# What fictional characters would you actually want to be friends with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234 "2006-06-26T17:37:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/21 "2006-06-26T20:19:05Z")
I’d go with Travis McGee. The book Travis, not the movie Travis. A cool, caring guy with some really fascinating friends. And hey, he lives on a houseboat! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/22 "2006-06-26T20:29:28Z")
Richard Jury, Melrose Plant Phoebe Bouffet, Ross and Monica Geller, Joey Tribiani, Chandler Bing, Rachel Green Joe from Zoom ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/23 "2006-06-26T20:46:24Z")
J.D., Elliot, Turk, and Carla from _Scrubs_. Jim and Pam from _The Office_. Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, and Rupert Giles from _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_. Jack Knight, the Shade, Blue Beetle II (RIP), Slam Bradley, Jake “Bobo” Bennetti, Wildcat, Catwoman, Elongated Man, Wesley Dodds, Dian Belmont, and Zatanna from DC Comics. Dr. Peter Venkman and the rest of the Ghostbusters. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/24 "2006-06-26T20:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Um–Matter-Eater Lad? I don’t get it. Care to explain, or is it just the scanty attire most of his female teammates sport? [/QUOTE] Well, considering that I’m a reasonably healthy heterosexual male, this is not an inconsiderable attraction. Having said that, though - it’s more because I think he’s neat. I’ve got a fondness for trickster characters, and he’s perhaps the most restful trickster I can think of. It’s not that he’s above the usual flaws of the trickster, rather he’s less random in his effects than most tricksters. He’s safer to be around than, say, Loki, or Coyote or even Bugs Bunny. **control-z** , sorry. [Patlabor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patlabor) is the title of a very well-done anime series. If you don’t know who Miyazaki is, or look down on the idea of animated films for grown ups, go out and rent [Spirited Away](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/) . Now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/25 "2006-06-26T20:51:18Z")
1. Rebecca Davitch - **Back When We Were Grownups** by Ann Tyler. She does so much and no one even appreciates it. ☹ 2. Alianne of Pirates Swoop - **Trickster’s Choice** by Tamora Pierce. 3. The entire cast of **The Enchanted Forest Chronicles** by Patricia C. Wrede. 4. Auron - **Final Fantasy X**. But only if by “be friends with” you mean “violently rape”. 5. Riccardo Belli - **Demento** / **Haunting Ground**. 6. Jared, the Goblin King - **Labyrinth**. See #4. 7. Luna Lovegood - **Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix** by J.K. Rowling. 8. Mr. Rohchester - **Jane Eyre** by Charlotte Brontë. Again, see #4. 9. Nymphadora Tonks - **Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix** by J.K. Rowling. 10. Madmartigan - **Willow**. So schmexy. 11. Indiana Jones - **Indiana Jones and the \_\_\_\_\_\_**. 12. Amélie Poulain - **Amélie**. 13. Heathcliff - **Wuthering Heights** by Emily Brontë. See #4. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/26 "2006-06-26T21:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Having said that, though - it’s more because I think [Matter-Eater Lad is] neat. I’ve got a fondness for trickster characters, and he’s perhaps the most restful trickster I can think of. It’s not that he’s above the usual flaws of the trickster, rather he’s less random in his effects than most tricksters. He’s safer to be around than, say, Loki, or Coyote or even Bugs Bunny. [/QUOTE] Okay, now I’m even more confused. I’m familiar with the notion of the trickster character, but how do you see Tenzil as fitting that role? Has he changed post-Crisis? (Pre-crisis he had little personality, and the most significant things I can remember him doing are eating the Miracle Machine and outsmarting a super-strong bismollian by eating through a flagpost). I’m not being a smart-ass; I’m interested, really. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/27 "2006-06-26T21:18:52Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Okay, now I’m even more confused. I’m familiar with the notion of the trickster character, but how do you see Tenzil as fitting that role? Has he changed post-Crisis? (Pre-crisis he had little personality, and the most significant things I can remember him doing are eating the Miracle Machine and outsmarting a super-strong bismollian by eating through a flagpost). I’m not being a smart-ass; I’m interested, really. [/QUOTE] Well, I’m mostly familiar with Tenzil from the stint that Tom and Mary Bierbaum did on the comic (LSH Vol 4). During that he struck me as a trickster, often forced into that role by virtue of the people he choose to challenge, but also in the sense of the team joker, too. If you never read it, you should look up the issue where Tenzil goes to earth to rescue Polar Boy from Earthgov. His attempt to cop an insanity plea for Polar Boy was fricken hilarious. Certainly I liked the story where he freed Saturn Queen from her husband Evillo’s thrall. (Along with more than a few other people…) ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/28 "2006-06-26T22:59:13Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Miles Vorkosigan. (And most of his acquaintances) [/QUOTE] I dunno about Miles. He’s likeable enough, but most of his friends have a horrible habit of ending up hurt, maimed, or dead. I could see partying it up with Ivan when he was in town though… ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/29 "2006-06-26T23:00:14Z")
