Characterization Pet Peeves

[laughswithroar.livejournal.com]

What are your characterization pet peeves?

That is to say, what portrayal of Hetalia characters do you see in fanfic that really bug you? Personally I'm tired of seeing spineless wimp Canada or his counterpart super snarky Canada who always has something witty to say, cackling rapist Russia, and drooling moron America.

Comments

[naturethezafara.livejournal.com]

First time posting on a discussion thread! Whoo~!

I'm the type who searches for certain pairings when it comes to Hetalia fiction, so I don't see much on the fanfic personification of some characters. But I hate, hate, HATE it when fics portray Yao as a cold-hearted jerk with no regards for other characters. ;A; Yao-nini is much nicer than that, aru! But basically, I just hate it when anyone's character is derailed for the negative, ESPECIALLY in shipping fics.
_{I saw an AsaKiku fanfic once that didn't portray Heracles in a much positive light. It angered me, despite the fact that I myself ship AsaKiku and prefer Heracles and Kiku as good friends.}

So yeah. My two cents on this.

[aislingthegreat.livejournal.com]

Too-tsundere-to-function-in-society England whose every other word is "git" "wanker" or "bloody hell" makes me rageface. Or at least sigh and move on to the next fic. Also asshole!France needs to not be around.

[the-gabih.livejournal.com]

This, plus weak, crybaby England. Because seriously, anyone remember the British Empire?

[kainoliero.livejournal.com]

Sw'd'n sp'k. Helpless crybaby moeblob anyone. Denmark treated like a harmless comic relief sidekick/groping rapist.

[falkner]

I give up on most fics featuring Sweden because I can't even understand what he's saying most of the time.

[hoshiko-2000.livejournal.com]

Any characterisation that is just bad I guess. I can't think of any specific type in particular, but I do just hate crappy and poor characterisations. I can remember reading one FF where Japan's characterisation was so bad I was thinking 'seriously, are we talking about the same character?'? He was using words like 'yay' and 'what's up?', and it was so bad it made me cringe. And I don't like it when Italy's made overly pathetic and babyish.

[animepursuit.livejournal.com]

I think the reasoning is sadly some fans are OBVIOUS when it is only the anime version of the characters they are basing their fanfiction on. That is what upsets me because if they knew any better they would know Hetalia was a webcomic first and more of the stories and characteristics are there. I get annoyed at people who insist Canada is weak but going by the webcomics he showed BACKBONE. Also Romano gets a lot of flak....A LOT. He was nice to Spain and beat up the mob for him but not many people know about that strip and it took me a while to find it as well.

All I get annoyed with is when a fanfic writer only relies on one source for characterizing the Hetalia crew. They all have more depth than what Deen placed in the show and the characters shouldn't suffer for their reluctance to transfer some issues of the webcomic into a anime episode...or severely bash Japan. Hima-papa was way more fun with Japan's character than Deen and I think he suffered the most.

[rosetteroulette.livejournal.com]

Hee, I think I have to agree with you. I won't hate anyone who's only seen the anime, but it does make me sad that they are missing a lot from the strips, some of which probably won't ever be animated. :(

[papaveri.livejournal.com]

I'm with Hoshiko_2000 with the characterization. I actually can read fanfics for whatever pairing as long as the characterization is well done, and man does it make a difference between a good fic and a bad fic. Also, the thing about the anime-only writers >:

But I'm concerned the most with the characterization certain characters get in certain fanfics... not only it grates on plain character bashing, but it's almost offensive :/ I don't want the Hetalia section of FF.net to become the Land of the Misplaced Nationalism. And I'm thinking about certain Spanish fanfics that make Alfred a self-worshipping bastard who wants to take over the world at any cost, but I'm sadly sure that it happens with more characters and more languages.

[shuriken7.livejournal.com]

I would agree with some fanfic ending up as the land of Misplaced Nationalism with inappropriate bashing of a country's politics through the character. Honestly, if I wanted that I would just read political blogs, they manage to do enough of that.

