User blog:AustinDR/Character Retrospect: Leni

I'll start by saying that Leni is - without question - the most hilarious character in the show. Again, that's roughly my opinion. Leni is the second eldest sister of the Loud kids as well as Lori's roommate. Leni immediately pops into my mind as being one of the nicest of the sisters, and there are several instances of this. Take "One Flu Over the Loud House." While the remaining siblings think nothing on the condition of their sick family members, Leni tries to take care of them on several occasions. Lincoln even takes the fall for her, realizing that someone as nice as her shouldn't catch the flu. Of course, they all catch the flu anyway, but it's the thought that counts. Or then there's "Along Came a Sister" which sees her saving the class tarantula despite the fact that she's deathly afraid of it. She's willing to put her fear aside for her brother's sake.

What makes Leni funny, however, is her ditzy nature. Now, Leni isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but that's what honestly makes her a funny character. Compare her to someone like Patrick Star. Originally, Patrick was once a likable character who, while a brainless imbecile, was never malevolent, or acted like a jerk. Nowadays, while Patrick is still the idiot that he has always been, he lacks that childlike innocence that made him an endearing character years ago. With Leni, I never felt that she was actively malicious whilst engaging in idiotic behavior. Sure, there are a few instances in which she is a jerk, but for the most part, she appears to be more passive. I guess what intrigues me the most about Leni is simply how innocent she is. For someone as cynical as I tend to be, Leni almost always lightens my mood. She reminds me of how there's still goodness in the world, and that everything will be okay in the end.

In addition, Leni (once again in my opinion) has the funniest lines. I mean, I could make an entire blog ranking her quotes, but that'd take forever. My favorite quote from her was in the episode "Sleuth or Consequences" in which she was being interrogated by Lincoln and Lucy. She basically starts to talk about herself ranging from the secret to the perfect smile, and her favorite color being zebra. Or then there's "House Music" in which she sings "backup" rather than what was written on the page. Really, Leni is just adorable.

Despite the fact that she's normally absentminded, like many other dimwitted characters, Leni has a few bouts of genius here and there. In "Driving Miss Hazy," even though she misinterpreted what Lori said when she told her to make her bed, she had proven herself to be efficient at wood carving. And then there's "A Fair to Remember." While her suggestion to Lori to treat Ronnie Anne like the sister she never had seems her typical moment of idiocy, when reworded, Lori hanging out with Ronnie Anne to make Lincoln jealous seemed like a plausible answer to Lori's dilemma. Leni also seems to be aware to an extent of her role as the idiot. In the episode "It's a Loud, Loud, Loud, Loud House," when the kids discover the briefcase they believed was owned by the house's original owner, Leni pulls out a hairpin to jimmy the lock, shocking her siblings. She then states that there's more in her head than air almost as if to say, "yes, I realize that you may all think I'm dumb, but who's laughing now?"

Overall, as clueless as she is, I find Leni to be a very hilarious character, and a proper way of depicting an imbecile who is still likable. With that said, she more than earns her place as #2 on my list.

Who's next? Luan Lucy Lana Lisa Lily