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Smolder McBadassery
This archtype is my personal favorite. It gives me the biggest thrill to read, or see (movie/tv) a smoldering badass. I'm always on the look out for this type.I guess it goes back to the bad boy concept. A character you just know needs to be saved but he get drawn into his mystery instead. It's hard for me to put into words. Sure, there's badass, byronic, etc, but that doesn't seem to do it justice. And sometimes fits this type perfectly without being byronic.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
A man with a backbone is such a turn-on. If he's mysterious in an interesting way, that just adds to the turn on. It's just.... so freaking cool.
Mickey Royrke played this type really well, and in a way, still does, despite the mess his face has become. Marv in Sin City, what a fantastic character. The ugliest son of bitch with a massive heart of pure gold. Yet still smoldering and still a badass.
This type is both frustrating and thrilling, and I find myself simply going along with the ride.
Mod
Mod
I'm relatively certain Smolder has brothers called Skulker and Swoony since not all these McBadasserys are brooders but lurkers and shaming what guys do cause they're written usually by women.
Going with that "women write them so this must be what women want" angle, I agree that confidence and charm are so great for flipping pages. In real life, I'd want a guy less dramatic/tortured and more stable but for a story characters need to generate action and provoke reactions. Like a difference between an attractive idea and a real life hot-mess.
Yes, the McBadasserys. You are the presidents of Urban Fantasy and princes of Paranormal Romance.
Excelent point. There's a variety of personalties. Which reminds me, you'll love the main character in my thriller. He's all of the above. Hey, allowed to do a shameless plug once in a blue moon.Anyway, for me, characters like Indiana Jones (before the franchise was ruined) and Humphrey Bogart are great inspiration. Characters in Sin City take the gold.
But as far as I'm concerned, the grand first place will always go to Steve McQueen - the ultimate smoldering badass.
At risk out being kicked off the island, I loved the Edward Cullen character (minus the sparkles of course). It all goes back to strength, and that irrational, unwavering devotion that few possess.
Mod
Your character should be right at home in a thriller. Anything gritty needs a man with grit :D
I wonder if people write such characters because they make a conscious decision, like the story demands or they know it sells? If they just unconsciously love the archetype and it manifests in?
It's probably a combination and doesn't matter since the point is that this character type resonates and more readers like him than hate him. I know readers will gripe about anything that isn't straight out of the box original (and even then...) but most people appreciate an old trick done well.
Like I was browsing books and came across an assortment of Twilight clones, which reviewers acknowledged either as a statement of fact or expression of disdain. My reactions was "what's so wrong with that" since there's only so many ways a paranormal romance in high school can set up or play out.
Think of a chocolate chip bag cookie recipe - inspired? No. Reliable? Yes. Satisfying? Generally so long as you don't overdo it or get negligent.
I feel the McBadassarys are always popping up in these "generic" books and might be the reason they achieve any notoriety or success. Edward was - to me - an intriguing character, which pulled me into the first Twilight book. If he wasn't all sparkly I wouldn't have kept up with the series to see what other charm it had so - yeah - these characters, for all their cliches, are the saving grace of some novels.
Sarah wrote: "At risk out being kicked off the island, I loved the Edward Cullen character (minus the sparkles of course). It all goes back to strength, and that irrational, unwavering devotion that few possess."Go stand in the corner.
Kidding. Having read the books myself, I do see the appeal and in my opinion I think it started as a great idea. But the character's dialogue made me cringe at times, at least for me and wonder why the hell Bella didn't just call the police.
Courtney, in all honesty, I had nothing in mind when the character came out of nowhere and started writing himself. All I knew was in order to finish this story, somebody is going to have to kick some serious ass. I'm just lucky the character agreed.
I think that the first Twilight book had so much potential but it comes down to an author who couldn't maintain her character growth for all characters. I loved Bella in the last book but I found that I pretty much hated Edward by then. And I hated them both in the movies. It's sad because I think the rush to put them out hurt the books in the long run.I like the bad boy but I want him to not get whiny as the story progresses (which is what I felt happened to Edward). It's one thing for him to develop conflicting feelings. I just watched all of Dexter and that's a perfect example. His creation of a family and his understanding of the importance of the people in his life was a great arc. He struggled with balancing the two halves of his life but he didn't whine. He never allowed himself to be the victim. He struggled and he fought.
Some authors lose that strength when the going gets tough.
Which is why Edward isn't a Smolder McDadassery. Could have been I suppose, but I guess the author just decided to not write him that way.
Guilty as charged for falling into the lover-of- McBadassery category. I blame it on Beauty and the Beast, on Heathcliff and Brando and Mr. Rochester. I think the appeal is McBadassey's need to be "saved" from himself. There's something very intoxicating in the notion of being someone's portal to redemption or inspiring them to be a better man.
Also, pain makes us real, and McBadassey has usually written the book on pain. I think women who are drawn to sensitivity but aren't attracted to the sugary-sweet pop song of the church altarboy or the nice next-door neighbor find the sensitivity that comes with the dark, tortured badass having gone through intense emotional pain an enticing characteristic.
Well, that sums up everything. I couldn't agree more. It's like a big puzzle within itself. How can he possibly save himself? Only one way to find out...
