History Main / WhiteandGreyMorality

-->-- ''Webcomic/{{Digger}}'', by Ursula Vernon

* Creator/UrsulaVernon, creator of ''Webcomic/{{Digger}}'', has complained that she can't seem to come up with a real villain, since all of them have reasons for what they are doing and believe that they're doing the right thing. Some of them admittedly think it's the right thing because ''they're'' doing it, yes, or that the ends will justify the means, but no one so far is truly evil. Well, no one except [[spoiler:[[BigBad Sweetgrass Voice]].]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' has no major character who does things ForTheEvulz. Save one bad egg[[note]]and even he had been convinced he was a deific saviour and the world needed him[[/note]], there are no really evil characters in the comic; all of them so far have either been misguided or acting off their own sense of what's right rather being downright evil, and most of them have been relatively reasonable when the heroes point out the problems with what they're doing. The Abominations are a glaring exception, but they're presented as "monsters" rather than characters, and we still don't know [[spoiler: Voltaire]]'s motives.
* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' forgoes villains in favor of lots of geek-tickling tech-talk. Even the {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s tend to be simply narrow-minded and incompetent, rather than willfully malevolent. It's just that they're not smart enough to figure out that AIs have become sentient, and still think that they're just products. It doesn't help that some of the AIs agree.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'':
** One of the things the comic is known for lacking "proper" villains; Coyote is more of a general version of TheTrickster, and Ysengrin is simply insane. And Reynardine is... [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation who knows]]? Tom Siddell confirms this in [[http://www.wizarduniverse.com/082008wcotw.html an interview:]] "There are no outright evil characters, for example, just situations in which a character might act in a way perceived to be evil."
** [[spoiler:Jack was just some variant of [[GoMadFromTheRevelation gone nuts from the whole Zimmyham experience]] or [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity high on his new creepy powers]]. He got better, though.]]

** ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'', as many a college film, is this instead of the BlackAndWhiteMorality of the original. The two protagonists (flawed people themselves) are only trying to prove their value in front of both the DeanBitterman who expelled them from their major, and the JerkJock posse [[OpposingSportsTeam with whom they are competing]].

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'' might fit for the "[[BearsAreBadNews vicious animals]] are TrueNeutral" rule. Even if it's one hell of an AnimalNemesis [[spoiler:who used to be human.]]
** ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'': Marlin may be an OverprotectiveDad, but he [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold means well]] for his son, the titular Nemo. Dory herself is a Ditz, but she comes off as a NiceGirl. Dr. Sherman took Nemo because he mistakenly believed he would not be able to survive on his own with a deformed fin, and Darla is a "fish-killer" because she is a child who doesn't know any better. The other antagonists of the film are simply mindless predators.

* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' certainly ''does'' feature many an irredeemable villain -- and some [[BlackAndWhiteMorality truly, deeply unambiguous conflicts]]-- but it's also at constant pains to point out that this trope is in play ''most'' of the time. In fact, the first part of the series (with the Manticore/Haven war) really only has five or so really evil characters, right at the top of the enemy food chain. The [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters many dozens]] of other Havenite enemies given names and faces all tend toward MyCountryRightOrWrong at worst.

* Until recent editions firmly set themselves into the more fitting and iconic BlackAndGrayMorality setting, this was [[{{Irony}} ironically]] the case between the [[GoodIsOldFashioned naive, but swiftly learning Tau Empire]] and the [[ShootTheDog jaded, hardened Imperium of Man]] from ''[[{{Tabletopgame/Warhammer40000}} Warhammer 40,000]]''. However, the optimistic and idealistic the alien Tau were found by, at least by some members of the fanbase, to be too [[TastesLikeDiabetes idealistic and utopian]] to fit [[CrapsackWorld into the setting]][[note]]This might be an opinion about 5 or 10 years in the making[[/note]]. The Tau have since been "[[GreyAndGreyMorality greywashed]]", and while they do fit the setting's equivalent of the TheFederation, some recent fluff has stated that they may use concentration camps and "re-education" policies on worlds where the Imperium's xenophobic policies are too ingrained. The relationship between the Tau and the Imperium are further complicated by practices of {{Realpolitik}} and outright alliance by certain planets, though the official position is that the Tau must be exterminated someday.

