What Measure Is a Non-Human?/Live-Action TV: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (revise quote template spacing)
m (update links)
Line 14: Line 14:
*** In fact, there's a scene in the season 3 episode ''Forgiving'' where Angel is threatening to torture a human and Lorne, who's a demon, tries to dissuade him, saying "Angel, that's not a slimey demon you've got there, that's a human". Apparently, even good demons value human life more than demon life.
*** In fact, there's a scene in the season 3 episode ''Forgiving'' where Angel is threatening to torture a human and Lorne, who's a demon, tries to dissuade him, saying "Angel, that's not a slimey demon you've got there, that's a human". Apparently, even good demons value human life more than demon life.
**** Actually, Angel's group seems to believe this more than Angel - when he let Darla and Drusilla kill all those lawyers, he was doing exactly what he would have done if they were demons. He doesn't see it as a [[Moral Event Horizon]], though the group do.
**** Actually, Angel's group seems to believe this more than Angel - when he let Darla and Drusilla kill all those lawyers, he was doing exactly what he would have done if they were demons. He doesn't see it as a [[Moral Event Horizon]], though the group do.
**** However, Angel had Lorne assassinate Lindsey, and two of members of the Circle of the Black Thorn assassinated by Illyria were also human, at least in appearance. Speaking of Circle of the Black Thorn, there was also that politician that Gunn killed.
**** However, Angel had Lorne assassinate Lindsey, and two of members of the Circle of the Black Thorn assassinated by Illyria were also human, at least in appearance. Speaking of Circle of the Black Thorn, there was also that politician that Gunn killed.
* Oddly, ''[[Smallville]]'' lampshaded it and tossed it aside in the 7th season finale. The sentient, apparently emotional robot Brainiac, at Clark's mercy, tells him he could never kill a man. Clark quickly replies [[Just a Machine|"You're a machine,"]] then electrifies him.
* Oddly, ''[[Smallville]]'' lampshaded it and tossed it aside in the 7th season finale. The sentient, apparently emotional robot Brainiac, at Clark's mercy, tells him he could never kill a man. Clark quickly replies [[Just a Machine|"You're a machine,"]] then electrifies him.
* [[Russell T. Davies]] has a rule for his tenure in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' prohibiting humans from shooting other humans with "real" weapons. This rule does not, obviously, extend to Cybernised humans, the Futurekind (savage humans) or the formerly-human Toclafane. In fact, the rule gets broken in Russell T Davies' own "Tooth and Claw", in which Queen Victoria shoots a human traitor with a revolver.
* [[Russell T. Davies]] has a rule for his tenure in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' prohibiting humans from shooting other humans with "real" weapons. This rule does not, obviously, extend to Cybernised humans, the Futurekind (savage humans) or the formerly-human Toclafane. In fact, the rule gets broken in Russell T Davies' own "Tooth and Claw", in which Queen Victoria shoots a human traitor with a revolver.
Line 23: Line 23:
** The Doctor also had a long running argument with the Brigadier about "the military mind's" tendency to solve everything with "five rounds rapid".
** The Doctor also had a long running argument with the Brigadier about "the military mind's" tendency to solve everything with "five rounds rapid".
** The two parter ''The Rebel Flesh''/''The Almost People'' explores this with the gangers. Every character except the Doctor and Rory consider the gangers to ''not'' be human. The Doctor and his ganger manage to prove them wrong, and throughout the episodes the death toll for gangers and originals is pretty even, with two of the eventual survivors being gangers.
** The two parter ''The Rebel Flesh''/''The Almost People'' explores this with the gangers. Every character except the Doctor and Rory consider the gangers to ''not'' be human. The Doctor and his ganger manage to prove them wrong, and throughout the episodes the death toll for gangers and originals is pretty even, with two of the eventual survivors being gangers.
** Even in the above examples, the Doctor's attitude is iffy at best. The Doctor defends the rights of a Silurian prisoner but when she gets killed anyway, he protects [[Karma Houdini|her human murderer]] (who's an attempted ''mass'' murderer) yet does nothing to prevent the death of the dead Silurian's vengeful sister, even though apart from one being green they seem to be [[Not So Different]]. He claims gangers are people, then kills one just to prove she is a ganger. ([[Word of God]] attempts to justify it by saying that ganger is non-sentient but it's still a massive [[Broken Aesop]].) Possibly the original series' most awkward is example is the Ice Warriors. They appear in four stories. In one of them, they're treated as surprising allies. The other three (one of which was made afterwards) treat them as [[Always Chaotic Evil]]: In two, the Doctor kills several of them without a second thoughts, in the other he stands by while someone else oes it.
** Even in the above examples, the Doctor's attitude is iffy at best. The Doctor defends the rights of a Silurian prisoner but when she gets killed anyway, he protects [[Karma Houdini|her human murderer]] (who's an attempted ''mass'' murderer) yet does nothing to prevent the death of the dead Silurian's vengeful sister, even though apart from one being green they seem to be [[Not So Different]]. He claims gangers are people, then kills one just to prove she is a ganger. ([[Word of God]] attempts to justify it by saying that ganger is non-sentient but it's still a massive [[Broken Aesop]].) Possibly the original series' most awkward is example is the Ice Warriors. They appear in four stories. In one of them, they're treated as surprising allies. The other three (one of which was made afterwards) treat them as [[Exclusively Evil]]: In two, the Doctor kills several of them without a second thoughts, in the other he stands by while someone else oes it.
