Robert Jordan's:The Wheel of Time discussion
Least Favorite Character?
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I've finished the series and i have to say Perrin is awesome once he develops a little more.I didn't really like Tuon.
I've heard Egwene gets a lot of hate but I liked her. She's hardcore
lol well it's nice to hear that Perrin develops more. I do still read his chapters so hopefully it becomes less of a chore to read when he comes around. I don't really mind Egwene. Her powers seem to be really interesting and I can't wait to see them develop. As for Tuon I'll let ya know when I come to him, but as of now I don't know who that is x)
I'd have to say Elayne, the whole Daughter-Heir thing gets old after a spell.
Egwene and Elayne were a major source of annoyance at the beginning of the series, but Egwene grew more likeable after she spent some time with the Aiel, whereas Elayne remained the same bossy know-it-all.
I agree, by the end Egwene was one of my favorites.
Whilst I am only on book 9, i’ve never had a problem with Egwene as most of her male interactions are with Rand who everyone tends to treat well. Nynaeve and Elayne on the other hand interact mostly with Matt who they treat like dirt. They are definitely two of the most annoying characters. Nynaeve has a redeeming quality in that she has had at least a couple of epic battles so Elayne gets the number 1 most hated slot.
That is one thing I really do not like in the books. While the male characters actually 'grow' the female characters seem spoilt american teens and it kinds of ruins everything :(
Yeah, they're almost as bad as Italian soccer players.
While I liked most of the characters' storylines, Rand's became a little cumbersome books 8-9, but picks up at the end I book 9 and reaches a high later on. I tried to be patient with Egwene and Perrin and their stories were much better in the end. Elayne's and Gawy's storylines were so hard to read; Elayne's was from an uninteresting episode to another uninteresting episode; Gawyn just whined a lot
The problem may be that Elayne is both royal and beautiful, and this combination has made her used to getting everything her way, simply because "I'm the Daughter-Heir of Andor". She is just the average rich brat and that would have worked just fine if she was the antagonist in some teenage drama series, but since we are supposed to root for her, she needs more redeeming qualities than just being one of the good guys. As of now, I wouldn't mind seeing her losing a confrontation with Semirhage. At times I find even the Forsaken more likeable than Elayne
Definitely Gawyn. He is immature, a whiner, he sided with the wrong side when Siun was deposed and killed a bunch of warders. His only good points as far as I'm concerned are his swordsmanship and his love for Egwene.
I hated Egwene and Elayne. Both for me were massively irritating and had to be involved in everyone else's business at all times. Egwene did some great things but I just could not warm to her. Her inflated opinion about who she was and how she could treat people totally enraged me. For me I grew more irked with them both with each and every new book.
I am on book 2 and till date I find Nynaeve quite irritating.... She is so bossy and full of herself... I understand her concern for Two Rivers folks but she is downright rude...
Nynaeve annoyed me at the beginning of the series. By the end, she was one of my favorite characters. I think she had the most growth out of everyone.
Picking my least favorite out of Faile, Elayne, Cadsuane, and Aviendha is like picking my least favorite method of being tortured. If you make pick then probably Faile but its very close amongst them. Much as I love the WoT books, Jordan had difficulties in writing good non annoying female characters outside of Moraine and Min. Egwene and Nynaeve would be on my list too but they at least had decent character growth along the way that made them somewhat sympathetic.
I am reading Dragon Reborn currently and till now my least favourite character would be Nynaeve.. May be she will grow over the next few books. Lets see
Aviendha! Blah, I hated her at first because she was treating Rand like crap just because she loved him which was so adolescent, and after she got over that she really wasnt much better. What the hell did he see in her?
after reading the books a few times, I have to say almost all the women in the books are annoying in one form or another. they are either bossy and dismissive or bossy and nosey or just b@tchy. there was some character growth but i think Min and Moraine were written with real human women in mind. the rest of them, did Robert not like us or something? lol
Vicki wrote: "after reading the books a few times, I have to say almost all the women in the books are annoying in one form or another. they are either bossy and dismissive or bossy and nosey or just b@tchy. the..."I completely agree!
Elayne probably, for reasons already mentioned here.
Greetings to all.As a prelude, I've read the first six books in quick succession (actually seven, as I've started from the Moiraine and Lan prequel from 2004) during 2015. However I found myself so fed up with it all, I had to take a break.
