History Main / KnightinSourArmor

More often than not these characters are in settings that feature BlackAndGrayMorality.[[note]]It's also common for BlackAndWhiteMorality and even WhiteAndGreyMorality as well.[[/note]] They're usually [[ShellShockedVeteran survivors]] who have largely given up on believing in HonorBeforeReason, but still strive to be LawfulGood or as close to it as reality allows them to be. They are willing to bend the rules to save them. In LighterAndSofter settings, these characters are {{Grumpy Bear}}s and are often mocked by the other characters for being so sour all the time.

* Buttercup of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' is the BloodKnight of the trio and can act like this a ''lot'', seeing as she represents the Spice aspect of Professor Utonium's original recipe.

* John Rambo, especially in ''Film/RamboIV''. Traumatic experience from wars and the ugliest side of humanity has left the Vietnam War veteran a bitter, misanthropic man, but he will still go out all his ways to do the right things to save the people worth protecting.

** Barok van Zieks of ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'' admits that he has no faith in his nation's criminal justice system or even humanity. Despite this, he's adamant on [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen playing by the rules]] and performing his duty as a prosecutor without resorting to underhanded means or CowboyCop tactics.

** [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Arturia Pendragon]] downplays this. By the start of the story, she had to contend with [[Myth/KingArthur the loss of her kingdom, Camelot, in part due to her own mistakes]], [[MercyKill had to put down an old friend who has fallen into complete madness thanks actions on both ends]], and [[FailureKnight failing to protect the one person she could consider her friend]]; all of which most definitely have caused her to [[BreakTheCutie have been damaged]]. However, she still is able to hold to her beliefs([[LightNovel/FateZero despite getting mocked and ridiculed for having them]]), being driven ''because'' of said experiences [[MiseryBuildsCharacter to make herself and her ideals better than before]] in order to properly [[CrapsackWorld deal with the new world she's landed in]] and [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore THOSE earth-shattering events]].
** Cullen Rutherford is still clearly scarred from witnessing the fall of the two Circles he was apart of: [[DragonAgeOrigins the first one]] had him witness all of his friends and commands murdered in front of him before getting MindRape by demons and [[Videogame/DragonAgeII the second one]] had him witness very worst of the Circle system he previously supported and lead to the current Mage-Templar War. Despite this, Cullen is still devoted to the cause of the Inquisition and believes the Templar Order can be redeemed despite its many mistakes.

* ''Podcast/SeenAndNotHeard'': One of the pieces of advice Bet's rabbi gives her: "... what keeps you on the good side of the world is doing good for the world despite how it’s treating you. And if you can’t do good, just don’t do harm."

* ''Fanfic/TheSeventhPlayer'' has [[BeastFolk Machaira Mekhit]], the titular seventh player of [[WebVideo/Dimension20 The Bad Kids]]. [[spoiler:From the day she was born, Machaira's life would be filled with obscene tragedy for someone as young as her, most of which over matters that she was powerless to control or change. It would begin with being born "primitive" (being born with fangs and growing up to be shorter and stockier than most tabaxi), which would result in a childhood filled with brutal abuse from her peers and neglect from the adults in her community, including her own parents, and would later go on to involve her nearly destroying her life once puberty hit her- she would go on to drink, do drugs, and have sex recklessly with people, which would result in her being further abused by others and being subjected to even worse cruelties of the world. In spite of all of this, she hasn't lost her determination to do good in the world, nor has she lost her affectionate and loving personality.]]

* ''Fanfic/TheSeventhPlayer'' has [[BeastFolk Machaira Mekhit]], the titular seventh player of [[WebVideo/Dimension20 The Bad Kids]]. From the day she was born, Machaira's life would be filled with obscene tragedy for someone as young as her, most of which over matters that she was powerless to control or change. It would begin with being born "primitive" (being born with fangs and growing up to be shorter and stockier than most tabaxi), which would result in a childhood filled with brutal abuse from her peers and neglect from the adults in her community, including her own parents, and would later go on to involve her nearly destroying her life once puberty hit her- she would go on to drink, do drugs, and have sex recklessly with people, which would result in her being further abused by others and being subjected to even worse cruelties of the world. In spite of all of this, she hasn't lost her determination to do good in the world, nor has she lost her affectionate and loving personality.

* [[Fanfic/TheSeventhPlayer Machaira Mekhit]], [[TitleDrop the titular seventh player]] of [[WebVideo/Dimension20 The Bad Kids]], is this. From the day she was born, Machaira's life would be filled with obscene tragedy for someone as young as her, most of which over matters that she was powerless to control or change- it would begin with being born "primitive" (being born with fangs and growing up to be shorter and stockier than most tabaxi), which would result in a childhood filled with brutal abuse from her peers and neglect from the adults in her community, including her own parents, and would later go on to involve her nearly destroying her life once puberty hit her- she would go on to drink, do drugs, and have sex recklessly with people, which would result in her being further abused by others and being subjected to even worse cruelties of the world. In spite of all of this, she hasn't lost her determination to do good in the world, nor has she lost her affectionate and loving personality.

** After ambushing a Haradrim convoy, Faramir of Gondor contemplates the body of a fallen enemy soldier and wonders if he didn't think that the cause he served was just as valid and noble as Faramir thinks his is. TheUnfavorite among his father's two sons, dealing with the recent death of the older brother he idolized, and feeling more and more that Gondor is simply doomed to fall, he continues to fight solely out of a sense of duty to his country and his people. He is no longer certain his cause is worth fighting for, but he doesn't know what else to do.

* ''Film/TheTwoTowers'': With Orcs freely pillaging his country, his King reduced to a catatonic puppet by Saruman's magic, his sister held hostage by Saruman's sleazy spy Grima, and himself banished by "royal decree" upon speaking out about the situation, Eomer of Rohan starts out the film in this state. Yet he and the Riders loyal to him continue to fight the invading Orcs and defend the common people as best they can. As he tells Aragorn, "Look to your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands."

** ''ComicBook/IllyanaRasputin''. Despite having a very abrasive personality, she's loyal to Cyclops' side and the X-Men in general, regrets ruining her relationship with her brother and is thrilled to be with ComicBook/KittyPryde again in ''Uncanny X-Men Vol. 3''.

* Creator/HumphreyBogart as Rick Blaine in ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', as archetypal FilmNoir PrivateDetective Literature/PhilipMarlowe in ''Film/TheBigSleep'', and as [[Creator/DashiellHammett Sam Spade]] in ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1941}}''. Those three movies, plus ''Film/HighSierra'', led to Bogie being typecast in this role. Additional examples include ''Tokyo Joe'', ''The Enforcer'', ''Film/TheHarderTheyFall'', ''Film/ToHaveAndHaveNot'', ''Film/DeadReckoning'', ''Film/DarkPassage'', and ''Film/TheBarefootContessa'', month others.

* In ''[[Fanfic/AKnightsTaleAsInquisitor A Knight's Tale as Inquisitor]]'', [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Arturia]] downplays this. By the start of the story, she had to contend with [[Myth/KingArthur the loss of her kingdom, Camelot, in part due to her own mistakes]], [[MercyKill had to put down an old friend who has fallen into complete madness thanks actions on both ends]], and [[FailureKnight failing to protect the one person she could consider her friend]]; all of which most definitely have caused her to [[BreakTheCutie have been damaged]]. However, she still is able to hold to her beliefs([[LightNovel/FateZero despite getting mocked and ridiculed for having them]]), being driven ''because'' of said experiences [[MiseryBuildsCharacter to make herself and her ideals better than before]] in order to properly [[CrapsackWorld deal with the new world she's landed in]] and [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore THOSE earth-shattering events]].

** Sayaka Miki. After learning [[spoiler:the first]] AwfulTruth of becoming a MagicalGirl and having a heart-to-heart with Kyouko who tells her that she is better off battling witches for her own rewards than to protect others, she still chooses to continue to stay a hero. However, [[spoiler:when her LockedOutOfTheLoop friend Hitomi admits to having also been in love with Kyosuke and gives her a day to admit her feelings, which she can't due to the nature of the truth]], her ideals begin to gradually shift more and more until [[spoiler:she becomes a [[TragicMonster witch]] herself]]]].

[[caption-width-right:320:[[WhenLifeGivesYouLemons When life]] [[LiteralMinded gives you lemons...]] You make armour from it.]]

** Sayaka Miki. After learning [[spoiler:the first]] AwfulTruth of becoming a MagicalGirl and having a heart-to-heart with Kyouko who tells her that she is better off battling witches for her own rewards than to protect others, she still chooses to continue to stay a hero. However, [[spoiler:when her LockedOutOfTheLoop friend Hitomi admits to having also been in love with Kyosuke and gives her a day to admit her feelings, which she can't due to the nature of the truth]], her ideals begin to gradually shift more and more until [[spoiler:she becomes a [[TragicMonster witch]] [[DespairEventHorizon herself]]]].

* Sora, one of the two main protagonists of ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'', is a {{NEET}} with a FriendlessBackground who developed the view that [[HumansAreBastards humanity is worthless]]... but at the same time, he is capable of giving surprisingly impassioned speeches about how HumansAreSpecial. When questioned about this, he replies that, although he strongly dislikes humanity as it is - [[HeroicSelfDeprecation including himself]] - he genuinely believes in the '''potential''' of humanity to be something greater, best embodied in his [[ChildProdigy hyper intelligent]] [[LittleSisterHeroine little sister]], Shiro.

