Cower Power: Difference between revisions

It's only natural to cower in the face of danger<ref>this is actually a survival mechanism, which works for small animals because many of the larger animals that eat them can see motion really well, but have trouble spotting stationary things. Some animals, like humans and eagles, have good enough eyesight that they may be able to spot the "frozen" animal anyway, though it's still easier to spot something that's moving. Others don't even ''rely'' on eyesight, utilizing other senses such as smell or heat-sensing instead. Still, you'd be surprised how well this trick can work... for smaller animals, anyways. For larger creatures like humans, it's mostly an evolutionary holdover, though it might still work on occasion</ref>. As such, many a classic [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]] and fearful child will cower behind the nearest [[Love Interest]], parent, or [[Big Damn Heroes]] when presented with peril. Of course, most conscientious heroes and even [[Innocent Bystanders]] will naturally interpose themselves anyway to protect other innocents (and [[The Worf Effect|perhaps]] [[Foe-Tossing Charge|pointlessly]], but they do get props for chivalry). This kind of cowering stems from the classic pose of hero and heroine facing a monster on [[Film Posters]] for [[Touch of the Monster]]: the hero has a gun in his right hand pointed at the beast, his left hand holding the [[Love Interest]] back (what, he can't be left-handed?), while [[Security Cling|she clutches his shoulder]] with one hand and covers her mouth from shock with the other.

Sometimes this is used for comedic effect, with a hero who is [[Afraid of Needles]] reacting with complete terror to mundane things, sometimes even jumping into his [[Sidekick]]'s arms or ducking behind his [[Love Interest]] like a [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]]. The [[Fish Out of Water]] might hide from otherwise harmless things too (and notice who/what they're hiding behind looks far more threatening).