History Main / SycophanticServant

* ''FanFic/{{Webwork}}'': Jumper, one of the biker girls that [[FallenHero Jade]] forcibly recruits and [[BalefulPolymorph transforms]] to serve as her new QuirkyMinibossSquad, immediately latches onto her new leader. Widow, the former leader of the gang, isn't surprised; she describes Jumper as a "chronic ass-kisser", and admits that it makes perfect sense for her to switch loyalties from Widow to Jade like that, since she apparently did the same thing when Widow took over the gang. It gets to the point where even Jade herself is disturbed at the utter devotion, and wishes that Jumper would show a little more independence.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': Ever since his first appearance in the '70s, ComicBook/RasAlGhul has a completely loyal hulking manservant named Ubu, who worships the ground he walks on. After a couple of apparent deaths the character is ''still'' around, so it is revealed that there's an entire Ubu ''clan'', and they all serve Ras.

* In theory, the Igors of Literature/{{Discworld}} should be like this, since that's part of the Igor tradition. In practice, most of the ones we've seen are either rebellious, or working for such an ''un''-traditional master that the Code of the Igors doesn't quite count. In particular, Igor in ''Literature/CarpeJugulum'' exaggerates his Igorness because he knows it winds up the modernist vampires, while continually muttering against them -- the [[ClassicalMovieVampire Old Count]] treated him like dirt, which he approved of, but the new ones treat him like an embarassment, which is worse.

** Lugnut 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 Sycophantic Servant, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch of Kill Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''

** Starscream is stated to have put on a sycophantic act prior to betraying Megatron, later one of his clones (who each represent different aspect of his character), Sunstorm, embodies that, being both outwardly sycophantic but not-so-secretly untrustworthy.

* [[spoiler: Jeremiah Gottwald]] to Lelouch from ''Anime/CodeGeass'', towards the latter half of the second season. Notably, this guy not only joins Lelouch to zealously prove his '''[[MemeticMutation LOYALTY]]''', he joins after he's [[TookALevelInBadass become far more badass than ever before.]] [[UpToEleven And then he tops himself in the finale.]] [[SavedByTheFans This was all brought on by the fans' love]] of [[EnsembleDarkhorse the character.]]

Taken UpToEleven in the season 8 finale, in which Cory and Jacob are dressed as Ricky and Julian respectively as a diversion. Cory is shot and the two are eventually sent to prison; the two gush that they've earned more of the boys' respect for doing their job well and Cory mentions that being shot and sent to jail "as Ricky" is one of the better moments of his life.

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Characters/BatmanHarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]]'s obsession with ComicBook/TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he is perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nukes it and she is about to quit, he gets her back in one line. This is completely in character.

** Lugnut 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 Sycophantic Servant, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch]] [[FanNickname of Kill]] [[AscendedFanon Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''

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

''Smithers:''' No, sir. Who would you like killed?

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart1 Harley Quinn]]'s obsession with ComicBook/TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he is perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nukes it and she is about to quit, he gets her back in one line. This is completely in character.

[[quoteright:300:[[Animation/AdventuresOfMowgli https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1274713670_35857448_6555.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Now you're just embarassing your boss. [[note]]Shere Khan and Tabaqui the Jackal in ''Animation/AdventuresOfMowgli'', award-winning Soviet adaptation of ''Literature/TheJungleBook''.[[/note]]]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'': Sir Pentious' Egg Brigade are anthropomorphic eggs serving a demon conqueror - except every other sentence that comes out of their cracks is dedicated to worshiping their boss and begging him to shoot them with his ray gun.

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

* Snively ironically started off as one in early ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'' and [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog its comic book adaption]], before evolving into a [[TheDogBitesBack vengeful]] [[TheStarscream Starscream]]. The comics also had Crabmeat, who played this trope straight until Snively replaced him.

* In Part 3 of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', Vanilla Ice, the SycophanticServant of Big Bad Dio, does manage to kill off two of the main cast. Ice was such a sycophant that when Dio asked him if he would kill himself for him, Ice not only IMMEDIATELY did so, but did so by CUTTING OFF HIS OWN HEAD. Dio, averting BadBoss (somewhat, as he did it because he was amused), rewarded him for his loyalty by turning him into a vampire, which allowed Ice to return to (un)life. His devotion to Dio is so fanatical that merely destroying a ''statue'' of Dio sends him into a rage.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'', the SycophanticServant was the Horned King's goblin sidekick, Creeper and one that had the mannerisms of a true lap-dog if his body language and tongue sticking out is of any merit as a sign. Note that in [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain the book]], this character did not exist.

