Preferences

[SaguaroCactus]

A lot of times, I think to myself, "I wonder which boy from Narnia NFFR likes most."  Well, which one?

[sammyk10169]

Edmund all the way! Who can resist those big, brown eyes?? 

If we are talking book-verse, my opinion is still the same. I feel like his journey from jerk to Just is something we can all relate to, or at least appreciate.

Peter is okay, but he's too... perfect. 

I like Eustace quite a bit, too. But to me, Edmund is the best.

[rthstewart]

Mr. Beaver, though I'd have to get through Mrs. Beaver first.

[rthstewart]

Or, perhaps a Minotaur?  Tall, hairy, and horned.

[SaguaroCactus]

Hahaha, that's funny, rth. Personally, I like Edmund better. Peter, in my imagination, is not really my type. I used to think differently, but when I saw the movie, it scarred me forever. I now think of him as someone that can be blinded when he wants something desperately. I know others think differently, but this is my opinion.

[rthstewart]

On further reflection, I think I'll take my pick of the Narnian dysfunctional males and make it all better for them and save them from themselves and their tragedy riddled-pasts.  So, we have...
Caspian (dead wife, missing son, pining for other woman he cannot have)
Rilian (dude's got some serious mommy issues)
Ramandu (dead wife, single parent)
Lune (dead wife, single parent, missing child)
Rabadash (serious anger management issues)

Which in all seriousness, ladies, wow, that's a sad and sorry list.  Yes, there is that Disney element that all mothers are either dead (Lune's wife, Ramandu's wife, Caspian's wife) or evil (LotGK definitely has a very twisted relationship with Rilian) and possibly Jadis (if you subscribe to the theory she is a child abuser).  But, apart from the obvious need for medication and therapy for these individuals.  So, what's going on here?

[cap red]

Between the two of them it has to be Edmund. Peter is wonderful. He's the High King, and whilst not perfect, he is the closest thing humanity has to perfection. I can't relate to that. Edmund meanwhile, is a bit more gritty. he has very obvious flaws, that never really go away, even when he is redeemed. The fact of his redemption also makes him more interesting, if for no other reason than it is something that we can relate to. I can't say I know anyone who hasn't at some point in their life, longed for fame, or glory, or recognition. Edmund's realisation of the fleetingness of these things, and the greatness of other things (family, honour, justice) is something that we can learn from, or relate to.

Also the title he gains means something to me far more than magnificence, gentleness or valour. Magnificence is something distant and unreachable. There are times that valour is misplaced. Just implies a sense of honour. Just is again something that we can aspire to be. Not everyone can be gentle, or brave or magnificent. Everyone can try to do the right thing, which is what just is. Just is a code of conduct. Just is something reachable. Edmund therefore is a character, who having gone so terribly wrong before, manages to redeem himself to the point that he does the right thing so often (implying a sort of wisdom), that he is called by his people Just and becomes known by that title.

Plus, he's sarcastic. That's a good enough reason to like him.

[Metonomia]

Clearly everyone should like Rilian best.  He's like Hamlet but less whiny, he went to avenge his mother's death, even in captivity he fought the enchantment, and under the LotGK he clearly must have learnt wily ways that will come in handy - he won't just be a good and smart king, but he's been on the other side, he'll know how to fight evil because he's served it, plus it probably gives him more of an understanding that while evil enchantresses are out there, not all those touched by magic are evil.  PLUS we know he's all sad and broken and needs fixing re: appropriate relationships.

[WingedFlight]

Clearly everyone should like Rilian best.  He's like Hamlet but less whiny, he went to avenge his mother's death, even in captivity he fought the enchantment, and under the LotGK he clearly must have learnt wily ways that will come in handy - he won't just be a good and smart king, but he's been on the other side, he'll know how to fight evil because he's served it, plus it probably gives him more of an understanding that while evil enchantresses are out there, not all those touched by magic are evil.  PLUS we know he's all sad and broken and needs fixing re: appropriate relationships.

When you say it like that, Meto, it makes me think that Rilian would end up being a similar sort of king as Edmund. He's known evil, and so now knows how to oppose it, and will likely do his best to. Interesting... now I really want Rilian to meet Edmund some time.

As for my favorite male character, I'm sticking with what appears at this point to be pretty common consensus and choosing Edmund, for exactly the reasons that everyone else is listing. I mean sarcastic - how can you not love that?

[Metonomia]

I did sort of start to think of that as I typed it, Winged.  And I agree - Edmund mentoring Rilian would be super cool. 

"Look, you didn't kill your mother, and you got out before you hurt Narnia.  It's not your fault.  You are by no means the first to be sidetracked by these witches."

And Rilian would say:

"But I looooooved her!  But she killed my mother!  But I loooooved her!"

And Ed would just shake his head and introduce Rilian to the daughter of the Duke of Galma's daughter.

[animus_wyrmis]

Rilian meets a girl, I am sure of it. He marries for the good of the realm, a girl who is not blonde and not green-eyed and doesn't have a laugh like the ringing of a bell. And his advisers tell her not to wear green and the windows in Cair Paravel are always open to the sky...

And yet he has TOO MANY ISSUES and when one day she screws up and forgets and wears a green gown he pays her like 100% more attention than he ever has before because he has SERIOUS ISSUES and then the LotGK comes back as a lady-in-waiting and the new queen gets banished so LotGK (version 2.0) can play Anne Boleyn to her Catharine of Aragon. And then there is another plot to destroy Narnia and Rilian's severe trauma can finally be dealt with, although since there are no therapists in Narnia, he may not deal at all.

(Um. Not that I have plotted this out or anything.)

And what about Tirian, guys?! Who doesn't want the doomed/useless final king of Narnia?

[rthstewart]

I did sort of start to think of that as I typed it, Winged.  And I agree - Edmund mentoring Rilian would be super cool.  "Look, you didn't kill your mother, and you got out before you hurt Narnia.  It's not your fault.  You are by no means the first to be sidetracked by these witches."  And Rilian would say:  "But I looooooved her!  But she killed my mother!  But I loooooved her!" 

And Ed would just shake his head and introduce Rilian to the daughter of the Duke of Galma's daughter.

And the daughter of the Duke Galma's daughter is the offspring of Isamene and Edmund after they got married by mistake when they both drank out of the same Galman well during a romp presided over by Bacchus and 30 scantily clad bridesmaenads....

[Metonomia]

That was my thought, yes

[Fierce Queen]

I actually love both Peter and Edmund - especially in fan fic because they go together; I think they ground each other in reality.  But if I had to choose between them it would be Peter.  Yes, I know, he's virtually perfect, but I can't help thinking that we only *see* the "perfect" side of him and not the "imperfect" side (for example, At school, there's people who always get in trouble and then there's the people who are "good".  My little sister and I would be in that "good" catagory.  More distant friends at schools think me and my little sister get along GREAT and could never fight, and even though we tell them that we fight at home, over every little thing, they never believe us because they never see us at home.  So it could be that we don't see Peter's imperfections, but they're there).  Also, Peter kinda gives me an idea of what I want in a husband 

And who knows if I made my case for Peter, but there it is.

[SaguaroCactus]

Hmm. Good point, Fierce. Actually, we can see the bad side of Peter in Prince Caspian (movie-verse). He totally blew it during the invasion, but in the end, he comes through and helps Caspian regain his throne. Despite what I have said here, though, I am still team Edmund.