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10[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_armyhammerbro.png]]]]
11[[caption-width-right:350:"[[SwappedRoles Sorry Princess, but your Mario is in another castle!]]"]]
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16->''"Look up there! It's a big, strong man in need of rescue!"''
17-->-- '''[[WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}} Rapunzel]]''', ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet''
18
19%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
20
21Meet the SpearCounterpart of the DamselInDistress. He's usually the sidekick to a butt-kicking ActionGirl, always getting himself captured for the female lead to save. This may also occur in shows featuring a male protagonist and even when the male protagonist is a total badass, they tend to get captured quite a bit, usually to demonstrate their awesome escape skills.
22
23Sometimes this trope is regarded as a product of twentieth-century feminism, but it's OlderThanTheyThink. When classifying fairy tales according to the [[https://bit.ly/3vsibUr ATU Index]], one distinguishing mark of several types of tales is that a man (or men) is rescued -- generally by the heroine. While ''he'' is generally her {{Love Interest|s}}, ''they'' are generally her brothers.
24%% It would be nice to have some examples here.
25
26Compared to the DamselInDistress, the Distressed Dude is somewhat more likely to save himself in the end or to be saved by someone of the same sex. If he is saved by a woman, she is likely to use her [[WomenAreDelicate traditional, feminine strengths]] rather than a [[ActionGirl more direct approach]]. When the Distressed Dude ''is'' rescued by an ActionGirl, it's not uncommon for him (or for another character) to describe this as an injury to his masculinity. If he's in a [[ActionGirlfriend relationship]] with the ActionGirl, he may be a UselessBoyfriend. This may be PlayedForLaughs, though sometimes the Distressed Dude will learn AnAesop instead.
27
28The dude may have picked up the DistressBall. If he was a badass before getting kidnapped, he may suffer BadassDecay, but if he continues to kick ass after being freed, he's a BadassInDistress. Compare NonActionGuy.
29
30----
31!!Examples:
32[[index]]
33* [[DistressedDude/AnimeAndManga Anime & Manga]]
34* [[DistressedDude/FilmsLiveAction Films — Live-Action]]
35* DistressedDude/{{Literature}}
36* DistressedDude/LiveActionTV
37* DistressedDude/VideoGames
38* DistressedDude/WesternAnimation
39[[/index]]
40
41[[foldercontrol]]
42
43[[folder:Ballads]]
44* In the Literature/{{Child Ballad|s}} "Literature/TamLin" (Child #39), Fair Janet rescues Tam Lin from TheFairFolk.
45* In the Child Ballad "Literature/TheLordOfLornAndTheFalseSteward", the young lord saves his life by promising to never tell that his servant robbed him; the servant turns him into a servant until the daughter of a local lord figures out how to get the story out of him. (GenderFlip version of the DamselInDistress in ''Literature/TheGooseGirl'').
46* In the Child Ballad "Geordie" (Child #209), a woman pleads for her husband Geordie who is condemned to hang, convincing the King to commute the sentence to a fine. In the Scottish version sung by Maddy Prior and June Tabor (as the Silly Sisters), she doesn't merely plead-- she brings all the fighting men of Clan Gordon ready for action, to make sure the King listens. In Joan Baez's version, presumably related to others called "The Death of Geordie", her plea fails. See also http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ballads/C209.html
47* There are versions of Child Ballad #95, "The Maid Freed from the Gallows", where the condemned is male, ransomed by his female lover.
48* In the Literature/{{Child Ballad|s}} ''Literature/YoungBeichan'', the hero is imprisoned and must be saved by the heroine.
49[[/folder]]
50
51[[folder:Comic Books]]
52* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'':
53** Getafix the druid is sometimes captured by the Romans or Goths because they want his SuperSerum potion.
54** Cacofonix gets captured by the Romans a few times and gets BoundAndGagged at the end of most stories. In most cases, the kidnappers want to give him back.
55* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
56** Dick Grayson used to get captured and tied up a lot during his old ComicBook/{{Robin}} days, in order to play the {{sidekick}} in danger and get rescued by Franchise/{{Batman}}. Now, as ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, this has evolved into a tendency to end up bound and [[ShirtlessScene stripped down to his underpants]] by the villain. [[{{Fanservice}} Not that we're complaining]].
57** Lampshaded in ''The Dark Knight Returns'' comic when Joker refers to "Robin, the Boy Hostage".
58** Hey, Dick isn't the only one who gets tied up. [[spoiler:Even [[http://i44.tinypic.com/vhb6rq.jpg Batman]] gets it sometimes.]]
59** Bernard Dowd was kidnapped and tied up by villains and needing rescue twice within a short time of becoming Tim's love interest, once in ''ComicBook/BatmanUrbanLegends'' and again in ''ComicBook/TimDrakeRobin''. Even before that he was grabbed and menaced by a villain looking for Tim back in the pages of ''ComicBook/Robin1993'' but he was able to talk his way out of that one with the only real casualty being his car and a few bruises.
60* A common premise for pre-Crisis stories featuring ComicBook/BlackCanary was her saving her love interest (and eventual husband) Larry.
61* Comicbook/BlakeAndMortimer: Professor Philip Mortimer usually investigates alone and tends to get captured when he's trapped and outnumbered, leading his best friend, Captain Francis Blake to rescue him. Though there are a few cases when Blake also gets captured and Mortimer is the one who rescues him.
62* ComicBook/GreenLantern has been full of this since the dawn of time, but special mention goes to the New 52 run that, thus far, has been chock full of our two leads getting captured (by the Sinestro Corps, Indigo Tribe...).
63* ''ComicBook/GroupOf7AMostSecretTale'': In Issue #3, Frederick Banting is captured by enemy soldiers and [[spoiler:taken to a top secret laboratory, where he's to be made to help the Germans perfect their new SuperSoldier formula]].
64* ''ComicBook/RickAndMortyOni'': Both Rick and Morty become this sometimes:
65** Morty is the more common target since Rick's enemies often try to use Morty against him. Most notably, he gets taken hostage at gunpoint in Issues 9 and 39, and is outright kidnapped in Issues 18 and 57.
66** Rick gets captured by Dictator Morty of Dimension 304-X, and by his former employees of his dinosaur park, requiring his grandkids to save him both times.
