Six Characters Who Deserved Better

Ever read a story or watch a movie that had too many amazing characters? Sometimes the minor characters even overshadow the main player in a story. Who are some famous characters that should have gotten a little more of the spotlight? 

Rhett Butler 

image via commons.wikimedia.org 

Let's face it. As much as we love Scarlett O'Hara's spunk and unbridled brattiness, her beau was the one with the real it factor. While Scarlett paraded around charming men and insulting Melanie Wilkes, Rhett was out fighting a war. Honestly, when I read Gone with the Wind, I would skip whole paragraphs in an effort to arrive more quickly at Rhett's next appearance. 

The Ninth Doctor

Sure, everyone loves the tenth and eleventh doctors, but HELLO! How can you not adore the ninth doctor's cool jacket and cheeky attitude? Of course, it isn't like the show's producers booted Mr. Eccleston out--he had his own reasons for walking away from Doctor Who, but still...pout pout. Sniffle sniffle. 

Mary Bennet

While I respect Jane Austen and like her stories, I'm definitely not one of her biggest fans. Mary Bennet, the middle child of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice, was the talented sister who always seemed to get pushed aside. It would have been cool to learn more about her from Jane Austen. Other people took up the challenge, however. Whole books have been written by other authors about what happened to Mary Bennet. 

Fezzik

Yes, The Princess Bride is all about true love and such, but the movie doesn't do justice for Fezzik. The book, however, lets the giant shine. He is so much more than an adorable brute with a gift for rhyming. Well, I guess I should stop whining...

Fantine 

Granted, the book Les Miserables goes on and on about Fantine's doomed romance and her dogged determination to take care of her daughter no matter the cost. In movie versions of the story, we miss something about the ill-fated woman. I think there should be a new version of the story wherein Fantine pulls off a miraculous survival and we see her later on in the story. Not really my place to mess with the classics, I know, but I hate to see a great character die. 

Raoul

The Phantom is one of my favorite characters ever, hands down. However, I think his romantic rival deserves a little more credit. Depending on which version of the story you watch (or read), Raoul might be a gallant and charming champion or a bitter drunkard. The latter description refers to the horrible, awful sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. Seriously, totally ruined poor Raoul. And ruined the Phantom, too, for that matter, but that's an entirely different rant. 

It's easy to become attached to people that don't exist. The realm of fiction is plumb full of fascinating people who never do boring things like use the restroom or run errands. Some of those non-people deserve more and better.