My Best Friend Ron

Yeah, I don't actually know anyone named Ron, much less have a best friend with that name. But there are two characters that I am very much familiar with that are owners of that name: Weasley and Stoppable. Unlike a lot of characters I tend to analyze/rant about on this blog, these two boys have been two of my favorite characters since I was little... Well, littlish (older kid/preteen age). Both of them have a lot in common, I've realized recently. They are both the always-loyal best friend of the hero of the work they are in, they are both underachieving underdogs, they are both hopelessly immature, they are both lazy, they are both not so good with the ladies (but eventually fall for their best female friend), they are both particularly fond of food, and both are completely loveable. Additionally, both are the epitome of the best, best friend. So here are my two favorite Rons.

RON WEASLEY

The red-headed, freckle-faced (in the books) best friend of Harry Potter. He's pretty much always been my favorite character of the Harry Potter series. He serves a foil for the protagonist. While Harry is an orphan with more gold than he needs, Ron comes from a large and loving, but poor family. Harry is famous, but would rather avoid the spotlight. Ron on the other hand, is often overlooked and sometimes becomes jealous of the recognition Harry gets. Lastly, Ron is the most mediocre of his siblings, being neither an excellent Quidditch player (at first), a noteworthy student, nor "the daughter [his] mother always wanted". All these factors have combined to cause Ron some serious insecurities. All the while though, he remains (for the most part) steadfast by Harry's side. He is rather immature, which gives him a major role in comic relief (although his brothers, Fred and George, mainly take that role in my opinion. But they're not main characters, so moving on.) Like when his wand gets snapped in the second book, that sets off a number of funny moments ("eat slugs!", or Lockhart losing his memory), or when he "asked" Fleur Delacour to the Yule Ball in the fourth book. He's got some great one-liners too (see below). He's also very brave. He never hesitates to put himself into extremely dangerous situations with his best friends Harry and Hermione, and as shown on many occasions, he would rather die than have someone he cares about harmed. He risks his life on many occasions, and his bravery does not go unnoticed by his friends (or fans). Ron is also a person who likes to do things the easy way. He does not like to work hard (like he always tries to copy off Hermione). This peculiar trait does not seem to go away even after he grows up. For example, he confunds his driving examiner in the seventh book and simply says of it, "Oh, well I could always use a Supersensory Charm for that."

FAVORITE QUOTES:
Albus Potter: "Why are they all staring?"
Ron: "Don’t let it worry you. It’s me. I’m extremely famous."

Ron: "Viktor? Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"

Ron: (sitting bolt upright in bed) "Spiders... the spiders... they want me to tap-dance. And I don't want to tap-dance!" 

Harry: "You tell those spiders, Ron." 

Ron: "Yeah, tell them... I'll tell them..." (falls straight back asleep) 

Ron: "She's gone mental, Hermione has. I mean, not that she wasn't always mental, but now it's out in the open for everyone to see!"

Hermione: "Don't play."
Ron: "Say you're ill."
Hermione: "Pretend to break your leg."
Ron: "Really break your leg."

Hermione: "Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!"
Ron: "Oh, yeah. (to the first-years) Hey-hey you lot! Midgets!"

Ron: "It's obvious. You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know. (imitates Hermione) Oh, Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong..."

Ron: "Percy wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cozy."

Ron: (about the crystal ball) "I don't need help. It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."

Professor Trelawney: "Look at the cup, tell me what you see!"
Ron: "Oh yeah... well, Harry's got a sort of wonky cross... that's trials and suffering. And, uh, that there could be the sun, and that's happiness, so... you're gonna suffer... but you're gonna be happy about it..."

Ron: "Why spiders? Why couldn't it be "follow the butterflies"?"

Ron: "IF WE DIE FOR THEM, I'LL KILL YOU HARRY!"


