History Main / SycophanticServant

* In Creator/StephenKing's vampire novel '''SalemsLot'', Mr. Straker serves in this role, but subverts it in that he is quite capable as the vampire's daytime operative.

** ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' mixes things up by introducing the ''thrall'', a human who has drank the same vampire's blood three times, thus enslaving them, but who has not been granted any of the supernatural powers of a ghoul (becoming a ghoul requires the donating vampire, or ''regnant'', to forcefully will the transformation). Vampire blood, or ''vitae'' in vampire parlance, possesses addictive qualities which become stronger the more often it is consumed, so some thralls may continue to sample their regnant's blood even if they receive no supernatural benefit for doing so. The benefit of using thralls over ghouls is that they are less psychically taxing to maintain and aren't noticed as anything other than human by supernatural means of surveillance; by default, younger vampires who don't know how to create proper ghouls end up creating thralls instead. The term "thrall" can also be applied to animals and other vampires if they are subject to a blood bond, or ''vinculum'' in vampire parlance.

** Somehow, HarleyQuinn was not on here. Her obsession with SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he was perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nuked it, she was about to quit. In one line he gets her back. This is completely in character.

* The only character to come out of ''[[ManosTheHandsOfFate "Manos" The Hands of Fate]]'' with any pop cultural significance at all is Torgo, the villain's acid-crazed satyr [[CrustyCaretaker janitor]] of marginal loyalty.

*** Curiously, the Disney adaption of ''Disney/TheJungleBook'' is lacking Shere Khan's SycophanticServant, Tabaqui the Jackal.

* ''Film/DraculasDaughter'' had Sandor as Renfield to the eponymous daughter.

* Chaos cultists in ''DawnOfWar''. While they have ''some'' use in combat as invisible detectors, their all around weakness, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JrtFazaS7g annoying voices]], and persistent [[{{Lickspittle}} Lickspittling]] make them this trope.

[[caption-width-right:300:Tabaqui demonstrates how it's done.]]

** Mind you, neither did the Horned King, in any form viewers of the movie would recognize. He was Arawn's warlord, who commanded the Cauldron Born and others and was the field locus of scarybad during ''The Book of Three'' while Arawn was being all OrcusOnHisThrone. Did not talk much, if at all.

** Somehow, HarleyQuinn was not on here. Her obsession with TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he was perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nuked it, she was about to quit. In one line he gets her back. This is completely in character.

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* ''Film/DraculasDaughter'' had Sandor as Renfield to the titular daughter.

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* ''DraculasDaughter'' had Sandor as Renfield to the titular daughter.

* The ''BloodAlone'' manga actually ''calls'' vampire blood slaves "Renfields."

* Mephisto had one of these in his first appearance in ''SilverSurfer''. Ironically, Mephisto was himself forced to be this to Thanos during the ''InfinityGauntlet'' saga.

* Probably the most famous portrayal of the character is DwightFrye in the [[{{Film/Dracula}} 1931 film]]. Indeed, Frye's Renfield is more in keeping with the trope than the character's depiction in the original novel.

* Peter [=MacNichol=] has played two {{Sycophantic Servant}}s: Janosz in ''{{Ghostbusters}} 2'' as a straight example, and Renfield himself in ''[[DraculaDeadAndLovingIt Dracula: Dead and Loving It]]''.

** In ''FrightNight Part 2'' it is Bocworth who is [[VampiresAreSexGods Regina Dandridge]]'s bug-eating bodyguard.

* Renfield in ''{{Literature/Dracula}}'', of course. Who could actually be something of a subversion in that, while he certainly seems ''willing'' to become Dracula's slave, being locked in at Dr. Seward's sanatorium rather limits his options and the Count seems to more or less ignore him throughout. ([[spoiler:Until he finally visits him in his cell and kills him]].)

* This is a semi-official rank in vampire society in Nancy A. Collins's ''Sonja Blue Trilogy''. Humans with some telepathic ability and a psychological disposition to submission are often enslaved by master vampires (via {{Mind Rape}}, which an ideal candidate for the job will actually enjoy) and used as personal assistants. The position is referred to as "renfield" (in lower case), but the master of such a servant dehumanizes him/her by addressing him/her only as "Renfield" (upper case).

* In StephenKing's vampire novel '''SalemsLot'', Mr. Straker serves in this role, but subverts it in that he is quite capable as the vampire's daytime operative.

* Damane in ''WheelOfTime'' are forced to become this after some hard core [[MindRape mind rape]] from the Seanchan. There's a scene in the first book where they appear when Nynaeve frees one out of pity, and the damane without missing a beat starts screaming, begging her slaver to put back on her leash. It's a little creepy.

* Another example who's actually named Renfield is Turnbull from ''{{Due South}}''.

* Shaft to {{Dracula}} in the ''{{Castlevania}} Series''.

* Half AffectionateParody, half NightmareFuel ... [[spoiler: Sonny the Cuckoo Bird]] in ''{{Breakfast Of The Gods}}'', [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/poyorick/botg2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=22191 here]].

