Heartbroken Badass: Difference between revisions

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Sometimes a [[Badass]], usually [[The Lancer]] (though not necessarily), falls head over heels in love. Usually, the lucky one is a sweet girl who may be just a little naive (perhaps a [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]], a [[Yamato Nadeshiko]], [[Proper Lady]] an [[Ojou]] or is a [[Defrosting Ice Queen]]).

* Happens with alarming frequency to Joe Asakura in ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (Anime)|Gatchaman]]'' / ''[[Battle of the Planets]]''.

* In ''[[Pokémon (Animeanime)|Pokémon]]'' the most notable example is when Ash's Grovyle fell in love but was rejected; he had a [[Heroic BSOD]] just after. [[It Got Worse]], as he evolved into Sceptile immediately afterward, and the shock of rejection made him unable to use his attacks!

* All the women [[Black Jack (Manga)|Black Jack]]’s even come close to loving at this point have been already married, enveloped in their careers or {{spoiler|more or less turned into a man}}.

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' has {{spoiler|Yami, after Yugi's soul is taken }} in the second half of season 4 (Atlantis/Doma arc)

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5 Ds5D's|Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's]]'' has Jack Atlus falling in love with Carly, which leads to problems when {{spoiler|she is killed and revived as a Dark Signer, one of the people Jack is meant to fight against. And then she dies in his arms. And gets better.}}.

* Guts from ''[[Berserk]]'' fits this ''big time''. The romance that he had with Casca was cut tragically short by Griffith's actions during the Eclipse, which served to drive her completely insane. Casca's unfortunate condition has completely deprived Guts of the affection he wants from her so badly. And even worse, ever since {{spoiler|[[Super -Powered Evil Side|his personal Beast]] [[Near -Rape Experience|almost got him to rape her]]}}, she wants nothing to do with him anymore, which only further frustrates him. Still, this might change if the [[Find the Cure|quest to Elfhelm]] is successful. In the meantime, all that Guts really has left to hang onto are [[Tear Jerker|the memories from the old days.]]

* The first time we actually get to see [[Lupin the ThirdIII|Jigen]] have a life, and she turns out to be a [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing]] {{spoiler|using Jigen to get rid of Lupin}}. Jigen gets over it pretty quickly though.

* Shizuo Heiwajima of ''[[Durarara!!]]'' learned the hard way that [[Precocious Crush|schoolboy crushes]] and [[Hair -Trigger Temper|uncontrollable rage disorders]] [http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww262/CapZiggy/hescrewedup.jpg do not mix]. In his words, "[[Understatement|I screwed up.]]"

* [[Rurouni Kenshin|Kenshin ]] in the first OVA. Especially the fact that {{spoiler|he inadvertently killed Tomoe.}}

* Kazuma Yagami of ''[[Kaze no Stigma (Light Novel)|Kaze no Stigma]]''.

* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Anime)|Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'', Homura {{spoiler|was originally a [[Moe Moe]] [[Shrinking Violet]] with [[Friendless Background|no friends]]. Then she met [[Les Yay|Madoka]], who [[Because You Were Nice to Me|showed her kindness]] and became her [[Only Friend]]. So, when Madoka ultimately ended up dying to defeat Walpurgis, Homura became a [[Magical Girl]] to turn back time and protect her. The more times she is forced to turn back time, the more determined she becomes that Madoka not die this time, and the more badass she is}}.

* Issei Hyoudou in ''[[High School DXDDxD]]'' when it's revealed that {{spoiler|his heart was still broken when his ex-girlfriend killed him on his first date with her back in volume 1. It took him 6 months (9 volumes in [[Real Life]]) to even be able to move on and confess to Rias.}}

* [[Batman (Comic Book)|Bruce Wayne/Batman]], often. Most notably in ''[[The Dark Knight]]''.

* Hamato Yoshi of the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' in various continuities, including the [[TMNTTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003|second animated series]].

* [[Spider-Man]] lost Gwen Stacy to the Green Goblin. It's one of the most iconic moments in his history but damn, poor Peter. Meanwhile, in stories set in the [[Future/Alternate Universe|Alternate Universes]]/[[What If|What Ifs]]s, it’s common for his most famous love interest, Mary Jane Watson, to die or disappear.

* Cyclops from ''[[X-Men]]'' has lost Jean ''twice''. He's often [[Mis-blamedMisblamed]] for her loss the second time around.

* [[Spawn]]. He made a [[Deal Withwith the Devil]] just so he could go back to earth to see his wife Wanda again, and what does he get to see? {{spoiler|Wanda - happily married to his best friend in life and with a daughter.}} Ouch.

* Mina Harker, in ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Filmfilm)|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', turns into one of these after she revives her old romance with [[The Mole]] only to have him show his [[True Colors]] and take off.