* Peter [=MacNichol=] has played two {{Sycophantic Servant}}s: Janosz in ''Film/GhostbustersII'' as a straight example, and Renfield himself in ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt''.

** The BigBad Glory evidently has an entire species of SycophanticServant demons enthralled.

* True to the original, the SycophanticServant in ''Series/DarkShadows'' - Willie Loomis - was also an unwilling servant who couldn't quite overcome [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampires his master's unnatural charisma]].

* The Weasel-like Tim Stamper from ''Series/HouseOfCardsUK'' is Francis Urquhart's SycophanticServant. 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.

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

** Lugnut 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 SycophanticServant, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch]] [[FanNickname of Kill]] [[AscendedFanon Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''

** Cyclonus is Galvatron's SycophanticServant. 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.

* Snively ironically started off as one in early ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAm'' and [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog its comic book adaption]], before evolving into a [[TheDogBitesBack vengeful]] [[TheStarscream Starscream]]. The comics also had Crabmeat, who played this trope straight until Snively replaced him.

* Gaston's sidekick, [=LeFou=], in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is constantly sucking up and telling Gaston how great he is even when Gaston make a habit of throwing him around.

Contrast with the BattleButler and YesMan. Sometimes overlaps with CrustyCaretaker and ProfessionalButtKisser, though the butt kisser or bootlicker is in it only in order to look out for his own status while the sycophant has a genuine amount of admiration and adoration for his boss. If the character endures endless abuse at the hands of their master, then they're a BumblingSidekick. May overlap with VileVillainLaughableLackey if their boss is a noticeably more serious villain. Just about the polar opposite of TheStarscream, although it's not uncommon for TheStarscream to ''pretend'' to be this trope. See also TranshumanTreachery.

* In ''Disney/TheBlackCauldron'', the SycophanticServant was the Horned King's goblin sidekick, Creeper and one that had the mannerisms of a true lap-dog if his body language and tongue sticking out is of any merit as a sign. Note that in [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain the book]], this character did not exist.
* Gaston's sidekick, [=LeFou=], in ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is constantly sucking up and telling Gaston how great he is even when Gaston make a habit of throwing him around.
** Fife in ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeastTheEnchantedChristmas'' is this to [[BigBad Forte.]] [[HeelFaceTurn He gets better]].

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart1 Harley Quinn]]'s obsession with ComicBook/TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he is perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nukes it, she is about to quit. In one line he gets her back. This is completely in character.

-->-- ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians''

* In the 1996 live-action ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', Cruella De Vil has a fair number of people loyal to her, but her PA Frederick takes the cake with the page quote.

* Eli Turnbull is this to BigBad and INS agent Seedling in ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'', however this comes handy when his left behind in an alien planet and turns into the planet's emperor's new YesMan.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': When pretending to recognize Eric as Dengel, "Asuna" tailors her speech to appeal to her teacher's vanity and slanders his enemies.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Comicbook/XMen'':

%%* Psycho-Pirate is this to the Anti-Monitor in ''Comicbook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''.
* Ever since his first appearance in the 70s, ComicBook/RasAlGhul had a completely loyal hulking manservant named Ubu, who worshiped the ground he walked on. After a couple of apparent deaths the character was ''still'' around, so it was revealed that there's an entire Ubu ''clan'', and they all serve Ras.
* The Lowlies of Apokolips; Darkseid's reign has produced an entire race of bootlicking slaves, who will 'die for Darkseid' if requested. In 'Secret Six', for example, Scandal Savage employs a nameless Lowlie as a servant. Who gleefully begs for all kinds of abuse, as if torture is as necessary as food for its well-being.

[[folder:Fanfic]]

* The only character to come out of ''[[Film/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.

* In the 1996 live-action ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', Cruella De Vil had a fair number of people loyal to her, but her PA Frederick took the cake with the page quote.
* Sgt. Proctor is this to the villains Mauser (movies 2 and 3) and Harris (movies 4 to 6) in the ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' franchise. He also has this funcion but only to Harris in the ''WesternAnimation/PoliceAcademyTheAnimatedSeries''.

