[ SECRET POST #2937 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2937 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 056 secrets from Secret Submission Post #420.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

02. http://i.imgur.com/8aQjcYU.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I hate this too. I'm generally suspicious that these sorts of characters are author's darlings, and that their originators are blind to their faults.

[cushlamochree]

I think it's because Aziz Ansari is really funny and likable. That's just a hypothesis though, because I don't really care for the character either.

[(Anonymous)]

He's not my favorite character and he's definitely the most selfish character on the show, but it doesn't seem accurate to say that he doesn't have ANY redeeming qualities. It happens more often in later seasons, but he's always seemed to genuinely care for his friends. In season two for example, he donated all the tips he got from the Venezuelan government employees to the Park fund after Leslie got pissed off and rejected their money. He definitely didn't need to do that. He was also the one to convince Ben that they needed to help Joan get safely back to her house after she got stupid drunk because he just felt sorry for her and he helped Leslie ruin Jamm's schemes a couple of times even though in one case it would have benefited him if Jamm won. So there are occasions where he can be a selfless which I would consider a redeeming quality although I understand if it doesn't redeem him quite enough for you. He's not the show's most likable character

[(Anonymous)]

I think the problem is that he's one of those characters whose characterization may or may not depend a bit on whoever wrote the episode - I don't really keep track of who wrote what, but sometimes he's portrayed as selfish with a heart of gold, other times as trying to have a heart of gold, but also very selfish, if that makes sense?

I definitely agree that he's redeeming overall, though.

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

sometimes he's portrayed as selfish with a heart of gold, other times as trying to have a heart of gold, but also very selfish, if that makes sense?

Yeah, that makes sense. Sometimes he'll do just do something nice for his friends and it's no big deal, but there are other times where he almost does something nice, but his own goals get in the way and he ends up being selfish, like when he took over one of Leslie's events that was supposed to be just about her and made it all about advertising for his failing company or the time in the most recent episode where he was supposed to let Ben speak at a ceremony, but ended up talking about himself instead. Sure, he did later make up for these things by showing Leslie a very sweet video he made about her life that he intended to show at her event and giving Ben a copy of the emotional speech that he meant to give at the ceremony, but his actions still caused a lot of damage at the time.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT - Exactly! He said what he meant to do, and that's all well and good, but he didn't. But then you have great episodes where he goes out of his way unexpectedly.

Transcript

[(Anonymous)]

Image: an Indian man in a suit and tie, standing in front of a blackboard, sort of fake-smiling I guess?

Text: I can’t stand him and I don’t understand why everyone is always excusing his behavior and why the show constantly insists he’s “sweet” and a “good guy” when every single one of his actions is selfish, creepy, and the opposite of “good.”

He’s the only character who has now redeeming qualities but the show tries to tell us to like him.

Sorry, you can’t show me one thing and tell me the opposite and have me just buy it.

Re: Transcript

[(Anonymous)]

He's Tom Haverford from Parks and Rec.

Re: Transcript

[thistlechaser]

Thanks, I wondered who that was.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think the show acts like he's not slimy, selfish, vain and a bit creepy in how he pursues women (In one episode he becomes a promotor for a liquor called 'snake oil'. He's literally a snake oil salesman), I think it's more that it's played for laughs, usually at his expense.

As for fandom... Well, the actor who portrays him is absurdly charming (and an outspoken feminist to boot), so a lot of the love for the actor gets transfered to the character.

[(Anonymous)]

it's actually called snake juice, but same concept

[(Anonymous)]

Oops, you're right, I remembered it incorrectly. But as you say, same concept.

[(Anonymous)]

I had no idea the actor was such a funny feminist before I saw his interview with Ellen, and I loved the character anyway.

I think I didn't have a problem with him because nobody on the show acts like what he does is okay. They all react "ew", but accept him as a person anyway, which is actually kind of nice and heartwarming. If he were successful in any of his sleazy schemes it would be a different matter.

Then he married a woman and fell in love with her, only for her to leave him as soon as she got her green card. It would have been hard not to be sympathetic to him throughout that storyline.

Tom can be variable for me depending on the episode. Sometimes I don't like him very much, even though he started as my favorite character. Others have overtaken him, perhaps because it's hard to keep making Tom likeable given his defining characteristics are creepy.

[(Anonymous)]

"Sorry you can't show me one thing and tell me the opposite and have me just buy it"

Oh hey, look. The reason I couldn't take seriously anything the Twilight series said about Bella Swan.

[(Anonymous)]

Shrug. I think he's funny, so I like him even though he's a bit of a dick. I don't think characters need to be angels to be likable.

[(Anonymous)]

You don't have to agree with a character's behavior or lifestyle to find them likable and funny. Part of Tom's charm is his childlike innocence. Even though his persistence comes off as creepy, he poses no real threat to anyone but himself. He has no real concept of humility which enables himself to dive headfirst into everything, including relationships, despite his increasing pile of failures. He may be desperate and self-absorbed, but he's utterly harmless.