[wafflesama.livejournal.com]

Weak, too-tsundere England. And pervert England. And Pervert America.
And asshole bitchface who just loves to injure England!France :p

And evil!Spain. o3o

[goodnbedfred.livejournal.com]

Derp!Spain. Or Derp!Italy. Or Derp!anyone! And I hate it when they make Italy call Germany "doitsu." HE'S FUCKING ITALIAN. /rage.
Also, I hate obsessiverapist!France and butterwouldntmeltinmymouth!Finland. Ugh, I have a lot of hate, hahaha.
Saying that though, those are mostly in the minority, but SHIT they make me rage.
And for some reason, I can't STAND super deredere!Romano. Or super tsuntsun!Romano either. Get a balance people!!!! Ahhh, okay, I'm done now :)

[maisekai.livejournal.com]

And I hate it when they make Italy call Germany "doitsu." HE'S FUCKING ITALIAN. /rage.

THIS.

[rekonia.livejournal.com]

Rapetruck!Russia, pedo!England/France, and wimpy!England grates on my nerves. I also hate it when "hero" is the only thing that comes out of America's mind, and the only thing he thinks about, and when Hungary suddenly goes "Omg, I hate you cuz ur annoying!!11one!" to Prussia.

And Asshole!AnyNation, who is only an asshole and loses any to all canon traits just to be the stereotypical villain in the fanfic.

[xxwolfgirlxx.livejournal.com]

Be prepared for a lot.

I agree on wimpy england and canada. Also jerk-ass china and america, lithuania so meek he can't even be called a guy anymore (ooh totally not saying us girls are meek I just read these two fics that really might as well genderbent him with the way they wrote it)

Also green-eyed-monster greece, evil monster denmark aand to top it off stressing poland and sweden's speech patters till you lose brain cells just by reading it...but usually its hilarious when done right (like in these few certain crack fics I know) but when taken seriously its just like...wtf did they just say?

Aahh I'm very nit-picky :/

[maisekai.livejournal.com]

Dark!Anyone. Sinc Hetalia is so cute and lighthearted, it makes me sad to see its characters portrayed as evil ;_;

[maisekai.livejournal.com]

*since

damn typos. :C

[annabrella.livejournal.com]

Extreme uke!Finland drives me up the wall..

[conjure-lass.livejournal.com]

I'm of the opinion that most characterizations (done within reason and not throwing canon completely out the window) can be perfectly fine with the right amount of writing skill. I've read characterizations that I thought were slightly off at first, but found it fit into the general scheme of what the writer was trying to accomplish as the story progressed. It's all about how the writer manages to get their story across and how that character fits into the plot.

But really...when did this become fanficrants?

RANT AHOY

[schizounicorn.livejournal.com]

*When people make Sweden omit every vowel ever in a fanfic. In cannon, he only omits one or two vowels per sentence.

*Wimpy, weepy, Moe Moe Desu Finland. He's cute and sweet, but he a;so happens to be male and have a backbone. I once even read a fic where Finland didn't understand the concept of sex and Sweden had to explain it to him. LOLWUT?

*Emotionless, Eats-Jewish-Babies-for-Breakfast Germany. Yes he was part of the SS, but no, he didn't seem to fond of Hitler.

Re: RANT AHOY

[schizounicorn.livejournal.com]

*also

[larosabelle.livejournal.com]

Super uke!Any Nation, my God. Poor poor Finland and England.

Yangire/Yandere!Spain is one thing, but Yandere!Spain who gets off torturing Romano even though old characters notes said that Romano would be the only one he would actually be nice to if he was truly "two-faced"

Too stupid to function!America

Evil!Super Rapist!France

Wife beater!Austria or an Austria so cruel, neglectful and stuck up that it's clearly obvious that the author has forgotten that he can be a genuinely nice person.

[lovelycudy.livejournal.com]

I share each and every one of your pet peeves. Well, I don't really read Spain/Romano fics, but I agree that what you mention is just bad characterization.

UKe makes me cry and poor Finland suffers it a lot, too. Evil!Rapist!France is horrid and so it's Evil!Austria.

[arctoslupus.livejournal.com]

I guess ever case is different, but I absolutely detest when writes have very flat characters that behave exactly the same, in every situation with "kolkolkol", "aru", "hero", "git", or random french in every other sentence just so you know what character's speaking. jfhglahkgfjldjghflgfjklghj.