* From the ''Negima''/''Naruto'' crossover fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7441275/1/Broken_Faith Broken Faith]]'' by [=Kur0Kishi=], Naruto Uzumaki becomes jaded due to [[TheLostLenore certain]] [[BreakTheCutie extenuating]] [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope circumstances]] before the story begins. The end result is a bitter idealist who at times tells the other characters as he trains them to not follow his path, as well as becoming an enforcer of sorts [[TheDreaded known and feared by most mages worldwide as]] ''[[RedBaron The Black Paladin]]''

Generally, these characters fit one of two personality types. Members of the first type are former {{Wide Eyed Idealist}}s who have come to [[JadeColoredGlasses accept]] that their world is on the low end of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, but who [[TheIdealist still find something beautiful in their former ideals]] that they want to hold on to. Those of the second type are born cynics, who would make natural {{Jerkass}} [[AntiHero antiheroes]], but who nevertheless have devoted themselves to a code of honor or fair play. In either case, these people tend to have gone through (often painful) CharacterDevelopment in their past, meaning that they are normally older than the average hero.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Literature]]
* OlderThanFeudalism: Creator/{{Confucius}} in Analects 18.7 "A superior man takes office, and performs the righteous duties belonging to it. As to the failure of right principles to make progress, he is aware of that."
* Princess [[spoiler: Trini]] in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' is just a minor character, but what we see of her fits this. She is very pessimistic about Jerin's character, pointing out that her sisters were deceived before. Eventually, though, when she is told that he might be in danger, she quickly forgets about her former suspicions and decides to [[spoiler: marry him so that the family of her ex-husband doesn't get him]]. It could be partly revenge, but she is also shown to be quite aware of the issue of poverty in her realm, so it is reasonable to believe that it was ''mostly'' selfless.
--> [[spoiler:'''Trini:''' I wouldn't give a ''dog'' to the Porters.]]
* Most of the main characters are this to some extent in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'':
** Jake started off wanting to fight to free Tom and save the world. As the series progressed, he became more hardened and cynical, realizing that there was no help coming, and it was just as likely that he end up killing Tom as saving him. Despite that, he continued the fight and made the hard decisions, because he had to do something, and fighting the Yeerks was the right thing to do.
** Despite all the battles he won, and all the blows he struck against the Yeerk Empire, Elfangor wasn't even sure he was making a difference.
%%* Fingolfin in Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. He could well be the {{Trope Maker|s}}.
%%** Likewise, Húrin and Huor.
* A few in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Though Jon Snow starts off the series as a WideEyedIdealist with dreams of being a gallant defender for the Night's Watch, his idealism is slowly chipped away by this series' CrapSackWorld over the course of the books. Still, he believes wholeheartedly in his father's beliefs about goodness and decency, is honorable and [[HeroicBastard heroic]], and strives to do the right thing but -- though he doesn't feel good about going against rules -- will compromise them when necessary, in order to do what's right and protect innocent lives.
** Daenerys Targaryen suffers for her kindness after saving Mirri Maz Duur, but chooses to continue her mission of liberating & fighting for the oppressed anyway.
** Ned Stark is very honorable, believes in duty, but thinks the world sucks and most people don't care for anything. However, ''he'' keeps trying, holds onto his goodness, largely adheres to a strict code of honour and does what's right, [[spoiler:which gets him killed]], but these latter two things aren't always the same thing. As a result, though he is uncomfortable doing so, he is willing to sacrifice his honor in some instances for the sake of doing the right thing.
** Adding the Hound to this page would involve unwisely [[BerserkButton calling him a knight]]. However, his armour is made of the purest citric acid. Even he would cop to that.
** There's also Tyrion Lannister, who's snarktastic and has contempt or hatred for most of those around him (because they either assume he's a Lannister and think he's untrustworthy, or see that he's dwarf and dislike him based on ''that''), but he truly tried to do what was best for the kingdom. He also showed his concern by designing a special saddle for Bran after his fall and went back to Winterfell to give them his design, although he knew he would not be much welcome there.
** Jaime Lannister surprises himself far more than anybody else by gradually regaining principles to (snarkily) defend and genuinely believe in after years of [[ThenLetMeBeEvil resigning himself to being the bad guy]] in a clearly CrapsackWorld, since believing in inherent goodness and nobility is what failed him the first time. The process is spotty, but, dammit, he's going to give doing the right thing a shot... and, sod the consequences!
** Davos Seaworth has seen (and done) a lot of illegal and corrupt shit in his life, but still maintains a belief in the rightness of fairly-applied, impartial justice and the rule of law. Which is why he's Stannis Baratheon's Jiminy Cricket. However wonky and venal the world they're trying to improve.
* Sturm Brightblade of ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' has watched the Knights of Solamnia he grew up idolizing turn into earnest failures at best and corrupt monsters at worst. He has the darkest sense of humor of any of the main cast outside of Raistlin, and yet he is truer to the knights' code than most of the knights who were actually given full status.
%%* Ed Exley becomes this by the end of ''Film/LAConfidential''.
* Literature/PhilipMarlowe, Creator/RaymondChandler's main character, is explicitly described by the author as a 'knight in shining armor' despite being a DeadpanSnarker FirstPersonSmartass.
-->"I looked down at the chessboard. The move with the knight was wrong. I put it back where I had moved it from. Knights had no meaning in this game. It wasn't a game for knights." -- ''Literature/TheBigSleep''
** Chandler even gives him a [[DistaffCounterpart "Princess In Sour Dress"]], Linda Loring, in ''Literature/TheLongGoodbye''.
* Mina Davis of ''Literature/HungoverAndHandcuffed'' and ''Literature/AssholeYakuzaBoyfriend'' follows proudly in Marlowe's snarky footsteps.
* Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''.
** Sam Vimes. He's described as possibly being slightly knurd in his natural state -- anti-drunk, which means seeing things horribly clearly without all the normal fuzzy self-deception that makes life bearable -- and yet, he's one of the most incorruptible, moral, and downright decent characters on the Disc, hands down. (Vimes is also ''literally'' a sour knight, having been elevated into the ranks of nobility against his wishes -- he feels it makes him a class traitor.)
** Granny Weatherwax. ''Literature/WitchesAbroad'' alludes the idea Granny was a good candidate for a "bad witch," until her sister took up the role and she had to balance it out. Granny's adamant belief in Right and Wrong over anything else is predicated on the fact that neither of those necessarily involve what someone (including herself) would ''like'' to do.
** Lord Vetinari, as seen from his speech in ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals''. He describes in his younger days he once witnessed, as part of the natural order of things, a mother otter has killed a salmon and brought it to her young to feed on. Upon ripping open the fish's guts, hundreds of eggs fall out and are a feast to the otter pups. As he describes it, a mother and children feasting upon mother and children.
--->"Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior."
** Death gives a metaphysical version of the idea in ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}'': Notions like justice or mercy are not found in the universe -- not one atom -- but humans need to believe in them in order to make it so that they are.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has a few of these.
** Karrin Murphy:
*** Her lawfulness causes her to threaten to throw the book at Harry more often than she'd like. She also gets angry when [[spoiler: an archangel uses her as a mouthpiece when she takes up one of the Swords of the Cross]].
*** Karrin Murphy is being forced toward a change in worldview by the realization of the cold fact that the law, which she idolized (almost literally) in early books is just simply inadequate to deal with the reality of the world as she has come to know it. She's also begun to realize just how much Harry was ''protecting'' her, even when she angrily insisted she wanted no such protection; now she knows she needed it...and resents that fact.
*** In ''Blood Rites'', when Harry looks upon Murphy with his Sight, she appears as an angel, but one that has been covered in blood and soot and is bearing terrible wounds - a direct contrast to the more idealistic image of a pure angel in shining white clothes that she appears as in ''Grave Peril'', four books earlier when she is still an idealistic cop who hasn't had her faith in the law twisted and abused.
** Donald Morgan is also ultimately revealed to be one. For a long time he just seems like a nasty, abusive {{Jerkass}} KnightTemplar, but over the course of the series it is gradually revealed that he really does believe in the White Council's laws, and most of [[GoodIsNotNice nastiness]] comes from being a tired, bitter man who has spent his entire extended lifespan fighting the forces of darkness.
** Harry himself has elements of this trope. He can be pretty cynical, but he always tries to do the right thing.
--->'''Willamena:''' It sounds like you don't think very highly of people, Mr. Dresden.\\
'''Harry:''' ''People'' suck. But ''persons'' are worthwhile, Miss Rogers. Always.
* Councillor Arfarra in Yulia Latynina's ''Wei Empire Cycle'' started out as a KnightTemplar. By the first large novel, he became sourly disillusioned in TheEmpire and somewhat penitent, but soldiered on trying to reform it, ultimately failing despite doing some good in the process. Then he became ''even more'' disillusioned in the very foundations of the Empire, and spent twenty-five years in exile. ''Then'' he got dragged back unto the political scene, and very reluctantly took control, this time just trying to keep the whole thing running and to avoid having the world drowned in blood in a horrible civil war. [[spoiler:He sort of failed due to circumstances far beyond his control, but kept relentlessly looking for ways to at least marginally improve the situation right until finally dying from old age.]]
* From the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series:
** Severus Snape allies himself with people like Harry (who he hates because [[spoiler:he's the son of the woman he loved by the man he hated]]), Sirius Black (who he hated nearly as much as James Potter and who tried to kill him at least once), and Dumbledore, whom, in spite of affection, he allows to use him ruthlessly. He's also the only one of the heroes who is willing to get [[HeroWithBadPublicity branded as a traitor]] by making a huge sacrifice for their cause (namely, Albus Dumbledore). Additionally, his motives, in the beginning, weren't the purest - as [[spoiler:Lily was his LostLenore]], he made it fairly clear that he was NotInThisForYourRevolution and [[spoiler:pretty much entirely motivated by Lily's memory at first.]] Later his actions that would have been hard to envision by any reader in previous books - [[spoiler: risking cover to save Lupin’s life, defending Harry from Dumbledore’s plan and yet continuing with it despite the fact it would, as far as he knows, completely defeat his previously claimed motivation it is all for Lily’s memory, as her son would be sacrificed after all in favour of defeating Voldemort, and his curious remarks on his soul and “Only those whom I could not save”]] - show that as much as we found out about Snape in the Prince’s Tale and despite the general impression from this we are as familiar with his character as with Dumbledore’s or Harry’s, the chapter raises more questions about his true thoughts than it answers them - we still don’t really ''know'' the man, as in, what really motivated him in all those moments and how Dumbledore could be confident of his dedication to the plan despite all these challenges even after Dumbledore himself is no longer there, but it suggests an element of genuine care for the cause of good side beyond his initial personal motives, especially since there is really nothing in it for him. The contrast between the scene at the hilltop and the scene in Dumbledore’s office sixteen years later, as well as his later actions, suggest an only-glimpsed-at HeelFaceTurn throughout the years from NotInThisForYourRevolution to a more “good” state of mind, and WordOfGod comments on the manner he chose to remain silent [[spoiler: and allow himself to die in order to ensure Harry’s victory show he genuinely wants Voldemort stopped not for revenge itself, but atonement that initially began only with Lily’s death.]]
** Dumbledore's brother Aberforth is this as well. He tells Harry point blank that he thinks it's a lost cause. He still shows up to fight in the end.
%%* Arkady Renko, from the series of novels by Martin Cruz Smith.
