History Main / ThickerThanWater

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler had a younger sister, Paula. After the war, she was interrogated by US intelligence officers, where she said this about Adolf: "The personal fate of my brother affected me very much. He was still my brother, no matter what happened. His end brought unspeakable sorrow to me, as his sister." Contrast the rest of his family. Several joined the U.S. military and most changed their names. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_family the other wiki]] for more info.

* Clan Ghost Bear from ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' was founded on this idea and view each other member of their clan as member of an extended family, blood ties or no. As a result, the Ghost Bears kept friction between the castes of the clans' FantasticCasteSystem relatively low. When they became a ForeignRulingClass in the Inner Sphere, the Ghost Bears extended this philosophy to their conquered subjects, [[GoingNative eventually dissolving the clan entire and forming the Rasalhague Dominion in its stead]].

%% Image converted to page quote per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1556497622018992100
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* The ''Anime/OsomatsuSan'' sextuplets may fight a lot, but they care for each other deep down inside (yes, even [[SocialClimber Todomatsu]]). This was even more prominent in the prequel series ''Manga/OsomatsuKun'', where the rest of the brothers would go after the attacker if one brother got hit.
* In a way this is the initial premise of ''Manga/SakendeYaruze'' but ends up not holding true. Because Shino is his father Nakaya (at seventeen) seeks him out hoping to form a familial relationship, and they do begin to grow close, but they're often at odds with one another and how they are supposed to act. In the end, Nakaya decides that though he has a claim to Shino because of their blood relationship, it would go against his dad's happiness to force Shino to reject his LoveInterest Tenryuu, so Nakaya gives up his stake in the affair and moves out, not wanting to be in the way. Their familial bond is important, but not overriding.
* Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. After their attempt to bring back their mother resulted in Ed losing his leg and Al losing his body (which resulted in Ed sacrificing his arm in order to bind Al's soul to a suit of armor), they set out to find the Philosopher's Stone in order to restore their bodies to normal. In both versions of the story, [[spoiler:Al performs a HeroicSacrifice at the climax to save Ed's life, whereupon Ed makes a sacrifice of his own to return Al's body to the world]].

* ''Anime/BlueExorcist'': In any other circumstances, Rin (demon) and Yukio (exorcist) would be at each other's throats, but in these circumstances they are twins. [[BigBrotherInstinct Fraternal instincts keep them friendly.]]

* Mirai from ''Anime/TokyoMagnitude8'' is a [[BrattyTeenageDaughter cynical thirteen-year-old girl]] who finds her CheerfulChild brother Yuuki to be an AnnoyingYoungerSibling. Despite her often acting distant or aggressive towards him, during the events after the earthquake she displays her BigSisterInstinct frequently. When it turns out [[spoiler:Yuuki died]] near the end of the series her mind [[RepressedMemories blocked]] it out and [[spoiler:she hallucinated that he was alive]]. It wasn't until an episode later that [[spoiler:he was confirmed [[DeadAllAlong dead]].]] After being reunited with her parents, Mirai spirals into [[HeroicBSOD depression]] and [[spoiler:has SurvivorGuilt]], but the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue shows she's taking strides forward after [[spoiler:Yuuki's death.]]
* ''Manga/TheQuintessentialQuintuplets'': The quintuplets' late mother, Rena, always encouraged her daughters to stick together no matter what. Her students Isanari Uesugi and Maruo Nakano (her second husband) seem to have inherited this too, as the former is deeply concerned over his children (especially after his wife's passing), while the latter, despite his ParentalNeglect, provides the opportunity for the quintuplets to stick together by providing them a better life. Out of the five sisters, Nino is the one who adheres the most to this philosophy, shown especially when [[spoiler:she tells off Ichika for betraying Miku's trust by sabotaging her attempt to confess to Fuutarou, arguing that, while she (Nino) wants to hook up with Fuutarou as much as the others, she's not willing to throw away her bond with her sisters for it]].

* In the ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story "Ellie's Friends," Ellie easily forgives her nephew Fred for all the trouble he put her through -- including getting her framed for robbery, assault, and terrorism.
* CainAndAbel from ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. Cain regularly murders his brother ([[UnexplainedRecovery he gets better]]). Abel never makes much of a fuss, until he gets killed by someone else; both brothers are [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou extremely upset about this]], to the point that Cain tries to legally threaten Dream to get Abel remade.

* In the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck story ''So Dear To His Heart'', Scrooge is forced to give the thing he treasures the most to Magica De Spell in order to lift a freezing spell placed on Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Scrooge is in despair that Magica is going to obtain his NumberOneDime, but it is the so abused Donald who is teleported to her arms instead! Scrooge remains a {{tsundere}} about it all, but Donald now knows better.

* ''Webcomic/{{Henchgirl}}'': Superheroine Photo-Girl [[spoiler: (Paige Posa) repeatedly rescues her villainous sister Mary - from being taken to prison in Issue 9, from an attack by heroine La Viuda in Issue 10, and from being vaporized by Amelia or crushed in the building collapse in Issue 11.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}'': Despite following Aladar, Neera still tries to save her brother Kron when he is alone and chased by a ''Carnotaurus''. [[spoiler:She's too late to save him, but Neera trying to stop the ''Carnotaurus'' from munching on his body is the last thing he ever sees.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', after Miguel runs away following an intense argument with his family over him wanting to be a musician, they go out to search for him all night and into the next day, showing that, as much as they hate music, they love Miguel a lot more.

%%* ''Film/TheGodfather''

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Luke doesn't have to join Darth Vader, but knowing that he's his father puts anguish in what would be a simple decision -- and then he wants to pull him back. This trope is also what saved Luke from an agonizing death from [[ShockAndAwe force lightning]] at the hands of the Emperor. Watching his son being tortured was the final straw that motivated Vader to toss the Emperor down the chasm.
* Referenced and subverted in ''Film/ThePlayersClub''. When Diana finds her cousin, Ebony, in bed with her boyfriend, she tries to attack Ebony, who hides in the bathroom. Diana then gives a heartfelt speech about how much she loved her cousin and how she thought blood was thicker than water but was apparently wrong. She then pretends to leave... and punches Ebony in the face when she finally comes out of the bathroom.

* In ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'' Seth Gecko, a ruthless criminal himself, is quite aware that his brother Richie is a psychotic rapist and serial killer. When Seth discovers Richie's latest crime of killing their only hostage he's incredibly disturbed but forgives him nevertheless, promising that they'll have a better life together in Mexico.

* ''Film/JohnWick'': Iosef may be a useless layabout who started the whole mess, but he is still Viggo's son, which is why Viggo can't just give him up to John without a fight.
* Played with in ''Film/TheAvengers2012'':
-->'''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner:]]''' I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.\\
'''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor:]]''' Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but [[OneOfOurOwn he is of Asgard]], and he is my brother.\\
'''[[ComicBook/BlackWidow Natasha Romanoff:]]''' He killed 80 people in two days.\\
'''Thor:''' ''(beat)'' [[AdoptionDiss He's adopted.]]
* ''Inverted'' by the UsefulNotes/NorthKoreansWithNodongs in ''Film/OperationChromite'', as they value their communist values and country well above family ties. Several important characters make their HeelFaceTurn when they found their loved ones on the chopping block. Protagonist Hak-Soo was a former North Korean officer who hesitated to shoot his own father when the latter was outed as part of the bourgeois class. As a result, Hak-Soo's former best friend shot his father in cold blood, which prompted the former to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge massacre all those involved]] before defecting. Nurse Cheon-Seon helps the protagonists after failing to convince the communists from executing her uncle who was a spy, then faced unjust alienation from her colleagues.

* This serves as a rather hilarious DeusExMachina in ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. After Pseudolus' attempt to save Philia from an unhappy ArrangedMarriage to Miles ends in an EpicFail and it looks like he's in big trouble, Erronius shows up and notices that Miles and Philia are wearing rings that mark them as his long-lost children. Philia's betrothal to Miles is obviously nullified by the unexpected revelation that they're siblings, and she is able to marry Hero, resulting in Pseudolus being granted his freedom.

* Subverted in ''VisualNovel/HighwayBlossoms''. Amber plays poker against Mariah for [[spoiler:Marina's share of the treasure, which Mariah cheated her out of]], and Mariah has her younger sister Tess deal with her. While one would assume Tess would rig the game in Mariah's favor, Mariah knows that Tess would actually help Amber, [[spoiler:since she's trying to win back their mutual friend Marina's gold]], if Amer asked for it. Amber wins fair and square, but that doesn't stop Mariah from thinking that Tess helped Amber cheat.

* WebAnimation/ADayWithBowserJr: Junior doesn't hesitate to save Ludwig from falling into lava after he tried multiple times to kill him, and still loves his adopted brother enough to try to fend away an intruder when Bowser's ship is attacked.

* In Shakespeare's ''Titus Andronicus'', the title character will willingly kill his own son for disrespecting the emperor - not even an emperor that Titus ''likes'', but because he respects the position. However, when this same emperor later condemns two of his sons to death (they were framed, though he didn't know that), Titus is very shaken. Titus doesn't ''enjoy'' killing the son who disrespected the emperor, but he saw it as his duty. In total contrast, Aaron the Moor is the conniving villain of the play who is masterminding Titus's downfall - and also banging the new empress. When the midwife comes to show that the empress's newborn son is blatantly fathered by Aaron (because he's black), the empress's sons Chiron and Demetrius (from a previous marriage) intend to kill the baby so the emperor won't find out and have their mother executed. Despite his utter ruthlessness in engineering Titus's downfall, Aaron is genuinely stunned that they would kill their own half-brother, and says he will take on the risk of raising the boy in secret on his own - because he is his son.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' Princess Anna makes a choice [[spoiler:to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice]] her life to save Queen Elsa despite the fact that she accidentally struck her in the heart and continually shut her out (in an attempt to protect Anna from the magical power Elsa couldn't fully control).]] This trope is even stronger because [[spoiler: [[CurseEscapeClause she could have gotten a kiss from Kristoff, which would save Anna at the cost of Elsa's life.]] However, the PowerOfLove saved Anna from her DisneyDeath because her sacrifice was an ActOfTrueLove.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'' Zira exhibits heavy ParentalFavoritism over her youngest (and possibly adopted) son Kovu due to him being chosen by Scar to be his successor. While Kovu grows to be a strong, healthy lion his older brother Nuka is scrawny and mangy in comparison. Nuka is shown to be a mild bully towards his siblings Kovu and Vitani in the [[AMinorKidroduction first part of the film]], and Vitani has spats with Nuka. Nuka [[IJustWantToBeLoved deeply craves]] his mother's affection and approval, but she focuses on Kovu. Despite this, Zira and Vitani are both horrified and sympathetic [[spoiler:after Nuka dies trying to get to Simba.]] Zira disowns Kovu after the event due to believing [[spoiler:he ultimately led to his brothers death.]]
* [[SiblingMurder Subverted]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing''. Despite their SiblingRivalry, Mufasa thought his younger brother Scar couldn't possibly be evil enough to try anything as heinous as fratricide, and [[GoodCannotComprehendEvil severely underestimated]] Scar's hatred of him and desire for their kingdom's throne. [[spoiler:Mufasa only learns this in the ''moment'' before his death that it's NOT the case, as Scar [[TheFarmerAndTheViper paid]] his brother's kindness back [[CainAndAbel by tossing him off a gorge]]. To twist the knife even further, Scar even rubs it in his brother's face, sadistically gloating "long live the king" with a SlasherSmile and making sure that his brother fully realizes what his [[CainAndAbel true nature]] is, instead of simply dumping Mufasa to his death]].
* From ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}'', in spite of following Aladar over Kron, Neera still tries to save her older brother when Kron is alone and chased by a ''Carnotaurus''. [[spoiler:She's too late to save him, but Neera trying to stop the ''Carnotaurus'' from munching on his body is the last thing he ever sees.]]

