Mary Sues
Impossibly perfect characters
Mary Sues are fictional characters, typically in fan fiction, who are implausibly perfect—beautiful, talented, beloved by all, and central to every plot.
The term originated in Star Trek fan communities as a parody of wish-fulfillment characters who seemed to be idealized stand-ins for their authors.
A Mary Sue lacks meaningful flaws or struggles, making the story feel contrived: The protagonist was such a Mary Sue that even the villain fell in love with her.
The male equivalent is sometimes called a Gary Stu or Marty Stu.
- overpoweredExcessively dominant or conquered
- power fantasyFiction celebrating protagonist's dominance
- protagonistsCentral figures in narratives
- idealizedMade to seem perfect
- self-insertCreator written into fiction
original character · unrealistic · archetypes · special snowflake · stereotype · flawlessness · chosen one · tragic backstory · implausibility · characterizations · cliches · parody · literary critique · plot armor · hypercompetence · fan fictions · purple prose · satire
Mary Suesantiheroes
Morally ambiguous main characters
tragic heroes · complex characters · underdogs · relatable characters · nuanced characters