67* In the climax of one issue of ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', Chase is captured and held at knifepoint by [[spoiler:Geoffrey Wilder]], while trying to see if Nico and Xavin escaped from the burning planetarium. He's rescued by Gertrude. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, Geoffrey decides to just kill Gert instead, making it a HeroicSacrifice on her part.]]
68* ''ComicBook/SamiTheSamuraiSquirrel'': In one story, [[WhiteBunny Doug]] is kidnapped by pirates.
69* Bob Reynolds, the boyfriend of ''ComicBook/SheenaQueenOfTheJungle'', spent most of his time having to be rescued by Sheena.
70* Pick an issue of Will Eisner's ''ComicBook/TheSpirit''. Any issue.
71* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
72** Wonder Woman's traditional boyfriend the AcePilot ComicBook/SteveTrevor tends to get into quite a fair share of trouble. His competence level varies from bumbling idiot, to experienced soldier, to commando superspy badass enough to be part of the ComicBook/JusticeLeague, DependingOnTheWriter. His tendency to need rescuing, though, is pretty constant.
73** A more recent (''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'') boyfriend, Tom Tresser a.k.a. Nemesis, is generally portrayed as more competent, if not outright badass. But he's still not in WW's league, and thus still needs saving on occasion. The first time Diana rescued him he was actually disguised as Steve Trevor.
74** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Ronno the Mer-Boy in the Silver Age comics also qualifies, partly due to him always putting himself in harm's way just to impress Diana, and partly because, being a merman, he is pretty much helpless on land. He is especially ticked when he's rescued by Steve Trevor, despite Steve being an AcePilot superspy.
75** In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' Diana had to team up with Ares to save Hermes from Hades after Hades and Poseidon reacted poorly to Athena usurping Zeus' throne and strung up the messenger of the gods in Tartarus.
76** A different version of Steve finds himself in the same old boat in ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016''. He was dragged to Themyscira to become a HumanSacrifice for Ares' plot and was injured and essentially helpless and in need of rescue for the duration of his stay.
77* ''ComicBook/XFactor'': Rictor's first appearance in comics consisted of his being saved from the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Right]], who'd kidnapped him in order to use his powers to wreak havoc on San Francisco. Since then, in his two stints in X-Factor and his time in X-Force, he's often the go-to guy to be kidnapped.
78* ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'': Yorick Brown frequently needs to be rescued by 355. And in the "Safeword" arc, the bondage gets... rather literal. He's also a trained EscapeArtist, so he can free himself at least some of the time.
79[[/folder]]
80
81[[folder:Comic Strips]]
82* ''ComicStrip/MarkTrail'': Rusty's designated role, constantly getting kidnapped or trapped.
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
86* "The Search for the Lost Husband" (ATU 425): The heroine [[ForbiddenFruit breaks a prohibition]] and her husband is lost to magic. She must track him down and rescue him. Tales of this type include:
87** ''Myth/CupidAndPsyche'' - considered to be the oldest attestation of the tale type
88** "Literature/EastOfTheSunAndWestOfTheMoon"
89** "Literature/{{Pintosmalto}}"
90** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/norroway.html The Black Bull of Norroway]]"
91** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/enchpig.html The Enchanted Pig]]"
92** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/brownbear.html The Brown Bear of Norway]]"
93** "[[http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/texts/goldnuts.htm The Three Gold Nuts]]"
94** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/whitewolf.html The White Wolf]]"
95** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/beautybeast/stories/lark.html The Singing, Springing Lark]]"
96** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/sprigrosemary.html The Sprig of Rosemary]]"
97** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/eastsunwestmoon/stories/daughterskies.html The Daughter of the Skies]]"
98** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2198/2198-h/2198-h.htm#chap28 The Golden Root]]'' (Italy)
99** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/23634/pg23634-images.html#Page_1 The King of Love]]'' (Italy)
100** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/58816/58816-h/58816-h.htm#ch7 The Snake's Bride]]'' (India)
101** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/64807/pg64807-images.html#THE_HORSE-DEVIL_AND_THE_WITCH The Horse-Devil and the Witch]]'' (Turkey)
102** ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/044.htm The Golden Crab]]'' (Greece)
103** ''[[https://www.surlalunefairytales.com/book.php?id=109&tale=3965 The Ruby Prince]]'' (Punjab)
104** ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/347.htm The Snake Prince]]'' (Punjab, India)
105** ''[[https://chwb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CHwB_SyriskAntologi_eng_low.pdf The Bewitched Camel]]'' (Syria)
106** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/40402/pg40402-images.html#t7 The White Bird and His Wife]]'' (East Asian)
107* "The Girl Helps the Hero Flee" or "Magic Flight" (ATU 313): a hero falls under the villain's power. The heroine, often the villain's daughter, tells him how to escape the impossible tasks, or performs the magic to allow his escape, and usually both. Afterward, he often [[LaserGuidedAmnesia loses his memory of her]] and she must disenchant him.
108** ''Literature/TheWhiteDove'': the prince falls into a witch's power.
109** "[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/075.htm The Grateful Prince]]"
110** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/jacobs/celtic/battleofbirds.html The Battle of the Birds]]"
111** "Literature/SnowWhiteFireRed"
112** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/asbjornsenmoe/mastermaid.html The Mastermaid]]"
113* "Literature/KateCrackernuts" saves a prince from TheFairFolk.
114* In "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimms/186truesweetheart.html The True Sweetheart]]", the heroine must find the prince, who has been enchanted into forgetting her, and break the spell.
115* "The Brothers As Birds" (ATU 451): the heroine's brothers have been [[ForcedTransformation turned into birds]], and she must rescue them. This can range from [[TheQuest a quest]] to making magical shirts to disenchant them, remaining silent the whole time.
116** "Literature/TheSixSwans"
117** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/sevendoves.html The Seven Doves]]"
118** "Literature/TheSevenRavens"
119** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/twelvebrothers.html The Twelve Brothers]]"
120** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/sister7.html The Sister and Her Seven Brothers]]"
121** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sixswans/stories/twelvewilducks.html The Twelve Wild Ducks]]"
122* "The Three Golden Children", or, previously, "The Three Golden Sons" (ATU 707): a woman gives birth to children with marvellous qualities and appearances, but someone casts them in the water to die.
