Ross is the Main Character on Friends

To begin, I have said nothing on your examples because I don’t have the character space argue against who is the true protagonist in every show out there, I’ve only got the space to argue this show. Also it would be pointless to voice my contention of either of those shows when I don’t contend the “everyman” is never the protagonist. What I contend is the protagonist is not always that way. A point which you have so far left unrefuted so I assume it is left to stand. Isnt Mary Sue a fan fiction term? The term may have been coined by fan fiction writers but that does not mean it does not equally apply authors of real cannon fiction scripts. Because the non-fan writers can write ‘Mary Sues’ just as well as than fan-fic writers. Wesley Crusher from Star Trek is an often cited example of a ‘Mary Sue’ but he is not a ‘fan-fic’ character. Gene Rodenberry himself created that character. Rachel is like Goku? It’s a fallacy to think because she is not as amazing as Goku that she is not a Mary Sue. By that logic than neither can Batman or Kirk be called extraordinary protagonist when there power levels cannot reach 9,000. Goku lives in a universe were that is the bar for amazing, Kirk lives in a universe were beating a Vulcan at chess is amazing, and Rachel lives in universe where there are not space federations, magic balls, or costumed crime fighters. For her world getting to chat with a soap opera star is amazing, Getting a wedding or having a kid is a season ending accomplishment. I bring up Goku for the pure purpose of establishing what a Mary Sue is in principal and to disprove the ‘everyman’ is always the protagonist. Watson and Holmes: On another note, in some cases even, the ‘normal’ relatable guy is played off your star unrelateble guy. Sherlock is clearly the star of every book and movie he is in, yet he is extraordinary and usually has a Watson to stand next to him being normal and to show amazement at his genius. To think of some Television show examples of this I would point to shows like ‘The Glades’, ‘The Mentalist’, or even ‘Get Smart’. Ross is a caricature Should you maintain Ross is a normal ‘everyman’ than I will hold he could be Watson to Rachel’s Holmes, a character to remind us she is awesome by pursuing her because she is awesome frequently. But I maintain my attempt to discredit Ross is an everyman. He is as much a caricature as any of the others are. You realize on the big bang all the other cast are super smart too? His I.Q. is not a standout attribute on that show. (I’m too ignorant to speak on How I met you Mother), Ross is full of the same quirkiness any of the others have. Whether the trait is downplayed enough to keep him from being a Mary Sue is irrelevant. The point is it makes him quirky thus erasing the distinction of being the ‘unquirky’ one among the Friends. The need to steal from Hotels is just as quirky as hating Pottery Barn or risking your life over a Sandwich. Its without a doubt the man that fights with his pet monkey and has a loud ‘air purifier’ is a caricature, not an everyman. I would also argue as far as being ‘relatable’ goes, he is no more relatable than Chandler or Joey, they have similar challenges and dramas they overcome. Also generally speaking, Rachel is ‘in distress’ way less than Ross is throughout the series, so you can hardly call her a damsel in distress. Pursued Protagonist I’ve never watched any of those shows you listed and can only assume there sponsored by Femi-Nazis taking over the media. Even if there are some modern examples of Women protagonist that have to chase there men, This doesn’t change the classic examples I gave. Do you really think Snow White is not the main character on ‘Snow White”? Because normally is real life it’s a Mans Job to man up and chase the girl, a male hero is a pursuing character, and normally is a Girls job to girl up and make that made go through a decent chase if she is a Girl Hero character. A Prince had to hunt Cinderella down, and one had to go slay a dragon to get to Sleeping Beauty. While they don’t Pursue there princes, there choices are still driving the story, choices to trust the wrong people or to make sacrifices for there kingdoms or there fathers. Flynn clearly has to chase after Repunzlle yet it’s largely her sets of choices that drive the story. Rachel’s choices are possibly the main factors in all of Ross’s chase. They are not together in the end until She chooses to get off the plane, she makes the choice to let Ross go through with the wedding, she makes the choice to take Ross after he left Julie in the wrong way. All the first season Ross is got to patiently wait for Rachel to choose to ditch her guys. Clearly its Luke that Pursues Lorlie on the Gilmore Girls yet he is not the shows protagonist, its Lorlie. Living in every apartment I cant believe I’m wasting this space but, your crazy if you think anyone other than Sheldon is the main character on that show. That out of the way I’m not going to contest the Fraser reference. My point though is not moot. Those shows as you argued the protagonist is an ‘everyman’. But in this show the protagonist is a Mary Sue. And while living everywhere does not build off of an ‘everyman’ protagonist, it does for a Mary Sue protagonist. You don’t relate to James Bond, you vicariously live through him. Personally living in every environment the show has to offer builds on that argument. Dropped Arguments: Do keep in mind there’s just 5,000 character limit for this debate. I have dropped no arguments, I have only not had the space continue to harp on them all. If an argument did not make it to another round it was because I rephrased my attack with its general point all together and focused my time on rebutting your specific case. The show still clearly begins and ends with Rachel, that argument is better supported when I uphold my Mary Sue case. Your rebuttal to the point was on its relevance but not its facthood.