* Although they were ''all'' technically aliens, ''[[Power Rangers]]'' could kill "monstrous" villains but not "[[Human Aliens|human]]" ones. In a particularly [[Egregious]] case, a bunch of "monstrous" villains were killed but the few human-looking ones were turned good, with both of these outcomes resulting from the same attack.
* Although they were ''all'' technically aliens, ''[[Power Rangers]]'' could kill "monstrous" villains but not "[[Human Aliens|human]]" ones. In a particularly [[Egregious]] case, a bunch of "monstrous" villains were killed but the few human-looking ones were turned good, with both of these outcomes resulting from the same attack.
** This turns out to have been a case of producers interfering - they refused to kill the humanoid villains, even though the writers had scripted all villainous characters, "monstrous" and human alike, would be destroyed.
** This turns out to have been a case of producers interfering - they refused to kill the humanoid villains, even though the writers had scripted all villainous characters, "monstrous" and human alike, would be destroyed.
Line 74: Line 74:


Which is a godawful excuse, but that guy was twisted. Dean actually felt sorry for him, which is a change. A similar example would be a man who was turning into a creature known as a rougarou, which feast on humans. He was born that way and the brothers tell him what is happening to see if he can fight it off and hold in his vicious nature. Then a fellow hunter's actions force him to turn into a monster and they are left with no choice. }}
Which is a godawful excuse, but that guy was twisted. Dean actually felt sorry for him, which is a change. A similar example would be a man who was turning into a creature known as a rougarou, which feast on humans. He was born that way and the brothers tell him what is happening to see if he can fight it off and hold in his vicious nature. Then a fellow hunter's actions force him to turn into a monster and they are left with no choice. }}
** In season six, we find out that all these supernatural creatures {{spoiler|are created by the children of one Mother and tend toward [[Always Chaotic Evil]], especially when she's around.}} In season seven, we see that it's still possible for at least one monster to choose not to give in to [[The Dark Side]] most of the time. Every time a monster or witch doesn't act evil, though, it never seems to last--resulting in the [[The Hunter|Hunters']] [[Vigilante Man|position]] making more sense.
** In season six, we find out that all these supernatural creatures {{spoiler|are created by the children of one Mother and tend toward [[Exclusively Evil]], especially when she's around.}} In season seven, we see that it's still possible for at least one monster to choose not to give in to [[The Dark Side]] most of the time. Every time a monster or witch doesn't act evil, though, it never seems to last--resulting in the [[The Hunter|Hunters']] [[Vigilante Man|position]] making more sense.
*** It's likely but not certain that the general attitude of Hunters toward Sam as an "abomination" for having psychic powers (from demon blood) by itself would have led most of them to hunt and kill him as [[Not Quite Human]], but most gun for him pretty hard once they know [[You Monster!|he brought on]] [[The End of the World as We Know It|the Apocalypse]].
*** It's likely but not certain that the general attitude of Hunters toward Sam as an "abomination" for having psychic powers (from demon blood) by itself would have led most of them to hunt and kill him as [[Not Quite Human]], but most gun for him pretty hard once they know [[You Monster!|he brought on]] [[The End of the World as We Know It|the Apocalypse]].
** On the other hand, [[Grim Reaper|Reapers]] must be kept alive. Considering they [[Psychopomp|fulfill a function]]--harvesting those whose time has come--rather than actively killing, the distinction is understandable.
** On the other hand, [[Grim Reaper|Reapers]] must be kept alive. Considering they [[Psychopomp|fulfill a function]]--harvesting those whose time has come--rather than actively killing, the distinction is understandable.
Line 88: Line 88:
* Played with in [[Mr. Bean]]. He had at least two [[Companion Cube|companion cubes]]: his teddy bear and his car. Teddy can get decapitated and ripped apart every episode. The audience always laughs but also "Awwww"'s at close ups of the cute little toy bear, indicating that they sympathize with the toy but still feel it can be beaten up a little. His car provided a stranger example. In one episode, Bean's car was demolished. The audience apparently has a case of [[Mood Whiplash]] by laughing, showing sorrow, and then laughing again.
* Played with in [[Mr. Bean]]. He had at least two [[Companion Cube|companion cubes]]: his teddy bear and his car. Teddy can get decapitated and ripped apart every episode. The audience always laughs but also "Awwww"'s at close ups of the cute little toy bear, indicating that they sympathize with the toy but still feel it can be beaten up a little. His car provided a stranger example. In one episode, Bean's car was demolished. The audience apparently has a case of [[Mood Whiplash]] by laughing, showing sorrow, and then laughing again.
