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6/16/2025, 8:51:51 PM
I hate first person past tense so much. You always have to dance around the fact that the main character knows what's going to happen as they're narrating. Like why wouldn't they just spoil their own story if it's just them going over their past events?
I've seen stories that lean into that with the narrator spoiling literally the entire series and lamenting every mistake illuminated by hindsight, and it fucking sucks. The suspense and intrigue is just gone.
Third person omniscient is better because there's an element of detachment the narrator has from the characters. Yes they know the whole story, but they're not obligated to say anything more than what is necessary, and what would make a good narrative. When it's a first person recounting of a person's life, it's hard to highlight something like the main character getting outmaneuvered and tricked without them going like "I wish I knew at the time that these motherfuckers were screwing me over". But to do so would completely ruin the twists and turns of the story. But like... why wouldn't they?
I've seen stories that lean into that with the narrator spoiling literally the entire series and lamenting every mistake illuminated by hindsight, and it fucking sucks. The suspense and intrigue is just gone.
Third person omniscient is better because there's an element of detachment the narrator has from the characters. Yes they know the whole story, but they're not obligated to say anything more than what is necessary, and what would make a good narrative. When it's a first person recounting of a person's life, it's hard to highlight something like the main character getting outmaneuvered and tricked without them going like "I wish I knew at the time that these motherfuckers were screwing me over". But to do so would completely ruin the twists and turns of the story. But like... why wouldn't they?
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