Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4224349-20141023223233/@comment-24163511-20141024055137

Izzypoo999 wrote: Yes, Lars is shown as someone who keeps to himself, hides his emotions, isn't strong, and who doesn't get along well with kids like a normal teenager. All the characters have tons of flaws and the writers of this episode tried really hard to show how imperfect Lars and Sadie really were. This show wouldn't have as much impact if all the characters suddenly got along with eachother and resolved all their problems in one episode. If you're uncomfortable with Lars displaying normal teenage behaviour and/or making a few bad choices like an actual human being who is stranded on a magical island, you might have an uncomfortable viewing experience.

Of course I enjoy realistic characters with flaws, in fact, Helga of Hey Arnold! is quite possibly my favorite TV character of all time. However, the problem therein lies with the fact that we already know Lars has flaws, they've already been shown as glaring to us throughout the series, we know he's irresponsible, we know he's immature, we know he's introverted, shallow, selfish and extremely callous. They set him up like that and I can't be only one that expected this episode to be the one where they actually show his good side, even just a bit of it, the opportunity was right there at the end. To do something selfless, to be someone worthy of being called a "friend" and help Sadie who's always fought his battles for him. And that never happens, they practically condemn him in this episode. The last thing this episode needed to be was another way of framing Lars' flaws, Sadie, on the other hand, it was nice to see a bit of her flaws showing, but she repented for that selfish action by jumping in the pit.

Lars never got that kind of repentance, at every turn where he might turn it around, he merely regressed. I'm not looking for a happy-go-lucky Lars that lacks flaws, I'm looking for the core of this character to shine through, that when the cards are down and the chips are on the table, when things turn serious, that he can do something...anything to show that he's the good person Sadie talked about. That's all I look for in these Pseudo-antagonist types, that at their core, they're good people when it matters. It doesn't matter if they act like a jerk the rest of the time, so long as it isn't indicative of their true nature, but it seems Lars' core is that of a cowards and judging by the despondent and apathetic way Sadie treats him at the end, she seems to be seeing that as well.

Of course, this is mere opinion, if they want to keep Lars in this perpetual state of callousness than its on them, but I assure you, my beef is not with a more "realistically" flawed Lars but with a Lars that refuses to show up and prove himself in any fashion. After all, proving one's self is a core tenant of Coming-of-Age stories and I know Steven isn't the only one "coming of age".