Hey there, everyone! Recently, I have looked at certain posts, and they have been saying things about characters getting “Flanderized”. I always wondered what the term meant about, and then I remembered that “Flander” is from the exact last name of Ned Flanders, a famous character from The Simpsons. Once I learned more about it, I saw a lot of examples in many different media sources.
But what is flanderization and how do you avoid using it in your own works?
What is flanderization?
Flanderization, as implied before, is named after Ned Flanders, a famous character in the Simpsons. He at first was known as the kind, Christian neighbor that annoyed Homer Simpson as much as heck. Then slowly, but surely, Ned became more devoted to Christianity, little by little.
Until he ended up being a fanatic of God and stuff.
That, my friend, is flanderization. When a trait of a character gradually becomes more prominent as the series goes on, until it’s a part of their entire personality. It is a very powerful tool that can make a character from being loved to hated in seconds, making them Scrappies.
Another example? Well, let’s say you have a character in a TV series you like, but they have a bit of an arrogant streak. Then, as time passes on in the series, the character becomes more and more arrogant, and once the series ends, the character is a complete Narcissus. That, my friend, is Flanderization.
However, Flanderization isn’t always bad. Sometimes, it can be used to make background characters popular! Check out this TV Tropes link that explains the topic better.
How do you stop flanderization?
So how do you stop this from happening? Easy; just remember who the characters are as people. Write down who the characters are as people, and what will make them likable (or not). If they have any unlikable traits, what are their redeeming qualities? How do you make the character likable without forcing out one likable trait?
That’s it folks! See you all next time!
– Nova S