History Main / JerkassBall

May overlap with NotHimself, NiceJobBreakingItHero, DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy. If done in a particularly exaggerated manner that in no way befits their normal characterization it is likely an OutOfCharacterMoment.

May overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHero, DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy. If done in a particular exagerrative manner that in no way befits their normal characterization it is likely an OutOfCharacterMoment.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E9BridleGossip "Bridle Gossip"]] when [[TokenMinority Zecora a zebra]] comes to town and is the victim of [[FantasticRacism Fantastic Racism]] by everypony including the Mane 6 minus [[OnlySaneMan Twilight and Applebloom.]] Applebloom later follows Zecora home to see if the racism is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] and the mane 6 try to get her back. HilarityEnsues.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Agent Mulder seems to be holding the Jerkass Ball in [[Recap/TheXFilesS01E13BeyondTheSea "Beyond The Sea"]]. He's compassionate enough and he genuinely feels for Scully who is dealing with the loss of her father. He actually calls her [[LastNameBasis Dana]] several times and suggests her some time off. But he also mocks her for only slightly tending to believe in Boggs, a SerialKiller with PsychicPowers, even though that's something [[AgentMulder he does all the time]]. Moreover, he reproaches her for following Boggs's leads (suggesting that it is foolish) and then for not admitting the truth to the investigating team (implying that she is not honest). When she returns to her usual rational explanation at the end, Mulder backs off and asks her why she cannot believe after all she has seen. He was seriously messing with her, probably still not trusting her entirely. Mind you, Agent Scully was originally assigned on the X-Files Unit to spy on him and debunk his work, but they were seen working well together in episodes that preceded this one.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Agent Mulder seems to be holding the Jerkass Ball in [[Recap/TheXFilesS01E13BeyondTheSea "Beyond The Sea"]]. He's compassionate enough and he genuinely feels for Scully who is dealing with the loss of her father. He actually calls her [[LastNameBasis Dana]] several times and suggests her some time off. But he also mocks her for only slightly tending to believe in Boggs, a SerialKiller with PsychicPowers, even though that's something he does all the time. Moreover, he reproaches her for following his leads (suggesting that it is foolish) and then for not admitting the truth to the investigating team (implying that she is not honest). When she returns to her usual rational explanation at the end, Mulder backs off and asks her why she cannot believe after all she has seen. He was seriously messing with her, probably still not trusting her entirely. Mind you, Agent Scully was originally assigned on the X-Files Unit to spy on him and debunk his work, but they were seen working well together in episodes that preceded this one.

* Stan and Kyle of ''SouthPark'' are usually [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Men]] to the craziness of the world around them, and act as more moralistic foils to Cartman. At times however, often when Cartman is not in a starring role, they can act rather selfish or immoral, having nothing against using similar bullying or conniving tactics as Cartman to get what they want. This is more toned down in later seasons, though still pops up every now and then.

* ''ThomasAndFriends'', much akin to ''Friendship Is Magic'', utilizes this often for Aesop value. This is especially prominant in later episodes, where even formally wise and kind engines like Edward can suddenly gain bouts of AcquiredSituationalNarcissism or FantasticRacism.

This is when TookALevelInJerkass is plot-requested. Sometimes, an otherwise nice person becomes a {{Jerkass}} unexpectedly, [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality mostly to advance the plot.]] May overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHero, DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy.

* This happens on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' a lot.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E9BridleGossip "Bridle Gossip"]] when [[TokenMinority Zecora a zebra]] comes to town and is the victim of [[FantasticRacism Fantastic Racism]] by everypony including the Mane 6 minus [[OnlySaneMan Twilight and Applebloom.]] Applebloom later follows Zecora home to see if the racism is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] and the mane 6 try to get her back. HilarityEnsues

*** Other [[FanNickname Mane 6]] bounce with the ball laugh at her problem and she is overreacting.

** Stan and Kyle of ''SouthPark'' are usually [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Men]] to the craziness of the world around them, and act as more moralistic foils to Cartman. At times however, often when Cartman is not in a starring role, they can act rather selfish or immoral, having nothing against using similar bullying or conniving tactics as Cartman to get what they want. This is more toned down in later seasons, though still pops up every now and then.

** Captain Archer from ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' played around with the JerkAss ball in the episode "A Night In Sickbay", rudely dismissing the idea of the Kreetassans being insulted because Porthos pissed on a tree (which bring a lot of fridge logic in), whining because they won't give them the plasma Injector that they need without him apologizing first, threatening to whiz on their trees himself, and berating everybody around him. The story writes in that this is because of his sexual tension. His abrasive behavior is one of the reasons why this episode is disliked by many, though YMMV.

