Knight in Sour Armor: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"[[Ernest Hemingway]] once wrote, 'The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part."''|'''William Somerset''', ''[[Se7en]]''}}

The world is filled with idealists who believe in [[Lawful Good|truth, justice and all that stuff]] and devote their lives to fighting for it. [[Wide -Eyed Idealist|And then the world keeps letting them down.]] For them, [[Being Good Sucks]]. But rather than giving up on their goals, they replace their [[Knight in Shining Armor|shiny armor]] with a full plate of [[Deadpan Snarker|pure]] [[Gallows Humor|cynicism]]. These characters realize they live in a [[Crapsack World|dark, cruel and brutal world]] and choose to fight not because they believe they will truly make a difference, but because it's [[Neutral Good|the right]] [[Chaotic Good|thing to do]]. And they hate themselves for it.

More often than not these characters are in settings that feature [[Black and Gray Morality]]. They're usually [[Shell -Shocked SeniorVeteran|survivors]] who have largely given up on believing in [[Honor Before Reason]], but still strive to be [[Lawful Good]] or as close to it as reality allows them to be. They often fail, but [[Determinator|keep on trying]]. They are willing to bend the rules to save them. In [[Lighter and Softer]] settings, these characters are [[Grumpy Bear|Grumpy Bears]]s and are often mocked by the other characters for being so sour all the time.

The presence of cynicism usually makes the idealistic behavior even more noteworthy: it's easy to [[The Messiah|love everyone]] when [[Rousseau Was Right]], but you really have to be a good guy to believe that [[Humans Are Bastardsthe Real Monsters]] and care about them anyway. Such characters can also be [[The Fettered]]; their cynical outlook tells them they could probably get away with all kinds of things that they don't do because [[What You Are in Thethe Dark|that would be wrong]], and just because the world sucks doesn't mean you need to make it worse. Then again, this kind of character goes great with a world where you [[Earn Your Happy Ending]] after much strife.

This is the inverse of the worldview of most [[Well -Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]]s, especially those who believe that [[Utopia Justifies the Means]]. Extremists or [[Knight Templar|Knights Templar]] may ''believe'' themselves to be this, but their actions are far too extreme. A Knight In Sour Armor believes in the rules and breaks them only when absolutely necessary, which is very rarely; not surprisingly, many have taken a [[Heroic Vow]] related to this behavior. Often has a personal set of rule, trimmed down to those that really ''matter'' in order to minimize conflicts and distractions. Contributes to the Knight's gruff tendencies, since politeness tends to appear a lot further down the priority list than feeding orphans and so on.

Generally, these characters fit one of two personality types. Members of the first type are former [[Wide -Eyed Idealist|Wide Eyed Idealists]] who have come to [[Jade -Colored Glasses|accept]] that their world is on the low end of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]], but who still find something beautiful in their former ideals that they want to hold on to. Those of the second type are born cynics, who would make natural [[Jerkass]] [[Anti -Hero|antiheroes]], but who nevertheless have devoted themselves to a code of honor or fair play. In either case, these people tend to have gone through (often painful) [[Character Development]] in their past, meaning that they are normally older than the average hero.

Either way, however, the effect is basically the same: you have a [[Knight in Shining Armor]] wearing [[Jade -Colored Glasses]]; the difference between the first and second types is which comes first.

These characters show up often in [[Film Noir]] and in [[Low Fantasy]]. Law enforcement is a particularly attractive career, but the [['''Knight in Sour Armor]]''' will usually hold back from becoming a [[Cowboy Cop]]. Very frequently, they end up as [[The Obi -Wan]], a [[Grumpy Bear]] with [[Jade -Colored Glasses]], [[The Last DJ]], or a [[Cool Old Guy]] if they last long enough. As teammates, they are often the [[Sour Supporter]]. They also frequently end up as [[Hero Antagonist|Hero Antagonists]]s and extreme [[The Woobie|Woobies.]] This is often the final state of [[The Atoner]] post [[Heel Face Turn]]. Despite their cynicism, they behave like [[The Anti -Nihilist]]. Compare the [[Iron Woobie]], who takes the [[Being Good Sucks|troubles of a good alignment]] with far less complaint, and the [[Noble Demon]], who will [[Card -Carrying Villain|proudly declare himself evil]], but still finds himself doing good. Converted [[Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids]] or [[Good Is Old -Fashioned]] believers may well find themselves becoming this [[Trope]] if the heroes can pull them round. Compare [[Jerkass Woobie]], a character who spits in the face of the [[Character Alignment|alignment]] chart. Compare [[The Snark Knight]] for the [[Non -Action Guy]] variant.

