AM I THE THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS FRY IS A WEAK MAIN CHARACTER?

[Reply #40 on:]

A phenomenon certainly, the problem with illness is that it frequently ends in death, but then again so does all human life as far as we know, hmmm, maybe its appropriate.

[Reply #41 on:]

There's no doubt about it. Life's a fatal disease. There are no known cases of people contracting it without dying from it.

Summary: If you're not alive, you can't die.

[Reply #42 on:]

Fry is not weak physically, however he is weak mentally and emotionally.  That's why he needs Leela and Bender to help him.  Sometimes, Fry can be a hero, too. 

[Reply #43 on:]

The implication was Never that Fry is physically weak. He is Lazy very very lazy, but this is very much down to mental and emotional factors. As Cold angel has argued he is the archetypal anti-hero character, like homer simpson, or Dave Lister from red dwarf. Coldangels arguments have given me a great deal of food for thought on the subject of Fry. I agree also that Fry can be a hero and this theme definetly develops as the series progress. I got season 4 on DVD recently and have been watching these episodes frequently and intensely ! Two distinct and very different examples of Fry's heroics are demonstrated in 'The Sting' now a personal favourite episode. In which his dedication to leela in a coma contrasts immensly to his usual pathetic efforts in wooing her, funny as they are ;-) this side of Fry had real depth to it.
The Other example I liked was in 300 big boys, when he has his brief moment of caffeine induced enlightenment and saves everyone from fire!
Another point I would argue is whilst on the surface fry may come across as dumb, I reckon the real issue is that he just cant be bothered to use his brain, I can identify with that characteristic from personal experience !!!!

[Reply #44 on:]

Yup, Fry also flirts with heroism in "Love and Rocket" and "Devil's Hands".  One can also view "Jurassic Bark" and "Luck of Fryish" as somewhat heroic, or at least displaying growth/advancement of character.

 

Originally posted by gaschief:
Two distinct and very different examples of Fry's heroics are demonstrated in 'The Sting' now a personal favourite episode.

You're not alone.  Check out
these episode ratings here.  In terms of number of reviews posted, only Jurassic Bark and "Devil's Hands" get more postings than the Sting.  It is also, officially, one of Matt Goerning's favorites (favourites?)  Also, how many other episodes have inspired a punk rock album and a 100+ page fanfic(Good one too)?

[Reply #45 on:]

I think fry is a great main character, simply because he more or less creates the foundation for all the other characters to go off from.  You need a bridge character to view the "normal" 31st century events through the eyes of someone of our era, to ground the show.  If you didn't have a solid character as the platform, you'd have all these quirky, off kilter characters going off without any frame of reference, and it wouldn't be as funny; it'd be more like anarchy or unorganized craziness. 

That's my story and I'm sticking with it...   

[Reply #46 on:]

I have largely been convinced by these arguments that fry is a pretty goos character, particularly given more intensive viewing of season 4.
Still personaly my favourites, and I realise there's a thread for this are 1. Bender, 2. Zoidberg 3. professor ( he has such great one liners, see favourite quote thread) 4. Leela. Of course the show couldnt work without Fry and without a doubt Fry is the man of the hour in 'The Sting'
Maybe I just have an unconscious prejudice against red headed people....no offence to ant red headed Peelers reading this!
Moderators can close this now unless anyone wants to reignite the debate!

[Reply #47 on:]

Though it's true Fry's character is somewhat stupid, he can be a smart person when he wants to be. He grows stronger throught the series. And to answer the thread's question-in-title: yes, you are the only one who thinks Fry's weak. 

[Reply #48 on:]

Fry is a great character. 'nuff said :P

[Reply #49 on:]

Ok FRY is good, but I still maintain some of the other characters are stronger, i.e. thay have more sophisticated and assertive personalities.

[Reply #50 on:]

I find it hilarious that you were complaining about this but your favorite character is only the comic relief.

