Line #8 Main/IJustWantToBeBadass


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8	->''"I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero! ... I'm tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand? If I can't do this on my own, then what good am I?"''
9	-->-- '''Jaune Arc''', ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', "[[Recap/RWBYV1E11E12Jaunedice Jaunedice, Part 2]]"
10
11	Like IJustWantToBeSpecial, IJustWantToHaveFriends and IJustWantToBeNormal, I Just Want to Be Badass describes one of those {{wish\|Fulfillment}}es that consumers of media like to have [[WishFulfillment fulfilled]] by the works they consume. Typically, males are somewhat more prone to harbor this wish. A tentative explanation for this could be the fact that badassery goes hand in hand with many cultures' standards of masculinity.
12
13	In order to fulfill this wish, the creator of a work will usually create a viewpoint character and, over the course of the story, make the character badass. This allows the audience to identify with the viewpoint character and as such experience badassery by proxy. Another way by which the author can fulfill this wish of the audience is to take a character that has already established his badassery and give the character a trait which the intended audience will identify with. Additionally, a writer can take a characterization with already-established badass credentials and [[{{Flanderization}} remove non-badass elements in order to highlight the badassery]].
14
15	On the other hand, this trope can be used in conjunction with BeYourself, as we see a hero try to emulate more macho role models and fail miserably at imitating their machismo. At that point, they give up in despair and focus on what they can do, convinced that they are nothing special even as they learn some new knowledge or skills no one around thinks is important. However, when they are called upon to do what they have to for others, they find that those things they've learned have made them a near invincible BadassBookworm who saves the day while the macho characters look on in astonishment.
16
17	An EscapistCharacter targeted towards the male demographic will often be a product of this desire.
18
19	This trope can, in {{Fanfic}}, lead to the creation of a MartyStu. It is also strongly connected to a PowerFantasy (being a means by which this wish is fulfilled).
20
21	This trope is very prone to being {{deconstruct\|ion}}ed. A possible reason for this is that producers are usually not particularly badass and as such may regard this particular wish of the audience as immature or naive. This, of course, is merely a speculation. However, whole industries are built on playing this trope straight and allowing the audience to fulfill its badassery fantasies by proxy.
22
23	This can be akin to hanging a sign on your head saying, "Am looking for DealWithTheDevil, apply within." Or an invitation for TrainingFromHell. It's hard to tell the difference at first...
24
25	Arguably, video games in general have a strong element of this as their appeal. Many FPS games do at least in part avert or subvert this, however. During some action games, there is a level where the game radically changes pace and becomes [[UnexpectedGameplayChange something different]]. For instance, an action game will toss in a stealth level where the player character is stripped of all their weapons. These levels are {{subver\|tedTrope}}sions of this trope and gain their impact from the sudden loss of power the player character has experienced. SurvivalHorror games often rely on averting this to generate fear in the player. Feeling powerful and competent is not conducive to feeling scared, frightened, alone and weak.
26
27	This trope applies in two circumstances. The first is that a ''character in the work is motivated by the trope'' ('''the in-universe version'''). The other is that ''the work engages with (fulfilling, parodying, or being to some extent motivated and/or changed by) its viewers Wanting To Be Badass'' ('''the meta-version'''). There is often considerable overlap between the two types; if this wish was not prevalent in viewers, they would probably react differently to characters motivated by the wish. The latter is so commonplace that only examples of playing with or subverting this expectation should be listed.
28
29	Denying the fulfillment of this wish (i.e. averting or subverting the trope) can result in fans thinking the character is [[NotBadassEnoughForFans not badass enough for them]].
30
31	See also; WishFulfillment, IJustWantToHaveFriends, IJustWantToBeBeautiful, IJustWantToBeSpecial, IJustWantToBeNormal. Also heavily overlaps with IWantToBeARealMan given that the concepts of ''badass'' and ''manly'' are frequently interconnected. Arguably the cause of the PowerFantasy.
32
33	Compare/Contrast the DistaffCounterpart.
34
35	Again, please remember that neither WishFulfillment nor the fulfillment of any specific wish (including this one) [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools is a bad thing]]. If reality matched our fantasies, we would not need to create fiction.
36	----
37	!!Examples of a character with this trait, or of the work playing with this expectation of the audience:
38
39	[[foldercontrol]]
40
41	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
42	* Isidro in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is like this: even though he works a lot better as a FragileSpeedster with short blades and throwing rocks, he idolizes Guts (a LightningBruiser) and his {{BFS}}. This leads to problems, as he always insists on fighting like Guts instead of focusing on his true strengths like evasion, an accurate throw, and quick wits. Because his wish to be badass causes problems, there is at least a certain element of {{deconstruction}} at work here. Guts himself is possibly the most badass character in all of fiction, but it's a sure bet that no one who followed the series [[TraumaCongaLine actually wants to be him]].
43	* Most HumongousMecha protagonists feel this way before becoming pilots, often crossing over with AscendedFanboy. So much that [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji Ikari]] was notable for ''not'' wanting to.
