Parental Favoritism: Difference between revisions

* Part of [[Aloof Big Brother|Sesshomaru]]'s backstory in [[Inuyasha]] is that he resented his father for being disappointed in his heartless son Sesshomaru, while giving his life to save the infant Inuyasha (and his mother).

* Part of the backstory of [[Big Bad]] King of Gallia in ''[[Zero no Tsukaima|Familiar Of Zero]]''; his elder brother was the favorite for being better at everything. Then, in the old Kings last moments, he named the younger his successor, due the old kings insanity. Ecstatic, even knowing the true reason he was chosen, he went to rub it in his older brothers face. Unfortunately, the elder was honestly happy for his younger brothers success. This drove Joseph mad, and he ended up killing his older brother. So begins the tale of the mad king.

* [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]] gives us an odd case. Gendo shows no love or affection to Shinji, but is almost uncharacteristically fond of Rei, who he treats as an adoptive daughter. {{spoiler|The reason he's fond of Rei however is because she resembles his dead wife, and in the end, both the children are little more than pawns to him toward resurrecting her. Before his death however, Gendo admits that he secretly held great love for Shinji in his heart, but was simply too afraid to face it.}}

* There's a case of Grandparental Favouritism in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]''; Grandpa Rome raised Italy Veneziano, but ignored his brother Romano because Veneziano was more talented. He left his money to Romano, but this only increased Romano's sense of being [[The Unfavorite]], as in his youth he was convinced the money was the only reason anyone would want him.

** Which might possibly have been [[Truth in Television]]; it's been suggested by many historians that Richard was the favorite child of their mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, while John was the favorite of their father, Henry II.

* Nuka from [[The Lion King]] is neglected in favour of the youngest, Kovu, whom Scar chose as his heir.

 

 

** Of course, it's a bit blurry as to whether he genuinely loved them or was just another in a long line of people trying to use the Flock to their advantage. The fact that he doesn't shut up about how they have to save the world might be an indicator.

* A very important part of [[L. M. Montgomery]]'s ''[[Jane of Lantern Hill]]'': Grandmother only loves one of her children, Robin, Jane's mother. She's also insanely jealous, so this love doesn't extend to Jane.

* The gods in [[Percy Jackson]] are guilty of this. In fact, Poseidon openly admitted that {{spoiler|Percy was his favourite son, which is a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]].}}

* In ''[[Jane Eyre]]'', Jane is treated only like another mouth to feed for her spiteful aunt (whose husband treated Jane more kindly before he died) and her cousins, especially John, take delight in bullying her, even in front of their mother who does nothing to stop them.

* On ''[[The X-Files]]'', Scully is her father's favorite. They share a love of the book Moby Dick; he calls her "Starbuck", and she calls him "Ahab". Following that tradition, she eventually ends up naming her dog "Queequeg".

** Mulder's situation is a bit trickier. While both his parents hold some resentment over his not having stopped his sister's abduction, the favoritism of his parents is a little blurrier. At one point, it seems that his mother was given a choice of which child she would rather give up, and Samantha was that child.

* Pam Puckett on ''[[iCarly]]''. It's obvious to everyone that out of the twins, she prefers Melanie over Sam. She even outright asks Sam once why she can't be more like Melanie.

* Mostly averted in ''[[Wonderfalls]]'', where they do treat all three of their children well. Nevertheless there was this:

== Tabletop Games ==

* In the world of the ''[[Fighting Fantasy]]'' gamebooks published by Puffin in the 1980s through to the 1990s, the wealthy ruler of the city of Fang blatantly favors his elder son Sukumvit over his younger son Carnuss, making Carnuss develop a searing hatred for his brother. When Sukumvit becomes ruler of Fang on his father's death, he constructs the deadly Deathtrap Dungeon as a private hobby, challenging adventurers to try and survive going through it for a 10,000 gold piece prize. An embittered Carnuss sees a chance at getting revenge on his hated brother, and begins kidnapping people to test them until he can find someone tough enough to send as his champion to penetrate the dungeon and humiliate his brother.

 

 

* An unusual case in ''[[Misfile]]'', Ash Upton manages to be on both sides of the Parental Favoritism divide thanks to Rumisiel's little [[Ret-Gone|filing mishap]]. As a [[Gender Bender|boy, she]] had no contact with her mother and her relationship with her father was distant at best (his plans for Ash's summer vacation apparently involved re-roofing the house). As a girl she has a close relationship with both parents who are much more involved in her life. [[Cursed with Awesome|For some reason]] [[Wangst|she feels this sucks]].

** Also a subversion, as the change was due completely to Ash's actions. {{spoiler|In Ash's past (s)he wrote a letter to his/her mom. As a boy, masculine pride made him throw it away. As a girl, the letter was sent.}}

* [[Bob and George]]: Dr. Light goes gaga over the still being created X: [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/030827c you're Daddy's Favorite].

* In the ''[[Nuzlocke Comics]]'', Norman shows favoritism to "Good-Ruby", a Vigoroth that he dresses in a hat similar to Ruby's, over Ruby.

[[Category:Drama Tropes]]

[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]

[[Category:Abuse Tropes]]