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' has no one who does things ForTheEvulz. Save one bad egg[[note]]and even he had been convinced he was a deific saviour and the world needed him[[/note]], there are no really evil characters in the comic; all of them so far have either been misguided or acting off their own sense of what's right rather being downright evil.

** Zahn's non-''StarWars'' fiction tends to have a lot of this as well; ''Literature/TheConquerorsTrilogy'' in particular features a galactic war caused by essentially a misunderstanding. The humans' standard "greet the unknown aliens" transmission is sent via radio, which causes varying degrees of pain for the non-human side of a FirstContact scenario, and thus the aliens understandably interpret the greeting as an unprovoked attack. There are at least four, possibly more, distinct factions involved, none of whom act unjustifiably throughout the course of the brief but intense war that follows.

** There are many {{Designated Villain}}s who are unilaterally revealed to be GoodAllAlong by the time the game ends -- in most cases, your character [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu has a tea party]] with the FinalBoss following their defeat. BadPowersBadPeople is averted. The only things in the series that could be considered evil at all are the Saigyou Ayakashi, more popularly known as the Cherry Tree of Doom, from Perfect Cherry Blossom (it hypnotizes people into languishing to death under its leaves, and then eats their souls), and the final boss of ''Subterranean Animism'', who flat-out threatens to [[ILoveNuclearPower nuke]] all of [[FantasyKitchenSink Gensokyo]] and even then the latter turns out to be under the influence of a temporary but bad case of [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity power induced crazy]] on top of being much, ''much'' more [[TheDitz stupid]] than evil.

* ''Manga/AngelicLayer'' and ''Manga/{{Chobits}}'' lack any really evil characters. There are lots of less pleasant individuals, like the cheaters in the former and the outright perverts in the later, but the closest things to villains in the storylines are concerned about victory like the protagonist or are interested in protecting other persocoms from the damage Chi could potentially cause.

* ''Manga/AstroBoy'': While minor human crooks and such may be genuinely evil, the BigBad Dr. Tenma and related characters are just [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]]. If a robot is portrayed as a villain, it's always due to a misunderstanding. This is in contrast to the rest of Creator/OsamuTezuka's work, where pretty much everyone but the main character is always a [[HumansAreBastards bastard]]. Especially Rock.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'' is founded on this. While people like Gyro and Lucy are good people (Johnny eventually comes around as well, though he's much grayer than most heroes), none of the main villains are really ''evil'', per se. Diego wants to win because it's his job, and to fulfill his dream of being wealthy to avenge his mother. Funny Valentine, on the other hand [[spoiler:wants the parts because he feels that they are too dangerous for anyone else, and he wants to use them to further the gain of his country and make his citizens' lives better.]] When the main villain is a guy that ''[[spoiler: UsefulNotes/JesusChrist]] '''himself''' '' approves of, you know this trope is in full effect.
* The closest things ''Anime/ALittleSnowFairySugar'' has to a "villain" would be Joe Crow, who is not so much that as [[{{Jerkass}} just a typical bully]]. Ginger is fairly callous, [[ThoseTwoGuys Basil and Cinnamon]] are rather mischevious, Greta is a rich snob and sees Saga as a rival, but everyone else in the show is usually super-nice to one another.

** In the anime, while the titular character and his gang are criminals, they wouldn't do anything really heinous, so even at their worst, the crew are {{Anti Villain}}s. Their antagonist, Inspector Zenigata, is a HeroAntagonist, and their relationship can be described as an almost friendly rivalry, rather than confrontation between criminals and law-enforcement. Whenever a serious bad guy comes up, Lupin and Zenigata usually ally against him -- though they always resume their antics when the alliance is no longer needed.

