Discussion Dense protagonists.

Discussion in 'Novel Discussion' started by Maraderchik, Mar 6, 2019.

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Do we really need such sub-genre in novels?

  1. Yes. It's so adorable, kyaa~

    25.4%
  2. No. This is retarded to unbelievable degree.

    74.6%
  1. Maraderchik

    Maraderchik Well-Known Member

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    Where did authors get the idea, that "Dense protagonist" is a good thing? Isn't it more annoying to watch your beloved MC just being full retard when it comes to love or romantic situation for a whole novel, and in rarest cases he's found that gir(s) or boy(s) like him and react to it appropriately.

    So, maybe there any people who's really like this 'genre' in novels and if so, then why did you like this?
     
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  2. lnv

    lnv ✪ Well-Known Hypocrite

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    It's not that they want a dense protagonist, it's more like they want a harem. And a dense protagonist is the easiest way to achieve a harem. Even more so if the protagonist is morally good. But as long as they remain dense, the harem members can just keep on coming.
     
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  3. TianKrea

    TianKrea 『Novice』

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    That's the main reason why I don't read Japanese Novels.
     
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  4. BigBadBoi

    BigBadBoi Well-Known Member

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    I dunno, if they create a good reason for the denseness of the MC and they write it nicely I'm fine with it.(example: Naofumi with the PTSD because of the bitch so he doesn't consider a romantic relationship with females)
     
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  5. akki

    akki [Ani's C☕ffee-mate #3] [Shady Merchant]

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    My personal opinion is that it is stupid.
    Half the time it’s a bunch of girls liking a guy. He’s dense. So in the end he doesn’t even get with any of them. Yet people still love reading it. I don’t understand that~
     
  6. araarq

    araarq Well-Known Member

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    I think it depends on how its written. In Master’s smile , i feel its done well because the MC views all of his guild members as his daughters, and its funny how dense he is to his own power
    Edit :this series https://www.novelupdates.com/series/masters-smile/
     
  7. oliver

    oliver Well-Known Member

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    Because the protagonist, unlike you, the reader, isnt omnipotent. He can't literally see the thoughts of every other person close to him, and he doesnt know he is the main character of a romance novel. Idk about you, but when i were that age i didnt consider every person of the female gender i met to be a potential love interest.

    Sure, some mc's in some novels are terribly stupid concerning any kind of relationship (and, there are people like that irl as well, so), but mostly i'd say it's pretty normal not to notice that someone loves you, unless they explicitly states it or drop some really, really heavy hints, and people really overexaggerate how many mc's are actually ''dense''. Especially when, like in novels/mangas/anime, so many of the damn girls are either full on tsunderes or too embarrased to ever actually go properly on the offensive.

    Also, most of the romcom mc's are awkward teenagers, so there's that as well. Back when you were that age, you wouldnt want to think someone liked you, just for it to be a misunderstanding, aye?

    Edit: and just to actually answer your question about why authors write mc's like that, instead of say, some master seducer, it's because they want the character to be relatable to the average Japanese reader (and they probably don't go around humping every girl withing reach). If they wanted a master seducer where people could self insert, they'd make a doujin.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2019
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  8. DocB

    DocB "I see you, little mouse! Run along"

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    simple, if the mc acted on the fact that there are girls literally throwing themself at him, the novel would be R-18 intead of PG-13 that most are, and everyone knows that PG-13 is where the money is
     
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  9. Fahmfir

    Fahmfir Beginner Town NPC

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  10. Sabruness

    Sabruness Cultured Yuri Connoisseur

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    That's roaming into the 'true harem' vs 'fake harem' debate. Dense protags usually are fake harems because there's no actual relationship. Besides that, dense harem as a short beginning trope (like Magika where the denseness was only the first Vol) can be good. Continuous denseness is the bad type and can be maddening.

    +1 to this. DXD is also a good example of the trope done well in a similar way to Shield Hero.
     
  11. animestar411

    animestar411 Well-Known Member

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    Like I am find with some dense protagonist but most of them are so dense to the point of impossible. If you r dense about the fact that there are people make moves on you that's fine. But being dense even after being confessed to...you really need to get your brain check
     
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  12. Maraderchik

    Maraderchik Well-Known Member

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    Well, don't consideration and denseness is very different in this particular case.
     
  13. fuzor100

    fuzor100 Standby mode...

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    As long as it's written properly and it is fun to read. If it's get annoying just abandon the story.
     
  14. Maraderchik

    Maraderchik Well-Known Member

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    Why it's need to be r-18? It's can be low romance instead of just unintentionally friendzoning someone for no reason.
     
  15. rijimon17

    rijimon17 Hope you can read the words

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    If it's something the authors put on there novels themselves then it's probably because there aiming for that kind of audience. If your asking why it's on novel updates. Then it would be there so people who dont want "dense protagonist" can filter them out.
     
  16. chencking

    chencking [Daolord Grammar Nazi]

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    Yoshii Akihisa is a loveable idiot. He justifies the genre in and of himself, not to mention some other favorite works of mine. You don't have to particularly like the character as much as what they do for the series.
     
  17. youseiki

    youseiki 『Loves Glasses』

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    Visual novels and ero doujin is the place for non-dense main characters.
     
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  18. MrAconter

    MrAconter Well-Known Member

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    I have to admit that most times i can see myself in these types of MC since i also am Dense as fuck in these situations.
     
  19. DocB

    DocB "I see you, little mouse! Run along"

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    R-15
     
  20. sgrey

    sgrey Well-Known Member

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    Well, the authors probably got it from real life. If you think about it there was at least one or two dense moments in your life, or someone you know. However, the authors make it so dumb, that it lacks all kinds of common sense. For example, there are some novels when the girls actually confess or kiss the guy, and he is still wondering what it meant. I try to avoid these type of novels now, because my brain cells die out at a faster rate when I read them
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2019