RON STOPPABLE

Kim Possible's best friend and sidekick (and later, boyfriend). One of my favorite cartoon characters of all time! His name's a play on the word "unstoppable", which is both true and false I suppose. When I was younger, I always thought that "unstoppable" was a better word to describe Kim instead of "impossible", but now that I'm older, I guess that it serves Ron just as well. He hardly ever gives up no matter what's thrown at him, like seriously. Even though he handles what's thrown at him in less butt-kick ways than Kim (his ways normally consist of bumbling around, screaming, and running), he still pulls through and never abandons his duty. His main duty is normally the distraction (which is why he does a lot of running and such). His bumbling itself is normally distraction enough, but sometimes he comes up with clever (or stupid) ways to distract the bad guys so that Kim can shut down the laser, or deactivate the bomb, or whatever. Like Ron Weasley, he serves as a main source of comic relief (along with his pet naked mole rat, Rufus). There's a lot of running gags associated with him such as he often loses his pants (it becomes such a common occurrence that he is no longer embarrassed by it and it becomes known as "The Pants Thing"), or his many phobias (such as monkeys, bugs, garden gnomes, or mechanical horses, to name a few. All mostly stemming from his traumatizing summer camp experience as a child at Camp Wannaweep), or the villains can never remember his name, often referring to him as "that guy" or "the sidekick" or "the buffoon" (Monkey Fist is the only villain to ever remember his name, which Ron openly respects him for). He's the inventor of the "Naco" (half nacho-half taco) at his favorite fast food restaurant, Bueno Nacho and even temporarily became a millionaire from its royalties. Also like Ron Weasley, he serves as a foil for the protagonist, opposing Kim's drive and competitiveness with his laid-back personality. He faces a lot of the same insecurities and issues as Ron Weasley does, but most of them are played off in a more comical tone than in the HP series.
I've come to realize where I've picked up some of my speech patterns from though. Yeah, from dis guy. "Ow! The hot steamy badness!" or "The thorns! They hurt with the poking!". I've still yet to figure out if I got the pronouncing-words-like-they're-spelled from a TV show.

FAVORITE QUOTES:
Ron: This is the cafeteria, where I'm told you can find a nutritious, hot meal. I haven't yet, but your mileage may vary.

Kim: (catching Bonnie and Ron kissing) WHAT. IS. THE. SITCH!?!!
Ron: Hey, I was the kissee here, not the kisser!

Ron: 'Scuse me, scary orb thing? Where are you taking us?
Robot: The attitude adjustment center.
Kim: (looking ahead) Isn't that the high school?
Robot: Prepare to be drained of all individuality and spirit.
Ron: Yep, high school.

Shego: Where's Possible?
Ron: (shouts) She's not my girlfriend!
Shego: Whoa there, never said she was.
Ron: Oooooh, right... (laughs nervously) ...awkward.

Ron: Aw, Fuji. Why is it ALWAYS monkeys? Why can't I ever be attacked by crazed super models?

Kim: You do know what happens in February, don't you Ron?
Ron: Groundhog Day? Presidents Day? Dental Health Month! Ooh, that reminds me. (pulls toothbrush out of his pocket) Happy Dental Health Month, KP.
Kim: Valentine's Day.
Ron: Oh, I don't celebrate. You know I never had a girlfriend... (realizes) Holy canoli! I have a girlfriend on Valentine's Day!

(Giant monkey roars in Ron's face)
Ron: Dude, personal space.
Preteen Ron: Future me isn't afraid of monkeys. I get brave!

Toddler Ron: Leave her alone! It's her turn. Taking turns is the basic foundation of preschool. The jungle-law of daycare is behind us. We have structure! We have rules!

Ron: (after Bueno Nacho is destroyed) Why is it never Cow n' Chow?

(After dropping into a tank of sharks)
Ron: Why is it never otters? I wouldn't mind dropping into a tank of otters. They're fun!

Ron: Taking over the world is one thing, but you ruined Bueno Nacho. You're gonna pay. 

Dr. Drakken: You can't be serious. 

Ron: (scowling) Note serious face. 

Dr. Drakken: Please, have mercy, uh - the name escapes me - oh, I beg of you! 

Ron: Say my name. SAY IT! 

Dr. Drakken: It's... uh, er... Stoppable! 

(crack of thunder) 

Ron: (quietly) Boo-yah.

Stoppable and Rufus. And Weasley and Scabbers.

Not the best outfits for their formal dances. Though Stoppable is a bit
less ashamed of his apparel.

From friend-zoned to BF

The protagonist's school rival (Bonnie Rockwaller and Draco Malfoy) almost 
seems to pick on their rival's friends more than their actual rivals sometimes.

Once they actually try out for a sport (Quidditch and Football
respectively), they are both quite good.