[Reply #51 on:]

Actually I just started this thread to try and start a riot...a little naughty maybe   

[Reply #52 on:]

Interesting article on British and American humor tastes in NY Times (regarding Mr. Bean).  I thought these lines had resonance for Fry and Futurama:

(start)
In Mr. Atkinson’s case his stateside struggles with Mr. Bean may be symptomatic of a longstanding inability to conform to American comedic tastes.

“The British tend to consider heroic a person who doesn’t have any ambition,” Mr. Daniels said. “In America a person without any ambition is more of a loser.”

More than that we want our comic losers — our Homer Simpsons and Ugly Bettys — not just to be likable but to have occasional moments of redemption. Mr. Daniels recalled how, in adapting “The Office” for American television, he deliberately gave the lead character (played by Steve Carell here, and Ricky Gervais over there) more opportunities “where he tried to do good things, or at least be competent.”
(end)

I've always wondered if the writers tinkered with Fry's character in later seasons to conform more to standard American tastes.

[Reply #53 on:]

Tinkered? It was written for an American audience in the first place. Why would anyone tinker with it to make it MORE American?

[Reply #54 on:]

To improve the American ratings by making the character more closely conform to typical American tastes in comedy.  I'd prefer to think Fry's character development was a long term plan (e.g. "Why of Fry" ) but I wanted to share this article to raise an alternative explanation for Fry's evolution.

But I've got no dog (not PC these days?) in this fight, and don't care to argue about it.

Welcome back, by the way.  Does this mean there will be an end to your "Catastrophe?"

[Reply #55 on:]

I've been thinking about it.

[Reply #56 on:]

I thought you tied that little fanfic up.

[Reply #57 on:]

 

Originally posted by JustNibblin':

I've always wondered if the writers tinkered with Fry's character in later seasons to conform more to standard American tastes.

I just thought he was slowly maturing.

That's how I always saw 'Red Dwarf', in fact. Rimmer slowly maturing throughout the episodes until his last one, in which he becomes the ultimate of all he can be.

[Reply #58 on:]

 

Originally posted by JustNibblin':
I've always wondered if the writers tinkered with Fry's character in later seasons to conform more to standard American tastes.

I thought that was commonly referred to as "character development."

[Reply #59 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart:
I thought you tied that little fanfic up.

I have an idea for one more chapter. The question is finding the motivation to write it.

[Reply #60 on:]

I like Fry, he is the perfect character for a comdey cartoon, he is dumb, most of the people who watch the series can relate to him, also his jacket is awsome.

 

[Reply #61 on:]

^^are you suggesting that most people who watch futurama are dumb, then?

Actually I don't think he is dumb, I think he is too damn lazy too use the brains he has...that is funny and incredibly annoying and is probably the reason that most of us relate too him for best or for worst!

[Reply #62 on:]

Gaschief: hah i just realized what i wrote. Sorry that was not what i ment. It is supposed to be "He is dumb in cute and funny way"... "And problems and life he has had in the 80's and 90's alot of people watching the series can relate to it" 

And yeah, i agree with you, he might be to lazy to use his brain 
"And you have that brain thing"
"I already did!"

Makes me laugh every time

[Reply #63 on:]

I like his hair and how hes so dumb makes him funny.

[Reply #64 on:]

well bender is like bart simpson. homer like fry. leela is like marge. and lisa like amy.

[Reply #65 on:]

Um, not quite.
Bart is more innocent than Bender.
Fry is at times more intelligent than homer, and is (in a way) a more... shall we say "intriguing" character.
Leela has "rules"... but she is a little "looser" (please don't be dirty.) For example:
"Why do we have to resort to non violence? Can't we just kick their asses?"
Whereas Marge would prefer Non-violence.
Amy is a bimbo and is pretty clumsy, Lisa is quite intelligent.

I guess there are some similarities, but they are essentially VERY different.

[Reply #66 on:]

There are better parallels between the Futurama characters and red dwarf characters, see....

 http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/11-000299-1/

[Reply #67 on:]

         

Originally posted by gaschief:
Actually I don't think he is dumb, I think he is too damn lazy too use the brains he has...that is funny and incredibly annoying and is probably the reason that most of us relate too him for best or for worst!