** When he encouters encounters {{spoiler|Wyald}} he takes him on just for being [[Stupid Evil|a disgusting prick]], not because he has a personal beef with him. You really need to go [[Moral Event Horizon|the extra mile]] to get this response from someone as jaded as Guts.

* Lelouch Lamperouge in ''[[Code Geass]]''. He could have shut out the horrors of the world, but his sense of justice wouldn't let him; in fact, when [[Fate Worse Than Death|forced into a normal life and robbed of his motivation for rebelling]], he [[Can't Stay Normal|still found himself dissatisfied and quickly returned to being Zero]]. Of course, when he starts actually taking the steps necessary to battle a [[World Half Empty]], he falls into the [[Well -Intentioned Extremist|well-intentioned extremism]].

{{quote| '''Jet:''' Betrayal may come easily to women, but men live by iron codes of honor.<br />

'''Faye:''' You really believe that?<br />

** Mustang even more so. He basically IS this trope, along with Hawkeye, Hughes and the rest of his group.

* [[Great Teacher Onizuka|]]: Eikichi Onizuka]] probably has as little a reason as anyone to put up with the students of his class, and by all rights probably should have quit teaching from the very start. The fact that he genuinely cares and believes that students should be able to have fun at school (and he's too stupid to quit) allows him to strive to make school a better place.

* Being a former assassin, the titular character from ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' has a very cynical view of the world. However, he'll seize any opportunity to [[Obfuscating Stupidity|fool around]] and will help [[Wide -Eyed Idealist|Wide Eyed Idealists]] whenever he can.

** As well as Saito Hajime, Kenshin's [[Anti -Hero]] counterpart. Vicious verging on sadistic, believes Kenshin's optimism to be dangerously deluded, yet utterly, utterly relentless in [[Knight Templar|punishing the wicked]] and doing what is right for his country for all that.

* Genjo Sanzo of ''[[Saiyuki]]'' - a chain-smoking, gambling monk with a tragic past who [[Deadpan Snarker|has a smartass comment for every occasion]]. Nevertheless, he still chooses to do the right thing.

* Dr. Tenma from ''[[Monster (Animemanga)|Monster]]'' is of the aforementioned first personality type, whereas Detective Lunge is of the second.

** Should be added that Duo is emotionally the oldest of the Gundam pilots, having had neither training nor shelter, and avoids all forms of idealism, militarism, and even nihilism in favor of a highly pragmatic but strict personal code. He's basically a cynic surrounded by various stripes of romantic. This is often but far from always an advantage.

* Near the end of the 1st season of [[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]] , {{spoiler|Neil Dylandy}} expresses his [[Knight in Sour Armor]] attitude that he has hidden deep inside with these words: "You people, are you satisfied with this world...? I'm not, and I hate it...!" {{spoiler|And right then, he dies.}}

* ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'''s Blue Rose ''hates'' being a corporate sponsored superhero. [[Triple Shifter|She gets little time for herself and her interests]], has to wear an [[Stripperiffic|impractically sexy costume]] in dangerous situations, spout catchphrases she doesn't like, act like an oversexed dominatrix for ratings, and gets chewed out by her boss and sponsors if she doesn't manage this in addition to scoring points for capturing criminals -- whocriminals—who really don't care about the saving lives part so much as they care about their public image. So why does she keep at it?

{{quote| '''Blue Rose:''' I want to save people in trouble. Isn't that enough of a reason? }}

* Homura Akemi from ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Anime)|Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]''. For someone who knows how the [[Crapsack World|world]] works and that with kindness comes naïveté, courage becomes foolhardiness, and dedication has no reward, she has a particularly strong ideal and hope in protecting Madoka, even if it means [[You Are Worth Hell|suffering]] {{spoiler|[[Groundhog Day Loop|an endless recursion of time]]}} for it.

** [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstructed]], however, with Sayaka Miki. After learning {{spoiler|the first}} [[Awful Truth]] of becoming a [[Magical Girl]] and having a heart-to-heart with Kyouko who tells her that she is better off battling witches for her own rewards than to protect others, she still chooses to continue to stay a hero. However, {{spoiler|when her [[Locked Out of the Loop]] friend Hitomi admits to having also been in love with Kyosuke and gives her a day to admit her feelings, which she can't due to the nature of the truth}}, her ideals begin to gradually shift more and more until {{spoiler|she becomes a [[Tragic Monster|witch]] [[Despair Event Horizon|herself]].}}

* In ''[[Naruto]]'', {{spoiler|Itachi seems to be one of these, as revealed by his comments after he is brought [[Back Fromfrom the Dead]]. Despite all the [[Dirty Business|terrible things he has been forced to do]], he still believes in the ideal of the Will of Fire, and considers himself a shinobi of Konoha.}}

** ''Batman Begins''' depiction of Gordon borrows a lot, including his fitting this trope, from ''[[Batman: Year One]]''.

