Why do kid some characters get so much hate for acting like kids. Especially in traumatizing situations.

Submitted by nickytheginger t3_yco0s9 in television

Firstly, sorry if this is not the kind of question for this reddit, but I am curious and want to know.

Why do some kid character get so much hate for acting like a kid should?

For Example

Carl from TWD. The first two season his character is 'annoying' becuase he acts like a kid who is being sheltered from the worst of an apocalypse. He does dumb kid shot becuase his parents are trying to 'protect' him. It's not until he becomes traumatized enough to start acting more like an adult that fans start liking him.

In stuff like drama its like the kid characters are ripped into for being 'boring' And I can't figure out why.

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OK_Opinions t1_itnhc6w wrote

When the kid exists solely to make absolutely stupid decisions in an attempt to force drama in the story it's beyond annoying.

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Chataboutgames t1_itneixt wrote

They often feel like annoying plot devices more than characters with personalities. It's not the kid's fault, they just become a focal point for issues with the writing more broadly.

> In stuff like drama its like the kid characters are ripped into for being 'boring' And I can't figure out why.

In this case, because unless you're retooling the show to really deep dive on the kid, they're by nature going to be a simpler, stupider character than their adult equivalent.

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brova t1_ito7iua wrote

There are several reasons, probably. For starters, a large percentage of adults just don't really like children. They're kind of annoying. Secondly, children who act usually do so poorly, which makes their performances extra unbelievable and annoying. Thirdly, adults often fail at writing child characters, and directors fail at properly directing them.

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TheFlabbs t1_itndvsj wrote

Most people simply aren’t meant to be parents because they seemingly can’t grasp simple concepts like this

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Try_Another_Please t1_ito2pvn wrote

Most criticism online is surface level. Even simple context is well beyond some of these people

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Impossible_Bed3533 t1_itodnz3 wrote

Well the problem with Carl from TWD was the point of his character being how developing in a zombie apocalypse made him not like a child. He was harder than a normal child; determined and almost ruthless. Even Neegan was impressed by him, and Rick sort of struggled with the fact that his son was not "normal".

I think the series got to that point, maybe? But they took super long to get there and then killed Carl off anyway, so that probably pissed fans off a lot.

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GeronimoSonjack t1_itozc5v wrote

Kids rarely make for interesting characters or impressive actors, it's no deeper than that.

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Nacknack26 t1_itpffup wrote

I think it's they are only a handful good written and acted kids on tv. It's hard to write for kids and the acting isn't as good. Sometimes kids gets used for the plot only to cause drama for the adult characters or kids gets used for comedic relief, but they barely have actual personality. I don't think it has anything to do with acting like kids. The best child on a tv show is in my opinion Sally draper on Mad Men, because while she caused drama between adult characters she still had her own arc and was complex character with personality. I don't think she ever gets any hate. The character and actress gets a lot of praise. It's just really hard to write for kids and casting child actors is definitely hard.

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JesseFilmmakerTX t1_itni9un wrote

Kids are hard to direct, and usually not easy to write for. I have done work with kids and frankly it can be hit or miss, and then audiences can be harsh on them because it can really take them out of a film when you feel them acting, like any actor can.

Just my opinion and experience. I’m a nobody so don’t think it’s coming from a place of high authority.

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sweetpeapickle t1_itr68wz wrote

I rarely have a problem with kid characters. I find it interesting that most people who do say, it's because they're annoying. They are kids acting like kids. I think people are just annoyed that there is a kid added to show, taking away from another character, adult, that they do like.

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klaygotsnubbed t1_ito7wfw wrote

a lot of people, but mostly on reddit, love to just pick and choose what traits to hate on a character for no matter how well done it is

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