Is Ash Gary Stu?

[Palamon]

I understand this isn't exactly a really battled topic, so to speak but, let's get this off the road.
Well, what do you guys think? Do you feel Ash is "Gary Stu"? Why or why not?

 

[xcv2009]

If I had to guess, a "Gary Stu" is the male equivalent of "Mary Sue", and as far as I know a Mary Sue is a character who wins beyond all odds, or is super powerful.

At least by this definition, I'd say it's a solid no; he loses pretty often, and he usually wins through hardwork or strategy. Unless you're talking about in the beginning, then to a larger degree, sort of.

 

[Pinkie-Dawn]

That's a big no, because Ash hasn't won a single major league for the past 20 years.

 

[moon]

Gary Stu can also be somebody who always gets friends, always triumphs despite challenges and hardships, lacks notable flaws (he's rash, but that's about it) and also somebody who tends to end up as "the chosen one". Ash is all this (:

But he kind of needs to be, in order for the show to be what it is. So it's not a major problem.

 

[gimmepie]

I mean, on the one hand he kind of is. He's at the centre of all events, succeeds the vast majority of the time (leagues not withstanding) and seems to nab all the unnaturally powerful Pokemon, possess prodigious natural talent and he very rarely gets on anyone's bad side or displays negative personality traits.

On the other hand though, he's rash and an idiot and has to rely a lot on information from other people and has never reached the end destination of his journeys either.

I lean more towards him being a Gary Stu than not but he kind of toes the line. I think more of an issue is just the near complete lack of development he goes through or how every time the writers actually develop him they later ignore it completely. Ash's primary sin is being boring not being over-powered.

Pikachu on the other hand is hard core Gary Stu.

 

[CidHazard]

Technically no... since both Gary Stu and Mary Sue is used for fanfiction characters, more specifically self insert characters; Who, is a person generally loved by all canon characters (for no reason). One can do anything well, and always wins. A character who doesn't have flaws and doesn't need any character growth.

Ash himself is an inherently flawed character... He's strong yes, but does he always win? no to a point where most fans just want to see him win a league. He's more mature for his age, because of the adventures his been through (The Ash that started his Kanto journey has grown to be a the mature and capable trainer that won 2nd place in the Kalos League). Still despite his growth - he's often emotional , hot headed and always looking for a Pokemon battle. But mature enough to take his loses with grace, showing a huge amount of empathy to both friends, pokemon, rivals, and enemies. That makes him have a certain affinity to gather people and Pokemon around him.

Also, a good writer can write a character with the 'Gary Stu' traits without it being a problem. Just look at Saitama, Madoka, and Koro Sensei from anime or Aragorn, Jon Snow, and Harry Potter in fiction. All of these characters have established and overpowering traits, getting allies from almost out of no where, yet they go through thought challenges.

If there is a clear Gary Stu in the series it's Tobias. A 'mysterious' character who appeared out of no where. Who's amazing in battle, dominating Ash with two Pokemon, and has the respect of two legendary Pokemon who then joins his team. heck he even won he's final match with only his Darkrai...

So in my opinion is Ash a Gary Stu...

No.

 

[Pinkie-Dawn]

Technically no... since both Gary Stu and Mary Sue is used for fanfiction characters, more specifically self insert characters; Who, is a person generally loved by all canon characters (for no reason). One can do anything well, and always wins. A character who doesn't have flaws and doesn't need any character growth.

Official characters can still fall victim to Mary Sue/Gary Stu territory, even when he or she isn't a self-insert character. Superman is the biggest example of a Gary Stu because during to the pre-Crisis era, his powers were limitless, and the only way to beat him is with kryptonite. Not even Doomsday was able to fully kill him (just putting him in a long-term sleep). Of course, there have been attempts to nerf him in order to be more relatable to the audience with the DECU's Superman, but that only angered said audience because it wasn't the same Gary Stu Superman they knew.

 

[CidHazard]

Official characters can still fall victim to Mary Sue/Gary Stu territory, even when he or she isn't a self-insert character. Superman is the biggest example of a Gary Stu because during to the pre-Crisis era, his powers were limitless, and the only way to beat him is with kryptonite. Not even Doomsday was able to fully kill him (just putting him in a long-term sleep). Of course, there have been attempts to nerf him in order to be more relatable to the audience with the DECU's Superman, but that only angered said audience because it wasn't the same Gary Stu Superman they knew.

Yup Superman is a complete Gary Stu, but great super man stories usually involve his morality and ethics. How he deals with being a god among men (Stories like Last Son and American Alien). In cross overs tho he's completely overpowered. XD

 

[Volcacross802]

for Adventure's reasoning, i'd say yes.