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' seems to like this trope, too, at least for most of the main characters. Save for the few like Dekim Barton, most of the characters desire for justice and peace, even if their ways of achieving it are questionable, as pointed out by Relena Peacecraft. Fortunately, EveryoneLives except Treize Kushranada, who willingly dies by his own choice, and the world achieves true peace as Relena sees it. This way, [[RousseauWasRight Gundam Wing]] is a total opposite to the [[CrapsackWorld Universal Century series]].
* ''LightNovel/MomoKyunSword'' features a battle between the Celestial Maidens and the Oni Clan. While the Maidens are on the side of good and their main ally Momoko is the heroine, the Oni Clan is shown to not really be evil but a clan trying to restore their former glory and their main face comes in the form of Onihime, a young oni girl who while strong a strong rival to Momoko is closer to her friend then enemy. Even the oni king is shown to be a pretty cool guy.

** The spinoffs carry this theme, since the new villains are often {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s and the occasional person out for {{Revenge}}.

* ''Franchise/{{The DCU}}'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

** In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', Al is also a {{Jerkass}} and a slob who resorts to stealing Woody to sell him for hundreds of thousands of dollars, but not before at least trying to buy Woody legitimately. Also, while Stinky Pete may be revealed to be a ManipulativeBastard near the end of the movie, he does [[WellIntentionedExtremist honestly think he's doing what's best for Woody and the others]], and certainly has a [[AffablyEvil genuine friendliness to him in spite of his villainy]]. Plus, he has the FreudianExcuse of being an unsold toy who resents being overlooked by children.

* ''Film/MeanGirls'', somewhat surprisingly given its premise. Even the worst of the mean girls turns out to be more of a {{Jerkass}} AntiVillain than a straight up bad person, and while [[spoiler: the main character becomes a mean girl herself, she [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor turns good again by the end of the movie]]]].
* ''Film/TheRock'' starts like this. On one side we have marines and FBI chemist who try to save the hostages and prevent a terrorist form killing thousands. Opposing them is NobleDemon WellIntentionedExtremist who wants his men to be honored as they deserve and their families supported and tries to avoid casualties as much as possible. [[spoiler:Later turns into TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil situation when Hummel's group gets divided and some of them want to launch the missiles for real, when Hummel was just bluffing.]]

* ''Film/ThirteenDays'': Kenny, Bobby and JFK are the most traditional heroes, being inspiring if pragmatic figures. The Soviets don't want a war to start either, but like the Americans find themselves forced into an escalating crisis which they can't stop by themselves. The greys are the [[WarHawk military hardliners]], but even they are {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s who believe they're doing the right thing.

* A lot of Creator/OrsonScottCard's writing, particularly in ''[[Literature/EndersGame Ender's Saga]]'', deals with the idea that no-one is really evil, and it's all a matter of perspective. Usually. For instance, the Formics are discovered to have attacked humanity because [[spoiler:they have a HiveMind and didn't know each human was individually sentient]]. On the other end, the Descoladores of the later books are either seeking outright planetary conquest or are [[StarfishAliens just too alien to comprehend]]. And the BigBad of the ''Literature/EndersShadow'' spinoffs, Achilles, is most definitely evil.

* Most of Edgar Pangborn's antagonists are misguided rather than evil, but that doesn't prevent them occasionally causing horrific tragedies. Example: ''Tiger Boy'', in which the semi-[[WildChild wild]] title character and a friend he meets are killed due to the belief that he is a demon.

* The Brazilian fantasy drama ''Series/DeusSalveORei'' revolves around two kingdoms, Montemor and Artena, being at odds with each other after decades of cooperation. Both are ruled by benevolent and good monarchs at the start of the story, and they want what is best for their own kingdoms and neighbors, but a series of events beyond circumstances puts them in conflict to each other.