* Stephen Donaldson protagonists tend to be big fans of sour armor. The titular lead of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'' novels turns this trope UpToEleven, stubbornly persevering even though he knows everything he does will be turned into disaster by the BigBad.
* Sparhawk of Creator/DavidEddings' ''Literature/TheElenium'' is a [[ShellShockedVeteran world-weary]], cynical knight, old before his time who will readily cooperate with and ally with career criminals against far more terrible evils and [[CombatPragmatist readily establish a reputation for savagery in combat]] to convince enemies not to fight. Nonetheless, he has an ironclad sense of personal honor and dignity, and his bark is generally far worse than his bite. Which is to say that, while he threatens to do a ''lot'' of horrible things, he only actually does ''some'' of them.
* Meyer Landsman of ''Literature/TheYiddishPolicemensUnion'' is certainly one of these on top of being a DefectiveDetective -- a cynical jackass, but feels personally compelled to close his investigation instead of letting it be shelved as a cold case for bureaucratic reasons.
* Winston Smith in ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour''. He joins the Brotherhood knowing full well that he won't see any change in his lifetime and that he will be killed for it eventually. Too bad [[spoiler:the Brotherhood doesn't actually exist--it was set up by the government as a way to entrap Thought Criminals]]. [[MindScrew Maybe]].
* 1st Sgt. Welsh in ''Literature/TheThinRedLine'', who lacks faith, ideals, patriotic fervor and any interest in either medals or career advancement, yet keeps on fighting due to a sense of duty (and because he's good at his job).
* Gawyn Trakand from ''[[Literature/TheWheelOfTime The Wheel of Time series]]'' swears an oath as prince to protect his sister to the death and yet she not only makes his childhood a hell with her antics, she runs off in the middle of training in the White Tower two times leaving him behind. This comes to a head when Gawyn decides to support a coup against the Amyrlin and slays his own teachers from his frustration to help but later [[HeelFaceTurn helps the Amyrlin escape]]. The guy just can't catch a break and it doesn't help later when in the middle of Dumai Wells his men are surrounded and getting killed. Cue Min dropping the bomb on him that his sister is in love with [[MessianicArchetype Rand]] and [[UpToEleven the emotional turmoil must be unbearable]].
* In the play "The Dragon" by E. Schewartz we have Lancelot The Travelling Knight:
--> '''Lancelot:''' I was injured lightly nineteen times, severely eleven times and deadly five times, but I'm so light a soul that I'm still alive.
* In ''[[Literature/TakeshiKovacs Altered Carbon]]'', Takeshi Kovacs seems to be an inversion of this; a life-long cynic, Kovacs has slowly but steadily gained an idealistic side, strongly influenced by the philosophy of his homeworld's revered revolutionary leader and Knight in Sour Armour Quellcrist Falconer. However, his particular status has left the cynicism ''deeply'' ingrained, with the result that he seems to strongly resent his idealistic side and reacts with a SnarkKnight schtick that ranges from convincing to desperate.
* Typically in the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse, Luke Skywalker is quite idealistic. But in ''Literature/LukeSkywalkerAndTheShadowsOfMindor'', the BigBad makes him mentally experience [[AndIMustScream an eternity after the heat death of the universe]] in an attempt to break him and get him ready for a GrandTheftMe. It doesn't entirely work, but when Luke gets out, he's made deeply cynical, believing that ''everyone's'' life is waste, saving someone wasn't really saving them because that would just prolong the brief interval. All striving leads to nothing, and everyone who talked about duty and honor and love was just using him. He doesn't want to believe it, but he does--and he makes the very conscious decision to act exactly as he did before, like when he trusted in these airy concepts and believed lives were worth saving, in the hope that he can fall back into the dream and [[BecomingTheMask become the mask]]. Later he sees a very MindScrew-y vision that relieves some of that cynicism, though, so he's not a sour knight for very long.
* In ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters'', Screwtape, a demon's mentor, warns him about these. "Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do [[{{God}} our Enemy's]] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." Ironically, he occasionally takes the tone of one himself, finding that his goal to corrupt humans is tedious whenever it fails but believing that it "must win in the end".
* In Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheSilverChair'', part of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' series, the "Marsh Wiggle" named Puddleglum is perpetually pessimistic and always believes the worst is about to happen, yet is staunchly and resolutely (and usefully) on the side of good throughout the story.
* Dedicate Rosethorn from the ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'' series qualifies. She's very much a sarcastic and irritable CynicalMentor to Briar, but she has given up a normal life in order to help the poor.
* Most of the protagonists in the Anthology ''Dark and Stormy Knights'', edited by P. N. Elrod are this although there are also examples of NobleDemon, ActionSurvivor, and PunchClockHero.
* Garrett from the ''Literature/GarrettPI'' series describes himself like this.
* Haymitch from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. He just wants a world where no more children can be tortured from being forced to kill each other.
** Katniss too, especially after she fully accepts her role as "the Mockingjay".
** Johanna and Finnick also qualify.
* ''[[Literature/TheQuestForKarla The Quest for Karla Trilogy]]'': The main character, George Smiley, is an experienced but cynical spy. Despite the moral complications and issues of his work, Gordon always seeks to do the best job he can in his spying because he still believes it is the right thing to do. George is idealistic but also fully aware of the moral greyness of his environment.
* ''Literature/TheHallowedHunt'': Ingrey is actually rather youthful for a [[Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold Bujold]] protagonist, but the tortures he endured--meant to help him control the wolf-spirit he harbors--made him "frighteningly self-controlled" not to mention [[DeadpanSnarker dour and sarcastic]]. His love interest lampshades it:
-->"Now what makes you grow grim?" Ijada demanded.\\
"Nothing."\\
Her lips twisted in exasperation. "To be sure."
* DC Grant in ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'' tries to be idealistic even though he knows it is all going to end in tears.
* Atticus Finch of ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' is utterly [[spoiler:and correctly]] convinced that, because of [[DeepSouth Maycomb County's]] inherent racism, Tom Robinson cannot escape being convicted for a crime he didn't commit. Atticus still does everything in his power to get Tom acquitted, and treats it as the most important case of his entire career despite the reaction from the people of Maycomb County.
* Jayfeather from ''Literature/WarriorCats'' doesn't believe in the way the Clans work, the ideals of [=StarClan=], or the Warrior Code. Despite this, he vows to fight for the Clans until long after the day he dies, will never give up on saving anyone, and devotes his whole life to protect his Clan.
%%* John D. [=MacDonald=]'s Travis [=McGee=] as Florida's premiere salvage consultant is this trope personified.
* Brian Duffy of Creator/TimPowers' ''Literature/TheDrawingOfTheDark'' starts sour, and only becomes sourer as the story progresses, but never loses his desire to do the Right Thing, despite serious temptation.
* In Creator/MelisaMichaels' ''Skyrider'' series, Skyrider is cynical, taciturn, snarky, and anti-social, but when the chips are down, she knows she's the best, and often only, person for the job, and reluctantly picks up her metaphorical lance. Again.
* Patrick [=McLanahan=] from Creator/DaleBrown books. The world never gets permanently better, an awful lot of people are {{Ungrateful Bastard}}s at best, hostile and traitorous at worst, and his friends and family keep dying violently, but he keeps fighting to make the world better nevertheless.
%%* Mitch Rapp of the Vince Flynn books
* ''Literature/SongAtDawn'': Dragonetz came back from the Second Crusade as one of these; disillusioned of the Church and haunted by his deeds. If you ask him what he thinks about the knight's oath to 'protect the weak' he'll tell you it's a 'suicide oath'. However, he still possesses faith in God and the idealism that he can make the world a better place.
* Corwin in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' is, in many ways, an homage to Phillip Marlowe, so it's little surprise that he shares this trope. As more of a redeemed villain than a bitter hero, he's [[AntiHero a rather dark example.]]
-->I sometimes fancy myself an evil which exists to oppose other evils[...] on that day when the world is completely cleansed of evil, then I, too, will go down into darkness, swallowing curses[...] But whatever. Until that time, [[{{Determinator}} I shall not wash my hands]] nor [[NeutralNoLonger let them hang useless]].
* Jimmy Gage star reporter for SLAP! magazine and hero of Robert Ferrigno's ''Flinch'' and ''Scavenger Hunt'' who is pretty much the only serious reporter for a magazine that is halfway between ''Vanity Fair'' and a tabloid. His investigative reporting usually only ends in partial victories but he continues to fight the good fight. His cop girlfriend Jane Holt qualifies as well.
* Tsovinar of ''Literature/GloryInTheThunder'' literally sets her hopes and dreams on fire after accepting they can never come true, and wonders aloud why she even bothers intervening for the good of others, but she just keeps doing it.
* Literature/NeroWolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin responds to most of the world's frustrations with a sarcastic, cynical quip, but as Wolfe perceptively notes deep down he's quite the knight-errant. For all his snark, it's not hard to provoke him into rushing out headlong in order to do someone a good deed -- particularly if the someone needing the good deed doing is a pretty young lady.
* Seth Hammerstaal, who's the male protagonist in ''Literature/{{Overenskommelser}}'' by Creator/SimonaAhrnstedt, is a very cynical man, who does many stupid things. But still, he never stops believing that you should always do the right thing.
* Blake Thorburn of ''Literature/{{Pact}}'' is a formerly homeless man who has seen much of the worst that humanity has to offer, from beatings to events so traumatic that he refuses to elaborate on them, and sees himself as a [[BrokenBird fundamentally broken person]], but he [[RousseauWasRight expresses his faith in the inherent goodness of humanity]] nonetheless, as there exist many people whose good actions outweighed the bad and helped him when he needed help. He, therefore, strives to do the right thing, even though, as a hereditary [[TheLegionsOfHell diabolist]], everyone expects him to fall to villainy and most supernatural creatures despise him.
* Scott of ''Literature/{{Hobgoblin}}'' can't stand most of his classmates, but when [[spoiler:Fergus]] goes crazy and starts killing them, he steps up to fight because it's what a hero should do plus it's his chance to actually live out a mortal battle. Afterward, he still can't stand his classmates.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'':
** Highprince Dalinar Kholin. A great warrior and great leader of his people, he tries to live by an ancient code of conduct, which only makes other nobles mock him. And even though he could (and some say that he ''should'') take the throne for himself, he is very protective of the current king, his nephew Elhokar - who constantly disappoints him.
** [[BrokenAce Kaladin]] [[RedBaron Stormblessed]] ''definitely'' qualifies. Not that you could blame him, [[TraumaCongaLine given the life he's had]]. [[TheSnarkKnight Sarcastic]], [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids cynical]], and [[ShellShockedVeteran bitter]] at only twenty years old, but he still [[ChronicHeroSyndrome just can't bring himself to stop protecting people]] - most of his sourness comes from all the times he ''couldn't'' protect somebody. Lucky for him, on Roshar [[spoiler: that fast-tracks you to become a [[FunctionalMagic Surgebinder]]]]. The following quote from ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'' actually sums up his character quite nicely [[note]]Honor is the name of God on Roshar.[[/note]]:
---> '''Kaladin:''' Honor is dead. But I'll see what I can do.