123** European redaction (mostly Western European): After they have been abandoned and grew up, the heroine's brothers are turned to stone. She must follow them to restore them.
124*** "Literature/TheDancingWaterTheSingingAppleAndTheSpeakingBird"
125*** "Literature/PrincessBelleEtoile"
126*** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimms/96threelittlebirds.html The Three Little Birds]]"
127*** "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/facetiousnights/night4_fable3.html Ancilotto, King of Provino]]"
128** East Slavic redaction (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine), Baltic (Lithuania and Latvia) and Finnic (Estonia and Finland): the woman and one of her sons are abandoned in the sea in a barrel, but they survive and establish themselves on an island. The boy then goes to rescue his missing elder brothers (cf. ''Literature/TheTaleOfTsarSaltan'').
129*** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19438/19438-h/19438-h.htm#Page2_9 The Prince who rescued his Brothers]]'' (Estonia).
130* "The Prince as Bird" (ATU 432): the heroine is visited by a secret lover in the shape of a bird (or he teleports to her room by the use of a fan, in South Asia). Her elder sisters learn of the clandestine meetings and plan to hurt her lover by placing knives, needles or glass in the window. Their plan works, and he vanishes. The heroine, then, goes after him, finds a remedy and cures him.
131** In ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2198/pg2198-images.html#chap11 The Three Sisters]]'', from ''The Pentamerone'', Nella's sister summons Nella's secret lover upon a crystal road, but breaks it on him, injuring the prince. Nella then goes after him in order to find him a cure (which is ogres' body fat).
132** ''Literature/TheFeatherOfFinistTheFalcon'': Finist is wounded by the sisters' knives.
133** ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/335.htm Kupti and Imani]]'' (India).
134** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/31209/pg31209-images.html#Page_193 The Fan Prince]]'' (India).
135** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/58816/58816-h/58816-h.htm#ch8 The Power of Fate]]'' (India).
136** ''[[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46944/46944-h/46944-h.htm#t6 The Bride of the Fountain]]'' (Armenia) - the heroine's lover flies to her window in the shape of a patridge, but hurts himself in razors her sisters nailed to the window.
137* In "Literature/TheDeathOfKoscheiTheDeathless", Koschei chops Prince Ivan into little pieces, throws them into a barrel, and throws the barrel into the sea. His brothers-in-law must retrieve the barrel and fetch the Water of Death to put him back together and the Water of Life to revive him.
138* Creator/HansChristianAndersen's "Literature/TheSnowQueen": Kay is rescued by Gerda, who, before she finds him, obtains some features of an ActionGirl.
139** [[Literature/TheSevenBasicPlots Christopher Booker]] goes into great detail on the symbolism behind his bondage, and the symbolism inherent in the heroine coming to free him.
140** In "The Wild Swans", Princess Eliza does the same (though in the non-action way) to her brothers, transformed into wild swans by their stepmother.
141* Hansel from "Literature/HanselAndGretel" is put in a cage [[ImAHumanitarian to be fattened]], and it is up to his sister Gretel to kill the witch and rescue him.
142* In "Literature/TheNixInTheMillPond", the huntsman is captured by a wicked but powerful water sprite and must be rescued by his wife.
143[[/folder]]
144
145[[folder:Fan Works]]
146!! Fandoms
147* A 30-year RunningGag in ''Series/BlakesSeven'' fandom states that there are only two types of Avon fanfic; [[SlashFic slash]] and trash. "Trash" being an example of this trope.
148* Very popular in the ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' fandom. The amount of fics where Wash, Mal and/or Jayne are captured either by Niska or the Alliance and need to be rescued could probably fill a page of its own.
149* This crops up quite a lot in ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfiction. They tend to fall into one of two camps:
150** The nations are discovered by the public at large or some shady organization and are abducted and imprisoned. This usually leads to some sort of experimentation on them.
151** One or more of the nations kidnaps another or several nations and holds them hostage, usually for some dark and disturbing purposes. This can be used to represent historic events, like an occupation or invasion. ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2468569/BeatriceTheGolden Beatrice The Golden]]'' (NSFW, no longer active) has written some of the more graphic ones, including ''Debt'' and ''MyLittleChicken''.
152* How much ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' fanfiction has either Aragorn or Legolas in danger, kidnapped, tortured, or out of commission so the other has to rescue him? Answer: lots.
153* At the moment, Bucky/[[spoiler:the Winter Soldier]] is probably the most popular Distressed Dude in Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse fanworks, but people are also fond of beating up on Tony, Clint, and Loki.
154* Beating up on Luke and Han is popular in ''{{Franchise/StarWars}}'' and has been popular long before Disney took over. Add in newer characters like Finn and Poe and the pile gets bigger.
155* The [[Website/ChannelAwesome TGWTG]] fandom has been making the Critic the Distressed Dude ''long'' before he got captured canonically. Mostly justified, seeing as how the fics usually also have [[WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses Ask That Guy]] in power and that usually means no happy fun times for the Critic. But other times it's just because he's so very pretty when suffering.
156* Many ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'' fanfics involve Lightning Mcqueen being put in some form of danger with either Sally, Mater, someone from the Radiator Springs gang, or even Chick Hicks having to save him. One example is ''Fanfic/ThreeDays'', where Lightning and the King are kidnapped in the very first chapter and spend a majority of the fic as hostages (although they do [[DefiantCaptive try to escape and give their captors a little snark when they can]]).
157* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has a ton simply by having so many male characters. True they all have superpowers, but writers find ways around it. By virtue of being leads, Midoriya, Bakugo and/or Todoroki are the most common targets, but there are also enough “Aizawa gets captured and Present Mic and/or Hitoshi save him” fics to fill a page. Present Mic and All Might aren’t immune either.
158
159!! Individual Fics
160[[AC:''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'']]
161* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/348456/ Chrysalis]]'': Niko was the only one who managed to escape the SupervillainLair -- meaning she had ''three'' Distressed Dudes to rescue on a return trip.
162
163[[AC:''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'']]
164* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6060732/1/West-of-the-Moon-East-of-the-Sun West of the Moon, East of the Sun]]'' (a loose adaptation of both the famous Norwegian fairytale and the Greek myth "Myth/CupidAndPsyche") Spike is captured by the BigBad and held captive in another dimension. Buffy has to go and rescue him.
