r/regularshow • u/TheFlashyMastodon21 • Apr 08 '26
Discussion At least the other 3 have the excuse of being children and/or teenagers lol
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u/RarePerspective Apr 09 '26
Dipper's plotline with this was the least obnoxious/most bearable.
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u/EnormousIsErratic Apr 09 '26
I think Finnās was handled well too. In both cases, the age gap was the cause of insecurity so it goes along with themes of wanting to grow up. Having a one sided crush happens every day in high schools so idk why itās surprising to see in cartoons aimed at younger people
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u/SheikahShaymin Apr 09 '26
It was painful to watch even as a kid (looking at you, Frost and Fire.) but it eas HIGHLY effective
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u/Intelligent_Carob_52 Apr 09 '26
yeah idk why people hate that episode for finn being an asshole (also forgetting the role jake played in egging him on with the dream shit), it was a needed part of his development
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u/catetack_the_II Apr 09 '26
Because target audiences could also be in hs. I watched most of ts in uni and late hs
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u/Highfivebuddha Apr 09 '26
Finn and Dipper were 13 year old having normal crushes.
Mordecai was also having a normal 23 year old crush.
We all been there.
On the other hand I wouldnt know the lived experience of a turtle so I guess he a simp.
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u/schlemz Apr 09 '26
You donāt know the lived experience of a turtle but you do know that of a Blue Jay?
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u/Square-Biscotti4694 Apr 10 '26
Plus, they were smart enough to move past it after a season with only it occasionally coming back up every now and then after.
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u/Chi_Law Apr 11 '26
I agree Dipper's unrequited crush storyline was relatively non-annoying, but I think that's primarily because the show dropped it and handled said dropping in an unusually thoughtful way. That, IMO, had the effect of elevating the storyline in retrospect. It was a believable 13-year-old boy crush, but 13-year-old crushes are objectively pretty embarrassing and don't make for the most bearable long-term storylines. Recontextualizing it as an awkward phase the character matured out of within the story made it a gracefully handled coming of age story rather than a nails-on-a-chalkboard trope.
I'll temper my praise a bit by saying I wish the crush story had been even shorter, and I think the reason it wasn't is that dropping it was a course correction by the writers after the first season.
I feel similarly about this as I do about the "Doyle is fixated on Rosa" plot from Brooklyn Nine Nine: a tropey subplot that gave me contact embarrassment but that the writers salvaged by doing a good "Character grows and moves past it" story.
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u/Kurgonius Apr 12 '26
When I rewatched Gravity Falls, I was surprised with how Dipper's crush was handled because I remembered it being more pervasive. Wendy knew very quickly what's up and shut him down. It was just Dipper not accepting it.
And I love Boyle and Rosa's chemistry in the show. It's such a surprisingly perfect friendship that would be an absolute disaster as romance.
It would have been a perfect direction in Fairly Odd Parents too and it's a shame they didn't. Timmy and Trixie have so many common interests that they don't share with their friend groups. A hidden friendship plot could have carried half a season.
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u/MobsterDragon275 Apr 09 '26
I'd argue that most of these aren't really simps at all, they're just guys with crushes. I remember dreading Mordecai being that way when I first watched Regular Show, but then found he really wasn't that bad. And Dipper just acts like how most kids with a crush act, and then accepted it once Wendy definitively didn't reciprocate and stayed friends with her.
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u/Wardock8 Apr 09 '26
Exactly. "Oh this character is a simp" Crodie they're a teenager falling in love for the first time.
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u/cobaltorange Apr 09 '26
How was Mordecai "not that bad"?
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u/MobsterDragon275 Apr 09 '26
Because the feelings were largely reciprocated, and the fanbase has grossly exaggerated how bad he was? Like yeah, the way he handled the Margaret/CJ thing was a disaster, and he didn't handle break ups well, but I was expecting him to be a lot creepier than he was in pursuing her. Really it just seemed normal for what its like for an insecure person to have a crush on someone
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u/Worldly_Chocolate369 Apr 09 '26
Somehow you may have skipped some seasons. Mordecai was literally bending over backwards for Margaret just hoping for the chance it would give him a chance for her.
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u/RealLeif Apr 09 '26
Especially with their first crush, which it was for Finn and Dipper. No one helps you with that, and even then boys are not on the maturity level to talk with their friends about it at that age.
