Line #52 Main/HeroBall


1	%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1623097395057700800
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4	[[quoteright:329:[[ComicBook/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superman_juggling_2.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:329:What happens when one literally juggles a dozen of this trope at once.]]
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7	->''"Now you see that Evil will always triumph, because GoodIsDumb."''
8	-->-- '''Dark Helmet''', ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}''
9
10	Why do [[TheHero heroes]] always act like idiots, even when not {{Idiot Hero}}es? They always make the worst decisions when the time comes. Sure TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin and end up SavingTheWorld from the BigBad, but they seem to have an aversion to making smart choices while doing it.
11
12	Oh, that's right, they're holding the Hero Ball.
13
14	This is the hero-specific form of the IdiotBall, which causes its holder to make downright moronic decisions solely because the plot demands it. Unlike the VillainBall, the Hero Ball almost never leads to its holder's permanent defeat; it merely delays the hero's inevitable victory, ratcheting up the dramatic tension in the meantime (at least, until the FridgeLogic kicks in). Of course, once victory is assured, the Hero Ball will prevent its holder from killing or permanently incapacitating the villain -- after all, the villain needs to be [[StatusQuoIsGod back on his feet in time for the next episode]].
15
16	If he carries the Hero Ball long enough, one almost gets the impression that the hero is more interested in padding the plot than in actually defeating the BigBad. This can be particularly frustrating when we've been shown [[InformedAbility (or at least told)]] that the hero [[PingPongNaivete should be smarter than this]].
17
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[index]]
21	[[folder: Heroes who are likely to carry the Hero Ball]]
22	* AllLovingHero
23	* TheCape
24	* DesignatedHero
25	* IdealHero
26	* IdiotHero
27	* LawfulStupid
28	* SmallStepsHero
29	* StupidGood
30	* TechnicalPacifist
31	* UnintentionallyKarmic
32	[[/folder]]
33
34	[[folder: Plot and devices resulting from the Hero Ball]]
35
36	* AloneWithThePsycho
37	* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil
38	* CardboardPrison
39	* DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp
40	* DumbIsGood
41	* FightingBackIsWrong
42	* HonorBeforeReason
43	* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim
44	* ItsTheOnlyWay
45	* IWorkAlone
46	* JokerImmunity
47	* JustEatGilligan
48	* KarmaHoudini
49	* KillHimAlready
50	* MacGuffinDeliveryService
51	* OutOfSightOutOfMind
52	* PlotSensitiveSnoopingSkills
53	* RedemptionDemotion
54	* SaveTheVillain
55	* SealedEvilInACan
56	* SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan
57	* SlaveToPR
58	* StupidityIsTheOnlyOption
59	* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself
60	* WhatMeasureIsAMook
61	* VillainsBlendInBetter
62	* VillainExitStageLeft
63	* YearningForANemesis
64	* YouCantThwartStageOne
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	Note that some of these tropes are mutually contradictory; for example, a LawfulStupid character carries the Hero Ball all the time, but would sooner die than SaveTheVillain. Apparently, there's only so many ways to be smart, but idiocy is Legion.
68
69	Modern, Western action movies usually combine the Hero Ball with some form of KarmicDeath. The hero can't actually be shown executing the villain, but that doesn't mean the villain can't [[DisneyVillainDeath fall to his death]], be [[SelfDisposingVillain eaten by his own monster]], crushed by his own machine, fall into nearby acid or lava, or impale himself on some nearby sharp object, or be otherwise HoistByHisOwnPetard.
70
71	Compare with the VillainBall and HoldingBackThePhlebotinum. Contrast FlawExploitation for when an antagonist exploits a heroes' flaws. Contrast NoNonsenseNemesis, who isn't prone to carrying the VillainBall, and GoodIsNotDumb.
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Context Main / HeroBall