* ''Everyone'' in ''Literature/TheHeartsWeSold''. Every single member of the heartless troop has been through hell, and then some, but [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits it falls to them to save the world]], so they keep fighting -- albeit, with some coercion from their boss.
* Although many of the older characters in Creator/AlexandreDumas' ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' have elements of this, Athos is the primary example (and something of a TropeCodifier to many more recent writers).
* In Creator/TomKratman's ''Literature/{{Okuyyuki}}'', the protagonist Reilly is cynical and even bitter at the corruption in the Army, but still determined that he, at least, should do his part as a soldier.
* [[TheBard Bird]] and [[HealingHands Madrone]] in ''The Fifth Sacred Thing'', who suffer under a fascist dystopia and countless horrors including rape, torture, child death, and PTSD. Bird actually breaks entirely for a while into an obedient servant of the regime, [[spoiler:almost shooting his own grandmother to save her from having to live in such an evil world]], and after witnessing the regime's many crimes Madrone begs the Goddess to [[ApocalypseHow cleanse the Earth of humanity]]. And yet, when the chips are down, they decide to fight for a better world anyway, [[EarnYourHappyEnding and win]].
* Alidore from ''Literature/{{Kane}}'' story "Cold Light", a young idealist who joins "The Crusader" Lord Gaethaa to fight evil but slowly begins to realise that his commander is a ruthless KnightTemplar. It almost drives him to kill himself.
* ''Literature/TheMalazanBookOfTheFallen'':
** Ganoes Paran starts the books out as an idealistic newbie who dreams of becoming a hero through soldiering. These are shattered quite thoroughly quite quickly and his experiences make him much less willing to beat around the bush with niceties. He still believes that it's worth to prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. He crosses half the world and loses family and friends to achieve that goal but never truly believes that saving the world will make it better, only, well, save it. At one point he wonders aloud when they will finally tell the gods to stop meddling in mortal affairs and High Mage Noto Boil questions whether the gods' absence will make things any better. Paran counters that no, of course not, but at least then humans won't have anyone to blame their own problems on.
** Fiddler's a pessimist at heart which shows early on in the series already and gets progressively worse. Nonetheless he keeps doing what he does best -- being a soldier -- because the Empire's done some good things and he cares for the recruits he's responsible for, and later, because he knows that Adjunct Tavore's cause of saving the world is the right thing to do. He still gripes about almost everything.
* ''Literature/TheMentalState'' features a deeply troubled character called Zack. His experiences cause him to develop a jaded view of the world and many of the people in it. However, this does not stop him from trying to reform them whenever he can, usually by resorting to extreme measures.
* Zig-zagged between BloodKnight and AntiVillain by the two 'M' brothers in Creator/JRRTolkien 's ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. Of the seven sons of Fëanor, Maedhros and Maglor are the most honourable, empathetic and sworn enemies of Evil, yet their oath drives them into indescribable atrocities.
* ''Literature/TheLostFleet'': Multiple Senators (particularly Senator Sakai) and fleet captains (particularly Captain Tulev) remain loyal and determined advocates of ending the war and preserving the lives of their allies even as they question whether there's any chance for them to succeed.
--> '''Senator Sakai:''' Perhaps my efforts are doomed to failure, but that will not be because I ceased trying.
* ''Literature/CityOfLight'': Ravidel Shand. He's grown highly disillusioned with his country, but loyally serves it nonetheless as he swore to and still believes it's right even so.
* Literature/SolomonKane is a dour, gloomy Puritan swordsman whose only goal is vanquishing evil in all its forms. He always acts in a manner consistent with his ideals of justice and right.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Series/MrRobot'', Elliot is cynical and jaded but does try to help people and bring down those who are hurting others. Often he puts others' safety before himself. He ultimately decides to tip off police about Shayla's abusive boyfriend, who's a drug and weapons dealer, even if it means not being able to get his withdraw medication, though he was hesitant at first. He also dislikes any innocent people getting hurt, even if the end result is something he wants. This differs from Mr. Robot, who doesn't care who gets in the way of his goals, as he believes he's creating a better world.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Ser Loras Tyrell becomes this in Season 2 after [[spoiler:his lover King Renly Baratheon is murdered]]. It's even shown symbolically, as his once spotless suit of armour (which practically made him look like a walking mirror in Season 1) is now somewhat tarnished.
** Brienne of Tarth also undergoes a similar transition when she [[spoiler:fails to protect Renly, whom she harboured feelings for, from a monstrous LivingShadow]].
** The Hound, much like his book counterpart is hinted to be this beneath his BloodKnight exterior, especially after [[spoiler:leaving King's Landing during the Battle of Blackwater Bay]]. After that, pretty much anyone he meets who talks about fighting in the war gets this line:
--->'''The Hound:''' [[spoiler: "'''''Fuck''''' the king."]]
*** It becomes even more evident in season 6 and beyond. The Hound is as bad-tempered and cynical as ever, but he keeps fighting for a cause that's bigger than him because he understands precisely what is at stake.
** Robb Stark becomes one, especially as the war goes on.
** Jaime Lannister is much closer to this as of Season 4. For a long time, he was scornful of the double standards of chivalry as far as how Westeros regards his "kingslaying" and how in their eyes, he's dishonored himself for all time. Despite this, Jaime does value the Kingsguard and does aspire to the example of the likes of Ser Barristan. He tells his father, Tywin, that while he has soured his honor for killing a king, he won't sour it by abandoning the Kingsguard altogether.
** Despite his cynical outlook of the world, Tyrion still tries to do the right thing.
** Serving kings that were either AxCrazy (Aerys) or a drunkard (Robert) greatly jaded Ser Barristan, but still does his duty with full dedication.
* Joe Caputo, the prison administrator in ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'' is sleazy, bitter, angry, and generally hard to like. But a lot of that comes from his noble but frustrated attempts to protect the inmates and guards from corruption, underfunding, and callous corporate interference. [[spoiler:It remains to be seen whether he will remain any kind of knight after the season 3 finale, where he opts to sell out for a promotion.]]
* Max Black of ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls''. She basically had to raise herself and her mother. If something needed to be done Max got it done. Her attitude fits this to a T. She is seen to be able to do the right thing when it all comes down to this.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'':
** Marcus Cole has one of the [[TallDarkAndSnarky darkest wit]] of any characters on the show, knows his way around the station's criminal underworld, and yet acts like a knight of the round table. At one point he argues that the general crappiness and unfairness of the universe should be taken as a ''good'' thing. Imagine if everything were [[CrapsackWorld this bad]] because we all ''[[LaserGuidedKarma deserved]]'' it?!
** Also Michael Garibaldi, a jaded cop who joins Sheridan's extremely idealistic rebellion unhesitatingly. It's worth noting, however, [[spoiler:that he eventually leaves said rebellion specifically ''because'' he's cynical. [[MoreThanMindControl And no, Bester didn't intend for him to do that]]]].
** What other characters call pessimism, Commander Susan Ivanova calls ''realism''. All the same her very strong sense of duty means she refuses to back down no matter how badly the universe [[CosmicPlaything insists on mauling her.]] The DistantFinale reveals that [[spoiler: this trait has lead to her becoming a decorated General decades later, who is if anything probably even more this trope than she started out as]].
* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': Sara Lance to a certain extent. Her family thought she was dead and she spent years away from her home trapped on an island, training, and being forced to kill. She considers herself the furthest thing in the world from a hero. Despite this, she's willing to risk her life to check on her family, protect women that she has never met from assault, and run into a burning building to save a baby.
* Most people involved with the government in ''Series/TwentyFour'' seem to believe this. Despite their constant sacrifices to save America, even Redshirt agents seem to realize that their victories are Pyrrhic at best, and rarely make attempts to mask how jaded they are.
** Prior to the first season, Jack Bauer probably was not. After [[spoiler:Terri dies because of Jack's job]] and having to face down the reality that saving lives and {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s do not mix, his armor gets mighty sour.
* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'':
** Lee Adama is this at times in a sort of contrast with the HonorBeforeReason-driven Helo. Both believe in rules and the system, but Lee is more willing to bend the former to save the latter.
** Lawyer Romo Lampkin is this way, as he has the cynicism of the disillusioned idealist. We never get to hear why he hated Lee's grandfather, a famous criminal defense attorney, so it's difficult to say. [[spoiler: Lee's grandfather was revealed in ''Caprica'' to have gotten through law school funded by the Tauron mafia and in the very first episode bribes a judge to get off mobsters, among other things. He apparently got a lot better, but there were probably lots of reasons to dislike him.]]
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978'':
** Tigh, being a rough and gruff DrillSergeantNasty, is the most prominent example of this trope
** As is Starbuck. He can be very cynical at times, especially when it comes to the law system. He also smokes, gambles and courts women on a daily basis when he's not in his Viper. When he is, he's most at home blasting away as many Cylons as he could. He does have moments of idealism, though, as shown when he protects a group of warrior kids from the Cylons while stranded on a planet in which nearly everyone else is wiped out.
** Apollo can be this at times as well, especially towards the Council. Given that they were responsible for their long-time enemies blowing up all twelve of their homeworlds, it's not all that jarring.
%%* Pretty much everyone in ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''.
* Dr. Cox of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' is a cynical, angry, egotistical man, who firmly believes everyone should get the best treatment possible and often tries to stop injustice in the system. Indeed, many a DrJerk could be described as this. Why do you think they're doctors?
** "Chicks, money, power, and chicks." As said by Cox in "My Bed Banter and Beyond". In the same breath, he admits that he doesn't get any of that.
%%* Natalie from ''Series/SecretArmy''.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Hell, the entire cast of that show could fall under this, especially Angel and Wesley. [[note]]We could say, the series' script was written by a [[MeaningfulName DeKnight]] in Sour Armor.[[/note]] Angel's philosophy is stated by Angel himself in the Season 4 episode "[[Recap/AngelS04E01DeepDown Deep Down]]":
-->Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh and cruel but that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, show it what it can be. You're not a part of that yet. I hope you will be. I love you, [[spoiler:Connor]]. Now get out of my house.
** Summed up beautifully (it's the show's mission statement) in "[[Recap/AngelS05E22NotFadeAway Not Fade Away]]", when Gunn is helping Anne unload supplies for her teen homeless shelter from a truck on a day when the world might very well end:
-->'''Gunn:''' What if I told you that none of it mattered? That the world is controlled by forces much more powerful than we are, and that those forces will never, ever let things get better? What would you do then?\\
'''Anne:''' I'd tell you to finish getting those supplies off that truck and take them inside.