* Artie Johnson in the {{Dracula}} spoof ''LoveAtFirstBite''.
* Ephialtes in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]''.

* Blix in ''{{Legend}}''.

* The Vorta of ''{{Deep Space Nine}}'' were genetically altered to regard the Founders of the Dominion as living gods. They are well aware of this, and take it in stride. "What's the point of being a god if there's no one to worship you?"

* The vampires in Patricia Briggs's ''MercyThomas'' novels have "sheep" - people who are kept on hand as walking meals - whose SycophanticServant-ness varies depending on how the vampire treats them. They all become increasingly subservient to and dependent on the vampire after repeated feedings. If there are enough sheep to keep the feedings infrequent, then the people can stay healthy indefinitely, and there are some benefits (such as cancers being kept in remission), which logically explains why some of them are quite happy with their lot. Stefan, the most sympathetic vampire, does this on purpose, seeking out potential sheep who need a safe haven or medical help. Eventually, the vampire may decide to "turn" a sheep, but this isn't always possible.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Smithers fulfills this role. In the {{Dracula}}
Halloween episode, he was even dressed literally as Renfield (played by TomWaits!) in Francis Ford Coppola's ''Dracula'' movie.

In "The Emperor's New School" (Television spin-off of "The Emperor's New Groove") Although Kuzco is the main character and not a villain his classmate Guaca qualifies as this.

* ''VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' features several, in the form of the ghouls. Knox Harrington (a reference to Knock of ''Nosferatu''), [[AscendedFanboy a hyperactive fanboy]] was recruited by the Nosferatu agent Betram Tung, mainly because he was [[WeNeedADistraction able to divert attention away from Betram's less palatable schemes]]. Vandal Cleaver is Therese Voerman's ghoul and works the desk at the local blood bank, selling to vampires; unusually for a SycophanticServant, Vandal is {{sarcastic|Devotee}}, bitter (referring to his master as "the Queen Bitch,") and actually quite dangerous to humans, though he's too cowardly to attack a vampire and can easily be intimidated by the PC. Romero, Isaac's ghoul, lives in a cemetery in Hollywood and isn't even allowed to take a break for five minutes to seek out human contact, but is completely content so long as he gets to shoot zombies. Then there's Mercurio, who is totally dedicated to LaCroix, but is very much aware that this is because of the ghouling process, and accepts the situation because there are no better options.

** Fife in ''BeautyAndTheBeastTheEnchantedChristmas''

Formerly [[TropeNamer named after Renfield]] from ''{{Literature/Dracula}}'', the SycophanticServant is a worshipful, perfectly willing slave of the BigBad. Generally he's of only marginal usefulness, due to his incompetence and/or obsessions.

[[hottip:Minor digression about the original Renfield here:The former TropeNamer is, intriguingly, not actually a full example in the original book; he's Dracula's slave, yes, but unwillingly so, and actually tries to betray his master. Later adaptations ignored this, however, so we have the trope as it currently exists.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Smithers fulfills this role. In the {{Dracula}} Halloween episode, he was even dressed literally as Renfield (played by TomWaits!) in Francis Ford Coppola's ''Dracula'' movie.

* The RedShirt scientist Barnes is one of these to [[MadScientist Szilard Quates]] of ''{{Baccano}}'', to the point that he's honored to be [[YouWillBeAssimilated assimilated]] by his master.

* Beni from ''TheMummy''.

From [[TropeNamer the character of the same name]] in ''{{Literature/Dracula}}'', a Renfield is a sycophantic, worshipful, perfectly willing slave of the BigBad. Generally he's of only marginal usefulness, due to his incompetence and/or obsessions.

[[hottip:Minor digression about the original Renfield here:The TropeNamer is, intriguingly, [[UnbuiltTrope not actually a full example in the original book]]; he's Dracula's slave, yes, but unwillingly so, and actually tries to betray his master. Later adaptions ignored this, however, so we have the trope as it currently exists.]]

* In Part 3 of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', Vanilla Ice, the Renfield of Big Bad Dio, does manage to kill off two of the main cast.

* In the Disney film, ''TheBlackCauldron'', the Renfield was the Horned King's goblin sidekick, Creeper. Note that in [[PrydainChronicles the book]], this character did not exist.

* Peter [=MacNichol=] has played two [[TheRenfield Renfields]]: Janosz in ''{{Ghostbusters}} 2'' as a straight example, and Renfield himself in ''[[DraculaDeadAndLovingIt Dracula: Dead and Loving It]]''.

*** Curiously, the Disney adaption of ''Disney/TheJungleBook'' is lacking Shere Khan's Renfield, Tabaqui the Jackal.

* Farley Claymore, played by TimCurry, in Film/TheShadow.

* [[TropeNamer The original]] in ''{{Literature/Dracula}}'', of course. Who could actually be something of a subversion in that, while he certainly seems ''willing'' to become Dracula's slave, being locked in at Dr. Seward's sanatorium rather limits his options and the Count seems to more or less ignore him throughout. ([[spoiler:Until he finally visits him in his cell and kills him]].)