Four months later, I've decided to take the series up again and give the next book a go. Coming up on a third of the seventh book, I find myself increasingly annoyed. What was at first the story of the Dragon Reborn, is widely becoming the story of many uninteresting, highly unpleasant, quite unrelatable characters that I wish would only loose. And it is hard to have to read a long book such as this in anticipation of something like that, because I'm just setting myself up for a disappointment.
Both the girls and the guys, however you look at it, are just a terrible lot to spent 14 books and about twelve thousand pages with. There are a few redeemable characters, but they are so few. There is not a one character who is not arrogant at times, none who isn't very rude. A series might survive a couple of such characters, but not when everyone is the same.
Individually - up to where I am (book 7), Mat and Perrin are terribly annoying. Neither is willing to accept responsibility for their new position and just complain all the time. They don't seem to grasp that it is by no chance or coincidence the three of them have been grouped together by the wheel, be of the same age and be ta'veren. Seven books, and they are basically the same boys they've always been. That is very bad indeed for a series in my view. If the characters don't grow as people as well as in ability, then there's something wrong.
The girls are a lost cause to me. I am thinking on a way to just skip their parts entirely. I only fear to miss on an appearance of someone I like on a POV change within a chapter.
Mr Jordan has managed to create a world that is so immersive and complicated, that there's just too much to say and all I can do is focus on how it makes me feel. I know I will finish the story even if it'll be in patches and over a course of years, but I will. I just wish it wasn't such a drag and a grind. I am committed, But I don't have to like it.
Or do I?
It gets better at book 12 when Brandon Sanderson takes over. The Characters change a little (the guys start to accept their role), but mainly the story progresses.
i love to picture the characters in my mind. rand and mat and egwene are all clear as a bell. real life movie quality characters. however i cannot take the rest too seriously. i guess i just learned about those three first and accepted their stories. the others are like cartoon characters in my head. i know how this must sound. weird right? but it makes sense to me. perrin is boring. im just starting knife of dreams and he is making no headway on saving the annoying faile that smells like herbal soap. it sounds like perrin does get better though. the girls are just funny. they do all these silly things and they do great things but then... they get captured. without a doubt someone captures them. is there no way to avoid this. please just get your nose out of the air and look around bc your either going to accidentally drink forkroot or get grabbed or knocked out!
Nynaeve is easily my least favorite character she is so pig-headed and always has to be right and always knows best. Seriously needs to get over herself. Im on book ten and although she finally stops with the braid pulling thing (talk about neurotic) she still has all the rest. She is a good character but such a know-it-all ninny that I want to hit her.Perrin is easily my fav tho some claim he is boring. I love the development of his powers and his devotion to Faile. Also I like that he, without trying, seems able to not become a pawn for others.especially Berelain. Another of my lneast favs. Such a ditzy, promiscuous idiot......seriously why cant she just leave him alone I mean hes only a little MARRIED!!!!!
That's easily Perrin for me, he's not a bad guy but he's so boring i could barely stand to read about him.Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve were really annoying too. And while her arc is interesting, i really wanted to kick Elaida for being so damn stupid AND arrogant.
Uugh Gawyn was aweful- Galad and Elayne weren't much better.
*sniff**raises her nose in the air and tosses her hair*
*hands on hips, waiting silently for everyone to acknowledge her rightness and superiority*
*stabbity stabbity*
Can you pick the characters from the one line description? Of course we all can... because these female roles were one-dimensional, throughout the books. Whilst building a wonderful world with so much detail was a key skill of Jordan's; writing characters with equal depth was not.
This is my favorite series. I have listened to a bunch of times, but since this is about least favorite characters. out of the three main ones Perrin by far he is so hypocritical of rand and judgmental that it is just annoying. Faile is so arrogantly stupid I wish she died. nynaeve is the worst for the longest can't stand her it is a complete shame LAN is her husband. Egwene was ok until the last few books and 97% of the aes sedai they just suck
That would be Nynaeve for me. By a long shot.
Shen wrote: "That would be Nynaeve for me. By a long shot."Hi, new to the group not to the site.