* [[Hellblazer (Comic Book)|John Constantine]]. He doesn't just ''think'' the world is half empty -- heempty—he knows for a fact that the universe is [[God Is Evil|run by jerks]]. And yet he still stands up for the little people against the forces of heaven and hell. Why? Because somebody has to. A quote is needed;

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130603223002/http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=3429 Elizabeth Rose] is a possible saviour of Junessa, yet tends to think of the world around her in a negative light.

* The [[Marvel Universe|universe]] (particularly the [[Ultimate Marvel|Ultimate universe]]) loves to kick [[Spider -Man]] in the nuts when he's down, and he's quick to point out that [[No Good Deed Goes Unpunished]], but Lord bless him, he keeps on keeping on.

* Spider Jerusalem from ''[[Transmetropolitan]]''. Cynical or not, and crazy though he might be, he's a journalist because he cares about the truth, and a savage beating from people who don't appreciate it won't make him see otherwise.

* Rorschach from the ''[[Watchmen (comics)|Watchmen]]'' talks like a lunatic nihilist who lost all faith in humanity, yet still fights for his vision of justice. This is particularly evident in the story of Dr. Malcolm Long, who becomes "infected" with Rorschach's disorder after a [[Critical Psychoanalysis Failure]]: while he begins viewing the world as cold and cruel, he also feels compelled to stop injustice and abuse whenever he encounters it.

* Matt Murdock in ''[[Daredevil]]'' definitely counts. He's put through through the emotional ringer a dozen times over and his life always seems to get worse when You think it can't possibly decline further. Its so bad the poor guy can barely muster the energy to brood. Despite this, he struggles on and serves as a true hero of New York.

* The only thing the protagonist of ''[[Dragon Age: theThe Crown of Thorns]]'' lacks is the attitude, but everything else fits in with the trope. He knows full well, and always did, that the world is full of liars and backstabbers, but he is determined to keep trying to make it a better place as long as worthwhile things (like the potential of the younger generation) continue to exist. Of course, he's trying to make sure the world itself keep existing at the moment.

* In everyeach Fanfictionof his works, [http://www.fanfiction.net/~mrevil Mr. Evil] has used his [[Original Character]] Fredi Heat. He shows absolutely no care for people in general, and many of his own teammates appear to even be scared of him. But he always does what's right, despite his dislike for doing so.

* From the ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]/[[Naruto]]'' crossover fanfic ''[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7441275/1/Broken_Faith Broken Faith]'' by [[Kur 0 Kishi]]Kur0Kishi; Naruto Uzumaki becomes jaded due to [[The Lost Lenore|certain]] [[Break the Cutie|extrenuating]] [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope|circumstances]] before the story begins. The end result, is a bitter idealist who at times tells the other characters as he trains them to not follow his path, as well as becoming an enforcer of sorts [[The Dreaded|known and feared by most mages worldwide as]] as ''[[Red BaronSobriquet|The Black Paladin]]''

{{quote| '''Gandolfini:''' "Naruto-sama doesn't know it, not many dare to call him that to his face but his actions on missions has earned him the moniker ''[[The Dreaded|Black Paladin]]'' among the wider mage population because of his actions. He always fights what for what is right regardless of the rules and protocol, hence the ''[[Paladin]]'', but his methods and results are rather... [[Mind Rape|disturbing]] and he usually dresses completely in dark colours, hence the ''[[Black Knight|Black]]''."}}

* [[The Hero|Woody]] becomes this in ''[[Toy Story (franchise)||Toy Story 3]]'', in that {{spoiler|he knows full well that going back to the daycare is suicide, not to mention the difficulty in helping his friends escape ''and'' making it back home before Andy leaves for college. The logical thing to do would be to try and go home alone. No points for guessing what he decides to do.}}

* [[The Lancer|Han Solo]] definitely becomes one of these byBy the end of ''[[Star Wars]]: [[A New Hope]]''; [[The Lancer|Han Solo]] definitely becomes one of these and fills a [[Sour Supporter]] role for the rest of the Original Trilogy.

** Though unlike most of these examples heinstead didn'tof start outstarting overly idealistic and get more cynical, he started out overly cynical and got more idealistic.

* Pamela Landy in [[The Bourne Series (Filmfilm)|the Bourne series]] is the only CIA operations chief who actually seems to be in it to do the right thing.