* Boyd in ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}''. Ballard seems to be on his way to this from his original KnightInShiningArmor characterization. Then [[spoiler:Boyd turned out to be both TheMole ''and'' the EvilOverlord (and a KnightTemplar)]].
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Giles becomes one at some point in the show's run (certainly by the finale of season 5, [[spoiler: when he kills Ben to kill Glory]]), probably around the time, the Watcher's Council fired him for refusing to endanger Buffy's life. Creator/JossWhedon seems to enjoy the trope.
** Also, Spike became this after his HeelFaceTurn.
* Almost every single good cop in ''Series/TheWire'' knows that their objective is ultimately a futile effort and that the city of Baltimore is in far more disarray than they could possibly hope to rectify. However, this sure as hell doesn't stop them from trying.
* Colby from ''Series/{{Survivor}}'', who said the game he first played in 2000 was outdated and gone, being one of the few players (other than Coach and Rupert) who was HonorBeforeReason.
* Mal Reynolds of ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. He lost his faith in God and humanity in one fell swoop, but when presented with the choice he goes out of his way to do the right thing.
* Derek Reese from ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles''. He's a miserable man who was once a young boy playing baseball, then suddenly, got thrust into the apocalypse. He will spend every last ounce of energy, and stop at absolutely nothing including murder, in order to fight the coming cybernetic invasion, simply because no matter how hopeless it gets, it's not just the right thing to do...it's the ONLY thing to do.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** [[JerkWithaHeartofGold Dean]] is the series' prime example. He's cynical, pessimistic, and very blunt on the negative side of a life fighting evil. At one point he even concluded the world ''wanted'' to end. Not the most likely hero, but still cares about the lives of people and devotes his life to saving them.
--->'''Dean:''' I think the world's going to end bloody, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight. We do have choices. I chose to go down swingin'.
** Castiel in seasons 4,5, and ''especially'' 6.
%%* Clayton Webb of ''Series/{{JAG}}''. Comes with his [[TheSpymaster profession.]]
* Most of the characters on ''Series/CriminalMinds'' have been this at one point or another. (Except Garcia, and even she has her borderline moments.) Derek Morgan explicitly gave voice to it near the end of 4x25/26, "To Hell And Back." pointing out that however many unsubs they catch, the world always produces more. He wavered on whether to leave- except that he didn't, giving truth to the Trope. The exception being Jason Gideon, who seemed like one for a while, and then abandoned the team in 3x01 because the awfulness of the world had overwhelmed him.
%%* James "Sawyer" Ford [[spoiler: and also, ultimately, Benjamin Linus]] from ''Series/{{Lost}}''.
* Andy Sipowicz from ''Series/NYPDBlue'', as an intersection of NobleBigotWithABadge and RabidCop, with a decent dose of DeadpanSnarker and a surprisingly large amount of TheWoobie.
* Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle from ''Series/TheHonourableWoman'', is a jaded and very cynical spy similar to many of the protagonists in Le Carre novels. He starts off completely apathetic to his work and the Middle East due to the senseless violence that he feels he can't do anything about but ends up striving to help both Nessa and Atika anyway.
* The Doctor from ''Series/DoctorWho'' qualifies for this in nearly all of their incarnations at one point or another, but a few stand out among the rest.
** The First Doctor began it all; he was a cranky old man who still saved the universe often.
** The Third Doctor was exiled to Earth, and to outsiders could be seen as moody, and he often butted heads with TheBrigadier while facing alien threats.
** After five regenerations, the Sixth Doctor reverted back to a brash, difficult individual, yet constantly facing foes and battling corruption throughout time and space.
** The [[MyGreatestFailure War]] [[IHatePastMe Doctor]] ([[ExpandedUniverse Especially in the audios, comics and novel]]), is bitter, spiteful, condescending, hates himself, the Daleks and the Time-Lords, and wishes for nothing but to stop the Great Time-War at any cost. But still treasures life, and will do anything to defend the innocent.
** The Ninth Doctor refers to Humans as "stupid apes," but saved Earth again and again.
** After spending two regenerations as a young-looking and acting man, the Twelfth Doctor was once again a cranky old man. However, he very much wanted and strove to be a good man from the beginning, and was frustrated by having to be a PragmaticHero so often. He TookALevelInKindness by the start of Series 9 (his second season). By the end of his tenure, he was perhaps the kindest, most empathetic Doctor of all...and in his GrandFinale it was the example he set to the ''First'' Doctor that allowed that original self to accept regenerating for the first time. As for his own regeneration, as much as he wanted to be released [[WhoWantsToLiveForever from his long lifespan and loneliness]] at last, he decided that helping others was WorthLivingFor (and worth a LossOfIdentity) instead. His FinalSpeech, addressed to his successor, includes the admonition "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind." A speech along similar lines from his penultimate episode can be found on this trope's Quotes page.
* ''Series/SirensUK'' has Stuart (and possibility Ash) who after years of dealing with drunks fighting every Saturday in the street and the general lowest ebb of the human condition are fed up with the world. But given half the chance they'll crawl through broken glass or climb the side of a building to help those that need it.
%%* Jack Bristow in ''Series/{{Alias}}''.
* Nick in ''Series/NewGirl'' is filled with bitterness, anger, cynicism and self-loathing but is still a great friend and almost always does the right thing even as his life keeps getting progressively worse.
* Derek Hale in ''Series/TeenWolf'' is a prime example of this. He's even got the InSeriesNickname of being a "sourwolf" to add to the characterization.
* After being on ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'' enough seasons you either end up here or JadeColoredGlasses, just a fact of life for teenagers. Best examples for this side of things would be Spinner, Darcy, Jimmy, Marco, Sav, Clare, Alli, and Jenna. The series is abundant with drama and cruelty for them, but they still believe no matter how the world sucks... it's what they have and it's worth it to not give up. But the world unquestionably sucks, they are all more than clear there.
* The title character of ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'', a DeadpanSnarker HurtingHero who nevertheless has a strong set of values and is determined to free his people.
%%* ''Series/{{Scandal}}'': Olivia.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'':
** [[TheChosenOne Emma Swan]] is tough and cynical and doesn't believe in the curse, but she still stays in Storybrooke and goes against [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Regina]] and [[MagnificentBastard Mr. Gold]].
** Post HeelFaceTurn, Regina Mills qualifies. She is snarky and cynical, and is the first to make biting remarks, but is firmly on 'Team Heroes' and will always do the right thing
* The third season and (to a lesser degree) the fourth season of ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]'' did this to Captain Archer. He's so upbeat, excited and optimistic about exploring the galaxy in the first two seasons, continuing to get blindsided by all the pre-federation bullies. When [[spoiler:the Xindi Weapon devastates Earth]] he not only [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] but his attitude switches to be even colder throughout the entire third season. He mellows a bit in the fourth but still exhibits this when the going gets tough.
* Rust Cohle from the first season of the HBO Anthology series ''Series/TrueDetective'' is a straight up nihilist, thinking that human consciousness was a mistake and that humanity should voluntarily stop breeding and die out. He is also a tireless fighter for what's right no matter the personal cost.
* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'''s Jim Gordon quickly becomes this, which isn't surprising considering the environment he's working in. Harvey Bullock has become this although in his case it's actually a step ''up'' from the [[TheCynic cynical]] CorruptCop he was when we first met him.
* In ''Series/{{Healer}}'', both Min Ja and Young Jae. Min Ja is a former detective who [[spoiler: refused to leave her post while her four-year-old son was dying in the hospital]], only to be ordered to destroy the evidence and close the case. Young Jae was one of five TrueCompanions who opposed the regime's media censorship by way of a pirate radio broadcast and went to prison for eleven years, only to find two of his former friends dead at, seemingly, the hand of the third. At one point in the series, they have a conversation in which they both admit that they are this trope--and that they both hope that the hero, still in the KnightInShiningArmor phase of his life, will succeed without becoming like them.
* In ''Series/JessicaJones2015'' on Creator/{{Netflix}}, this describes the title character to a tee. She's cynical to the core, often rude, sarcastic, pushes others away, and generally doesn't show much ''outward'' sympathy to others. She still does everything in her power to protect innocent lives, including (if there's no other way) giving Kilgrave, the one who traumatized her in the first place, what he asks for.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''
** The show ran afoul of this in its earliest seasons with a cast that could almost be described as a cluster of rain clouds who live and breathe sarcasm and misanthropy. (Probably justified in a show focused on "especially heinous" assault and abuse cases.) Even the guest cast of suspects and crossover cast had nothing to add but more rain. Some episodes seemed to be a reminder how ''everyone'' hated life. In later seasons, the show started to get out of its funk.
** The biggest example is former ADA Alex Cabot. Once, she was all about the law, incredibly strict to the point of undermining a case rather than cross ethical lines. After a long absence, Cabot returns in season 19's "Sunk Cost Fallacy" where she is now part of a group who help battered women and children escape their lives by faking their deaths. She's even willing to let a husband go to jail for the "murder" of his family. A fight with Liv has Cabot ranting on how Liv could have lied under oath as the "tell the whole truth" thing is just a load of crap to make people think the justice system gives a damn about them and her methods work much better.
--->'''Liv:''' What happened to you?\\
'''Alex:''' I opened my eyes. I opened them wide, and I saw that for twelve years I was a cog in a "holier than thou" wheel and the wheel keeps spinning and tossing off bodies as it goes.
* In an unfamiliar timeline in ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'', Nietzschean Gaheris Rhade wins his Episode 1 fight with Dylan Hunt and then enters the future 300 years later and, finding that his people have utterly failed to live up to his expectations, sets about rebuilding the Systems Commonwealth…not at all happily but with sour, dogged, determination. Eventually, he [[spoiler: decides he's not the man for the job, goes back 300 years, kills earlier self, and intentionally loses his fight with Cap. Hunt, creating the more familiar timeline]].
* Methos from ''Series/{{Highlander}}'' (at least in his more recent days). Even though he keeps claiming to only serve his own purposes and to do things just to save his own skin, in reality he frequently goes out of his way - often quite literally, and sometimes even to the point of risking his own life - to help and protect others. And as we see in his history as a medical doctor, that's probably not limited to his life after meeting Duncan [=MacLeod=], despite his claims to the contrary...
* ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In her heart she's a kind and deeply compassionate person, but her unwanted fate of what's essentially military slavery gives her few opportunities to show her brighter side. Most of the time she's bitter and cynical, yet she can always be relied upon to do the right thing when it comes down to it.
* [=McGill=], the protagonist of ''Series/ManInASuitcase'', has been dealt a rough hand in life through no fault of his own. He has been rewarded for doing his old job well by being exiled in disgrace. He is under no illusions that WideEyedIdealism will bring any rewards. Despite his cynical outlook, [=McGill=] still holds himself to a moral code. His loyalty to his clients is such that he will never accept a bribe to abandon a case, even if he is being offered more money than his client paid in the first place. And he will always do his best to keep the innocent out of harm's way.