Mod
That's the crux of it.
Tabitha wrote: "I think the appeal is McBadassey's need to be "saved" from himself. There's something very intoxicating in the notion of being someone's portal to redemption or inspiring them to be a better man. Also, pain makes us real, and McBadassey has usually written the book on pain. I think women who are drawn to sensitivity but aren't attracted to the sugary-sweet pop song of the church altarboy or the nice next-door neighbor find the sensitivity that comes with the dark, tortured badass having gone through intense emotional pain an enticing characteristic."
This, basically.
I like them hard and crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Never whiny, but he'll shed tears at the thought of losing his woman. Tough and strong, will do what has to be done, but would never hurt anyone who doesn't need to be hurt.
Also, I wish I had thought of the name "Smolder McBadassery." :-D
Sarah wrote: "At risk out being kicked off the island, I loved the Edward Cullen character (minus the sparkles of course). It all goes back to strength, and that irrational, unwavering devotion that few possess."In this world, it takes a lot of courage to admit that. I like him too. Though I'm glad you said it first. I'm not as brave.
Mod
Also a favourite character archetype. I like em rough, dark, charming and mysterious. Although I wish there were more females that fit this description.
Shari-amor wrote: "Also a favourite character archetype. I like em rough, dark, charming and mysterious. Although I wish there were more females that fit this description."Hmmm...that's an interesting thought. I wonder what would be the ideal match for the female character? Granted, there aren't a lot of "male savior" characters in literature in this context; at least, not that I've come across.
I hate to admit it. I really do. HATE IT. However, every time Hook from Once Upon A Time opens his mouth, I pretty much spontaneously ovulate.
Every time.
Mod
But yeah, I've actually wondered if I should write a female counterpart to Smolder. Wonder how she would go over.
Lara Croft kicks ass. I loves her. I remember the first time I played her video game.
How the hell did I miss this thread?! Dark, dangerous, and gritty only works if he slips up and show his heart of gold every once in a while. (Otherwise he's just a sociopath.)
I hate Smolder McBadassery. I can't even write about a character like that. He comes off as wank fodder for mary sue/gary stu wetdreams. But then again, my relationships tend to suck so I have nothing to write about (I'm in the write what you know, and if you don't know research camp).I guess I can say I don't know *how* to write a Smolder McBadassery type of character since I have nothing to base off of (without veering into mary sue territory). I don't know if I've accidentally wrote any Smolder McBadassery types. (No one's read my stuff, so I have no clue). But I'll file that 'research more' and see what I can find. A few books with that archtype
and
annoyed me to no end. I don't know if I just wasn't that target audeince or something...?
KP, that's definitely not the Smolder McBadassery. Think, really good action or adventure movies like Indiana Jones.
Well, the guys those chicks lust after are of that supposed type. Since you meant the action hero kind, then I get it. I find it hard to write about an action kind of hero without it sounding too over the top.
Sin City, both the movie and the graphic novels, is my best example. They're full of Smolders type, not only because of what they do, but more so what they don't do."Sides, I don't hit girls." - Marv
Film Noir -full of Smolder McBadassery's. Blokes that are a lil rough and unpolished but gems none the less.
Joanne wrote: "Film Noir -full of Smolder McBadassery's. Blokes that are a lil rough and unpolished but gems none the less."I love film noir. :D i got a huge collection on that
Studied it a great deal in uni. Love the femme fatale :)
While I think Film Noir is full of bad boys, I wouldn't classify them under the Smolder McBadassery. I always think character's like James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. To me, there is a marked difference. No one has to agree with me. I think part of it comes down to genre. Noir always has that rough male character - it's part of the story while I feel like the bad boy (Smolder McBadassery) fits more into non-expected genres (does that make any sense?).
Oh, James Dean... *drools*Lily is no longer here.
The definition is indeed a very subjective thing. I wouldn't especially consider Edward Cullen a Smolder Mc. but others do. But Eric Northman from true blood, now he's my sorta Smolder...not dark, sure, but tall and phwoarsomely badass :p
Ed Northman? I didn't know he hadda bro...is he even hotter? lmao.
Actually the actor - brain is not switching gears, has a brother who's fairly good looking. Makes me feel like a dirty old woman though. They are getting so young.
It's better than Justin Beiber, that's all I can say.
Justin B is NO Smolder. Not in any dimension would he qualify.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Girl's Guide to Witchcraft (other topics)Marked by Passion (other topics)
He is often a stranger with a piercing gaze and mysterious past. His backstory is as hard and edgy as his chiseled abs. He is tall, dark and snarky. He is as intense an enemy as he is a lover. Courtship begins with stalking and ends in roiling ecstacy. He goes by many names - like Colt Prescott or Dante Morte - but we all know him as...
...Smolder McBadassery.
How many stories have we read with a guy matching this description? I'm not knocking him because he's a great character with the right bells and whistles! A byronic hero with sharp dialogue is a dynamic, entrancing protagonist/love interest.
So Fringe Folks - why is this character compelling and/or popular?
No bashing please. Constructive criticism is cool but Smolder commands our attention and demands our respect because - frankly - his presence in books is the only reason some women bother reading.
Props Smolder - you make singlehood suck less by being fantasy fodder.