* Eddie Valiant in ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]''. Since his brother's death he's loathed Toons but ends up helping one anyway.

* Tom Doniphon in ''[[The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (Film)|The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance]]'' is a textbook example... Especially when it comes to the part about hating himself for it.

* The hero of ''[[Dragonheart]]'' turns from [[Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids]] into this by the stories end.

* Sheriff 'Monk' McGinn in ''[[Gangs of New York]]''. He starts out as an Irish [[Ronin]] [[Psycho for Hire|muscle for hire]] with dozens of notches on his [[Drop the Hammer|shillelagh]], and is viewed with contempt until we find out he's really this. Then he goes out with a [[Kirk Summation|rousing speech]] and puts the villain in his place, which unfortunately, Bill the Butcher [[Shut Up, Kirk|does not]] respond [[Dropped a Bridge Onon Him|well to]].

{{quote| '''Monk:''' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}WLKbcrC0krQ Citizens of the Five Points!] Mr. Bill Cutting is attempting to draw me into an argument that would no doubt end in bloodshed and the compromising of my office! What do ya think? Should I engage and silence this relic of the ancient law? Or shall I be your chosen voice, in a new testament, in the New World! (silence) There you are, Bill. The people have spoken. The very notion of violent reprisal be-numbs them.}}

* The title character in ''[[Robo CopRoboCop]]'' has nothing to live for, and as the film series progresses, seems more aware that his creation was only a publicity stunt, but his sense of duty and spirit for justice keeps him going.

* Olive Penderghast in ''[[Easy A (Film)|Easy A]]'' is an extremely [[Deadpan Snarker]], but she is willing to let her reputation be ruined to rescue a friend from bullying, preserve her favorite teacher's marriage, and otherwise help people.

{{quote| '''Gordon''': In a town this bent, who is there to rat to anyway?}}

**** Ned fits quite well. He knows the world sucks and most people don't care for anything - but HE keeps trying and does not compromise.

** There's also Tyrion Lannister, who's snarktastic and has contempt or hatred for most of those around him (because they either assume he's a Lannister and think he's untrustworthy, or see that he's ugly and short and assume he's evil), but he truly tried to do what was best for the kingdom while he was Hand. His brother Jaime is another example, sort of, although he was a bit darker than is usual for the role {{spoiler|([[Brother -Sister Incest]], anyone?)}}

* Ed Exley becomes this by the end of ''[[LAL.A. Confidential]]''.

* Philip Marlowe, [[Raymond Chandler]]'s main character is explicitly described by the author as a 'knight in shining armor' despite being a [[Deadpan Snarker]] [[FirstpersonFirst-Person Smartass]].

* [[Terry Pratchett]] often writes like this, especially in ''[[Discworld]]''. Sam Vimes may well be the ultimate [[Knight in Sour Armor]] ("as soon as you saw people as things to be measured, they didn't measure up."). Granny Weatherwax is a fairly good example as well; ''Witches Abroad'' alludes the idea Granny was a good candidate for a "bad witch", until her sister took up the role and she had to balance it out. Granny's adamant belief in Right and Wrong over anything else is predicated on the fact that neither of those neccessarily involve what someone (including herself) would ''like'' to do.

* Karrin Murphy of ''[[The Dresden Files (Literature)|The Dresden Files]]'' is one of these. Her lawfulness causes her to threaten to throw the book at Harry more often than she'd like. She also gets angry when {{spoiler|an archangel uses her as a mouthpiece when she takes up one of the Swords of the Cross.}}

* Severus Snape from ''[[Harry Potter]]'' -- he—he allies himself with people like Harry (whom he doesn't like), Sirius Black (who has hated and mistreated him since the day they met), and of course Dumbledore, who, in spite of a seeming affection, uses him fairly ruthlessly. He's also the only one of the heroes who is willing to get [[Hero Withwith Bad Publicity|branded as a traitor]] by making a huge sacrifice for their cause (namely, {{spoiler|Albus Dumbledore}}).

** Dumbledore's brother Aberforth is this as well.

* Meyer Landsman of ''~[[The Yiddish Policemen's Union~]]'' is certainly one of these on top of being a [[Defective Detective]] -- a—a cynical jackass, but feels personally compelled to close his investigation instead of let it be shelved as a cold case for bureaucratic reasons.

