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[fpb]

Has it ever happened to anyone to like a concept for a fic (a Harry Potter fic, of course) so much, that you keep reading even though the writer completely ruined her own excellent idea, writing all the main characters OOC and turning the protagonist into a complete Mary Sue/ Gary Stu? It just happened to me. I was reminded of times long ago when

Comments

[moonspinner]

That's exactly how I feel about the Pirates of Carribean sequels!

[dustthouart]

I can't say it has. Although when it comes to movies I lack taste. XD I have low standards. A lot of my favorite movies were panned things like A Life Less Ordinary. I like good movies too, but I can usually get the same amount of enjoyment out of My Stepsister is an Alien as from Citizen Kane. (I recommend both.)
Fiction, I have high standards. Nowadays I'm pretty lucky because I mostly read Pansy fiction, and the only people who choose to write about Pansy tend to be more mature, inventive writers, people who've graduated from merely liking a character based on how much one would like him or her if he or she was a real person.
When I read more popular pairings, particularly with Draco/Hermione, it was like the needle in the haystack trying to avoid Sues.
What was the concept that grabbed you?

[fpb]

Enised's The Mathias Prophecies, in which Harry turns out to have been a girl all along - I mean, not transformed by magic at any point, but just born a girl. Some readers complained that the idea was incredible, but as I know instances of people who managed the same deception all their lives long - and without magic - I don't particularly see that. The trouble is that Esined made a total botch of the leading characters, turning Snape into a good guy, Dumbledore into a soft oversentimental fool, and giving Harry a new extra power with every episode. Her cliffies and climaxes are good, powerful and unexpected, but you have to wade through a lot of stuff that simply does not work in order to get there.
I just might have a go at it myself, just to see it done right, but I would have to find a reason for the concealment and a suitable development once it is discovered, and I must admit that - as in the matter of her climaxes - Esined has come up with a good reason for the one and a good development for the other.

[bufo_viridis]

Been there, done that, bought the chainmail.
I have a couple books/stories/films, which I call "guilty pleasures", because I'm very aware of they (multiple) shortcomings, but they're still fun/have cool characters/are written used great language/ etc...