 😳
Me too. Then I wondered if a stilletto is a gun in this world (a thin gun)
Ye ol' prison wallet
Definitely wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of Jean and the Wicked Sisters.
ZORO ON THE THUMBNAIL?! I subscribed cause I’ve been enjoying you and Daniel about to get your minds blown by one piece. Can’t wait till you reach Water 7 & Thriller Bark and see what Zoro really is. He starts out the big guy on the surface but he’s a different kind. This isn’t anything new I’m about to say but..Zoros while theme is “Self-Sacrifice” without saying too much. Think back to how he was introduced. He was suffering for a town despite the fact most people thought he was a devil. He ate that little girls rice ball off the floor and told her it was delicious. Man don’t mind mine just here gushing over ZORO.
Zoro in Thriller Bark made me sob.
Afterall, nothing happened.
I would say Nona from "The Book of the Ancestor" is kind of the female, main-character version of this. Maybe? She certainly will do anything and everything for her friends...
I had the same thought. And similar to that: Fitz from the Realm of the Elderlings
big guy, gentle giant, loyal -> Fezzik from The Princess Bride 🥰🥰
The big guy is literally huffelpuff in a nutshell and I love it 💛
I would say that Clay, the MC from Kings of the Wyld, definitely fits the big guy archetype (most of the time)
Edit: it’s like he got tired from his friends bs, but can’t help to be there with them
This was my immediate thought when she mentioned that she couldn’t think of any main characters that fit the bill. Even down to the fact that his weapon of choice is a shield, because he’s all about protecting his friends
Indeed! Clay fits the definition quite perfrctly. His motivation is to help his best friends, the mission is not his own, and yet he is such a fantastic main character! I love Kings of the Wyld so much!
Ganelon more so
Yeah, Clay is a big guy, but Gabe says it himself: Clay is the leader.
Ganelon is more the big guy.
TBF the band seems to be purposefully off from the 5 man band trope. Like, Moog is the "Smart Guy", but there isn't actually an intelligent person in the band to be seen (Except Ganelon apparently who is really good at chess). Clay is quite the "Big Guy" as Merphy describes and I agree, but Ganelon is definitely the muscle of the group. Gabe is the front man but Clay is the leader. Etc.
I did t notice this comment before I posted mine, but he was the first one I thought of. True protector and shepherd.
Clay Cooper in Kings of the Wyld is the best example I can think of for a big guy being the main character. If you haven’t read it yet I suggest you do ASAP it’s got all of that sweet sweet friendship you’re looking for.
Zoro is pretty beloved by the fandom, there was a world wide popularity poll and Zoro came in second after Luffy.
One female charter that fits is Birgette in the Wheel of Time to Elyane
idk if it fits, but an example of a female main character could be Vin (mistborn). I mean, sure, she's not physically huge, but she's the strongest character in fights (along w Kelsier) and everybody feels safe around her +++ she has a heart of gold and always puts the others first
Nynaeve is a woman who fits this trope to some extent (even if the more obvious Wheel of Time examples are Perrin and Loial). The Wheel of Time has a bunch of these. I guess Jordan really like this trope or something.
An example of a lead character who is like this is Buffy, the vampire slayer. Buffy doesn't just kind of fit the trope. She 100% does.
Another lead character that kind of fits this trope is Malcolm Reynolds as much as he'd hate to admit it.
Matthias kinda falls into this category, he is my favourite six of crows character
Lan is another great example of the big guy. I've only read up to book 6 of Wheel of Time so far, but despite the little page time he gets, I can't help but love him.
I'm not saying it can't be done as an MC, but I do think part of the charm of this sort of character is in what we don't know. Because we as readers don't fully see the absolute limits of this character type, it builds mystique and makes us beg for more, rather than less. They're extremely useful, because of personal elements that allow them to support more detailed and nuanced characters, and it's their love for the MCs that make them easy to adore and root for. But I wonder if we'd have the same feelings if we were given a deeper dive into their POVs.