44	* Impmon from ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' does NOT enjoy being a HarmlessVillain. This eventually ends up being deconstructed, as [[spoiler:[[DealWithTheDevil the lengths he goes to]] to become badass [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity drive him crazy with power]], causing him to become a REAL villain and go on a murderous rampage. [[EvenEvilHasStandards He's appropriately horrified]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone when he snaps out of it]]]].
45	* NiceGuy Matsuda in ''Anime/DeathNote'' doesn't flinch when the NPA tells its officers that if anyone wants to investigate Kira in the midst of him targeting cops, they'll have to make their own squad and do it because everyone else is quitting out of fear--he jumps at the chance to join the task force and is giddy with excitement at the idea of catching the bad guy. As time goes on, [[ButtMonkey no matter how badly the rest of the team treats him,]] he only wants to be useful and help catch Kira, and his {{Adorkable}} enthusiasm and bravery never falters. This only makes it all the more heartbreaking when he finally does get his most important moment, and it's [[spoiler: [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass shooting Light in the final episode before he can quickly write down Near's name in the notebook.]] Light tries to use his own father's death as a tool to manipulate Matsuda into joining his side and killing everyone else to avenge his sacrifice, and when Matsuda doesn't fall for it, Light tries one last time to write Near's name; Matsuda [[RageBreakingPoint shoots him a few more times to stop him,]] and finally has to be [[LetMeAtHim held back by the rest of the squad]] before [[UnstoppableRage he can put his last bullet in between Light's eyes.]] He's been the heart of the group for years, smiling and cracking jokes, the only one who's been able to see from both sides of the Kira conflict, and [[BreakTheCutie he's reduced to murderous rage and inconsolable grief by the end.]]]]
46	* Kosuna of ''Manga/DesertPunk'' just wants to be the #1 ActionGirl in the Great Kanto Desert, and becomes an apprentice handyman to Kanta to do so. She then spends the rest of the series learning that survival in the desert involves a lot of grunt work, trickery and that doing your job right means using your gun as ''little'' as possible.
47	* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': Negi Springfield definitely qualifies. Already a [[{{Determinator}} hard-working]] prodigal mage at the age of 10, his quest for power increases after many of his students become his [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits mischievous]] [[TrueCompanions followers]], making him constantly worried for their safety. It doesn't help that he's [[OvershadowedByAwesome surrounded by a lot of ]] powerful people such as his more combat-trained pupils (Setsuna, Mana, Kaede, Ku Fei), his father's friends (Jack Rakan, Alberio Imma, Takamichi), and his former enemy (Evangeline), some of whom are game-breakingly powerful. Oh, and his father? An [[WorldsStrongestMan incredibly powerful]] war hero who is practically worshipped across the Magic World. That's a lot of hurdles to jump over. [[spoiler: It's no surprise then that he would push himself to incredible extremes, even learning [[NobleDemon Evangeline]]'s '''[[BlackMagic Dark Magic]]'''.]] He's definitely not your standard shounen hero.
48	* ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'': Mikado definitely qualifies because he wants to change something. [[spoiler: It's what led him to create [[ImageBoards Dollars]]. Later on, you actually see that he has been badass all along.]]
49	* [[MafiaPrincess Asago]] from ''Manga/TokyoCrazyParadise'' so very desperately wants to be a badass to match Ryuji, her husband-to-be, but she is always overshadowed by [[SweetPollyOliver Tsukasa]] or runs into inhuman monsters. She [[TookALevelInBadass gets tougher]] by the end of the series.
50	* The ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' series has a few examples.
51	** Teana Lanster during ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' was a deconstruction of this. She was so desperate at being a badass as quickly as possible that her reckless actions placed both her and her teammates at risk. While she did eventually TakeALevelInBadass, she didn't do so until she let go of this mindset and concentrated on refining the skills and talents she had at a more sensible pace.
52	** Einhart Stratos in ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' is a straighter example. Driven by the GeneticMemory of [[{{Reincarnation}} her ancestor]], she is in a constant quest to become strong enough to protect everyone she cares about. This drive of hers only became more intense when she met and trained with the old cast of ''Nanoha'', as she realized just how far she still has to go before she could reach their level.
53	** Vivio is just like Einhart in that regard, although fighting is more of a hobby for her than a compulsive drive. She wants to be strong enough to one day be able to protect those that gave her the chance to have a normal life, especially her Nanoha-mama.
54	** Rinne from ''Anime/VividStrike'' is another deconstruction. Due to her history with being bullied, she has an almost pathological need to be the strongest there is to keep anything else from being taken from her. This ends up alienating her from everyone around her and [[WeUsedToBeFriends would ultimately cause her to drive away her childhood friend Fuka]]. And unlike most examples, she actually hates martial arts.
55	* ''Manga/BakiTheGrappler'': "If one is born as a male, at least once in his life he will dream of becoming the strongest man alive. Grappler is the martial artist who aims to become the strongest in the world!"