* [[James Bond (Filmfilm)|James Bond]] in ''[[Quantum of Solace (Film)|Quantum of Solace]]'', following on from the events of ''[[Casino Royale (Film)|Casino Royale]]'', as well as in ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]''.

* [[Mad Max (Film)|Mad Max]], full stop.

* [[Star Wars|Darth Vader]] is revealed to be this trope. Sure he was pretty badass in the Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker, but as soon as his wife died, well, ''[[The Empire Strikes Back (Film)|The Empire Strikes Back]]'' and ''[[A New Hope (Film)|A New Hope]]'' can testify to just how more threatening he became.

* The titular character from ''[[The Outlaw Josey Wales]]'' starts out as this, though he later evolves into a [[Bruiser Withwith a Soft Center]], as well as the [[Team Dad]].

* In ''[[Zombieland (Film)|Zombieland]]'', it's revealed {{spoiler|Buck, Tallahassee's beloved puppy was actually his beloved son that he lost during the [[Zombie Apocalypse]]. This at least explains why he takes particular pleasure in killing zombies.}}

* F. Scott Fitzgerald's ''[[The Great Gatsby]]'': Jay Gatsby, a genius from a humble background who, after returning from WWI to find his teenage crush married to a wealthier and hunkier man, turns himself into the richest and most popular playboy-gangster around. But of course, all he ever wanted was ''her''.

* Since [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[The Dark Tower]]'' contains pretty much every other [[Badass]]-related trope, it's not entirely surprising that they've got this one as well. Most of ''Wizard and Glass'' is spent exploring Roland's [[Heartbroken Badass]] past.

* Sir Pelleas in ''[[Le Morte Darthur (Literature)d'Arthur|Le Morte Darthur]]''. Sir Gawain promises to help him win the heart of Ettarde, who finds him weak and doesn't return his feelings. Upon meeting her, Sir Gawain forgets his vow to Pelleas and ends up falling in love with her. Some time later, Pelleas comes across the two sleeping together and he struggles with himself whether to kill them. He decides against it and goes off, heartbroken. It's also implied that he subsequently becomes the Red Knight of the North, who ends up horribly mutilating a peasant, among other things.

* Surprisingly, Nick Chopper in ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Literature)|The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''. He's by far the best fighter in the party, and positively deadly with the axe when Baum still had death as part of Oz. Still, the whole reason he wants a heart? He wants to return to his girlfriend and be a proper husband for her. When he ''does'' find her again? It doesn't end well for Nick. One of his live-action counterparts had equally bad luck.

* In Ed McBain's [[Eighty Seventh87th Precinct]] novel ''Lady, Lady I Did It!'' Bert Kling is completely broken by {{spoiler|murder of his girlfriend Claire Townsend}}. It turns him not only to mere [[Heartbroken Badass]], but to real [[Bad Cop/, Incompetent Cop|Incompetent Cop]]. Despite of his recovery from this, McBain have made him constantly heartbroken because of {{spoiler|he is repeatedly kicked, cheated and betrayed by his girlfriends and wives}}.

* [[Vampire Hunter]] Aeneas in [[Midnight World]], after losing his wife. It took him more than 2 months to recover from [[Heroic BSOD]], and 2 years to start a new romance... which caused a new heartbreak.

** This happens often to Harry, Susan being the cause on at least on occasion.

* The Doctor from ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' can fall into this. His longevity and lifestyle means that he manages to out live most of his friends, family and loved ones. Although he rarely breaks down visibly, many an episode has ended with him standing in the TARDIS, alone, the pain clearly on his face.

* Most of the cast of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' could sometimes or often be described as a heartbroken [[Badass]], including Buffy, Angel, Spike, Willow, Anya, and Giles. Some of them suffered [[Badass Decay]] as a result, especially Spike and Angel.

** And let's not forget Mr. Wyndam-Pryce. He was heartbroken before he [[Took a Level Inin Badass]], but every appearance of his in Angel's fourth season just SCREAMS [[Heartbroken Badass]].

* Sayid Jarrah of ''[[Lost]]'', particularly in the episode 'Sundown'.

* Wyatt freakin' Cain from ''[[Tin Man (TV series)|Tin Man]]'' - like his metallic counterpart in the literature section, he's arguably the best fighter in the party (though Glitch can be pretty scary if he sets his half a mind to doing so), but he's pretty much a broken man at the start, having endured ''eight years'' of being [[Forced to Watch]] a holographic playback of his wife and son being tortured and drug away by the Sorceress's [[Mooks]].

* Jen in ''[[Power Rangers Time Force]]'' seeing her boyfriend being killed before her very eyes, causing her to become [[The Stoic]] and disapproving of Wes who [[Identical Grandson|physically resembles]] Alex.

* Marcus Cole and Lennier in [[Babylon Five5]].

