Before you get all upset, I’m not saying you shouldn’t call out characters you consider dull or uninteresting. That’s your opinion and no one can take that away from you. I’m just saying before you start calling that dull and boring character you don’t like a Mary Sue/Gary Stu, you should know what you’re actually saying and think about whether or not it applies to said character. KK? Let’s get started.
Now, for those who don’t know, Mary Sue was a character created in a Star Trek fanfiction back in the 1970s. The character was beloved by the entire crew and was essentially the hero of the story as she was able to do what the other members of the Enterprise were capable of by herself. In an ideal world, this wouldn’t be a big deal because it was fanfiction, aka not canon to the Star Trek universe. But since we live in a society where we make big fusses about everything, the term Mary Sue has since been applied to characters who do the impossible and face little to no challenges physical or emotional. Superman, Batman, Goku, Captain Marvel, Bella Swan, and most frustrating of all, Rey, have all been labeled Mary Sues or the male counterpart Gary Stus because of how overpowered and boring their detractors claim they are. I myself am guilty of this, dubbing the new female lead in the final season of Fairly Oddparents as such; but more on that later. For now, let’s talk about what qualifies as a Mary Sue.
1. The character does tasks that would otherwise be considered difficult on the first try.
2. The character invalidates the importance of the supporting cast, save for their love and affection to said character.
3. The character is not challenged physically or emotionally, making for a weak or nonexistent character arc.
Based on that criteria, it’s honestly surprising how people have thrown this term around to some of the most well written and beloved characters of all time. Sure Goku has essentially become a god at this point, but he’s still facing new challenges physical and emotional even after 35 years. Superman and Batman are two of the greatest superheroes of all time not because they’re the most powerful or the most skilled, but because they’re the most human and relatable (same goes for Spider-Man). By calling these beloved characters Mary Sues, you’re undermining there best attributes and essentially calling the writers who have years of experience in the business amateurs. It is possible to criticize the work of someone without being condescending towards them. Case in point, that time Butch Hartman and his crew made a new character to keep the show going was pretty frustrating to sit through.
For those who are unaware, the first episode of the final season of Fairly Oddparents introduced a new female lead to keep the show going. I assume the intent was to make her the opposite of Timmy Turner, but instead of making her, you know, and actual character with her own personal flaws and setbacks, she’s made to be the “perfect human.” She checks all the boxes of the criteria listed above and it’s baffling why they thought THIS was a good idea. If this was intended to be a joke, I’m sorry, but it’s not really funny. I mean, say what you will about Bella Swan, Captain Marvel and especially Rey, at least they resonate with people and have their fans. This character does not.
Ultimately, the term really should be laid to rest because it shouldn’t have been a big deal in the first place. Mary Sue was a fanmade character, you know for fun. The fact that it’s become this vile and toxic term to undermine not just beloved and iconic character but also professional writers who know the characters better than you or I is just bonkers. I reiterate though, that doesn’t mean writers shouldn’t be criticized for how they write their characters. If you feel a character is uninteresting, you’re well within your right to criticize them. But please be respectful of the writers and what they do. They’re not perfect and we shouldn’t expect them to be.
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