56	* In ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'', this was one of the major motivations of Joshua, whose BlessedWithSuck HealingHands powers confined him to his bed. After being disappointed by a suggestion from [[TheMentor Father Remington]] to go through TrainingFromHell to grow strong, [[BigBad Aion]] offered him a DealWithTheDevil to gain immense power through a pair of demon horns. It worked, but [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity also turned him insane]] and allowed Aion to kidnap him and use his powers for his plans. This kicks off the main plot of the series when his sister makes her own DealWithTheDevil to be able to rescue him.
57	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': Several Pokémon have shown that this is their primary motivation. Often this is simply shown by them wishing to become their very powerful final form. Others have shown they just want to be better.
58	* [[MoeAnthropomorphism Sword Warrior]] Yamatonokami Yasusada of ''Anime/ToukenRanbuHanamaru'' just wants to be stronger. However, it isn't this wish that's the problem, it's why - he wants to become stronger to protect his previous master, [[UsefulNotes/TheShinsengumi Okita Souji]]. The problem? Okita died centuries before Yamatonokami (Okita's sword) was turned human by his [[NonEntityGeneral current master]], the one he ''should'' be trying to protect. He is also probably the least manly, most {{Moe}} example on this page.
59	* In ''Anime/CardfightVanguard'', the protagonist, Aichi Sendou wants to win the respect of his rival, Toshiki Kai by becoming good at the titular card game. [[spoiler: It gets heavily deconstructed when he awakens the PsychicPowers known as Psyqualia, which make him strong but also make him DrunkOnTheDarkSide the more he uses them.]]
60	* Usopp of ''Manga/OnePiece'' has this as his primary goal. He has stated his personal mission to be becoming "a brave warrior of the sea", and he has definitely worked to meet that goal ever since the Arlong Arc. By Water 7/Enies Lobby, and ''definitely'' by the time-skip, he has completely managed to [[TookALevelInBadass Take a Level in Badass]].
61	** Most characters in the story, like Luffy, strive to become the next Pirate King. Others have entirely different goals that fit this trope. Zoro, for example, wants to replace Mihawk as the world's strongest swordsman.
62	* Saitama of ''Anime/OnePunchMan'' was originally a straight example. He is currently an inversion - he doesn't have this trope as his motivation because he's the most badass in his series and it's ''boring''. Genos is also this but a straight example all the way (including getting the aforementioned Saitama to be his teacher) for the sake of getting revenge on a rival cyborg.
63	* After the death of his mother, the titular protagonist of ''Anime/RingingBell'' decides he wants to be a wolf. The problem? He's a lamb. Chirin thought that being a sheep is boring and that sheep are just a bunch of cowards - he wanted to be tough and powerful as a wolf. [[spoiler:In the end, Chirin does become extremely strong however he lost everything in his quest to become powerful. He's not accepted by other sheep, he took revenge on his mentor, and he's not a wolf]].
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Comic Books]]
67	* In ''ComicBook/KickAss'', two characters become superheroes: the title character because he wants to help people... and in a straighter version of this trope, [[spoiler:Big Daddy because he was frustrated with his marriage and thought his life was boring. He even creates a fake BackStory to enhance his new identity.]]
68	* This is the basic idea of ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'', both the original comic and the movie adaptation. The protagonist is a loser guy who becomes a badass when he finds out he has a badass gene inherited from a father he never knew. The comic book (but not the movie) also [[spoiler:attempts to deconstruct this trope by scolding the reader for identifying with the main character, who's essentially a violent sociopath]]. Perhaps not coincidentally, ''Wanted'' was written by Creator/MarkMillar, the same guy who also wrote ''Kick-Ass''.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Fan Works]]
72	* ''Fanfic/{{Boldores and Boomsticks}}'': Casey is awed by Team RWBY's physical feats and asks them to train her to be like them.
73	* ''Literature/DemonKingDaimao'' fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8514012/1/Keena-the-Defendants-of-Constan-Magic-Academy Keena & the Defendants of Constan Academy]]'' has this happen to usual DamselInDistress Keena, who not only wants friends (due to the remaining characters being PutOnABus) but also wants to find herself useful in combat. Turns out [[spoiler: she actually ''is'' skilled in combat. Chapter 6 reveals that she actually has trained and learned to fight but never got the opportunity to do so]].
74	* ''Fanfic/InPursuitOfASingleIdeal'': Illya really, ''really'' wants to be a MagicalGirl because she wants to know how it's like to be as powerful as the magical girls she sees on TV. Unfortunately, she's a WrongGenreSavvy in a MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction story, and only starts realizing when [[spoiler:her brother Shirou is torn to pieces and {{Mind Rape}}d by one of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek "monsters of the week"]].]]
75	* ''Fanfic/MegamiNoHanabira'': Sara wants to be badass for someone other than herself: her girlfriend Kaede got hurt protecting her from a demon, and Sara wants to learn to protect herself so Kaede doesn't have to push herself too far for her.
