Luke, I Am Your Father: Difference between revisions

[[File:Luke_I_Am_Your_Father.jpg|link=The Empire Strikes Back (Film)|frame|[[Late Arrival Spoiler|If this image spoiled anything]], [[It Was His Sled|where have you been for the last thirty years]]?]]

 

'''Luke Skywalker:''' [[From a Certain Point of View|He told me enough!]] [[You Killed My Father|He told me you killed him]]!<br />

 

A specific variety of [[The Reveal]].

 

 

In cases when villain and hero turn out to be parent and child, count on at least one scene where the hero worries that he or she will eventually [[In the Blood|end up like the parent]].

This trope was already being mocked back in 1790 by [[Jane Austen]] in ''[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Love_and_Friendship_%28Austen%29 Love and Friendship]'' (with four grandfather-grandchildren relationships revealed ''in under a page'').

 

 

'''Spoilers''' incoming, in case you haven't figured it out yet.

 

== Anime & Manga ==

* In ''[[Aquarion Evol (Anime)|Aquarion Evol]]'': [[Nice Guy]] and [[The Hero]], Amata Sora, barely even knew his mother, believing her to have abandoned him at a young age due to his levitation powers. Then it turns out that {{spoiler|she never abandoned him and is with the [[Alien Invasion|Altairians]],}} but also that {{spoiler|his father is in fact the LEADER OF THE ALTAIRIANS!!!}} How's ''that'' for [[Beyond the Impossible]]?

* In ''[[Twentieth Century Boys]]'' Friend {{spoiler|tells Kenji that he is Kanna's father. Kanna learns this after the first major timeskip.}}

* The third episode of ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'': {{spoiler|Light's father is the one leading the police effort to catch the mysterious murderer -- actually Light.}}

* It's nice to see a good old-fashioned subversion, and ''[[Rave Master]]'' brings us one: {{spoiler|there are two characters named Gale, one the antagonist (and head of the evil organization), one a good guy (who we've never seen before). Angst-tastic as it would be, the hero assumes his father is the former. Nope. It's the latter.}} They also play it straight with {{spoiler|the two Musicas.}}

* A variation exists in the third season of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. After a successful raid on an illegal research facility, Quint adopts a pair of experimental [[Super Soldier|Combat Cyborgs]] because they looked so much like her and raises them as her own daughters. {{spoiler|It's later revealed during a medical examination that the reason why Subaru and Ginga looked like her was because their genetic structures were identical. Somehow, Quint's genetic data had been acquired by the researchers and was used to create the two children.}}

* Subverted in ''[[Saint Seiya]]''. Along the series, there had been a lot of hints that Marin was Seiya's long-lost sister Seika. {{spoiler|She wasn't, his sister was actually a [[Waif Prophet]], and Marin's brother Touma even appears as an enemy in the Tenkai-hen movie.}}

** And played quite straight in the manga where, it was revealed that {{spoiler|Mitsumasa Kido was actually the birth father of all the orphans he sent around the world to be trained as Saints}}.

* The very last volume of the ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' manga reveals that {{spoiler|Chrono and Aion}} are twins, and {{spoiler|their mother was a human woman turned into [[Hive Queen|Pandaemonium]] when she was pregnant with them.}} Also, Satella discovers that her long-lost sister {{spoiler|is Fiore}}.

* In ''[[Gravion]] Zwei'', it's eventually revealed that Sandman is {{spoiler|Leele's father, as well as the brother of the Zeravire's creator/leader}}, and that Raven is {{spoiler|Eiji's missing sister Ayaka}}.

* [[The Dragon|Altair]] and [[Team Mom|Vega]] in ''[[GEAR Fighter Dendoh]]'' are {{spoiler|brother and sister}}, ''both'' of whom had presumed each other dead for years ([[Mask Power|wearing those damn masks all the time]] probably only added to the confusion). Then there's Vega's true identity as {{spoiler|Hokuto's mom.}}

* ''[[Glass Fleet]]'' had a pair of sibling enemies learn at ''the same time'' that they were related. {{spoiler|Vetti and Cleo}} were none-too-pleased to say the least.

* A ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (Comic Book)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' mini-series in the '80s started with the premise that R. J. Brande, the team's billionaire sponsor, was dying, and in order to save him, the Legionnaires had to figure out which one of them was secretly his child -- an idea that had never been even hinted at before. It finally turned out to be Durlan shapeshifter Chameleon Boy; Brande was revealed to also be a Durlan who'd contracted a disease that [[Shapeshifter Mode Lock|froze him into human form]].