Opposite of NoBloodTies. Some people may think that FriendsAreChosenFamilyArent is also an opposite trope, but actually, sometimes, the two go together -- the reason that a character can't walk away from annoying family entirely in favor of well-loved friends is that they can't deny the bonds of blood. See also ThePowerOfFamily, when strong family bonds transcend relation. Compare {{Nepotism}}, InTheBlood, FamilyHonor.

Opposite of NoBloodTies. Some people may think that FriendsAreChosenFamilyArent is also an opposite trope, but actually, sometimes, the two go together -- the reason that a character can't walk away from annoying family entirely in favor of well-loved friends is because they can't deny the bonds of blood. See also ThePowerOfFamily, when strong family bonds transcend relation. Compare {{Nepotism}}, InTheBlood, FamilyHonor.

* In a way this is the initial premise of ''Manga/SakendeYaruze'' but ends up not holding true. Because Shino is his father Nakaya (at seventeen) seeks him out hoping to form a familial relationship, and they do begin to grow close, but they're often at odds with one another and how they are supposed to act. In the end Nakaya decides that though he has a claim to Shino because of their blood relationship, it would go against his dad's happiness to force Shino to reject his LoveInterest Tenryuu, so Nakaya gives up his stake in the affair and moves out, not wanting to be in the way. Their familial bond is important, but not overriding.

* Mirai from ''Anime/TokyoMagnitude8'' is a [[BrattyTeenageDaughter cynical thirteen year old girl]] who finds her CheerfulChild brother Yuuki to be an AnnoyingYoungerSibling. Despite her often acting distant or aggressive towards him, during the events after the earthquake she displays her BigSisterInstinct frequently. When it turns out [[spoiler:Yuuki died]] near the end of the series her mind [[RepressedMemories blocked]] it out and [[spoiler:she hallucinated that he was alive]]. It wasn't until an episode later that [[spoiler:he was confirmed [[DeadAllAlong dead]].]] After being reunited with her parents, Mirai spirals into [[HeroicBSOD depression]] and [[spoiler:has SurvivorGuilt]], but the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue shows she's taking strides forward after [[spoiler:Yuuki's death.]]

* In the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck story ''So Dear To His Heart'', Scrooge is forced to give the thing he treasures the most to Magica De Spell in order to lift a freezing spell placed on Huey, Dewey and Louie. Scrooge is in despair that Magica is going to obtain his NumberOneDime, but it is the so abused Donald who is teleported to her arms instead! Scrooge remains a {{tsundere}} about it all, but Donald now knows better.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' Princess Anna makes a choice [[spoiler:to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice]] her life to save Queen Elsa despite the fact the she accidentally struck her in the heart and continually shut her out (in an attempt to protect Anna from the magical power Elsa couldn't fully control).]] This trope is even stronger because [[spoiler: [[CurseEscapeClause she could have gotten a kiss from Kristoff, which would save Anna at the cost of Elsa's life.]] However, the PowerOfLove saved Anna from her DisneyDeath because her sacrifice was an ActOfTrueLove.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'' Zira exhibits heavy ParentalFavoritism over her youngest (and possibly adopted) son, Kovu, due to him being chosen by Scar to be his successor. While Kovu grows to be a strong, healthy lion his older brother Nuka is scrawny and mangy in comparison. Nuka is shown to be a mild bully towards his siblings Kovu and Vitani in the [[AMinorKidroduction first part of the film]], and Vitani has spats with Nuka. Nuka [[IJustWantToBeLoved deeply craves]] his mother's affection and approval, but she focuses on Kovu. Despite this, Zira and Vitani are both horrified and sympathetic [[spoiler:after Nuka dies trying to get to Simba.]] Zira disowns Kovu after the event due to believing [[spoiler:he ultimately led to his brothers death.]]

** For Barry, Robin and Maurice's little bro', Andy, literally -- as he had a No. 1 pop smash in March 1978 with "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water."

* Aeschylus' Oresteian trilogy pretty much fits the above description to a tee. It chronicles Orestes' attempts to rid his family of a longstanding curse on the orders of Apollo. Unfortunately for him, getting rid of the curse involves killing his mother (who had killed his father who had killed his sister… yeah, it's that kind of story); which of course brings the Furies down on him in full force.
* This serves as a rather hilarious DeusExMachina in ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. After Pseudolus' attempt to save Philia from an unhappy ArrangedMarriage to Miles ends in an EpicFail and it looks like he's in big trouble, Erronius shows up and notices that Miles and Philia are wearing rings which mark them as his long-lost children. Philia's betrothal to Miles is obviously nullified by the unexpected revelation that they're siblings, and she is able to marry Hero, resulting in Pseudolus being granted his freedom.

* Yukari from ''VisualNovel/LiarLiar'' is an AxCrazy murderer but [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loves her younger sister]] Minami. Part of the reason she killed her ex boyfriend was because she didn't want her sister dating boy who cheats (Yukari's boyfriend was still dating her when he began flirting with Minami). In the sequel, the Good End has Minami attempting to kill Yukari as revenge for her boyfriend. Yukari's girlfriend Miho [[spoiler:kills Minami to save Yukari]]; however, this pisses Yukari off so badly [[spoiler:that she kills her girlfriend Miho afterwards]].

* Zigzagged with Weiss Schnee, of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. She dislikes the pressure her father puts on her to be perfect, and tries to avoid talking to him and her sister. But she doesn't tell her friends this, and always acts the dignified heiress in public -- presumably because of this trope. During the first volume, fans often [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation argued]] whether Weiss was a proud snob acting like a nice person, or it was the other way around. Canon has not yet settled the debate, but it implies that both aspects of Weiss' personality are important to her.

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler had a younger sister, Paula. After the war, she was interrogated by US intelligence officers, where she said this about Adolf: "The personal fate of my brother affected me very much. He was still my brother, no matter what happened. His end brought unspeakable sorrow to me, as his sister." Contrast the rest of his family. Several joined the U.S. military, and most changed their names. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_family the other wiki]] for more info.

* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'': "JustForFun/{{Hello}}. MyNameIsInigoMontoya. YouKilledMyFather. PrepareToDie.

* Stories on true crime shows such as ''Series/ForensicFiles'' occasionally involve children or siblings of the convicted criminal who refuse to accept he or she was the killer despite scientific proof, the denial always rooted in some spoken or unspoken variation on "s/he's my mom/dad".

** Subverted in the case of [[CainAndAbel Raven, regarding Qrow]] and Yang. She abandoned her bloodkin to return to the BanditClan that raised her (leaving so quickly Yang didn't even know she had a separate birth mother until later in life) viewing them as her true family. [[spoiler: In exchange for loan of the Spring Maiden to retrieve the Relic of Knowledge, Raven demands that Cinder's group kill her brother and his companions. Qrow's group consisting mostly of young teenagers, including Raven's own daughter, Yang.]]

Opposite of NoBloodTies. Some people may think that FriendsAreChosenFamilyArent is also an opposite trope, but actually, sometimes, the two go together -- the reason that a character can't walk away from annoying family entirely in favor of well-loved friends is because they can't deny the bonds of blood. Compare {{Nepotism}}, InTheBlood, FamilyHonor.

* The phrase entered the popular lexicon in America during the Second Opium War when Commodore Josiah Tattnall uttered the phrase when he found his squadron accidentally engaged in the attack on Taku Forts when Anglo-French allies had attempted to breach a Chinese position. Tattnall made the split decision to aid the British (mostly by helping to evacuate the wounded and did not perform in a combat capacity) despite American neutrality. When superiors demanded to know what he had been thinking in violating America's strict neutrality, Tattnall simply uttered the phrase and thus it entered the common consciousness.

* There is a common belief that the original quote was actually "The blood of the covenant [or battlefield] is thicker than the water of the womb," which would have been an inversion; however, this is actually an UrbanLegend and the earliest known versions of the quote (dating back to 12th century Germany) are played straight.
* Stories on true crime shows such as ''Series/ForensicFiles'' occasionally involve children or siblings of the convicted criminal who refuse to accept he or she was the killer despite scientific proof, the denial always rooted in some spoken or unspoken variation on "he's my dad".

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' Princess Anna makes a choice [[spoiler:to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice]] her life to save Queen Elsa despite the fact the she accidentally struck her in the heart and continually shut her out (in an attempt to protect Anna from the magical power Elsa couldn't fully control).]] This trope is even stronger because [[spoiler: [[CurseEscapeClause she could have gotten a kiss from Kristoff, which would save Anna at the cost of Elsa's life.]] However, the PowerOfLove saved Anna from her DisneyDeath because her sacrifice was an ActOfTrueLove.]]
* In ''Disney/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'' Zira exhibits heavy ParentalFavoritism over her youngest (and possibly adopted) son, Kovu, due to him being chosen by Scar to be his successor. While Kovu grows to be a strong, healthy lion his older brother Nuka is scrawny and mangy in comparison. Nuka is shown to be a mild bully towards his siblings Kovu and Vitani in the [[AMinorKidroduction first part of the film]], and Vitani has spats with Nuka. Nuka [[IJustWantToBeLoved deeply craves]] his mother's affection and approval, but she focuses on Kovu. Despite this, Zira and Vitani are both horrified and sympathetic [[spoiler:after Nuka dies trying to get to Simba.]] Zira disowns Kovu after the event due to believing [[spoiler:he ultimately led to his brothers death.]]
* From ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'', in spite of following Aladar over Kron, Neera still tries to save her older brother when Kron is alone and chased by a ''Carnotaurus''. [[spoiler:She's too late to save him, but Neera trying to stop the ''Carnotaurus'' from munching on his body is the last thing he ever sees.]]

* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'': "JustForFun/{{Hello}}. MyNameIsInigoMontoya. YouKilledMyFather. PrepareToDie.[[AllBlueEntry "]]

* Invoked and defied in an apocryphal exchange between Czar Nicholas I and Napoleon III. It was customary for European monarchs to refer to each other as "brothers" (mon frère). When Napoleon III declared himself emperor, the Russian Czar addressed him as a "friend" (mon ami) rather than a "brother", to show his displeasure. Napoleon III, however, replied by declaring [[InsultBackfire "God gives us our brothers, we choose our friends."]]

->'''Elan''': I thought it was tough to figure out how to feel about Nale, you know?\\
'''Roy''': What's so tough? He's a villainous jackass!\\
'''Elan''': But he's still my brother!!

[[folder:Ballads]]
* RobinHood comes to his death when he trusts a prioress because she is his cousin.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Mythology & Legend]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

* Invoked and defied in an apocryphal exchange between Czar Nicholas I and Napoleon III. It was customary for European monarchs to refer to each other as "brothers" (mon frere). When Napoleon III declared himself emperor, the Russian Czar addressed him as a "friend" (mon ami) rather than a "brother," to show his displeasure. Napoleon III, however, replied by declaring [[InsultBackfire “God gives us our brothers, we choose our friends.”]]

* ThickerThanWater/{{Literature}}

[[quoteright:210:[[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OrderThicker_2521.JPG]]]]

->''"Bare is the back without a brother to it."''
-->-- '''Proverbial'''

