Tough Love: Difference between revisions

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If dished out to one particular child in the family, expect said child to feel like [[The Unfavourite]] compared to their other siblings. Can lead to a [["Well Done, Son" Guy]] moment if this turned out not to be the case.

This trope is frequently used as justifications for the actions of a [[Knight Templar Parent]] or sometimes the [[Sink or Swim Mentor]] if the relationship is neither familial nor quasi-parental. There can be a thin line to walk between practicing this trope and just coming off as another example of [[Abusive Parents]]. [[The Other Wiki]] has its own definition [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Tough_love~~ here]. See [[Cruel to Be Kind]] for this trope taken to its extreme.

This trope is frequently used as justifications for the actions of a [[Knight Templar Parent]] or sometimes the [[Sink or Swim Mentor]] if the relationship is neither familial nor quasi-parental. There can be a thin line to walk between practicing this trope and just coming off as another example of [[Abusive Parents]]. [[The Other Wiki]] has its own definition [[wikipedia:Tough love|here]]. See [[Cruel to Be Kind]] for this trope taken to its extreme.

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* [[Tenjho Tenge]] is the absolute master of this trope. From Mitsuomi's [[Aloof Big Brother]] status, Dogen's intention to create a [[Knight Templar Parent|"true warrior"]] using his eldest son, {{spoiler|Shin}} being locked up by his father to prevent him losing control of his powers to a [[Crowning Moment of Funny|hilarious scene]] between himself and Mana in a hospital, its fair to say that [[Tough Love]] must be part of the school curriculum.

* In the third arc of ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'', Satoko believes that her [[Evil Uncle]] abusing her is this.

** Well, not really... She uses this as an excuse against her friends' rightful concerns but no one believes it, not even her. {{spoiler|He is only looking for her late parents' money and plans to leave town as soon as he finds it, because the cops are after him due to his involvement in Rina's death.}} She's trying to hold off suspicion from social services and the police until he's done, but [[Abusive Parents|it's clear she]] [[Freak Out|hates and fears him.]]

** Well, not really... She uses this as an excuse against her friends' rightful concerns but no one believes it, not even her. {{spoiler|He is only looking for her late parents' money and plans to leave town as soon as he finds it, because the cops are after him due to his involvement in Rina's death.}} She's trying to hold off suspicion from social services and the police until he's done, but [[Abusive Parents|it's clear she]] [[Freak-Out|hates and fears him.]]

* [[Social Darwinist|The Emperor]] has this as his excuse for the way he "raises" his kids in [[Code Geass]]. According to him "people only become stronger through struggle" and he actively encourages his children's infighting to decide who will succeed him on the throne of Britannia.

* [[Badass Grandpa|Vice-Admiral Garp]] of ''[[One Piece]]'' is a firm advocate of the [[Tough Love]] principle. Just look at how he changed Helmeppo and Koby from cowards into legitimate badasses after taking them under his wing. It is also part of the reason why the [[Raised By Grandparents|hero]] is ''terrified'' of him.

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* In ''[[Digimon Tamers]]'', Juri's father raised her this way after the death of her mother. Unfortunately, this accidentally made her into a [[Stepford Smiler]] who broke before she came home from the Digital World.

* Isshin Kurosaki of ''[[Bleach]]'' randomly kicks his son in the head, [[Dynamic Entry|from another room]]. By the beginning of the series, Ichigo can usually see it coming, which Isshin openly states is his intention.

* ''[[Inuyasha]]'': Very little is known about [[The Hero|Inuyasha]] and [[Aloof Big Brother|Sesshoumaru's]] father as he [[Disappeared Dad|died]] long before the start of the story. However, his presence [[The Ghost|permeates the entire story]] as he left a [[Secret Test of Character|legacy]] of [[Hidden Purpose Test|tests]] for his two sons that very often [[Abusive Parents|seem]] [[Tough Love|random or cruel]] to onlookers, but which always have the [[Deceased Parents Are the Best|best interests of both his sons at heart]]. This went to such [[Cruel to Be Kind|extreme lengths]] that at one point, {{spoiler|[[Big Brother Bully|Sesshoumaru]] was left feeling like the [[The Unfavourite|outcast son]] while [[Annoying Younger Sibling|Inuyasha]] and ''[[Beyond the Impossible|Myouga]]'' desperately tried to raise his spirits}}. On top of this, {{spoiler|Sesshoumaru's [[Almighty Mom|mother]]}} also seems to be [[Sink or Swim Mentor|this type as well]] since {{spoiler|her single appearance in the manga is to [[Training From Hell|enact a plan]] she and her late husband had [[The Chessmaster|concocted together]] to [[To Hell and Back|execute]] against Sesshoumaru when he had finally started experiencing compassion in order to teach him the value of [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway|nurturing such attachments]]}}.

* ''[[Inuyasha]]'': Very little is known about [[The Hero|Inuyasha]] and [[Aloof Big Brother|Sesshoumaru's]] father as he [[Disappeared Dad|died]] long before the start of the story. However, his presence [[The Ghost|permeates the entire story]] as he left a [[Secret Test of Character|legacy]] of [[Hidden Purpose Test|tests]] for his two sons that very often [[Abusive Parents|seem]] [[Tough Love|random or cruel]] to onlookers, but which always have the [[Deceased Parents Are the Best|best interests of both his sons at heart]]. This went to such [[Cruel to Be Kind|extreme lengths]] that at one point, {{spoiler|[[Big Brother Bully|Sesshoumaru]] was left feeling like the [[The Unfavourite|outcast son]] while [[Annoying Younger Sibling|Inuyasha]] and ''[[Beyond the Impossible|Myouga]]'' desperately tried to raise his spirits}}. On top of this, {{spoiler|Sesshoumaru's [[Almighty Mom|mother]]}} also seems to be [[Sink or Swim Mentor|this type as well]] since {{spoiler|her single appearance in the manga is to [[Training From Hell|enact a plan]] she and her late husband had [[The Chessmaster|concocted together]] to [[To Hell and Back|execute]] against Sesshoumaru when he had finally started experiencing compassion in order to teach him the value of [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?|nurturing such attachments]]}}.

{{quote| '''Jaken:''' 'So in order for Sesshoumaru-sama to have a compassionate heart, {{spoiler|[[Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped|it means Rin had to die?]]'}}}}

* In ''[[Medaka Box]]'', this is Medaka's modus operandi. People are just problems that need solving to her, and that usually involves defeating them in some way. Usually violently. Taken to new heights in chapter 118: it doesn't get much tougher than {{spoiler|beating the crap out of a guy and mocking his weakness to motivate him further.}}

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== Live Action TV ==

* Was the title of a Season 5 episode of [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]].

** Attempted by [[Angel]]'s father. [[Self Made Orphan|He took it rather badly.]]

** Attempted by [[Angel]]'s father. [[Self-Made Orphan|He took it rather badly.]]

* Arguably, also the case for [[The Woobie|Dean's]] upbringing by his father in ''[[Supernatural (TV)|Supernatural]]''

* A memorable example occurred in a season 6 episode of [[Friends]] with [[Bruce Willis (Creator)]]'s character demonstrating [[Manly Tears]] whilst reminiscing with [[The Ditz|Rachel]] over his relationship with his father. Too bad this led to an excessive display of tears leading Rachel to dump him.

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[[Category:The Parent Trope]]

[[Category:Tough Love]]

[[Category:Trope]]