* The feud between Wrestling/{{Mistico}} and Atlantis in Wrestling/{{CMLL}}. Atlantis had [[FaceHeelTurn become a Rudo]] against Mistico. Mistico represents orphans, the poor, the sick and unsceen of society. Mistico also continued to wrestle cleanly, and mentored the Super Sky Team PowerStable in the ways of righteous wrestling. Atlantis had turned his back on clean wrestling, his partners and all of his fans ''except'' for the young boys, the only future of the industry in his mind, who he was still nice too and claimed to be doing it all for. Eventually Atlantis realized the error of his ways and [[HeelFaceTurn made amends]].[[/folder]]

** Surprisingly for an Assassin, and especially such a prominent one, Ratonhnhaké:ton (or just Connor for short) from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' internalizes the Templar's ideals in order to understand his true duty as an Assassin. (It helps that the Templars in this game as represented by [[spoiler:Haytham]] are far less rabid and more logical and well-intentioned, even if they are all major {{Jerkass}}es.) Connor never buys into the Templar propaganda, since his strong moral compass centers on his belief in freedom (which the Templars explicitly hate), but he never disregards them either. Typically, he acknowledges the wisdom in the Templars' dying words, but refuses to apologize for the deed on the grounds of the Templar in question being an irredeemable asshat.

** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnity'': Arno himself believes in seeking peace, avoiding extremism and partisanship and the likes of Mirabeau and Master de la Serre are looked at with respect for their similar pragmatic approach. [[spoiler:While the Revolutionary Templars, the renegade Assassin Bellec and the revenge obsessed Élise are seen as self-destructive]].

* ''VideoGame/ChroniclesOfTsufanubra'' features some genuinely morally depraved characters, but only in the backstory. Everyone in the present-day conflict is either doing what they think is best in light of what those earlier characters did, or is being manipulated.
* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' and its prequel ''Dissidia 012'' at first tell your typical OrderVersusChaos story with the BigBad Chaos summoning some of the most sinister villains of ''Final Fantasy'' to battle their heroes serving the BigGood Cosmos. However, the backstory reveals the conflict to be this trope. [[spoiler:Chaos is a literal DesignatedVillain, as he and Cosmos ''agreed'' to war with each other as part of a pact with Cid and Shinryu, and ''Chaos'' was the one hesitant to participate at first. As for Chaos's forces, they variably have no interest in the war, are fighting for personal reasons, are BrainwashedAndCrazy, or are {{Anti Villain}}s who try to help the heroes win. The only villains who are totally and unambiguously evil are The Emperor, Ultimecia, Kefka and Exdeath, but of them, Ultimecia has a FreudianExcuse, Kefka has the AlternateCharacterInterpretation that he's [[EvilCannotComprehendGood too insane to know any better]], and Exdeath is a MadeOfEvil EldritchAbomination that simply [[ItsWhatIDo does what he does]].]]

* In ''VideoGame/EnsembleStars'', while many of the characters have done questionable things in the past, and some even do over the course of the story, all are ultimately treated as sympathetic, helped by the RotatingProtagonist structure ensuring that everyone gets to give their point of view eventually. Even the main story, which does focus on a specific four protagonists and has a more typical protagonists vs antagonists story structure, exudes this: while the destruction of the student council's grip over the other students is treated as straightforwardly good, it's made clear that Eichi truly believed that he was doing the right thing at first, and genuinely underestimated how badly his actions would affect others (particularly the Oddballs), and after he is defeated admits that [[DefeatMeansFriendship he's starting to feel genuine friendship for the protagonists]].

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'' reveals that most of the villains were actually good people whose plan to make the world a better place did [[GoneHorriblyWrong horribly go wrong]]. Most events of the series were actually the villains' attempts to use whatever means neccessary to correct their mistakes.

* Despite having a dark entity known as Sulphur, ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'' certainly fit into this. Most characters, at worst, act like {{Jerkass}}es who [[UngratefulBastard cheat off]] [[NiceGirl Marona]] [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer and treat her as trash]]. Some of who have selfish motivations does have a particular reason of being so. For example, Walnut, a KillSteal bounty hunter, have a mindset of caring about money [[spoiler:because he is trying to fund medicine for his [[IllGirl sick little sister]]]]. And some who fell into the path of darkness is mostly due to [[TragicHero tragic circumstances]], such as [[DarkIsNotEvil Sprout]], who lost his family to Sulphur. Regardless, everyone is EasilyForgiven by Marona and those who were treating her like trash [[spoiler:came to realize she's the only hope of defeating Sulphur and realize her [[AllLovingHero kindhearted nature]], started treating her an actual human being, and rally to aid her]]. In the end, Marona's "treat everyone with kindness" favors her.

* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' in general does this, as well as GreyAndGrayMorality. The heroes often have their flaws and my even do some less than moral things, but generally have their hearts in the right place, while the antagonists are often {{Anti Villain}}s and {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s who are also good people at heart.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' makes it clear from beginning to end that both sides ultimately want to accomplish the same goal, removing the Score's hold on the world. They just have very different methods on doing so.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' falls into this too, with ''all'' the antagonists being either a WellIntentionedExtremist or AntiVillain. Even the worst of them either have [[HeelRealisation Heel Realisations]] or AlasPoorVillain moments, and none of them have zero redeeming qualities.

** Downplayed in ''Legacy of Lunatic Kingom'' in which the villains are way more in the darker side. You have the Lunarians attempting to kill humans so as to make a place for them to live while Junko, the game's FinalBoss is attempting to launch a full scale genocide against the Lunarians in her revenge. While the Lunarians are justifiably running away from death, Junko readily gives up her plan upon meeting the player, though this is due to [[PragmaticVillain realizing she would lose if they were to fight]] and in the Extra Stage, she readily puts an end to her own plans... until she can figure out how to destroy Lunarians without interference from the heroes. She is among the really evil characters in the franchise, though she at least has a sympathetic reason, namely, her son was killed by a Lunarian Goddess.
* ''VideoGame/{{Underrail}}'' is surprisingly quite a nobledark game: the setting is a bona-fide CrapsackWorld (a nuclear apocalypse rendered the Earth's surface uninhabitable, pushing the remnants of humanity into underground subway systems) and most people are either unhinged or just unsociable. But provided you have the right skills, you can resolve a lot of conflicts quite peacefully, and give most people a good ending.
* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' turns out to work this way, assuming that you're doing a PacifistRun. On that kind of playthrough, you're basically an AllLovingHero who [[BadassPacifist finds creative ways to end conflicts without a shred of blood]]. The RandomEncounters are just scared, and can all be placated non-lethally. Toriel just wants you to stay in the Ruins where you're safe, and tries her hardest to ''avoid'' killing you in her boss fight. Papyrus really does want to capture you to facilitate his long-delayed entry to the Royal Guard, but he's just too kind-hearted to follow through (which, incidentally, is why his entry to the Royal Guard ''is'' being delayed). Undyne refuses to accept your mercy, because she is either righteously angry over the monsters you've killed or simply determined to take your SOUL so the barrier can be destroyed, but even she can be made to relent (and if you don't kill anyone, even befriended). Mettaton genuinely does want to kill you, but only to ''prevent'' the barrier from being shattered, since step 2 in that plan has always been "destroy humanity", and if you overcome him, he decides you're strong enough to prevent it yourself. And Asgore, the creator of that plan, [[spoiler:did it in a fit of grief and ''very obviously'' doesn't want to go through with it now that his head is clearer]]. Even Flowey turns out to be a JerkassWoobie who is only an asshole [[spoiler:because he died long ago, CameBackWrong, and now literally has no SOUL. When he briefly regains one in the GoldenEnding, he shatters the barrier himself and apologizes for everything he did]]. The only unambiguously ''bad'' character is [[spoiler:The Fallen Child]], and even that's not completely certain, since it is implied in the GoldenEnding that they wanted to help the monsters of the Underground, but, through a FreudianExcuse, went about it in a less than merciful way, and it's only ''your'' action in a No Mercy route that drives them to become the GreaterScopeVillain and irredeemably evil.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': For the white, the protagonists are mostly clear-cut heroic, and remain so. For the grey, none of the world's major powers are depicted as wholly good or wholly evil, not even TheEmpire of Mor Ardain (which is set up as a typical evil empire at first, but it quickly turns out their worst actions were committed over dwindling resources, and were carried out behind the emperor's back), and the main villains, the Organization of Torna, turn out to have a FreudianExcuse for their actions. There are only three truly villainous characters in the main story, and among them Bana is LaughablyEvil, [[spoiler: Amalthus]] has a DarkAndTroubledPast and Malos [[spoiler: is only evil due to Amalthus' influence]].

* ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}''. Not counting everyone who drove Mai away in the past, the worst we have are the [[EldritchAbomination Demons]], who, despite their destructive behavior, mainly wanted to show Yuichi said past of Mai's and how they came to be, so that he can send a message to her that her constant battle with them can end as soon as she stops fighting. In general, everyone in the show is mostly good, even though a few of them (such as Makoto and Kuze) are {{Jerkass}}es in some way or another.

* Despite its [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 source material]] being a ''prime'' example of BlackAndGrayMorality, ''WebAnimation/IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice'' is firmly rooted in this trope. On the protagonist side, The Emperor may be a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold jerk but his goals are on the right track]] and he's [[WorldHalfFull actually improving]] the CrapsackWorld setting bit-by-bit (which is the point of the series anyways). In fact, there's room for a couple genuinely good (or at least decent-hearted) characters in the setting, such as The Custodian [[spoiler: and Vulkan, the latter who comes off as an AllLovingHero]]. The main antagonists are not the more monstrous villains of the setting, such as the Tyranids, but rather other citizens of the Imperium who do not accept its reformation out of genuine belief in its current values. Truly evil individuals do appear from time to time, like Asdruabel Vect or Lucius, but mostly serve as [[LaughablyEvil comic relief]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' plays with this. Overall, morality runs on GreyAndGrayMorality with occasional BlackAndGrayMorality. However, many characters are still portrayed as likable, sympathetic and human, even if their perceptions are eschew and their actions range from unpleasant to unforgivable.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' generally portrays things this way narrative wise. While Zordrak is as evil as they get, he is usually too petty and ineffectual to do anything himself, and his Urpney army mostly consist of [[MinionWithAnFInEvil sympathetic minions]] JustFollowingOrders. The Land of Dreams is generally portrayed as a SugarBowl (though their occasional fondness for [[DisproportionateRetribution Disportionate ]]/{{Misplaced Retribution}} may lean them more as ALighterShadeOfGrey).

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': When the Magus, Princess, and Tom arrive at Avalon, the Weird Sisters tell them to turn around because their king has decreed Avalon off limits. The Magus, Princess, and Tom are portrayed as being completely justified because their lives, and the lives of the unhatched gargoyles were in grave danger, but the Weird Sisters were obeying a lawful command and they never attacked anyone except the people who invaded their home. The only thing keeping it from being a case of GoodVsGood, is that the Weird Sisters are portrayed as manipulative, having no regard for mortal life, and team up with a CardCarryingVillain to attack the Avalon clan.

* ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChima'': On one end you've got the Lions whom are the paragons of good and keep the other tribes in line by distributing Chi, and the Eagles and Gorillas whom are kindly scholars and spiritualists but are quick to ally with the Lions. On the other end you've got the Crocs whom are lead by a prince being manipulated by his sister, the Ravens who are master con men, and the Wolves who are savage and will seize power if deemed necessary. The other tribes fall somewhere in between.

