History Main / PragmaticHero

** A perhaps even ''larger'' example of Angel's pragmatic hero complex is in ''Comics/{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight}}'' comics. He [[spoiler: of a masked figure called Twilight]] under order of the Powers, intentionally putting himself against [[spoiler: Buffy and supposedly Slayer organization]] to keep her focused and alive for the [[spoiler: inevitable Twilight prophecy]] because he believed Buffy would die, along with the rest of the world. In the end, it resulted in the deaths of [[spoiler: 200 slayers and Buffy's watcher, Giles.]] Though he ''was'' possessed in some areas (Long story ... )

** [[AntiHero Oliver Queen]] refuses to adhere to Clark's ThouShallNotKill policy pretexting that it prevents him from being this. This argument is possibly used by [[MagnificentBastard Lionel]] [[BigGood Luthor]], and all those who wish Clark would at last become more effective and implicated, or who want him to JumpOffTheSlipperySlope.

** It becomes a plot point in season 5, when it drives him further and further away of his function of Champion. Eventually, it resulted in the murder of an innocent champion called Drogyn.
** A perhaps even ''larger'' example of Angel's pragmatic hero complex is in ''Buffy Season Eight'' comics. He [[spoiler: of a masked figure called Twilight]] under order of the Powers, intentionally putting himself against [[spoiler: Buffy and the supposedly the Slayer organization]] to keep her focused and alive for the [[spoiler: inevitable Twilight prophecy]] because he believed Buffy would die, along with the rest of the world. In the end, it resulted in the deaths of [[spoiler: 200 slayers and Buffy's watcher, Giles.]] Though he ''was'' possessed in some areas (Long story ... )

** It becomes a plot point in season 5, when it drives him further and further away of his function of Champion.

->"The mark of a true hero is somebody who's willing to sacrifice his own personal morality to help keep the world safe."

* Kyle from ''SouthPark'' often plays this role, particularly when confronting one of Cartman's many schemes.

Most great fictional heroes fall into one of two broad categories: the IdealHero, such as TheCape or a KnightInShiningArmor who is pretty much exactly what one would hope for in a hero - skilled, courageous, morally pure, etc., and the AntiHero, who lacks one or more qualities normally considered necessary for an IdealHero. For example, a ClassicalAntiHero lacks ability or self - confidence. A KnightInSourArmor lacks a positive attitude, and a NominalHero lacks morally pure intentions.

A PragmaticHero lacks the "moral cleanliness" of an IdealHero. When fighting evil, they often commit acts that might seem more characteristic of a villain than a hero. However, {{Pragmatic Hero}}es have morally good intentions and often hold themselves to strict moral standards - it's just that those standards aren't always what others might expect from a hero. This type of hero tends to be much more concerned with whatever heroic business the plotline has assigned them than the niceties of proper heroic etiquette. However, with the exception of unintentional mistakes, they will rarely if ever commit a villainous deed that doesn't further the cause of good in a way.

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' is constantly breaking the rules and ultimately [[spoiler: uses two out of the three unforgivable curses, and robs a bank]] to stop Lord Voldemort's schemes.

* 'CiaphasCain'' insists that, contrary to his image, he's an abject coward, and almost always seems to have an explanation as to why a given course of action seemed to best ensure his personal safety. He also tries to complement and be nice to his subordinates, because many a CowboyCop hard-driving Commissar has been "accidentally" shot by the men he was leading into battle. Note that the series hints that the claims of cowardice aren't always true; there have been plenty of times when he's been unable to come up with a pragmatic explanation, and blames it on shock or injury when it's clear he's acting out of actual caring.

* Some Jedis in ''Franchise/StarWars'' do not object the creation of clones genetically engineered to defend the Republic from the separatists. Then again, they have strongly held ideals, and think the Republic is the best possible regime, but YMMV on whether this is this trope or an isolated case of UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans.

* Ziva David was once a DarkActionGirl, who used manipulation and brutal intimidation to save her country. See her ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' character page.

