User blog comment:ThatGuy456/A Guy's Thoughts: Tobias Wilson - The Joke of a Jock/@comment-37450836-20191231032338

It’s not every day you find me associating “Tobias” and “brilliant” together in such close quarters—the notion alone is scandalous—but there’s no alternative in the face of your excellent analysis. Comprehensive, insightful, and thoughtful—these are the impressions I’m left with, and short of superimposing these words and creating a veritable chorus of a reply, there’s no justice I can do them here. My only grievance is in consequence of the thorough nature of your article; what more can I add beyond further accolades? I’m not sure there are many stray strings to unravel in an essay whose content I’m in absolute agreement with, but I’ll share what thoughts I can.



Regarding Tobias, it’s his tenacity I’m compelled to address. It works both to stymie much of the sympathy he would otherwise accrue under scrutiny—in tandem with his liberal brandishing the role of instigator—and to further elaborate his characterization by encroaching upon the foundations of sensibility. Indeed, as a character whose existence is defined by the quintessence of the underachiever, and whose rallying cries to the contrary are without exception the orchestra of his life’s dirge, it is perhaps his finest achievement that he nonetheless fosters a sense of endearment through his near unwavering determination. His woos and his woes are interwoven, and his social standing perpetually overlooks a precipice with both feet dangling over the edge, but his spirit is inextinguishable and his plunge only a harbinger of his return. This is rightfully overshadowed by his veneer of braggadocio, his domineering egocentrism, and his implicit turmoil over his life’s station, but I feel it imparts a small brilliance to his overall realization in spite of its relative obscurity. After all, is it not this same persistence that has allowed what is arguably the world’s greatest loser to find rank among the most celebrated characters of the series after nearly a decade of endeavor? And while I may be the bearer of a singular opinion for stating this, there’s something almost admirable in his drive despite the cavalcade of foibles that accompany it. He strikes me as an offbeat interpretation of Gumball lacking conscious self-awareness and the higher faculties to better channel his passions, but still retaining a mutual special something in spite of his myriad deficiencies. I suppose the likening is fitting for the would-be protagonist.



 I wish I had more to do in contributing to the discussion and sharing what insight I can, but it ultimately speaks to the decisiveness of your writing that I can’t spy the slightest suggestion of a loose end to tug at. With little else to say and even less of consequence to offer, allow me to once again congratulate you for the fantastic work you’ve demonstrated here, and to hope to see more of your musings in the future. Until then, I’ll take my seat in the audience as one of the five six spectators anticipating your return.