!!Examples

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse, Night Light refuses to believe that Twilight could have done anything wrong. He sees his daughter's [[spoiler: fugitive status]] as being entirely Trixie's fault -- it's actually both of theirs -- and is entirely willing to [[DisproportionateRetribution let Ponyville remain in ruins to get back at the latter.]] ''At the Grand Galloping Gala'', [[spoiler:Ditzy]] calls him out on it by using her own motherhood to give herself the high ground and deflect his attempts to use this.
* In ''FanFic/TheMasksWeWear'', Zuko refuses to betray his father despite the fact that he (Ozai) burned him.
* In ''FanFic/BloodIsThickerThanBone'', Kimimaro is torn between staying loyal to Orochimaru, his master who gave his life purpose again only if it meant being his next body and the last remaining relative and family he has, his cousin who both recently discovered that the other existed. During the attack on Konoha, he makes his decision and chooses to aid and fight with his cousin [[spoiler: Naruto]]
* Defied epically by Corrin in Fanfic/ABrighterDark.
-->'''Corrin:''' Look little girl, I've seen enough blood to know that it all looks the same. It's all red, and you only ever see it when things have gone horribly wrong for the person holding it. It keeps the body pumping and makes a big mess when it gets spilled, and beyond that I don't see any reason to attach any sentimental value to it. True family is the people who have been there with you through thick and thin. They're the ones who make you feel warm when the world seems cold; the people you grow with, train with, eat with, you fight with and laugh with over the stupidest little things. That's family to me.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9928169/8/Panzer-und-uni Panzer und uni]]'', even though Isla Sato is an extreme {{Jerkass}}, an incompetent commander, a bully toward those she doesn't like, and responsible for [[MoralEventHorizon shooting at an enemy flag tank while its commander is rescuing a member of Sato's team, thereby endangering rescuer and rescued]], her younger sister Megan still cares for her. When Isla's actions catch up to her and she gets kicked off the team, expelled and disowned, Megan asks Miho to serve as a reference for Isla so she can get a job more easily- Miho accepts, [[NotSoDifferent knowing she'd do the same for her own sister, Maho]].
* Averted in ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/series/712947 Laurel Lance Character Studies]]'', where Thea displays more loyalty to Laurel than to her brother Oliver. To the point that she outright states Laurel deserves better than him; and after (repeatedly) begging Laurel to "scream about what an ass my brother is" Laurel's confessions/rants make Thea angry enough to avoid Oliver ''for days''. Although a case could be made that she ''is'' choosing family, it just isn't her blood.
* Subverted in ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku''. Even after learning about the wonders of Krypton and his biological father's efforts to save him from his planet's destruction, Izuku can't help but feel a stronger connection to his adoptive parents than his birth parents. As far as he's concerned, the Midoriyas are his real parents.
-->'''Izuku:''' I-I mean, my mom and dad didn't make me, but they're the ones who raised me. They're the ones who taught me right from wrong. They're the ones who always tried to make me feel okay with being, well, me. Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van gave me life, but as far as I'm concerned, Inko and Hisashi Midoriya are my real parents.
* Discussed and subverted in ''Fanfic/OnlyFlowersFall''. Lillie disowns her previously abusive mother but others, including her brother Gladion, tell her she should forgive her because they're blood. Even Lillie is confused on what she should do until her maternal figure Professor Burnet explains that she shouldn't forgive Lusamine just because they're related.
-->''You’re being cruel, they say. She’s your mother, and you’re her child. You need to reconcile someday, so why are you holding back? She told you that she’s sorry. What more do you want?\\
(You want your childhood back.)''
* In ''Fanfic/KarmaInRetrograde'', Touya is initially terrified of meeting with his siblings, fearing that they'll hate him after learning what he did as Dabi. While they don't condone Dabi's actions, Fuyumi and Natsuo are both glad to have their brother back for however long they can.
-->'''Touya:''' ''[more nonchalantly than intended]'' Hey, Fuyumi.\\
'''Fuyumi:''' ''[hysterical]'' "Hey"? You vanish out of the blue for four years, apparently become a villain that attacks our little brother, and then get turned back to a teenager - and all you can say is "hey"?\\
'''Touya:''' ''[ashamed]'' There really isn't much I can say besides I'm sorry. ''[drops his gaze to the ground]'' I don’t know why I left or why I became what I did, but I-\\
'''Fuyumi:''' ''[wraps her arms around him and sobs into his shoulder]'' You’re back. You’re really back. I used to dream of it, but you just vanished and I…\\
'''Touya:''' ''[voice cracking]'' I’m sorry for leaving you alone, but I'm here now.
* ''Fanfic/AThingOfVikings'': [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], [[DiscussedTrope discussed]], [[SubvertedTrope subverted]], [[ExploitedTrope exploited]] and [[DefiedTrope defied]], all at different times throughout the fic and with different situations. It's justified in that blood ties are seen as incredibly important, and there's an intricate web of them tying the various clans of Berk together to allow them to bypass debt claims and get on with the task of surviving, Cami is allowed to keep a dragon she accidentally bonds with ''because'' she has a blood tie to Berk through her father, and Hiccup gives Snotlout support when he leaves for the Roman Empire because they're cousins. It's also discussed by Bladewit to Fishlegs as an important bond that keeps the clans at least somewhat united--but that bond is under strain. And blood ties via marriage are seen as more of a guarantee against attack than any form of treaty, resulting in Wulfhild becoming Hiccup's concubine, as a surety for Norway's chiefs against dragon-rider attack. It's also subverted, because the Jorgensons were trying to use Snotlout's blood tie with Stoick as his nephew to supplant Hiccup as heir, Dogsbreath steals from his father and shaves his beard because of a dare from a girl and they end up running for it, Mildew wants revenge on his estranged brother, and John the Orphantrophus counts on this trope to keep power, only to lose control when his newly Imperial nephew turns on him on his first day as Emperor. Alvin exploits it to guarantee his spies' loyalty, by keeping their family members as insurance. And finally, it's outright defied--Heather wants to kill Dagur, her brother, for killing their father.
** Tellingly, Chapters 30 and 31, the chapters that show Hiccup and Astrid's wedding, are called "The Blood of the Covenant Is Thicker..." and "...Than the Water of the Womb."
* In ''Fanfic/WhereTalentGoesToDie'', Sugiura expresses a surprisingly practical and non-sentimental version of this. While she doesn't get along with her parents or siblings, she would never let them die, and would like to think that they'd be as willing to look out for her. She explains that while people can't choose their family, and people often do terrible things to family members, "you've got to look out for your family, because if you don't, who will?"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', this is the expected societal norm. (Which didn't stop the royal family from executing their own cousins after a civil war, but royals are always a special case) Corelle Whistler constantly tells her brother Jerin that his clothes are not nice enough, his accent is too posh, and his hands are too rough, but if he's under attack from outsiders, she'll come to his rescue instantly. His eldest sister tells him at one point that he's a Whistler, and need not be worried about anything, because his family will always be there for him.
* In ''Literature/JohannesCabalTheNecromancer'' Horst Cabal is a far nicer and better man than his brother, the amoral Johannes. The book's plot concerns Cabal tricking people into signing their souls over to him (to then be given to the Devil) which Horst goes along with, since most everyone who signs would go to hell anyway. But eventually Johannes goes too far and Horst objects strongly-but can't bring himself to physically stop Johannes-probably because he'd have to kill him as nothing else would stop the Determinator. This is ultimately subverted as Horst reveals he'd tricked Johannes.
** This is discussed as Barrowman, investigating Cabal asks Horst why he doesn't stop him himself and he names this trope. Cabal brings it up, but the narration makes a joke that Cabal has the actual liquid density of blood and water written down somewhere.
* In ''Literature/ColdComfortFarm'' Flora explains this trope thusly when explaining her plan to live off her relatives: 'I am only nineteen, but I have already observed that whereas there still lingers some absurd prejudice against [[TheThingThatWouldNotLeave living on one's friends]], no limits are set, either by society or by one's own conscience, to the amount one may impose upon one's relatives'.
* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars Gods Of Mars]]'', when Carthoris learns that the man he had met only days before is his father, and John Carter convinces him of it by asking after his mother, Carthoris jumps to embrace him and weep ManlyTears. Then, by his own account, he had long wanted to be worthy of his father.
** In ''The Chessman Of Mars'', on learning that A-Tor is the son of Haja of Gathol and so his cousin, Gahan of Gathol is immediately interested in him, and assures him that if he had made it to Gathol, being her son would have assured him a welcome.
* In Creator/LMMontgomery's ''Literature/ATangledWeb'', we are told, in the BackStory, a mere family feud that keeps relatives from speaking to each other does not keep one of them from punching a man for insulting the other side of the family.
** In ''Literature/TheBlueCastle'', Valancy is appealed to on these grounds and refuses.
* ''Literature/HorusHeresy'', being as it is about civil war between brothers, has a few examples:
** [[CainAndAbel Horus and Sanguinus]] spend quite some time trying to convince each other to switch sides, unwilling to kill one another. Additionally, when Horus learns that Erebus tried to [[DemonicPossession possess Sanguinus with a daemon]], he [[KickTheSonOfABitch rips his face off]].
** When Angron is buried under tonnes of rubble, Lorgar teleports in the thick of the battle and starts digging him out, ignoring the enemies and fight he's in center of.
** This is the reason Magnus gives when Numeon asks why [[spoiler:a traitor Primarch would intervene to save a loyalist one]] -- he claims that with galaxy driven to madness, some values should still be honoured and he wants to be able to [[spoiler:do something for Vulkan one last time.]]
** Defied by Leman Russ, who's perfectly willing to kill his brothers if the Emperor orders him so. It's implied that he executed two before the series begins, and by the start of the story, he's off to kill Magnus.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles,'' Thomas Raith takes this seriously, partly because Daddy Raith raised his children that way to control them, but partly because he truly believes it. [[spoiler:After he reveals their connection to Harry, to explain why he looks out for him, Harry returns it.]] Which is interesting because the rest of the Raiths do ''not'' act on it.
** Harry himself goes to great lengths to protect and help people he considers family [[spoiler: as well as the few people who are truly his blood relations]]. He also often goes out on a limb to protect other families, especially the Carpenters. Having grown up as an orphan has something to do with it.
** Lara Raith is shown to be ''very'' protective of her family, especially her youngest siblings Inari and Thomas. The one exception is Papa Raith, after Harry Dresden tricks him into revealing his true feelings for his children while she was listening...
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books the Oggs are constantly feuding with one another but woe to any hapless interloper who insults an Ogg in front of another Ogg, in which event every single Ogg will turn on them.
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', there's Garranon, himself a rather nice guy, who would, as he freely admits, [[KickTheDog torture puppies]] if he needed to in order to keep his brother Landislaw safe. Landislaw is a jerk who constantly gets himself into trouble. And the high king Jakoven is a chronic backstabber, who sent his younger brother to prison, and when confronted with the fact that Ward's cousins actually ''like'' Ward, and want ''him'' to have castle Hurog, immediately suspects a conspiracy against himself, as, clearly, it is ''impossible'' that someone ''wouldn't'' be happy to have their cousin locked up in an asylum for insanes. It highly depends on whom you ask whether blood is thicker than water -- the heroic characters are much more firm believers in this trope.
* In Rick Riordan's ''[[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians The Last Olympian]]'', Nico's argument to Hades: whatever the Olympians had done to each other, they were family. (Though, technically, that's Ichor Is Thicker. But candy is dandy.)
** Earlier, Percy and [[spoiler:Tyson]] deepen their bond by finding out they are half-brothers. (Not that they get along with all of Poseidon's other sons.)
*** It's played with, though. Tyson and Percy were already friends, it's just that finding out that one of your best friends is your brother ''and'' a cyclops makes things a bit... awkward between them. It doesn't help that [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer Percy is teased relentlessly about it]]. Subverted when the BigBad of that very book is [[spoiler:Polyphemus, a fellow son of Poseidon, who Tyson and Percy open a can of whup-ass upon.]]
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Brothers In Arms'', from the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'', Miles Vorkosigan's immediate interest in his brother/clone Mark is tempered by the events of the novel. But later in the series, both Miles and his parents evince interest in Mark based solely on the blood connection, and he does end up on Barrayar among the Vorkosigans.
* In Dante's ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', the next to last circle of Hell holds those who betrayed their own kin.
* In Creator/DanAbnett's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/GauntsGhosts novels, Dorden was the only Tanith with a living relative, his son, also in the regiment. [[spoiler:Making the son's death in ''Necropolis'' all the more tragic.]]
** Even his noble motive -- not disrupting their lives with their new parents -- does not protect Kolea from criticism for not letting his two children know that he is their father.
** In ''Blood Pact'', Eyl tells the witch that she is his sister and he does not want to have to force her to do something.
* In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Encarmine'' and ''Deus Sanguinius]]'', Rafen looks for Arkio among the other Blood Angels who have arrived, because they are siblings, despite Sachiel's rebuke that all Blood Angels are brothers. When Arkio [[spoiler:appears to be Sagninius reborn]], Rafen feels bitter ConflictingLoyalty, others seek out Rafen because he is his brother, and he is allowed more leyway for his doubts. It also makes the threat, [[spoiler:and reality,]] of their CainAndAbel clash all the more bitter.
* Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip:
** In ''Literature/TheBookOfAtrixWolfe'', Burne can not bear the thought of losing Tanis, his only living relative.
** In ''Literature/TheForgottenBeastsOfEld'', the sorceress Sybel, who has no interest in the company of other humans, agrees to keep the baby Tam safe from those hunting him only because he's related to her mother.
** In ''Literature/TheRiddleMasterTrilogy'', when Morgon disappears on his quest to solve the riddle of stars, his timid younger sister Tristan decides she has no choice but to set off to find him, to the dismay of everyone. Also, one of the shapeshifters from beneath the sea declines to attack Raederle when he recognizes shifter blood in her.
* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Literature/ProsperosDaughter Prospero Lost]]'', Miranda is anxious about her brothers and sister, becuase they are immortal; Mab points out they are immortal because of the Water of Life she gives them; Miranda justifies it because they are her family. To put it another way: if Miranda didn't believe this, the books would be a lot shorter.
* Rob Thurman quite likes this trope.
** In the ''Literature/CalLeandros'' series, Cal and his older brother Niko would do anything to protect each other. Threatening either one of them in the presence of his brother is likely to be met with a swift, painful, and possibly lethal response.
** In her novel ''Chimera'', Stefan Korsak would move Heaven and Earth to find his kidnapped little brother, Lukas.
* ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'': Jim's sons override his scruples on leading them into a life of crime on the grounds that saving their mother from the income tax people is a good cause.
* In Creator/TanithLee's ''Literature/TheDragonHoard'', Onga points out that Jasleth lied to them not on his own behalf but because of his family, and everyone agrees it's a good reason.
* In Creator/AdrianTchaikovsky's ''[[Literature/ShadowsOfTheApt Empire in Black And Gold]]'', Stenwold is outraged when his niece is betrayed to the empire by another relative of hers. He still doesn't want to be a kinslayer, though. [[spoiler:Fortunately, Tisamon's willing to kill the man for him.]]
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Geary looks up another man in the fleet named Geary to find whether they are related. Other characters also base acts on blood relations.
* ''Literature/AMurderIsAnnounced'' features twin sisters who have been SeparatedAtBirth, don't know they're sisters, and one of them actually dislikes the other. However, once they realize the relationship, they develop a sense of family solidarity and one of them (the one who disliked the other) goes so far as to lie to the police for her sister's sake. [[spoiler: Emma, one twin, dislikes the other because she sees her as competition for the favor -- and money -- of Miss Blacklock. The realization that Philippa is in fact her twin sister changes her from rival to ally in Emma's mind, making her sudden protectiveness perfectly reasonable.]]
* In Teresa Frohock's ''Literature/MiserereAnAutumnTale'', Catarina criticizes Lucian for protecting a stranger from her, his own sister.
* In Creator/DevonMonk's ''Literature/MagicToTheBone'', Mama tells one of her Boys he's bringing trouble on his family, he argues that he could get them money and power, and Mama counters he should not be ashamed of his real family.
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's Literature/TimePatrol story "Delenda Est", both Scipios die in an early battle in the UsefulNotes/PunicWars, because the son came to the rescue of his father.
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "Say It With Flowers", Ulstead, asking for news of a battle, tells Flowers that his nephew was on one of the ships.
* In Creator/PGWodehouse's ''Jill The Reckless'', Wally tells Jill that her father had gotten him a job -- he couldn't have taken better care of him had he been a blood relation.
* ''Literature/TrappedOnDraconica'': Zarracka invokes this whenever she's at Daniar's mercy but inverts when their positions are reversed. Interestingly [[spoiler: when Daniar has had enough with Zarracka and the third sister stops her, it's not out of blood loyalty to Zarracka but because she doesn't want [[ThouShallNotKill Daniar to kill someone in anger.]]]]
* Seen in ''Literature/HarryPotter'', and evident primarily with the [[BigScrewedUpFamily Blacks]], although occurs in several other families as well. Overlaps with FamilyHonor in many cases, but not always. The term "blood traitor" is often applied to wizards (primarily purebloods, but not necessarily) who "betray the family" by going against their ideals. It is considered a highly derogatory term, and is comparable to being disowned. It's also worth noting that this "obedience to family" is a driving force for many of the Death Eaters (e.g. [[TheDutifulSon Regulus]], the [[FamilyHonor Malfoys]]), and seems to be a major factor in pureblood culture. "Blood traitor" is also used in a more general sense, to denote those who have gone against the perceived "societal principles of wizardkind" as well, presumably, as a derivative of the above.
* In Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/InCryptid'' novel ''Discount Armageddon'', Verity recounts how cryptids are either loners or passionate adherents of this trope.
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', it's notable that being a blood-relative is [[CrapsackWorld just about the only way you can rely on loyalty from anyone]], as "kinslaying" is seen as the worst crime there is (even above {{regicide}} and betrayals of SacredHospitality). Even the Lannisters and Freys, the two most untrustworthy {{Big Screwed Up Famil|y}}ies in the setting, tend to baulk at killing their own (and so far at least, the Freys have avoided doing so).
** Rickard Karstark evokes his family's centuries-old common ancestry with the Starks to warn Robb of the evil of kinslaying when he [[spoiler:threatens to execute him for treason. It doesn't work.]]
** [[spoiler:Tyrion]] has to flee the realm after being falsely accused of [[spoiler:murdering his nephew Joffrey, and later ''actually'' murdering his father Tywin (partly in revenge for the false accusation).]]
** Roose Bolton strongly suspects that his legitimate son was killed by his bastard son Ramsay Snow, and that any future legitimate children will meet the same fate, but refuses to do anything about it since the only possible punishment for such a crime would be death, and [[IfYouKillHimYouWillbeJustLikeHim then he'd be guilty of the same crime]] (not to mention childless).
* In Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/OctoberDaye'' novel ''Ashes of Honor'', Chelsea is, by the end of the book, calling for her father for help, even though he had only learned of her existence days before, and she had never met him until after. (True, he does help her with her out-of-control magic in those days.)
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "Literature/TimeLag", Elva's rescuers, realizing she's a FishOutOfTemporalWater, quickly assure her that her son is alive, though old; that one of her rescuers is her grandson; and that he has a son of his own, before going on to say that her people are eager to welcome her home. Her grandson takes her hands as soon as she is told.
* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/IceCrown'', there is a blood connection between the princess and Nilas Imfray, which the princess thinks important.
* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/TheZeroStone'', Jern's mother reveals after his father's death that he was a duty child, an embryo sent to be adopted and raised in their family, and therefore everything must go to his brother because he's not this. Jern himself is infuriated by it because it means he's not his father's blood; later, he consoles himself with the thought that in mind, he inherited more than his father's blood son and daughter.
* In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', Jenny goes to rescue her brother. Even after seven years, after finding him very changed, she is shocked when he hits her -- because of this trope and not so much WouldHitAGirl
* In Creator/JulieKagawa's ''Literature/TheIronDaughter'', Meghan finds a photo of herself with her putative father. She recognizes what happened to him. Despite having lost her memories of him, and knowing there was actually no blood connection, she thinks she should rescue him.
* In Creator/StephanieBurgis's ''[[Literature/KatIncorrigible A Most Improper Magick]]'', Elissa's motive in submitting to an ArrangedMarriage. Angeline is less willing to marry out of pure family loyalty.
* In ''Literature/{{Pact}}'', Blake and Rose Thorburn struggle with this trope as children of a BigScrewedUpFamily, coping with the dysfunctionality in different ways. Blake runs away, while Rose joins in with efforts by her parents to discredit or otherwise harm her cousins, finding herself friendless and without allies as the family rips itself apart. Blake, meanwhile, finds himself unable to disconnect himself from the family and returns when his grandmother is dying to hear her [[PassedOverInheritance verdict on the inheritance]] and tell her what he thinks of her.
* Gabriel Lightwood from ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices'', puts strong emphasis on staying loyal to family. [[spoiler: At the end of ''The Clockwork Prince'', Gabriel chooses to stay with his father while his older brother Gideon deserts him for the Institute.]] [[spoiler: In ''The Clockwork Princess'', he finally understands that he was wrong to trust his father so much.]]
* In ''Literature/TheOtherBoleynGirl,'' Mary's love for her sister always overcomes their rivalry. The only people Anne can trust are her siblings Mary and George.
* In ''Literature/TheInitiateBrother'', certain (perceived) betrayals cause characters particular grief because they violate this principle. Notably, Emperor Akantsu takes it pretty badly when his son, Prince Wakaro, joins forces with Lord Shonto rather than arresting him. As is silently noted by the other character present, however, it's a bit rich for Akantsu to gripe about familial betrayal when his main reason for sending Wakaro in the first place was the hope that he'd get killed shortly after accomplishing his task.
* In Jeramey Kraatz's ''Literature/TheCloakSociety'' novel ''Fall of Heroes'', Lone Star contacts someone in the city for help after the Cloak Society has persuaded the public that he's an imposter and they are the true Rangers. It's his sister. (That he could prove his identify to her no doubt helped.)
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': When a sapient becomes a monster, they will forget everything about their life as a sapient because their mind has been scrambled by the mutation. However, they will still recognize at least one person and be docile around that person. This person is typically a family member with whom they were extremely close. The Mana Mutation Summit features the bond between siblings, parent-child and uncle-nephew as well.
* In ''Literature/ATaleOf'', Attina (Triton's oldest child) is the only one in her family to go to Ursula's funeral. She only recently learned that Ursula was her father Triton's estranged sister. She felt a need to go to the funeral in her father's place. Attina is split between her feelings towards her previously-unknown aunt and between her sister Ariel, who Ursula tormented.
* In ''Literature/TheCityWithoutMemory'', it seems to be a trait with every family on Krina. In particular, Squirrel has been abused and belittled by her father and brothers since childhood, but don't you dare say a word against them in her presence.
* ''Broken Gate'' seems to be play with this trope, as, though she had no qualms cursing him, Nezumi seemed to care about Ryuuji enough to want to mend fences, mistreatment be damned. Likewise, she has little emotion when [[spoiler: he's killed by the Ills sealed behind the gate]], then again, Ryuuji didn't seem to care about [[spoiler:killing her either, like he tried to do]].