* Any of the love interests from ''[[Mass Effect]]'' go through this in the timeskip between [[ME 1]] and [[MEMass Effect 2]] (or even during, in Liara's case) after Shepard's death (s/he gets better). Shepard and Liara dealing with this trope is a significant aspect of the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC if that relationship exists. {{spoiler|And Liara takes this trope to its ultimate conclusion when she obliterates the Shadow Broker with extreme prejudice at the end of the DLC...}}

* Kain Highwind from ''[[Final Fantasy IV (Video Game)|Final Fantasy IV]]''; with Porom's "Cry" augment.

** [[Spoony Bard|Edward]] from ''[[Final Fantasy IV: theThe After Years]]'' continues to grieve over his dead girlfriend Anna while he handles almost every threat harming his castle and people when he's at it. [[Took a Level Inin Badass|He just got that better.]]

* Vincent Valentine from ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]''.

* Locke and Cyan from ''[[Final Fantasy VI (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VI]]'' (Fiancée killed by [[The Empire]], wife and son poisoned by the same, respectively), [[Black Magician Girl|Lulu]] from ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'' (boyfriend killed by the local [[Eldritch Abomination]]), Ashe from ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]'' (widowed by [[The Empire]]), in each case, the death of their loved one serves as their motivation to go after the Big Bad (Ashe comes pretty close to {{spoiler|starting a genocide against the Empire}}).

* Kratos Aurion and Regal Bryant from ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'', both of whom have {{spoiler|unintentionally killed their lovers}}. Kratos had the added layer of {{spoiler|thinking his son was dead}}, until he meets up with your party.

* Yuri Lowell from ''[[Tales of Vesperia (Video Game)|Tales of Vesperia]]'' also has shades of this when faced with {{spoiler|the possibility that he will likely have to kill [[Like Brother and Sister|Estelle]] for the greater good}}.

{{quote| <small>"This isn't happening! There's no reason for me to go on! What...what am [[Narm|I FIGHTING FOOOOOOOOOOOOOR?!]]</small>}}

* Johnny Vincent of ''[[Bully (Videovideo Gamegame)|Bully]]''. For some inexplicable reason, he's head over heals for Lola, and even he admits what a slut she is.

* In ''[[Dragon Age]]: Origins'', if the Warden romances [[Career Killers|Zevran]] and then {{spoiler|dies fighting the Archdemon}}, the epilogue shows him becoming one of these.

* Elc from ''[[Arc the Lad (Video Game)|Arc the Lad]] II'': after what happens {{spoiler|to his first love}}, it is no wonder he chooses to side with internationally wanted terrorists

* The Xeno series has a lot of them: the most famous are Fei in ''[[Xenogears (Video Game)|Xenogears]]'', {{spoiler|watching his loved one getting killed ''repeatedly'' throught the centuries did not help his mental stability}}, Shion, Junior and Ziggy in ''[[Xenosaga (Video Game)|Xenosaga]]''. And, of course, thanks to a couple of [[Crazy Awesome]] scenes in the end of the third game, {{spoiler|Allen, of all people, proves to be one of them.}}

* Flint from [[MOTHERMother 3]] when {{spoiler|his wife is murdered by a robotic dinosaur and his son goes missing. His single-minded quest to find the latter causes him to neglect his surviving child.}}

** And if you were thinking that things would get better for the two in [[Mortal Kombat 9 (Video Game)|the reboot]], [[Yank the DogsDog's Chain|guess again]]. Here, {{spoiler|it goes in reverse. Their sexual chemistry was going smoothly until--after a long chain of events culminating in Raiden killing Motaro to save Johnny Cage, [[Godzilla Threshold|forcing]] [[Big Bad|Shao Kahn]] to empower Sindel (Kitana's [[Hot Mom|mother]], [[Brainwashed and Crazy|unwillingly serving the emperor]]) with Shang Tsung's soul)--Sindel ''[[Kill 'Em All|kills most of]] [[Big Good|Raiden's]] [[The Chosen Many|chosen warriors]]''. Kitana is one of the few immediate survivors, but succumbs to her wounds and [[Died in Your Arms Tonight|dies in Liu Kang's arms]] wishing that she and her lover could have met under different circumstances. This ultimately shakes Liu Kang's faith in his [[Mentors]] Raiden, and eventually gets him killed as well when Raiden accidently fires him in self-defense when trying to stop him from facing down Shao Kahn at endgame.}} [[Star -Crossed Lovers|One would think that fate has it in for this couple]].

* In [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Franchise)|Sonic the Hedgehog]], Sonic's darker counterpart Shadow the Hedgehog lost his surrogate-sister Maria during a raid of his home on the Space Colony ARK. He spends about three games dwelling on it before deciding to let it go by his most recent appearances.

[[Category:Heartbroken Badass{{PAGENAME}}]]