History Main / ASharedSuffering

* Odo from ''DeepSpaceNine'' is sort of like this, yearning to find his people, until he does and learns they're dicks (although this doesn't stop him wishing he ''could'' rejoin them). This trope is also used as the basis for the bond that ends up forming between him and Garak who, as the only Cardassian on the station, also yearns to be rejoined with his people. His separation from his people is entirely different to Odo's (for a start it [[MysteriousPast possibly]] may be his own fault he's in exile) but the knowledge that they'd both do almost anything to rejoin their people and that there's a line they can't bring themselves to cross (no-one is more surprised to learn [[TortureTechnician Garak]] has one of these lines than [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Garak]] himself) in pursuit of this desire which keeps them separated from their kin culminates in a [[TortureAlwaysWorks stunning scene]] that should have driven them apart forever but which instead is the [[DespairEventHorizon basis]] out of which their friendship forms. The look on Garak's face when he finally gets Odo to confess his deep secret about the Founders ("HOME! I want to go HOME!") says it all, followed shortly thereafter by a WhatHaveIDone expression when he realizes how similar they are (and that he too, can't go home without crossing the MoralEventHorizon).

* Lister and Rimmer in ''RedDwarf'' (series 1-7) are the only two left who remember Red Dwarf before the accident. And Lister and Kochanski in series 7 are the only two humans.

* Odo from ''DeepSpaceNine'' is sort of like this, yearning to find his people, until he does and learns they're dicks (although this doesn't stop him wishing he ''could'' rejoin them). This trope is also used as the basis for the bond that ends up forming between him and Garak who, as the only Cardassian on the station, also yearns to be rejoined with his people. His separation from his people is entirely different to Odo's (for a start it [[MysteriousPast possibly]] may be his own fault he's in exile) but the knowledge that they'd both do almost anything to rejoin their people and that there's a line they can't bring themselves to cross (no-one is more surprised to learn [[TortureTechnician Garak]] has one of these lines than [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Garak]] himself) in pursuit of this desire which keeps them separated from their kin culminates in a [[TortureAlwaysWorks stunning scene]] that should have driven them apart forever but which instead is the [[DespairEventHorizon basis]] out of which their friendship forms.

* A scene in one episode of ''[[BabylonFive Babylon 5]]'' has Vir and Lennier commiserating over being put-upon ambassadorial flunkies.

* It's somewhat understated, but this forms part of Harry's bond with Ginny in the HarryPotter universe -- she is the only other person he knows who understands how it feels to have been possessed by Voldemort.

* Odo from ''DeepSpaceNine'' is sort of like this, yearning to find his people, until he does and learns they're dicks (although this doesn't stop him wishing he ''could'' rejoin them).
** It's also used as the basis for the bond that ends up forming between him and Garak who, as the only Cardassian on the station, also yearns to be rejoined with his people. His separation from his people is entirely different to Odo's (for a start it [[MysteriousPast possibly]] may be his own fault he's in exile) but the knowledge that they'd both do almost anything to rejoin their people and that there's a line they can't bring themselves to cross (no-one is more surprised to learn [[TortureTechnician Garak]] has one of these lines than [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Garak]] himself) in pursuit of this desire which keeps them separated from their kin culminates in a [[TortureAlwaysWorks stunning scene]] that should have driven them apart forever but which instead is the [[DespairEventHorizon basis]] out of which their friendship forms.

* Buffy and Kendra/ Buffy and Faith in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' have a few conversations about how they're the only ones who understand what it's like to be the Slayer (at least before "Chosen").

* Angel and Spike in Season 5 of ''{{Angel}}'' - they have a shared history as well as being the only two vampires with souls in the world.

* This is the rationale [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]] has for not killing The Master in "Last Of The Time Lords".
** Really? I thought that was just his excuse because he didn't want to kill off his ex.
*** Well, he certainly was pretty distressed when [[spoiler: the Master refused to regenerate]]. That seems to point towards this trope.

*** Oddly enough, he doesn't spot the connection with [[spoiler: the Space Whale in ''The Beast Below'', but luckily Amy did]]:

* In the {{Paradise}} setting, an unknown force is randomly, permanently turning humans into FunnyAnimals (and sometimes [[GenderBender changing their gender]]) in a way that is InvisibleToNormals. Changed, especially from the early waves where they are few and far between, often fear they're alone or outright going crazy. After spending weeks, months, or even years alone, they are so relieved to find out there are others like them that they might break down and cry.

* In ''Natsume Yuujinchou'', Natsume finally meets someone else who can see youkai as well... but turns out [[spoiler:he's an exorcist, who does not hesitate to kill youkai]]. Still, they [[spoiler:become friends]].

** In ''Natsume Yuujinchou'', Natsume finally meets someone else who can see youkai as well... but turns out [[spoiler:he's an exorcist, who does not hesitate to kill youkai]]. Still, they [[spoiler:become friends]].

** In ''Natsume Yuujinchou'', Natsume finally meets someone else who can see youkai as well... but turns out [[spoiler:he's an exorcist, who does not hesitate to kill youkai]]. Still, they [[spoiler:become friends]].

** It's also used as the basis for the bond that ends up forming between him and Garak who, as the only Cardassian on the station, also yearns to be rejoined with his people. His separation from his people is entirely different to Odo's (for a start it possibly may be his own fault he's in exile) but the knowledge that they'd both do almost anything to rejoin their people and that there's a line they can't bring themselves to cross (no-one is more surprised to learn [[TortureTechnician Garak]] has one of these lines than [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Garak]] himself) in pursuit of this desire which keeps them separated from their kin culminates in a [[TortureAlwaysWorks stunning scene]] that should have driven them apart forever but which instead is the [[DespairEventHorizon basis]] out of which their friendship forms.

-->-- '''The Doctor''', ''DoctorWho'', "The Doctor's Daughter"

* This is the rationale [[DoctorWho The Doctor]] has for not killing The Master in "Last Of The Time Lords".

-->''"You're an echo, that's all. A Time Lord is so much more. A sum of knowledge, a code, a shared history, a shared suffering."''\\
-- '''The Doctor''', ''DoctorWho'', "The Doctor's Daughter"

* Odo from ''DeepSpaceNine'' is sort of like this, yearning to find his people, until he does and learns they're dicks.

* {{Naruto}} and Gaara are ([[spoiler: or in Gaara's case was]])) Jinchuuriki, living containers of [[SealedEvilInACan powerful demons]]. They grew up [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer isolated and lonely because most people were afraid of them]].

* On ''TheFairlyOddparents'', both Timmy and Tootie are harassed by Vicky the most, and several spin-off children's books hint to Timmy feeling sympathy for Tootie and her having to live with a mean sister. The actual episodes...well, half will say it is hinted several times that Timmy sympathizes with Tootie for this reason, the other half will say the first half is wearing ShippingGoggles [[hottip:*:Let's just leave it at that. [[InternetBackdraft Please]].]] This has been a popular type of shipping [[CanonFodder fanfic fuel]].