* Chris, Superman's adopted son, was found in a rocket similar to his. It was revealed during an invasion that {{spoiler|the rocket was sent from the Phantom Zone, and he was the son of Zod and Ursa.}}

** Gladly, this probably isn't canon, the Summers have a messed up history as it is.

* In ''[[Booster Gold|Booster Gold One Million]]'' it is revealed to the audience -- but not to any of the other characters -- that {{spoiler|Booster's mentor Rip Hunter is actually Booster's son}}.

*** But if you paid enough attention to the first few pages of the chapter ''Midnight in the House of Hurt'', Dr. Hurt made arrangements for a false suicide note, doctored documents and phony witnesses for a recent victim that was killed by one of his associates. Apparently, it's not enough for the doctor to ruin and leave you as a empty, broken shell of a man after one of his twisted games in the Black Glove; when you're killed, he makes damn sure you'll be remembered as a chronic junkie, a horrible pedophile or worse. His claims that he's Batman's father and his family's "dark history" is a last attempt to screw Bats over and coerce him to join the Black Glove as his [[Evil Plan]] was crashing down like a house of cards.

*** Ultimately, it turns out Hurt is {{spoiler|a centuries-old member of the Wayne family, who harbored a serious grudge against Thomas and Martha.}}

* In ''[[The Umbrella Academy|Umbrella Academy: Dallas]]'' #6, it's revealed that {{spoiler|00.01 and 00.05 are biological siblings (they were adopted siblings before this point).}}

* Rose Walker's grandfather in ''[[Sandman]]'' is Desire, who impregnated the comatose Unity Kinkaid during Dream's imprisonment.

'''Tyler Stone:''' You... you know?<br />

'''Miguel O'Hara:''' Yeah. Now get out of my office... '''dad.''' }}

* In ''[[Green Lantern]] Corps #35'', Sinestro tells {{spoiler|Soranik Natu}} that she is his daughter. He left her in the care of her foster family to keep her away from the dangers of being associated with him; making this one of the only semi-decent things he's ever done in his life. Since it's ''[[Big Bad|Sinestro]]'', he could be lying.

** The last page of ''Green Lantern'' #36 makes it pretty clear that he's telling the truth.

 

== Films -- Animation ==

{{quote| '''Zurg:''' Surrender Buzz Lightyear! I have won!<br />

'''Buzz:''' I'll never give in! [[You Killed My Father]]!<br />

*** ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' has Vader reveal that as well... and that the Empire would be defeated by ''Ewoks''! And that as a child, ''he'' built ''C-3PO''!

{{quote| '''Luke:''' I'll never join you! [[You Killed My Father]]!<br />

'''Luke:''' That's not true! That's impossible!<br />

'''Darth Vader:''' And Princess Leia is your sister!<br />

'''Luke:''' ''(getting up, disgusted)'' Look, if you're not gonna take this seriously, I'm out! ''(exits)'' }}

*** Also parodied in ''[[Darths and Droids]]'', [http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0302.html using Anakin's stepfather in the second episode.] Naturally, Anakin says a [[Big No]].

** In [http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/20/sidebar.hamill/index.html an interview] with CNN, Luke's actor Mark Hamil expressed his disappointment about the role of Boba Fett in this way:

{{quote| "I mostly was upset with the cavalier attitude towards Boba Fett. He had been built up as this monumental bounty hunter, and he... just flies away. I thought that was going to be a major revelation, off comes the helmet, oh my God, it's my mother! She's a double agent working for the good guys, who knows."}}

* In [[Terry Goodkind]]'s ''Wizard's First Rule'', the first book of the [[Sword of Truth]] series, it is revealed that Richard is actually the son of Darken Rahl, the antagonist. Yes, his name is ''[[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Darken]]''. And he's the father of the protagonist, who has a magic sword, and is taught by an old man. [[Real Slim Shadowen|This editor]] would have blanked it out with spoiler tags, but frankly it's not that important. And it's not even the father revealing it to his son, but his son's maternal grandfather. So.

** This then happens several more times with different characters.

** This is actually one of Goodkind's better instances of [[Playing With a Trope]]. It starts with Darken Rahl accusing [[Old Master|Zedd]] of being Richard's father. Zedd responds, in short, "Actually, I'm his grandfather. Remember how [[Rape As Drama|you raped my daughter?]] ''You're'' his father." Richard is not present for this scene, and doesn't find out himself about either of these relations until the next book.