76	* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', this desire is portrayed in a simple, positive manner.
77	** After being rescued by Kyril, Sanakan and Hugh ask him to help them become stronger. They would then become his [[TheApprentice apprentices]] to spar and train hard, TakingALevelInBadass in the end, with more than enough power to murder dozens of greenskins and bandits.
78	** This trope is how Lily felt back when she was rescued by Kyril from her PrisonRape. She hated herself for being powerless, and thus wanted to train under the Hunter, to prove herself worthy. Her hard work pays off in the end, and as of now, Lily is glad to possess the skills needed to defend the weak.
79	* Cyril, the bellringer mouse from the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' fic ''Fanfic/TheUrthbloodSaga'' has as his life's ambition to become a warrior someday, resenting his status as a lowly abbey novice and feeling as if his elders will [[AdultsAreUseless always treat him like a child]]. While he becomes somewhat less enthusiastic about the idea and more accepting of his place after his younger brother Cyrus [[spoiler: just barely survives being wounded by a visiting soldier]], he still has it as his ultimate goal.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
83	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', Flynn Rider modeled himself on a fictional character, an adventurer, TheCharmer, and rich enough that he could do anything and go anywhere. Which explains Flynn's career as a thief.
84	* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2010'', Hiccup wants to be acknowledged and respected by his village, as well as his father and the girl he crushes on. He does achieve all of this, but not in the way he expected.
85	* Po Ping, the title character of ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'' has spent most of his life wishing to be a legendary kung fu master like his idols, the Furious Five. That wish ends up being granted inadvertently and he's forced to grow into the role of being a badass, but ultimately succeeds.
86	* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryThatTimeForgot'', Trixie laments the fact that Bonnie plays her as anything ''but'' a dinosaur, so when the Battlesaurs offer her to join them, [[JumpedAtTheCall she accepts without hesitation]]. Later on, after [[spoiler:defusing the conflict with them by tricking Bonnie and Mason into playing with the toys (via convincing Reptillus to turn off the Optimum X)]], she's learned to appreciate her MasterOfAll role.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
90	* In ''Film/{{Condorman}}'', comic book writer Woodrow Wilkins insists on everything he writes being as realistic as possible. Therefore, he attempts to build and test all of the gadgets that his titular superhero will utilize. This dogged insistence on verisimilitude leads him to [[JumpedAtTheCall jump at the chance]] to go on a ''real'' spy mission, which leads him straight into a DefectorFromCommieLand plot and forces him to finally grow up a bit.
91	* ''Film/TheCourtJester'': Hawkins' first scene establishes that he desperately wants to be a soldier in the Black Fox's group of freedom fighters, but he gets relegated to baby-sitting the infant heir to the throne.
92	* The protagonist of ''Film/KungFuHustle'' has been trying to be one since he was bullied as a boy by older kids. In his mind, this means to join the baddest gang in China. He finally gets his wish, but only after a HeelFaceTurn and a pummelling by the Beast "unblocks his chi", resulting in him becoming the greatest kung-fu master in history.
93	* A subplot in ''Film/ScoobyDooMonstersUnleashed'' is Shaggy and Scooby tired of being TheLoad of the gang and trying to be real detectives,
94	* {{Deconstructed}} in ''Film/TriadElection'': Jet believes being feared by everyone is what will get him noticed in the Hong Kong underworld, many of which include assassinations from Chairman Lok of the Wo Shing Wo. Unfortunately, it's the only thing he's good for; it's implied Jet has been in hiding for so long because of all the hits he's been doing for Lok, making it unlikely for him to climb the ladder and be a legitimate candidate for Chairman in the future (which Lok promises), let alone a promotion. {{Lampshaded}} by one of the "Uncles" of Wo Shing in the climax of the sequel, who's never heard of this lowly foot soldier.
95	* Kylo Ren from ''Franchise/StarWars'': ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' is a villainous example. He models himself after Darth Vader, [[spoiler: his grandfather]], and considers himself his successor, but secretly feels inadequate due to his (relatively) weak Force powers and struggles with the "temptation" of returning to the light side. Eventually, he [[spoiler: kills Han Solo, his father]], believing this will give him the clarity he needs and prove his resolve to both himself and his master, Supreme Leader Snoke. It doesn't.
96	* The OpeningNarration of ''{{Film/Goodfellas}}''.
97	--> "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. To me being a gangster was better than being President of the United States."
98	* In the cult SuperTeam parody ''Film/MysteryMen'', Mr. Furious wants so very much to be a dangerous NinetiesAntiHero with SuperStrength but he's too much of a NiceGuy to properly harness his powers.
99	* ''Film/Deadpool2'': after getting his first taste of murder thanks to Wade's advice, Dopinder becomes desperate to become a mercenary like him, however he is basically brushed off when Deadpool and Weasel set about assembling X-Force. He is absolutely ''pissed'' when he sees he got passed over in favor of Peter. [[spoiler:He ends up getting his wish at the end of the film, though.]]
