Small Name, Big Ego: Difference between revisions

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** Comes back to bite him ''hard'' in another episode, where his overconfidence that he can fix a power source the Ancients themselves gave up on causes the destruction of 3/4- no, [[Insistent Terminology|5/6]] of a solar system and the death of an expedition member.

*** Actually, the guy died ''before'' McKay played any real role in the thing. He also actually solved the issue the ancients couldn't figure out, which led to the destruction of the system.

* [[Knowing Me Knowing You ~~With~~ Alan Partridge|Alan Partridge]] (Ah-HAAAAAH!) is convinced he belongs on the television, hosting a chat show. He doesn't. He really, ''really'' doesn't.

* [[Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge|Alan Partridge]] (Ah-HAAAAAH!) is convinced he belongs on the television, hosting a chat show. He doesn't. He really, ''really'' doesn't.

* Deconstructed in ''[[Screenwipe]]'' by Charlie Brooker, in which he explores how the 'Talent' usually become this in some form. He starts out as an ordinary person who reacts to having someone around to wait on him hand and foot with embarrassment and sheepishness, particularly when his assistant does things he doesn't want or need. Unfortunately, he becomes so used to being treated like this that he takes it too far and ends up becoming an egocentric bully.

* Nathan from ''[[Misfits]]'' is a young offender on community service who remains cheerfully obnoxious and arrogant despite being financially destitute, unemployed, homeless, and loathed by everyone he meets. His friends can't stand him and his parents don't want him around, his sexual conquests almost always end in abject humiliation, and once his power is revealed to be {{spoiler|immortality - or rather "resurrection" - he starts dying in increasingly ghastly ways at least once an episode, but always bounces back with a smile on his face}}. He is utterly ''convinced'' that everyone loves and admires him and that women find him irresistible, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

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* In ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', Theon Greyjoy (more of a [[Smug Snake]] in the novels) is a definite example of this, often for comic effect. Theon is an arrogant jerk who likes to boast about his skill as a warrior and irresistibly to women as well as the greatness of his family (whose rebellion was recently easily crushed, which is why Theon is Eddard Stark's ward/prisoner in a [[Gilded Cage]]). The end result is that Theon is often the target of mockery from people of all classes in the feudal system.

* Batley from ''[[Eureeka's Castle|Eureekas Castle]]''. He had such a big ego, one episode saw him singing a heartfelt ballad entitled "I Love Me".

* Sylvia Noble from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' is an inversion. She really doesn't seem to have an over-inflated opinion of herself; she just has a really low one of everyone else. Sylvia has no understanding of the concept of tact, often insulting and belittling Donna and Wilf, her own daughter and father, respectively. She dismisses her daughter's [[Doctor Who/2006 CS the Runaway Bride~~/Recap~~|disappearance in a flash of light while walking up the wedding aisle]] as Donna tricking everyone to demand attention. She has absolutely no respect or faith in her daughter, and isn't afraid to tell her so. She refuses to acknowledge her daughter's choices and actions, ignores the Doctor when he tells her there's danger. Fortunately, after {{spoiler|Donna's actions in [[Doctor Who~~/NS~~/Recap/S4 E12 The Stolen Earth|the]] [[Doctor Who~~/NS~~/Recap/S4 E13 Journeys End|finale]],}} she seems to have realized her mistakes, and by ''[[Doctor Who~~/NS~~/Recap/S4 E17 E18 The End of Time|End of Time]]'', she's almost pleasant to be around.

* Sylvia Noble from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' is an inversion. She really doesn't seem to have an over-inflated opinion of herself; she just has a really low one of everyone else. Sylvia has no understanding of the concept of tact, often insulting and belittling Donna and Wilf, her own daughter and father, respectively. She dismisses her daughter's [[Doctor Who/Recap/2006 CS the Runaway Bride|disappearance in a flash of light while walking up the wedding aisle]] as Donna tricking everyone to demand attention. She has absolutely no respect or faith in her daughter, and isn't afraid to tell her so. She refuses to acknowledge her daughter's choices and actions, ignores the Doctor when he tells her there's danger. Fortunately, after {{spoiler|Donna's actions in [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E12 The Stolen Earth|the]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E13 Journeys End|finale]],}} she seems to have realized her mistakes, and by ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E17 E18 The End of Time|End of Time]]'', she's almost pleasant to be around.

* Many customers on ''[[Pawn Stars]]'', particularly guys trying to sell cars, often think they did a great job restoring it, but really destroyed the item. One guy removed the air filter so he could fit a large engine than the car could fit, thinking the Pawn Star's were real "real car guys". Rick and the Old Man were horrified at the result.

* All the characters on ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia|Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' with the possible exception of Charlie, fit this description but Dennis really stands out. He believes himself to be an immensely charming, likeable person who is skilled at everything and liked by everyone. In reality, he is sociopathic, vulgar, rude, idiotic, runs a failing business and has really only gotten as far as He did due to his family's wealth. Most episodes have Him attempt a new venture and become completely confused and aggressively annoyed when others don't view Him as being talented.

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{{quote|'''Locke''': ...And watch out for a certain lecherous young king who shall remain nameless. The guy moves in like a hawk!}}

* Subverted in ''[[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]]''. Against all odds, it turns out that talking frog and resident [[Butt Monkey]] Tink ''wasn't'' lying when he claimed his un-cursed form was a total [[Bishonen]]. Really, we swear!

** Also subverted in the [[Disgaea Hour of Darkness|first Disgaea]]: as it turns out, Vyers/Mid-Boss {{spoiler|has been playing at [[Stealth Mentor]] and feigning incompetence for pretty much the entire game. Of course, it's implied that while the buffoonery was faked, the ''[[Insufferable Genius|ego]]'' was genuine. Turns out Laharl really ''does'' [[Luke, I Am Your Father|take after his father]]}}.

** Also subverted in the [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness|first Disgaea]]: as it turns out, Vyers/Mid-Boss {{spoiler|has been playing at [[Stealth Mentor]] and feigning incompetence for pretty much the entire game. Of course, it's implied that while the buffoonery was faked, the ''[[Insufferable Genius|ego]]'' was genuine. Turns out Laharl really ''does'' [[Luke, I Am Your Father|take after his father]]}}.

** Mao from Disgaea 3 qualifies; he constantly boasts about his brilliance and 1.8 million "E.Q.", but as [[Only Sane Man|Almaz]] points out, his calculations are ''never'' correct. He also assumes he is far more respected and admired by the other students than is actually the case. And the game would be over in half the time if he could just ''admit'' that he needs the help of others, and that his friends are more than just servants he allows to tag along with him.

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* Appropriately named Dash Baxter from ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' is a slight variation in that only the audience and the main characters see through his self-image, the rest of the characters viewing him pretty much exactly as he views himself.

** Actually, Dash makes several references to the fact that it's [[Future Loser|all downhill after high school]]. Maybe he's actually a [[Jaded Washout]] in disguise?

* Same goes with [[Jerk Jock|Brad]] on ''[[American Dragon Jake Long]]'', who's practically a [[Disney]] equivalent of Dash.

* Same goes with [[Jerk Jock|Brad]] on ''[[American Dragon: Jake Long]]'', who's practically a [[Disney]] equivalent of Dash.

** Of course, the title character himself fell into this a lot, especially early on. Jake was quick to praise himself - only to fall flat on his face when things got tough. Of course, when [[Let's Get Dangerous|he shed the ego]], he'd be a force to be reckoned with.

* Bloo from ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', as well as Duchess and Jackie Khones.