* Winston Smith in ''[[Nineteen Eighty -Four|1984]]''. He joins the Brotherhood knowing full well that he won't see any change in his lifetime and that he will be killed for it eventually. Too bad {{spoiler|the Brotherhood doesn't actually exist -- it was set up by the government as a way to entrap Thought Criminals.}}

{{quote| Lancelot: I was injured lightly nineteen times, severely eleven times and deadly five times, but I'm so light a soul that I'm still alive.}}

* Typically in the [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]], Luke Skywalker is quite idealistic. But in ''[[Luke Skywalker and Thethe Shadows of Mindor]]'', the [[Big Bad]] makes him mentally experience [[And I Must Scream|an eternity after the heat death of the universe]] in an attempt to break him and get him ready for a [[Grand Theft Me]]. It doesn't entirely work, but when Luke gets out, he's made deeply cynical, believing that ''everyone's'' life is waste, saving someone wasn't really saving them because that would just prolong the brief interval. All striving leads to nothing, and everyone who talked about duty and honor and love was just using him. He doesn't want to believe it, but he does - and he makes the very conscious decision to act exactly like he did before, like when he trusted in these airy concepts and believed lives were worth saving, in the hope that he can fall back into the dream and [[Becoming the Mask|become the mask]]. Later he sees a very [[Mind Screw]]-y vision that relieves some of that cynicism, though, so he's not a sour knight for very long.

* Dedicate Rosethorn from the [[Circle of Magic]] series qualifies. She's very much a sarcastic and irritable [[Cynical Mentor]] to Briar, but she has given up a normal life in order to help the poor.

* Garrett from the ''[[Garrett PIP.I.]]'' series describes himself like this.

* ''[[Chalion|The Hallow Hunt]]'': Ingrey is actually rather youthful for a [[Lois McMaster Bujold|Bujold]] protagonist, but the tortures he endured--meantendured—meant to help him control the wolf-spirit he harbors--madeharbors—made him "frighteningly self-controlled" not to mention [[Deadpan Snarker|dour and sarcastic]]. His love interest lampshades it:

{{quote| "Now what makes you grow grim?" Ijada demanded.<br />

"Nothing."<br />

* Most people involved with the government in ''[[Twenty Four24]]'' seem to believe this. Despite their constant sacrifices to save America, even Redshirt agents seem to realize that their victories are Pyrrhic at best, and rarely make attempts to mask how jaded they are.

* Lee Adama is this at times in ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica Reimagined]]'', in a sort of contrast with the [[Honor Before Reason]] driven Helo. Both believe in rules and the system, but Lee is more willing to bend the former to save the latter.

* Pretty much everyone in ''[[Torchwood]]''.

* ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]''. Hell, the entire cast of that show could fall under this, especially Angel and Wesley. Angel's philosophy is that the world is a terrible place, but heroes live life as it should be, and that even if they can't defeat evil, they can make its existence very painful.

** Angel himself phrases it much more poetically in the Season 4 episode "Deep Down". "Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be. You're not a part of that yet. I hope you will be. I love you, {{spoiler|Connor}}. Now get out of my house."

* In ''[[House MD]]'',[[Dr. Jerk|House]] is practically the poster boy for this, and yet at the same time a very ...complicated example. He constantly complains about how terrible the world is and how [[Humans Are Bastardsthe Real Monsters]], but it somehow doesn't stop him from going to often desperate measures to help people. He's just a [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Gold]]...[[Alternative Character Interpretation|or he's a]] [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Jerk|Jerk With A Huge, Fragile Ego And One Hell Of An Inferiority Complex]]. Like they said, complicated.

* Mal Reynolds of ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'' can also be seen as one of these, especially in [[The Movie]].

* Raylon Givens in ''[[Justified (TV series)|Justified]]''. His work requires him to get his hands dirty and costs him in his personal life but he doesn't opt to leave again.

* Dean and Sam in ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'' have a good, bitter rant about this to a side character at one point {{spoiler|season four's "Wishful Thinking."}}

** The exception being Jason Gideon, who seemed like one for a while, and then abandoned the team in 3x01 because the awfulness of the world had overwhelmed him.

* James "Sawyer" Ford {{spoiler|and also, ultimately, Benjamin Linus}} from ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]''.

* Andy Sipowicz from ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', as an intersection of [[Noble Bigot Withwith a Badge]] and [[Rabid Cop]], with a decent dose of [[Deadpan Snarker]] and a surprisingly large amount of [[The Woobie]].

* In ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'', the Ninth Doctor refers to Humans as "stupid apes", but saved Earth again and again.

* Jack Bristow in ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''.

* Derek Hale in ''[[Teen Wolf (TV series)|Teen Wolf]]'' is a prime example of this.