** Moments after the climax of the second episode, the goddess of darkness, who is effectively the BigBad of the ponies' entire mythology, runs crying into a hug with her sister and counterpart day goddess. Who [[EasilyForgiven instantly forgives her]]. Indeed, the worst villains in the first season were Gilda from "Griffon the Brush-Off" and the Great and Powerful Trixie from "Boast Busters", who were both realistic {{Jerkass}}es rather than deliberately kid-friendly villains, neither of which learned their lessons in their respective episodes. This changed with the season 2 premiere "The Return of Harmony", which featured as its antagonist Discord, a [[TheTrickster trouble-making]] RealityWarper with [[ForTheEvulz a cruel sense of humor]]. [[note]] But even Discord may be an example of this trope, if you interpret his behavior as BlueAndOrangeMorality. He eventually got [[HeelFaceTurn reformed]] in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E11KeepCalmAndFlutterOn Keep Calm and Flutter On]]". [[/note]] Some of the show's conflicts even border on GoodVersusGood, like the Dragon from Dragonshy, who was [[spoiler:just trying to sleep until Dash kicked him in the face]]. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] by the phenomenally dark [[EvilOverlord King Sombra]], [[SatanicArchetype Lord Tirek]] and later on, [[spoiler:[[EnfantTerrible Cozy Glow]]]].
** The episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E7Bats Bats!]]" from the same show sets up a conflict between Applejack and Fluttershy. Applejack is the grey morality, wanting to exterminate and/or drive off vampire fruit bats from her farm because it will destroy her crop and her livelihood. Fluttershy is the white morality, wanting to create a reserve on the farm for the fruit bats, arguing that the seeds the bats drop will eventually produce stronger, better apple trees. Applejack initially wins the argument, but events swing it back around to Fluttershy's side anyways.
** For a long time, a popular fan interpretation of Queen Chrysalis was that she was merely a WellIntentionedExtremist who only preyed on the ponies out of concern for her species' survival, and that if a better option was presented she would take it. [[spoiler:It eventually turns out to not be true; not only does she relish in making others suffer, but she's deliberately keeping her own people starving and forbidding them from attempting any peaceful resolutions, just so she can maintain her authority. When a far healthier method of survival presents itself, she rejects it because she refuses to admit defeat, and flees instead.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': On the "white" side, Phineas and Ferb are short on flaws, as are many of their friends. On the "gray" side, While Candace is often the antagonist, she's neither evil nor truly spiteful -- only impulsive and a bit high-strung, and has shown on occasion that she genuinely cares for her brothers. Buford is a card-carrying bully, but is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who is clearly friends with his "victims". Even the BigBad Doofenshmirtz is quite AffablyEvil, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loves his daughter dearly]], and is an absurdly FriendlyEnemy to Perry. His attempts to take over the ENTIRE! TRI-STATE! AREA! come across as more pretending to be evil to get attention than the evil acts of a power-mad lunatic. Suzy Johnson appeared to be a straight {{Jerkass}} in her first appearance, but later episodes revealed that she's a sweet girl whenever Jeremy's not around. The only really unpleasant recurring characters are Doofenshmirtz's parents in his tales of his HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood.

Near the very [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism idealistic]] end of the many ShadesOfConflict (only GoodVersusGood is more), a setting with White and Grey Morality features no truly ''evil'' characters, but ranges through a spectrum of [[TheCape squeaky-clean heroes]], [[KnightInSourArmor slightly more sarcastic heroes]], [[AntiHero borderline heroes]], {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s, and the occasional AntiVillain at worst. Conflict is generated either through misguided ideals or simple misunderstandings, so there is often an undercurrent of "if only people would sit down and talk to one another, they'd find they're NotSoDifferent after all".

-->'''Ambassador Dobrynin:''' [To RFK] You are a good man. Your brother is a good man. I assure you, [[NotSoDifferent there are other good men]]. Let us hope the will of good men is enough to stop the terrible strength of this thing that was put in motion.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Droners}} remains an optimistic children's show at its core, so characters range from heroes with flaws at best to rude or cynical jerks at worst, but nobody appears to be truly malevolent.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft the Alliance/Horde conflict is ''meant'' to be GrayAndGreyMorality, but sometimes comes across this way due to the Alliance being more superficially heroic, and the Horde having more evil-themed quests in general.

* ''Franchise/The DCU'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''ComicBook/DCUniverse'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''ComicBook/DCComics'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''ComicBook/DC Comics'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''ComicBook/TheDCU'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''ComicBook/The DCU'': Most of the heroes are straight up heroic and they do not commit morally questionable acts most of the time except ''ComicBook/Batman'' while most of the villains have redeeming qualities and sympathetic backstories.

* ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer'' and ''Manga/{{Chobits}}'' lack any really evil characters. There are lots of less pleasant individuals, like the cheaters in the former and the outright perverts in the later, but the closest things to villains in the storylines are concerned about victory like the protagonist or are interested in protecting other persocoms from the damage Chi could potentially cause.