The Rival concept in shonen

GAP

I don't know about you but the rival in shonen seems to only exist to make the hero(ine) look good. Why can't there be rivalries that are just plain unhealthy for anyone?

Myrmidon

I did not understand that.

RedEyedAbyss

Except that people often end up liking the rival better for being more "edgy". Just look at Seto Kaiba's fanbase.

┻━┻ ︵ ヽ(`Д´）╯︵ ┻━┻

That's not true. If Seto was more edgy then he would have pointier hair than the protagonist.

(also he tends to use LIGHT monsters over Yugi's DARK ones IIRC)

Noimporta

Also, Kaiba gets more character development than Yami/Yugi, his duels are usually more fun to watch and he has tons of cool gadgets. Saying he's popular just because he's "edgy" is kind of oversimplifying.

GAP

As did Vegeta but at that Goku's development was over.

Tnophelia

More people like Seto than they do Yugi.

Noimporta

Yes, that's the initial premise.

Tnophelia

Thus why Seto became a main-ish character instead of being an opening-only villain.

Schitzo

I hate hearing cached phrases like "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME" and the like from these guys.

Tnophelia

I wonder how many horrible rivals there are.

Japan is liek, so uncreatuv, liek omg

GAP

^ More importantly, are ther any rare cases where the hero maanges to be interesting?

RocketDude

@Edmania: That first point made me chortle.

As for the second point: Does it really matter? I mean, the series kinda likes the Light Is NOT Good trope, but I figure some aspects of the card game don't apply to the early series.

Jaybie

Having the rival be pure evil or a mostly unlikeable jerk often bothers me.  Just once I'd like to see a show where both rivals are a little at fault for the rivalry,

GAP

^ I am the same way.

glennmagusharvey

I'd like to see a show that JUSTIFIES the tropes it uses.  For example, make sure that there's a reason that two people have grown to treat each other as rivals.