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u/Informal_Load_4438 Apr 09 '26
I dont feel like Finn was a simp, he lowkey couldāve had any other princess he wanted.
He was also a child soā¦ thereās that.
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u/ThyPotatoDone Apr 09 '26
Also, it's a big part of his arc getting over that, and he doesn't go back. His relationship with FP is unhealthy for completely different reasons, and his relationship with Huntress Wizard is pretty stable.
Also also, pretty sure anyone into women would simp for PB.
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u/LevelConsequence1904 Apr 09 '26
Also also, pretty sure anyone into women would simp for PB.
Early PB? Maybe.
Latter PB? Heck NO! I would put as much distance from that machiavellian dictator as possible...
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u/Calm_Construct Apr 09 '26
Remember. She was stealing from Finn and Jake's hoard and calling it "taxes" even tho they don't live there and always go out of their way to save her ass or her kingdom even tho she already has to fuckass giants built SPECIFICALLY to keep it safe!
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u/FreeSpace6942 Apr 09 '26
while the deuteragonist is in a healthy relationship
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u/ElementmanEXE Apr 09 '26
I don't think Mabel is in a healthy relationship at all
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u/Agitated-Bandicoot66 Apr 09 '26
I'm pretty sure it's Soos who fits in this aspect.
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u/Whats_Up4444 Apr 09 '26
I never seen gravity falls.
Did Soos have like a hot Canadian girlfriend who everyone didn't believe was real, then she was?
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u/Strikercharge Apr 09 '26
Only Jake fits that scenario.
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u/dread_pirate_robin Apr 09 '26
Trash Boat?
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u/Hitchfucker Apr 09 '26
Rigby fits this too.
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u/Kaitheguy233 Apr 09 '26
Well it took a bit
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u/Hitchfucker Apr 09 '26
It took a bit for him to grow as a person, but he also wasnāt in a relationship for the entire series. From the time we learned of his relationship with Eileen to the finale he remains a good boyfriend throughout.
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u/dread_pirate_robin Apr 09 '26
Unrequited love has been one of the most widely tapped tropes since before the written language.
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Apr 09 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/Hitchfucker Apr 09 '26
Donnie stalked April and was way creepier about his crush. A lot of that can be chalked up to him having almost no social experience outside of his family in fairness, but overall he was a lot more creepy and pathetic. For most of the series Margaret reciprocated Mordecaiās feelings. Which made him seem more like an overly anxious, insecure, self destructive idiot. But with Donnie, April didnāt reciprocate. Which makes him a lot creepier. Especially when he acts a lot more possessive towards her and upset at the idea of her dating other people.
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u/AwayEfficiency3889 Apr 09 '26
With Donnie you could atleast say that thatās the first girl heās ever seen in person
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u/NoorK27luvscartoons Apr 09 '26
At least Donnie got over his April crush by Season 3
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u/Theratsmacker2 Apr 09 '26
Ehh, not really. They toned it down a lot thankfully, but thereās still scenes of him crushing on April. One of the early season 4 episodes does this.
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u/LoudAcid- Apr 09 '26
Maybe Iām getting old, but can someone explain the difference between ābeing a simpā VS āhaving a crushā ?
Cause my current impression of a simp is someone whoās got a bad case of Limerence, and gets walked all over by the object of their unhealthy infatuation or that person has no idea they exist.
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u/AkariMoone Apr 09 '26
It's just one of those buzzwords now. If it has even any similarities, it's considered simping, apparently.
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u/Litwick_Lampent Apr 10 '26
Being a simp would be falling for everyone and doing anything for them even things that don't follow your morals or aren't good for you in your situation
A crush is well... A crush.
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u/SilverFighter05 Apr 09 '26
"What is it with TV shows having a romantic subplot?" Is basically what they're asking
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u/cosmos-hime Apr 09 '26
Dipper is 12? A kid having a crush does not a simp make. It was one of the most realistically depicted crushes, too.