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/AlfredHitchcockPresents'': "Wet Saturday"
-->'''Alfred Hitchcock''': I presume that story was intended to illustrate that blood is thicker than water. I always find it heartwarming to see a family standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of adversity. Unfortunately, the authorities were not thrilled by this sight, and were seen tossing about such phrases as, "obstructing justice," "accessory after the fact," "murder in the first degree."
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** The Tyrells mostly stick together despite their ambition. Olenna does deride Mace regularly and is dismissive of Loras's intelligence ("[Knocking men off horses with a stick] does not make him wise"), but she and Margaery are also among the most accepting of Loras's sexuality.
** Lord Rickard Karstark uses his final words to invoke an ancient taboo against kin-slaying, but it doesn't deter his executioner.
** Cersei spoiled her first son Joffrey from day one, but was horrified when he became increasingly psychopathic and insane, starting to indulge in regular cruelties and atrocities. She later acknowledges to Margaery that even at his most evil she still loves Joffrey out of some sense of maternal care and she loses it completely when he dies in her arms.
** As the man himself says, literally the only reason that Tywin Lannister hasn't [[OffingTheOffspring killed his son Tyrion at birth]] is because "I cannot prove that you are not mine". This is a very twisted example because while Tyrion's whoremongering and drinking might reflect badly on their reputation, Tywin also blames Tyrion for things he can't possibly be held responsible for (such as causing his wife's DeathByChildbirth and being born a dwarf) and blatantly favors his brother Jaime.
** Usually averted, but then zig-zagged with House Greyjoy. Among the Ironborn in general, they constantly fight civil wars against their own brothers to seize power...yet will also fight civil wars to avenge their own brother's death at the hands of someone else. In the older generation, there isn't much familial honor: Balon sees his own son Theon as a failure that was lost to the Starks anyway, while Balon's brother Euron is a psychopath who would gleefully kill any of his other family members. Balon is sort of proud of Yara, whom he raised as a surrogate son, but even she says that she "survived" her father and didn't exactly have a warm relationship with him (albeit Balon never disinherited her, the way he basically did to Theon). Balon's other brother Aeron is a priest and he doesn't like to pick political sides. A major part of Theon's storyarc which comes to a head in Season 2 is picking between Balon as his biological father, and staying loyal to his adoptive brother Robb Stark to avenge the death of his adopted father Ned. Theon picks Balon (blood thicker than water) — but then fails miserably, breaks down sobbing that he was given a choice and he chose wrong, and Ned was his real father. On the other hand, it turns out that Yara has a BigSisterInstinct for Theon, and he reciprocates this loyalty (she cares about him more than Balon ever did); in Season 6 they reunite and form a Brother-Sister Team, with Theon even voluntarily setting aside any claim to rule ahead of her and saying all he wants is to help her rule over the Iron Islands.
* ''Series/KnightRider''
-->'''Michael Knight''': ''Kitt, she's Charlie's daughter. Blood's thicker than water.''
* ''Franchise/StarTrek''
-->'''Ferengi Rule of Acquisition 171.''': ''Blood is thicker than water, and Latinum is thicker than both.'' -- an example of using another substance, also an inversion.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''
-->'''Captain Kathryn Janeway''': ''There's an old saying: "Blood is thicker than water". It means that the ties of family run deeper than any other kind of relationship. We'll often do things for members of our family we'd never dream of doing for anyone else.''
* ''Series/BloodOverWater'' interprets this a little differently: Are you more loyal to the friends that treat you like family, or to the water bottling company that will pay you hundreds of thousands of dollars to shoot them dead so they don't rat the company out? [[DoubleMeaningTitle Also]], that blood is shed over water.
* ''Series/TheWaltons''
-->'''Narrator''': [''narration as John 'John Boy' Walton, Jr. reading from his journal''] In those grey and grinding days of the Depression we often found comfort in the old familiar proverbs. We knew that in unity there was strength, that blood was thicker than water, that to err was human, and to forgive, divine. Usually we never examined these truths too closely, but in the autumn of 1934 I discovered, through pain and remorse, just how profoundly true they were.
* ''Series/TheWire'': Avon Barksdale will do anything for kin. Stringer Bell... Not so much.
-->'''Stringer Bell''': "But there go a life that had to be snatched, Avon ''(...)'' Twenty years above his fucking head. [[HeelFaceTurn He'd flip, man!]] They got you, me, and Brianna! No fucking way, man! Hell, no! Now, I know you family, you loved that nigga, but you wanna talk that 'Blood is thicker than water' bullshit, you take that shit somewhere else, nigga! That motherfucker would've taken down the whole fucking show, starting with you, killer!"
* Comes up frequently in ''Series/TheSopranos'', during Tony's confrontations with his mother, uncle, and nephew at various points. A particularly notable story arc finds him agonising over [[spoiler: giving up his cousin Tony Blundetto (guest star Steve Buscemi) to be killed by fellow crime boss Johnny Sack. Blundetto has provoked this by killing one of Sack's men, but Tony (S) knows his cousin would have a drawn out, torturous death. In the end he compromises by shooting Blundetto himself, quickly and painlessly.]]
* ''{{Series/Firefly}}'': Picking on either Tam sibling when the other is around is not good for one's health. "Not madness… [[UndyingLoyalty something far more dangerous]]."
** Their parents, on the other hand, tend to advocate a [[ParentalAbandonment rather different policy]].
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** In the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E5PlanetOfFire Planet of Fire]]", Turlough is immediately interested in Malkon, and when Malkon is injured, Turlough's ready to kill. The Doctor says it would do no good, whereupon Turlough reveals that they are brothers. And this when they were parted so young that Malkon has no memories of Turlough. [[spoiler:Later, Turlough, on seeing the healing gases from the volcano, carries his brother into them when everyone else is afraid of being burned.]]
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E4TheMutants The Mutants]]", Varan choses his own son for the assassin, which he cites as proof of his absolute reliability.
** In "[[DoctorWhoS14E4TheFaceOfEvil The Face of Evil]]", Leela's father takes the test for her.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E6TheKingsDemons The King's Demons]]", Ranulf's cousin does something because Ranulf had asked for it.
* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'': [[CorruptHick Boss Hogg's]] CatchPhrase to his local relatives was that "Blood is thicker than water, but money is thicker than blood."
** His nephew Hughie gives it an IronicEcho in "The Return of Hughie Hogg", in which Boss Hogg signs over all his possessions to Hughie (as a tax dodge or something) and Hughie then refuses to give them back.
* On ''Series/{{Dallas}}'', whenever a group of non-Ewings was ready to give JR what he had coming, Bobby would usually stand up to them and talk them down, despite the fact that JR messed with Bobby's personal and professional life more than everyone else combined.
** The trailers for the new series also have this gem from (who else?) JR: "Blood may be thicker than water, but oil is thicker than both."
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with Angel and Connor. Later played straight in the Season Four finale when Angel agrees to mind wipe his team (and, in fact, the world) in exchange for saving Connor's life. Wesley is rightly steamed when he uncovers this. And like it or not, Darla is the closest thing to family Angel has. Even his team comes second.
* On ''Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}'', Tara has this attempted on her by her family. It fails spectacularly, even before it's proven they [[spoiler: lied about her being part demon]].
* On soaps, it's common for characters to quickly bond with their newly discovered family and completely forget about the non-blood relatives they grew up with.
* ''Series/SanfordAndSon'': Lamont is very patient with Fred's plots and schemes due to the father son relationship. During Season 3, Redd Foxx goes on strike and its written that Fred is visiting relatives in St. Louis. Grady goes to watch the house for Fred. Lamont doesn't extend his tolerance to Grady and is much more openly angered by Grady's plots than he is with Fred's.
* Really the entire premise of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', especially the [[KnightTemplarBigBrother main]] [[BerserkButton characters]]. However, as the seasons progress, their UndyingLoyalty is taken to the point of [[DysfunctionJunction unhealthy codependency]]. Toyed with in places, as one of the defining lines of the series is "Family don't end with blood, boy," showing that it's your ''family'', not your ''blood relations'' that are most important. Sam and Dean have their spats but love each other nevertheless, and Bobby shares no blood with them but loves them as if they were his own kids, [[spoiler: even referring to them as his sons to a memory of his abusive father]]. For example, the season two episode "Tall Tales" has the two sniping at each other all episode LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. But at the end of the episode, we get this:
-->'''Sam''': Look, Dean, um, I just wanna say that I'm, uh... um...\\
'''Dean''': Hey. Me too.
* Subverted in ''Series/TheWestWing''. The senior staff are not related, but are [[TrueCompanions so tight-knit]] that when it comes to defending one of their own, even at political cost, they explicitly invoke this trope by comparing their friendships to flesh-and-blood family ties in order to explain why throwing a co-worker under the bus is not an option. (Bartlet has actually point-blank declared that the senior staff are part of his family, and shall be treated as such).
* In ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'', the reason for Arthur's trust in his ObviouslyEvil [[EvilUncle Uncle Agravaine]] is handwaved by the show with this excuse; that he is Arthur's mother's brother, and therefore trustworthy.
* In season three of ''Series/{{Justified}}'', Detroit mob boss Theo Tonin raised Robert Quarles as an adopted son. However, when [[spoiler: Quarles pointed a gun at Theo's biological son Sammy, Theo did not hesitate to put a bounty on Quarles' head and send mooks to kill him.]]
** This is subverted in the relationship between Raylan Givens and his father Arlo. Arlo is a career criminal and was an abusing husband and father. Raylan despises Arlo but in the first season he still helps Arlo out of a bad situation. We are let to believe that the two of them will enact this trope, helping each other because they are family. However, Arlo then sells out Raylan to cartel hitmen and Raylan decides that he will never do his father any favors again and instead commits himself to sending Arlo to jail. The relationship never recovers from that.
** Averted with the Crowders. While they do believe in the importance of family, it does not stop them from betraying family members.
* ''Series/DaysOfOurLives'' is fond of this one. In addition to all the myriad ways characters are related due to marriage and divorce and remarriage and all the half-/step-siblings running around and the ways in which they use those ties to take advantage of one another, it's often a good test of paternity: when a man is unable to comfort the infant he's raised from birth, but another, seemingly random man is able to stop the baby from crying in an instant, you can bet dollars to donuts the second man is secretly the biological father. It's as if being blood relatives gives you magic powers over fussy children.
* Although the titular character's family in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' are dysfunctional, obnoxious, fight constantly, and make each other miserable, it is by far the most important thing in their lives, which is a recurring theme of the series. Despite their dysfunctionality, the characters can always count on one member of their family or another to pick up the pieces of their failures. In the finale, it is revealed that they have all been scheming to make sure Malcolm fulfills his potential and becomes successful for ''years'', because they know he is the only one of them who has the capacity to do great things. Malcolm in turn, dedicates his valedictorian speech to them and dedicates his life to making them proud, even though his mother brutally screwed him over in order to force him to go to Harvard and aim to change the world rather than waste his genius on a high-paying corporate job.
** Subverted in the story Dewey tells his brother Jamie. In the story, Dewey and Jamie decide to defeat their evil parents and free their brother Francis from their clutches. At the end of the story, Dewey abandons Jamie and leaves him to be captured. The story ends with Dewey's moral: everyone in this family would turn on you at the drop of a hat.
* The family from ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' fight and crap on each other all the time. But God help the outsiders who come after, mess with, or screw over one of them, for they shall invite the full white-trash wrath of the Bundys upon them.
* In ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'', John's mother is extremely disappointed in her Cylon son and how many terrible things he has done out of pettiness and rage at his parents for giving him a human body. She calls her petulant son out on his jealousy and sadism, but despite all of John's crimes like fratricide, genocide, and even ''raping her'', says that he isn't broken and could still be redeemed if he accepted what he was. She states she still loves him because she made him.
* This trope probably appears in any Creator/DisneyChannel sitcom where a character has a sibling. Taken UpToEleven in ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', to the point of a RelationshipWritingFumble with siblings Justin and Alex. Consequently, they are the shows FanPreferredCouple.
* In the [[Series/{{Poirot}} TV adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheMurderOfRogerAckroyd'', [[spoiler:Caroline Shepphard]] found [[spoiler:her brother's]] journal confessing the crime, along with a gun which [[spoiler:he initially planned to use to murder Roger Ackroyd]]. When [[spoiler:Dr Shepphard]] was left in the police interrogation, she came along with both items to help the killer escape.
* ''Series/SchittsCreek'':
** Johnny Rose is shown putting up with a tremendous amount of spoiled, obnoxious behavior from his two adult children, David and Alexis. Prior to losing his wealth, Johnny pretty much indulged their every stupid whim, including bankrolling David's pretentious gallery and Alexis's god-awful album. David and Alexis mature over the course of the series, making Johnny's devotion less ridiculous and more touching.
** Siblings David and Alexis bicker constantly, but they are shown to be willing to stick up for each other and protect each other.
** David goes out of his way, and will even humiliate himself, to protect his mother Moira.
** Alexis has more than one opportunity to leave the town, but she ultimately won't leave her family.