* After being on ''[[Degrassi]]'' enough seasons you either end up here or [[Jade -Colored Glasses]], just a fact of life for teenagers. Best examples for this side of things would be Spinner, Darcy, Jimmy, Marco, Sav, Clare, Alli, and Jenna. The series is abundant with drama and cruelty for them, but they still believe no matter how the world sucks... it's what they have and it's worth it to not give up. But the world unquestionably sucks, they are all more than clear there.

** I thought they killed him for fomenting dissent against the government?

** A common character type in ''[[Warhammer 40000]]Gaunt'', especially among the Imperium of Man. [[Gauntss Ghosts|Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt]] is perhaps the most prominent example, a genuinely selfless, courageous, and noble hero who is becoming deeply bitter and cynical towards the Imperial Guard command structure. Major Elim Rawne of the same series quite arguably worked his way into this trope from the other direction-he started as a ruthlessly cynical, self-serving bastard, and remains a ruthlessly cynical bastard-but one with a very tarnished and deeply hidden heart of gold. Comissar [[Ciaphas Cain]], '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM''', projects this at times... because his reputation (and possibly he) would be shot if anyone knew [[Dirty Coward|how he actually is]].

*** Comissar [[Ciaphas Cain]], '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM''', projects this at times... because his reputation (and possibly he) would be shot if anyone knew [[Dirty Coward|how he actually is]]. Of course, we only have his word for that. The author himself has stated [[Shrug of God|that he doesn't know]] whether Cain is the [[Dirty Coward]] he presents himself as, or [[Unreliable Narrator|doesn't give himself enough credit.]] Its clear that in the very least he is not the type of commissar to shoot his men for very little reason and from what we see in Last Stand that he wants to prepare his proteges for the galaxy at large as best he can. In general its clear he at least is a decent person.

** The Paladin class itself flirts with being an example of this even ''before'' one takes the Gray Guards into account, especially in a setting where the government is harsh or totalitarian. It's pointed out in the ''Book of Exalted Deeds'' that when faced with a choice between Law and Good, a true Paladin will always choose the latter (the Paladin's code in the book has a loophole about "Legitimate" authority for this reason).

** As the [[Ravenloft]] setting is bound to eat your average [[Knight in Shining Armor]] for breakfast, it's home to quite a few of these instead, striving to hold back the darkness. The game-setting's knights of the Circle function more like vigilantes or undercover operatives, keeping their heroic deeds under the darklords' radar.

* Cassandra in ''[[Code Twenty One21]]'' is a good example. She decides to work in mental health because she wants to make a difference and over the years adhering to the system's rules makes her feel embittered and less hopeful about the world.

* ''[[Wicked (Theatretheatre)|Wicked]]'': Why, Miss Elphaba... you and this trope [[Arc Words|deserve each other]].

* In ''[[Man of La Mancha]],'' Don Quixote ''might'' be this; he has a skewed perception of the world as a beautiful, marvelous place when it clearly isn't, but he indicates that, even when he ''knows'' the world is a dire mess that has little hope of elevation, he will fight on. When he converts {{spoiler|Dulcinea}} to his cause, she becomes a full fledged [[Knight in Sour Armor]].

* Kiina from ''[[Bionicle]]'' is a type 1. She's a tough, [[Ladette]] [[Action Girl]] who is dissatisfied with her planet as it is, and believes that there are other, better worlds out there. Naturally, everyone thinks she's nuts. Then, when she turns out to be right, she suddenly morphs into a [[Genki Girl]]. [[Rescued Fromfrom the Scrappy Heap|She got better.]]

* Kratos Aurion in ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' fits this like a glove. He started out as {{spoiler|an idealist alongside Mithos Yggdrasill who just wanted half-elves to be accepted}}, and then became what we see in the game.

{{quote| '''Colette:''' Our weapons are love!<br />

'''Genis:''' Justice! And...<br />

* Most of the SL-9 crew in ''[[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney]]''. They're demoted, fired, and generally jaded but still want to find the truth of what happened to Neil Marshall.

** Carth Onasi fits the trope as well. He's [[Knight in Shining Armor|closer to good]] on the [[Karma Meter]] than the ''Jedi'' in your party, but his [[Jade -Colored Glasses|capability to trust in the good of others]] has been [[Stealth Pun|torpedoed]] by personal tragedy. He's vocally suspicious regarding the player character and the entire situation; that suspicion eventually turns out to be eerily dead-on. The comics, set a few years before the events of the game, make it clear that {{spoiler|his entanglement with Revan}} wasn't the first time he found himself involved in a [[Jedi Truth|Jedi scheme and cover-up]].

