Psycho Sidekick: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"Mouse was the truest friend I ever had. And if there is such a thing as true evil he was that too."''|'''Walter Mosley''', '''''A Red Death'''''}}

A trope common in private eye novels since the 1980s, and occasionally found in other genres. Sometimes, your [[The Cape|morally]] [[Knight in Shining Armour|spotless]] [[Martial Pacifist|hero]] has a buddy who's a lot less morally spotless. Often, they've been friends for so long that a bit of moral divergence hasn't spoiled it. On the more moral end of the spectrum, the friend's a [[Hitman ~~With~~ a Heart]] or [[Loveable Rogue]]. In [[Darker and Edgier]] cases, the friend is actually a [[Punch Clock Villain]], [[Noble Demon]] or even a [[Psycho for Hire]], but they deliberately avoid any situation that might actually pit them against one another because it would be [[Rival Turned Evil|just too painful]]. Of course, the friend could be just a little bit more violent or ruthless than the hero.

A trope common in private eye novels since the 1980s, and occasionally found in other genres. Sometimes, your [[The Cape|morally]] [[Knight in Shining Armour|spotless]] [[Martial Pacifist|hero]] has a buddy who's a lot less morally spotless. Often, they've been friends for so long that a bit of moral divergence hasn't spoiled it. On the more moral end of the spectrum, the friend's a [[Hitman with a Heart]] or [[Loveable Rogue]]. In [[Darker and Edgier]] cases, the friend is actually a [[Punch Clock Villain]], [[Noble Demon]] or even a [[Psycho for Hire]], but they deliberately avoid any situation that might actually pit them against one another because it would be [[Rival Turned Evil|just too painful]]. Of course, the friend could be just a little bit more violent or ruthless than the hero.

When this comes in useful is when the hero has to [[Shoot the Dog|do something that they don't feel they can do]], most often killing somebody who is certain to do horrible things to them or their loved ones or innocent bystanders, but who is too [[Villain ~~With~~ Good Publicity|sneaky]] or too [[Dirty Coward|unsuited]] to [[The Man Behind the Curtain|combat]] for them to be conveniently able to kill them in self-defence or some kind of [[Duel to ~~The~~ Death|fair fight]]. At this point the [[Psycho Sidekick]] can step in and shoot the helpless guy in the face while the hero feels some slight angst but is grateful that they didn't have to do it.

When this comes in useful is when the hero has to [[Shoot the Dog|do something that they don't feel they can do]], most often killing somebody who is certain to do horrible things to them or their loved ones or innocent bystanders, but who is too [[Villain with Good Publicity|sneaky]] or too [[Dirty Coward|unsuited]] to [[The Man Behind the Curtain|combat]] for them to be conveniently able to kill them in self-defence or some kind of [[Duel to the Death|fair fight]]. At this point the [[Psycho Sidekick]] can step in and shoot the helpless guy in the face while the hero feels some slight angst but is grateful that they didn't have to do it.

Contrasted to the case of the [[Poisonous Friend]], in which the main character is genuinely unaware of what the friend is doing. In this case, the main character is perfectly aware of the type of person their friend is and what they do for them. Naturally, this does come across as a bit hypocritical. Sometimes the hypocrisy is ignored by the story, but more often it's lampshaded. It's sometimes explicitly or implicitly argued that the ruthless act isn't so much [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|wrong]] ''per se'', as something that would brutalise the hero to the point that they'd lose their compassion or ability to empathise with others or [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him|ability to act as a moral exemplar to others]].

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* ''[[Mirai Nikki]]'': At least in the beginning while Yukki still has his moral compass in the fully upright and locked position, Yuno Gasai is what happens when you mix this trope with [[Yandere]] and shake rapidly.

* Virid the Mad Prince from ''[[~~There Beyond the Beyond (Manga)|~~There Beyond the Beyond]]'', staying true to his name.

* Virid the Mad Prince from ''[[There Beyond the Beyond]]'', staying true to his name.

== Comic Books ==

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== Fanfiction ==

* In the ''[[~~Good Omens (Literature)|~~Good Omens]]'' fanfic [[The Sacred and ~~The Profane (Fanfic)|The Sacred and The~~ Profane]], 'Zirah' (Aziriphale) is a chillingly ruthless [[Psycho Sidekick]] to 'Caphriel' (Crowley), {{spoiler|who ends up having to kill him to protect Adam}}.

* In the ''[[Good Omens]]'' fanfic [[The Sacred and the Profane]], 'Zirah' (Aziriphale) is a chillingly ruthless [[Psycho Sidekick]] to 'Caphriel' (Crowley), {{spoiler|who ends up having to kill him to protect Adam}}.

== Literature ==

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** The Saint himself is actually worse than Hoppy. He has been known to coolly murder unarmed men, and on one (somewhat justified) occasion burned a group of criminals alive.

* ''[[Stephanie Plum]]'' series by Janet Evanovitch: Ranger, although Ranger's a bit more cerebral than most examples, and significantly less psycho than average.

* ''[[~~The Alloy of Law (Literature)|~~The Alloy of Law]]'' has [[The Hero|Wax]], an upstanding heroic member of society, working with [[The Lancer|Wayne]], a partially-reformed thief whose definition of being 'reformed' tends to mean that instead of just stealing things he leaves something in their place.

* ''[[The Alloy of Law]]'' has [[The Hero|Wax]], an upstanding heroic member of society, working with [[The Lancer|Wayne]], a partially-reformed thief whose definition of being 'reformed' tends to mean that instead of just stealing things he leaves something in their place.

* Subverted in Carol O'Connell's ''Mallory'' novels, which are about a sociopathic primary character who would usually be someone else's [[Psycho Sidekick]] surrounded by sidekicks who keep her from going completely evil.