** Captain Archer from StarTrekEnterprise played around with the JerkAss ball in the episode "A Night In Sickbay", rudely dismissing the idea of the Kreetassans being insulted because Porthos pissed on a tree (which bring a lot of fridge logic in), whining because they won't give them the plasma Injector that they need without him apologizing first, threatening to whiz on their trees himself, and berating everybody around him. The story writes in that this is because of his sexual tension. His abrasive behavior is one of the reasons why this episode is disliked by many, though YMMV.

** The heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. Granted the Urpneys ''are'' villains, if very pathetic ones, but at least compared to the Noops' [[SugarBowl exaggeratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', Ranma's dad Genma was always a bit of a careless Jerkass, but definitely took a level with the introduction of the Nekoken (a super-secret technique that can only be taught by torturing children), turning him from BumblingDad to insane, nightmare, dad. Its also a case of NeverLiveItDown, since he rarely does anything else that approaches that level of horrific stupidity.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown "Putting Your Hoof Down"]] Angel [[DomesticAbuse domestically abuses]] Fluttershy forcing her to go to the market so he can eat. Once there [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts everypony hates her guts.]] For example a cherry costs her 10 bits but when another pony buys another cherry it costs only 2 bits. Tomatoes are now 2 bits rather than the one they were yesterday.

This is when TookALevelInJerkass is plot-requested.Sometimes, an otherwise nice person becomes a {{Jerkass}} unexpectedly, [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality mostly to advance the plot.]] May overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHero, DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy.

* In ''GunnerkriggCourt'' Chapter 31 "Fire Spike", the cool-headed and stoic Annie argues with much-less-cool-headed Reynardine, beginning with copying her friend Kat's homework, effectively leading to revealing to him a secret that her mother has kept from him her entire life, one that Annie had learned about not 10 minutes ago. She [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=804 harshly hammers the nail into him about it]] for little reason until he retaliates in frustration by making what is essentially TheReveal to her. Annie generally never acts this way and doesn't have much reason other than being visibly frustrated previously, but as a whole she's generally stoic.

* A lot of ''TomAndJerry'' shorts employ this, having Tom instigate the conflict so that while Jerry dishes out DisproportionateRetribution for the rest of the short the audience still roots for him ([[DracoInLeatherPants for the most part]]).
* Combination of this an IdiotBall in ''TheDreamstone'', Rufus is usually extremely obedient and friendly to the point of [[TastesLikeDiabetes being saccharine]]. Whenever the plot calls for the Urpneys to steal the Dreamstone however, he seems to gain an arrogant streak, disobeying the Dream Maker's orders and messing with the stone so as to give the villains an opening.

** The heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. At least compared to their [[SugarBowl exaggeratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

** YourMileageMayVary whether the heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. At least compared to their [[SugarBowl exaggeratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

AnimeAndManga
* In Manga/RanmaOneHalf, Ranma's dad Genma was always a bit of a careless Jerkass, but definitely took a level with the introduction of the Nekoken (a super-secret technique that can only be taught by torturing children), turning him from BumblingDad to insane, nightmare, dad. Its also a case of NeverLiveItDown, since he rarely does anything else that approaches that level of horrific stupidity.

ComicBooks

Literature
* [[Literature/SeptimusHeap Septimus Heap]]: The usually nice titular character was rather mean to his sister Jenna at the beginning of Darke, for ostensibly no reason other than to disregard her warnings about a building danger in the Palace.

[[AC: Webcomics]]

WesternAnimation
* This happens on [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic My Little Pony Friendship is Magic]] a lot.

* Pretty much every {{WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy}} character is prone to this based on RuleOfFunny. Lois and Brian, who by default are somewhat straight-faced and fairly empathetic characters, can become selfish, vindictive and outright sociopathic jerks if it helps with the shock value comedy. To a lesser extent Seth Mc Farlane's [[WesternAnimation/AmericanDad other]] [[WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow works]] are prone to this as well.

** YourMileageMayVary whether the heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. At least compared to their [[SugarBowl exaggeratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

This is when Took A Level In Jerkass is plot-requested.Sometimes, an otherwise nice person becomes a Jerkass unexpectedly, [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality mostly to advance the plot.]] May overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHero, DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy.

* In Manga/RanmaOneHalf, Ranma's dad Genma was always a bit of a careless JerkAss, but definitely took a level with the introduction of the Nekoken (a super-secret technique that can only be taught by torturing children), turning him from BumblingDad to insane, nightmare, dad. Its also a case of NeverLiveItDown, since he rarely does anything else that approaches that level of horrific stupidity.