100	* ''Film/WestSideStory2021'': Unlike the stage version and 1961 film, Chino is not a member of the Sharks. However, he wants to join out of a desire to help protect the Puerto Rican community from the Jets' bigotry. He also thinks that being someone who stands up to injustice, like Bernardo does, will make María respect him. [[spoiler:However, when the rumble ends up becoming an all-out brawl, Chino is only clutching Bernardo's dead body, clearly terrified of the violence happening around him.]]
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Literature]]
104	* Paul in ''Literature/{{Duumvirate}}''. His best friends are {{Transhuman}} badasses, and he desperately wants to keep up.
105	* ''Literature/JuniorJediKnights:'' The second half of the series features a boy named Uldir Lochett, who wants to be a Jedi despite only being mildly Force-sensitive, and has an inflated view of his own importance and destiny (although he does get some CharacterDevelopment).
106	* Nevere Burvelle, the protagonist of ''Literature/TheSoldierSon'' by Creator/RobinHobb, is this. He's raised to be an OfficerAndAGentleman, goes through TrainingFromHell... and in the end is [[spoiler:thwarted by magic that makes him grossly obese. He grows into something quite non-traditional, but clearly not the badass he (and his dad) expected. Thus, Nevere is a subversion (or, if it's his Wanting To Be Badass that causes his being thwarted, he is a deconstruction) of the trope]].
107	** Nevare never had much of a choice. As the second son, he was (by religious doctrine) always meant to be the soldier of the family. The ending of the first book, however, shows that he was well on his way to being badass and the potential was solidified even more throughout the rest of the series, thanks to his Trainer From Hell.
108	* ''Literature/TheWitchOfKnightcharm'': The protagonist Emily really wants to be a powerful witch that fights evil magicians and protects innocents, but as she learns early on, just because she wants that and spends her time fantasizing about being that doesn't mean she's actually all that tough. When she later decides to 'defect' to an evil WizardingSchool, she tells herself that her main motive is to undermine the school from within and thus make up for her past failures, but she has to admit she's also hoping the school's TrainingFromHell will help her become strong enough to actually fight villains.
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
112	* An (in)famous episode of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' where wimpy, nerdy Jonathan had an attack of this trope and used a spell to turn himself into a full-blown MartyStu. ''Series/{{Buffy\|the Vampire Slayer}}'' being, well, about '''Buffy,''' obviously this couldn't last.
113	** After his [[BadassDecay infamous fall from grace in season 4 onwards]], Spike has an interesting case of "I just want to be badass ''again''". In the season 5 episode crush, [[ThrowTheDogABone he gets close to accomplishing this]] when Drusilla invites him to terrorise the globe with her again. This being [[ButtMonkey Spike]] however, it doesn't last until even the end of the episode, and he ends up [[YankTheDogsChain even more pathetic than before]] as a result.
114	* Joxer from ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' lives and breathes this trope. Aphrodite even grants his wish in one episode.
115	* In ''Series/TheRiches'', little old lady Nina wants to run away from her pampered mundane suburban life to live a life of excitement and danger as a travelling con-artist.
116	* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', this is their interpretation of the [[HeroicWannabe Wonder Twins]] and [[IdiotHero Booster Gold]].
117	* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'': [[FauxActionGirl Andrea]] is this in Season 1 and the first part of Season 2. By the end of Season 2, however, [[TookALevelInBadass she can actually hold her own against a surprising amount of walkers before hitting the ground exhausted.]] Unfortunately, [[BadassDecay this is dropped early on in Season 3 after she becomes a part of the Governor's inner circle]]. She spends the rest of the season trying to prove herself as a powerful, diplomatic leader in Woodbury. She has moments, but overall, no one really takes her seriously, and her actions throughout the season - such as abandoning Michonne for a stranger and repeatedly defending the Governor ''despite'' knowing about his unstable tendencies - cause her to be labelled as TheScrappy by most fans. Eventually, all of her indecision and poor choice in loyalty culminate in [[spoiler: [[AlasPoorScrappy her death]]]].
118	* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': [[MilesGloriosus Mac brags about being a badass constantly]] as well as knowing karate [[WhatTheFuAreYouDoing which he doesn't]]. Mac also likes his {{Action Hero}}es [[EscapistCharacter muscular and tough-looking]] and not just for the [[PerverseSexualLust obvious reasons]], [[ArmouredClosetGay though that too]]. However, he's too much of a DirtyCoward to fulfill this fantasy of his and live up to his claims.
119	* Kasumi of ''Series/SamuraiGourmet'' [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this. He's just trying to enjoy his retirement, and the obstacles to this are usually no more than social awkwardness. Still, when those obstacles arise, it cues the IndulgentFantasySegue where a Sengoku ronin shows him [[WhatWouldXDo how a real samurai would handle the situation]]. This tends to inspire him ''toward'' action, but not always all the way, since real life is real life.
120	* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': The episode "The Gorilla Club" had Tori wanting to get the part of a troubled girl in movie, but being told she was too nice for the part. She spends the whole episode trying to toughen up by engaging in risky behaviors. This climaxes with her fighting a gorilla.