[unestel.livejournal.com]

Seconded!

[bosscookie.livejournal.com]

Most of my pet peeves that come to mind are with north Italy. He isn't Japanese so please don't say Doitsu. He is also not mentally disabled, don't make him act like it. He may be a bit silly and odd but he is not like some people make him. And there is more to the poor guy then "Veeee Germannyyyy pastaaaa". On the other hand, I also hate when people make him this secretly evil genius mastermind. I mean, I am all for things making him a tad bit darker but sometimes it gets ridiculous because they think he secretly wishes to murder everyone and such.

I don't like seeing Russia as a rapevan, for lack of better term. I assume you all get what I mean since I see this one a lot! France having no other dimension other than sex and rape kills me too. And I always feel bad for how everyone portrays poor Finland as this clueless moe blob! Poor guy.

I think in general I am not a fan of "evil nations". Sure everyone has their darker moments but some people are crazy! There are no real evil nations out there, sillies.

[rosetteroulette.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 1000% about North Italy. (Favorite character bias, lawl.) I'd love to see him portrayed as sad or angry but not if he becomes some murderer or rapist. What happened with three-dimensionality?

Oh, and I agree with the rest of your comment too. XD

[juandalyn.livejournal.com]

- uber uke!England. He was a MOTHERFUCKING EMPIRE.
- alright, make this uber uke everyone.
- rapetruck!Russia
- pervert-surrender-good-for-nothing!France. Come oooon.
- flanderization of any "ditz" character. Some writers tend to make Italy, Spain, Denmark and America not cute-silly, but plain stupid.
- obvious (!) hate on any character. This seems to happen... fortunately I'm not too much into fanfics anymore, but I've read several hate!fanfics on America, Japan, Italy... this makes me sad, I think we all should be allowed to dislike a character, but hating and especially bashing is so childish.
- I don't like nazi fics in general, it doesn't matter if they make Germany or any other character included look too good, bad or even neutral. I don't like the setting, it's making my heart heavy.
AND ESPECIALLY. HOLY WHATEVS. Please DON'T make up a Jewish-people-tan who gets tortured and raped. This may sound like an evil joke to some, but I've met people who thought that's really cool and kinky.
Normally I'd say "Your kink is not my kink, do whatever you want". But this is just... I don't know.

[nighty-sha.livejournal.com]

- uber uke!England. He was a MOTHERFUCKING EMPIRE.
- alright, make this uber uke everyone.
- pervert-surrender-good-for-nothing!France. Come oooon.

+1 to everything, especially THIS.

[rosetteroulette.livejournal.com]

Ukefication AND semefication. The latter needs some recognition, because I hate when Sweden or Germany lose their canon adorkable charm and are replaced with manly, dark semes. >_<

Rapetruck Russia is another thing that annoys me.

Hungary only being there to be a yaoi fangirl.

Anyone being the mean rival who's trying to break up a relationship.

CHARACTER BASHING. I don't care if you hate America, just remember that Japan and England don't. (Even if the latter does argue with him a lot.)

Ignoring character's canon characterization and giving them a new one because "IT'S HISTORICALLY ACCURATE". I hate Proud Nazi Germany and Jewish-baby-eating Prussia. Also, there's a way to show otherwise cheerful characters (America, N. Italy) during darker times without making them extremely out of character.

[nodokaotonashi.livejournal.com]

Ignoring character's canon characterization and giving them a new one because "IT'S HISTORICALLY ACCURATE". I hate Proud Nazi Germany and Jewish-baby-eating Prussia. Also, there's a way to show otherwise cheerful characters (America, N. Italy) during darker times without making them extremely out of character.

According to my experience in the fandom, this one was particulary annoying...

[disneyotaku.livejournal.com]

Sweden's speech. I can't stand it when people m'k h'm t'lk l'k th's 'll th' t'm!

Good-for-nothing-stupid-always-gets-the-bad-end-of-things!France. We know he's perverted and everything, but he's really a nice guy. Why just focus on a fact that he's good for nothing?