[[folder: Literature]]

* Grimble from ''LegendOfTheGuardiansTheOwlsOfGaHoole'' fits here, like some other owls in the series do, by virtue of the high stress they have put on efficiency in [[CombatPragmatist fighting for]] good.

** First of all, it is {{Played Straight}} with the [[TheFettered incorruptible]] Kahlan. She sacrifices her chances to get her immediate happy ending with the man she loves, her safety and the right to have the normal life she dreams of since so long ago, but can be a bit too extreme, even after her LoveInterest. For instance, when she learns that [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext her baby niece is actually a baby nephew]], and discovers he'll be a terrible dictator of the AlwaysChaoticEvil men Confessor kind]], she initially wants to drown him. She is also ready to kill a dangerous, potentially apocalypse-causing, yet innocent young lady Confessor.

** {{Subverted}} with Richard, who is supposed to be turned into a Pragmatic Hero by his training but always TakesAThirdOption, remaining (depending on your point of view) either a HeroicArchetype, either a hero with shades of type I antihero.

* [[GoodIsNotSoft Merlin]] from BBC's ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' could be seen as this. Merlin [[spoiler: [[IDidWhatIHadToDo poisons the innocent Morgana]] to save the good future he works for]]. Gaius encourages him on this way, and they both end up talking about how hard making difficult choices can be, but how it becomes necessary. Morgana is later characterized by her [[DefiedTrope lack of planning and impulsivity]], which cause her to go to great length either to make something way too extreme happen, either to prevent one of this situations realize, until the season 4 premiere, in which she accepts to do an enormous sacrifice.

** [[AntiHero Oliver Queen]] refuses to adhere to Clark's ThouShallNotKill policy pretexting that it prevents him from being this. This argument is possibly used by [[MagnificentBastard Lionel]] [[BigGood Luthor]], and all those who wish Clark would at last become more effective and implicated, or who want him to JumpOffTheSlipperySlope.

[[folder: Theater]]
* [[WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]]'s ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' lets his beloved lose hope in their future together to do what he thinks is right, thus qualifying if you [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation agree that he is doing what is right]] in fighting against the (possibly) traitor queen and her king.

[[folder: Toys]]

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' is constantly breaking the rules and ultimately [[spoiler: uses two out of the three unforgivable curses and sacrifices the lives of friends]] to stop Lord Voldemort's schemes.

** Macbeth in ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' was probably one (some see him as a DarkerAndEdgier version of Brutus from JuliusCaesar, as he wanted to promote non-hereditary monarchy) before [[LadyMacbeth his wife]] tried to mend his ways...

** First of all, it is {{Played Straight}} with the [[TheFettered incorruptible]] Kahlan. She sacrifices her chances to get her immediate happy ending with the man she loves, her safety and the right to have the normal life she dreams of since so long ago, but can be a bit too extreme, even after her LoveInterest. For instance, when she learns that [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext her baby niece is actually a baby nephew]], and discovers he'll be a terrible dictator of the AlwaysChaoticEvil men Inquisitor kind]], she initially wants to drown him. She is also ready to kill a dangerous, potentially apocalypse-causing, yet innocent young lady Inquisitor.

* Kiritsugu Emiya from ''Manga/FateZero'' is a Pragmatic Hero of the extreme kind. Originally, he wanted to be "a hero of justice" who would help the weak and needed, but this led him to become an assassin capable of committing many atrocities in his belief is that choosing the smaller sacrifice is always the best outcome, for him sacrificing a hundred people to save a thousand is something that is done with barely a twitch of an eyebrow [[spoiler: down to the point were he killed his own father for messing with vampires, and his trainer and mother figure due to a botched assassination]]

* Kiritsugu Emiya from ''LightNovel/FateZero'' is an extreme PragmaticHero, see the entry in the Anime & Manga category .