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/TheBeeGees: In the early 1970s, the three elder Gibb brothers temporarily disbanded due to creative and personal differences. Realizing they had a good thing going -- and the fact they were brothers -- they realized they had to shore up their relationship. They did, and by the end of the decade, music was never the same again.
** For Barry, Robin and Maurice's little bro', Andy, literally -- as he had a No. 1 pop smash in March 1978 with "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water."
* [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Kagamine Len's]] character Allen in the [[Music/{{mothy}} "Daughter of Evil"]] series and both Rin and Len in "Synchronicity."
* Music/DreamTheater's song "Honor Thy Father" is all about [[CallingTheOldManOut the narrator being frustrated at his father for not thinking of his family]]. It's discussed below:
--> ''We're thought unconditional love/That blood is thicker than water/That a parent's world should revolve always around their son or their daughter.''
* In the final song of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Sing the Blues'', "Sibling Rivalry," after it ends with a quiet a capella refrain about their fractious relationship, you hear softly afterward Bart say "Let go of my hand, Lisa."
* "Hey Brother" by Avicii is a song all about sibling relationships. The phrase gets paraphrased in the lyrics:
-->''Hey brother, there's an endless road to re-discover.''\\
''Hey sister, know the water's sweet but blood is thicker.''\\
''Oh, if the sky comes coming down for you, there's nothing in the world I wouldn't do.''

