Mary Sue

English Etymology From the name of an intentionally over-the-top character in the 1973 Star Trek parody fan fiction A Trekkie's Tale by Paula Smith. Noun en fandom slang usually derogatory A fictional character, usually female, whose implausible talents and likeability weaken the story. en Sue en 2010-08-03 Ta-Nehisi Coates A Whole New World The Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/08/a-whole-new-world/60746/ Bella may be a Mary Sue, but if we don't identify with her, and even if we do, there's no other interpretive place for us in the universe. https://web.archive.org/web/20251217015616/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/08/a-whole-new-world/60746/ 17 December 2025 en 2015-01-20 Sian Cain Why a non-white Nancy Drew could be amazing The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/jan/20/non-caucasian-white-nancy-drew-amazing-race-casting She was a mashup of ideals that made her feel very fake; a Mary Sue who was popular, pretty, athletic, artistic, all the while loved by everyone who met her. https://web.archive.org/web/20261019124649/https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/jan/20/non-caucasian-white-nancy-drew-amazing-race-casting 19 October 2026 en 2015-12-19 Tasha Robinson With Star Wars' Rey, we've reached Peak Strong Female Character The Verge http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/19/10626896/star-wars-the-force-awakens-rey-mary-sue-feminist So here's a radical suggestion: instead of being concerned about whether her Mary Sue flawlessness is a problem, why not, just this once, enjoy it for what it is? https://web.archive.org/web/20260816043425/https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/19/10626896/star-wars-the-force-awakens-rey-mary-sue-feminist 16 August 2026 en 18 August 2022 Dan Shive El Goonish Shive - EGS:NP Comic for Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/wie-025 webcomic There is one, and only one, previously unheard of flaw that keeps Nanase from being the merriest of Mary Sues. That flaw is... Usage notes Used especially with reference to fan fiction. Hyponyms en Gary Stu, en Marty Stu both male Derived terms en Mary Sueish en Sueish en Suethor See also en self-insert en Fan fiction Narratology Plot devices Stock characters