You're so correct that in making them MCs, even in multi-POV narratives, their inherent and necessary plot-armor could dull some of what makes them such compelling and practical story elements. Perhaps part of what makes them so fantastic as characters is rooted in how potentially expendable they might be at any point the story calls for?
Would that kill our fascination and love for them? I'm 100% with you in my love for these characters, and they're usually the ones I not only adore but want to straight-up marry, yet so much of what makes me fall for them is their seeming invincibility, be that mental, emotional, physical, what have you, and their devotion to more complicated MCs. Thrusting them into the limelight might shatter that illusion. Aleksei Drago mostly walks this line for me, but I think a bit of this character element gets muddied because we know what he's thinking, and how he's interpreting the insanity of the world he occupies.
Does that make him more or less loveable? Maybe not, but it probably does make him fit this specific role less effectively, as in being less one-note (and it's a great note), you lose some of the incorruptibility that these characters often possess. Samwise is really well-handled in this regard, and a character like Perrin Aybara seemed meant to fit this profile, but got weighed down with a lot of extraneous brooding, not to mention the apparent need for conflict with Rand, and the whole spanking-within-his-marriage thing (though if he'd just spanked Rand, I think a lot of this could have bettered both their character arcs). I dunno, there was SO much spanking in that series. But I love these characters, and I'd love to see a female character effectively written into this role! Erza Scarlet is probably the best one that comes to mind. Hope you feel better soon!
I feel like Loial fits this absolutely perfectly (I mean, Ogier rage is a thing)! Also Perrin as a main character? He’s my favorite because he’s the only one that’s always thinking about supporting his friends and not hurting people, but also will go berserk for that if he has to.
I was thinking the exact same thing!
It's funny because his name is literally Loial, it's almost too on-the-nose
I can’t wait till you get to some of Zoros best moments. Next arc and one a bit more in the future are some of the best one piece
I feel like Perrin Aybara kind of fits the description of a main character like this. At least for his arc
Of the 3 main boys, he absolutely is "the big guy". Big hammer, physically largest of the 3, and considers himself the "slow" one of the group. And creator have mercy on anyone that goes after Faile....
Yes, but the 3 are very independent characters in fact. They are all main characters and all natural leaders, so Perrin is a much more complex version of the big guy
In Fullmetall Alchimist: Brotherhood is Riza would be that character for Roy, so there are some women in there :D
Also Inej from Six of Crows (/Shadow and Bone) is kind of like that
I was going to comment this as well....Riza is one of my favorite characters
Also Mikasa/Eren and Armin from Attack on Titan
but the real big guy is armstrong, specially in the first anime were he was closer to mustang than he is in brotherhood, im not sure what is the name of the archetype of riza, but other snipers share this one, like yoko from guren lagan, maybe the female version to big guy is big gun lady, in trigun the female duo has a big girl with a big gun too, the only big girl i remember that fights upclose in Toph
Gentle Giants are simply the best character types ever. Period.
I think Brienne from A Song of Ice and Fire is definitely a female main character that suits this archetype.
One of my favourite examples of this character is Brand from The Tarot Sequence, but I don't expect anyone to know what that is.
Geralt from the Witcher is a Big Guy main character, pretty much 100% of his plot drive comes from wanting to save Ciri and Yen and nearly all subplots come from saving everyone else he comes across
he only lacks the personality most big guys have, he is good, but also too stressed and many characters dont like him even when they need him, while big guys usually dont have this problem, everybody likes them
@@devforfun5618 then why is everyone following him, I agree with you he’s too stressed and isn’t laid back, unlike what the trope is but cmon, Dandi, Milva, Regis, Zoltan, Angulem, they were ready to throw their lives away for him and his destiny. I didn’t include Cahir because of his weird relationship, connection, to Ciri. Also all the sorceresses like him 😂😂 oh and count The Count out of the people throwing their lives away lol he’s drinking wine and writing 50 years of poetry or whatever 🤣
Do you consider Perrin from WoT as an example of this character type? Maybe his distance from Rand, and his focus on Faile, prevents him from scratching this itch?