Villian!Russia. I won't lie, I like reading some fanfics about it (Hell, I'm currently writing one where he is a villian but there's a deep reason as to why he's doing bad things). I just hate it when people make the characters super evil and whatnot.

Nazi!Germany. We've seen in the anime where Germany annexed Austria. He didn't want to do it! Why do you make a fic where it's violent and Germany is pretty much a blood-loving soldier? I just don't like these kinds of fics in general.

Super-I'm-so-uke-I'm-out-of-character!England and Finland and Canada.

When Italy says "Doitsu!" That's a Japanese term and unless you're writing a fic about the actual show (you know what I mean!), Italy shouldn't say it as such.

China's "aru" for again, this is a Japanese stereotype.

But really, it all depends on how the fanfic is written. I mean, depending on the storyline I could honestly overlook the pet peeves and enjoy it.

[chi-hong.livejournal.com]

THE ARU THING, I AGREE WITH THAT SO FUCKING MUCH.

China is one of my favorite characters, and it actually PISSES me off when people add aru to every goddamn sentence.

IT's cute in Japanese, but NOT in English or any other language.

Not said out loud in Cosplay videos either. I don't care who gets upset, it's freaking true. It sounds ridiculous. Stop using it. Seriously.

I even read one where he chatted online. And apparently he WRITES aru as well. U-ugh...

[osoroshia.livejournal.com]

Any and all Prussias that are written as being awesome instead of only thinking they're awesome.
It's his ego. I'm sure everyone's going to flip out on me for revealing it, but, canonly? It's pretty clear that he's supposed to be a bit of a loser.

As far as other characters... I don't read enough fanfics to run across too much other fail, but, I do get annoyed seeing any Russia use "da" solely as a verbal tic where in no possible context could a "yes" actually go there.

[shibbyone.livejournal.com]

Any and all Prussias that are written as being awesome instead of only thinking they're awesome.
It's his ego. I'm sure everyone's going to flip out on me for revealing it, but, canonly? It's pretty clear that he's supposed to be a bit of a loser.

I hate this when a fic is set in more modern times, because Prussia as a nation doesn't even exist, his whole existence post WWII is just some kind of weird joke thing and he's just so pathetic in canon. The Prussian Empire WAS great, it just, well, dissolved. :P

[useless-espers.livejournal.com]

"Canada hates America!" drives me up the wall. They ignore all the strips and official art where they are hanging out together like brothers and focus on the two strips where they fight/disagree which proves that they hate each other. (Because real life siblings never ever fight and disagree.)

Non-Japanese characters using Japanese.

Major Pet Peeves

[rosarioimpale.livejournal.com]

Veneziano speaking Japanese: Really, any nation but Japan speaking Japanese. He's the nation of Italy. He's going to speak Italian. The only country allowed to speak Japanese other than Japan is Greece since it is canon.

RapeTruck!Russia: It makes me want to bash my head against the wall. Yes, he is the closest thing we have to a villain in the series, but for the love of God, do not turn him into a one-dimensional character that is pure eviiiiiiilll. He is a complex character and treat him that way. God.

Moe-Moe Blob!Finland, Canada, and England: I honestly don't get it. These are nations that have kicked some serious ass and you make them super ukes? Arrrrgh, do not do that to them. That thing between their legs? Yeah. They're men. Finland has been shown to be more battle crazy than Sweden at times. Canada is not some angst-ridden emo that cuts his wrists and mopes about how nobody sees him. He's more exasperated and annoyed than suicidal about it. And he totally calls out his brother for things. Three hour rants are not the sign of a spineless pushover. And England is a jerk. I love the guy, but he's a jerk. Do not make him a blushing, swooning, fall-into-America's-arms uke that can't do anything. This is a nation that conquered half the world. DO. NOT. DO. THAT. TO. HIM.

America's portrayal in a lot of fics: Okay. America is not an idiot who only thinks about heroes. He knows how to read. He can type without resorting to cht spk. He is not secretly plotting to take over the world or to purposely screw over some poor, unfortunate nation. And he does eat things other than McDonald's. I'm serious you guys. It makes me go nuts whenever somebody writes America as too stupid to live.

