User blog:Weavillain/How Far Should Character Development Go?

Besides universally panned episodes, "Lincoln torture", episode discussion, character discussion, and the unholy, vexing terrors of "waifu wars", nothing spins The Loud House fandon into more of a tizzy than the topic of character development.

So, what exactly is character development? Chances are, you have you own idea about what this term means, especially in relation to TLH characters. And guess what? So do I! Isn't subjectivity fun? Anyways, I won't get down into the semantics and nitty-gritty, so I'll just leave my own sentiments about what character development means:

"To devlop a character is to bring them to a better place than where they initially were."

To do the opposite of that would be character derailment, but that's a topic for another day. Anyways, with what I have in mind for character development, ti's time to apply what this means to TLH characters. Well, to take what I said even further, I want to add on something essential to what I feel character development means:

"The essence of character should rarely be sacrificed for development, unless said character's entire worldview is in the balance."

"Well, what the heck is that supposed to mean?" you ask yourself as you wonder why you're wasting time reading another one of my mad ramblings? Okay, allow me to elaborate; let's say that there's a villain in a story. He's cold, calculating, remorseless, and downright evil to the core. If he were to become a good guy, thus shedding away all of those deplorable traits, his "entire worldview" would change because at the crossroads of his redemption, his perspective on life would be "in the balance", a precarious position in which an "alignment change" would demand such a drastic change of characteristics should it happen. In other words, a bad guy being a better person, thus not acting like he used to, is okay because the essence of his character is supposed to be different.

Now, how does all of this relate to TLH characters again? Well, when I say "TLH characters", I'm really talking about the eleven Loud children here, so keep that in mind. Anyways, unlike a villain becoming good, there's nothing in the eleven Loud sibling's lives that would demand that any possible character development should sacrifice the essence of who they are. Sure, we've had some status quo events that have rocked the boat but when it comes down to what we've experienced in episodes, I haven't seen anything that demands that Lucy stop being quiet and morbid, Lola stop being a brat, Lori quit acting bossy, etc. Whether people are fans of those traits or not, as shallow as it sounds, those things are what makes these eleven characters the way that they are; it's their thing, so to speak.

But I think there's a way for character development to both nurture a character while not straying away from their roots. Lola might be the best example of such a happy compromise. When the first season of the show began to pick up, Lola's reception was downright negative. After all, why would anyone like a manipulative, spoiled, ill-tempered, boisterous brat that always seemed ready to kick people down because she liked it? Well, fast forward to where we are now in the series and the newfound Lola fans can tell you exactly why; a happy compromise. Yes, she's still a brat and yes, she still acts violent and mean, but at this point, we know that Lola is empathetic enough to recognize injustice and do something about it, she'd gladly be deprived of honor if it means that her twin is close to her, she's able to recognize personal achievement and be happy for the person who gets it, and that she's not only willing to take a fall to prove herself but that she fully understands that sanctity of a well-kept secret.

I don't think anyone can really question that Lola is a better character at this point, even if her flaws and vices are essential to her character and recognizability. Some of her "haters" want her to develop even further than that, to the point where she's no longer a brat and acts nice all the time. To me, that would miss the point because like Lola, the Loud children play roles in what a real family can be made up of. There's a brat or wallflower or know-it-all in every family and I believe that Lola plays her part rather well, both as a reflection of real life and as an engaging character.

So, how far should character development go for The Loud House and its characters? Far enough to where likeability (what that means is up to you) is enhanced but not to where the essentials are completely abandoned.

So, before I leave you guys to your own devices in the comments section, I have a little bonus topic that I want your thoughts on: why is Lynn's character development in "Lynn-er Takes All" not as well as received Lola's in A Tattler's Tale", despite both hitting very similar notes?