WEBTOON THINGS I HATE

Kooleen

21 Oct 202308:01

Summary

TLDRThe video script is a candid critique of common tropes found in webtoons and Korean dramas, particularly those targeting a female audience. The speaker humorously addresses their pet peeves, such as the overuse of 'ugly' characters who are barely distinguishable from others, the prevalence of love triangles, and the unrealistic portrayal of characters, including the 'loser protagonist' and the 'perfect second lead.' The critique also touches on the uncomfortable depiction of 'loli' characters, the concerning themes in boy love (BL) comics, and the lazy use of miscommunication as a plot device. Despite these criticisms, the speaker maintains a lighthearted tone, acknowledging their continued enjoyment of the genre and the appeal of attractive characters. The summary concludes with a reminder that fiction is just that—fiction—and encourages viewers to separate fantasy from reality.

Takeaways

🤔 The speaker expresses frustration with the overuse of certain character tropes in webtoons, such as the 'ugly' character who is only distinguished by minor features like glasses.
🧐 The speaker challenges societal stereotypes, suggesting that glasses are not nerdy or unattractive, and can actually enhance a character's appeal.
😒 There is a critique of the 'same face syndrome' where characters, despite being different, are visually indistinguishable from one another.
😡 A dislike for love triangles in romance webtoons is expressed, with the speaker finding them cliché and unrealistic.
🙄 The speaker mocks the common portrayal of male leads in webtoons as wealthy, troubled individuals with 'daddy issues', often suffering from PTSD.
😌 A secondary male lead is often depicted as perfect and lovable but financially unstable, which the speaker finds to be an unrealistic and unfair portrayal.
😕 The portrayal of the main character (MC) in some webtoons as overly young or 'loli' looking is criticized as uncomfortable and inappropriate.
😓 Concern is expressed over the prevalence of violence and abusive relationships in BL (boy's love) comics that go viral, suggesting they may not be suitable or healthy for younger audiences.
😠 The speaker is critical of 'loser' protagonists in webtoons, arguing that they are one-dimensional and lack depth or relatability.
😒 Miscommunication is identified as a common and frustrating plot device that the speaker dislikes, as it often leads to unnecessary conflict and story prolongation.
😖 The art style of a webtoon is deemed crucial by the speaker, stating that an unattractive art style can deter readers even if the story is engaging.
🧐 The concept of a 'self-insert' protagonist is criticized for being unrealistic and for not allowing the character to develop independently from the author's own experiences.

Q & A

What is the speaker's opinion on the portrayal of characters labeled as 'ugly' in webtoons?
-The speaker finds it odd when characters are labeled as 'ugly' but appear almost identical to other characters, differing only by minor features like glasses or pimples. They argue that such portrayals are unrealistic and do not reflect genuine diversity in character design.
Why does the speaker dislike the concept of 'same face syndrome' in webtoons?
-The speaker dislikes 'same face syndrome' because it lacks creativity and variety in character design, making it difficult to distinguish between different characters, which can be confusing and unengaging for the audience.
What is the speaker's view on the common trope of the 'CEO or wealthy heir with mommy/daddy issues' in romance webtoons?
-The speaker finds this trope to be overused and unrealistic, as it often portrays male leads with stereotypical cold and brooding personalities stemming from unresolved childhood traumas, which they feel is a red flag and an unhealthy representation of relationships.
Why does the speaker criticize the 'love triangle' trope in webtoons?
-The speaker criticizes the 'love triangle' trope as it is predictable and cliché, often involving a perfect second male lead who is financially unstable, which the speaker finds to be an unrealistic and shallow basis for character relationships.
What issue does the speaker have with the portrayal of the female lead in certain webtoons?
-The speaker takes issue with the portrayal of female leads who are designed to look and act much younger than they are, which they find uncomfortable and inappropriate, especially in the context of romantic relationships.
How does the speaker feel about the content of certain BL (boy love) comics?
-The speaker is concerned about the content of some BL comics that go viral, as they often involve violence or torture, which they believe is not healthy and may appeal to a younger audience with certain emotional issues.
What is the speaker's opinion on the 'loser protagonist' trope in webtoons?
-The speaker finds the 'loser protagonist' trope to be uninspired and unrelatable because these characters often lack depth and their entire personality is centered around romantic choices rather than personal growth or interests.
Why does the speaker dislike the use of miscommunication as a plot device in webtoons?
-The speaker dislikes miscommunication as a plot device because it is often used as a lazy writing technique that leads to unnecessary conflicts and can be resolved quickly with proper communication.
What is the speaker's stance on the importance of art style in webtoons?
-The speaker believes that a good art style is crucial for a webtoon's success, as it can compensate for a weak storyline and attract readers who are interested in the visual appeal of the content.
How does the speaker feel about self-insert protagonists in fantasy novels and romance webtoons?
-The speaker dislikes self-insert protagonists as they often feel unrealistic and lack flaws, making it difficult for readers to relate to them or find them interesting as characters.
What advice does the speaker give regarding the consumption of webtoons and the understanding of their content?
-The speaker advises readers to be aware that webtoons are a form of fiction and not to take the unrealistic portrayals and tropes too seriously, reminding them that true love and relationships are more complex and nuanced than what is often depicted.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Stereotypes in Webtoons: A Critique

The speaker humorously addresses common clichés in webtoons, particularly in romance genres. They criticize the overuse of 'ugly' characters who are barely distinguishable from others except for minor details like glasses or pimples. They also touch on the redundancy of character designs, where the main characters often look strikingly similar with only slight variations. The speaker expresses frustration with love triangles and the predictable nature of the male leads, who are often wealthy but emotionally distant due to past traumas. They also discuss the unrealistic portrayal of the 'perfect' second male lead and the problematic representation of female leads, especially when they are depicted as overly innocent or childlike, which creates discomfort in romantic contexts. Additionally, the critique extends to the BL (boy's love) genre, questioning the prevalence of violent or abusive themes in popular works and urging a more responsible approach to storytelling.

