History Main / OpposedMentors

Ways mentors can be opposed include, but are by no means limited to: training regimes (WaxOnWaxOff versus TrainingFromHell), ethics (WithGreatPower verses MightMakesRight), choice of techniques (MagicVersusScience or FighterMageThief can both be a source of duality), whether talent matters (HardWorkHardlyWorks and TheGift versus TrainingFromHell) and progress ([[ObsoleteMentor the new ways]] versus the GoodOldWays). See also DuelingMessiahs, who are more concerned with doing right by the world than just one person.

* ''KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'': Kenichi once finds himself in a situation where he can choose between Hayato's and EvilMentor Ogata's mentorship. It's very tempting for Kenichi because previously Hayato seemingly abandoned him and Ogata seems like a very friendly person. The catch is that the TricksterMentor Hayato himself put Kenichi in this situation to [[SecretTest test his moral priorities]].

* In ''Literature/GoodOmens'', Heaven and Hell both send hand-picked childhood influences (a nanny, a gardener, two teachers) to the home of the boy they think is {{The Antichrist}}. It's the wrong boy.
** Though in this case it's also intentional; Crowley and Aziraphale are secretly in cahoots to make sure the final "score" is a tie.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara and Toph have ''very'' different opinions on how Aang should be trained. Katara, his [[MakingASplash waterbending teacher]] goes for the soft, encouraging, positive attitude, while Toph, his [[DishingOutDirt earthbending teacher]], prefers the rougher, blunter, drill sergeant style. This culminates in an interesting mud-fight scene between the two.
** Zuko also had the dueling influences of his [[BigBad father]], a power-mad warlord attempting to raise his son to follow in his footsteps (or get him killed so his [[DaddysLittleVillain sister]] could do so, whatever) and his [[CoolUncle uncle]], a wise [[TheAtoner Atoner]][=/=]DefectorFromDecadence who wanted his nephew to pursue peace on taking the throne.

* In ''{{Scrubs}}'' [[DrJerk Dr. Kelso]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Dr. Cox]] have this dynamic for the first few episodes, with both being presented as possible mentors to JD. With Dr. Kelso being concerned with money (arguing that if the hospital doesn't make a profit, it'll close) and Dr. Cox arguing that the patient should come first. JD chooses Cox, earning him Kelso's contempt (although later episodes show Kelso in a better light). They recycled this plot a few times;

{{Mentor}}s are always helpful to any self respecting hero. Not only can they pass on knowledge or training, but also points of view, philosophies and even allies (or possibly [[GuiltByAssociation enemies...]]). Unfortunately, sometimes TheHero is particularly talented (or maybe in the right place at the right time) and has more than one mentor trying to recruit them as a student...and they almost always have opposing philosophies.

* ''StarWars'': Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi-Wan Kenobi -- representing both Jedi tradition and authority, and general goodness -- and Palpatine -- representing an apparent sensible opposition to Jedi strictness really hiding lust for power and temptation to evil. For a long time, as Palpatine hides his evil and lets Anakin stew in his own dissatisfaction rather than openly encouraging rebellion against Obi-Wan, he doesn't even realise there's a clear opposition. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

* The third ''Film/TheKarateKid'' movie has the main character pick up an EvilMentor after an argument with Miyagi.

-->-- '''TheForbiddenKingdom'''

* ''ABronxTale'' is about a kid called Calogero growing up under the conflicting influences of his hard-working, honest, but poor father, and the charismatic, rich and powerful, AffablyEvil local mafia don Sonny.

* ''IHeartHuckabees'' featured philosophically opposed existential detectives (who both served as {{Trickster Mentor}}s for their clients) who may or may not have actually been working together, but would never admit it.

* ''TheForbiddenKingdom'' had Jackie Chan and Jet Li as the two mentors. It even provides a quote, "Two tigers can't rule the same mountain."
* RideTheHighCountry: Steve Judd and Gil Westrum spend much of the movie contesting with each other for the loyalty of their mutual protege, Heck Longtree; Judd wants him to stay honest and reliable, while Westrum hopes to enlist him in his plot to steal the gold.