121	* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': All Clayton Hughes wants is the respect of his fellow [=COs=] and the inmates, but his efforts to get it blow up in his face without fail. It doesn't help that these attempts generally involve excessive force and are of questionable legality.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Music]]
125	* Parodied in the song "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" by Bowling for Soup
126	* Music/JohnnyCash song ''Folsom Prison Blues'', where the protagonist has shot a man in Reno "just to watch him die".
127	** Also ''Don't Take Your Guns to Town'' by the same artist, which song ends in tragedy.
128	* Deconstructed in Immortal Technique's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRgYd5Mxs0&feature=related "Dance With the Devil."]]
129	* "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson" by Music/DJJazzyJeffAndTheFreshPrince. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome He does not beat Mike Tyson]].
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Video Games]]
133	* {{Deconstruct\|ion}}ed with Solid Snake in ''VideoGame/MetalGear''. Snake is badass all right, but at tremendous cost to his own life. He is cynical, bitter, jaded, [[ShellShockedVeteran has a massive case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder]], is so level-headed that many would consider him inhumanly emotionless, is controlled and manipulated by his superiors, and exists as a puppet. Even his free will is brought into question, with Liquid alleging he is controlled by his genes. Unfortunately, this trope is so pervasive that many people who played ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' [[MisaimedFandom completely missed the point]] and saw Solid Snake as the ultimate action hero badass and desperately wanted to be him... which resulted in...
134	** ...Raiden in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', an even more savage {{deconstruction}} of this trope than Solid Snake. As an audience proxy character whom the player is encouraged to identify with, he essentially serves as a living lecture to the audience against wanting to be badass by, at the start of his portion of the game, first failing miserably at being badass and then being harassed by his girlfriend because of his emotional distance (a common trait of badassery). Then, in the later portion of the game, it is revealed that he is exceptionally badass. Unfortunately, the circumstances through which his badassery was generated [[TrainingFromHell were so excruciatingly traumatic]] that only a complete masochist would want to undergo them. Finally, when the audience gets their [[WishFulfillment wish to be badass fulfilled]], the game begins [[NoFourthWall demolishing the fourth wall]] and reminding the players that they are playing a video game and hence are not really badass at all. During the game, several events and situations occur that directly copy (or are obviously analogous to) segments of the original ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', further forcing the players to ask themselves whether or not they truly wish to be like Solid Snake (because being like Snake would not be nice, fun, heroic or awesome). If that weren't bleedingly obvious enough, the game's plot involves [[spoiler: the entire game being a simulation of the events of the original game, designed to turn the player-character into Solid Snake!]].
135	* Cloud Strife in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' is a {{deconstruction}} of this trope as well (in addition to attacking the audience for having this wish in the first place). Cloud so wanted to be badass that [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything he deluded himself into living in a fantasy world where he was an elite super-soldier]], all to impress the ladies. [[GoMadFromTheRevelation The revelation of this delusion resulted]] in [[HeroicBSOD a cataclysmic nervous breakdown]] as well as having to save the world from an OmnicidalManiac. Unlike with Raiden, the audience does eventually get its WishFulfillment.
136	* Mocked in a frequently forwarded webcomic stereotyping the three major [[MediaNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Seventh-gen console]] users:
137	-->'''Xbox 360 users:''' "[[ManlyMan I want to be manly, for, in reality, I am not.]]"\
138	'''Playstation 3 users:''' "[[{{Bishonen}} I want to be pretty, for, in reality I am not.]]"\
139	'''Wii users:''' "[[GrowingUpSucks I never want to grow up!]]"
140	%%* ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy''.
141	* This is the reason Hammer from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' [[spoiler: [[FaceHeelTurn eventually turns evil]]. In the end, he's practically the only one on your team who isn't superpowered in some way, and this weighs heavily upon him.]]
142	* Deconstructed in both [[Franchise/MassEffect Mass Effect 1 and 2]] by both Corporal [[LeeroyJenkins Jenkins]] and Conrad Verner. In the case of Jenkins, he has a highly ''romanticized'' image of what it means to be a soldier, and when he actually goes on the first major mission in the game, he's gunned down and killed in minutes. In the case of Conrad Verner, he's more [[ButtMonkey played for laughs]] and is a TakeThat [[ThisLoserIsYou of the players.]]
143	* Carver from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. He suffers from a massive inferiority complex due to his twin sister having magic, and his [[PlayerCharacter older sibling]] either also being a Mage or [[OvershadowedByAwesome just a better fighter than he is]]. Much of his interactions with the other party members revolve around him (rather unsuccessfully) trying to prove he can be more than just Hawke's kid brother. Depending on the player's choices, these issues can get either better or worse as the story progresses.
144	** In two of the game's DownloadableContent, he can serve as a GuestStarPartyMember, and is generally OlderAndWiser. Carver may even [[CharacterDevelopment say that he misses adventuring with Hawke, and be confident enough to explicitly patronize]] ''his older brother/sister''.