05:02

😒 Common Pet Peeves in Webtoon Storytelling

The speaker continues to vent their frustrations with common storytelling issues in webtoons. They express a strong dislike for the 'misunderstanding' trope, which often leads to unnecessary plot complications and character conflicts. They argue that these issues could be resolved quickly through better communication. The critique also includes the unattractive art style, which can be a deal-breaker for readers. The speaker also dislikes the 'self-insert' protagonist, where the character lacks depth and appears to be a vehicle for the author's own fantasies. They acknowledge the appeal of these tropes to a certain audience but caution against confusing fiction with reality. The speaker concludes by reminding viewers not to take the critique too seriously, as it is meant to be light-hearted and humorous.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Furry

In the context of the video, 'furry' refers to a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human-like personalities and characteristics. The speaker expresses a dislike for this particular theme, indicating it as one of the pet peeves in webtoons.

💡Ugly Characters

The term 'ugly characters' is used to describe characters in webtoons who are labeled as unattractive but often appear no different from other characters except for minor features like glasses. The video criticizes this trope as it can perpetuate stereotypes, such as the idea that glasses are associated with being nerdy or less attractive.

💡Same Face Syndrome

This concept refers to the common issue in webtoons where characters, despite being different, are drawn with very similar facial features, often only distinguished by their hair or accessories. The video points out this trope, suggesting it lacks creativity and can be confusing for readers.

💡Love Triangles

A 'love triangle' is a common narrative device in romance stories where one character is involved in a romantic interest with two other characters. The video expresses frustration with this cliché, arguing that it's predictable and often used as a plot device to create unnecessary drama.

💡Loli

The term 'loli' is short for 'lolita' and often refers to a character type in manga and anime that features young, innocent-looking girls. The video criticizes the portrayal of such characters, especially when paired with much older male characters, as it can create uncomfortable and inappropriate dynamics.

💡Boy Love (BL)

Boy Love, abbreviated as BL, refers to a genre of fictional media that focuses on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters. The video expresses concern over the portrayal of violence and problematic relationships in some BL comics, suggesting that they may not be suitable or healthy for certain audiences.

💡Losers as Protagonists

The video discusses the trope of having a 'loser' as the main character in order to make them relatable to the audience. However, it criticizes this when the character is one-dimensional and lacks depth or personal interests outside of the central love plot.

💡Miscommunication

The concept of 'miscommunication' is highlighted as a common and frustrating plot device in webtoons where misunderstandings between characters are used to prolong the narrative unnecessarily. The video argues that effective communication could resolve these issues quickly, and the trope is a sign of poor writing.

💡Art Style

The 'art style' refers to the visual presentation of the webtoon, including the design of characters and backgrounds. The video emphasizes the importance of a good art style, stating that it can make up for a weak storyline and is a significant factor in attracting readers.

💡Self-Insert Protagonist

A 'self-insert' protagonist is a character who may be seen as an author's alter ego or a wish-fulfillment fantasy. The video criticizes this trope as it can result in an unrealistic and unrelatable character who lacks flaws and struggles, which are essential for character development and audience engagement.

💡Fiction vs. Reality

The video touches on the distinction between fiction and reality, cautioning viewers to not conflate the two. It points out that while certain tropes and fantasies may be enjoyable in webtoons, they do not reflect real-life scenarios and should not be taken as such.

Highlights

The speaker expresses a dislike for the 'same face syndrome' in webtoons, where characters look too similar despite being labeled differently.

Glasses are considered unattractive in webtoons, but the speaker has a 'glasses kink' and finds them appealing.

The common portrayal of the 'prettiest girl' often lacks diversity, featuring stereotypical blond hair and blue eyes.

The speaker criticizes the overuse of love triangles in romance webtoons, which they find predictable and cliché.

In webtoons, male leads are often depicted with wealth and family issues, while the second male lead is perfect but financially unstable.

The speaker finds the portrayal of the 'loli' or young-looking main character (MC) uncomfortable, especially in romantic contexts.

The speaker expresses concern over the prevalence of violence in BL (boy love) comics that go viral, suggesting they appeal to a specific audience.

Despite disliking certain tropes, the speaker admits to still enjoying webtoons and acknowledges their appeal to a fantasy.

The speaker dislikes the 'loser protagonist' trope, feeling it lacks depth and relatability.

Miscommunication is identified as a pet peeve, with the speaker advocating for better writing to resolve plot issues.

The importance of a good art style is emphasized, as it can compensate for a weak storyline.

The speaker criticizes self-insert protagonists, where the author's own characteristics are overly projected onto the character.

The speaker humorously acknowledges their own enjoyment of certain tropes despite recognizing their flaws.

A reminder that fiction is separate from reality, and that the romantic fantasies presented in webtoons should not be taken as true representations of love.

The speaker encourages viewers not to take their criticisms too seriously, as they are just expressing personal pet peeves.