Susan Beth wrote:

...I realized that you can pair the male/female types up, one to one, with the differences between the two being due to social and gender factors.

Rather annoying... Though I suppose one should perhaps make allowances for fictional representations rather than an attempt at realism?

...we all (that is, people in general) have grown up being exposed to these hero archetypes our entire lives, from nursery school tales and fairy tales and on through every book read and hour of

television

or movies watched. As a result we are quick to spot the telling traits, and assign a new character to the 'proper' role - which is a great help to writers.

It might be more general than that. The urge to understand and predict the behaviour of things seems fundamental to intelligence; assigning complex objects such as people into neat pigeonholes where various characteristics are bundled is just an unfortunate side effect.

it could be that it also introduces a bias in what we consider 'important' or 'pertinent' evidence when we watch B7. Once we have (consciously or not) decided that Gan is The Best Friend, we note and remember the details that point that way, and dismiss as unimportant or 'accidents' of production/continuity errors details that don't fit.

Too true. I was trying and perhaps failing to express this idea when I posted on preconceptions and gentle giants......

I shall be interested to see what the book comes up with for the other characters.

Tavia