I feel like Vin almost fits this archetype in the second and third books with Elend, she’s the muscle, Elend has that sense of safety because he knows Vin is there
Thank you so much!!!! I was literally screaming at her when she was talking about no main characters or female characters
Zoro is the second most popular character in one piece based on official popularity polls. He only loses to Luffy most of the time. So the one piece fans are obsessed with Zoro.
I mean look at him, I would be obsessed with him too, lol XD
I really think you would like Fruits Basket. Its a Slice of Life/Drama Manga, so its got no action, but the main character is very big hearted and kind and just wants the best for everyone.
Caramon Majere from Dragonlance is a great version of this type, hampered by the fact that he needs to be needed. He'll die for his friends, he'll die for his family, he'll do anything for them, but if he's not needed, he falls apart. Getting him past that to the point where he can be a person who can do anything for his friends and family but doesn't have to just to function is one of my favorite character arcs of anything ever.
Something I'm not sure I ever needed in my life: a comparison between Zoro and Jean Tannen.
I'm so glad I ran across your channel lol
I feel like you might be able to make a case for "the big guy" being the main character in the manga Toriko. He's sort of the reliable muscle to his mostly helpless sidekick.
Hello Merphy! I’m a One Piece fan and one of my favorite things is discovering people who are new to the series and are falling in love with it. So thanks for that and I do enjoy your review and takes.
Addtionally I’d like to recommend since you’re reading online, there’s a site that hosts the OP chapters in full official digital color. It’s going to make you appreciate the series and its world even more. Good luck on your journey!
*talking about Zoro says “Gets lost in a scene” NICE
Merphy I heard you are planning on reading Mistborn Era 2 and I am really excited to hear your thoughts! Wax and Wayne are such a solid friendship!!
If you consider Mat and Perrin it be main characters along side Rand in Wheel of Time, then Perrin is kinda "the big guy" as a main character. But yeah, not a lot of them as main characters, they usually fit very well in that supporting cast. It's an old character type too like Little John from Robin Hood. Most recent one I read was a character called "Tiny" in the Art of the Adept series, who gets bonus points in my book for also being quiet and letting people think he's slow but is in fact quite intelligent and thoughtful.
I think it might be a fav character for many, because its one of the traits in ourselves we find most redeemable about ourselves, and I think everyone has it in one way or another. Like when I dreamt that my sister got killed in front of me when I was a kid, I screamed in the dream realizing I would do ANYTHING to stop it. Those dreams still has some trauma, but it made me realize that there are people that I care so much about that my security and lifespan is not as important.
When we recognize that part in others, and can relate, I think it is very comforting and motivating. Hope I made sense. :)
This is my favourite character type too. Rock is my favourite character in the Stormlight Archive!
Rock is the shit
Anyone who says differently is just an airsick lowlander
True, he and Lopen are the best. ^^
@@achimwienzi381 yeah
I just finished dawnshard this morning and I'm really glad Lopen was one of the main character
Barak from the Belgariad fits this character profile perfectly. I love him!
YOU PUT A NAME TO IT I LOVE IT! Jean is one of my favorite characters ever and i love that you put a name to the "archetype", because i'm a sucker for it.
and holy shit, the mc version who is also a girl you were wondering about? THAT'S LITERALLY GIDEON THE NINTH! a woman who is the muscle, would do anything for her necromancer AND is the book's pov... and it's so interesting and well done! idk if you read it already, but this made me realize why i love her so much, BECAUSE SHE FITS THE ARCHETYPE!
Bobbie Draper from The Expanse is a female version of this character trope. I’d argue that Starbuck from the 00’s reimagining of Battlestar Galactica is this type of character is as well, though she’s more of the “big guy” in presence and prowess, as opposed to actual physical size.
This video hit me at an odd moment. You helped me realize the main character of the book I just finished writing fits the concept of a big guy in the leading story position. Hmm... I may need to do an essay/vlog to explore this because for a long time I worried that the hero being, as you said, in the servant role, is tricky structurally. My MC's story problem is always trying to help/save/protect the other POV character. I handled the issue of action vs. reaction by putting obstacles in the character's path that would prevent him from serving the role he wants to take. Anyway, this comment is growing long. Nice, thoughtful video!