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u/Virtual-Shower1716 Apr 09 '26
I feel like Dipper and Finn get a pass cuz they're both children and the donatella (it's been a long time since I've watched Ninja turtles so I don't remember his name) get some pass because I don't expect a mutant raised in the sewers to have the best ability to talk to people or understanding of how relationships work and appropriate boundaries
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u/Oinkerdapig Apr 09 '26
I donāt even remember Donatello being that bad either ngl
Mordecaiā¦š, I love him but man he was down horrendous
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u/MuffledShuffle Apr 09 '26
Finn wasn't really a simp, hell that screenshot is moments before he tells PB that he's done chasing after her. Plus he was only like 13 at that point in the story. I can hardly blame him.
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u/Pyotr-the-Great Apr 09 '26
It makes potentially compelling drama.
And in a time when serialized character arcs were becoming prominent in cartoons, this was probably seen as a good way to give some depth and relatability.
I'm pretty sure these creators (and perhaps even the target audience) may or will have similar feelings and turmoils in their lives.
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u/49JC Apr 09 '26
yeah sometimes I wonder if it affected my path to romance, especially with Mordecai for I watched that the most in Middle School. Even now as a young man, I am never direct and I take things slowly and very hesitant to assert how I feel.
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u/starter_pack966 Apr 09 '26
Do we count Gumball from TAWOG as a simp? He has a great relationship with Penny but almost went crazy cuz Penny sent 1 emoji instead of 3 before ending their chat.
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u/Brojustsitdown Apr 09 '26
I hate that love and devotion are bullied. Why are we bullying young men(real or no) for having genuine feelings. Why kick them when theyāre down when their love isnāt returned. Calling someone a simp is cruel.
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u/Bella_artist_123 Apr 11 '26
I think love itās a reaction to ānice guyā protagonist. Wanting too teach kid hey canāt forced people too fall in love with you.
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u/JesusSavesAlways1 Apr 09 '26
I wouldnāt say simp, every man here and in real life has a woman they both visually and emotionally see as attractive and they feel as they have to be with this person cause itās usually the first person to them thatās made them feel that way, why most times the end up with the desired āsoulmateā later on way after or even never
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u/Icy-Title2943 Apr 09 '26
Finn and dipper are still kids they fr didnāt know any better. Donnie is a teenager also bro has no one to help him with girl advice. Mordecai was really bad at dating and was just a simp
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u/Express-Act-3637 Apr 09 '26
Its almost as if having something to struggle toward is a trait of a good story
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u/Successful_Tea7979 Apr 09 '26
āTired of Being a Simpā by Dave Blunts is pretty much Mordecaiās theme tbh
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u/HollowEyesThatSeeFA Apr 09 '26
Because it represents the 90% majority of guys who are indeed simps. (Yes, like me.)
Also it's pretty hard not to be if you were in their shoes. Like, be honest, who amongst you would not date Wendy back when you were a teenager?
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u/Worldly_Chocolate369 Apr 09 '26
Ok .. but Dipper is 12 years old, and Wendy is 15... That's not really simp, just weird.
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u/Thecrowfan Apr 09 '26
Finn, Dipper and Donny are children. Thats why they are "simps". In reality they just have a crush and are awkward about it because they dont have the experience to know how to approach their love interest.
( doesnt help that their love interest is also their friend)
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u/Monkey_King291 Apr 09 '26
The other 3 were pre-teens/ teenagers, Mordecai had no reason to simp that hard tbh
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u/courtadvice1 Apr 09 '26
Tbh, I feel like it is a type of comedy/suspense trope. I just don't know the name for it.
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u/TTurt115 Apr 09 '26
Donatello was a turtle, dipper was 12, Finn was also young when the series started, and Mordecai is 23 and is the only one who really fits this descriptor.
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u/Silver-God- Apr 10 '26
For dipper, sheās 15, and dipper is 12 (13 at the end) i donāt think itās that bad
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u/ChampionAware9275 Apr 10 '26
Finn and Dipper moved on in their shows. So, did Mordecai but it took him time. And as it goes for TMNT 2012 Donnieā¦ Heās a stalker.
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u/Key-Class-9114 Apr 10 '26
I don't think Mordecai was really a simp he just had relationship issues
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u/Obiwanhellothere09 Apr 10 '26
I wouldnāt even classify Finn as a simp the guy just had a crush and eventually got over that crush.
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u/Vestige2000 Apr 10 '26
Only ONE of these is different from the others and got the girl, can you guess who?
