History Main / RecklessSidekick

* There's a bit of this in ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/AttackOfTheClones''. Anakin acts as Obi-Wan's sidekick, and when they face off against Darth Tyrannus, Obi-Wan tells Anakin to stand back and to take him together. Of course, Anakin flips his shit, charges forward and gets tossed aside, leaving Obi-Wan to fight alone and ultimately lose. In the next movie, during the rematch, they do take him together, however.

--> '''Ninth Doctor''': (''to a stray cat after Rose wanders off'') One day, just one day, maybe, I'm going to meet somebody who gets the whole "don't wander off" thing.

* Jade in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. While she ''does'' prove invaluable, and in most cases her quick thinking is what saves the day, her insistence on ignoring any order of Jackie's, no matter how sensible and life-extending, makes her an avid IdiotBall juggler.

The RecklessSidekick runs the risk of becoming TheScrappy if his sole contribution to the action is acting stupid and getting himself captured all the time and never learns from his mistakes.

Compare GoingForTheBigScoop. Related to KidAppealCharacter, DamselScrappy and LeeroyJenkins.

* Theres a bit of this in ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/AttackOfTheClones''. Anakin acts as Obi-Wan's sidekick, and when they face off against Darth Tyrannus, Obi-Wan tells Anakin to stand back and to take him together. Of course, Anakin flips his shit, charges forward and gets tossed aside, leaving Obi-Wan to fight alone and ultimately lose. In the next movie, during the rematch they do take him together, however.
* Dick Grayson acted like a Reckless Sidekick in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''. The first major action sequence was a classic example of such, as Dick's insistence in going after Mr. Freeze led to him getting frozen and Batman having to choose between going after Freeze or thawing Robin. Dick receives an ass-chewing from Bruce afterward, and the conflict between the two continues for the good part of the movie.

* The companions in ''Series/DoctorWho'' are often like this. In one spin-off novel the Tenth Doctor speculates that he has a sign on his head saying "Ignore this man and any sensible thing he tells you".
** Canonically, the Eleventh Doctor asked "Do I just have a face that nobody listens to?" in ''The Eleventh Hour" when new Companion Amy Pond walked into a room that Eleven knew was dangerous and warned her away from.

* Richie in ''{{Series/Highlander}}''. He did improve a little in the later seasons, before he got axed, but early on, he was always getting himself into trouble-or sometimes getting Duncan in trouble.

* Chie and Naoto show signs of this in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' before they get their personas. Chie rushes right into a shadow infested castle to find Yukiko, ignoring the advice of the two guys who have been here before, have a better understanding of the danger at hand, and have the ''means to fight it''. Naoto, on the other hand, was a tad smarter but still very reckless. [[spoiler:Her idea was to make herself the next major target for the serial killer. All of the members of the gang were almost entirely past victims who lived, so the plan was to find the truth herself and let the gang save her, since she knew enough that they had been doing so for awhile. However, she had no concrete facts and was only lucky that her theory was in the right ballpark. Even then, it didn't prepare her for meeting her inner shadow...]]

* From "[[http://www.thalia.org/hero.html The Things I Will Do if I Am Ever the Hero]]"

* From "[[http://www.thalia.org/sidekick.html The Things I Will Do if I Am Ever the Sidekick]]":

* Jade in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. While she ''does'' prove invaluable, an in most cases her quick thinking is what saves the day, her insistence on ignoring any order of Jackie's, no matter how sensible and life extending, makes her an avid IdiotBall juggler.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. [[FridgeLogic Considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]].

* Miko Mai of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', quite infamously, is always hankering to [[LeeroyJenkins charging off into action, especially if that means combat, alongside her friends]] and has directly endangered them at least half a dozen times as a result of this. The kicker? Miko is a 15-16 year old Japanese schoolgirl. Her friends -- and their enemies -- are ''giant alien robot killing machines'', all of which are armed to the teeth, covered in armor that resists most conventional Earth firearms, nevermind the improvised weapons Miko tries to use, and big enough that they could easily squish her underfoot like a bug. Despite this, Miko just never seems to learn that she has no place in the actual combat. [[spoiler: Though she does [[Awesome/TransformersPrime holds her own in season three]] with the help of the Apex Armor.]]

* In the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'' Barnstormer's sidekick, the young Tailgunner.