[[folder:Mythology & Legend]]
* Myth/ClassicalMythology:
** When Theseus comes to Athens, his step-mother, Medea, tries to poison him, but Aegeus recognized the {{Orphans Plot Trinket}}s he had left for Theseus, saves him, and exiles Medea -- although he had never even seen his son before.
** King Midas finally learns his lesson not when he can't eat for turning food to gold, but when he turns his daughter to gold.
** Subverted by Ariadne, who betrays her father, King Minos, and helps Theseus kill the Minotaur, who is her half-brother.
** Once again subverted by Medea, who helps Jason steal the Golden Fleece from her father. She also kills her own brother and scatters his remains to make it easier for her and Jason to escape (since her father will have to find every last piece of his son's body to give him a proper burial, he had to stop his pursuit to gather up the remains).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Clan Ghost Bear from ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' was founded on this idea and view each other member of their clan as member of an extended family, blood ties or no. As a result, the Ghost Bears kept friction between the castes of the clans' FantasticCasteSystem relatively low. When they became a ForeignRulingClass in the Inner Sphere, the Ghost Bears extended this philosophy to their conquered subjects, [[GoingNative eventually dissolving the clan entire and forming the Rasalhague Dominion in its stead]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/CallOfJuarezBoundInBlood'' is ALL about this trope (hint: the title is a clue). The whole story is basically about the three [=McCall=] brothers dealing with their differences in all the wrong ways until the very end. In fact, the tagline of the game could be "We are a ''family''".
* The loyalty missions in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' are supposed to resolve the deepest internal conflicts and motivations of their respective characters. Not surprisingly, half of them revolves around family matters: Grunt finds a tribe for himself; Jacob deals with his DisappearedDad; Miranda rescues her twin sister; Samara tracks down [[spoiler:her daughter]]; Tali has to deal with the [[SinsOfOurFathers blowback of her father's covert misdeeds]]; and Thane tries to return to his paternal duties.
** Then there's [[RobotBuddy Legion]], who may not necessarily have blood, but in a weird way his loyalty mission does involve his family.
* And it was hardly the first time Creator/BioWare played that card. The "messenger" quests in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' serve much the same function. Carth's [[spoiler: Dark Jedi]] son, Bastila's mother, Mission's deadbeat brother, the utter clusterfuck on Kashyyyk regarding Zaalbar's family...And while it probably isn't blood related, the Mandalorian concept of "family" would put the Jagi and Canderous on this, too.
* The original ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has a sidequest which subverts this. Alistair knows he has a half-sister and he's always wanted to visit her, [[spoiler: but when he does, she wants nothing to do with him and denounces him for trying to intrude on her life without giving her financial support]].
** Especially nastily averted with Morrigan and Flemeth. Blood ties are fine and dandy but [[spoiler: they're not going to dissuade Flemeth from [[GrandTheftMe stealing Morrigan's body]] or Morrigan from having Flemeth killed.]] (It's not clear even to Morrigan whether Flemeth is Morrigan's biological or adoptive mother, but Morrigan considers this detail irrelevant.)
** The City Elf Origin has got an example, with slight variations depending on the Warden's gender. In either case it consists of an elf and the Warden's cousin breaking into the Arl of Denerim's estate to rescue the kidnapped female wedding guests, and then the Warden teaming up with the aforementioned cousin to rescue a third cousin from the heart of the estate.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' plays this trope straight sometimes. You can be a complete ass to Carver, drive him to join the Templars, and at the end he will still [[spoiler:step between Meredith and Hawke and say "I will not kill my own brother/sister"]].
** It is, however, averted in the case of [[CainAndAbel Bartrand and Varric]], as well as with Merrill and her clan.
** Gamlen comes close to referencing this trope by name while averting it, actually. He does however play it straight with his desperation if [[spoiler: he is picked to help find Leana after the SerialKiller gets her and more cheerfully, if you opt to reunite him with his long-lost daughter.]]
** It's also possible to avert it by [[spoiler:joining the Templars and killing Circle!Bethany]].
* In ''VideoGame/RadiantHistoria'', [[spoiler: the BigBad's familial love for his nephew Stocke eventually drives him to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrifice himself]] in Stocke's place in the GoldenEnding.]]
* [[VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic Archibald Ironfist]] is not a good man (for starters, his scheme to get the crown involves arranging for the murder of the Royal Seer, and then continuing to murder the successors until he can put the blame on his brother Roland). He also clearly feels a familial connection to Roland (note that he ''could'' just have arranged for his brother's murder to get the throne, but doesn't; and even if you side with Archibald and defeat Roland, he still merely locks Roland up rather than execute him), culminating in Archibald risking his neck to save Roland from a horrible fate in VideoGame/MightAndMagic VII.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Shellshock 2}}'', Nate's main motive throughout the game is not the orders he has been given or even a desire to stop TheVirus. He just wants to find and help his brother Cal. In the end, he has to choose between a) saving Cal; and b) saving the villain so as to make him provide a cure. It's up to the player, but if players do choose to stick to this trope, the epilogue tells them that Cal dies a few weeks after his rescue anyway, while the zombie plague rages on.
* In ''VideoGame/LostHorizon'', Lord Weston, governor of Hong Kong, takes this approach towards his missing son. He initially pretends otherwise, making a show out of downplaying his personal investment in the disappearance -- he says he can't let the identity of the missing officer affect his duties. In reality, though, he has been secretly cooperating with the Nazis as a backup plan in case Fenton can't (or won't) rescue Richard. He eventually betrays Fenton to the Nazis for this reason.
* A non-blood related child and father version plays out in ''VideoGame/PokemonSuperMysteryDungeon'' with [[NaughtyIsGood the partner]] and [[FantasyForbiddingFather Carracosta]]. The partner is a mischievous trouble maker who's also a starry-eyed idealist about joining the Expedition Society [[JustAKid despite being only a child]], both of which grate on Carracosta, leading to a lot of yelling between the two and chores as punishment. But at the end of the day, [[GoodParents he cares deeply about his adopted child]] and by the end of the first half, encourages them instead of stopping them from joining the Expedition Society. And as for the partner's feelings towards him, [[spoiler: when visiting their village [[DoomedHometown after everyone was turned into stone]], they didn't want to see their father if he was alright or not, because [[DespairEventHorizon they imagined that they couldn't go on if they found their father (technically) dead]].]]
* At the end of ''Videogame/DevilMayCry'' ''3'', the twin sons of Sparda Dante and Vergil have just fought a vicious duel over the artifacts containing Sparda's power (Vergil wants to use that power to take over the world and Dante wants to stop him), a duel that Vergil loses. The defeated Vergil has barely enough strength to reclaim his half of their mother's amulet and warn his brother to leave before the portal between the human world and Demon world closes. He then allows himself to fall over a cliff. Despite everything that has just happened, Dante instinctively reaches out for Vergil's hand to save him. Vergil slashes his brother's hand in response since he wants to stay in the Demon world. It may also have been the only way Vergil knew how to show concern for Dante.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'': The Nohr Siblings Xander, Camilla, Leo and Elise knew that their father Garon lately has been acting really evil and not exactly being a man to be cheered at. Even so, they still stuck with him as he's still their father and they swore not to betray their families after the DeadlyDecadentCourt that they have faced since childhood that costed the majority of their other siblings. [[spoiler:When Garon is revealed to be a slime monster impersonating their father, all bets are off and they're more than glad to rip the impostor a new one, finally accepting that the real Garon has been dead for a long time.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': Hanzo is a honorable person overall, but his honor lies within his family loyalty. Therefore, he was being TheDutifulSon to his criminal empire family, never minding their unsavory business because it's still his family, and wishing that his brother Genji would feel the same. Unfortunately, his brother has a different idea about valuing honor, it should be on actions. When Hanzo ended up obeying the order that would look like it killed Genji, he was so distraught that he spilled the blood of his family member, he left the clan in shame. But when Genji came BackFromTheDead and was actively shutting down his family business and being a CyberNinja, Hanzo viewed it as a violation of honor and ended up acting bitter against him.
* A racial version in the ''Apocalypse'' launch trailers for ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}''. The Commonwealth of Man has strong ideological disputes with the United Nations of Earth, but at the end of the day, the two powers are still human. When the UNE colony of Europa VII is destroyed by an alien superweapon, this gets the Commonwealth to mobilize and counterattack against the Gamma Aliens with their ''own'' apocalyptic weapon to protect their fellow humans.
* ''VideoGame/Uncharted4AThiefsEnd'' features this in the relationship between Nate and Sam. Sam forgive Nate leaving him in jail given the circumstances of the botched escape. More dramatically, [[spoiler: Nate, Sully and Elena, whilst obviously upset, are completely forgiving of Sam having made up a motivation to get Nate into an adventure again and risking his life many times over the course of the game, and at one point Nate's marriage to Elena as well]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor'': [[http://www.rhjunior.com/totq/00537.html Turns out two fae are sisters.]] One concedes it was not her sole motivation -- but a big one.
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'':
** [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-08/page-515/ My cousin is there!]]
** [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/todays-dreamland-chronicles-668/ He is my brother]]
* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'':
** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/001227 An epiphany for Megaman: Protoman is his brother -- he should treat him like it!]]
** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/001214c George has to bring Bob along for this.]]
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
** Vaarsuvius objects to saving Julia on the ground they are on a world-saving quest, but when Roy points out how quickly they can do it, V agrees to help.
--->'''Vaarsuvius:''' [[{{Foreshadowing}} One's family must be defended when need arises.]]
** Haley's motive for the gold is to rescue her father. [[spoiler:And she insists on Roy rescuing him against his wishes.]]
** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0816.html When they learn of a different Draketooth, they realize that Girard Draketooth was so paranoid that he would have to use his family -- since he would trust no-one else.]]
** Elan has conflicted feelings about his EvilTwin Nale and his ArchnemesisDad Tarquin. Too bad for him that Nale is pretty set on [[CainAndAbel killing him]] and even believes that this is ''how siblings should behave''. His dad meanwhile thinks it would be awesome if Elan defeats him in an epic struggle someday. [[spoiler:[[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0889.html His eventual realization that his dreams are childish]] is a major piece of CharacterDevelopment.]]
** Nale clearly believes that either this trope or EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily will protect him from any insult to Tarquin. [[spoiler:He's wrong. After Nale gloats about killing his father's friend and confidante Malack, Tarquin gives him one chance to fall into line, and when he refuses said olive branch, Tarquin unceremoniously kills him.]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Footloose}}'': [[http://www.footloosecomic.com/footloose/pages.php?page=61 The final touch]] on the WoundedGazelleGambit.
* In ''Webcomic/ThistilMistilKistil'': [[http://tmkcomic.depleti.com/comic/ch03-pg14/ Loki thinks this means Coal's mother won't mind -- and learns that Coal does mind.]]
* In ''Webcomic/SquidRow'', [[http://squidrowcomics.com/?p=2056 Grace lacks it]], and it's lampshaded.
* In ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'', [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/better-quality/ Jin's mother starts her defense with the observation that Jin is her daughter]].
* In ''Webcomic/TheSpecialists'', why Hartmann is willing to [[spoiler:betray the Nazis: to protect his brother]].
* In ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'',
** [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0187.html rescuing a second cousin is especially meaningful.]]
** [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0255.html Angelika won't be thrown off the team her sister leads.]]
* In ''Webcomic/NoRestForTheWicked'',
** [[http://www.forthewicked.net/archive/02-33.html the Beast complains of it.]]
--->''Always my father this and my family that… if you loved them that much, why didn't you just stay home in the first place.''
** [[http://www.forthewicked.net/archive/03-39.html Anna goes to rescue Klaus.]] (Their father, not so much.)
* In ''Webcomic/DorkTower'', [[http://www.dorktower.com/2012/08/29/severtember-dork-tower-29-08-12/ Igor recommends ignoring genetic bonds of guilt and unfriending or unfollowing relatives.]]
* In ''Webcomic/BlueYonder'', Jared's driving motivation is to find and rescue his family.
* In ''Webcomic/UrbanUnderbrush'', [[http://www.lepusstudios.com/uu0116.html an attempt to invoke this]] -- by pointing out he's been asked to side with a total stranger to make his own cousin uncomfortable -- actually results in his enthusiastic cooperation.
* The [[Webcomic/TeamFortress2 official comics]] for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' reveal that [[spoiler: the Sniper]] was actually adopted, and his real parents live in [[{{Atlantis}} New Zealand]]. When he finally meets them as an adult, he's thrilled to reconnect with them, completely ignoring that his parents are clearly selfish idiots that never cared for him even when he was still with them. The poor guy is still trying to help them even after they abandon him and his friends to their deaths ''twice''.
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'':