I completely agree with you.

Fry isn't dumb, he's just too lazy to use his brain (most of the time anyway).  ^^;


We know he can be smart if he wants to from episodes like, "Parasites Lost".  Even though, technically, that was cause he had been infected by the Worms (which were making him really, really smart).  Still, I believe that if Fry really wanted to and if he really pushed himself, he could have many, good ideas.  He just needs more confidence, and to try and be "less" lazy, lol.

That's what I like about Fry.  He's a character you can easily relate to, and he has a very unique personality.  For the most part, he comes across as being someone who's dumb, childish, and lazy.  However, if you overlook the way he usually acts (or rather, the flaws in his character), you'll find that there is indeed a lot more to Fry's personality than just that.  Like, he can be emotional or heroic at times.  Also, he's funny, sweet, and he has a good heart too.  But most importantly, he really cares about his friends (not just Leela, but everyone).  <3

Personally, I really like the heroic-Fry.  Episodes that center on Fry are always good, in my opinion.  But whenever Fry is a hero in some way (like in "The Why of Fry" and "300 Big Ones", and other episodes), I enjoy those episodes the most!!  ^_^

Anyway, I think the reason I like Fry so much is because I absolutely LOVE the hero archetype character (my favorite animated character is actually Ash from Pokemon - so you see, I always fall for the main characters who have a heroic quality to them, lol).  XD


And by the way, I hope we get to see more of "heroic Fry" in the upcoming Fururama movies.  Hopefully, I'll get to see some good scenes with Fry being a hero in "Bender's Big Score".  ^^

Though, for some reason, I'm getting the feeling that it's gonna be a more Bender-focused movie (note: I haven't seen the trailer for this, so I don't know).


 

Originally posted by JustNibblin':
Yup, Fry also flirts with heroism in "Love and Rocket" and "Devil's Hands".  One can also view "Jurassic Bark" and "Luck of Fryish" as somewhat heroic, or at least displaying growth/advancement of character.

YES!!

Those are my favorite episodes!!!!  ^____^


And I agree.  There was great character development for Fry, and he did some awesome, heroic deeds in those episodes. 

We need more episodes like that, in my opinion.  XD


------------------
Uh, hi...  *doesn't know what to say*

I like Fry, and I think he's awesome!!  ^_^

[Reply #68 on:]

i like Fry! he is awesome

[Reply #69 on:]

 

Originally posted by Bartstar7:
i like Fry! he is awesome

he discovered the fry hole. how can u h8 him?

[Reply #70 on:]

 

Originally posted by IamBender:
 
he discovered the fry hole. how can u h8 him?

You used 'txt' speak on an intelligent forum. How can anyone NOT hate you?

[Reply #71 on:]

its called a time saver jerk

[Reply #72 on:]

 

Originally posted by IamBender:
its called a time saver jerk

  This is just like old times on neopets.  -sigh-  Which is a game I do not play. At all.  Ever.  -darty eyes-

[Reply #73 on:]

 

Originally posted by IamBender:
its called a time saver jerk

It's called an obscene bastardizaton of the English language, jerk. It's also called lazy, jerk.

[Reply #74 on:]

tsk tsk   

not every1 has a dictionary by their bedside u no..

[Reply #75 on:]

cmon 500 posts

[Reply #76 on:]

lol

[Reply #77 on:]

You'll get banned for double/triple posting.
Someone who comes in and fills the forum up with pointless posts is called a troll.

[Reply #78 on:]

im board yer boring me ca_1. im gonna watch tv

[Reply #79 on:]

 

what is your source? Id like it in MLA format

No offense (even though this is going to sound kind of offensive)but this is a general rule of thumb known on almost all forums.  Basically, all your comments should be intelligent, and add a tidbit to the conversation.  In addition, if you want to add something, but have already posted you use the "edit" button to add to it.  A beautiful invention.