-->-- '''Bruce Wayne''' on '''Dick Grayson''', ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''

* He's by no means a ''sidekick'', but ex-00 Agent Jack Hunter from ''VideoGame/GoldeneyeRogueAgent'' is heavily implied to have been this. It's what gets him dismissed from MI6 and hired by Goldfinger.

Expect the hero to be justifiably infuriated by this behaviour. The reasons run the gamut of insubordination, recklessly endangering himself and others, and just plain stupidity. The sidekick will counter that they aren't a kid (well, a [[InnocentBystander helpless one]] anyway) and can handle it, or that the hero is overcautious and always has to do things "his way". Expect the sidekick (and hero) to learn AnAesop about how trusting others doesn't just mean blind obedience, but also giving them responsibility and listening to them.

* Penny from ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' averts this hard. She is the competent one and the main hero is InspectorOblivious.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. [[FridgeLogic considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]].

* Miko Mai of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', quite infamously, is always hankering to [[LeeroyJenkins charging off into action, especially if that means combat, alongside her friends]] and has directly endangered them at least half a dozen times as a result of this. The kicker? Miko is a 15-16 year old Japanese schoolgirl. Her friends -- and their enemies -- are ''giant alien robot killing machines'', all of which are armed to the teeth, covered in armor that resists most conventional Earth firearms, nevermind the improvised weapons Miko tries to use, and big enough that they could easily squish her underfoot like a bug. Despite this, Miko just never seems to learn that she has no place in the actual combat. [[spoiler: Though she does F[[Awesome/TransformersPrime holds her own in season three]] with the help of the Apex Armor.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. [[FridgeLogic considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. Cynical fans wished that Scooby would stop picking Scrappy up during his "Puppy Powerrrr!" charge and let the MonsterOfTheWeek eat him (though [[FridgeLogic considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]]). [[labelnote:And]] part of why [[TheScrappy Scrappy is hated]] is that, since he's always willing to attack the monster, he rather wrecks the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief that keeps us from asking why the ''others'' don't try it.[[/labelnote]]

* Miko Mai of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', quite infamously, is always hankering to [[LeeroyJenkins charging off into action, especially if that means combat, alongside her friends]] and has directly endangered them at least half a dozen times as a result of this. The kicker? Miko is a 15-16 year old Japanese schoolgirl. Her friends -- and their enemies -- are ''giant alien robot killing machines'', all of which are armed to the teeth, covered in armor that resists most conventional Earth firearms, nevermind the improvised weapons Miko tries to use, and big enough that they could easily squish her underfoot like a bug. Despite this, Miko just never seems to learn that she has no place in the actual combat. This, incidentally, has given her a {{hatedom}} similar to the one enjoyed by Scrappy Doo, and for pretty much the same reasons.
** Very thankfully, this phase [[CharacterDevelopment starts to die in season two]]. [[spoiler:She even [[Awesome/TransformersPrime holds her own in season three]] with the help of the Apex Armor.]]

-->-- '''Bruce Wayne''' (on Dick Grayson), ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''

* Series/AceLightning has the stereotypically fiery [[RedHeadedHero red-headed]] Sparx.

* Lewa for the first few years of the ''FranchisE/{{Bionicle}}'' storyline. He's supposedly become [[CharacterDevelopment less reckless and impulsive over time]], but [[TheChewToy he's still the one who usually ends up in trouble and needs rescuing]].

* Intentionally inverted in the [[Franchise/{{Batman}}]] storyline ''A Lonely Place of Dying'':

* Intentionally inverted in ''A Lonely Place of Dying'', where Batman, who has sworn to no longer take in a sidekick after the death of Jason Todd, has started becoming brash and impulsive without "someone to look after." Standing right outside a building he is about to investigate, Nightwing, the original Robin now all grown up, shows up to assist him. When Nightwing asks for a plan, Batman shrugs him off and jumps right into the building, [[spoiler:walking right into a trap]].
* Tim Drake chose to become Robin precisely because he believed Batman needed a sidekick to keep him on the right path.