His name is escaping me, but the main character in Kings of the Wyld (the narrative voice) fits this trope and is the lynchpin of the group. you should check it out if you havent. Hilarious fantasy novel. Good pace. Interesting world. Fits your trope.
Clay Cooper, and yes!
Jean Tennen is the best! Especially in Red Seas Under Red Skies! Basically the main characters right hand man who is able to get the job done doing the dirty work! Def an a character type I enjoy as well!
Zoro is probably my favorite character in One Piece... He's such a force people mistake him for the captain, but he's so aloof & carefree lol.
I know you've already dropped it (and I understand your reasons for dropping it), but Guts from Berserk is very much "The Big Guy" as a Main Character.
Indeed
My book I finished writing a year ago has a classic chosen one type hero who gets systematically unchosen throughout the book and then book 2 we follow the best friend who has been "the big guy" supporting and sacrificing for our previous chosen one throughput book 1. It is a really fun dynamic to play with.
Something that makes me happy about your videos is when your family is in them. If I ever get married and have a family I hope one of our best qualities as a family is to be loyal. I have a feeling that's why you love the type of character you talked about. Anyone that is supportive and loyal,and willing to do anything for each other is family. Thanks.😊 And get well soon. If you aren't already feeling better
I love that ur talking about this. My wipʻs two main characters are both big guys, im excited to explore what the big guy duo will do.
I just love your videos soo much they’re like my comfort videos 🥰😂
Merph: I haven't come across a woman in this trope.
Toph: Am I a joke to you?
Videos with random Locke cameos are always a good video :-P
Awesome editing sound 5:30! I like how the character you're describing is more than just the "tank"/ muscle type, but that is an aspect of the person. Good video
I think it's interesting when it isn't a human Big Guy. I immediately thought of Huon, the Hound of Valinor (gosh I hope my decades old memory has that right), who helped Beren and Luthien. It was prophesied that he wpuld speak only three times before dying and he used up all three on their quest. Fought the Lord of Werewolves IIRC.
I'll be honest; I've never and most likely will never use squarespace (I just don't need websites). That being said; I love that they're a consistent sponsor of Merphy. Consistent support is so important for content creators
One example of a protagonist who is the 'big guy' trope when it comes to protecting his friends is Drizzt Do'urden in the SA Salvatore novels. He is the main protagonist, but he is also the most skilled fighter among them and he would sacrifice anything for his friends. He is definitely worth the read.
I love these chatty videos! I hope you do these for more tropes you love😊
Got yourself another subscriber (for One Piece, admittedly). Love to hear more of an academic and avid book reader-type expound on this story (perhaps manga in general). Outsiders’ reaction are always much more interesting to watch.
For the type of character you are describing: Berserk. Seriously, Berserk is the exact type of stoic, ride or die, and unselfish character you are attracted to as well as him being the protagonist. I sincerely think you will really like it; and Dark Horse (publisher) released a pretty spectacular deluxe edition that combines several volumes very well (also in a larger format). I think you’d love it!
Loved this video. It’s fun to see you describing and just gushing on what you love in books. Please do more 😊
In the one piece anime, there's an arc that comes right after Skypiea and that filler arc is called the G8 arc, and it is so good, it honestly deserves to be watched by manga readers. It's episodes 196-206~7. Plus, you get to hear what each of them sound like in the anime lol
Detritus the troll and Cuddy the dwarf from Discworld. Not only does it feature the BIG guy, but it puts characters together from races that in most fantasy fiction, absolutely hate each other.
Cassian from ACOTAR! who does become the protagonist in the latest in the series and we really see beyond the ‘sarcastic-tough guy’ to the ABSOLUTE HEART OF GOLD below.
Rhys is always the one celebrated for his self-sacrifice but I think Cas always gets forgotten about because he’s the ‘tough’ kinda-macho sidekick for the original trilogy, but he’s always protecting the vulnerable and the first to jump in front of his brothers/friends when they’re in danger (even though usually they’re able to take care of themselves) and NEVER seeks (or is ever really given) credit for it despite literally being TORN TO SHREDS in every book he appears in.
