Character Breakdown: Jim Lake from Trollhunters

Jim Lake is just the sort of guy I'd love to see more of in cinema these days. Noble, self-less, and has a sense of humor. Trollhunters might be "just" a kid's show, but the writing and the characters are phenomenal. So let's take a look at James Lake Jr. and what sort of character he is. (As a side note, they just announced the third chapter in the Tales of Arcadia and it looks like Jim is back! I'm so excited!)

Personality

• Mature. Because of his background, Jim has had to grow up more than most kids his age. This maturity is useful throughout the show as he handles things without cracking (too much). It's also useful at home as he helps take care of his mother.

• Dorky. Jim can also be silly and klutzy. This Peter Parker aspect makes him more relatable and endearing to the audience. He's always making little jokes to keep his and other's spirits up.

Virtues

• Loyal. Jim will stick by your side through thick and thin. If he makes a promise, he'll do his best to make sure he fulfill it. His loyalty can sometimes be a flaw, but it's one of his best characteristics.

• Selfless. To go with that, he's also incredibly selfless, sacrificing his own time and happiness for others, from his mother to the trolls he's sworn to protect. He almost never complains about it and loves helping others.

Flaws

• Self-dependent. This can be a good thing, but most of the time it's a bad thing for Jim. He doesn't like to rely on others for help (also part of his backstory) and that doesn't work well when he's suppose to rely on his friends.

• Unsure. Jim doesn't always believe in himself. He often doubts his own abilities and choices. His responsibilities weigh on him, making him unsure of which way to go or what to do or whether he can actually save everyone.

Skills

• Chef. I love that he's got such a "normal" skill as cooking. And he's great at it. He makes amazing dishes for his mom and friends. The skills actually come in handy sometimes.

• Sword skills. With his chef skills, he learned to wield a knife with ease, and that translated over to a sword well. He's an excellent swordsman, which is good, because he has to be to hold his own against trolls twice his size.

• Ingenuitive. This is one of the reasons Jim is such a good troll hunter. The trolls are rather set in their ways, but as a human, he's always thinking around problems in new and creative ways. He can out-think the trolls he fights with different approaches.

What Makes Him Interesting

• His background. When he was young, his dad left, and on his birthday no less. Ever since it's been just him and his mom, and they are adorable. They're always there for each other. The really awesome thing is that Jim never let his dad's abandonment make him angry or bitter. Instead, he strives to be great every day.

• His dedication to his job. He's only in high school, and yet he's relied on by a whole secret world to protect them. Jim never backs away from a challenge, even when he regrets it. He gives his all to the trolls and they don't deserve his precious self. Can we also talk about how he has to balance high school, a social life, his home life, and a secret troll hunting job at the same time?

What's your favorite thing about Jim Lake? Who is your favorite selfless hero? Tell me in the comments.

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