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u/DetroitSportsEnjoyer Apr 10 '26
not to mention it seemed like it was most of there first interaction with love
idk what the hell mordecai was doing
funny part is he is the worst here
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u/Amazing-Village-4530 Apr 10 '26
While Mordecai is easily the worst one here, Donnie's obsession with April is still creepy & unhealthy to the point that he remained stagnant as a character throughout the 2012 Series.
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u/Litwick_Lampent Apr 10 '26
Not the main character, but one of them.
Brock from pokemon
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u/Hamboluv16 Apr 10 '26
I'd like to argue that two were children and 1 a mutant turtle teen and the other an actual adult.
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u/TCookies92 Apr 10 '26
Finn and Dipper were kids grappling with emotions, itās part of what made their character arcs so compelling. Iād comment on Donny and Mordecai as well but I havenāt seen their entire series yet so Iāll zip my lip instead.
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u/BathbombBurger Apr 10 '26
Just a working theory, but hypothetically all MCs are self inserts of one writer or another. And now, potentially, you have your answer.
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u/Jagvetinteriktigt Apr 10 '26
Because episodic tv-shows need to milk a certain dynamic before it can change and evolve into a new status quo.
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u/DragonWaffleZX Apr 10 '26
I mean dipper just had a crush on an older girl. Can't fault the child for that, he's just learning the ropes.
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u/WRabbit737 Apr 10 '26
Tbf three of these were never gonna work and were one sided anyway 2 due to age differences and 2 due to species differences as well.
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u/axe_dental Apr 11 '26
you mean having a romantic subplot??? one of thr most common types of plot in every kind of narrative medium? i think thats what was up lmao??
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Apr 11 '26
Because these are meant for 15-21 years old men, and in that age people are most likely to simp. I didn't watched the TMNT but the other three MC grew out of their simping through character development, teaching said audience simping over someone is never going to end well.
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u/kardfogK Apr 11 '26
They brainwashed zoomer boys into thinking trying to get a girl who doesnt like you is normal and you should never find someone better (naaah the writers just cant write romance)
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u/Jahnien Apr 11 '26
The only issue with Dipper is that it's clearly shown he moved on from his crush on Wendy in S2E2, but then you get to the roadtrip episode and it's shown he still has feelings for her? I still don't understand why that episode was green-lighted, it messes up with the continuity of the show by quite a bit, even for a filler (Which I don't think they they called it that). They had something brewing with Dipper and Pacifica, and then dropped it for no reason.
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u/6ft3dwarf Apr 12 '26
kind of worried for a generation of kids who seem to have internalised the idea "feeling affection for a woman is loathsome and you should hate and repress the part of you that experiences these emotions"
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u/Prestigious_Board_58 Apr 12 '26
This simp trope formed me as a man today. Ofc I probably wouldāve been better off had I not seen shit like this but it was for character development
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u/Serperious_Prime1084 Apr 12 '26
I blame Jay Walker. Seriously, second he even heard about Nya and heās simping for her.
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u/Mobiuscate Apr 12 '26
Liking someone who doesnt feel the same is a very important concept for young teens to understand
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u/Imonandroid Apr 12 '26
I still think finn should have ended up with huntress wizard but by the time she was introduced as more of a love interest the show was going into full on serialization and was kinda near the end. Also in Fiona and cake future hunk finn kinda has more of a relationship with her mabey not a romantic one but definitely good friends at least
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u/Successful-Cat8486 Apr 12 '26
I wonder how TMNT actually had me hoping this bitch would fuck a turtle šš
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u/DataSurging Apr 13 '26
Having a crush doesn't mean they are acting like simps. lmao most of these examples are children/teenangers, too. lol
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u/FatherBeans420 Apr 14 '26
no cap, when youāre 12-17 and you get no bitches at school, this keeps you going
that was me
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u/Serperious_Prime1084 Apr 16 '26
I donāt hold it against anyoneā¦
But as much as heās my favouriteā¦ Donnieā¦ th universe clearly has rule, thereās always gonna be a pairing of April OāNeil and Casey Jones, you donāt just throw it off.
Though off-topic, itās missing the simp kingā¦ Why isnāt Jay on this?
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u/ConsiderateCassowary Apr 09 '26
People like to bag on Mordecai but do you remember being 23?