* The ''[[Dragaera|Taltos]]'' books have been acknowledged as inspired by the Spenser series, but seem to turn this on its head. Vlad Taltos, the protagonist, is the [[Psycho Sidekick]] in relation to his friends who are [[Our Elves Are Better|fantasy elf nobility]], but it's less that he is more bloodthirsty than that he is less bound by social conventions. This is played rather straight in ''Orca'' though as a [[Lawful Good]] police officer, who normally disdains assassins, has Vlad kill her partner who was a [[Corrupt Cop]] and a murderer.

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* Major Joachim Steuben in [[David Drake]]'s ''~Hammer's Slammers~'' series is in love with Colonel Hammer -- and there's '''nothing''' so awful he wouldn't do it if he feels it'd benefit the colonel. {{spoiler|Including having himself assassinated to give Hammer the chance for a "once and for all" crackdown on the opposition.}}

{{quote| "And sometimes a fellow who does one job well can see where his job has to be done, even though a better man has overlooked it. Anyhow, Secretary, there always was one thing you and I could agree on -- lives ''are'' cheap."}}

* Lee in [[Gordon R Dickson]]'s ''[[Childe Cycle|Dorsai!]]''. Due to an uncorrectable medical condition, he's unable to tell right from wrong and is socially dysfunctional. He knows this, and seeks a ''cause'' to keep him functioning. He'll do ''anything'' for that cause. Luckily, he found Donal, who keeps Lee from doing anything nasty. Also notable that Lee likely inspired Joachim Steuben, as David Drake is a fan of the novel.

* Lee in [[Gordon R. Dickson]]'s ''[[Childe Cycle|Dorsai!]]''. Due to an uncorrectable medical condition, he's unable to tell right from wrong and is socially dysfunctional. He knows this, and seeks a ''cause'' to keep him functioning. He'll do ''anything'' for that cause. Luckily, he found Donal, who keeps Lee from doing anything nasty. Also notable that Lee likely inspired Joachim Steuben, as David Drake is a fan of the novel.

* Edward in the ''[[Anita Blake]]'' series (although it's not like Anita's such a saint).

* Bubba Rugowski in [[Dennis Lehane]]'s [[Kenzie and Gennaro Series]].

* ''Myron Bolitar'' series by Harlan Coben: Windsor Horne Lockwood III, or, Win.

* In ''[[~~Animorphs (Literature)|~~Animorphs]]'' Rachel is this to the rest of the team, although they're not exactly [[Knight in Shining Armor|white hats]] themselves. Reached its peak in the final two books when Jake sent her to {{spoiler|[[Cain and Abel|kill his own brother]]}}.

* In ''[[Animorphs]]'' Rachel is this to the rest of the team, although they're not exactly [[Knight in Shining Armor|white hats]] themselves. Reached its peak in the final two books when Jake sent her to {{spoiler|[[Cain and Abel|kill his own brother]]}}.

** Eventually, Rachel herself lampshades how she was made into this--the other characters kept needing someone to do bad things for the greater good, and it became easier and easier for her to be that someone. The entire team functions to enable and justify her actions.

* Willikins to Sam Vimes in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld ~~(Literature)~~/Snuff|Snuff]]''.

* Willikins to Sam Vimes in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld/Snuff|Snuff]]''.

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* Guerrero in ''[[Human Target]]''. A short middle-aged man wearing round Harry Potter glasses, in the show's premiere he says the following (in a completely low-key tone of voice) to a couple of [[Mooks]] who are trying to intimidate him:

{{quote| "I'll take the beating, because that's all you two amateurs are cleared to do. Then one night soon, I'm gonna break into your houses and kill each of you in your sleep. I'll probably start with you, Alfredo. That way Stephen here can have a few extra days with Marla and the girls. It's only fair."}}

** Likely also a retired [[Psycho for Hire]] and a [[Pint-Sized Powerhouse]]. Played by [[Jackie Earle Haley]], better known as Rorschach from the ''[[Watchmen (~~Film~~)|Watchmen]]'' film.

** Likely also a retired [[Psycho for Hire]] and a [[Pint-Sized Powerhouse]]. Played by [[Jackie Earle Haley]], better known as Rorschach from the ''[[Watchmen (film)|Watchmen]]'' film.

** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7zvE58sAg8 Guerrero doesn't like to be interrupted.]

* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'': While Giles is sometimes the [[Poisonous Friend]], the "Scoobies" are well aware of his Ripper persona. Spike is this for Dawn; at certain points in the series, she adores him despite knowing that he would be back out slaughtering innocents if not for his chip.

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* ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'': [[Kill All Humans|HK47]] and [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|Canderous Ordo]], plus HK again, Mandalore and to [[The Atoner|some extent]] [[Dark and Troubled Past|Atton Rand]] in the sequel.

* [[Boisterous Bruiser|Black Whirlwind]] in ''[[Jade Empire]]'' doesn't know of a problem that [[Ax Crazy|his axes]] [[When All You Have Is a Hammer|won't solve]].

* Several classes in ''[[Star ~~Warsthe~~ Old Republic]]'' get one, most notably [[I'm a Humanitarian|Khem]] [[Comedic Sociopath|Val]] in the Sith Inquisitor storyline.

* Several classes in ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]'' get one, most notably [[I'm a Humanitarian|Khem]] [[Comedic Sociopath|Val]] in the Sith Inquisitor storyline.

* ''[[Mass Effect]]'': Wrex the [[Proud Warrior Race Guy]].

** Grunt from the second game in the series also qualifies, perhaps even more so than Wrex. As Grunt's mental condition is essentially that of an adolescent who has had only minimal interaction with other members of his race, he lacks the discipline and self-control that an older, more experienced Krogan, like Wrex, has.