The "Main Character Syndrome" Needs to Go: Why Overpowered Leads Ruin Fiction

The “Main Character Syndrome” Needs to Go: Why Overpowered Leads Ruin Fiction

It’s time to address a frustrating trope that’s been plaguing stories for too long—the main character getting everything, good or bad. Whether they’re everyone’s favorite person or the most tragic figure to ever exist, it’s boring, predictable, and feels more like fan service than real storytelling.

The “Golden Child” Syndrome

Let’s be real—when a character is treated like the center of the universe, it gets old fast. Take Naruto, for example. Sure, he’s had a rough life, but the fact that every major event somehow links back to him? It reduces the entire world to his story. It feels less like an expansive universe and more like a small playground designed for him to run around in. It’s like no one else’s story matters unless it somehow ties back to the main character. This doesn’t just limit the story, it makes the world feel fake.

And then there’s Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. Every single person in that town loves her or is obsessed with her. It’s unrealistic, exhausting, and takes away from what could have been a more dynamic cast. How is anyone supposed to relate to a character that everyone worships?

The “I Can Do Everything” Trap

When a main character is written as the one person who can solve everything, it not only undermines the supporting cast, it makes the character themselves less interesting. Lou Fleming from Heartland is the perfect example of this. She’s running a business, managing her family, fixing every problem that comes her way, and barely breaks a sweat. It’s not impressive—it’s unbelievable.

This kind of writing strips away any depth from the character and pushes everyone else into the background. Are we really supposed to believe that no one else in this world is capable of handling anything without her swooping in to save the day?

Why Does Every Character Talk About Them?

Nothing pulls you out of a story faster than when every character can’t stop talking about the main character. It feels forced and unnatural, like the writers are trying too hard to make us care. Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist suffers from this. He’s a great character, sure, but when every other conversation revolves around him, it limits the development of everyone else in the story. Are these other characters only here to prop up the main character? It sure feels like it.

The One Exception: Comedy

There’s one scenario where this trope can actually work—comedy. Look at Bugs Bunny. Bugs is constantly the center of attention, but it works because the entire situation is played for laughs. It’s tongue-in-cheek, self-aware, and adds to the humor. Bugs Bunny isn’t supposed to be taken seriously, and that’s why the trope works in his case. But when a serious narrative leans into this, it falls flat.

Enough Is Enough: Make Your Characters Real

Writers need to stop leaning on the tired trope of making the main character the be-all and end-all. It’s okay for the lead to be important, but they shouldn’t be the only important person in the story. Let other characters shine. Give them their own challenges, their own victories, and their own moments that don’t revolve around the main character.

If everyone loves your main character or they get all the attention all the time, it becomes a fantasy of fan obsession, not a relatable, engaging story. Let’s demand more from storytelling. Give us characters that feel real, that struggle, that don’t have every solution or everyone’s undivided adoration. It’s time for a change.

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