** Very thankfully, this phase [[CharacterDevelopment starts to die in season two]]. [[spoiler:She even holds her own in season three with the help of the Apex Armor.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. Cynical fans wished that Scooby would stop picking Scrappy up during his "Puppy Powerrrr!" charge and let the MonsterOfTheWeek eat him. Although, [[FridgeLogic considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]]. And part of why [[TheScrappy Scrappy is hated]] is that, since he's always willing to attack the monster, he rather wrecks the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief that keeps us from asking why the ''others'' don't try it.

* Jade in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. While she ''does'' prove invaluable, an in most cases her quick thinking is what saves the day, her insistence on ignoring any order of Jackie's, no matter how sensible and life extending, makes her an avid IdiotBall juggler. Lampshaded by Uncle.
-->'''Uncle:''' (''after Jackie tells Jade to do nothing'') Jade never "does nothing".\\

* Penny from ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' adverts this hard. She is the competent one and the main hero is InspectorOblivious.

* ''Series/AceLightning'': Ace Lightning has the stereotypically fiery [[RedHeadedHero red-headed]] Sparx.

* Chuck from ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', as he's not a real spy while the other two are trained spies. Not usually particularly reckless though, and he generally tries to run away from danger unless it threatens someone he cares about.

* Intentionally inverted in ''A Lonely Place of Dying'', where Batman, who has sworn to no longer take in a sidekick after the death of Jason Todd, has started becoming brash and impulsive without "someone to look after." Standing right outside a building he is about to investigate, Nightwing, the original Robin now all grown up, shows up to assist him. When Nightwing asks for a plan, Batman shrugs him off and jumps right into the building, [[spoiler:walking right into a trap]]. Tim Drake chose to become Robin precisely because he believed Batman needed a sidekick to keep him on the right path.

* The new Robin, Damian Wayne, is also like this. Being the son of Bruce Wayne and the grandson of Ra's Al Ghul, and being brought up by the League of Assassins, he has a little bit of a superiority complex. It's pretty obvious what character arc they have in mind for Damian as he grows up. BreakTheHaughty arcs have indeed made him more likeable to a good portion of the fans.

-->-- '''Bruce Wayne''' on Dick Grayson, ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''

[[AC:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* This was part of the reason a part of the Franchise/{{Batman}} fandom wanted Jason Todd, the second Comicbook/{{Robin}}, dead as a doornail. The guy would just jump in at the most inopportune times and mess up Batman's plans, and then he'd whine to Batman that he was being soft. Though the degree to which he showed this trope swung wildly over the course of his career as Robin, depending on the title he was appearing in, and also on [[WriterOnBoard how far into the run you look]]- he got a lot worse at this as time went on in a lot of people's eyes.
* The new Robin, Damian Wayne, is also like this. Being the son of Bruce Wayne and the grandson of Ra's Al Ghul, and being brought up by the League of Assassins, he has a little bit of a superiority complex. It's pretty obvious the character arc they have in mind for Damian as he grows up.
** BreakTheHaughty arcs have indeed made him more likeable to a good portion of the fans.
* The appropriately named "Scrappy Lad" from ''InkPen''.
* Intentionally inverted in ''A Lonely Place of Dying'', where Batman, who has sworn to no longer take in a sidekick after the death of Jason Todd, has started becoming brash and impulsive without "someone to look after." Standing right outside a building he is about to investigate, Nightwing, the original Robin now all grown up, shows up to assist him. When Nightwing asks for a plan, Batman shrugs him off and jumps right into the building, [[spoiler:walking right into a trap]].
** Tim Drake chose to become Robin precisely because he believed Batman needed a sidekick to keep him on the right path.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* "Incrediboy" in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''. Leading to [[HeroHarassesHelpers Hero Harasses Helper]], leading to MotiveDecay... [[spoiler: leading to BigBad.]]

* Theres a bit of this in ''StarWars: Episode II''. Anakin acts as Obi-Wan's sidekick, and when they face off against Darth Tyrannus Obi-Wan tells Anakin to stand back and to take him together. Of course, Anakin flips his shit, charges forward and gets tossed aside, leaving Obi-Wan to fight alone and ultimately lose. In the next movie during the rematch they do take him together, however.

