I think I might be misunderstanding the definition of Mary Sue then, and if so, I apologize for stirring the ire of the great and powerful Plei. Just to check, I looked up “Mary Sue” on Wikpedia, and here are some of the excerpts:
Many -- perhaps most -- characters described as "Mary Sues" are not literal self-insertions, though they are frequently said to be "proxies" or stand-ins of some sort for the author. The negative connotation of the term comes from this very "wish-fulfillment" implication: the "Mary Sue" is regarded as being a poorly-developed character, one who is too perfect, too beautiful/handsome, too young, and/or too lacking in three-dimensionality to be accepted as realistic or interesting. Such proxy characters exist in the story only to satisfy the author's ego, the interpretation being that the author wishes to see himself or herself as the "special" character in question.
The term is therefore also associated with over-the-top character features, such as exotic hair and eye colors, mystical or superhuman powers greater than those of the other characters, exotic pets, possessions or origins, or an unusually tragic past. These features are commonplace in examples of wish-fulfillment "Mary Sues"', though even a character who lacks them may be labled a "Sue" by some critics.
I'm not certain how Bobby Singer fits that definition. Of course, you could be working from a separate definition. Are you naming him a "Mary Sue" just because of his name being Bobby Singer, and one of the producers/directors being Robert Singer?
I'm not sure I'd go with a Wikipedia definition of the term, which is vague to the point of uselessness at best. Of course, that's kind of the nature of the term with its constant dilution these days, so I'm not sure which definition I'd go with. Anyhow, that one leaves out the part where everyone adores them. *g*
Bobby, it has been observed, is Wiser Than All, produces mysterious charms out of his ass, and so on and so forth (Suela, where was the original post on that point? it details it better than I can right now). And, as mentioned, he's named for one of the producers.
If he were younger, female, and named Sera Gamble instead, everyone would be screaming Sue.
Anyhow, that one leaves out the part where everyone adores them. *g*
Actually, there was a mention of the blatant adoration, but I didn't copy the entire lengthy discussion, including Angsty Sue, Anti Sue, Canon Sue, Gary Sue, and on and on. My gods, there's an entire dissection of the topic out there.
Anyway, I didn't mean to raise bad feelings about the whole issue... my whole initial point was merely that I don't like Bela, and that in last week's episode I felt we were dangerously close to being spoon-fed an overabundence of "get out of jail free" explanations for her behaviours thus far. Abused childhood, dangerous superpowers that fried her 15-year old boyfriend, whatever, I suspected a facile explanation was about to get shoved at us. I was pleased that it didn't happen, but I wouldn't put it past them.
hearing about Sterling and JP in the makeup trailer.
Oh so many smile worthy moments. Any chance Gordon will be shirtless?
Dang those Vancouver layers.
I nearly swallowed my tongue at the forearm porn. I don't know if I could survive shirtless.
Bela is only a Mary Sue if those horrible people what don't like her are suddenly convinced of her eternal goodness and smartastica in one fell swoop. (Or they die.)
I would say that Bobby is a piece of flabotinum, rather than a Mary Sue. Until he gets his own story line (and then dies tragically) or acquires the skills of talking to unicorns.
Canonical Mary Sues do occur (although usually not till the show is
really
in decline), and I would not be surprised if somewhere out there a producer has managed to cast his own girlfriend
as
the Mary Sue. Which is the point at which I say, "Why halo thar Thomas Hardy!" and change the channel.
Was Giles a Mary Sue/flabotinum?
Reyes or Doggett?
I'd say Reyes before Doggett.
Happy birthday, sumi! On a show day, too. Yay.
Whale song!
Man, poor Annabeth Gish. What a stinker of a role to get stuck with.
Doggett... I am mildly irrational on the subject of Doggett. I swear, he's the only reason I watched the penultimate season.