** Played straight with Elliot, whose first thought upon seeing his newly-created OppositeSexClone was "She's family; help her." Ellen later echoes this sentiment.
** Defied by Susan, whose sour experiences with her family have lead her to declare "There is more to family than blood. No one is obligated to another by genetics alone!" [[spoiler:She still agrees to meet with Diane, who may or may not be her half-sister, but makes it clear that she's not doing it just because they might be related.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Even after she's tried to kill him, Zuko believes Iroh subscribes to this in regards to [[AxCrazy Azula]]. Iroh corrects him on that part.
-->'''Iroh''': No, she's crazy, and she needs to go down.
** By the time of the comics, Zuko himself decides to follow this belief. Most notably in ''The Search'', he still pays occasional visits to his imprisoned father and institutionalized sister and have tea with them. His friends and allies think he's being too sentimental towards those who made his life completely miserable.
* The original ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' series has cousins Ben and Gwen as this. They bicker and argue almost ''constantly'', but when things truly become bad, they'd do anything to help each other out. Not that they'd actually vocalize it, though. Later installments in the same timeline have them openly care about their familial bond as they get older, with the 2016 reboot having them [[AdaptationalNiceGuy behave like best friends]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
-->'''Fry''': Sorry, everyone, but need I remind you? Blood is thicker than water.\\
'''[[TheMedic Zoidberg]]''': ''Really?'' ''[writing]'' Blood... thicker... water.
** And in the "Beast with a Billion Backs" we find out Fry's is as thick as pancake syrup.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Grunkle Stan would do anything for his family, such as heroically fighting a pterodactyl so his grandniece would be happy , [[spoiler: risking the apocalypse to bring back his brother and willingly let Ford erase his memory just to save his family]].
* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'':
** Helga's parents are several shades of [[ParentalNeglect neglectful]] to her but aren't straight up physically abusive or (intentionally) emotionally abusive, despite what [[RonTheDeathEater many fans think]]. Bob is outright horrified with himself when he almost kills Helga in the HalloweenEpisode, due to believing her and her friends were actual aliens.
-->'''Big Bob:''' "It'll make me a '''ton''' money, and what's good for me is good for all the Pataki's, if you catch my drift, Helga."
-->'''Helga:''' (to herself) "Alas, I ran again, torn between two forces. Arnold's foolish idealism… and my father's unbridled greed. And this time, I fear blood is thicker than water. Oh, curse the day I was born a Pataki!"
** Helga overall has a very bad relationship with her big sister Olga, who receives most of the [[ParentalFavoritism praise and affectionation]] by her parents due to being so talented and a [[ThePerfectionist perfectionist]]. It's an one-sided SiblingRivalry as Olga is very much into her sister. When Helga changes one of Olga's grades to a [[TheBGrade B-]] Olga spirals into a sobbing, horrible depression. Helga is pleased at first however once she talks to Arnold about the issue she realizes what a terrible thing she did was and confesses.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Twin sisters Pretty and Eugly will do anything to defend each other. Eugly will beat up anyone who tries to hurt Pretty. And Pretty, despite how mean she usually is to her sister, won't hesitate to get angry at anyone who is mean to her. Even if that someone is her crush.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'':
** In "Go Team Go", Shego gets hold of a staff that contains [[PowersAsPrograms all of Team Go's powers]], and then loses it rather easily:
--->'''Wade''': Boy, it sounds like it got ugly. Do you really think Shego would have gone through with it?\\
'''Kim''': We're talking about Shego? ''(thoughtful)'' But I've got to say it ''was'' pretty easy to get that power staff from her…\\
''(cut to Drakken and Shego)''\\
'''Drakken''': Now that I know the whole story, I think you secretly ''wanted'' to lose.\\
'''Shego''': What?\\
'''Drakken''': That's right. You ''wanted'' your brothers to get their powers back. You don't really have it in you to betray them.\\
'''Shego''': Are you saying [[BerserkButton that I'm going]] '''[[BerserkButton SOFT?!]]'''\\
'''Drakken''': As a marshmallow!\\
''[A GilliganCut later, Drakken is holding to the reactors of the still flying mecha]''\\
'''Drakken''': Shego, I take it back! You're not a softy! '''''SHEGO!!!!!'''''
** Averted in "Car Alarm", where Drakken's cousin Motor Ed breaks Shego out of prison but leaves Drakken behind to rot.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''
-->'''Jenny''': After all the bad stuff I said…\\
'''[=XJ8=]''': That's what sisters are for.\\
'''[=XJ6=]''': Oil is thicker than water.\\
'''[=XJ4=]''': But so much harder to get out of a carpet.\\
'''[=XJ5=]''': A few harsh words aren't going to break up the [=XJs=].
* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'':
-->[[IceCreamKoan "Blood is thicker than water… but so is toothpaste."]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'': Averted in one episode when a hero faces down his evil brother.
-->'''Ebon''': Hey, this ain't no way to treat a brother, brother.\\
'''Rubber-Band Man''': Don't hand me that 'brother' stuff. You played me, Ivan.\\
'''Ebon''': Come on, blood is thicker than water.\\
'''Rubber-Band Man''': And right and wrong are thicker than ''blood''. *cue CurbstompBattle*
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
** Aqualad comment on this.
--->'''Aqualad''': "Blood is thicker than sea water."
** Subverted with [[spoiler:Aqualad himself]]. In season 2 it seemed he had switched sides to be with his villainous father, however in reality [[spoiler:he is an inside agent on a mission.]] Only his teammates [[spoiler:Wally, Dick, Artemis, and Zatanna]] know this. [[spoiler:Miss Martian believing he was really a villain led to [[MindRape her temporarily destroying his mind]], and her subsequently falling into a HeroicBSOD after realizing her error]].
** Artemis is a superhero while her older sister Jade is a supervillain (Cheshire). Despite them getting along poorly they do care for each other. [[spoiler:When Jade believes Artemis has been killed by Aqualad she tries to get revenge.]]
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/ActionLeagueNow'', The Flesh meets a couple who claim to be his long-lost parents; actually, they're a pair of crooks who want his SuperStrength to rob a house. When the rest of the League comes to tell him this, Flesh is forced to choose between his friends or the parents he's always wanted. The LemonyNarrator asks at the {{Cliffhanger}}, "Is action blood thicker than action water? And what exactly ''does'' that mean?" In the end, Flesh chooses his faux-parents, but by this time they're so fed up with his destructive bungling that they confess to the ruse anyway.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** After a failed assassination attempt on Unalaq, Tonraq (his brother and the accused for being part of the rebellion) says that even though he and his brother have their differences, he would never harm him in any way. Unalaq, however… doesn't feel the same way. In keeping with the trope, Tonraq chooses to comply with whatever decisions his brother has made in order to prevent conflict, but once he finds out Unalaq was behind his banishment all along, all compromises are off.
** Notably averted between Asami and her father, Hiroshi Sato. Even after Asami found out her father was one of Amon's right-hand men, he didn't want to hurt her. If anything, he still cared for her enough. However, his hatred got the best of him, and Asami could not return the sentiment after he tried to harm her friends. Hiroshi's betrayal scarred Asami really badly to the point where she flat out wanted ''nothing'' to do with him.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'':
** [[EnfantTerrible Angelica]] is as close to a [[TheBully villain]] as a three year old can get. Her baby cousin Tommy and his friends are the main target of her manipulation and teasing. Angelica does display her softer side occasionally, increasingly as the series goes on (though whether it's VillainDecay or [[TookALevelInKindness character development]] [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depends]] on the fan).
** In the first movie Tommy does not take lightly to having a new brother. He feels Dil is overshadowing him and thinks he's annoying. At one point Tommy even [[spoiler:tries to abandon Dil to be [[RaisedByWolves with the monkeys]]]]; however by the end of the film he realizes how important Dil is to him. Afterwards he is depicted as a caring, protective sibling in ''Rugrats'' itself and in the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp''.
* Frequently done between cousins Ben and Gwen in the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}''. They often argue but when push comes to shove they have their heartwarming moments:
** In an episode of Ben 10 where Ben is stuck as an alien and kidnapped by an "alien hunter", Gwen sees him trapped in a glass jar and says:
-->'''Gwen''': [the alien hunter] can't torture Ben like that, only ''I'' can torture Ben like that!
** Another one takes place in the movie, ''Secret of The Omnitrix'', when Ben thinks that Gwen is dead. He breaks down crying (something he never did in the entire series), and runs to hug her when it turns out she wasn't.
* Max from ''Literature/MaxAndRuby'' can be bratty and he doesn't always listen to Ruby but he's shown to care for her nevertheless.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Lisa and Bart sometimes have these moments, though it's also obvious that the only thing fragmenting their relationship is just SiblingRivalry. Still, you find moments where something a significant fallout happens between them then they make up and realize they're still family. The episode "Barthood", a parody of ''Film/{{Boyhood}}'', has Bart feel like an inferior shadow to Lisa his entire life yet as an adult he made a mural dedicated to his love for her.
*** The best episode has to be "Lisa on Ice", where despite all their rivalries all episode in hockey, they hold hands and skate together at the end, ignoring the big game and just enjoying each other. Another contender is "'Round Springfield", where Bart spends his entire lawsuit settlement to buy Lisa Bleeding Gums Murphy's album because she was the only one who believed he was actually sick.
** Subverted with Mr. Burns and his long lost son, Larry. When they meet, Burns is happy to have a son, but is frustrated by his boorish behavior. To regain his dad's love, Larry and Homer stage a fake kidnapping. When it all falls apart, Larry confesses to his stunt. Ultimately, Burns does love Larry, and forgives him for his hoax, but can't accept him as a human being, so he leaves Springfield.
* ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'':
** The episode "Twisting Places." After Twister snapped Lars back into BigBrotherBully mode, his cronies insulted Twister with him, and then Lars tells them "Only I can pick on Twister! It's a brother thing."
** In the episode "Escape From Lars Mountain" when Lars and his crew attempt to leave Twister and his crew lost in the woods, and Twister turns the prank back on him by making him think he fell off a cliff and died. At that moment Lars confesses that "Just because it's more fun to be mean to him than it is to be nice, that doesn't mean I don't care about him."
* [[InspectorJavert Candace]] has moments like this towards her brothers (though Ferb is unrelated by blood) on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb.'' In this case, though, the rivalry is only ever one-sided; Phineas and Ferb ''always'' have an upbeat and helpful attitude toward her.
* Cree and Abigail Lincoln from ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' have several of these moments. They might be arch-enemies, but they're also sisters. (In fact, in "Operation: M.A.U.R.I.C.E.", where Abby almost considered giving up, convinced that she was getting older and was [[YouCantFightFate certain to end up like Cree eventually]], Cree was almost overjoyed, suggesting that she is ''very'' willing to reconcile, so long as it's on her terms. [[spoiler:However, a pep talk from a FakeDefector told Abby [[ScrewDestiny that she could take a different route]].]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'':
** WordOfGod says that deep down, Dexter really does love his sister even though he'll never admit it. He has, on a couple of occasions successfully gotten Dee Dee out of his lab. Only to find that while the peace and quiet may be nice at first, in the long run, he's absolutely miserable without her. One point, when she was taken away by aliens, he was reduced to tears begging for her return.
** In another episode where Dexter thought he was going to die, his parting gift to Dee Dee was to let her happily run wild in his lab.
** When the two were auditioning to be Major Glory's sidekick, Dee Dee insulted Dexter and laughed at him for thinking he could ever win the title. When Dee Dee gets hurt by a gang of Glory's villains ambushing the audition Dexter went into a [[BerserkButton berserker rage]] and took out the whole gang single-handedly. At the end of that same episode, Dee Dee turns down Major Glory's offer of being his side.
* ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'':
** Cat sometimes has these moments toward Dog, despite all the trouble Dog gets him in. One good example is in "[=CatDog=] 3001," where [=CatDog=] is sent to the future so Dog can help the fight against a giant descendant of Winslow (ItMakesSenseInContext). They end up separated so Dog can fight alone. Dog ends up defeated, and when Cat sees what happened to his brother, he puts them back together and defeats the bad guy. Now ''that'' is brotherly love.
** In "Full Moon Fever," Dog turns into a werewolf due to the full moon. Cat decides to let him get it out of his system, and he ends up wanting to join the Greasers. He passes their test - putting Cat in a LOT of pain - and becomes a member. They even give him a "tail" by putting a plunger on Cat's head. Dog then looks at his brother, sees how completely miserable he is - and turns back to his normal form, completely out of love for Cat.
* Sure, Trina and Corey may have developed a bad sibling relationship in ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'', but he admits that he feels guilty for putting his sister in a nightmare-induced coma in the "Dreamrever" two parter to beigin with, and upon meeting Katrina (Trina's nice side that loves him inside her brain) he feels a lot more guilty.
* [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling D.W.]] and the titular character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' often argue but it's still shown they care for one another.
* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddysBigPictureShow'', Sarah hugs Ed. She spent most of ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' being a brat towards him.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'', one of the few things that Donald and Scrooge can agree upon is that they both ''hate'' Gladstone Gander, for his being both a LuckyBastard and a SmugSnake who revels in having such impossibly good fortune that he never has to do anything to fend for himself. Despite this, they'll still go out of their way to help him if he gets into trouble since he's family.
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* Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''.

** Once again subverted by Medea, who helps Jason steal the Golden Fleece from her father. She also kills her own brother and scatters his remnants to make it easier for her and Jason to escape.