* In ''GunnerkriggCourt'' Chapter 31 "Fire Spike", the cool-headed and stoic Annie argues with much-less-cool-headed Reynardine, beginning with copying her friend Kat's homework, effectively leading to revealing to him a secret that her mother has kept from him her entire life, one that Annie had learned about not 10 minutes ago. She [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=804 harshly hammers the nail into him about it]] for little reason until he retaliates in frusturation by making what is essentially TheReveal to her. Annie generally never acts this way and doesn't have much reason other than being visibly frusturated previously, but as a whole she's generally stoic.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E9BridleGossip "Bridle Gossip"]] when [[TokenMinority Zecora a zebra]] comes to town and is the victim of [[FantasticRacism Fantastic Racism]] by everpony including the Mane 6 minus [[OnlySaneMan Twilight and Applebloom.]] Applebloom later follows Zecora home to see if the racism is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] and the mane 6 try to get her back. HilarityEnsues
** in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E15TheSuperSpeedyCiderSqueezy6000 "The Super Speedy Cider Squezzy 6000"]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Ponyville's insensivity and impatience almost costs the Apple Family their livelyhood.]]

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown "Putting Your Hoof Down"]] Angel [[DomesticAbuse domesticly abuses]] Fluttershy forcing her to go to the market so he can eat. Once their [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts everypony hates her guts.]] For example a cherry costs her 10 bits but when another pony buys another cherry it costs only 2 bits. Tomatoes are now 2 bits rather than the one they were yesterday.
*** Fluttershy eventually goes mad with her assertive training and starts bullying anyone who so much as vaguely inconviniences her. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone She snaps out of it]] when she manages to make her friends cry as a result.

* Pretty much every {{WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy}} character is prone to this based on RuleOfFunny. Lois and Brian, who by default are somewhat straight faced and fairly empathetic characters, can become selfish, vindictive and outright sociopathic jerks if it helps with the shock value comedy. To a lesser extent Seth Mc Farlene's [[WesternAnimation/AmericanDad other]] [[WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow works]] are prone to this as well.

* Combination of this an IdiotBall in ''TheDreamstone'', Rufus is usually extremely obidient and friendly to the point of [[TastesLikeDiabetes being saccharine]]. Whenever the plot calls for the Urpneys to steal the Dreamstone however, he seems to gain an arrogant streak, disobeying the Dream Maker's orders and messing with the stone so as to give the villains an opening.
** YourMileageMayVary whether the heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. At least compared to their [[SugarBowl exagerratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

This is when Took A Level In Jerkass is plot-requested.Sometimes, an otherwise nice person becomes a Jerkass unexpectedly, [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality mostly to advance the plot.]] May overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHero.

** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown "Putting Your Hoof Down"]] inspired this trope. Angel [[DomesticAbuse domesticly abuses]] Fluttershy forcing her to go to the market so he can eat. Once their [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts everypony hates her guts.]] For example a cherry costs her 10 bits but when another pony buys another cherry it costs only 2 bits. Tomatoes are now 2 bits rather than the one they were yesterday.

** I think it's safe to say Friendship Is Magic does this on an almost episodic basis. Since the show revolves around Aesops and characters learning to better overcome their flaws, nearly every character that has the center focus will have a moment they become neurotic, selfish or just plain irrashional in order to get the plot going. Applejack and Twilight Sparkle, who are usually [[TheStraightMan Straight Ponies]] when a supporting character but completely reckless and self righteous when the center focus, are prime examples (though Applejack is also the one character to gain a starring episode she didn't need to learn anything thus avoiding the Jerkass Ball for once).

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First, a possible example:
* ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'': The usually nice titular character was rather mean to his sister Jenna at the beginning of ''Darke'', for ostensibly no reason other than to disregard her warnings about a building danger in the Palace.

Second, description:

This is when TookALevelInJerkass is plot-requested.

Sometimes, an otherwise nice person becomes a Jerkass unexpectedly, mostly to advance the plot.

Three: The MLP:FIM example is way too undetailed.

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And Ponyville has always been full of crazies and jerks.

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So this is when someone picks up the JerkassBall for just one episode?

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Jerkass Ball might be a good name for it. I'm pretty sure we made a YKTTW for this before, I even added some examples to it (which I'll try and remember and put on here later).

* Pretty much ''every'' FamilyGuy character is prone to this based on RuleOfFunny. Lois and Brian, who by default are somewhat straight faced and fairly empathetic characters, can become selfish, vindictive and outright sociopathic jerks if it helps with the shock value comedy. To a lesser extent Seth Mc Farlene's [[AmericanDad other]] [[TheClevelandShow works]] are prone to this as well.
* If we're going by ''FriendshipIsMagic'' examples, do not forget "Lesson Zero", where the usually fair natured Twilight Sparkle has an outright SanitySlippage from being tardy in writing a friendship message, and resorts to ''making'' a problem in order to have material.
** Also in the "Putting Your Hoof Down" example, Fluttershy eventually goes mad with her assertive training and starts bullying anyone who so much as vaguely inconviniences her. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone She snaps out of it]] when she manages to make her friends cry as a result.