145	** The whole game deconstructs this audience desire (as well as the concept of the BigBad). Yes, [[PlayerCharacter Hawke]] becomes insanely badass, to the point of being an in-universe MemeticBadass, but [[spoiler: s/he is also partially responsible (inadvertently) for some of the most disastrous events in the plot, and may lose everything s/he has fought for and everyone s/he cares about.]]
146	* This is ''the'' defining trait of the Chaos Hero from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI''; having been bullied and abused all his life, he just wants to gain enough power to stand on his own and not have to rely on anyone, even if he has to [[spoiler:sacrifice his humanity]] to get there. This is a core principle of the chaos alignment - survival of the strongest.
147	* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series has Riku, who swung this way in his younger days. He just wanted to be strong enough to protect his friends. Ten years later, growing dreams of glory and adventure made him swing more towards IJustWantToBeSpecial.
148	** Terra of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' so desperately wishes for this that it [[spoiler:makes him very easy to manipulate by [[BigBad Master Xehanort]],]] and as a result causes several tragic moments throughout the game. Incidentally, he directly interacts with young Riku.
149	* {{Deconstruct\|ion}}ed in ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine''. In a similar vein to the aforementioned Cloud Strife above, Capt. Martin Walker, the PlayerCharacter, is told by Col. John Konrad [[spoiler:who is actually personification of his own guilt over actions he's undertaken because of this need]] that trying to feed this desire through fiction is pathetic and delusional. Many of the relevant lines of dialog are implicitly [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou aimed at the player as much as at Martin]].
150	* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
151	** Ross, Amelia, and Ewan from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' are three youngsters who join an army of badasses with zero fighting experience themselves. All three of them begin ''very'' weak physically, and express a desire to better themselves. It's a rather known fact among the fandom that if you choose to train them, they become blessed with MagikarpPower and end up as freaking powerhouses. In short, Ross, Amelia, and Ewan are three cases of "I Just Want to Be Badass" who [[TookALevelInBadass more than get their wish]].
152	** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and its sequel ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' has Reyson, one of the [[{{Bishonen}} very beautiful]] and very frail princes of the [[{{Animorphism}} heron tribe]]. In his support conversations with the protagonist Ike, Reyson reveals that he at times ''despised'' himself for his inability to fight after the human nation Begnion massacred the heron tribe and all but destroyed their home, Serenes Forest. He was jealous of his caretaker, the [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership immensely powerful king]] of the Hawk laguz tribe, Tibarn, and tried to toughen himself up by force so that [[PayEvilUntoEvil he'd be able to one day take revenge on humans]]...only to make himself sick in the process. He mostly came to terms with his status as a NonActionGuy, seeing as he is able to [[SupportPartyMember help out through singing]] his magical galdrs, which do things like heal allies, cure them of harmful conditions, and grant them {{Extra Turn}}s.
153	* In ''VideoGame/MapleStory'', [[ChildMage Evan]] struggles to live up to the legacy left by his predecessor, [[TheArchmage Freud]], and suffers from constant self-doubt because of it. This isn't helped by Luminous' biting criticism of him. In the end, he does officially succeed Freud as the leader of the Legends and is one of the strongest adventurers in all of Maple World.
154	* Ewan MacLeod from the ''VideoGame/NancyDrew'' game “The Silent Spy”. He worked as a liaison agent for Cathedral, a branch of MI-5 in Glasgow, and in his conversations with Nancy before TheReveal that [[spoiler: he betrayed Cathedral by agreeing to work for Revenant]], he subtly indicated that he envied those who ran the rails of society and didn’t just take care of those rails, like he did. [[spoiler: In Nancy’s closing letter, she noted that Ewan felt small and Revenant took advantage because he practically had a sign over his head suggesting that he was ready for a DealWithTheDevil.]]
155	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Miles "Tails" Prower, per his ImageSong. Originally a bully victim, meeting Sonic and joining him in his adventures helped him break out of his shell, but he still retained some of his timidness, [[KidSidekick always living in his idol's shadow]]. By ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' he was thrust into a situation that made him realized he couldn't keep depending on [[BigBrotherMentor Sonic]] forever, leading to him single-handedly taking [[BigBad Eggman]] on for the first time and saving the city from him.
156	* Rather than succumb to InternalizedCategorism, Razputin of ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' decided to deal with his family's anti-psychic resentment by running off to join his favorite psychic espionage organization, where his psychic abilities would be much more appreciated. The trouble is that, while he turns out to be [[TheGift unusually suited for the role]], he's also JustAKid whose [[InnocentProdigy talents far outstrip his emotional maturity]]. This makes him dangerously impatient to get to the "fun" parts of psychic spy-work and leads to a [[ThrillSeeker Thrill-Driven]] ChronicHeroSyndrome that, among other things, [[spoiler:makes him an ideal UnwittingPawn for the BigBad in ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts 2}}'']].