Mary Crawford from Mansfield Park. Sure, not a moral scruple to be seen but she’d be fun to hang out with. Maybe we could collect Becky Sharp in our fabulous literary time machine and see who was more of a conniving but intelligent dame. Ooh. And Lady Glencora Palliser and her good friend Madame Max who has more brains but slightly less charm than Lady Glen. Not that she doesn’t have charm, but Lady Glen is just so over the top. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/30 "2006-06-26T23:03:07Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] If you never read it, you should look up the issue where Tenzil goes to earth to rescue Polar Boy from Earthgov. His attempt to cop an insanity plea for Polar Boy was fricken hilarious. Certainly I liked the story where he freed Saturn Queen from her husband Evillo’s thrall. (Along with more than a few other people…) [/QUOTE] My favourite is when he’s at the archaeological explidition that dug up the Batcave, and called the giant penny proof that gigantic presidents once roamed the galaxy. (He thought it was a manhole cover and scaled up the people from that…imagine how big the Titan Presidents of Bismol would have been if he’d realised it was a coin!) My Legionnaire-friends-of-choice: Tenz, Chuck, post-Emerald Vi post-ZH Shrinking Violet, post-ZH Dream Girl. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/31 "2006-06-26T23:03:45Z")
[QUOTE=Cowgirl Jules] I dunno about Miles. He’s likeable enough, but most of his friends have a horrible habit of ending up hurt, maimed, or dead. I could see partying it up with Ivan when he was in town though… [/QUOTE] Well, safety isn’t exactly the top priority on my list. You’re talking to the person who put Tenzil Kem on his list as an allegedly safe companion. I’ll take my chances around Miles. Besides, it’s safer being his friend than his enemy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/32 "2006-06-26T23:25:35Z")
Richie Rich. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with the richest boy in the world? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/33 "2006-06-26T23:38:33Z")
Two that immediately spring to mind are George Smiley and Arkady Renko. They’re both smart (Smiley abnormally so), and they seem like they’d be pretty undemanding. They wouldn’t try to pry too hard into your life, and they’d probably be rather tolerant of your idiosyncracies, since both are unusual enough in their own right. I’ve got a thing for quiet, unassuming people who nevertheless manage to crack the case or save their country. Smiley and Renko are probably my two favorite fictional characters overall. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/34 "2006-06-26T23:48:38Z")
Nanny Og - as a drinking buddy and general baud Havelock Vetenari - as an advisor Cohen the Barbarian - as an enforcer Kaylee Frye - as a friend with privileges 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/35 "2006-06-27T00:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Cowgirl Jules] I dunno about Miles. He’s likeable enough, but most of his friends have a horrible habit of ending up hurt, maimed, or dead. I could see partying it up with Ivan when he was in town though… [/QUOTE] Most of?There’s Illyan, but that wasn’t Miles’ fault. There’s Bothari, who had it coming **and** who could have stopped it but didn’t. My own choices: Credeiki from _Startide Rising_ would be interesting, on his own merits as well as the smartest sentient dolphin around. Wiz Zumwalt from Rick Cook’s _Wizardry_ books seems like a stand-up guy. Lupe dy Cazaril from _The Curse of Chalion_ would be a good man to know, and very handy in a tight spot. Andrew Hale from _Declare_ always struck me as a man in need of a few good friends. Brendan Doyle from _The Anubis Gates_ for the same reason. I’d say Janet from _Tam Lin_, but a) my motives are not entirely aboveboard, and b) I probably can’t compete with her current boyfriend ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/36 "2006-06-27T00:02:04Z")
In no particular order: Samwise Gamgee Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, both Odysseus Catherine Montaigne, from the _Honor Harrington_ books Ellie Arrowway, from _Contact_ Manuel O’Kelly Davis, from _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. Also Mycroft, of course. Dr. Susan Calvin, of Asimov’s robot stories. OK, so I also have a major crush on her, but I’d be willing to settle for “just friends”. Charles Wallace Murray, from _A Wrinkle in Time_ and sequels Jimmy the Hand, from the Riftwar books by Raymond E. Feist ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/37 "2006-06-27T00:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, and Rupert Giles from _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ [/QUOTE] Xander, definitely, But Willow? Too evil. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/38 "2006-06-27T00:19:18Z")
**Gort**. (From ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’). A pretty good ‘friend’ to have around. Any problems and… zaaaaap!!! All three of the **Three Men In A Boat**. They’d be great company. **Julie** in ‘Day For Night’. Or Cathy in ‘Bullitt’. Or Paula in ‘The Mephisto Waltz’. Or Gail in ‘The Deep’. In other words, someone who looked _exactly_ like Jacqueline Bisset. I know not how to wish for more. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/39 "2006-06-27T00:31:06Z")
I think the android Data, from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” would be a fascinating person to have as a friend. Hmmm, maybe even a “friend with benefits.” Gotta check out that “fully functional” claim of his. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234/40 "2006-06-27T00:42:40Z")
[QUOTE=Taran] Most of?There’s Illyan, but that wasn’t Miles’ fault. There’s Bothari, who had it coming **and** who could have stopped it but didn’t. I’d say Janet from _Tam Lin_, but a) my motives are not entirely aboveboard, and b) I probably can’t compete with her current boyfriend ☹ [/QUOTE] Hey, if you want to break them up, I’ll make a play for Thomas and then it’ll be easy sailing for you to get to Janet. My own literary best friend is Philippa from the _Lymond Chronicles_. I have something like a 4th grade friend crush on her … I just know that if we ever met, we’d be official Best Friends Forever. We could write BF4EVER!!! on all our notebooks. Or something. The other fictional guy I want to be friends with is Cuthbert from _The Dark Tower_ series. This predates the middle book in the set, so back when Cuthbert maybe had four paragraphs total in three books. This perplexed Mr. Del to no end. He’s not even really in the book! I don’t care, I just know we would be friends. I like his style and his offbeat sense of humor. Also, he can’t possibly end up _worse_ with me as a friend rather than Roland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-would-you-actually-want-to-be-friends-with/362234.md?page=3)