{{quote| '''Consort:''' ''[[Hurting Hero|"I see the sadness behind your eyes, it tells a story that makes me want to weep. Pain and loss.]] [[Iron Woobie|But it drives you, makes you strong. It is that strength that people are drawn to.]] [[Magnetic Hero|It is why you lead and others follow without question.]] You will need that leadership in the battles to come."''}}

{{quote| '''Shepard:''' People are messy, awkward, sometimes selfish and cruel. But they're trying, and I'm going to make sure they have a chance.}}

** By ''[[Mass Effect 3 (Video Game)|Mass Effect 3]]'', Shepard has embraced this trope and taken it [[Up to Eleven]]. S/he vocalizes at MANY points in the story his/her doubts that anything s/he does is actually going to win the war but s/he never stops going.

{{quote| '''Garrus:''' You should get some sleep Shepard. You must be exhausted.<br />

* ''[[Fate Stay Night|Fate/stay night]]'': Archer shifted towards this from [[Iron Woobie]] in his former life, working his best towards being an idealistic crusader while recognizing that the world wasn't that convenient and knowing he'd have to kill a few to save many. {{spoiler|After he became a guardian spirit and lost his free will, he crossed the [[Despair Event Horizon]] and lost all faith in his ideal, even though he technically acts on it through his role.}}

* Keldorn and Jaheira from the ''[[Baldurs Gate|Baldur's Gate]]'' series have shades of this, the former being a 60+ year old [[Knight in Shining Armor|paladin]] and the second a ''very'' cynical Harper (a secret society devoted to spreading good).

* [[Metal Gear Solid|Solid Snake]] is arguably the best example in gaming. He's [[Deadpan Snarker|cynical]], [[Gallows Humor|jaded]], [[Shell -Shocked Veteran|world-weary]], really couldn't care less about being seen as a hero or a legend, and doesn't believe he'd make a difference to the future ("I'm not as arrogant as that."), but he continues to fight because no one else can or will.

{{quote| '''Snake:''' ''"I'm no hero. Never was, never will be. Just an old killer, hired to do some wet-work."''}}

* {{spoiler|Keisuke}} from ''[[Devil Survivor (Video Game)|Devil Survivor]]'' becomes this {{spoiler|if you can convince he's wrong after he [[Knight Templar|snaps.]] }}

** You yourself can play as one of these too, [[VideogameVideo Game Caring Potential|if you so choose.]] ''[[Video Game Cruelty Potential|If.]]''

* Cole MacGrath from ''[[In FamousInfamous (Videovideo game Gameseries)|In Famous]]''. If you finish the game with good karma, he ends up as Empire City's savior, but the final scene has him musing about his isolation {{spoiler|(given that his girlfriend is dead and his best friend's betrayed him)}} and wondering how long it will be before the city turns against him. Unfortunately for him, he ''knows'' that there's something big and powerful coming, and he's the only one that can stop it. He's ''not'' happy about it at all.

* Jim Raynor from ''[[StarcraftStarCraft]]'' was more of a [[Knight in Shining Armor]] (and Kerrigan lampshaded it) before he realized that the Koprulu Sector was a [[Crapsack World]]. As of ''[[Starcraft II (Video Game)|StarcraftStarCraft II]],'' he's still a Knight In Sour Armor.

* [[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Gabriel Belmont]] also qualifies. As his mentor Zobek tells us, he could have given up all hope of saving the world because he has done so many questionable deeds - which he himself admits so. However, something in his mind still forces him to continue on - bitterly...

* ''[[Max Payne (Video Gameseries)|Max Payne]]''. His entire family murdered, his best friend killed, and both the good sides and the bad sides of the city trying to kill him. He even contemplates leaving the city early on, becoming a fugitive, but quickly decides that he'd rather see things through to the end. He ends up paying for it pretty harshly, though.

* In ''[[LAL.A. Noire]]'', Herschel Biggs and Jack Kelso are both perfectly aware of and disappointed in the state of the Los Angeles, and how little of what they do is actually meaningful. They try their damndest anyway. {{spoiler|Protagonist Cole makes the shift from idealist to sour knight over the course of the game, despite his attempts not to, thanks to the corruption and politics endemic in the LAPD.}}

* Several characters in ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' qualify for this. Rose of Sharon Cassidy is a [[The Ladette|hard-drinking and somewhat surly woman]] who also happens to have a strong moral code, being the one character who will specifically complain about the player's [[Karma Meter]] if it gets incredibly low. Also, there's Colonel Hsu and Chief Hanlon of the NCR, who despite being personally against the war (especially considering the fact that their commander, General Oliver is a [[Glory Hound]] and [[General Failure]]) do what they can for the sake of the soldiers.