157	* ''VideoGame/SilverFallsGaidenDeathlyDelusionDestroyersAndRubyRiver'' focuses on the entire town of Silver Falls teaming up to search for the protagonist's missing husband. While most simply want to help out of the goodness of their hearts (given that Silver Falls is deep in LovecraftCountry, they know the importance of banding together), a couple of them have secondary motives. Georgia was hospitalized and too injured during the events of ''3 Down Stars'' to do anything, and feels guilty about being useless. She's all healed up and ready to fight 3 weeks later. Similarly, Slim ''also'' feels guilty for not being to help in ''Galaxy Bound Curse'' due to being too drunk. However, he's just as uselessly drunk as before. Given that the search involves exploring a dense forest teeming with Lovecraftian monstrosities, Slim would be more of a liability than help. The protagonist gently, but firmly tells him to go back into town and sober up over some coffee.
158	[[/folder]]
159
160	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
161	* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Dennis, through his manipulations, wants to be good with girls, something that he is decidedly not.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Web Animation]]
165	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Jaune is motivated by the desire to be a great hero just like his father and grandfather, as he can't bear to be just a "nobody". This leads to him enrolling in Beacon Academy, despite his distinctly lackluster fighting skills or appetite for combat. [[spoiler:He forges his transcripts to get into the elite school, and has to receive extra training from his team-mate Pyrrha to catch up to the other students, who have been training for years. Pyrrha once says that she's never met anyone with more drive to better themselves than Jaune.]]
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Webcomics]]
169	* Tedd in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''. Especially after he felt weak about something [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-12-22 far worse than a school bully]]. His attempts look [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-09-30 less badass and more adorable than he'd like to.]] But at the same time he tries to circumvent his [[UnSorcerer powerless status]] and back from the {{foreshadowing}} [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-08-24 dream]] we know he can accept becoming more like his apparently EvilOverlord counterpart in an AlternateUniverse, if he needs [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-10-07 this]] to fight back.
170	* Agni in ''Webcomic/TheWitchsThrone''. Her physical abilities are not enough to help her friend Grom in battle, and she wishes she could become stronger to help him fight.
171	[[/folder]]
172
173	[[folder:Web Original]]
174	* In ''Literature/ThaliasMusings'', Thalia speculates that this is her sister [[TeamMom Calliope's]] reason for dating [[WarGod Ares]], the Pantheon's resident DumbMuscle. That, and [[MrFanservice Ares is hot]].
175	* ''Website/TheArtOfManliness'' recognizes and deconstructs this trope. It gives advice to men about what it means to be masculine/badass while deflating some of the more immature ideas some have about being manly.
176	[[/folder]]
177
178	[[folder:Western Animation]]
179	* Tuffy Smurf of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' wants to be just like Hefty Smurf and will prove himself to be like him constantly by doing some daring things that usually put the other Smurfs in danger.
180	* [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSokka Sokka]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is revealed to be this when, in a season three episode, he admits to feeling incredibly weak and unimportant [[ElementalPowers alongside the others in the group]].
181	* [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicRainbowDash Rainbow Dash]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is motivated by this, most commonly demonstrated by her desire to join the Wonderbolts, an elite team of fliers. This is despite the fact that she's part of a group that is regularly called upon to save the world, and the filly Scootaloo wants to be just like her when she grows up.
182	* Pulverizer in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012''. He originally wanted to be a ninja like the turtles, but he sucks so bad at it that he can't even do a decent move right and was also too lazy to train in order to improve his skills or physique. He did get to join the Foot Clan though, who promptly use him as CannonFodder, and then he thought he could be like the turtles by dousing himself with mutagen, only to end up turning into a horrible blob monster. So in a way, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor he did get what he wanted]].
183	[[/folder]]
184
185	[[folder:Real Life]]
186	* Military recruiters have a tendency to use this to their advantage. It's why so many military ads, all around the world, [[DareToBeBadass dare people to become badasses]] by playing on this tendency. To be fair, most soldiers who undergo the TrainingFromHell required of the more elite special forces certainly do qualify as badasses.
187	* Some people who take up sports have this trope in their mindset by proving to others how much of a badass they are through competition. This is especially prominent in sports like MMA or boxing, where one gets to prove their badass creds by defeating another in combat.
188	* This is a prevalent attitude behind people who are derisively called a "mall ninja" -- a person who claims to be an expert on weaponry, often to the point of disdaining popular weapons and [[BladeEnthusiast preferring expensive and exotic ones along with equally expensive accessories]]. The mall ninja likes to brag about their supposed expertise, but often exposes their ignorance in discussions, sometimes making improbable claims about their experience or weapon use. Those really flashy-looking swords and exotic-looking weapons that you see in mall stores are a frequent source of such weapons, hence the term "mall ninja". Essentially, the mall ninja wants to make people think they're a weapons expert and/or a badass warrior by talking about weapons, but shows themself to be little more than someone who secretly wants to look cool and nothing else.
189	[[/folder]]

Context Main / IJustWantToBeBadass