I have to agree, Nynaeve by far. The main thing is she thinks she is above (almost) all men because she is so mature and so sensible in adult matters but she is quite the opposite. The most immature and childish of all the characters (and Elayne treats her like a child many times) is her.
I don't understand her fixation against Mat, for some reason she is always thinking the worst of him. Sure, if you picture her like an 8 year old child then it makes sense but she is not.
I am just finishing book 6 and I have to say all the main female characters, just like a lot of people here. They treat the men like dirt and want them to be their dogs and obey it seems. I hate that. Every time I read about Elayne being a dick I want to punch her Daughter-Heir ass. Nyneave I feel the same so far. Egwene is close. But next to elayne, I have to say Faile annoys the heck out of me. Don’t know why. Something about her. I hate seeing her name even.
I agree! I had a real hard time reading these books. Don't get me wrong, I love the universe but the way everyone treats each other is foul.
I have read the whole series thrice and my least favorite is Mazrim Taim. Man he was SICK till the end. whenever I read about him I felt as if he was coated in slime. he just drips of betrayal, oozes with ambition and makes you wanted to hand him over to the snakes anf foxes with a pink ribbon wrapped on.On Second thoughts Elaida tops the list, Taim comes second.
Maybe Jordan liked aggressive women? Haha. Since they all seem to be assholes. Maybe that’s what got him going.
I liked a lot of characters, I agree with most people that Perrin is boring but I like his lover/wife even less. It just makes their chapters a chore to get through. I HATE Elaida but you are supposed to hate her. Unfortunately she isn't one that I love to hate (like Cercei from ASOIF) she's just horrible.
Did not like Egwene ever. Elayne and most anyone that used the one power... Aes Sendai, Wise Ones, Windtalkers, Wise Women... even some Asha’man, were not likeable either... too arrogant and didn’t seem to care much for people. Sevanna I dislike most.
Chelsey wrote: "Maybe Jordan liked aggressive women? Haha. Since they all seem to be assholes. Maybe that’s what got him going."It certainly has something to do with how he views women in general. All of them have a trait that make them stand out, but in a bad way.
Faile doesn't annoy as much. I know she can have a certain disconcerting quality, but her relationship with Perrin is one I really look forward to read about. Two of my favorite wolf/falcon moments was when Perrin went to her aide while she was trapped in Tel'aran'rhiod and when they fought side by side against the Trolloc attack in Two Rivers. I don't know, but the passion they have for one another feels natural and they seem to be made right for each other.
Honestly speaking I didn't like Rand all too much especially near the end of the series. Not going to give away too much since some people are still reading so that's that.
Tony wrote: "Honestly speaking I didn't like Rand all too much especially near the end of the series. Not going to give away too much since some people are still reading so that's that."Well, to Rand's credit, if there's anyone who really changes throughout the story, is him.
I find it hard to pick a least favourite character especially since they are much like reality. People can change from moment to moment depending on what they are facing or doing. I have had casual acquaintances really step up as a friend when I've needed someone and close friends abandon you. Sometimes my friends annoy me and other times theyre great. The characters in the book may seem annoying at times, but that's how real people are. I personally get more annoyed at a one-dimensional character that seems to lack flaws of any kind. I cant think of a single character in the series that is one-dimensional - they all seem to grow and change. For example, at the beginning of the series, I really didn't care for Egwene but when she steps up in the later books, she is incredible. Does that make sense?
Hi everyone, I'm new to this group, but not to the greatest series ever written.I must agree with Tony's comment about 'least favorite characters compared to real people...couldn't have stated it better myself.
As for my least favorite, I suppose it would have to be Padan Fain; that dude was seriously messed up!
I have struggled with this series. I have tried it three times now since the books first started, and each time I do, I get to book four and cannot continue.
I've tried reading them and listening to the audiobooks, but the characters are so annoying!
Can I ask, do they develop and become more mature and less 'whingy.' Has anyone else found the characters to be annoying but persevered and were glad they did?
It seems I keep getting sucked into the hype about this series again and again and think that maybe trying them yet again could make all the difference, however, if the characters do not grow or develop at all, then I will give up trying.
I never liked Tuon or Faile, Gawyn was OK but spiraled into being endlessly annoying.I didn't like Egwyne but she started to grow on me when she was climbing the ranks. Then she became insufferably condescending to every other character not Aes Sedai related.
