The Mary Sue

The Mary Sue is a term used to describe a fictional character who is portrayed as perfect, highly talented, and often lacking realistic flaws. Such characters tend to overshadow others and may serve as idealized fantasies for writers or audiences. The term originated from fan fiction discussions but is now used broadly, often critically, to highlight characters that can feel unrealistic or unrelatable due to their perfection or excessive popularity. It’s a way to consider how characters are developed and ensuring they have depth, flaws, and relatability fosters more engaging storytelling.