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* Myth/NorseMythology: The Norse worldview basically consisted of a largely amoral universe where bad things happened to good people and everything ended in death. Yggdrasil was eaten by serpents from below, and deer from above, and even the Aesir would die at Ragnarok. Nevertheless, the warrior's code was to fight the good fight and the mythology is riddled with examples of standing and fighting even when death is inevitable because that's the right thing to do. On the other hand, Thor was viewed as the protector of Midgard and friend of Men, the Good Guy fighting giants to protect the Aesir and humans alike. Most stories focusing on him tend to be far more upbeat, with Thor overcoming challenges after much fun is made at his expense.
* ''Literature/TheBible'':
** As ''Literature/TheFourGospels'' portray Him, UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} could say "forgive the one who hurts you, and do good to those that persecute you" when He knew in advance that He was to die--brutally--to save all mankind from themselves.
** David occasionally takes this tone as well in [[Literature/TheBible the Old Testament]] (notably in Psalm 22).

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* Powder Keg from ''Podcast/FalloutIsDragons'' is a type two Knight In Sour Armor.
* ''Podcast/EighteenSixtyFive'' depicts Edwin Stanton as very much this. He knows that the world is a cruel and often unkind place, and that he’s in for a considerable fight with Johnson, but he keeps fighting because he triply beleive that Lincoln’s legacy with ensure a more fair and just America for Americans of all races. This is especially the case after [[spoiler: Johnson grants amnesty to the South.]]
* ''Podcast/SeenAndNotHeard'': One of the pieces of advice Bet's rabbi gives her: "... what keeps you on the good side of the world is doing good for the world despite how it’s treating you. And if you can’t do good, just don’t do harm."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* In the ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'' radio dramas (as well as the later remakes), Sergeant Joe Friday sometimes trades his shining armor for sour mail when exposed to particularly bad cases of social decay.
* Harry Nile in ''Radio/TheAdventuresOfHarryNile.'' A former Chicago cop who wound up retiring after seeing widespread corruption in the force, and almost murdered a crime boss in order to get out of debt before working as a private investigator instead. Yet despite just how much of the seedy side of society he's seen, the guy's own humanity is his greatest asset, and he cares for his clients.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Keldorn and Jaheira from the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' series have shades of this, the former being a 60+-year-old [[KnightInShiningArmor paladin]] and the second a ''very'' cynical Harper (a secret society devoted to spreading good).
* Tom from ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'': In the game, he and Allison live in a world filled with monsters, a world in which they cannot trust strangers. They still rescue a stranger, [[PlayerCharacter Henry]], from being killed - twice (although they do lock him up at one point because Tom doesn't trust him). Tom contrasts with Allison in that he's a jerk to Henry and isn't the type to paint the word ''HOPE'' on the walls. He also contrasts with Sammy and the Lost Ones because he has maintained his moral compass in refusing to worship the resident demon or participate in HumanSacrifice.
* Anonymous from ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' is a snarky, foul-mouthed {{Troll}} who likes starting arguments and treats the adventure like a bad joke… but he’s also Catie’s [[TrueCompanions truest companion]], who never backs down from doing what’s right, and would never think of turning his back on the party when they need him. In fact, he’s the one who pulls Catie herself back from the DespairEventHorizon not once, but ''twice'' during the course of the story.
* Gabriel Belmont ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'' also qualifies. As his mentor Zobek tells us, he could have given up all hope of saving the world because he has done so many questionable deeds--which he himself admits so. However, something in his mind still forces him to continue on--bitterly ...
** He also makes a good buddy for [[VideoGame/MetalGear Solid Snake]] if they happen to exist in the same universe... They [[BirdsOfAFeather share the same bitter personality]] as well as the same game company.
** Even after [[spoiler:becoming Dracula]], the [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow2 sequel]] reveals that he still fights for the world despite his hatred of it. [[spoiler:Specifically by being the apex predator that keeps other eviler but less powerful villains in check.]]
* ''VideoGame/CorruptionOfLaetitia'': Celeste realizes that she may be considered a hero in the short term for defeating Marian, but the world may eventually consider her a nuisance or symbol of fear. She also [[ImNotAHeroIm doesn't consider herself a heroine]] due to no longer seeing the conflict as black and white. Despite that, she states that she needs to defeat Marian because he's definitely a villain.
* In ''VideoGame/CultistSimulator'', [[HeroAntagonist Hunters]] can have both the "Grim" and "Idealist" traits, which makes for a ''nasty'' combination to the VillainProtagonist player character. "Grim" makes the hunter more susceptible to a HannibalLecture based on the [[EvilIsDeathlyCold lore of Winter]], but grants immunity to attempts to sway them with the [[LightIsNotGood lore of the Lantern]]; "Idealist" has the opposite effect, making the Lantern more tempting while granting them immunity to attempts to scare them with Winter. The two traits together [[OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce cancel out their weaknesses while providing their immunities]].
* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'': Johnny Silverhand, to a fault. Johnny has never wavered an inch from his anarchist, anti-corporate ideals, even in the face of death. However, he is also severely disillusioned with the people around him and their willingness to accept the status quo even when it doesn't benefit them in any way. The fact that his natural personality is abrasive enough to make sandpaper look like silk by comparison doesn't help, but by the time of the game he has alienated pretty much all his friends, his fans and everyone around him when they wouldn't buy into his cause as deeply as he did. Not that it stopped him from continuing the struggle, even for people who don't appreciate it.
* From ''VideoGame/DeadRising'', Frank West, a freelance photojournalist with a rough attitude and a determination to set things right in the zombie-infested world.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series protagonist Dante based on his tragic past. His family troubles and basically living in endless poverty has a "live-and-let-live" sort of view on justice. Dante basically lives life on his own terms and besides devoting his life to stopping demons, he's a jerk with a snappy one-liner ready to distance his involvement with getting to close with people and barely has a care for the world outside of stopping the demonic invasion of the week. Regardless, He will still fight the good fight.
* [[spoiler:Keisuke]] from ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor'' becomes this [[spoiler:if you can convince him he's wrong after he [[KnightTemplar snaps]]]].
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
** Alistair fits this trope well. He LITERALLY stopped short of becoming a KnightTemplar.
** His fellow tank warrior Aveline from the sequel also fits; she's a world-weary widowed soldier and cop who's seen a lot of bloodshed and suffering and whose goal is to protect her friends and keep what order she can in the world.
** You yourself can play as one of these too, [[VideogameCaringPotential if you so choose.]] ''[[VideogameCrueltyPotential If.]]''
** Also a natural fit for an elf Grey Warden--humans have been bastards to you, your family, and your race for longer than they can remember, and don't exactly feel guilty about it. The game demands that you save the mostly human kingdom of Ferelden, reunite it under legitimate political authorities, and generally leave it a much stronger and more powerful nation than it was before you entered the picture. One bit of dialogue has an NPC thanking you for saving the kingdom, and one of your responses is along the lines of "I'm saving ''my'' people from the Blight. ''Your'' kingdom can burn for all I care."
** Varric Tethras fits into this trope in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition''. In the beginning, he outright states that he's pretty sure the world is going to end no matter what they do, but he stays and helps anyways. By the end, should you play your [[StealthPun cards]] right, he changes his attitude a little by believing that the Inquisition, with the [[PlayerCharacter Inquisitor]] leading them, is the final, best hope for Thedas, but he still acknowledges that the world is in a bad situation.
** Hawke can fall into this, especially Snarky Hawke: they've lost friends, family, siblings, they've had a ton of crap dropped on them, and while they'll drop sarcastic asides at every opportunity, they'll still force themselves up and go and do the right thing.
* Several characters in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' qualify for this. Rose of Sharon Cassidy is a [[TheLadette hard-drinking and somewhat surly woman]] who also happens to have a strong moral code, being the one character who will specifically complain about the player's KarmaMeter if it gets incredibly low. Also, there's Colonel Hsu and Chief Hanlon of the NCR, who despite being personally against the war (especially considering the fact that their commander, General Oliver is a GloryHound and GeneralFailure) do what they can for the sake of the soldiers
** Orion Moreno and "Cannibal" Johnson are also good examples, especially Orion. Both were former members of [[BadassArmy the Enclave]]. At the destruction of their oil rig, the [[TheFederation New California Republic]] dismantled the Enclave, seeing them as too great a potential threat to ignore. Decades later, the NCR finds itself up against [[TheEmpire Caesar's Legion]], a group of totalitarian slavers. Moreno sympathizes with the Legion, unable to forgive the NCR for defeating the Enclave, which he considered the last remnant of the old America (and he's kind of right). Johnson supports the NCR, seeing their democratic government to be in the spirit of the old America and preferring them to the brutality of the Legion. Both men can be convinced to join the final battle--but serving the wrong side will require a very difficult Speech check--Johnson will [[spoiler: abandon you rather than fight the NCR]], and Moreno will [[spoiler: try to kill you--after donning his PoweredArmor and hefting a minigun]].
* Squall Leonhart from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' veers between this and just being a {{Jerkass}} (later revealed to have a HiddenHeartOfGold because LoveRedeems.) Especially notable because doing the right thing, for him, means not only fighting for a world he might not think is worth fighting for (most of the game, anyway), but also serving the forces which have forbidden him from exercising his free will for his entire life. (Though, to be fair, he has been strung along most of the time because he doesn't know what he would do otherwise)
* Lightning in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' is a female example. She does believe in doing what's right, but the world she lives in is so messed-up she has very little "right" to believe in and she bitterly laments her fate as a cursed l'Cie.
** While we're on the subject of ''Final Fantasy XIII'', how about Sazh and Oerba Yun Fang? Sazh's only desire is to see his son again and he's willing to turn himself in to see his son one last time before he is executed. Vanille is what keeps him going. The same is said for Fang when it is revealed that she was a Pulse l'Cie before the start of the game along with Vanille [[spoiler: and cracked Coocoon's shell as Ragnarok.]] By extension, the entire main cast if you go by their backstories and their cursed fate as a l'Cie. [[spoiler: Even GenkiGirl Oerba Dia Vanille who lied to everyone about being a Pulse l'Cie so she could help them. Had she not lied at all, things would have gone differently.]]
* Cody from the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', and later ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series is a perfect example. In ''Final Fight'', he was a straight out Hero, who fought the Mad Gear Gang to rid his city of them and rescue his girlfriend Jessica. Along the way, he beats up a corrupt cop named Edi, who later has him arrested for assault and battery. While in prison he develops an addiction to fighting, and when he gets out, walks the streets looking for the slightest provocation to fight. After he is thrown back into prison, his girlfriend leaves him and travels to Europe, her father Haggar is all but through helping Cody, and only his best friend Guy still believes in him. By the time of the ''Street Fighter'' series, he believes that he is no longer a hero and that the only purpose he has left in the world is to fight, which he frequently tells everybody is meaningless. However, he still has ''some'' desire to protect the world, as he breaks out of prison to seek out villains like Bison and Seth to defeat, and his theme implies he wishes to relive his glory days of heroism, but has convinced himself it is too late.
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', the Avatar becomes this in the ''Conquest'' route, and develops some shades of this in the ''Revelations'' route. In the ''Conquest'' route, their wide-eyed naivete is slowly crushed by the bitter experiences throughout the route (though does nothing to shatter their resolve to see their mission through). In the case of ''Revelations'', they mostly have elements of KnightInShiningArmor, but because of learning the truth behind the conflict, and the fact that there is a bigger threat in the form of Anankos, they become no longer naive about the happenings of the world anymore and their naivete is tempered by wisdom.
* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': Rosaria genuinely believes in Mondstadt's principles and desires to protect the city but has been jaded by her line of work to the point that she [[{{Irony}} lacks faith in the gods]].
* Ryudo from ''VideoGame/GrandiaII'' fits this trope to a tee, in reaction to the original title's protagonist, Justin, who was an idealist with a strong wanderlust -- almost Sonic the Hedgehog in human form. In the sequel, Ryudo is a misanthropic mercenary who wants nothing more than to escort his charge (a sickeningly cheery do-gooder, Elena) from A to B and collect his reward. He's also a bit of a smartass, always ready with a sarcastic remark. The game goes down the usual JRPG paths, peeling back the onion to expose Ryudo's reasons for distrusting everyone and everything, and revealing his kinder side from time to time.
* Manuel Calavera of ''VideoGame/GrimFandango'' is a cynical man who claims to only look out for himself. When he joins the LSA and heads out across the Land of the Dead to search for Mercedes, he claims it's only because she is his ticket to the next world. However, he does thaw somewhat over the course of the story, as particularly evidenced by his relationships with Meche, Glottis, and the Angelitos. As Grim Fandango was based on several FilmNoir classics including ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'' and ''Film/DoubleIndemnity'', this characterization fits the milieu perfectly.
* Canach from ''VideoGame/GuildWars2''. He made some bad choices in the past, but [[TheAtoner he's trying to make up for that]] by helping [[PlayerCharacter the Commander]] fight the elder dragons and save the world. That said, he is still holding onto his salty attitude, making him fit solidly into this trope.
* ''VideoGame/GwentTheWitcherCardGame'': The Northern Realms pack a lot of knightly units with big swords and shiny armor, but their vocal callouts pack a lot of bitterness and sarcasm.
-->'''Redanian Knight:''' Long live etcetera etcetera...
* Cole [=MacGrath=] from ''VideoGame/InFamous''. If you finish the game with good karma, he ends up as Empire City's savior, but the final scene has him musing about his isolation [[spoiler:(given that his girlfriend is dead and his best friend's betrayed him)]] and wondering how long it will be before the city turns against him. Unfortunately for him, he ''knows'' that there's something big and powerful coming, and he's the only one that can stop it. He's ''not'' happy about it at all.