* Grimble from ''Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole'' fits here, like some other owls in the series do, by virtue of the high stress they have put on efficiency in [[CombatPragmatist fighting for]] good.

* The Doctor is this in ''Series/{{DoctorWho}}'', [[spoiler: at one point sacrificing a city to prevent the world from being ruled by the villains]].

* [[WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]]'s ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' lets his beloved lose hope in their future together to do what he thinks is right, thus qualifying if you [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation agree that he is doing what is right]] in fighting against the (possibly) traitor king and queen.

* [[WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]]'s ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' lets his beloved lose hope in their future together to do what he thinks is right, thus qualifying if you [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation agree that he is doing what is right]] in fighting against the (possibly) traitor king.

A PragmaticHero lacks the "moral cleanliness" of an IdealHero. When fighting evil, they often commit acts that might seem more characteristic of a villain than a hero. However, {{Pragmatic Hero}}es have morally good intentions and often hold themselves to strict moral standards - it's just that those standards aren't always what others might expect from a hero. This type of hero tends to be much more concerned with whatever heroic business the plotline has assigned them than the nicities of proper heroic ettiquette. However, with the exception of unintentional mistakes, they will rarely if ever commit a villainous deed that doesn't further the cause of good in a way.

* Kiritsugu Emiya from ''FateZero'' is a PragmaticHero of the extreme kind. Originally, he wanted to be "a hero of justice" who would help the weak and needed, but this led him to become an assassin capable of committing many atrocities in his belief is that choosing the smaller sacrifice is always the best outcome, for him sacrificing a hundred people to save a thousand is something that is done with barely a twitch of an eyebrow [[spoiler: down to the point were he killed his own father for messing with vampires, and his trainer and mother figure due to a botched assassination]]

* Kiritsugu Emiya from FateZero is an extreme PragmaticHero, see the entry in the Anime & Manga category .
* ''HarryPotter'' is constantly breaking the rules and ultimately [[spoiler: uses two out of the three unforgivable curses and sacrifices the lives of friends]] to stop Lord Voldemort's schemes.
* Grimble from ''Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole'' fits here, like some other owls in the series do, by virtue of the high stress they have put on efficience in [[CombatPragmatist fighting for]] good.

* ''WarriorCats'' features violent fight, tough decisions, and cats betraying the warrior's code, but some of the cats implicated do it for the right reasons.

* The title character of the ''DirtyHarry'' franchise.
* Some Jedies in ''StarWars'' do not object the creation of clones genetically engineered to defend the Republic from the separatists. Then again, they have strongly held ideals, and think the Republic is the best possible regime, but YMMV on whether this is this trope or an isolated case of UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans.
* Glinda from ''TheWizardOfOz'' may be this. Though sometimes, people like an AlternateCharacterInterpretation.

* In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', the eponymous character thinks he has to take down the forces of evil by any means, and tries to distance himself from humans because they make him more remorseful, and ultimately, less ruthless. He also joins a dubious organization. Possibly momentarly downplayed when he tries to turn into Angelus, his Enemy Without.

* Giles in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', later in the series. Buffy avoids this.

* In ''TheCloser'', Brenda Leigh Johnson is a PragmaticHero, verging on the Lawful choice of the dilemna ToBeLawfulOrGood because she geniuely thinks she has to (but choosing good ultimately, though a rather tough good).

* ''LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'''s Elliot Stabler, possibly. He uses IDidWhatIHadToDo as a CatchPhrase, because he is highly moral, but also sometimes too determined in achieving what he thinks are the best results. He has a closure rate of 97 %, after all.
* It is explored greatly in ABC's ''[[LegendOfTheSeeker Legend Of The Seeker]]''.
** First of all, it is {{Played Straight}} with the [[TheFettered incorruptible]] Kahlan. She sacrifices her chances to get her immediate happy ending with the man she loves, her safety and the right to have the normal life she dreams of since so long ago, but can be a bit too extreme, even after her LoveInterest. For instance, when she learns that [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext her baby niece is actually a baby nephew]], and discovers he'll be a terrible dicator of the AlwaysChaoticEvil men Inquisitor kind]], she initially wants to drown him. She is also ready to kill a dangerous, potentially apocalypse-causing, yet innocent young lady Inquisitor.

