Heroic BSOD: Difference between revisions

Heroic Blue Screen of Death: An earth-shattering [[Go Mad Fromfrom the Revelation|revelation]] or horrible event affects the hero or someone he cares deeply about, leaving him flummoxed or shocked to the point of mentally shutting down for a while, like a [[Despair Event Horizon]], except temporary instead of permanent. Alternatively, if this occurs during a fight with one of the [[Big Bad]]'s minions, the hero may have a [[Foe-Tossing Charge|violent outburst]], with the ensuing catastrophe killing [[Evil Minions]] and knocking his companions in different directions. In the latter case, the hero may disappear into the fog of war and have to be tracked down by his friends and given a heaping helping of [[Epiphany Therapy]].

See also [[Thousand-Yard Stare]], one of the visible symptoms. Often becomes synonymous with [[Go Mad Fromfrom the Revelation]], but in that trope it's more of a BSOD caused by [[Things Man Was Not Meant to Know]]. Compare [[Heroic RROD]] (the physical equivalent). Sometimes inflicted by [[Mind Rape]]. One common reaction is [[I Think You Broke Him]]. Characters can attempt to reboot the affected character by performing a [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]] or telling them to [[Quit Your Whining]]. Compare [[Deer in the Headlights]]

* [[Heroic BSOD/Fan FictionFanfic|Fan Fiction]]