Spain's portrayal: Damn it, he is not a pedophile. Stop it. Just stop it. He does not go out and rape other nations, even when he was a conquistador. He's air-headed, but he can be serious. He's not an idiot. He has a brain and he can use it. Also, fail!Spanish when I see it. Spaniards say "te quiero" for "I love you". "Te amo" is Latin American Spanish. When you use his human name, do not call him Mr. Carriedo. Carriedo is the mother's maiden name in Spanish naming traditions, so he'd go by Mr. Fernandez or Mr. Fernandez Carriedo. Fernandez is not his middle name, dammit.

Romano: He's not part of the mafia. They boss him around. He does not abuse anyone. He does not rape anyone. He's most likely not a virgin, seeing as he's been around since the Roman Empire fell. He is not a spineless pushover. He has a personality other than "asshole".

/end rant.

Re: Major Pet Peeves

[juandalyn.livejournal.com]

Also, fail!Spanish when I see it. Spaniards say "te quiero" for "I love you". "Te amo" is Latin American Spanish.
This is what confused me so often. I learned "te quiero" back in school, but I nearly always read "te amo" in fanfics. Thanks for explaining that!

When you use his human name, do not call him Mr. Carriedo. Carriedo is the mother's maiden name in Spanish naming traditions, so he'd go by Mr. Fernandez or Mr. Fernandez Carriedo.
Another thank you from me. I never got behind that system...^^"

[evanf333.livejournal.com]

One major thing that almost everyone has already mentioned: Rapetruck!Anyone.
Another thing that really bothers me is Abusive-Heartless-Vodka Guzzling-Bastard!Russia. Himaruya draws Lithuania with scars that hint at a sad history, but making Russia a heartless bastard who eats babies for breakfast and keeps the Baltic's locked in his basement to harm in ANY WAY for his own amusement..Confuses me, to say the least.
I would be a hypocrite if I said I hate Snapped characters (I wrote one as a collaboration with a friend), but making someone an asshole to make another character look especially good and oh-so-uke upsets me. That goes for any fandom.
Spineless Canada. A very popular one amongst fans to abuse. Nothing more to say on that subject, really.
I know I already mentioned the Rapetruck/Abusive!Nation, but no one seems to have mentioned it yet and I see it A LOT on several sites I visit. Abusive/Bastard/Rapist!Turkey towards any of the Mediterraneans (Especially Chibi!Greece.) What hinted to anyone (Besides maybe history) that Turkey would be like that? He hasn't been shown much, but he seems to be a passionate character. NOT a complete and total jackass.
Several times I've had to stray from the Hetalia fandom because of real life events made way too into the community (The Pixiv community covered the most recent one)

Woah, I seem to have a lot to rant about...I'll stop now before this gets too long ^^; I apologise for such a long rant! This is my first time talking about this subject, and I guess I just have a lot to say...<3 Thank you!

[yai-bichi.livejournal.com]

Abusive/Bastard/Rapist!Turkey towards any of the Mediterraneans (Especially Chibi!Greece.) What hinted to anyone (Besides maybe history) that Turkey would be like that?

This! This has turned me off of a lot of Turkey/young!Greece ficts. I don't know where people have gotten the fanon of Turkey being such a big pervert! Sure, he's suave. He's passionate. He was an empire. That doesn't mean he would sexually assault his charges. )= (It seems like that's a trend with all of the Hetalia empires in the fandom.) It's definitely not canon-implied. I mean look at his profile. He carries apple juice around. HE IS SO JOLLY. In the strips all they do is bicker and tussle And it's all relatively harmless.

All I can think is that people inject some historical research into some ficts. Like, googling/wiki-ing tellaklar and harems and assuming that it's okay to include steamy scenes like that? I'm not sure!! don't get me started on innacurate harems. please. oh gosh.

[sotnosen93.livejournal.com]

"Sweden is completely cold and aloof and lacks the ability to express emotion"
There actually are people who portray him like that!? He's SWEDEN! He's one of the sweetest nations there is! He's a dog owner and a father via adoption!