The original post: /r/television by /u/AporiaParadox on 2024-08-31 12:27:35.
Most characters are meant to have flaws, since a perfect character with absolutely no flaws can be pretty boring. Bad guys can have tons of flaws since you’re usually not meant to like them, but the writers have to balance things out with good guys, since if a character has too many flaws or the wrong kinds of flaws, audiences may dislike them. This is especially an issue when dealing with characters who often act like jerks but are meant to be good guys deep down.
For example, characters being refusing to engage with social norms or being socially awkward. This often creates conflict, but these types of characters usually aren’t trying to be rude, they just have a hard time with these things, don’t care about rules they consider dumb, and/or come from a culture with different values. If anything, sometimes the way these characters interact with others are considered entertaining or even cool to audiences.
A character who is addicted to tobacco is usually considered a harmless vice. Similarly an alcoholic who is struggling to recover can be an interesting character arc, as long as they aren’t constantly falling off the wagon and don’t become violent. Being addicted to other types of drugs can also lead to engaging character arcs, as people now are more understanding of the struggle.
A character who cheats on their romantic partner can still be considered likeable depending on the circumstances and how they deal with the consequences.
Of course, some flaws used to be considered “acceptable” like an old person having outdated attitudes about minorities and women, but now not so much.
So what other character flaws are usually considered acceptable for a good guy to have?