165
166[[AC:''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'']]
167* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'':
168** Calvin's father ([[DamselInDistress and mother]]) in "The Return of Dr. Brainstorm", though they were asleep the whole time.
169** Calvin and Hobbes get stuck in a BagOfKidnapping in "An MTM Episode".
170** Socrates tends to get kidnapped a lot - he's held for ransom by Dr. Brainstorm twice (though Calvin shows little concern) and the SuperSmoke being in "Nocturnals" says that a returning character is after him, to his surprise.
171
172[[AC:Crossovers]]
173* * ''Fanfic/TheLastSeidr'': Someone gets stabbed, someone gets brainwashed, someone gets kidnapped, and all of these people are dudes.
174
175[[AC:Disney]]
176* In ''Fanfic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'', the Disney Villains capture all of the princes except for Charming at one point.
177
178[[AC:''Franchise/DoctorWho'']]
179* Parodied in this [[http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=22384 adult but fairly cracky]] fic. The Doctor's tendency to get tied up, handcuffed, etc by the villain of the week means bondage no longer does anything for him.
180
181[[AC:''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' / ''Franchise/KingKong'' / Franchise/MonsterVerse]]
182* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': In this Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction, there are a few times when it's Vivienne Graham who has to protect and save [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonMonsterX San]], instead of vice versa as in the beginning: helping bring San out of a HeroicBSOD, and saving him from being permanently killed by [[spoiler:[=MaNi=]/Elder Brother]].
183
184* Anthony Darrow ([[GenderFlip male Ann Darrow]]) in the ''Film/KingKong2005'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13613007/1/More-Than-a-Monster More Than a Monster]]'', after being taken by Kong. [[AdaptationNameChange Jacklyn Drissel]] (female Jack Driscoll) leads the sailors to rescue him.
185
186[[AC:''Literature/GoodOmens'']]
187* The fandom seems to have a thing for Aziraphale being dragged into Hell for some torture scenes with the option of making Aziraphale Fall. This got parodied in ''FanFic/ManchesterLost'', where [[FanDisservice Poor Aziraphale got it so bad]] [[GoryDiscretionShot we only got to see what was going through his head]] [[ColdBloodedTorture as Lucifer tore off his wings]], which was an incredibly fluffy flashback.
188
189[[AC:''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'']]
190* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': Between being beaten, [[AttemptedRape nearly being raped]], and being bullied all in the same night, Italy sure is this.
191
192[[AC: ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'']]
193* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13925152/1/Space-Jam-2-Across-The-Serververse Space Jam 2 Across The Serververse]]'': [[spoiler: Elmer Fudd]], in a state of suspended animation, is trapped in a glass box hanging from a ceiling, as part of Al-G’s incentive for the other Tunes to [[spoiler: participate in his series of three challenges in Chapter 24]].
194
195[[AC:''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'']]
196* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9350060/1/Pip-napped Pip-napped!]]'': Pippin is kidnapped by a former innkeeper and his accomplice. Since the story is set AFTER the War of the Ring, and his kidnappers are nowhere near as dangerous as Orcs, it takes no time at all for Pippin to free himself and turn the tables on his captors.
197
198[[AC:Franchise/MegaMan]]
199* In ''Fanfic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', Mega Man is captured for the latter half of Episode 13, and Roll, [[spoiler:[=ProtoMan=]]], and Kalinka set out to rescue him. Tron Bonne also tags along, unbeknownst to the other characters.
200
201[[AC:''Series/Numb3rs'']]
202* ''Fanfic/{{The Best Laid Plans|Debbie418uk}}'': Charlie is briefly this when Mark Breshers, who is the real killer of his father, Philip Breshers, tries to steal the vehicle Charlie is in before holding him hostage before Don is able to talk him down.
203* ''Fanfic/{{Yield}}'': Happens to Charlie when he is shot at when he and the team are on horseback trying to retrace the victim's shooter's tracks and gets a shot in the arm and a concussion as a result.
204
205[[AC:''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'']]
206* In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', Ash has been kidnapped twice, though in both cases he was taken off-guard. The first time, he was attacked while on the road and taken captive by Hunter J, though he manages to (barely) [[NoEscapeButDown escape from her ship on his own]]. The second, he was forcibly teleported to the Saffron Gym by Sabrina. He managed to hold his own until his female companions [[spoiler: and his recently found half-sister Belladonna]] managed to get there and get him out.
207
208[[AC:''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'']]
209* In the original ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', Sonic rescued Amy from Metal Sonic. In ''Blog/AlwaysHavingJuice'', though, Rosy is the one who rescues Sonic from his doppelganger.
210
211[[AC:''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'']]
212* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13041974/1/Sailor-John-A-Pirate-s-Vendetta Sailor John: A Pirate's Vendetta]]'', [[WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends the Fat Controller and Skiff]] are among those kidnapped by Sailor John and his henchmen.
213* In Chapter 13 of ''Fanfic/ThomasAndEmilysRelationship'', Thomas is kidnapped by 'Arry and Bert, who want to melt him down in revenge for getting them buried in an avalanche. Luckily, Rosie, Emily, the Fat Controller and the Sodor police manage to rescue him in time.
214
215[[AC:''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'']]
216* In ''Fanfic/TurtleKittens'', August O'Neil is this by virtue of being a version of April O'Neil, being targeted by the Kraang for his DNA.
217
218[[AC:''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'']]
219* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/30195933/chapters/74401440 Run to You]]'', [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Starscream]] is kidnapped by the DJD.
220
221[[AC:''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'']]
222* [[spoiler: R!]]Syaoran in ''Fanfic/{{Shatterheart}}'' when he is kidnapped and later tortured by {{Serial Killer}}s during an outing with Fai.
223
224[[AC:''Franchise/YuGiOh'']]
225* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
226** Many jokes are made about Mokuba Kaiba's frequent kidnappings.
227--->Mokuba was supposed to be there with me, but he had been kidnapped for the fiftieth time that week so his seat was empty.
228** Creator/LittleKuriboh even saw fit to put together a '''''montage''''' of a few scenes in which he was kidnapped.
229--->'''Kaiba:''' ''[thinking]'' Hmm. Perhaps I should consider keeping him on a leash.