* Oddly enough, Davan and some of the other main characters of ''[[Something *Positive]]'' sometimes come across like this. They live in a [[Crapsack World]] and are completely aware of it, but they'll go to great lengths for each other.

* [[Image Boards|/tg/]] discusses this and [[Knight in Shining Armor]] at length [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/11826926/ here.] (warning: somewhat [[NSFW]]) A little before that, there was [http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/10111656/ a game report] where [http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Powder_Keg_of_Justice "Powder Keg of Justice"] concept emerged.

** Silverbolt became one in ''[[Beast Machines (Animation)|Beast Machines]]'' after being reformatted, as a result of trying to reconcile his established [[Knight in Shining Armour]] personality with the fact that as a Vehicon, he enjoyed murder, mayhem, and general evilness.

** [[Beast Wars (Animation)|Dinobot]] too.

* ''[[Daria]]'' may occasionally cause some mischief and often doesn't like to get involved, but she deeply values her personal integrity and any slip maintaining it is deeply upsetting to her.

* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' {{spoiler|Prince Zuko becomes this after his [[Heel Face Turn]] and becoming the [[Sixth Ranger]] and [[The Atoner]]. And while he's on the side of good now, he's still as grumpy and [[Emo Teen|emo]] as ever and still firmly believes that Aang's silly ideas about pacifism [[Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids|should remain in air temple preschool where they belong]]. }}

* Benson on ''[[Regular Show]]'' is the [[Grumpy Bear|grouchy]], [[High -Pressure Emotion|hot-tempered]] boss who is always threatening to fire the main characters Mordecai and Rigby unless they repair the damage caused by the [[Eldritch Abomination]] [[Monster of the Week|of the Week]]. Despite this, he is portrayed to be [[Benevolent Boss|an honest, courteous, and kindhearted person]] who cares about his co-workers, [[Fire -Forged Friends|even his mischievous slacker underlings]]. This was beautifully demonstrated in the episode "Benson Be Gone" which is basically {{spoiler|him getting fired and replaced with a female boss who ends up being another Eldritch monstrosity, leading to Benson [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|returning to save the day in epic fashion]]. }}

* Six from ''[[Generator Rex]]''. Despite looking and sounding like a unemotional [[The Men in Black]] agent, he has principles he won't compromise; Rex is in fact alive thanks to him, and he has admitted that he stopped being a mercenary [[Morality Pet|*because* of Rex]].

* [[Jonathan Swift]], despiteDespite being a self-proclaimed [[Misanthrope Supreme]] who wrote entire books dedicated to proving ([[Black Humor|quite hilariously]]) that [[Humans Are Bastardsthe Real Monsters]], [[Jonathan Swift]] nevertheless spent much of his life trying to help the powerless and dispossessed. He particularly tried to help the [[Once -Acceptable Targets|Irish]] - [[Values Dissonance|even the Catholic ones]] - having seen himself seenexactly how wretchedly they lived (as an Anglo-Irishman born in Dublin) exactly how wretchedly they lived.

** Worth spelling out that Swift was the Dean of Dublin Cathedral, and thus a high official in the Episcopalian church, - which at the time believed that ''all Catholics would go to hell.'' (And it gets better - the Deanship was really a political appointment, so he was not just going against the policy of the Church, but of the State as well.)

{{quote| The philosopher can even discover how permanent carnage is provided for and ordained in the grand scheme of things. But will this law stop at man? Undoubtedly not. Yet who will kill him who kills everything else? Man! It is man himself who is charged with slaughtering man.<br />

* [[The Existentialist]] movement is like this. Yes, such a "meaning in life" [[Nietzsche Wannabe|does not exist anyway]] in this [[Crapsack World]], but they still continue to make the most meaningful out of it and live it.

* [[George Orwell]], who despite the [[Animal Farm|grim]][[Nineteen Eighty -Four|darkness]] of most of his works remained adamant that Democracy and Socialism were worth fighting for (and got shot through the neck doing so--inso—in the [[Spanish Civil War]]--yet—yet somehow survived).

** Can also be interpreted as [[Punch Clock Hero|Punch Clock Heroes]]es or [[Knight Templar|Knight Templars]]s. Those with military service behind them who retain some faith in humanity and/or good intentions often seem to live in sour armor.

{{quote| People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.<br />

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.<br />

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.<br />

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Be good anyway.<br />

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.<br />

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.<br />

People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.<br />

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.<br />

People need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.<br />

[[Category:KnightIndex InWith Soura ArmorHeart of Gold]]

[[Category:TropePunk Punk]]