Nice Job Breaking It, Herod: Difference between revisions

The [[Big Bad]] has just learned that a child that can defeat him has or will soon be born. The obvious solution to this problem is to [[Screw Destiny]]. Nip this danger in the bud and kill the Infant Hero before he can become any kind of threat. This is the stage where the problems crop up. Either the [[Big Bad]] has no idea who this child actually ''is'', or other characters also aware of this destiny have taken the initiative to [[Moses in The BullrushesBulrushes|hide and protect the child]] before the [[Big Bad]] can actually reach him. Or the would-be killer ''thinks'' they've done the deed, but unbeknownst to them, some force or benevolent person intervenes and child is actually [[Not Quite Dead]]. Whatever the mechanism, the upshot is that [[You Can't Fight Fate]].

Often the only thing to do in cases where they can't identify the child is to attempt to track down the newborn hero, baby-by-baby if necessary. The [[Big Bad]] will investigate or, if impatient, simply kill any child in the proper age range to attempt to secure his safety -- this may result in a [[Childless Dystopia]] if he's thorough enough. Inevitably, [[Infant Immortality|it never works]], and if [[Children Are Innocent|innocent children]] ''are'' killed, the resultant crossing of the [[Moral Event Horizon]] makes clear just how [[Complete Monster|complete a monster]] the villain is - and of course [[Laser -Guided Karma|karmically]] [[Karmic Death|seals their fate]]. Worse yet, this act often directly ''[[Genocide Backfire|backfires]]'', giving the hunted newborn [[The Unchosen One|a reason beyond mere prophecy]] to go after the [[Big Bad]] after he's grown up enough to take him on; see [[Self -Fulfilling Prophecy]].

[[Just for Pun|Not to be confused]] with [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]].