I think most people know how I feel about Merida. I quite like Astrid though.

By far! I dislike Astrid in the original, perhaps the sequel will change my mind about her but I don't know yet.

I lot of people don't like her, but I think she's great.

Both!

I'm not exactly a fan of Astrid...

Actually, I like every other heroine more than Astrid.
Merida is cool and a way better charcter.

I don't like Astrid that much in the original movie.

Well, it depends on which Astrid. I like second movie Astrid, I'm neutral towards/dislike Merida (depending on mood), and hate first movie Astrid.

I love Merida, she's my girl. I can't stand Astrid, though. She's bitchy and shallow.

^

While I think Brenda Chapman definitely intended Merida to come off the same way Astrid or Maria from TBOL and such do, her having so many damsel moments and apologizing at the end make her stand out.

astrid just strikes me as more the typical action girl/strong female character template, which bugs me as a trope fundamentally but also it's so played out. most animated movies have an astrid and they're mostly interchangeable.

merida has a similar vibe, but there's also some vulnerability to her and the movie doesn't constantly frame her willfulness as a great thing.