[[AC:Live Action TV]]
* Chuck from ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' as he's not a real spy, while the other two are trained spies.
** Not usually particularly reckless though, and he generally tries to run away from danger unless it threatens someone he cares about.
* Wendy Watson, sidekick Middleman-In-Training in ''TheMiddleman'' starts out with serious concerns about becoming Comicbook/{{Robin}}, the Boy Hostage. Early in the series, she does end up as the hostage of a gun-totting psychologist alien-hunter and a gorilla army wielding government scientist, but she ends up saving The Middleman from a troop of evil Mexican wrestlers (''before'' [[TookALevelInBadass her training with Sensi Ping]]) and a melt ray soon enough to at least avoid the trope's more negative connotations.

* Blair, sometimes, in ''{{Series/The Sentinel}}''.

[[AC:Toys]]
* Lewa for the first few years of the ''{{Bionicle}}'' storyline. He's supposedly become [[CharacterDevelopment less reckless and impulsive over time]], but [[TheChewToy he's still the one who usually ends up in trouble and needs rescuing]].

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* ''FreedomForce'' devotes a couple missions to one of these. A fanboy of the game's CaptainAmerica {{Expy}}, he [[TakingTheBullet gets shot instead of him]] by a machinegun-toting baddie and is saved only by an emergency blood transfusion from his hero. [[SuperhumanTransfusion The transfusion gives him superpowers of his own]], so he goes off on his own to find the villains' hideout (against orders to remain in safety and recover), and nearly gets himself killed ''again'' before he gets saved by another hero.

[[AC:Web]]

--> I will not make the sidekick wait somewhere while I go on ahead. He'll only get into worse trouble than he otherwise would.

-->If the hero tells me to stay put while he goes on ahead, I will do so instead of sneaking around and getting captured.

[[AC:WebComics]]
* Gordito in ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' tends to act this way, though he also shows signs of being very thoughtful and clever. For example, after catching "Plumber" [[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain Victor]] trying to install cameras in the Doctor's office, he sets off on trying to get rid of him... By hiring another plumber and firing Victor.
* ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'': Wonderita tends to get like this, simply because she's TheDitz and doesn't necessarily realize she's in a dangerous situation.

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

* Quinn from WebVideo/DemoReel. He's more of a [[HoYay partner]] to Karl than a sidekick, but he's still younger, more passionate and Karl looks after him when he's sick.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* Jade in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. While she ''does'' prove invaluable, an in most cases her quick thinking is what saves the day, her insistence on ignoring any order of Jackie's, no matter how sensible and life extending, makes her an avid IdiotBall juggler.
** Lampshaded by Uncle.
-->'''Uncle''': [''after Jackie tells Jade to do nothing''] Jade never "does nothing".
-->'''Jackie''': I know, but I feel like I have to say that.
* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Scrappy Doo. Cynical fans wished that Scooby would stop picking Scrappy up during his "Puppy Powerrrr!" charge and let the MonsterOfTheWeek eat him.
** [[FridgeLogic Considering all of the monsters of the week were old men in costumes, Scrappy might have been able to take them]].
*** And part of why [[TheScrappy Scrappy is hated]] is that, since he's always willing to attack the monster, he rather wrecks the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief that keeps us from asking why the ''others'' don't try it.
* AceLightning had the stereotypically fiery [[RedHeadedHero red headed]] Sparx.

* This trope is inverted in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode, "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy Wonderbolt Academy]]", where Lightning Dust is a reckless leader and Rainbow Dash is her more sensible wingpony.
** However, Rainbow Dash does tend to fill this role compared to the rest of the Mane 6, especially in the first season.

* A CartoonNetwork interstitial featured Boo Boo Bear, Robin and Barney Rubble at a restaurant discussing that there is no shame to being a sidekick.
-->'''Robin:''' Look at Porky Pig. He started out as a star and went on to do his best work as a sidekick. And there's no shame in that.

* Chie and Naoto show signs of this in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' before they get their personas. Chie rushes right into a shadow infested castle to find Yukiko, ignoring the advice of the two guys who have been here before and have a better understanding of the danger at hand. Naoto, on the other hand, was a tad smarter but still very reckless. [[spoiler:Her idea was to make herself the next major target for the serial killer. All of the members of the gang were almost entirely past victims who lived, so the plan was to find the truth herself and let the gang save her, since she knew enough that they had been doing so for awhile. However, she had no concrete facts and was only lucky that her theory was in the right ballpark. Even then, it didn't prepare her for meeting her inner shadow...]]