does anyone not like mat?

[Obligatory WOT Reference]

Just noticing how everyone seems to have mat as one of their top 3 characters? He's the embodiment of the gentleman scoundrel trope. I was wondering if there are some people out there who don't like him. Could you please say why if you don't like him as well.

[CubsPhan]

It doesn't seem like there's alot to dislike.  He gives the books some seriously needed humor.  Everyone else is so hell-bent on saving/destroying the world or worrying about not understanding members of the opposite sex that Mat's character considerably lightens some dull inner dialogue.

[Jethro]

Hes definitely the party animal of the series. I think Mat and Nynaeve are the best individuals for the humor element.

[Nasty Butler]

some one doesn't like Mat?  Blasphemy!

[mb]

Like another poster, there is not much to dislike Mat for.  The main thing I could think of would be his gambling.

 

some one doesn't like Mat?  Blasphemy!

Blasphemy, how?

 

[DemandredFO]

If one dislikes Matt you need to wear a scarlet M.  Matt is the one major character who changes the most but also the least.

[notorious-big]

Hate to say it, as I know it will probably earn me the unending hate of a number of people here, but I've never really liked Mat too much. IMHO, he was far too quick to distance himself from Rand, like we see of in TSR and TFoH. I mean, sure your friend is the Dragon Reborn who hears voices and essentially promises rampant death and destruction, but I mean...he's your friend! Also, I found his distrust of Aes Sedai to be almost too extreme. I dunno, I feel like he doesn't really grow up and accept what is happening to him and the rest of the world around him. It's like he spends most of the books trying to pretend that he's not ta'veren.

 

Then again, I think that's a very natural response and probably what I would do if I were in his shoes, so I guess I can't really blame him.  :P

[Shard]

I think Mat has grown up, the Mat we first meet in tEotW would not be letting a little kid tag along with him. He seems very human and really not that much of a scoundrel. It's not like he's going around breaking young girls hearts.

 

I remember when he had the dagger and it was corrupting him even when Rand got the "channeling fever" he never abandonded Rand. He may have tried to distance himself but he never left Rand like Perrin did. No wonder the wondergirls call him Dragonsworn.

[The Watcher and Wanderer]

I didn't like him much in EotW and TGH, it wasn't until he rescued the Wonder Girls in TDR that I started to like him.  Since then he has grown on me more and more and now is one of my favorite characters.   

 

I think Mat has grown up, the Mat we first meet in tEotW would not be letting a little kid tag along with him. He seems very human and really not that much of a scoundrel. It's not like he's going around breaking young girls hearts.

 

I think one of the things that turned me off to him in the early books was his treatment of Ewin Finngar.  However, I think his caring for Olver acts as a nice contrast to his behavior toward younger kids in Emonds Field.

 

I remember when he had the dagger and it was corrupting him even when Rand got the "channeling fever" he never abandonded Rand. He may have tried to distance himself but he never left Rand like Perrin did. No wonder the wondergirls call him Dragonsworn.

 

Yes he did try to leave Rand, in fact that is what he was very literally trying to do in TFoH when he encountered and killed Couladin (sp).  Of course I still like him because he has more than made up for it.  And when exactly did Perrin leave Rand?

 

[Shard]

Yet he didn't leave is my point, try as he may he's always finding his way back to Rand. He didn't have to help those men, he choose to.

[UGAShadow]

I love Mat.  His interactions with Tuon is what saved CoT.

[DemandredFO]

Perrin left Rand in tSR(almost permanently).

[Builder]

man Mat is the shit. How can anyone not like Mat?

[trakand_01]

When I first read the series I had Rand first, Perrin then Mat at the bottom of the three lads - too childish, seemed to shirk all responsibility, just wanted to play games and get drunk.

 

However, the more you read the series, the more you actually pay attention to Mat, he's a great guy. Out of all three of them I think he's actually the most respectable and I now have him on level with Rand. The difference is that Rand does a lot of things because he feels it's his duty. Mat does a lot of things because either he knows there's no-one else to do them, or he doesnt want any one else to get hurt doing it, although he'd never admit it.