* [[Charles Dickens (Creator)|Charles Dickens]] had a thing for lost parents.

** Another Meredith Ann Pierce example: the white witch Oriencor is actually the daughter of {{spoiler|Ravenna the Ancient}}. Her excuse for becoming the [[Big Bad]] was that she felt cheated of her inheritance {{spoiler|since Ravenna promised, falsely, that she could one day return to Oceanus with the Ancients; Oriencor's schemes to take over the world are really just Part One of her attempts to get there on her own}}. The heroine of the trilogy, Aeriel, also has one: raised an orphaned slave in the land of Terrain, she later discovers she's {{spoiler|the heir to the suzerainty of Pirs. Made squicky by her uncle, who killed her father and attempted to force her mother to marry him, and tries to seduce Aeriel.}}

** And another: ''Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood''. Hannah is {{spoiler|the "daughter" of the Queen, having grown from the branch the Wizard stole.}} Pierce ''really'' likes this trope.

** To be fair, you also find the same thing out in "The Pretender".

* In ''[[The Night Angel Trilogy]]'', the Godking does this to both the protagonist and someone else. In the protagonist's case, the Godking is just screwing with his mind. In the latter case, {{spoiler|she kills him anyway}}.

* At the end of ''[[Septimus Heap (Literature)|Magyk]]'', Boy 412 is revealed to be Septimus Heap.

* At the end of Fred Saberhagen's ''Empire of the East'' trilogy, the [[Big Bad|demon prince Orcus]] realizes that [[Big Good|Ardneh]] is his father in a sense (not the biological sense, since neither being is biological), ''and'' that, [[Thanatos Gambit|in killing Ardneh, he has also destroyed himself]].

 

 

== Live Action TV ==

* ''[[Carnivale]]'' Where to begin? {{spoiler|The mysterious Henry Scudder is Ben's father. Lucius Belyakov (AKA Management) is the father of both Justin and Iris. And, Justin is Sofie's father, having raped her mother.}}

* ''[[Lost]]'': {{spoiler|Claire and Jack are half-siblings. And it seems their father (or his ghost, or [[Mind Screw|SOMETHING like it]]) is close to the mysterious Jacob}}.

** In ''Power Rangers Ninja Storm,'' we find out that [[Big Bad]] Lothor is [[Mentors|Sensei Watanabe]]'s twin brother, and [[Sixth Ranger]] Cam's uncle. This was fortunate for Lothor's nieces by marriage, as they would have [[Never Say Die|been destroyed]] if Cam hadn't decided to save them--because "they're family."

** In ''Power Rangers Dino Thunder'', we have the revelation that [[Sixth Ranger]] Trent is the adopted son of [[Big Bad]] Mesogog's human counterpart Anton Mercer.

*** It would have helped if they hadn't been playing what sounds like a fantasy-sounding version of the theme from the Star Wars prequels throughout the season. Unlike Luke, however, {{spoiler|Nick actually does take up the mantle of the Master's apprentice as the new Knight Wolf, for a short time}}.

** Following ''In Space'''s example, ''RPM'' reveals that [[Dark Action Girl|Dark Action]] [[Robot Girl]] Tenaya 7 is actally Dillon's missing sister, which surprises... ''[[The Untwist|absolutely no one]]''.

** And just for extra craziness, when ''The Brak Show'' was "hosting" [[Adult Swim]]'s New Year's Night, it was revealed that Thunderclese's father was none other than Frylock from ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Animation)|Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'', ''a completely different show''.

* In series 7 of [[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]] it is revealed that Lister's father is {{spoiler|himself, and his mother is Kochanski, his long-lost love}}.

* In ''[[Mother 3 (Video Game)|Mother 3]]'', the [[The Dragon|Masked Man]] turns out to be {{spoiler|Lucas' twin brother, Claus, who had been kidnapped and brainwashed by [[Big Bad]] Porky.}}

