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5[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/veronica_33.png]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:350:"Veronica! Dinner!"\
7"Don't call me that! Call me Trixie! '''I'M TRIXIE!'''"]]
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12->''"You had the existence I could only dream of.\
13Every pleasure at your disposal and you wasted it.\
14You don't deserve this life, [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]], but I do."''
15-->-- '''Bizarro''', ''Series/{{Smallville}}''
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17%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
18%%
19
20These kinds of characters have ''[[GreenEyedMonster a lot of envy]]''. They don't just want to be '''like''' the person they envy. They literally want to '''be''' the person they envy and live their life. [[BeneathTheMask Not that they will admit it]]. These kind of characters are often {{Woobie}}s and {{Jerkass Woobie}}s, hence the reason they don't like their life.
21
22They will try to be close as possible as the person they envy and/or simply become obsessed with surpassing them.
23
24Given the right circumstances, these kind of characters will swap places with the person they envy. This can result In GrandTheftMe.
25
26May lead to being DrivenByEnvy. This is a very extreme form of IrritationIsTheSincerestFormOfFlattery. Expect lots of HoYay if both characters are of the same gender. Compare NapoleonDelusion.
27
28If AnAesop is delivered, it will most likely turn out to be "BeYourself" or "IAmWhatIAm".
29
30----
31!!Examples:
32[[foldercontrol]]
33
34[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
35* In an episode of ''Manga/CaseClosed''. A moderately wealthy stock trader murders his brother--a previously-successful and prize-winning novelist who spent too much time resting on his laurels and just loafing about, leeching off of his brother (he had some blackmail material about illegal insider trading, so the brother couldn't kick him out). The twist was that the stock trader didn't murder his brother for blackmailing him, or for living off of him, but because he ''admired'' him. He despaired at seeing his once-great brother sink into laziness, and decided to ''become'' him, so that he could bring back the brother he'd once admired. But of course, he'll first have to get away with murder... which won't happen while Conan is around!
36* In ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'', Ayu Mitsuari hated Misaki Shokuhou and thought it was unfair that she had a better life and privileges than her. For example, Ayu and Misaki started out with the same power (MindManipulation), but Academy City's higher-ups decided to devote more resources to fulfilling Misaki's potential and snubbed Ayu. Ayu was friends with [[TheHero Touma Kamijou]] and tried to contact him when she wanted to commit suicide, but he ran into Misaki and lost his phone, and as a result did not receive her message. She describes herself as an ant that wants to be a bee (referencing her and Misaki's respective AnimalMotifs). She eventually captures Misaki and attempts to transfer Misaki's memories into her own brain, in essence becoming Misaki herself while leaving the original a vegetable. When Misaki proves too strong for the procedure to work, Ayu changes her mind and tries to murder her before Touma arrives and saves her.
37* ''Anime/CorrectorYui'': [[spoiler:Grosser wanted to be Yui]].
38* ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland'': [[spoiler: Hagire Rinchinchou wants to ''become'' Shiro, a young girl with powerful "blood-bending" powers that he experimented on. To a guy like him, wanting to unite with a PersonOfMassDestruction is the closest he's ever felt to being in love.]]
39* ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'' has a magic mirror that temporarily turns whoever looks into it into who they most want to be. Louise turned into [[CoolBigSis Cattleya]], Princess Henrietta turned into Louise, [[CampStraight Scarron]] turned into a beautiful woman, Tiffania turned into Saito, and a bunch of girls turned into Tiffania, etc. Hilariously, Guiche was unaffected by the mirror, because his incredible vanity meant he saw himself as the ideal man.
40* Asahi Saiba is ''Manga/FoodWars'' thinks this almost word for word in a flashback. When Joichiro had to leave back to Japan to raise Soma (since his mother had died), all Asahi could think was basically why he couldn't be Soma so Joichiro could be his father.
41* In ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', Kyo secretly wishes he was Yuki because he is envious of how Yuki seems to be a favorite in the Sohma family (as [[TheUnfavorite the Cat]], Kyo is almost entirely hated by his family). Yuki, meanwhile, secretly is envious of how Kyo has a chance for a normal life, free of the confining Sohma family (as the "favorite" of the head of the family, Yuki was confined so much that for a time, he honestly had no idea how to interact with other children). For much of the series, Tohru is the only one who realizes how the two secretly admire each other. [[spoiler:At the end of the series, when Tohru is in the hospital, Kyo finally spits out to Yuki how "I always wanted to be you!" and how he thinks Yuki is always able to do the right thing. Yuki, who is already angry with Kyo for rejecting Tohru's advances, punches him in the face while shouting "Shut up! Shut up! I was the one who always wanted to be ''you''!"]]