 

He's honourable (he is - he's just cheeky with it) and his treatment of Tuon is admirable. Siuan said he reminded her of her uncle, who died pulling children from a burning building - he wouldnt stop going back in whilst he knew one remained in there. Mat's the kind who would say "i'm not doing that", and then rush off to do it five minutes later. He complains, but he does it and when he's done it, he does a bit more..

[Builder]

I agree with trakand_01. He's just that type of guy, and everyone likes those guys.

[spothistto]

Mat is more than he seems. Definitely a character that everybody (well most at least) likes.

 

"And a man of many layers? Matrim Cauthon made an onion look like an apple!" as Tuon put it.

 

I think the-not-like-Mat front is sadly thin.

[Shard]

Mat is Han Solo of the WoT world, the lovable rogue.

[Guest The Thin Inn Keeper]

I didn't like him much in EotW and TGH, it wasn't until he rescued the Wonder Girls in TDR that I started to like him.  Since then he has grown on me more and more and now is one of my favorite characters.

Ditto.

 

I hated him in the first two books.

 

I guess he grows on most people though.

 

He's probably my favorite character now.

[Matrim DeLaneous]

I didn't like him much in EotW and TGH, it wasn't until he rescued the Wonder Girls in TDR that I started to like him.  Since then he has grown on me more and more and now is one of my favorite characters.

Ditto.

 

I hated him in the first two books.

 

I guess he grows on most people though.

 

He's probably my favorite character now.

 

I always felt that his story began when he wakes up in TV after they separate him from the dagger.  I started laughing when he inadvertently wolfs down the platter of food they put out for him while he's thinking through his predicament, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of his character ever since. 

[Perrin 187]

I like mat, but I didn't start to like him till FOH when he formed the pre- Band of the Red Hand. Thats when he got intresting for me.

 

I have a three way tie between my top three favorite Characters. Perrin, Thom, and Lan my order for top three is different depending on which book I was reading. Then 4th is Moraine and my 5th favorite is Mat... and so on.

 

Perrin left Rand in tSR(almost permanently).

 

Perrin left Rand in TSR to save the Two Rivers, Mat wanted to leave so he could gambol and chase girls. That is if I remeber correctly, so you can decide who had the better reason.

 

But Mat and Thom's chapters made COT readable. That was a terrible book for my top 5. Moraine is gone, Lan was hardly even reference and Perrin made little progess in saving his wife and was a bore to read, except the chapter when he tortures the shadio and there is some character development. So both Mat and Thom have come up on my charts in the latter half of the series.

[animegirl]

Not fond of Mat

 

He is the kind of guy who sleeps with a girl and leaves her the next morning. Shame Mehlindra could not kill him.

[General Cauthon]

Mat only chase the girls that want to get caught, so what's the problem? Mat considers the chasing to be more important than the catching. I doubt any of the girls Mat have had, ever believed that he was going to stay. It's must've been obvious to them that he's a playboy, yet they still wanted him. It's their choice, so why blame Mat?

[animegirl]

Mat only chase the girls that want to get caught, so what's the problem? Mat considers the chasing to be more important than the catching. I doubt any of the girls Mat have had, ever believed that he was going to stay. It's must've been obvious to them that he's a playboy, yet they still wanted him. It's their choice, so why blame Mat?

 

I guess the thing that irks me is that Mat is admired for being a playboy and lovable scoundrel. However if the girl characters were to behave like he does then it then they would be labeled a 'chit' and the readers would most likely hate her guts too.

[Shard]

Not fond of Mat

 

He is the kind of guy who sleeps with a girl and leaves her the next morning. Shame Mehlindra could not kill him.

 

You forgot to add that the girl wants the same thing :-P

 

Berelain acts this way but I don't think she's a chit. They've both only slept with two people respectivly. Mat with Melhindra and Tylin and Berelain with whomever it was she was talking about at the time, if you believe her.

 

Lastly my liking of Mat isn't for going after the women, it's for his abilites in battle, his loyalty to Rand and general sharp wit.

[spothistto]

He is the kind of guy who sleeps with a girl and leaves her the next morning.

 

And this is bad how?