* There are no coincidences in the ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' games. From the Sealed Sword/Blazing Blade saga, Nino turns out to be Canas's niece, Dart is Rebecca's long-lost brother Dan, Raven is actually Priscilla's brother Raymond. Then, in Path of Radiance/Radiant Dawn, {{spoiler|Sephiran}} is really Lehran, the patriarch of the Begnion line of apostles/empresses {{spoiler|and a heron laguz, which means that Begnion has been following Branded around all this time}}. However, Empress Sanaki cannot hear the voice of the goddess because the apostle power is only passed down to the firstborn female of each generation, and unbeknownst to her, she had an older sister. We later find out that this is {{spoiler|Micaiah.}} Also, Mad King Ashnard's mount is really the Goldoan prince Rajaion, and his mistress, Almedha, is Rajaion's sister. Ena, Rajaion's fiancee, went to Daein to try to save him in Path of Radiance, but her grandfather, Nasir, was serving as a mole in the Crimean party. Oh, and {{spoiler|Prince Pelleas isn't actually Almedha and Ashnard's son--he's not a Branded at all. But it turns out that the long-lost prince of Daein is ''Soren''.}} Did we mention that Calill and Largo's adopted daughter is ''also'' a Branded? This is the most convoluted series ever.

* The ''[[Disgaea]]'' series. Nippon Ichi ''loves'' playing with this, and making them major plot points...

** It happens at least three times in the first game:

** Oh, the third game was pretty good at this too: {{spoiler|Evil serial killer Dahlia Hawthorne was coincidentally the cousin of Mia Fey, the lawyer who got her a death sentence, as well as the daughter of the culprit of 2-2. Dahlia Hawthorne is thus also the cousin of Maya Fey and the older sister of Pearl Fey. And so is Dahlia twin sister, Iris. The victim of the last case eventually turns out to have been Maya's long lost mother, who is also Pearl's (and Dahlia's and Iris's) aunt, Mystic Misty Fey, the master of Kurain. So there's no part of the Fey family that's not messed up.}}

** The madness that occurred in the 4th game [[Ship Sinking|sunk ship over ship over GODDAMN ship]], and it is unlikely they will ever be salvaged.

* ''Indestructo2Tank'''s Adventure Mode. After Dirk Danger defeats General Betton, Betton tells Dirk that he's Dirk's father.

* In the Troperiffic fantasy game parody ''[[Darkened Skye]]'', when Skye finally meets her long-lost mother, she finds her to be extremely bitter towards Skye's father and distrustful of men in general. The reason for this attitude is revealed in the game's penultimate battle, where Skye's father is revealed to be {{spoiler|[[The Dragon]] to the [[Big Bad]]. With 3 heads to boot.}}

* Subverted in the ''[[Dan and Mabs Furry Adventures]]'' side-comic ''Abel's Story'', in which Abel {{spoiler|grows up believing Cid Rewanz is his father, when in fact Cid was killed and replaced with the Incubus Aniz years before Abel was born.}}

* ''[[Darths and Droids]]'': Twice, and neither time is the one you'd expect (yet). [http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0302.html "Anakin, I am your stepfather."] And later: [http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0455.html "No! Wait! Anakin, Ah am your f--]. In the latter case, however, he may have been about to say "friend."

** Well, he did show up in one Flashback over 600 episodes before that, [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0050.html here], although he wasn't named then and hasn't been seen since. Still, the "reveal" came as no surprise to someone with a good memory.

* The ''[[Mulberry (Webcomic)|Mulberry]]'' story "Mul/Kerry/Bush" included a scene where [[George W Bush]] tried to escape Mulberry's experiment by claiming he was her father. Since Mulberry has [[Invisible Parents]], she nearly believed him, until [[Dumbass Has a Point|Tiff pointed out that her last name isn't "Bush."]]

** Some time after the end of the original animated series, the minicomic ''The Search for Keldor'' dropped hints that Skeletor is really King Randor's long-lost brother Keldor, making him Adam/He-Man's uncle. In the 2002 remake, Skeletor was originally named Keldor, but there is no indication that he is related to Randor.

*** While never stated in the show, the writers have since revealed that Keldor was intended to be Randor's half-brother. Same father, different mothers.

** Hades also tries to do this with Wonder Woman, with a twist that he had to resort to a technicality when WW pointed out her origin story doesn't ''allow'' her to have a father (she was sculpted of clay and made flesh by the breath of her mother, Hippolyte, instead of born; Hades claimed he was there during the sculpting, but not the life-granting).

* ''[[Code Lyoko]]'': It is revealed just before the Season 2 finale that Franz Hopper, creator of Lyoko, is actually [[The Chick|Aelita]]'s father. This also reveals that she is human, and not an A.I. as everyone originally thought.

** Also played with when Starfire and Killer Moth each try to convince Silkie/Larva M319 to choose between them. Killer Moth's attempt: "Larva M319, I am your father. Join me and we can... go on a picnic or something." Silkie already knew this.

* Parodied in ''[[Dexters Laboratory]]'':