Discussion Main / CluelessChickMagnet

Can it be ".... issues and lack of self-esteem keep him from responding to Asuka's hints"? That is fact: we can't ascertain that he doesn't know she's flirting, but we can conclude that his actions diffuse the intended relationship for which Asuka is gunning.

"Kaworu's true feelings for Shinji are ambiguous but the most straightforwardly expressed, and Shinji responds the most openly to him." This is not an example of cluelessness - simply shyness, right?

"Misato's . . . attempts are clumsy and badly received." What do you mean by badly received? If he's receiving them by refusing them, he must know what she's trying to get. How is that cluelessness?

I propose that Shinji is clueless only to Rei, and that the example be written in that light. May I write one and show you? Without swelling, natter, or word cruft.

Nothing in your example is incorrect, Willbyr, but the only thing in there evidencing Shinji's obliviousness is his relationship with Rei.

What I mean by "received badly" with Misato is his generally not handling her flirtatiousness well (along the same lines as Asuka), and especially when he pulls away from her when she tries to "comfort" him after Rei dies.

Now that I think about it, I think you're right about Kaworu, which would exclude him from consideration.

I labeled this as a deconstruction because Shinji's apparent cluelessness is based in his personal issues rather than true obliviousness.

Go ahead with your writeup; we can try to hash something out.

On it right now. Thank you for the opportunity.

Edit: I've kept Kaworu's entry, as I understand the Trope is about Shinji, and so Kaworu's affections would either reinforce it or disembowel it. Here's my take:

• Neon Genesis Evangelion. Yet another Deconstruction from Eva, though there are some genuine moments. Shinji Ikari's psychological issues and lack of self-esteem cripple almost any response to Asuka's hints; when he does respond, he performs so poorly that he feeds into Asuka's own self-esteem issues and hurts her. Rei grows to have feelings for Shinji, but doesn't fully realize it until just before she dies: so, neither does Shinji - dying in his place is the giveaway. Kaworu, however, is forwardly affectionate to Shinji (though said affections are ambiguous), and Shinji responds the most openly to him only to have to kill him when Kaworu reveals himself to be the final Angel. Even Misato has an interest in Shinji, but their age gap and her being Shinji and Asuka's guardian would make it incredibly unorthodox and very shaky (her attempts are clumsy and badly received anyway).

That's good enough to put back on the page; I'll make some small edits.

I just stumbled across this page, and how is it distinct from Oblivious to Love?

Oblivious to Love seems to correlate with a one-on-one relationship The Protagonist has with one other character. Clueless Chick-Magnet, I think, involves several people being interested in The Protagonist with him being still unaware.

Suggesting Celibate Chick Magnet, as Celibate Hero actually does understand the concept of romance and sex while having reasons to shun them, and the trope appears to be "Celibate Hero + Chick Magnet".