Elfen Lied/Awesome


 * After Nana is literally torn apart by Lucy, Kurama, not knowing Nana has disabled Lucy's vectors, punches Lucy in the face, fully expecting to die and not caring because of how precious Nana is to him.
 * When Mayu gets a new home, a birthday cake, and her dog back in the space of a few panels.
 * Nozomi, grateful for Kouta keeping a secret for her, takes a Yuka-blow the Tsundere meant for Kouta.
 * Nana is badly outclassed by Mariko, and becomes a plaything to the cruel little girl---until Mariko hears Nana call for her 'Papa' Kurama, mocking Nana for this and threatening her 'Papa' (who is really Mariko's Papa) Enraged, Nana literally pulls herself together, slapping Mariko around and disabling her vectors when she won't apologize for her threats.
 * Mariko, realizing that her father always loved her, urges Nana to take care of him and fights Lucy to the death. Badly beaten, she grasps Lucy's legs before being beheaded, just so the bombs in her body will also take Lucy out when they go off.
 * Despite being overwhelmed by and badly frightened by the vicious pedophilic Unknown Man, Mayu fights off memories of her stepfather's rape and keeps the monster busy just long enough to call...
 * Bando, who kicks this guy's ass and keeps on kicking it even when hit with a spiked poisoned ball--which he then takes out of his own body and
 * In a subsequent beach battle with Lucy, Bando shows several good tricks, including the ability to dodge Lucy's vectors. Then when Lucy tries to kill Mayu, Bando takes the blow instead, getting split in half while still taking off Lucy's horns.
 * During the invasion of Maple House, Kouta is as overwhelmed as anyone else, till he sees Mayu's dog Wanta get batted back by one of the soldiers. This so enrages him, he seizes a gun and takes Nousou, the leader of the force, hostage. When Nousou taunts him that Kouta wouldn't kill him, Kouta agrees--and threatens to blow his jaw off instead...
 * This ends up getting him shot, which enrages Nyuu--not Lucy--into being able to use her vectors. She tears apart the invasion force, her horns now immense, doing so not for sadistic fun, but to defend her family. Afterward Lucy does wake up again and urges Nana to take care of them as she departs Maple House for the final time. Nyuu shows this badassery again when she
 * When Barbara, one of the  pursues Nana for the 'crime' of living in peace with Humans, Nana is able to kick her butt all over town--till Kurama is taken hostage. Kurama gets his own again when he emerges from a months-log mental fog to kill Barbara to protect Nana.
 * Lucy using her powers to brutally execute her tormentors. While it was a Start of Darkness, watching the little monsters finally get their long overdue comeuppance (and the ringleader's fear just before dying) was infinitely satisfying
 * Bando says he owes Mayu a kill for saving his life, then changes his tune when he realizes Mayu knows where Nyu is and starts beating her. Mayu pulls out his phone number, asks him to help her stop the big guy who's beating on him, and says he's not much of a man. Even Bando realizes that she's dead on the money and lets her go. Let's repeat: a fourteen-year-old Heartwarming Orphan has more balls than the Rated M for Manly Psycho for Hire who's out for blood.
 * In the anime, Kurama deserves a mention, along with.
 * On that note, Lucy's.
 * Lucy and Bando's fight in episode 2. Bando figures out he just needs to stay at least two meters back, and Lucy's vectors can't reach him. Cue Lucy throwing a boat at him.
 * Episode 8, when
 * Lest we forget the manga, which had several:, or  . Moments like those carry extra weight, considering it was extremely likely that things would've ended on far nastier terms.
 * Kouta gets several as well, including  Also combined with Crowning Moment of Heartwarming the several times he takes one of the girls into his house and makes them part of his family with barely any hesitation, just because they need someone to care.
 * Near the end of the manga:
 * Nana's first realization of the advantage having a full set of artificial limbs gives her. Namely, being able to literally throw her arms and legs at an enemy using her vectors.
 * Chapter 63, even better with Tchaikovsky as background music.
 * Almost anything Lucy does that isn't totally horrific or undeserved could be this for her.