I just realized that the comic I'm currently drawing fits this concept of "the big sacrifical guy being the main character" really well! I'm shook
Thought for sure she'd mention Friendly from Best Served Cold.
Also, I think Javre from Sharp Ends fits this character type as a female.
In the new trilogy, Shivers is filling the role I think.
Michael from Dresden Files is probably one of my favorites of this archetype, as well as Hadrian from Riyria Chronicles :)
Nynaeve it's not always what Emond Fielders want but she will go all the way to the pit of doom to protect them
Gerald of Rivia is literally that big guy main character!! Also I love Rock from Stormlight too, he’s so wholesome
Perrin is another great example.
Jean gets even better in RSURS.
This is also my favorite character. It's the kind of character I tend to play in D&D as well.
I feel like you would love Hopper from Stranger Things. That show has some of your other favorite tropes, as well, like found family and a creepy town with mysterious things happening.
1.Of course there are examples of that character type being a female: it is what you would call a mother.
2.You can by the way set a story around this character being the main character, and have the stakes be derived either from the moral question of weather they will succeed in making the sacrifice each time and what does it cost in them, or from the question weather they will succeed in saving the people they care about.
3. Hearing you gush is always delightful
Perrin Aybara from The Wheel Of Time is the most interesting written Big Guy of them all.
"I am taking about The Help for our main charecters, i mean i have many examples but i am going to talk about Lies of Locke Lamora." As expected!
For me Samwise Gamgee, is the perfect example for this trope. Like he is the friend I wish I had. That Carrying Frodo scene was so powerful and was also portrayed beautifully in the movies. However my favorite character type is the Joker of the group, the one who has his skills, but is there to add a comical effect until the time comes like Neville Longbottom, even Gimli and Finnick from Hunger Games to some extent.
I think Trigun is the series for you, Vash is this character archetype as the main character, but also Milly is this character archetype as well as a female.
damn Trigun deserves a remake, i love this anime so much to bad it is not as popular, it deserves the evangelion treatment, i also mentioned Milly in another comment she is the only Big girl i remember that is actually big, they usually replace the muscles with a sniper when making the female version, resulting in yoko and riza hawkeye
Oh yeah, this is one of the GOAT character tropes.
To me, from Watership Down, Bigwig is one of the biggest Big Guys ever. It's in the name, he earned it.
"My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run, and until he says otherwise, I shall stay here."
And who he says that to? Yoooo...
About the stakes: I don't thik there would be less stakes, I actually think they would be quite high, not because the main character's life is in danger but because he values his friends over everything else. So the stakes would be if they make it out
Samwise from LTR, Michael Carpenter from Dresden, and Perin Abarra from WOT. Are all my favorite characters from my favorite series. For me it was always because I am that character. the kind hearted big guy willing do do anything for others. I could list many others but those are the ones that stand out to me.
I love watching these and going, "I know exactly which character would be your favorite in my book." Someday, lol.
I feel like my MC fits this description in some ways and she's a girl! She's more like samwise though especially in the second book. She's super loyal and there for another character to help them reach their goals. The book is called "First Voyage" and it's the first book in a trilogy called "The Sky Sailor Trilogy"!
I've got *the goods* on exploring "the big guy" - funny, I was pimping this story to you 2 days ago - but *Dragonlance Chronicles* gives us Caramon Majere who epitomizes all these traits of being the strong warrior support to his frail mage twin-brother, Raistlin. The story asks us: when does constant loving support and loyalty become a crutch in a destructive co-dependant relationship? Now, Caramon and Raistlin are not the main characters in Chronicles because it's an ensemble of all the DnD character archtypes traveling together to save the world (the story derived from a campaign) and the spotlight is constantly moving - but finish that trilogy and move on *Drangonlance Legends* trilogy, and they are allowed full space to evolve as characters, with the POV shared mainly by one or two others. Both stories are my long time favorites.
I highly recommend watching Overly Sarcastic Productions's trope videos. She called them the powerhouse and had an excellent breakdown that describes these characters excellently.
Amos from the Expanse! I've only read the first 3 books but I love that man.