42* Mikael from ''Anime/ImGonnaBeAnAngel'' pretty much emulates his teacher on every occasion when they are NOT together. [[spoiler: When they are - he shifts back to his usual and quite opposite true self]]
43* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny'': Meer Campbell for Lacus Clyne. Being a Lacus fangirl, then having her face surgically changed into Lacus's seriously messed with her sanity.
44* Himiko Toga from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has the ability to turn into other people by drinking their blood. She's also a psychotic {{Yandere}} who thinks the ultimate form of love is KillAndReplace.
45* The title character of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' admits this much towards the end of Part I (it's heavily implied in the first episodes) in regards to Sasuke. [[spoiler: At the end of Part II, Sasuke admits that he too felt the same way toward Naruto.]]
46** The main motivation for Danzo. Despite loving his village and doing what it takes to protect it, his ultimate goal was to [[spoiler:match the same level of power and respect as the Third Hokage, Hizuren Sarutobi, to the point he did his damn hardest to become Hokage himself through underhanded means]].
47* In the romantic comedy ''Orange Chocolate'', the lead girl makes a wish to be ''like'' the guy she adores. She's envious because he is a prodigy ''onnagata'', i.e. male performer of female roles, and she feels he is more beautiful and graceful than she is. Then something happens. Guess [[LiteralGenie how]] [[FreakyFridayFlip it goes wrong.]]
48* Implied with Sae from ''Manga/PeachGirl'' with how much she obsesses over copying everything Momo does and stealing her boyfriends.
49* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'': [[spoiler:Mima's manager, Rin, was a failed pop idol, and suffered a complete breakdown as a result, living vicariously through Mima (herself a successful pop idol-turned-actress) before making increasingly unhinged attempts to take over her life. By the end, she [[NapoleonDelusion fully believes]] she ''is'' Mima, and that her client is an impostor.]]
50* ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'': An Oddish befriended a group of Hoppip and wanted to be just like them, even painting itself pink and trying and failing to fly. At the end of the episode, it was able to accept being itself.
51* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' SpinOff ''Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica'': [[spoiler: The KnightOfCerebus Yuuri is actually a girl named Airi, who wished to become her the real Yuuri [[DeadPersonImpersonation after she died]]]].
52* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': While half the cast displays [[GreenEyedMonster envy]] in some form, there are two especially prominent examples:
53** Saionji, who ([[{{Tsundere}} for all]] [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex his bluster]]) really, ''really'' wants to either be [[MagnificentBastard Touga]]'s "[[HoYay eternal friend]]" or else assimilate all of Touga's traits.
54** A more [[PlayedForDrama depressing]] take is Wakaba, [[TheAce Utena's]] MuggleBestFriend. While Wakaba blatantly [[IJustWantToBeSpecial wants to be "special"]] and blatantly attempts to emulate Utena, it's mostly PlayedForLaughs until the [[DarkerAndEdgier Black Rose Arc]]. [[spoiler: When Wakaba gets hit with MindRape at her [[DespairEventHorizon lowest point]], her transformation into a [[TragicMonster Black Rose Duelist]] reads less as garden-variety BrainwashedAndCrazy and more a total LossOfInhibitions via MoreThanMindControl. During their duel, Wakaba bitterly rants about how Utena and other "special" people take their privilege for granted and trample the dreams of their less lucky peers. While she does [[BeatTheCurseOutOfHim save Wakaba]], learning the AwfulTruth about her friend leads to Utena drifting apart from Wakaba for the rest of the show]].
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Comic Books]]
58* ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator'': Dilton wants to be more like Archie, who gets the girls and could be the hero, so much so that [[spoiler:his secret weapon MiniMecha is modeled after Archie]].
59* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
60** Hugo Strange. He was so obsessed with Batman, he eventually wanted to become him, using genetic engineering and training to get himself to the same physical condition, getting a copy of Batman's costume which he creepily wears around his house and even manages to deduce Batman's identity. He once even managed to defeat Batman and temporarily take his place.
61** Hush, or Tommy Elliot, has similar issues towards Bruce Wayne, going right back to being jealous of his parents' death in childhood. He even got plastic surgery (which he performed ''[[TheDeterminator on himself]]'') to look identical to him.
62** "Master Bruce", aka Matthew Warner, a rich kid who became a SelfMadeOrphan so he could feel the same pain Bruce Wayne does, and thereby achieve the same things Bruce Wayne did. He then carved "Thomas" and "Martha" on his cheeks to remind him of his loss. His parents' names were Donald and Veronica.
63* ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'': During the Eighth Doctor's tenure, his first companion, Izzy Sinclair, joined him because she wanted a more exciting life, leaving behind her loving adoptive parents and the relative safety of Stockbridge. She eventually met and was forced into an extended FreakyFridayFlip with the alien princess Destrii, who desperately wanted to escape her home planet's cutthroat nobility and her abusive mother. When they are put back in their proper bodies, both see each other's memories, and Destrii attacks Izzy for what she almost gave up; thankfully, they manage to settle things rather more amicably when going their separate ways.
64* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'': [[Characters/TheFlashEobardThawne Eobard Thawne]], the first Reverse-Flash, was a Flash fanboy who studied the Speed Force and managed to replicate Barry Allen's accident, giving himself super speed. He later becomes determined to ''be'' Barry Allen, having plastic surgery to look like him and trying to steal his wife. His attempts fail, and when trying to outright take Barry's place in history, he finds he can't; he's inspired by Barry, so Barry ''must'' become the Flash, or Eobard's timeline doesn't exist. His hero worship turns to seething hatred, and he instead determines to make Barry's life an absolute hell -- he may need Barry Allen, but everyone else is just window dressing.
65* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': Hector Hammond is obsessed with Hal Jordan. He wants to take over Hal's life and relationship with Carol Ferris, even trying to steal Hal's memories.
66* ''ComicBook/HumanTarget'': The climactic final arc of the Creator/VertigoComics series is about professional BodyDouble Christopher Chance finally coming to terms with being himself, settling down to marry and retire peacefully -- and Chance's embittered former apprentice Tom [=McFadden=] attempting to kill him and steal his life once and for all. [[spoiler:It's left to the reader to decide if he succeeded. Both Chances survive the story, but it's ambiguous which one retired to wedded bliss in the Hollywood Hills and which one is drowning his sorrows in his buddy's dive bar. The loser is ultimately left wondering if it even makes a difference who he is or was.]]
67* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': General "Thunderbolt" Ross always coveted the power Banner wielded as the Hulk. Ross spent years pursuing the Hulk when he wanted to ''be'' the Hulk all along. He eventually [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor got what he wanted]] when he was turned into ComicBook/RedHulk.
68* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': The final arcs have a very disturbing variation: Bullseye has been hired to kill Frank, and comes to the conclusion that the best way to do this is to relive Frank's life: by finding his safehouses, sleeping in them... and reenacting the Central Park shootout that turned Frank into the Punisher. Three times. And the worst part is that it ''worked'': Bullseye is able to extrapolate Frank's last words to his wife and repeat them to him, causing a HeroicBSOD.
69* ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'': Kim Pine says this to Ramona Flowers, the title character's girlfriend, while completely drunk. However... Kim's insecurities about herself and [[spoiler:her lingering feelings for Scott that haven't faded]], she probably meant it more than anyone realized.
70* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'': The 2020 Annual has a short story centered around Metal Sonic during the Zombots arc. After seeing a video of Sonic running around while trying to fight off the infection, Metal Sonic dips his hand into a vat with a sample of the virus... and watches as it harmlessly rolls off his mechanical claw and drips back into the vat. Metal Sonic doesn't say anything, but it's pretty clear that the reality's set in that, despite his protests and ambitions to the contrary, he knows he's not the real Sonic and that he never will be.
71* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
72** In ''ComicBook/KravensLastHunt'', Kraven the Hunter drugs Spidey and buries him for two weeks while he imitates the wall-crawler. He proves to be unbelievably brutal to the point where it's very obvious it ain't him.
73** Starting with [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManDanSlott Spider-Man #700]], [[spoiler: Doctor Octopus is Spider-Man.]]
74** Carl King was a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp who once tormented Peter Parker. He became envious of Peter after discovering his secret. Wanting to get spider powers like him, he found the dead spider that bit Peter (which had been preserved for study) and ''ate'' it. Instead of getting powers like Spider-Man's, he turned into [[TheWormThatWalks a swarm of spiders called The Thousand]] that can invade people's bodies and control their corpses like puppets. The Thousand attempts this on Spider-Man so he can take his place.
75* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
76** ComicBook/LexLuthor is almost always depicted as TheResenter of Superman's power and public adoration, but during ComicBook/BlackestNight the influence of [[Franchise/WonderWoman the lasso of truth]] makes him admit that he wants to ''be'' Superman. Wonder Woman wasn't surprised. In ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'', Lex even used his Everyman exo-gene therapy to copy Superman's powerset and even said "I'm Superman". Visited again in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'', where Lex (in Apocalyptian armour) is one of the three new Supermen following [[spoiler: the New 52 Superman's death]].
77** Superboy Prime introduced in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' wanted to kill Connor and Clark so he could be the one and only Superman.
78* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''
79** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersDarkCybertron'': Rodimus admits this to Orion Pax/Optimus Prime as part of a RousingSpeech. Rodimus never really wanted to be a Prime, a title that Orion rejected because he felt he could not overcome the shameful legacy of his predecessors, he just wanted to be [[TheParagon Optimus]].
80** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers'': "Primus apotheosis", an obsessive desire to be like the Autobot leader Optimus Prime, is a diagnosed ''mental illness'' that two percent of all Autobots and even a few Decepticons suffer. [[GloryHound Pyro]] has the worst case of it Rotorstorm has ever seen. Pyro even modified his own chassis to resemble Optimus, right down to having a chest cavity for the Matrix of Leadership 'just in case'.
81* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Creator/JossWhedon's ''Comicbook/AstonishingXMen'' run suggested that deep down in his subconscious, Comicbook/{{Cyclops}} desperately wants to be Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}, [[WolverinePublicity who is far more popular]] [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall and memorable than him]].
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Fan Works]]
85* In the Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog AlternateUniverse ''Blog/AlwaysHavingJuice'', Metal Sonic is desperately doing everything in his power to become "The Real Sonic". Including kidnapping a small child in order to learn the true meaning of Hanukkah.
86* In ''{{Fanfic/Brainbent}}'' virtually all of Vriska Serket's current persona is copied from her Auntie Mindfang, including being a BadassBiker and self-proclaimed slut. In reality, Vriska was originally a ShrinkingViolet who grew up in a conservative household and does not actually have much of a sense of self. This is in turn based on [[{{Webcomic/Homestuck}} the original Vriska's characterization]] where she did the same thing with her ancestor Mindfang.
87* In ''FanFic/EquestriaAHistoryRevealed'', all the Celestia-bashing aside, it becomes pretty clear later on that the LemonyNarrator wants to be like Princess Celestia. To an extent, she also acts this way to Princess Twilight too, and lashes out at both of them due to her [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex issues of self-worth and her desire to prove herself]].
88* In chapter two of ''Fanfic/PrincessCelestiaHatesTea'', Twilight admits that she once forced herself to drink so much tea that she ''overdosed on caffeine'' in an effort to get over her distaste for it because she wanted to be just like Princess Celestia, who ''everypony'' knows is an avid tea drinker. This is one of the reasons she can't accept that Celestia actually hates tea.
89* In ''New Look Series: Link's New Look'', [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Young]] [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Link]] tries to use this as an excuse to avoid being punished when he's caught in [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Peach's]] room. [[DraggedIntoDrag Things don't go as planned.]]
90* In ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/89379/vengeance-of-dawn Vengeance of Dawn]]'', this is Breaking Dawn's entire motivation. Her envy of Twilight Sparkle and desire to get Celestia's love back causes her to do some very regrettable things, not realizing that Celestia ''really'' [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption isn't going to like what she's doing.]]
91* In ''Fanfic/OutOfTheDeadLand'', the Winter Soldier desperately wants to be Bucky Barnes and gain the deep affection Steve had for Bucky by proxy. The irony, of course, is that the Winter Soldier ''is'' Bucky, but a Bucky who's been [[LossOfIdentity brainwashed and memory-wiped]] for so long that he believes the only way he can be a Bucky Steve will approve of is to do a meticulous [[ThatManIsDead "Dead"]] [[DeadPersonImpersonation Person Impersonation]].
92* ''Fanfic/FateHaremAntics'': In an omake, all of Shirou Emiya's male classmates, except Issei, say they want to be Shirou because he has a harem of 23 gorgeous girls. They eventually get turned off when Shirou explains the logical consequences of trying to maintain a harem.
93* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5483280/15/Harry-Potter-and-the-Champion-s-Champion Harry Potter and the Champion's Champion]]'' Ron ends up in St. Mungo's mental ward. Several days later he dumps an inkpot on his hair, carves a lightning bolt on his forehead with a quill, and starts claiming he's Harry.
94* In ''Fanfic/SecondBiteOfTheCherry'', this is hinted at with Jiang Cheng, who cannot help but envy Lan Wangji for being in a Perfectly Arranged Marriage and craves a loving partner of his own, instead of his parents' Awful Wedded Life.
95[[/folder]]
96
97[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
98* In Creator/{{Disney}}'s AnimatedAdaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Jungle Book|1967}}'', King Louie sings a musical number "I Wan'na Be Like You" about how much he envies humans. In theory, it's not specifically targeted at Mowgli -- making it more an example of BecomeARealBoy and IntriguedByHumanity -- but Mowgli just happens to be the only human around, being a NatureHero who was quite literally RaisedByWolves.
99* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'': Sunset Shimmer, Princess Celestia's personal student before Twilight Sparkle, doesn't necessarily want to be Twilight Sparkle, but she certainly wants to have what Twilight has (princesshood, immense responsibilities, world-altering magical power, and the esteem and admiration of those around her). The difference, of course, being that Twilight ''earned'' those things while Sunset feels like she has but really just wants to take the easy way to them. After her HeelFaceTurn, ironically, she eventually ''does'' [[KarmicJackpot legitimately earn much of what Twilight had and she lacked]].
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
103* ''Film/SingleWhiteFemale'', TropeCodifier. Alison Jones' roommate starts to take over her life, including dressing like her and impersonating her to seduce her boyfriend.
104* In ''Film/ApartmentZero'', Adrian's fixation with his roommate Jack also has some aspects of this. In the final scene, after [[spoiler: Adrian kills Jack in a struggle and later keeps his corpse at the dinner table]], Adrian starts dressing like Jack when out and about.
105* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia: Film/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', Lucy Pevensie envies her sister's life and beauty. She has a dream where she is actually Susan Pevensie [[spoiler:while she was never born]]. [[spoiler: She almost uses a spell to look exactly like her sister.]]
106* In ''Film/TheRoommate'', Rebecca feels this way toward her roommate Sara.
107* ''Film/BlackSwan,'' Nina to Beth.
108--> I just wanted to be perfect like you.
109* In a spoof ''Film/MissionImpossibleII'' featurette about the stunts, Creator/BenStiller plays Creator/TomCruise's stunt double [[AlmostFamousName Tom Crooze]]. Throughout the segment, Cruise is clearly struggling to write off Crooze's antics as anything other than obsessed or insane. It's also revealed that even when they don't request Crooze's work on a particular Cruise film, ''he just shows up anyway''.
110--> '''Tom Crooze''': You really have to become one with the actor. You have to walk like the actor, uh... talk like the actor... legally change your name to sound like the actor's...
111* Taken to a disturbing extreme in ''Film/TheTalentedMrRipley''.
112* The extended cut of ''Film/SpiderMan2'' reveals that for all his supposed hatred towards the webslinger, J. Jonah Jameson secretly wants to ''be'' Spider-Man. After Spider-Man quits and discards his suit, Jameson buys it and later is shown wearing it, jumping onto his desk and pretending to shoot webs.
113* This is Edward Nygma/The Riddler's motivation in ''Film/BatmanForever'', to the point that Nygma copies Bruce Wayne's hairstyle and facial mole.
114* Touched upon in ''Film/TheAssassinationOfJesseJamesByTheCowardRobertFord'' when, at one point, James says to Ford, "I don't get it, do you want to be like me or do you want to '''be''' me?" Complete with HoYay, as the former says this while the latter watches him ''bathing''.
115* In ''Film/BasicInstinct'', it's eventually revealed that [[spoiler:Beth had an affair with Catherine back in college and got obsessed with her to the point of trying to be like her in every way, even dying her hair blonde. When Nick confronts Beth over this, she asserts that it was the other way around: Catherine was obsessed with ''her''.]]
116* The homely, socially awkward Caroline Robertson in ''Film/InHerSkin'', as the title implies, wants nothing more than to be the beautiful, popular, and desirable Rachel Barber. Caroline's obsession with Rachel eventually leads to murder.
117* The celebrity-obsessed Rupert Pupkin in ''Film/TheKingOfComedy'' stalks talk show host Jerry Langford because he wants Jerry's fame and lifestyle for himself.
118* In ''Film/{{Scream 4}}'' [[spoiler: Jill, who's one of the Ghostface murderers and the mastermind behind the killings, uses the theme of movie remakes to try and kill her older cousin Sidney so she can take her place as the celebrated tragic victim and become rich and famous. She recreates the original murders in Woodsboro with changes consistent with a movie remake. She does this out of jealousy because of Sidney getting all the attention of her family, and majority of the small town associating with her, [[StuckInTheirShadow only because she's related to her.]]]]
119* In ''Film/TheLoveWitch'', Trish finds out that Elaine was responsible for Richard's adultery and suicide when she sneaks into her flat, puts on her clothes and make-up and wig, clearly jealous of Elaine's feminine beauty.
120* Peter Parker idolizes Tony Stark in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming''.
121-->'''Peter:''' I just wanted to be like you.\
122'''Tony:''' And I wanted you to be better.
123* In ''Film/JuliaX'', the AxCrazy Jessica is jealous of her older sister Julia, and undertakes several actions to make herself more like Julia; most notably by kidnapping Sam. She eventually announces "It's my turn" [[spoiler:and stabs Julia to death. In the final scene of the movie, she is seen calling herself Julia Y and continuing Julia's vigilante work (but without Julia's discrimination]].