* In StephenKing's vampire novel '''[[SalemsLot Salem's Lot]]'', Mr. Straker serves in this role, but subverts it in that he is quite capable as the vampire's daytime operative.
* The vampires in Patricia Briggs's MercyThomas novels have "sheep" - people who are kept on hand as walking meals - whose Renfield-ness varies depending on how the vampire treats them. They all become increasingly subservient to and dependent on the vampire after repeated feedings. If there are enough sheep to keep the feedings infrequent, then the people can stay healthy indefinitely, and there are some benefits (such as cancers being kept in remission), which logically explains why some of them are quite happy with their lot. Stefan, the most sympathetic vampire, does this on purpose, seeking out potential sheep who need a safe haven or medical help. Eventually, the vampire may decide to "turn" a sheep, but this isn't always possible.

* Wormtail in the HarryPotter series.

** Also in that season, the BigBad Glory evidently had an entire species of Renfieldish demons enthralled.

* True to the original, TheRenfield in ''Series/DarkShadows'' - Willie Loomis - was also an unwilling servant who couldn't quite overcome [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampires his master's unnatural charisma]].
* TheRenfield in ''YoungDracula'' is actually named Renfield. His grandfather is brought back from the dead in one episode, very angry about not being transformed into a vampire as was promised, meaning that the Draculas have managed to keep multiple generations serving them with this promise they have no intention of fulfilling.
* The Weasel-like Tim Stamper from ''HouseOfCards'' is Francis Urquhart's Renfield. Subverted in that in the sequel ''To Play the King'' he attempts to double-cross his boss after feeling his efforts aren't appreciated. Sadly for Tim, Francis is far and away the more MagnificentBastard of the two.

* Dean of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', even if he is one of the leads and John wasn't a {{Big Bad}}, is probably one of the worst (best?) cases of this trope. Sam hates it (but used it to his own advantage in ''Hunted''), John exploited it and it comes back in full force in ''Long Distance Caller''.
** In the fifth season, Meg is presented as one to Lucifer. Of course, he's [[spoiler:planning to kill her, along with every other demon in existence, once he's done with humanity]].

* Another Renfield who's actually named Renfield is Turnbull from ''{{Due South}}''.

* ''VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' features several, in the form of the ghouls. Knox Harrington (a reference to Knock of ''Nosferatu''), [[AscendedFanboy a hyperactive fanboy]] was recruited by the Nosferatu agent Betram Tung, mainly because he was [[WeNeedADistraction able to divert attention away from Betram's less palatable schemes]]. Vandal Cleaver is Therese Voerman's ghoul and works the desk at the local blood bank, selling to vampires; unusually for a Renfield, Vandal is {{sarcastic|Devotee}}, bitter (referring to his master as "the Queen Bitch,") and actually quite dangerous to humans, though he's too cowardly to attack a vampire and can easily be intimidated by the PC. Romero, Isaac's ghoul, lives in a cemetary in Hollywood and isn't even allowed to take a break for five minutes to seek out human contact, but is completely content so long as he gets to shoot zombies. Then there's Mercurio, who is totally dedicated to LaCroix, but is very much aware that this is because of the ghouling process, and accepts the situation because there are no better options.

** The player character can get a Renfield of their own, if they feel so inclined (and choose the right dialogue options early on); if you learn about ghouling from Mercurio or Knox, you can use your blood to save and enslave Heather, the woman in the hospital who was hit by a car. No matter how badly you treat her, she stays devoted to you, bringing you fresh prey, a useful item, and even trying to give you her college fund. [[spoiler: If you don't get rid of her, she'll get killed by your enemies]].

* Kael'thas has become this to Kil'Jaeden in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' due to a mix of [[EvilIsNotAToy Fel Magic taint]] and his own hunger for power. His blind, zealous and borderline ''loving'' devotion to the Legion Lord is very creepy.
** It might have something to do with the fact that he was brought back from near-death by Kil'jaeden's demons. Before that he seemed quite sane.

* On the animated series ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', Mordred played the Renfield role to Darkstorm, leader of the show's villains.

* Lugnut of ''TransformersAnimated'' is a borderline case, though it's more fanaticism than slavishness: in some episodes he seems to practically worship Megatron... and in others, there's no "practically" about it. He's also more {{Badass}} than most Renfields, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch]] [[FanNickname of Kill]] [[SureWhyNot Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''

* In G1 ''{{Transformers}}'', Cyclonus is Galvatron's Renfield. His exact level of competence is plot-reliant, but generally he's described as quite powerful and skilled--he could even lead the Decepticons if he weren't so devoted to Galvatron.

* On ''JimmyTwoShoes'', all of Lucius' [[ALoadOfBull Minotaurs]] are like this, to the point where they willingly sacrafice themselves to use as bait so Lucius can fish.
* Toadie from AdventuresOfTheGummiBears.