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In RanmaOneHalf, Ranma's dad Genma was always a bit of a careless JerkAss, but definitely took a level with the introduction of the Nekoken (a super-secret technique that can only be taught by torturing children), turning him from BumblingDad to insane, nightmare, dad. Its also a case of NeverLiveItDown, since he rarely does anything else that approaches that level of horrific stupidity.

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I don't think I'd include this as an example, but personally I thought that in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E15TheSuperSpeedyCiderSqueezy6000 the Cider Squeezy episode]], the Apple family ponies were being pretty inconsiderate to their customers, what with making them stand in line all day only to sell out early and leave the ponies in the back empty handed. Would it have killed them to raise the price? Or set up a pre-order system? Or at least limit the amount of cider per customer per day so Pinkie Pie couldn't walk off with a whole load while the others go thirsty?

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I think it's safe to say ''Friendship Is Magic'' does this on an almost episodic basis. Since the show revolves around Aesops and characters learning to better overcome their flaws, nearly every character that has the center focus will have a moment they become neurotic, selfish or just plain irrashional in order to get the plot going. Applejack and Twilight Sparkle, who are usually [[TheStraightMan Straight Ponies]] when a supporting character but completely reckless and self righteous when the center focus, are prime examples (though Applejack is also the one character to gain a starring episode she ''didn't need to learn anything'' thus avoiding the Jerkass Ball for once).

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Well, she didn't ''learn'' anything, but as I said I disagree that she didn't ''need'' to learn anything. That wasn't brought up in the show though.

But I think you're right, almost every episode involves on the Mane Six being handed a ball, whether Jerkass, Idiot, or other.

reply:
Well you can take out that last part if you disagree (it likely counts as natter anyway). But the rest pretty much rounds up the series so the page doesn't ultimately become bloated with more examples.

A lot of Aesop centric shows act similar, especially they [[ADayInTheLimelight rotate with characters]].

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Do you like JerkBall?

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''CryForJustice'' hands the ball to several heroes, making them increasingly violent and sadistic in their efforts to track down criminals. The worst of them is Ray Palmer, who [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique tortures information out of Killer Moth]] by shrinking to a microscopic size, entering his brain and enlarging slightly to simulate a stroke--the same method Jean Loring used to kill Sue Dibny.

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Gonna add a hat and keep this alive since I think this trope has potential. A lot of entries in TookALevelInJerkass seem to fit this trope more.

Often overlaps with DependingOnTheWriter and ComedicSociopathy.

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* In the ''SpongebobSquarepants'' episode 'Walking Small', Plankton tricks SpongeBob into becoming assertive so he can build his Mega Bucket.

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If this is to be an IdiotBall snowclone, the transition to JerkAss must be temporary and undone after jerkassery is not needed anymore. Stress on "temporary". And TookALevelInJerkass isn't temporary.

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Is this ConflictBall?

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Cut that "inspired this trope" part out from that MLP example, please. I'm not sure what it means but it doesn't really fit there in any case.

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@peccantis: That's what I meant by some examples in TookALevelInJerkass fit better here, since they refer to only one episode or instance rather than a consistant evolution.

** YourMileageMayVary whether the heroes [[HeroicComedicSociopath occasionally overzealous handling]] of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil the Urpneys]] counts as this as well, especially when using greyer methods of desposing of them such as HeelFaceBrainwashing. At least compared to their [[SugarBowl exagerratively docile nature]] otherwise it's a bit of change.

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^Please remember that ExamplesAreNotArguable.

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Tzintzuntzan has a point. This might also be covered by that and CompressedVice?

Also, it seems like maybe all the ponies are jerkasses if there are so many examples of it?

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"Let us not forget" and "I think it's safe to say" need to go, they're WordCruft.

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Also, the final pony "example" (which states the obvious, that the show loves this) should be trimmed or cut completely. At least the first person (there's no "I" in TVtropes)

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[[AC: Webcomics]]
* In ''GunnerkriggCourt'' Chapter 31 "Fire Spike", the cool-headed and stoic Annie argues with much-less-cool-headed Reynardine, beginning with copying her friend Kat's homework, effectively leading to revealing to him a secret that her mother has kept from him her entire life, one that Annie had learned about not 10 minutes ago. She [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=804 harshly hammers the nail into him about it]] for little reason until he retaliates in frusturation by making what is essentially TheReveal to her. Annie generally never acts this way and doesn't have much reason other than being visibly frusturated previously, but as a whole she's generally stoic.