230
231[[AC:Dormant/Dead/Unsorted]]
232* In the ''Fanfic/AvantasiaProtagAU'' series, Gabriel is more often than not a gender-flipped classic DamselInDistress, although sometimes managing to save himself from evil with holy water or salt from his Catholic toolkit. On the other hand, the trope is zig-zagged with Entity, who often cries when in distress or freezes in fear even though he's usually physically capable of escape due to his strength and supernatural traits. Eventually when his fear reaches a certain level he forgets he thinks he can't and just blindly runs away or fights. Sometimes he ends up rescuing his [[FamilyOfChoice family]] at the last moment after they exhaust their own attempts to escape while he's not trying.
233* [[Fanfic/DeliverUsFromEvilSeries Mortality]] Holmes is definitely this. Culverton Smith [[ColdBloodedTorture tortures him with an inch of his LIFE]] and [[TooDumbToLive gloats over him while he's dying.]] Good thing [[BigBrotherInstinct Watson helps him out.]] Who knows where he'd be without him. Probably dead by now.
234** The captured criminal reveals playing in what happened to him-[[VillainsWantMercy while begging for mercy.]] Unfortunately, [[DeadlyDoctor Watson doesn't give any.]]
235* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' has [[TheMedic Snyder]], an acolyte of the Light that tends to get captured by the forces of good every time he goes on his own. And it's always up to [[ADungeonIsYou Keeper]] [[Manga/SailorMoon Mercury]] to save him somehow.
236* In the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' fanfic, [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7435466/1/Touch_and_Go Touch and Go]] [[spoiler:Balthier gets kidnapped, and almost succeeds in freeing himself.]]
237* Joey Wheeler in ''Fanfic/UltimateReImaginings'', though he manages to get himself out of the ''immediate'' danger only; any outside forces he's still gotta get saved from. Like dying from smoke inhalation, being beaten up, being beaten up ''again'', being trapped in a dream world, etc...
238* Prince Cor, the {{deuteragonist}} of ''Fanfic/TheFledglingYear'', is usually quite capable and as badass as anyone, but when he is [[spoiler:kidnapped and MadeASlave]], Aravis has to go into SilkHidingSteel mode and pull TheInfiltration to rescue him.
239* Syaoran in ''Fanfic/ReversalOfFate'' by virtue of being the one whose feathers were taken.
240* ''Fanfic/FireEmblemRekkaNoKenAStoryRetold'': On two occasions, Michael[[note]]the Tactician[[/note]] is captured by the group's enemies and has to be saved by Lyn. After the second incident, he starts taking fighting lessons from Lyn to avoid any future hostage situations.
241* [[Creator/DetsniyOffSkiword Kid Icarus Uprising 2: Hades Revenge]] subverts this when [[DeathIsCheap Pit dies for the first time]]. At first, it seems that [[FreudianSlip The Rapers]] kidnapped him, and are intending to make him BrainwashedAndCrazy, but it's later revealed to be [[RonTheDeathEater Pit2]] in disguise.
242* In ''Fanfic/LifeOreDeath'' one member of the Injustice League escapes and attempts to redeem himself by taking a [[ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} 14-year-old boy hostage]] to get to his father, and half the Team is on hand to help. [[spoiler: Joseph still gets his throat cut, but his powers come from Miss Martian's flesh, and he joins the Team.]]
243* The plot of ''Fanfic/CoventinasCrown'' starts when Morain's brother Errol is kidnapped.
244%% * This happened 3 times in Gunner's Genocide, the first victim was Lucario, he was kidnapped because Gunner does not want him to notice she is the murderer, then in Chapter 6, Greninja was Captured, he starts a battle with Gunner and failed and Cloud was Hidden away in Chapter 12, Gunner did not tie him in rope but to chain Cloud to the wall because he is stronger than Lucario and Greninja.
245* In ''Fanfic/MarcBeingInAGangRights'', Nathaniel has been threatened by Marc's gang at knife-point, kidnapped to be helped for ransom, kidnapped by a villain, and is almost mugged, coincidentally by the same gang that kidnapped him.
246[[/folder]]
247
248[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
249* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'': Flik twice during the climax. First about to be squished by Hopper and then almost flown away/kidnapped (again by Hopper). Princess Atta to the rescue on both occasions.
250* ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' has no less than ''three'' men who are in need of rescuing by a woman. Who are they? The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, to be saved by Dorothy Gale.
251* While Princess Aurora/Briar Rose is indeed the [[DamselInDistress Distressed Damsel]] in Creator/WaltDisney's ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', her boyfriend Prince Phillip ''does'' spend a while as a Distressed Dude when Maleficent captures and chains him to keep the guy from giving Aurora the TrueLovesKiss required to break her ConvenientComa and also save the three monarchs and the whole realm from their slumber, being, of course, Aurora’s parents (King Stefan and Queen Leah) and Phillip’s father (King Hubert). The Fairies have to break him out ''and'' give him the weapons he needed to win his fight.
252* Since Luigi from ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' spends a while in the middle of the movie being captured and imprisoned by Bowser, this is what drives [[BigBrotherInstinct Mario]] and Peach through the middle of the movie until the beginning of the climax.
253* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', Rapunzel's interventions did save Flynn on a few occasions, most notably during the Snuggly Duckling scene. That said, he is able to hold his ground against the palace guards, and he kind of repaid the favor by [[spoiler: performing a Heroic Sacrifice, thereby freeing Rapunzel from Gothel.]]
254** In the animated series, he's still a badass, but Rapunzel has also TakenALevelInBadass. Notably there's never any insulting of his masculinity; he usually just swoons and/ or brags about his badass girlfriend before getting back in the action.
255* Thanks in no small part to his injured arm and the [[MoreThanMindControl arguments of his fellow "captives,"]] Woody is this for most of ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2''.
256* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Ming interrupts 4*Town's concert while they’re attached to harnesses and they spend most of her rampage helplessly dangling in the air as a result.
257* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'': At the end of the movie, Vanellope saves Ralph from what would have been a HeroicSacrifice.
258** ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet'' does it again, with the Disney Princesses teaming up to save Ralph from falling to his doom near the end of the movie.
259[[/folder]]
260
261[[folder:Manhwa]]
262* Minwoo from ''Manhwa/MetalHeart'' gets kidnapped by Nova in order to use him as bait for Sia.
