Arson, Murder, and Lifesaving/Playing With
Basic Trope: A character is chewed out by a superior, but at the end they reveal that they did some good.
- Straight: "Bob, you destroyed the public library and let three drug-smugglers go free, but thanks to you, the mayor's daughter is safe, so I guess I can't fire you."
- Exaggerated: "Bob, you obliterated three cities and allowed seven of the FBI's 10 Most Wanted to escape, but the mayor's daughter will most likely live, so I guess I can't fire you."
- Up to Eleven: "Bob, you just destroyed half of the universe and released a prison of crazy serial killers, but the mayor's daughter is safe, so I can't fire you."
- Justified: The purpose of the mission was to save the mayor's daughter, so Bob technically did what he was required to do.
- "You risked many lives just to save one. I guess you showed us what it truly means to be an officer."
- Inverted: "Bob, I'm glad you avoided collateral damage and caught the bad guys, but the mayor's daughter died in the chaos, so I'm going to need you to turn in your badge."
- Subverted: "You destroyed the public library and let three drug-smugglers go free. Turn in your badge."
- Double Subverted: "At least, that's what I should be saying, but the mayor went to bat for you after you saved his daughter, so I guess I can't fire you."
- Zig Zagged: "...But I don't answer to the mayor, so you've got 30 minutes to clean out your desk."
- Parodied: "Bob, you leveled the city, killed thousands of people, destroyed seven national landmarks, and got me a doughnut. I think someone's up for a promotion!"
- Averted:
- No collateral damage was caused.
- Or the mission went perfectly.
- Enforced: The executives want to keep this Cash Cow Franchise going, so they prevent the screenwriters from firing the hero.
- Lampshaded: "Phew! For a second there, I really thought you were going to fire me!"
- Invoked: Bob is about to be fired, but brings up the point that he saved the mayor's daughter. The chief concedes Bob's argument, and allows him to keep his job.
- Exploited: Bob knows that, as long as he does some good, he won't get in trouble, so he does whatever he feels like.
- Defied: "Listen, I don't give a damn that you saved the mayor's daughter! You destroyed a building and you didn't catch your man! You're fired!"
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
Alright, troper, you ruined an examples page and allowed misspelling on a Useful Notes page. But the Arson, Murder, and Lifesaving page is still intact, so I guess you're alright.