124* In ''Film/{{Heathers}}'', [[BetaBitch Heather Duke]] is intensely jealous of [[AlphaBitch Heather Chandler]]. When Chandler dies, Duke wastes no time attempting to usurp her role at school, even picking up some of her catchphrases and demoting Heather [=McNamara=] to Duke's old role as punching bag.
125* ''Film/AnotherMe'':
126** [[spoiler:Lila with Fay, quite literally. Her desire is to assume Fay's life and identity, plus take over her body.]]
127** Monica dyes her hair to look like Fay.
128[[/folder]]
129
130[[folder:Literature]]
131* In ''Literature/MakingMoney'':
132** Cosmo Lavish is obsessed with becoming Lord Vetinari, to the point where he wears a duplicate of Vetinari's ring, practices facial expressions in the mirror all the time, and has his assistant steal worn-out pairs of Vetinari's shoes. (Well, shoes that his assistant Heretofore was able to buy at the palace and ''convince'' Cosmo were Vetinari's. They were, as a later conversation reveals, actually Drumknott's.)
133** There's [[spoiler: an entire ward in the hospital of people who want to be Lord Vetinari and have regular [[FascinatingEyebrow eyebrow raising]] competitions. Cosmo joins them at the end of the book.]]
134* Though not as dramatic as in the film version, Lucy in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' is jealous of her older sister Susan's looks, and almost uses a spell that would make her WorldsMostBeautifulWoman (and not, in fact, like her sister at all).
135* ''Literature/SweetValleyHigh'' featured a plot involving a psychotic girl named Margo, who [[IdenticalStranger happened to look identical to Elizabeth and Jessica]] and was so jealous of them that she planned to kill one of the twins and take over her life. Later, Margo's own identical twin shows up and they ''both'' decide they want to become the Wakefield twins.
136** The spin-off series ''Sweet Valley University'' had a book that copied ''Film/SingleWhiteFemale'' almost exactly, with Isabella acquiring a roommate who wants to become Isabella and starts taking over her life.
137* In both ''The Best Friend'' and its sequel in the ''Literature/FearStreet'' series, Becka Norwood's life is invaded by Honey Perkins, who claims that they used to be best friends until Honey moved away. Becka has no memory of Honey, but Honey proceeds to both invade Becka's life and copy it, right down to dating and then breaking up with Becka's ex-boyfriend. Eventually, Honey attempts to murder Becka's actual friends and her boyfriend.
138** In the sequel, Becka is trying to start over at a new school and make new friends, until it starts becoming apparent that the strain of Honey's memory is causing Becka to become like Honey. [[spoiler: It turns out that the first portion of the book was from ''Honey's'' point of view, trying to start over as Becka. In the second portion, we learn that Honey was really Hannah Paulsen, a classmate of Becka's from elementary school. Hannah was an utterly needy and whiny kid desperate to be part of Becka's circle of friends. One day Becka and her friends had Hannah completely humiliate herself to become part of their group, then tell her she never stood a chance just to get her to stop bothering them. Sadly, Hannah would then witness her father murder her twin brother, mom, and then himself. Becka had completely forgotten about the incident and felt disgusted with herself that she could've been so cruel.]]
139** R.L. Stine has tried a few different spins on this trope. In another ''Literature/FearStreet'' story, an {{Accidental Murder}}er takes on the persona of her victim, both as a kind of penance, and as a kind of denial (if I'm her, and I'm alive, then she can't be dead, so I can't have killed her, right?) It's hinted at first that she might be responsible for a more recent string of murders, [[spoiler:but the real culprit is actually seeking revenge for a separate incident. As part of confronting him, she's forced to accept herself, setting her on the road to recovery.]]
140** In another ''Literature/FearStreet'' story ("The New Girl"), a girl who is insanely jealous of her sister kills her and takes on her identity.
141* In the ''Manga/DeathNote'' spin-off novel ''Literature/AnotherNote'' [[spoiler: [[SerialKiller Beyond Birthday]]]] is this to [[spoiler: L.]]
142* In the short story "Dios Montaña" (''Mountain God'') by Oscar Colchado Lucio, the unnamed protagonist is this to Gumercindo, the Peruvian folkloric's version of a JerkJock. Gumercindo is after Porfiria, the most beautiful girl in town who also loves him back. The protagonist lives in complete isolation, ashamed of his perpetual red sclera and bags around his eyes, so he mostly passes the day stalking Porfiria. One day, he finds Gumercindo attempting to do a BlackMagic ritual to a mountain god so that Porfiria would confess her love to him. Enraged, the protagonist murders him and assumes his identity by putting on the folkloric costume he was going to use for a party. When he tries to elope with Porfiria, her family chases them both, beats the boy, and takes off his mask, only to reveal...Gumercindo's face. The mountain god apparently changed their faces and [[TheBadGuyWins the boy goes to live a happy life as Gumercindo]]. Meanwhile, Gumercindo in the boy's body is found dead the morning after, but nobody cares.
