Dirty Coward: Difference between revisions

Though the '''Dirty Coward''' may be a sociopath, he's not nearly as cool as the [[Sociopathic Hero]] (nor as funny as the [[Comedic Sociopath]]), and if he's a bastard, he's not [[Magnificent Bastard|magnificent]]. The '''Dirty Coward''' is the slime of the earth, working exclusively for himself and shamelessly [[Cower Power|removing himself from harm's way]] even if that harm was about to hit [[The Messiah]] that [[A Friend in Need|just saved his life two seconds ago]]. He'll take every advantage and [[Combat Pragmatist|use every dirty trick]], but cry and [[It's All About Me|moan every time the tables are turned]]. He's not above using dishonorable tactics and will face defeat like a coward. He is often full of vicious plans for anyone he dislikes, until someone asks [[Who Will Bell the Cat?]].

Even the cleverest '''Dirty Coward''' tends to be short-sighted. Even knowing that if he breaks ranks, he will leave a hole in the defenses that will let the enemy in, leading to far more danger for him, he will generally run (and get shot [[In the Back]]). Or he will badmouth people to their faces, when they can not immediately hurt him, to curry favor with someone who can, even if the latter threat is obviously less in the long run. Dirty Cowards are especially prone to suffering a [[Karmic Death]], usually at the hands of whatever he was trying to run from.

Usually a villain unless [[Played for Laughs|used comically]], although they may sometimes be a certain type of civilian [[Dying Like Animals|that gets in the way]], a [[Designated Hero]], or a character that's supposed to be a loveable coward but comes off as more slimy than funny, the dirty coward may or may not have [[Freudian Excuse|a horrific past to explain his actions]], but it doesn't usually redeem him, at least not in the minds of the audience. When his story doesn't do it for the audience but convinces the hero, it causes a [[Writer Cop Out|major cop-out]]. Unlike most villains, the dirty coward [[Smug Snake|doesn't even have finesse]], which can annoy the audience. The best way to make this character tolerable is to make him at least clever. Some enlightened self-interest can occasionally be mixed in, although much of it means that he's no longer the '''Dirty Coward'''. Often, when used as a villain, this is a cheap way to make the heroes look good in comparison, even if they're not [[Designated Hero|everything they should be]]. Villainous '''Dirty Cowards''' tend to fall squarely into [[Neutral Evil]], since they are first and foremost out for their own hides at the expense of others, though it's not too uncommon for certain villains of other evil alignments to display this streak when they come across someone who they cannot deal with by their usual tactics.

The '''Dirty Coward''' is pretty much [[Always Male]], for the [[Unfortunate Implications|dubious reason]] that [[Stay in the Kitchen|women aren't expected to be brave in the first place]], and [[Men Are the Expendable Gender|are allowed to sacrifice others to save themselves]]. As [[Action Girl]]s become increasingly unremarkable, this may start to change in the near future.