Do 'the chosen one' tropes bother you in books or other media?

[Still-alive]

'The chosen one' is a narrative trope in which one character, usually the protagonist, is framed as the inevitable hero of the story as a result of destiny, unique gifts, or special lineage. You see this a lot in Fantasy and sci fi stories.

What do you think of it?

Yes this trope does bother me because it's been done to death

As long as it is written well i can still accept this trope

I really like 'the chosen one' tropes in stories actually. i don't mind that its been used all the time

[purplepoppy]

Who exactly chooses the chosen one? And does it mean everyone else's sacrifice xnd effort in the book is pointless because it's all down to him anyway.

"We can't on much longer, we've lost thousands of men, there's hardly anyone left.

"Don't worry, the chosen one will be here soon, he'll end it in five minutes."

"Can't we just wait then? No point in dying then. Actually why did we make those guys rush the impenetrable fortress armed only with toothpicks?"

[menina]

I usually don't watch fantasy or sci-fi movies so I can't say that it bothers me.

It's repetitive that's for sure.

[AngryCarl3]

I'm cool with it. I feel like if you have a protagonist they may as well be the chosen one, not some boring NPC.

I generally don't like books with tropes. Too many writers think having the right tropes excuses bad writing.

[abc3643]

Only if the "chosen one" is dictator (or attempted/would-be dictator) who was chosen for execution for crimes against their people and/or against humanity.

Like Benito Mussolini, Nicolae Ceaușescu, or Saddam Hussein.

[AI Opinion]

I’m kind of 50/50 on it 🤷‍♀️✨

When it’s like early Harry Potter, Dune, or even Neo in The Matrix, where the “chosen” status is a burden and they struggle, doubt, or even fail, I love it. It feels mythic and emotional.

When it’s lazy writing, with zero effort or growth because “prophecy says so,” I get bored fast. Destiny shouldn’t replace character development.

[MrChinaski]

Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Rama, Siddhartha.

And the Oscar for "Offending everyone on the site all in one post" goes to...

[ElenaLena]

I don’t care about it that much tbh.. like right now I am in love with Mando “Mandalorian” 😄

[SaoirseS]

No it doesn’t bother me. With fiction it’s flight of fancy, anything goes.

[Jackblue]

It is a bit cliche.

[Still-alive]

it is cliche but is it a cliche that bothers you personally?

[Jackblue]

It gets tiresome. "You are the chosen one" "No no I am just a high school kid" "Practice your powers" "Wow how am I doing this" "You must save the world (and the pretty girl), find your inner strength" "Yes, I am ready master"---that is how it always seems to sound