** {{Subverted}} with Richard, who is supposed to be turned into a PragmaticHero by his training but always TakesAThirdOption, remaining (depending on your point of view) either a HeroicArchetype, either a hero with shades of type I antihero.

* [[GoodIsNotSoft Merlin]] from BBC's ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' could be seen as this. Merlin [[spoiler: [[IDidWhatIHadToDo poisons the innocent Morgana]] to save the good future he works for]]. Gaius encorages him on this way, and they both end up talking about how hard making difficult choices can be, but how it becomes necessary. Morgana is later characterized by her [[DefiedTrope lack of planning and impulsivity]], which cause her to go to great length either to make something way too extreme happen, either to prevent one of this situations realize, untill the season 4 premiere, in which she accepts to do an enormous sacrifice.
* Ziva David was once a DarkActionGirl, who used manipulation and brutal intimidation to save her counntry. See her ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' character page.
* ''{{Smallville}}'' has [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans Tess]] [[BecauseDestinySaysSo Mercer]], who defines herself and people who are really heroes, as the people who are ready to do the dirty work for the good of the many.
** [[AntiHero Oliver Queen]] refuses to addher to Clark's ThouShallNotKill policy pretexting that it prevents him from being this. This argument is possibly used by [[MagnificentBastard Lionel]] [[BigGood Luthor]], and all those who wish Clark would at last become more effective and implicated, or who want him to JumpOffTheSlipperySlope.
** [[TheCutie Chloe Sullivan]] becomes this to protect Clark at one point, but she is guilt-striken in the afterwhile.
* ''Series/TwentyFour'''s Jack Bauer is a highly nonconventional government agent who won't hesitate to torture his enemies to find out what he wants to know. Given that knowledge may be the only thing standing between the world as we know it and some very bad things, he falls in this category.

* [[WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]]'s ''{{Hamlet}}'' lets his beloved lose hope in their future together to do what he thinks is right, thus qualifying if you [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation agree that he is doing what is right]] in fighting against the (possibly) traitor king.
** Macbeth in ''{{Macbeth}}'' was probably one (some see him as a DarkerAndEdgier version of Brutus from JuliusCaesar, as he wanted to promote non-hereditary monarchy) before [[LadyMacbeth his wife]] tried to mend his ways...

[[folder: Video games]]
* Yuri Lowell from TalesOfVesperia [[IDidWhatIHadToDo did what he had to do]] to Cumore and Ragou and many a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech are given by him to Flynn Scifo.
* A renegade Commander Shepard can be quite pragmatic in MassEffect.

* [[GoodIsNotNice Batman]] in ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''.
[[/folder]]

* CodeGeass' Lelouch falls into this category occasionally, but his desire for revenge often pushes him further down the [[SlidingScaleOfAntiheroes scale]].
* Kiritsugu Emiya from FateZero is a PragmaticHero of the extreme kind. Originally, he wanted to be "a hero of justice" who would help the weak and needed, but this led him to become an assassin capable of committing many atrocities in his belief is that choosing the smaller sacrifice is always the best outcome, for him sacrificing a hundred people to save a thousand is something that is done with barely a twitch of an eyebrow [[spoiler: down to the point were he killed his own father for messing with vampires, and his trainer and mother figure due to a botched assassination]]

->-'''Tess Mercer''', ''{{Smallville}}''

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[[folder: Live Action Movies:]]

[[AC: Anime and Manga:]]

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[[AC: Live Action Movies:]]

[[AC: Live Action TV]]

[[AC: Theater]]

[[AC: Video games]]

* A renegade Commander Shepard can be quite pragmatic in MassEffect.

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* [[GoodIsNotNice Batman]] in ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''.