39,327
edits
Nepotism: Difference between revisions
m
update links
m (update links) |
m (update links) |
||
Line 4:
A trope often found in situation comedy, it's where the boss, (often a somewhat unpleasant one) places a relative or in-law in a position of power. Invariably, the relative will be incompetent or worse.
We all know this is [[Truth in Television]], but '''[[No Real Life Examples, Please]]'''.
The opposite of this trope is [[Coattail-Riding Relative]]. See also [[Screw the Rules, I Have Connections]] Also note that the word Nepotism comes from the word "nephew" but has nothing to do with [[Nephewism]].
Line 12:
* Ren's old teammates in ''[[Ookiku Furikabutte]]'' feel that he's in the pitcher position only because he's related to the school board director, and that he is incompetent. He's actually a good pitcher, but the team just doesn't co-operate with him.
* In at least one incarnation of ''[[Tenchi Muyo!|Tenchi Muyo]]'', Mihoshi's grandfather is the Grand Marshal of the Galaxy Police. Given that Mihoshi tends be either a [[Genius Ditz]], [[The Fool]], or a [[Bunny Ears Lawyer]], and in any case causes massive headaches for the Galaxy Police, one theory amongst fans is that the only reason she was allowed to join, never mind stay employed, is because of this family tie. It doesn't prevent them, in the original [[OAV|OAVs]], from sending her to patrol a sector of the galaxy considered a boring backwater... but that ends up [[Reassignment Backfire|blowing up in their faces]].
* ''[[Baccano!]]!'' has two examples, both of which are played atypically.
** The first is Ladd Russo who, [[Badass|while definitely not incompetent]], ''is'' [[Ax Crazy|completely off his rocker]]. His uncle made him [[Psycho for Hire|a hitman]] mostly to channel his homicidal urges more efficiently.
** The second and more serious example is, surprisingly enough, ''[[Noble Demon|Luck Gandor]]''. While he certainly doesn't ''seem'' like someone who got his position from connections alone, careful examination of the evidence (and eventual confirmation in ''The Slash'') would reveal that he's been in the higher ranks of [[The Mafia]] [[Improbable Age|since age fifteen or younger]], and only because his brothers were in charge. [[Just a Kid|He has quite a bit]] [[The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask|of a complex over it]].
* ''[[Code Geass]]''. While several members of the Britannian Imperial Family may be very qualified and competent, there are plenty of others who were less so. Clovis and Odysseus come to mind, who each has "son of the emperor" as their best qualities.
* The ''[[Death Note]]'' manga states that [[Butt Monkey|Touta]] [[Cowardly Lion|Matsuda]] has relatives in the Police Force, hence why he has a job there despite being more or less well-intentioned, yet incompetent. {{spoiler|Until he goes all [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]], that is.}}
* Masaki Kirihara, the [[Hero Antagonist]] police office of ''[[Darker
* Doujima of ''[[Witch Hunter Robin]]'' is the daughter of a leader of the STN-J, and acts more like the spoiled, unpleasant version, coming to work late and reading fashion magazines instead of doing her job. She does get nicer over time. {{spoiler|And the earlier behavior was sort of [[Obfuscating Stupidity]] anyway, as she was a [[Double Agent]] sent to observe the actions of Solomon, the witch-hunting organization}}
* ''[[Heat Guy J]]''
** Daisuke Aurora has his job ''in part'' because his older brother is the police chief.
** Also, on the [[Villains]] side of the equation, Clair has his position of "Vampire" (Mob Boss) because his father specifically stated it in his will (the other members of [[The Mafia]] are ''not'' happy about this, partly because Clair is [[Just a Kid|only 19]], and partly because he's [[Ax Crazy]]).
* This is how Daigo became a CEO by 27 in ''[[Virgin Love]]''. The fact that he's extremely competent definitely contributed though.
Line 46:
* Initially averted in ''[[Gladiator (film)|Gladiator]]'' when Marcus Aurelius decides to appoint Maximus as his successor, bypassing his own son Commodus. But Commodus himself [[Enforced Trope|enforces the trope]] rather... forcefully.
** This was a common aversion to nepotism used by Roman Emperors. Since the Romans held that adopted children had the same inheritance rights as biological ones, many Emperors decided that it would be easier to find a worthy successor and adopt him into the family than to train a relative into a worthy successor.
* Played for drama in ''[[Casino]]''; Las Vegas is depicted as running on this trope, as Sam Rothstein is forced to hire an incompetent idiot in a cushy job because he's the brother-in-law of a powerful local official. Rothstein finally gets sick of the guy's incompetence and justifiably fires him, the brother-in-law later manages to make serious trouble for him. Curiously, even the brother-in-law admits that Rothstein was justified in doing what he did.
* The crew of the ''[[Spaceballs|Spaceball One]]'' is largely composed of assholes. Named [[Who's on First?|Asshole]].
* In ''[[The Princess Diaries]] 2'' a relative is not placed in a position of power, but is hired to build the bathroom in Mia's suite, prompting the queen to remark that "nepotism belongs in the arts, ''not'' in plumbing."
Line 77:
* A different form comes in ''[[Blue Bloods]]''. In this case there is no string pulling (indeed [[The Patriarch]] often goes to [[Honor Before Reason|dramatic lengths]] to make clear to the public that he is NOT doing this). Rather the Reagan family are brought up with tradition and heroic tales of police work until they each determine to become competent cops on their own account. Frank is actually worried that Danny might have been transferred to Major Case as order to curry favour with him since he worries that Danny is a [[Cowboy Cop]] and might not be qualified for the job.
* In a few episodes of ''[[The George Lopez Show]]'', his boss's son works there and doesn't do much of anything. George also gets Max a temporary job there to show him the meaning of hard work.
* Seemingly played straight but actually averted on [[Battleground]] with Jordan who is the son of the canidate's wife. While he believes that he is in a position of importance, he actually doesn't do anything and merely is given an office to keep him out of the way.
Line 92:
== Video Games ==
* In ''[[Portal 2]]'', Wheatley accuses a work foreman robot of having done this by passing up Wheatley for a promotion in lieu of... an exact copy of himself.
* Claude C. Kenny, protagonist of ''[[Star Ocean the Second Story]]'', feels pressure from this, as revealed in flashbacks. Some cadets believe that Claude only got to his position because of his father Ronyx Kenny, a high ranking member of [[The Federation]] and one of the heroes of ''[[Star Ocean 1]]''.
* ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'': General Lee Oliver supposedly got his position through nepotism. Naturally, he is an [[General Failure|inept commander]] who is [[Glory Hound|more concerned with his own reputation than the lives of his men.]]
* As mentioned in the page quote, General Knoxx of ''[[Borderlands]]'' works for "Admiral Mikey", who takes this trope to the logical extreme by being a literal toddler. [[Hilarity Ensues]].
Line 119:
* ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'': In "Brother from the Same Planet", the soccer coach selects Nelson to attend Pele's soccer and acting camp and Nelson thanks his dad. In "Bart Star", Homer coaches Bart's pee-wee football team.
{{quote|'''Homer:''' Now, just because I'm his father, he will get no special treatment. He calls me coach just like everyone else. Which he'll be doing, as our new starting quarterback!}}
** In another episode, Homer becomes the coach of Lisa's new soccer team.
* One might think this is how Sterling [[Archer]] keeps his job, the abuse [[My Beloved Smother|Malory]] heaps on him notwithstanding.
| |||