263[[/folder]]
264
265[[folder:Music Videos]]
266* The video of the Brandon Flowers song - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhU12zC8fc Crossfire]] has the guy repeatedly rescued from ninjas by the female leader.
267** In all fairness, most guys would probably be willing to be captured over and over if Charlize Theron is the one rescuing them.
268* Music/MyBrightestDiamond's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB-FLxglSOA Inside a Boy]]" depicts a girl rescuing her boyfriend from a dungeon and slaying monsters along the way.
269* The Presidents Of The USA song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwSOjoHFLn4 Ladybug]]", depicts a super-heroine ladybug rescuing her boyfriend from an evil centipede.
270* The music video for Miike Snow's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_SlAzsXa7E Genghis Khan]]" has the hero captured and tied to a table a la James Bond.
271* The music video for Music/ImagineDragons' [[https://youtu.be/ktvTqknDobU "Radioactive"]] puts the entire band in this situation, as they've been captured by the leader of an underground stuffed animal fighting ring [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer (yes, really)]] and stuck in a dungeon underneath the arena. Creator/AlexandraDaddario ends up rescuing them after taking down the leader and his champion.
272* The music video for Music/{{Bastille}}'s "Laura Palmer" involves the frontman Dan Smith being kidnapped by two masked men and a masked woman riding ATV's. They bind him with duct tape and put a bag over his head, torturing him by shouting into a megaphone right next to his ear, placing a tarantula on his face, and hitting him over the head with a bottle.
273[[/folder]]
274
275[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
276* OlderThanDirt: In what may be the first recorded example of this trope, a central point of Ancient Egyptian religion is the rescue of Osiris by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis#Sister-wife_to_Osiris Isis]], after he's killed by his brother Set.
277* Myth/ClassicalMythology: Prometheus, rescued by Hercules -- eventually. This has featured in literature from ''Theatre/PrometheusBound'' (attributed to Creator/{{Aeschylus}}) to Percy Shelley's ''Prometheus Unbound''.
278* Stavr Godinovich from Myth/{{Russian Mythology|AndTales}}, a wealthy merchant and a bard. He offends [[UsefulNotes/KievanRus Prince Vladimir's]] court when he boasts that his wife is smarter than the Prince and all his nobles combined. Vladimir throws Stavr into a dungeon... and guess what, Stavr's wife soon tricks him back to freedom, outwitting Vladimir and all his nobles.
279[[/folder]]
280
281[[folder:Pinball]]
282* In ''Pinball/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesStern'', the mode "Team Up" involves rescuing three of the four turtles (whichever ones you're not playing as) from the Shredder.
283[[/folder]]
284
285[[folder:Podcasts]]
286* Lucas Miller of ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' spends most of ''The Crystal Kingdom'' [[spoiler: waiting for the Tres Horny Boys to save him, and bleeds out through most of the arc's final battle.]]
287* In the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' game ''Here We Gooooo!'', the last hero of the Soda Pop Kingdom gets captured while trying to free the Grape Escape factory, and the party has to free him. When they ask Princess Caramel Seltzer about him, she admits that she's aware of him and that he's actually not that great at being a hero.
288* In ''Podcast/TrialsAndTrebuchets'', the party's mentor Artis frequently finds himself in need of rescue from situations such as being imprisoned in Patter, being stuck in [[spoiler:the top of the Spire Nebulosis as it collapses]], and even [[spoiler:having his soul trapped in a pebble]].
289[[/folder]]
290
291[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
292* After Wrestling/PaulHeyman lost his job as general manager of Wrestling/WWESmackdown, he tried to maintain his power in the company by having Wrestling/TheDudleyBoys kidnap Wrestling/PaulBearer, hoping that in doing so they could control Wrestling/TheUndertaker, who had just returned to his zombie [[TheGimmick gimmick]].
293* On one edition of Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact, Wrestling/SamoaJoe was jumped by masked men in black while in the parking lot and loaded into a van, which sped away. Kidnapped by ninjas [[MemeticMutation became a meme]] after the commentators innocuously pointed out Joe wasn't returning anyone's calls in the following weeks.
294* BJ Whitmer was captured and tortured by the Wrestling/{{CZW}} roster during the promotion's war against Wrestling/RingOfHonor.
295* Wrestling/JimmyJacobs hired many masked men to kidnap Wrestling/TylerBlack in his final effort to continue The Age Of The Fall. This ended up being the end of The Age Of The Fall when Wrestling/KevinSteen, Wrestling/ElGenerico, and [[Wrestling/HunterJohnston Delirious]] came out to stop him.
296* During a most surreal Raw segment, Wrestling/CMPunk ordered his {{straight edge|evil}} cohorts Luke Gallows and Serena Deeb out into the audience in order to capture Jared Fogal, Subway Sandwich spokesman, to force him into the {{cult}} after Fogal politely declined.
297* In their effort to take over TNA, Wrestling/{{Aces And Eights|Wrestlers}} once loaded Wrestling/KurtAngle unto the back of a pickup truck, though he got away on his own.
298* Wrestling/JamesStorm and Seiya Sanada once kidnapped Manik straight from the Impact Zone, then took him to a shed in the backwoods in order to {{brainwash|ing}} him.
299* Seth Rollins once put retired wrestler Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} atop cinder blocks on Wrestling/WWERaw and threatened to kill him unless Wrestling/TheAuthority were reinstated.[[/folder]]
300
301[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
302* In something of a reaction to the kind of pulp science fiction ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' tries to reconstruct, there are an almost disproportionate number of distressed dudes in the published adventures.
303[[/folder]]
304
305[[folder:Theatre]]
306* The ''Theatre/MrsHawking'' series: In part V: ''Mrs. Frost,'' Nathaniel is taken captive by the villain, and an all-female team of heroes works together to save him.
307[[/folder]]
308
309[[folder:Visual Novels]]
310* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
311** Phoenix Wright is no slouch in this department. Accused of murder in 1-2 for daring to question the resident CorruptCorporateExecutive, stricken with amnesia in 2-1, then the defendant for Mia to rescue in 3-1. He and Maya share the distress spot in 1-3 when Dee Vasquez nearly rubs them out, [[BigDamnHeroes Gumshoe arrives just in time to save both their hides]].