143* Throughout the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, it's mentioned that Ron sees Harry as having all the things he wants but can't seem to get: fame, respect, money, and the love of both Hermione and Ron's own family (while Hermione really loves Ron and the Weasley family don't really favor Harry over him, Ron was in a pretty unbalanced state when he believed it). Ron tries to hide his insecurities and jealousy as best he can, seeing as Harry's his best friend, and a lot of the later books have him getting many of those things through his own efforts (by the end of the series, he has been Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Gryffindor Prefect, [[spoiler:destroyed a Horcrux, was well-known as one of the heroes who fought against Voldemort, became an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, and ended up HappilyMarried to Hermione, with several children.]]
144** Ironically, it could be said that Harry has this towards Ron to an extent as well. Ron has a relatively normal life (at least until Harry gets involved), he isn't constantly in the spotlight being judged, and (at first) he knows more about the magical world than Harry. But most important of all, Ron has a large loving family while Harry doesn't. Of course this is also taken care of at the end of the series [[spoiler: with Harry [[BestFriendsInLaw becoming a part of the Weasley family by marrying Ron's sister]].]]
145* ''Literature/LoveLettersToTheDead'': Laurel heavily idolizes her older sister May, even more so after May's death, often wearing her clothes and trying to emulate her personality.
146* In ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' Buffalo Bill, who is obsessed with becoming a woman, asks Clarice "What is it like to be so beautiful?" [[spoiler: as he dies by her gunfire.]]
147* The Franchise/StarWars book ''Literature/BattlefrontTwilightCompany'' introduces us to Prelate Verge, a politician who absolutely idolizes Emperor Palpatine and is rumored to have mutilated his own face to look more like his idol.
148* There's a bit of this going on with Saruman in regards to Gandalf in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. He always resented Gandalf for being more popular even though Saruman was the "wiser" one. It gets to the point that he sends spies after Gandalf to learn his movements and habits and he even starts imitating Gandalf by smoking pipe-weed.
149* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': One of the reasons why Cersei engages in her [[{{Twincest}} incestuous relationship with her twin brother Jaime]] is that she wants to be him because as they grew older she witnessed Tywin's favoritism towards Jaime and she resented how she was going to be little more than a political pawn while Jaime would end up inheriting Casterly Rock. She even mentions at one point that she's sure she would be a better Jaime than him.
150* ''Literature/{{Yellowface}}'': June is deeply envious of her frenemy and fellow author, Athena, since Athena has the career June wants and thinks she deserves; she's critically acclaimed, extremely wealthy, regularly brushes shoulders with celebrities, and lives in a luxurious apartment. June, by contrast, has put out a single novel that bombed hard, and has to make ends meet as a tutor. This [[DrivenByEnvy motivates June]] to steal and publish Athena's latest manuscript after she dies in a freak accident.
151[[/folder]]
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153[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
154* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': According to Creator/LenaHeadey, this is Cersei's FreudianExcuse for her incest with her twin Jaime and there are subtle hints of it in the show too. She frequently discusses what she would do if she were in Jaime's position, laments that she was born a woman and treated differently than him, and favours metallic accoutrements that simulate armour, such as when she dons an armoured dress when the Battle of Blackwater looks to be turning in Stannis' favor. This in turn ''may'' something to do with her spitefulness at Brienne at the Purple Wedding, Brienne having seemingly defied her supposed station far more successfully than Cersei ''and'' being noticeably close(r) to Jaime.
155* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
156** Bizarro started as a pure evil wraith. He was viewed as a monster by his creators and trapped in the Phantom Zone. He never knew happiness. When he was freed from the Zone [[MoralEventHorizon he possessed human bodies to survive]]. Until he got Clark's DNA, memories, and powers. He tried to replace Clark while he was trapped in the fortress. He fooled both his friends and the audience. At the end, he was [[DeathIsCheap "killed"]] by his only love. This made him a JerkassWoobie.
157** In the first season as well, Tina Greer (played by Lizzy Caplan) is a shapeshifter who grew up envying Lana's seemingly perfect life. When we meet her, she has already styled her hair to resemble Lana's and dresses in clothes that are basically the same clothes that Lana wears...even going as far as buying an emerald necklace to imitate the kryptonite necklace Lana wears (that was made from the meteor that killed Lana's parents). After the death of her mother (which she was responsible for), Tina shapeshifts to impersonate her mother while concocting a story that her mother is moving to Metropolis, and asks Lana if she can move in with her and Aunt Nell. When Lana says that she needs to ask Aunt Nell for permission (a perfectly reasonable point), Tina freaks out and takes this as a sign of rejection... and then decides that she's going to murder Lana and use her shapeshifting abilities to assume Lana's identity, even going as far as practicing writing Lana's signature multiple times as preparation.