I always liked Rand he was/is my fave. I enjoyed his darker story line as well as his more redemptive arcs.
I hated Mat during their travels to Andor but I have adored him ever since. Anywhere past book too I always seem to forget I ever disliked him. Same with Nynaeve .
Perrin is a great character but what made him hard to read was how he could't go a paragraph without mentioning/complaining about/pining after Faile...
Elayne I am neutral about, enjoyed her earlier in the series but her Queen arcs became boring. Min is awesome. Avihenda is ok.
I posted my comment above whilst busy.I’ve just managed to read through all the previous comments and found them really helpful.
I’ve decided because the characters are basically irritating (really poor for a book series of such renown!) I’m skipping to book twelve when Brandon Sanderson takes over.
Looking forward to reading the miniseries. :D
Gary&Jenny wrote: "I posted my comment above whilst busy.I’ve just managed to read through all the previous comments and found them really helpful.
I’ve decided because the characters are basically irritating (re..."
I complain a lot about characters but you'd be robbing yourself of one hell of a series if you do skip haha
It would be like reading the Mistborn prologue and skipping to a Stormlight Epilogue in German.
Elayne and Egwene are definitely two of my favorites, can't see what you guys dislike about them at all to be perfectly honest, they're both courageous and capable people doing their best despite the pressures put upon them and I don't recall ever not looking forward to chapters with them in it.Nynaeve was my least favorite character by miles until the last 3 books. I would skip entire chapters sometimes with her in it just to find out what happened to other characters I could stand. I'd go back and read it later just in case I missed something important but it felt like doing a chore I didn't like.
Most the characters evolved and I find which I didn't like or did like changing a lot. Nynaeve though, god if I read about her being disapproving and pulling her braid one more time I was going to scream. She turned out pretty good in the end but the journey there was painful.
After that book where Nynaeve became a person I could stand being around for longer than 3 seconds, my least favorite character became Tuon. Just got tired of hearing her say stupid things that only make sense to the Seanchan's warped ideology.
Faile is someone else I really disliked reading about, to the point I dreaded reading Perrin chapters until the last 3 books really. She like Nynaeve turned out less infuriating to tolerate later on.
This is considering we're only talking about the "good guys" though. Most the villains are pretty despicable but they're meant to be. I know it's "cool" to like villains or whatever but I never got that either. They're all extremely flawed, but so are the heroes. It's part of what makes it a compelling story. I just personally can't stand self entitled people that lack self awareness and project their inadequacies upon others and use anger to cover the gaps. I.E. Nynaeve until she stops being spoopy.
I would have agree with those who named Gawyn and Elayne, they both grated on me after a while. For the heir to a throne she came off as immature and childish, RJ could have portrayed her a little better.
Gawyn is easily the worst ‘main’ character. The guy openly wants to kill the Dragon Reborn and the only person who can save the world because he heard a rumor that Rand ‘might’ have killed his mother. So he would risk the whole world and everyone in it in on a rumor. Even when people who were there, people he trusts tell him otherwise he still wants Rand dead. He is super annoying, and what kind of name is ‘The Younglings?’ Might as well call your army ‘Boys in Panties’. Elayne is the most boring character by far. Her chapters are sooooo boring. I think the story as a whole would have been better if Tigraine was Morgase’s older sister and Rand was Elaynes good friend and cousin. Aviendha and Min are way cooler and having two wives is not as ridiculous as 3. Egwene is a good character and her becoming Amerlyn is cool, but her arrogance is annoying. Her and most of the Aes Sedai are so self centered. She is constantly exasperated at Rand and Mat not showing Aes Sedai respect when she gives them none in return, and they are the two most important people in the last battle. If you want to win the last battle you should support the Dragon and follow his orders, not undermine and assume you know more than a hero out of prophesy. I mean you are like 20.
I'm reading through the series for the first time now and am about halfway through book four, and Faile has to be my least favorite character of any book I have ever read. It's almost like the author is trying to make me hate this character, she is downright insufferable. The way she tricked Loial is the sort of manipulative cunning I'd expect from a master villain, not the love interest for one of the main protagonists.Her character is honestly so bad I would be tempted to quit the series if I weren't committed to seeing it through.
Any-who that got me to thinking. I see the Favorite Character board, but whose your least favorite and why?