* Wormtail in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, first he latched onto James and his friends because they were some of the most popular boys in school, and later he sought out Voldemort because he was likewise powerful. Unfortunately the only skill Wormtail has the make him at all valuable is his ability to take abuse.

* A non-villainous example (depending on what your definition of villainy is) are Cory, Trevor, and Jacob Collins in ''Series/TrailerParkBoys'' to Ricky and Julian. In seasons 1-7, Cory and Trevor are ThoseTwoGuys who hero worship Ricky, whereas Jacob Collins has a mancrush on Julian to the point where he starts dressing and acting like him. Ricky and Julian, meanwhile, see them as little more than jail cover and goons to do their bidding in their various schemes (though in Ricky's [[InsaneTrollLogic warped perception]], he thinks of how he treats Cory and Trevor as how one would a best friend/family, and Julian does care about Jacob). Cory and Jacob eventually become ThoseTwoGuys together from season 8 onward, where Ricky gains more respect for Jacob as he becomes Ricky's son-in-law.
** Taken UpToEleven in the season 8 finale, in which Cory and Jacob are dressed as Ricky and Julian respectively as a diversion. Cory is shot and the two are eventually sent to prison; the two gush that they've earned more of the boys' respect for doing their job well and Cory mentions that being shot and sent to jail "as Ricky" is one of the better moments of his life.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe to [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon 'Mr. MacMahon']]. What makes them different to most of the other people working closely with Vince was Pat and Gerald legitimately thought Vince was the light of their lives and never aligned themselves with him out of greed, power or fame. Even Vince's own kids back-stabbed him on occasions, but not the stooges.

* The Jedi Knight from ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' deals with a cult of fanatical Emperor-worshipping Imperials. They're fully onboard with the Emperor's plan to [[spoiler:destroy Belsavis and the rest of the galaxy]], even though they're not meant to survive it, [[BlatantLies because he's promised to bring them back afterwards]].

[[folder:Web Works]]
* Half AffectionateParody, half NightmareFuel ... [[spoiler: Sonny the Cuckoo Bird]] in ''Webcomic/BreakfastOfTheGods'', [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/poyorick/botg2/series.php?view=archive&chapter=22191 here]].
* Fortiscue in WebComic/CommanderKitty. Before [[BigBad Zenith]] was even given a name, all we had were his [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/08/23/obedience/ assorted]] [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2010/04/18/dun-dun-daaaah/ titles]] [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2010/04/25/plot/ for]] [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2010/07/04/nothing-like-a-good-rant/ her]]. [[spoiler: [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2011/03/27/one-more-cant-hurt/ Then it turned out he's the one who made her.]]]]

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart1 Harley Quinn]]'s obsession with ComicBook/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.

-->'''Scarface''': Batman's so hot, let's see him swim Gotham Bay in concrete boots.
-->'''The Ventriloquist''': [[YesMan A good idea, Mr. Scarface]].
-->'''Scarface''':Bet your bow tie I'm right, [[CatchphraseInsult dummy]]. [[StealthInsult Say, who dresses you anyway?]]
-->'''The Ventriloquist''': You're such a kidder, Mr. Scarface.

--> I WILL NOT HIDE! I WILL STAND PROUDLY AND '''SHOUT MEGATRON'S NAME TO THE HEAVENS!'''

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation Inspiration Manifestation]]'', the Inspiration Manifestation spell only works so long as Spike acts as this for Rarity.

* Toad in ''WesternAnimation/DrakPack'' the loyal lackey of BigBad Dr. Dredd and the classical suck-up, albeit completely useless and his screw ups cause many of Dredd’s plans to fail.
* Smee in ''WesternAnimation/PeterPanAndThePirates'' although Smee is like this in all version. His loyalty is probably the reason why he is second in command (with no other merits on his own).

-->'''Holly Blue Agate:''' My Diamond. My gracious, wondrous, luminous, lustrous, Diamond ''[Holly Blue Agate notices that Yellow Diamond is there too]'' ...s! Ah! Oh my! It's truly an honor to bask in your radiance…s.\\

* Zim of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. ''Everything'' he does is for the [[BiggerBad Tallest]], and he goes to ridiculous lengths to try to impress them. It never works, since they originally [[ReassignedToAntarctica sent him out in space so he would die and never return to Planet Irk]], which he's oblivious to, [[IgnoranceIsBliss for the better.]]