* Pit from ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' is a cheerful and optimistic angel who does his best to protect humanity and serve his Goddess. He's also well-aware of the flaws of every side of the War by the end of the game, noting that HumansAreFlawed and that the Gods are certainly destructive and selfish in their own right, but chooses to believe that humans are worth protecting and that his Goddess is worth serving, all the same.
* Jolee Bindo in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' has rejected the Jedi Order as hypocritical and hidebound, but he hasn't rejected his moral center. Carth Onasi fits the trope as well. He's [[KnightInShiningArmor closer to good]] on the KarmaMeter than the ''Jedi'' in your party, but his [[JadeColoredGlasses capability to trust in the good of others]] has been [[StealthPun torpedoed]] by personal tragedy. He's vocally suspicious regarding the player character and the entire situation; that suspicion eventually turns out to be eerily dead-on. The comics, set a few years before the events of the game, make it clear that [[spoiler: his entanglement with Revan]] wasn't the first time he found himself involved in a [[MetaphoricallyTrue Jedi scheme and cover-up]].
* In ''VideoGame/LANoire'', Herschel Biggs and Jack Kelso are both perfectly aware of and disappointed in the state of the Los Angeles, and how little of what they do is actually meaningful. They try their damnedest anyway. [[spoiler: Protagonist Cole makes the shift from idealist to sour knight over the course of the game, despite his attempts not to, thanks to the corruption and politics endemic in the LAPD.]]
* Agate from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'' is a perpetually angry young man who especially at first has nothing but scorn for the heroine and her extremely optimistic outlook. In spite of the misanthropy, he's one of the best Bracers in Liberl. Originally, he UsedToBeASweetKid until his little sister died during the war, making him channel all his anger into fighting, not helped when he joins a gang in Ruan until he got the crap beaten out of him by local GreaterScopeParagon Cassius. He softens up a bit after befriending the preteen Tita, who he became fond of after she went out of her way to protect him. He eventually becomes even less sour when [[WellIntentionedExtremist Loewe]] of all people deconstructs that mindset as regressive. If he just uses his sword as a crutch to channel his anger, he'll never be able to move past his weakness and find enlightenment. Yet he's too sentimental to fully make use of his vengeance as a tool, not a crutch and commit to villainy. That, and an effective [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan speech]] from Tita to trust her as a friend, and not his sister's replacement.
* Hash from ''VideoGame/LiveALive''. After defeating the demon king, he was heralded as a hero, but the very nature of human beings continued to disgust him much to the extent that he faked his death and hid out in a cabin in the mountains, only being convinced to help Oersted save humanity again because, despite his hatred, he knows that it's the right thing to do. [[spoiler: When he dies, he asks Oersted to believe in his friends and not become bitter as he did. Unfortunately, Oersted's own adventure eventually pushed far beyond merely being bitter.]]
* Garrus from ''Franchise/MassEffect'' falls into this, especially in the second game. He starts a vigilante group on Omega to help combat the crime, corruption, and decay of the station, and admits that he knows he wasn't really making a big difference; for all of the irritation he gave the mercenary groups after him, Omega was a pisshole when he started and was a pisshole when he left. And he fights on anyway.
** Shepard can be played like this if you act douchey in dialogue but ultimately do good things. If you have a [[DarkAndTroubledPast Colo]][[IronWoobie nist]] background, the Asari consort says as much, 'detecting a sadness behind your eyes'.
---> '''Consort:''' ''[[HurtingHero "I see the sadness behind your eyes, it tells a story that makes me want to weep. Pain and loss.]] [[IronWoobie But it drives you, makes you strong. It is that strength that people are drawn to.]] [[MagneticHero It is why you lead and others follow without question.]] You will need that leadership in the battles to come."''
** Wrex turns out to be this if you befriend him. He's old enough to remember his species in their glory days and has become very cynical as all his efforts to reverse their self-destructive slide to extinction have failed due primarily to ChronicBackstabbingDisorder. But if he survives the first game, he decides that there ''is'' reason to hope for the future and returns to his homeworld to give the krogan another shove at being better than just a bunch of thugs-for-hire.
** At the end of the ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC, Liara will ask Shepard how s/he's doing. If you choose the right dialogue option, Shepard will vent about how tired s/he is of dealing with Cerberus and the Council treating him/her like s/he's nuts. But in the end s/he keeps going because s/he wants to give people the chance to change for the better.
---> '''Shepard:''' People are messy, awkward, sometimes selfish and cruel. But they're trying, and I'm going to make sure they have a chance.
** By ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Shepard has embraced this trope and taken it UpToEleven. S/he vocalizes at MANY points in the story his/her doubts that anything s/he does is actually going to win the war but s/he never stops going.
** Javik could also be turned into this, depending on Shepard's choices.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne''. His entire family murdered, his best friend killed, and both the good sides and the bad sides of the city trying to kill him. He even contemplates leaving the city early on, becoming a fugitive, but quickly decides that he'd rather see things through to the end. He ends up paying for it pretty harshly, though.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', Solid Snake is arguably the best example in gaming. He's [[DeadpanSnarker cynical]], [[GallowsHumor jaded]], [[ShellShockedVeteran world-weary]], really couldn't care less about being seen as a hero or a legend, and doesn't believe he'd make a difference to the future ("I'm not as arrogant as that."), but he continues to fight because no one else can or will.
-->'''Snake:''' ''"I'm no hero. Never was, never will be. I'm just an old killer, hired to do some wet-work."''
** His papa, Big Boss, is another example until his FaceHeelTurn, particularly after being forced to kill the Boss.
** The Boss herself is, knowing that a soldier's calling is not something they can decide for themselves but must be heeded regardless, though she takes it better than her protégé or Solid Snake do (she's learned to suppress the "sour" and accept things as they are).
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'': Casavir also behaves like this sometimes. Just try asking him about the circumstances of his first exit from Neverwinter.
* Marshal Leigh Johnson of ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' is a bitterly jaded old man who nonetheless remains LawfulGood throughout the game (though by the epilogue he moves as far away from Armadillo for his retirement). John Marston has similar tendencies when he decides to help out people (mostly Bonnie and Luisa), to the point that Abraham Reyes refers to him as a "romantic trying to be a cynic".
** [[CoolOldGuy Landon Ricketts also qualifies.]] And Jack in the epilogue.
* Chris Redfield of ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' fame expresses such views in the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 the fifth game]]; with [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke bioweapons running rampant and in the hands of terrorists]] since Umbrella's fall, Chris actually wonders at times if fighting against bioterrorism is even worth it. Taken to another level by ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' where Chris starts to drink heavily on a near daily basis after seeing most of his men get slaughtered on a mission they were on. Chris starts to believe that nothing he does will change anything. but it takes some bonding time with his partner, Piers, to get Chris back to his fighting spirit and shed the sour armor.
* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'': Yoneda's introduction to Ogami says it all:
-->'''Yoneda:''' A hero? No kid; I'm just a filthy old bastard who got badges for murdering a lot of people.
* From the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series:
** Shadow the Hedgehog eventually becomes one. He went from fighting against the world to fighting for himself, to fighting ''for'' the world. Pretty much his only reason for this is because [[CynicismCatalyst a little girl told him to before she died]]. It took Shadow a while to remember that, but when he did, the bad guys began wishing he was still one of them. When one of the villains tries to bring Shadow over to his side by telling him that the world will turn on him one day, Shadow simply responds by saying he'll fight like he used to.
** Gerald Robotnik. Since he's an old guy, he can't really fight, but he knew that humanity was good and deserved saving. So what did he do? He created an immortal, powerful hedgehog named Shadow to protect humans, despite that Shadow pretty much '''hates''' humans, calling them "pathetic" at every chance he gets. Bonus for Gerald in that he pretty much hates humans just as much as Shadow, although this may be because the aforementioned little girl was his granddaughter, and her death made him go insane, considering how she'd been killed because experiments to save her had been considered too dangerous. However, when he ''was'' sane, he reveals to Shadow that he built the gigantic gun on the ARK station to actually save the Earth from an alien attack that would happen ''50 years later'', while Shadow previously thought that he had built it to destroy Earth. Guess who pulls the trigger?
* Siegfried Schtauffen from the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' started off as a delusional young man on a quest to find his father's killer[[note]]Really [[SelfMadeOrphan he did it himself]] by accident when he and his band of thugs attacked a camp they thought was housing army deserters[[/note]], believing that taking up the sword [[EvilWeapon Soul Edge]] will allow him to accomplish it. [[GoneHorriblyWrong It didn't]] and it turned him into a slave of the sword, becoming known as the "Azure Knight" Nightmare and slaying countless individuals to [[HungryWeapon feed the sword's]] lust for souls. However he does eventually free himself from it and becomes a remorseful, driven man who believes his life is worth nothing if he can't put an end to Soul Edge as penance for his sins. Unfortunately, this one-track mindedness leads him to do some questionable things and also makes him a prime target for seduction by the [[UnholyHolySword Soul Calibur]], the counterpart to Soul Edge.
* Jim Raynor from ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' was more of a KnightInShiningArmor (and Kerrigan lampshaded it) before he realized that the Koprulu Sector was a CrapsackWorld. As of ''VideoGame/StarCraftII,'' he's still a Knight In Sour Armor. By the "Heart of the Swarm" [[spoiler:Kerrigan herself]] joins him there.
* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' has [[MissionControl Keeper]] (later known as [[spoiler: the Minister of Intelligence]]) in the Imperial Agent storyline. He joined Imperial Intelligence hoping to do some good for the Empire, only to be blocked by red tape and Sith interference at every turn, and usually forced to just make things worse for people. Years of this have led to him becoming a massive cynic. Still, he keeps on trying to use his power to do the right thing. [[spoiler: In the end, he finally gets the chance to do some good, helping the Agent destroy the [[AncientConspiracy Star Cabal]] and giving the Agent the option to use the Black Codex to wipe out all evidence of their existence, abandoning Imperial government in favour of acting as a sort of freelancer, helping the Empire wherever help is needed.]]
** It's also very easy for the Imperial Agent themselves to become this, as a result of the TraumaCongaLine they can have to endure. Many players find their Agent becoming increasingly less idealistic and more disillusioned with the Empire, similar to what Keeper went through.
* Kratos Aurion in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' fits this like a glove. He started out as [[spoiler: an idealist alongside Mithos Yggdrasill who just wanted half-elves to be accepted]], and then became what we see in the game.
-->'''Colette:''' Our weapons are love!\\
'''Genis:''' Justice! And...\\
'''Kratos:''' Sigh...hope.
* [[VigilanteMan Yuri Lowell]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' left the royal knights because he felt they were doing very little to change the lives of the poor and downtrodden and end the [[AristocratsAreEvil corruption among the upper class]], but his sense of honor and justice still drives him toward this goal.
%%* Elika in ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2008'' is a rare female example.
* Garrett from ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' fits this role well. He's a completely unrepentant criminal who acts as though he has nothing but contempt for others, his surroundings, and the whole corrupt, depraved pit that is the City and the world he lives in - ''most'' of the time. But there are hints that Garrett cares more than he'd ever want to or admit when he witnesses cruelty against almost anybody, especially the poor and already down-trodden, and even people who've tried in the past to kill him. (Possibly because it's a really, really long list.)
* [[VigilanteMan Aiden Pearce]] of ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' could be seen as a deconstruction as, while he deals with his grief over letting his niece die by trying to clean up Chicago, the level of drivenness one has to have to chase after something like this has many consequences that you need to turn a blind eye to if you want to keep going. Innocent people often get hurt during his deeds, he has become violently unempathetic, and the idea that his family will be whole again once he completes his mission only ends up putting them in harm's way and causing a deep rift when he ignores his sister's pleas to stop causing them problems.
* This is probably the defining characteristic of Geralt of Rivia from ''VideoGame/TheWitcher''. As a mutant monster hunter, Geralt is hated by almost everyone and knows it since they mock him, spit on him and violently attack him just for being what he is. As a witcher, he is solely supposed to work for money killing monsters. That said, he ''is'' an actual knight, just one who barely uses the title if at all. Despite always telling himself and others that he only works for money and doesn't want to get involved with normal people or politics, Geralt seems to have one of the worst cases of ChronicHeroSyndrome of any character anywhere, constantly putting his life on the line for people who don't care if he lives or dies. This exchange from [[VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt the third game]] solidifies it:
-->'''Thug:''' You pay on time, you get protection. If you don't... ''[[[WouldHitAGirl slaps the woman he's intimidating]]]'' Or are you expecting a KnightInShiningArmor?\\
'''Geralt:''' Close enough.
* [[DefrostingIceKing Neku Sakuraba]] from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' eventually grows into this as a result of his CharacterDevelopment. He’s rude, incredibly sardonic, and is initially only driven by his own desire to survive no matter what, but he’ll do the right thing more often than not and even saves Shibuya thanks to his growing idealism and willingness to change for the better.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestBuilders'' paints the Hero from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' as having had shades of this. One of the guards in Tantegel will make remarks about how he questioned why none of Alefgard's actual knights were making even an attempt to help him, and even criticized the King for such sheer inaction. It's effectively given through Elle's hypothesis that being groomed to exist solely to defeat the Dragonlord and living a life of ButThouMust led to this jaded edge, and why he would ever accept the Dragonlord's obviously raw deal in the first place.
* Lancelot from ''Labyrinths of the World 12: Hearts of the Planet'' devotes himself to protecting his underground world despite coming off as unsympathetic because of it. He comments at one point that he doesn't have to like people in order to help them.
[[/folder]]