* In SHINE, one of the primary reasons behind the formation of Wrestling/{{Daffney| Unger}}'s All Star Squad was Valkyrie, and one of Daffney's first recruits was Solo Darling, who was trained by Valkyrie's [[DragonWithAnAgenda odd member out]], Wrestling/IveliesseVelez.[[/folder]]

* RideTheHighCountry: Steve Judd and Gil Westrum spend much of the movie contesting with each other for the loyalty of their mutual protege, Heck Longtree.

* RideTheHighCountry: Steve Judd and Gil Westrum

* ''StarWars'': Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi-Wan Kenobi -- representing both Jedi tradition and authority, and general goodness -- and Palpatine -- representing an apparent sensible opposition to Jedi strictness really hiding lust for power and temptation to evil. For a long time, as Palpatine hides his evil and lets Anakin stew in his own dissatisfaction rather than openly encouraging rebellion against Obi-Wan, he doesn't even realise there's any such opposition. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

* ''StarWars'': Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi-Wan Kenobi and Palpatine. For a long time, as Palpatine hides his evil and lets Anakin stew in his own dissatisfaction rather than openly encouraging rebellion against Obi-Wan, he doesn't even realise there's any such opposition. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

* ''StarWars'' - Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi wan Kenobi and Palpatine. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

OpposedMentors are an excellent opportunity for character development; the hero is given a choice between them, and the one he chooses (and whether he comes to regret it eventually) can represent what the hero is on the path to becoming (or [[EvilMentor risks becoming]]). Expect the mentors to alternately argue with each other by proxy as they give the hero advice (BonusPoints for having the hero "trapped" between them as they shout back and forth, eventually ignoring the hero all together in favour of their opinion). If one of the mentors is evil you can almost guarantee that they were once a student of the other mentor and if not, that both mentors were students of the same master (who the evil mentor no doubt betrayed, although a good mentor being a DefectorFromDecadence isn't unheard of).

* An evil example is in the Creator/CSLewis novel ''ThatHideousStrength'', where the two chief villians disagree on the best way to dehumanize their initiate/captive.

* GTA, Michael and Trevor to Franklin. One is corrupt but level-headed, the other is honor bound but excessively violent. Both of them butt heads trying to teach Franklin the ropes of high-class heists and their rivalry obstructs them to the point [[spoiler:that Franklin has to choose which one to kill, or if he's willing to risk his life and millions of dollars to save them both]].

* A classic example is ''{{Candide}}'', in which the title character falls under the influence of Pangloss and Martin, who are at opposite ends of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism.

* In ''LifeOfPi'' the title character has two mentors, [[OneSteveLimit both named Mr. Kumar]]: the first is an uneducated but devout Muslim shopkeeper while the other is Pi's intelligent, atheistic science teacher. Despite their antithetical worldviews they actually get along well the one time they happen to meet each other, and Pi, whose two main interests are religion and animals, doesn't seem to feel conflicted between them.
* In ''AtlasShrugged'', science professor Robert Stadler and philosophy professor Hugh Akston competed for college students John Galt, Ragnar Danneskjold, and Francisco d'Anconia. The latter won and later joined their movement, while the former went on to become a government sell-out.
* In ''{{Good Omens}}'', Heaven and Hell both send hand-picked childhood influences (a nanny, a gardener, two teachers) to the home of the boy they think is {{The Antichrist}}. It's the wrong boy.

** Zuko also had the dueling influences of his [[BigBad father]], a power-mad warlord attempting to raise his son to follow in his footsteps (or get him killed so his [[DaddysLittleVillain sister]] could do so, whatever) and his [[CoolUncle uncle]], a wise [[TheAtoner Atoner]] / DefectorFromDecadence who wanted his nephew to pursue peace on taking the throne.

** Zuko also had the dueling influences of his [[BigBad father]], a power-mad warlord attempting to raise his son to follow in his footsteps (or get him killed so his [[TheFavorite sister]] could do so, whatever) and his [[CoolUncle uncle]], a wise [[TheAtoner Atoner]] / DefectorFromDecadence who wanted his nephew to pursue peace on taking the throne.