312** In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'', this happens twice. Once when Edgeworth is "arrested" for supposedly murdering another passenger on a first-class transcontinental flight and once when [[spoiler:Edgeworth goes to deliver some ransom money to some kidnappers and gets taken hostage himself]]. Both times he ends up with his hands either tied or handcuffed behind his back, and he has to talk to other people into setting him free.
313** Poor, ''poor'' [[spoiler:Sebastian Debeste]] from ''Investigations 2''. Getting kidnapped ([[AccidentalKidnapping accidentally, at that]]) was just the icing on the cake to a [[BreakTheCutie severely]] [[HeroicBSOD traumatizing]] day for him. Kay and Edgeworth free him after finding him BoundAndGagged in a small, dark room while looking for ''another'' kidnapping victim, and by this point, he's become so emotionally fragile from the experience that the ensuing Logic Chess sequence is the most difficult one in the game.
314* [[spoiler:Shane]] from ''VisualNovel/AsagaoAcademyNormalBootsClub'' claims to have been one at one time.
315* In ''VisualNovel/War13thDay'', Brooks charges after Chase with a spear. He refuses to fight back because she's the best friend of his lover. He ends up pinned down and almost raped until Wildfire rescues him. [[MultipleEndings Or not.]]
316[[/folder]]
317
318[[folder:Webcomics]]
319* [[ShrinkingViolet Lidusis]] from ''Webcomic/BlackHaze'' needs to be rescued and protected by [[ActionHero Rood]] on multiple occasions. It doesn't help that he's targeted by everyone from the school bullies to [[spoiler:his own elder brother]], or that he's barely even started his magical education at [[WizardingSchool Helios]].
320* In ''Webcomic/DaughterOfTheLilies'' Brent is briefly a distressed dude. [[spoiler: Meaning that he's munched on by cannibalistic cave elves.]] After Thistle saves his life by throwing a big ball of fire at the enemies, everyone is more concerned about Thistle and that she has lost the cloth that [[ItMakesSenseInContext covers her face]] than about Brent.
321* An entire arc is dedicated to rescuing Elliot as a catboy in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''.
322** During which time he [[ClothingDamage loses his shirt]] and [[BoundAndGagged gets tied to a pole]]. And he actually escapes by [[spoiler:[[GenderBender turning into a girl]] (his female form is significantly smaller than his catboy form, so his transformation loosened the ropes.)]]
323* In Chapter 5 of ''Webcomic/EonsAgo'', [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Starscream]] is knocked out, kidnapped and sexually harassed by [[spoiler: Steve the Vehicon.]] Megatron and Soundwave pull a BigDamnHeroes and rescue him.
324* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'': Ansom. Jillian just ''knows'' it.
325-->'''Jillian:''' So what if he didn't feel "rescued?"
326* ''Webcomic/ErikaAndThePrincesInDistress'': A [[GenderInvertedTrope voluntary inversion]] of the DamselInDistress trope with the titular Princes, who have gone missing, been kidnapped, or otherwise fallen victim to one menace or another. Erika [[TheQuest has been tasked with rescuing them]] in order to prove that she is worthy of the throne.
327** Prince Egg-White went missing while fetching ingredients for his newest recipe, and Erika quickly figures out that he probably got lost inside the Black Forest, which is filled with dangerous and fearsome creatures. [[spoiler:Eventually subverted when it turns out he is actually ''safer'' in the forest, as the reason he ended up there was to escape an assassin sent by his stepfather.]]
328** Prince Aurel is initially not in immediate danger, aside from suffering from a curse that could put him into an eternal slumber. [[spoiler:After it does happen however, he is kidnapped by Morphine and taken to an active volcano, his captor planning to [[HumanResources melt his body into perfume.]]]]
329* This is how [[LargeHam OTHAR TRYGGVASSEN]], GentlemanAdventurer, makes his [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031008 first]] appearance in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''.
330** And apparently it happened once to Bill: Why am I tied to this table? [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050527 And where are my PANTS?!]]
331** Tarvek finds that he is very popular with kidnappers due to the political climate following the timeskip. At one point being kidnapped by kidnappers and then kidnapped ''again'' from the newest set, then that set chases him down again [[spoiler:though Gil rescues him... and Tarvek promptly kidnaps ''Gil'']].
332* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Jean is rather embarrassed at having been captured by sasquatches but consoles herself that Bob is probably competent enough to rescue her. On cue, the sasquatches [[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/329 arrive with Bob also tied up,]] and toss him in next to her.
333-->'''Jean''': [[SarcasmMode Congratulations.]] You've just struck a major blow for sexual equality.
334-->'''Bob''': Oh. ...Good?
335* Jimmy Westeron is first seen in ''Webcomic/JennyAndTheMultiverse'' when about to be killed by Lord Grallyx, whereupon Laura and Jenny fly to the rescue.
336* You'd think someone as large as Carl the rhinoceros from ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'' wouldn't find much to be threatened by. But given he's a rhinoceros, he does have to deal with poachers seeking his horn. In addition, he's had a couple non-poacher incidents where he's needed rescue. [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk0723.html The one]] [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk1113.html usually]] [[https://kevinandkell.com/2016/kk1215.html to his rescue?]] His eventual wife, lioness Leona Mangle.
337* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': The comic starts with Allison's boyfriend Zaid getting kidnapped, and the Key of Kings getting shoved into her skull. Zaid spends most of the comic being passed between the [[PhysicalGod Demiurges]], who think he is the Rising King destined to kill them and inherit Creation. It takes a while for anyone to realize that Allison might be the destined Successor instead. Allison, for her part, admits she doesn't particularly ''like'' Zaid (she was just [[VirginShaming trying to get rid of her virginity as fast as possible]]), but nobody deserves what he's going through.
338* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' hits this right at the start of the second chapter (first if you don't read through the ArtEvolution) with Slick Giovanni in a fairly intricate "prison harness", and then later on with Slick attempting to seduce Jigsaw while he's chained to the wall. No wonder he also doubles as TheLoad.
339* Atticus Brent from ''Webcomic/{{Mokepon}}'', due to being physically unfit and having little understanding of the Pokémon world. In the first four chapters alone he's nearly fallen off a cliff, been tied up by Caterpies, and been held at gunpoint by Team Rocket.