* Naofumi of ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' turns into this in the matter of ''one'' day. [[BitchInSheepsClothing His sole party companion]] betrayed him, robbing him of his money and [[AbominationAccusationAttack falsely accusing him of trying to rape her]]. His name dragged through the mud and treated like a criminal by the people he was summoned to save, he becomes unable to trust anyone, and at first, decides to fight the waves of monsters only so [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere he can go home and be done with everything]], with the [[UngratefulTownsfolk fellow people of nobility claim it was their beloved "Three Heroes" that were responsible for both defeating the Wave Boss and dramatically lessened casualties during the second Wave]]... while the truth blissfully passes right by them. Thankfully, meeting a few allies such as Raphtalia and Filo help him shed this attitude over time. Granted, he always demands compensation for his trouble whenever he helps somebody, which paints him as greedy jerk in the eyes of strangers, but it's actually because he needs to make living somehow unlike the other heroes, who get funding from Melromarc's king.

-->'''Snake:''' ''"I'm no hero. Never was, never will be. Just an old killer, hired to do some wet-work."''

--> ''[[Manga/RosarioToVampire Amethyst Love]]'' is about a Naruto who has found something more important than those ideals.

* Future Trunks falls into this during ''Anime/TheHistoryOfTrunks''. Constantly fighting the Androids to save the world, and being defeated by them every time, takes a serious mental toll on Trunks and drives him to near-depression, though he keeps trying anyway. This is also part of the reason he has so much difficulty going Super Saiyan until Future Gohan is killed; so many people have fallen to the Androids and the situation is so bleak that he simply can't find the motivation.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': Future Trunks falls into this during ''Anime/TheHistoryOfTrunks''. Constantly fighting the Androids to save the world, and being defeated by them every time, takes a serious mental toll on Trunks and drives him to near-depression, though he keeps trying anyway. This is also part of the reason he has so much difficulty going Super Saiyan until Future Gohan is killed; so many people have fallen to the Androids and the situation is so bleak that he simply can't find the motivation.