* [[Kamen Rider Kiva]] has Fangire who, while often evil, have been shown on various occasions to be capable of living peaceful lives without killing people, and to be able to love humans. However, Wataru generally has no qualms about killing them. Though he doesn't go out of his way to kill peaceful ones and has on occasion spared some.
* [[Kamen Rider Kiva]] has Fangire who, while often evil, have been shown on various occasions to be capable of living peaceful lives without killing people, and to be able to love humans. However, Wataru generally has no qualms about killing them. Though he doesn't go out of his way to kill peaceful ones and has on occasion spared some.
** Kamen Rider in general has this to some degree. It normally varies on home morally right the hero is and how peaceful the monster is. The main Rider normally won't kill a kaijin who isn't hurting anyone, but sometimes the [[Second Rider]] might not be as merciful and consider all of the species to be [[Always Chaotic Evil]]. Though to be fair, some of the kaijin are truly [[Always Chaotic Evil]], such as the war-like [[Kamen Rider Kuuga|Grongi]], but most are depicted as having good and evil members.
** Kamen Rider in general has this to some degree. It normally varies on home morally right the hero is and how peaceful the monster is. The main Rider normally won't kill a kaijin who isn't hurting anyone, but sometimes the [[Second Rider]] might not be as merciful and consider all of the species to be [[Exclusively Evil]]. Though to be fair, some of the kaijin are truly [[Exclusively Evil]], such as the war-like [[Kamen Rider Kuuga|Grongi]], but most are depicted as having good and evil members.
* [[Kamen Rider OOO]] has a particularly jarring example, in that the non-human in question is a main character. Ankh is a Greeed, and, technically speaking, not even alive. Very little regret has been shown about hurting or destroying others of his kind, and the only reason Ankh isn't lumped in with the other Greeed is that he is incapable of making Yummy and causing the kind of havoc and slaughter that the other Greeed can. However, even {{spoiler|when Ankh regains enough power to create Yummy and hurt people, the thought of him dying is still upsetting to the main characters, and they try reasoning with him instead of flat-out fighting him as they would with the other Greeed, who they never try to reason with.}}
* [[Kamen Rider OOO]] has a particularly jarring example, in that the non-human in question is a main character. Ankh is a Greeed, and, technically speaking, not even alive. Very little regret has been shown about hurting or destroying others of his kind, and the only reason Ankh isn't lumped in with the other Greeed is that he is incapable of making Yummy and causing the kind of havoc and slaughter that the other Greeed can. However, even {{spoiler|when Ankh regains enough power to create Yummy and hurt people, the thought of him dying is still upsetting to the main characters, and they try reasoning with him instead of flat-out fighting him as they would with the other Greeed, who they never try to reason with.}}
* [[Monster of the Week|The more human-like mutants of the week]] on ''[[The X-Files]]'' tend to get the harsher treatment, being portrayed as instinctive killing machines (or animalistic predators), to be stopped by any means necessary. However, earlier in the series, this had yet to be established. Eugene Tooms (the liver-eating, hibernating, contortionist mutant from Season 1) was supposedly rehabilitated and released back into society. Similarly, Flukeman from early Season 2 was committed to a psychiatric institution for observation, despite being a radioactively created fusion of Primate and flatworm DNA. In both of these instances Mulder argued that the creatures did not deserve the same legal treatment that a human serial killer would, because he did not see them as human. Later episodes focused more on ordinary humans with strange gifts or victims of unusual circumstance (many of whom killed by accident) rather than the traditional "mutants." Later in the series, a brain-eating humanoid creature [[Have You Tried Not Being a Monster?|tried living like a human]], but ultimately failed (proving Mulder's point). At least he got a sympathetic POV. Interestingly, in the episode featuring a severely inbred family as a [[Monster of the Week]], this doesn't get brought up, implying that the monstrous Peacock Clan is more "human" than (presumably) human-derived mutants like Tooms.
* [[Monster of the Week|The more human-like mutants of the week]] on ''[[The X-Files]]'' tend to get the harsher treatment, being portrayed as instinctive killing machines (or animalistic predators), to be stopped by any means necessary. However, earlier in the series, this had yet to be established. Eugene Tooms (the liver-eating, hibernating, contortionist mutant from Season 1) was supposedly rehabilitated and released back into society. Similarly, Flukeman from early Season 2 was committed to a psychiatric institution for observation, despite being a radioactively created fusion of Primate and flatworm DNA. In both of these instances Mulder argued that the creatures did not deserve the same legal treatment that a human serial killer would, because he did not see them as human. Later episodes focused more on ordinary humans with strange gifts or victims of unusual circumstance (many of whom killed by accident) rather than the traditional "mutants." Later in the series, a brain-eating humanoid creature [[Have You Tried Not Being a Monster?|tried living like a human]], but ultimately failed (proving Mulder's point). At least he got a sympathetic POV. Interestingly, in the episode featuring a severely inbred family as a [[Monster of the Week]], this doesn't get brought up, implying that the monstrous Peacock Clan is more "human" than (presumably) human-derived mutants like Tooms.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/What_Measure_Is_a_Non-Human%3F/Live-Action_TV"