340* Happens to every guy in ''Webcomic/{{Noblesse}}'' on multiple occasions. You can pretty much make a drinking game out of all the times the [=RK4=] or Shin-Wu & Ik-Hwan need to be rescued from a superior enemy.
341* Masuhiro, the Daimyo of the Senshin clan in ''Webcomic/NoNeedForBushido'', gets kidnapped by ninjas early on in the story. His status as Distressed Dude isn't for lack of trying on his part, mind you. He's such an incredible badass that he keeps breaking out of captivity time and time again, using [[http://nn4b.com/?webcomic1=508 increasingly improbable methods,]] usually killing several {{mook}}s in the process or gaining valuable intel. It's just that the party responsible for his captivity is led by female ninjas, and he can't help but be DistractedByTheSexy long enough for them to get the drop on him.
342* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
343** Lampshaded [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0590.html here]].
344--->'''Elan:''' Awww man, I didn't know ''I'' was gonna be the girl!\
345'''Daigo:''' Yes, it's a big day for gender equality all around. ''(glancing at his pregnant wife who has just wiped the floor with a whole squad of ninjas)''
346** And [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0771.html here]].
347--->'''Elan:''' I wonder if I qualify for some kind of hostage-based prestige class by now.
348* In ''Webcomic/PennyBlackfeather'', The Adventurer is [[http://www.pennyblackfeather.co.uk/?webcomic_post=page0077 captured by monsters]]. And chained. And requires Penny's rescuing.
349* In ''Webcomic/{{Plume}}'', Vesper seems to consider [[spoiler:Corrick]] to be this after events of Chapter 9, although he himself seems to be dealing with all that happens pretty fine.
350* In ''Webcomic/PrincessPrincess'', the two princesses come across a prince in distress. He is not in immediate danger, clinging to a tree, and tells them he'd prefer to not be rescued by princesses.
351* In ''Webcomic/TheRedStar'' [[http://www.beyondrealitymedia.com/the-red-star/issue-3/page-25/ Marcus]] before TheGrimReaper. It's another {{Psychopomp}} who stops his blow.
352* In ''Webcomic/TheSenkari'', Val is taken captive and must be rescued by his [[LovelyAngels commanding officers]].
353* Finn's role in ''Webcomic/WarriorU''. As a would-be bard ("I'm a lover, not a fighter") completely failing his warrior training class, he usually needs the more standard hero Harv to be his bodyguard [[ItMakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext against the psychotic unicorn that is constantly trying to kill him]].
354* A few arcs in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' involve this. Either Torg or Riff will end up stuck in AnotherDimension, or trapped by some BigBad. Zoe, Gwynn, and Aylee have rescued those inept boys so many times! Though they do pay back the favor.
355* ''Webcomic/{{Terinu}}'': It happens fairly often, so far being captured and stripped half-naked to a WaveMotionGun, stripped completely and tossed into a cell in a biological testing facility, and now basically being treated as the pampered pet of the BigBad.
356* In lieu of having any [[ChromosomeCasting prominent female characters]], ''Webcomic/WeakHero'' has Ben's best friend/sidekick Alex often find himself in hot water. Two of the {{arc villain}}s have beaten him up for the sake of angering Ben, and he has unresolved trauma from Ben TakingTheBullet in their backstory and suffering a long-term injury to protect Alex. Even when he tries to return the favour, such as attacking Naksung for blindsiding an already injured Ben, he ends up being overpowered and in need of rescue. The worst comes in Season 3, when he's cornered and has his arm dislocated by [[PsychopathicManchild Dongha]]. The repeated losses have a devastating effect on his self-esteem, while also encouraging him to grow stronger so his friends (especially Ben) don't always need to come to his rescue.
357[[/folder]]
358
359[[folder:Web Original]]
360* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', the [[LizardFolk Sirithai]] capture [[LoveableRogue Refan]] and tie him into the arena where he is to be sacrificed to the monstrous [[FluffyTheTerrible Plushiebunny]]. [[TheLadette Ax]] ends up saving him and can't help but keep teasing him about it because usually Refan has been the one doing the rescuing.
361* A few Website/ChannelAwesome guys have been this. [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] has been tied up twice, once by Sage to torture him with an OldShame fanfic and the other time by Mechakara... just to torture him. Paw was tied up in a recent video and covered in blood while WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic was kidnapped by the Game Heroes and made to promote their stuff at gunpoint.
362** This happens to WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic quite a lot; chloroformed and fondled by IHaveYouNowMyPretty-looking WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick, drugged and raped by Spoony, having to get saved in the Brawl, and so on.
363** Spoony himself in ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', then later WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob. Linkara, on the other hand, was a BadassInDistress.
364** WebVideo/DemoReel wasted no time at all in turning Doug's new character, Donnie, into one. He's taken by the bad guys at the end of Episode 3, dumped in the woods to die, and then kidnapped ''again'' by a LoonyFan family who kept him hostage with muscle relaxants.
365* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick'': In her review of ''Film/Supergirl1984'', the Chick liked that the ActionGirl/male "damsel" aspect was played straight rather than for laughs.
366* Rakion Kalsa in ''Literature/ChaosFighters: Chemical Warriors-RAKSA''.
367* ''Literature/TheFateOfPaulTwister'' begins with Paul locked up in a prison, until a rather authoritative woman shows up to bail him out. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Paul when he finds out her identity:
368--> ''(Narrating)'' Now, I'm a pretty forward-thinking guy. By some ways of measuring it, it would not be at all inaccurate to call me the most modern man in the entire kingdom. [[HypocriticalHumor But even so,]] there's just something viscerally humiliating, and maybe even a little bit emasculating, about realizing that you've just been rescued from a dungeon… by the Princess.
369 *''WebAnimation/WeeblAndBob'': The first [[SuperheroEpisode "Team Laser Explosion"]] short had Weebl and Bob having to save "the Mayor" from the evil Fire Thunder Squad.
370* a good chunk of WebAnimation/WolfSongTheMovie has Alador become this, as he is captured and physically tortured by the Death Alpha and his goons (well, mainly Cobalt), and as such his sister Kara, along with half a dozen other pack members go to the rescue. Partway through, Kara herself becomes momentarily captured, but the secondary characters are able to come to her aid. She then is able to locate and meet back up with her badly injured brother [[spoiler: but by that time it’s too late.]]
371[[/folder]]

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