Ok, try not to jump down my throat on this one. Yes I'm writing a post on a character, which I've never done before. Yes I plan to do it more often. Yes I've chosen to do a children's character. Yes, he's cartoon. Yes, his name really is Ferb. No, I'm not sorry.
Though perhaps not what we mature "older people" would call 'deep', I've chosen to do Ferb because I'm lying sick in bed, bored because Netflix ran out of good movies and wishing I could watch P&F with Genna, because I feel like an idiot being 16 and watching it by myself.
I have also chosen to do Ferb because, out of the characters in this marvelously animated TV show, Ferb is the one with what I think can be called character depth. For a kids show, they all have a remarkable range of emotions, but I think that Ferb's lack of this exact quality speaks volumes, which is saying something because he usually says an average of 8-20 words per 22 minutes.
So how is this depth, you ask? Why should Ferb be the interesting one when Phineas is the one who does just about everything!!! Why ever prefer Ferb to Phineas? After all, Phineas is a good, all american boy who's got a great mind, creativity, a knack for building things, a big heart and a pretty good singing voice too. And Isabella likes him, that's a good sign, right?
While Phineas is very likable indeed, I seemed to gravitate towards Ferb ever since I saw my first episode. Maybe it was because he has a British accent. But it's time to evaluate. No need to stick with me since I'm not posting this anyway.
#1: Appearance:
Ferb has, as seen above, green hair, mismatched eyes, a huge nose, prominent upper lip and a yellow dress shirt with high waisted purple pants. Yeah, he does look a little ridiculous if you look too hard, so try not to. The thing about Ferb, is that he changes his clothes a lot. No more than Phineas, admittedly, but somehow, Phineas always remains looking like a the boy he is. Ferb seems to pull off just about anything, even if Phineas looks even worse in whatever costume they've donned for the episode.
Let's just admit how fantastic he looks with black hair in that last pic, hm?
So Ferb is basically a good looking guy (as the TV show goes - I can hear you now 'If that's good looking, I don't want to see what the ugly ones look like'. And you don't. But don't you think he looks pretty good in that white tux?)
Now we've got the shallow part over with, on to bigger and better!
Just kidding. His eyebrows are killing me.
Aaaaaaand one more for my sake:
And yeah. Just because.
Now for real, I promise! Let's have a look at his character now, by studying what he does in the series.
#2 Character
. As opposed to Phineas, who babbles on and on and on about basically anything you'll give him cause to talk about, Ferb doesn't speak unless he has something very important to say, and when he does it is usually either a deep insight into life or a trivia fact that shows off how wicked smart he is. Ferb, as described by Phineas in the very first episode, is "more of a man of action".
And it seems so, because while Phineas' creativity and leadership directs his stepbrother and the Fireside girls what to do, it becomes noticeable after not too many episodes that Ferb does all of the heavy lifting. You can say that Phineas helps, of course, because he does, but Ferb is always the one to man the machines, press the button, carry the supplies to be ready at a moments notice. He runs errands for Phineas and built the rollercoaster in the backyard almost singlehandedly while Phineas...you know, I don't even remember what Phineas was doing. But he wasn't exactly helping with the actual building. Ferb is handy with tools, it is clear, and is a master of construction. The reason that the show is called "Phineas and Ferb" and not just "Phineas" is because, as shaded to the background as Ferb may be, he is necessary to complete the tasks because he is just so good at what he does.
Ferb is not an emotional person by nature, probably because he's British. He rarely smiles or reveals any other facial expression, but when he does you know he really IS feeling it. One of the reasons I like Ferb is for that very reason: while the other characters are your average American show-your-feelings-to-the-world, Ferb much more closely resembles his pet Perry the Platypus, who tends to roll his eyes or cock an eyebrow as opposed to shouting or using words when angry. Ferb seems to have a very even temperament, because even when Phineas is angry, (Phineas has shouted at both Candace and Perry, Mission Marvel and Across the 2nd Dimension, and probably more but I can't remember) Ferb seems to regain control. He ignores Candace's plea to him rather than shouts at her (though this could be merely because he is focused on fixing a superhero suit), and actually tries to restrain Phineas' anger at Perry. Ferb feels he has the best of both worlds as a British-American (My Fair Goalie) and is happy with his life, even if he doesn't show it on his face. He never gets angry when Phineas' absentmindedness physically harms him on two occasions, either. The only time two times Ferb is shown to get irritated are when Phineas and Isabella give up the search for their lost lizard (which prompts Ferb's longest line, a shortened rendition of a Henry V speech) and in "The Beak" where Phineas and Isabella congratulate each other on their bravery and waltz off in the parade, leaving Ferb, who manned the legs of the suit and eventually the whole suit when Phineas goes AWOL to save Isabella, with an annoyed "Um, hello?! Entire lower half of an amazing superhero here!" No one hears him, however, and he shrugs it off with a "I guess there's no glory in thighs" and follows in the wake of the parade.
Ferb's maturity seems to outrank Phineas', which points to him probably being a little bit older (probably between 10 or 12). Indeed, while Phineas seems blissfully ignorant of Isabella's crush on him, Ferb knows and sees all and, though sometimes a bit ignorant himself when tagging along on what Isabella wanted to be a sort of date, is generally very kind to Isabella and good friends with her; walking away to leave the two alone, helps plan a nice evening for the two on Isabella's birthday, listens to her woe and lends her a hanky. Isabella, to my chagrin, rarely even says 'hi' to Ferb, and I am impressed by Ferb's continuing generosity to her when she ignores him for the most part. Ferb also gives advice to a grumpy Vanessa about love that mends her relationship with her father, and saves Candace several times. He lets Baljeet win a video game so that he won't feel bad, and generally supports helping anyone that needs him and his stepbrother.
Speaking of Vanessa, Ferb is definitely human since he has a crush on her and risks much to help her with little things. Vanessa, for reasons unbeknownst to me, likes some goody-two shoes instead. I hope that will change in later seasons, when their age gap isn't such a hurdle.
This goes to show that Ferb isn't perfect. He messes up the blueprints because he's mesmerized by Vanessa in the shop, he calls himself "weak" for liking her in the first place, and he has a taste for showing off a bit, perhaps because he doesn't talk much. Phineas also has this, though in a lesser quantity as he tells Candace that they build things for fun, while Ferb pipes in with a smexy "And for the ladies". Perhaps he does consider himself a bit of a ladies man, as he gives Isabella a wink when it is revealed that she will marry either him or Phineas (though he could just be teasing her, as no other evidence supports the theories that he likes her in any other way than friendship) and he backs up the spaceship he built to check out Vanessa with a "cool" look and a song in the background about her "digging his ride". So Ferb isn't perfect, but he's definitely charming.
#3 Skills.
Basically, Ferb can do anything. He's the champion at things like halfpipe and video games, and as I said before he can build anything. He can also sing in several keys, rap, and play at least 9 instruments, probably more. He is also a good dancer, as seen in "Nerdy Dancing". Ferb also speaks in several languages, including Japanese, Dolphin and Martian, and, as Phineas comments proudly in their day trip around the world: "No matter where we go, everybody knows Ferb!". He is pretty much exactly the kind of friend you would like to have.
Ferb rocks.
-Rhian
Ohh, did I mention that his voice actor is the only actor under 30 I'm attracted to?
Yup. He even looks like Ferb, in his own right.
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