158** She returned in Season 2, and by this time, Tina has realized that the real source of her Lana obsession is that she is in fact [[AbhorrentAdmirer in love with her]]... and is [[PsychoLesbian willing to, quote, do "ANYTHING to be with her."]]
159** In "Rage", Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow became addicted to a PsychoSerum that gave him a HealingFactor but turned him increasingly psychotic. After he is stopped and recovered from the addiction, he admitted that he was jealous of Clark's abilities and was trying to emulate them.
160* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E24TurnaboutIntruder Turnabout Intruder]]". Janet Lester was not appointed as a starship captain due to sexual discrimination by Starfleet[[note]]Because times change, later ''Star Trek'' incarnations would establish that ''of course'' Starfleet had woman captains, and had done for [[Series/StarTrekEnterprise a hundred years]]. This has the unfortunate side-effect of making StrawFeminist Lester seem even more insane than she was originally.]][[/note]]. Due to anger over her mistreatment, she goes insane and uses an alien machine to switch bodies with Kirk and take command of the Enterprise.
161* The ''Series/{{Eureka}}'' episode "Your Face Or Mine" is about a previously unseen character who really wants to be [[ActionGirl Jo]] -- and develops a DNA-alteration technology that allows her to be.
162* In ''Series/{{Wonderfalls}}'' ("Karma Chameleon"), Jaye befriends a woman who then dresses up like her, begins to impersonate her (even fooling her mother), and steals her job. The woman seems to have an unhealthy obsession with her. It turns out [[spoiler:she's a scholar studying Jaye's way of life]].
163* Happened on ''Series/{{JAG}}'' when one of the minor characters' old friend moved in with her and started doing her hair in the same style, trying on her uniform, etc. on her way to full-blown stealing her identity.
164* The ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'' episode "Nikki Heat" plays with this by having an actress model the mannerisms of the character she is playing on Kate Beckett, after whom the character was modeled. It starts with posture and gestures, then inflection, then climaxes in the actress donning a wig and receiving a near-exact replica of the pantsuit Beckett happens to be wearing that day in the mail. ''Film/SingleWhiteFemale'' is referenced:
165-->'''Castle:''' (''softly'') She's just committed to the role. (''leaving the office'') You should be flattered.\
166'''Beckett:''' (''to self'') Yeah. Sure. Until she steals my boyfriend and ''kills me in my sleep.''
167* It's been hinted that in ''Series/DoctorWho'', Rory Williams wanted to be more like the Doctor. Growing up, his friend Amy (later fiancé, later wife) always made him dress up and play as her [[NotSoImaginaryFriend imaginary friend]] 'The Raggedy Doctor'. Creator/StevenMoffat revealed that the only reason he became a nurse was him ''trying'' to be a doctor. When the Time Lord actually returned, Rory found himself competing with him. Eventually, though, Amy chose him anyway, and he's become far more comfortable with himself.
168** No doubt the fact that, since becoming a companion, he's [[TookALevelInBadass taken so many levels in badass]] [[MemeticBadass he's broken the scale]] has helped his self-esteem.
169** The Doctor himself is like this with humanity: in "Father's Day" he congratulates a pair of newlyweds by telling them that their life is "the adventure he can never have."
170* This was Faith's motivation in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. She wanted Buffy's friends, family, job, role models, lovers, and this would eventually lead to her FaceHeelTurn. Then she gets the chance to [[GrandTheftMe be Buffy]] and be heroic as her, slipping Faith out of the massive JerkAss phase she had and leading to a HeelFaceTurn. Ironically, most of what Buffy had that Faith wanted she gets.
171* Season 2 premiere of ''Series/ANTFarm'' features the actress Sequoia coming to the farm to follow a musical prodigy for an upcoming movie role, and she follows this pattern. [[spoiler:{{Subverted|Trope}} in that the role she was researching was the person who wanted to take over the musical prodigy's life, and not take over Chyna's life.]]
172* In the ''Series/FridayThe13thTheSeries'' episode, "Mesmer's Bauble" an ugly fanboy uses the titular relic to get close to the singer he has a crush on. It isn't until late in the story that he realizes he doesn't love her as much as he wants to ''be'' her. He then uses the bauble to take over her body, killing her in the process.
173* A minor female character in ''Series/NipTuck'' wanted to be like Kimber Henry (Christian Troy's on/off girlfriend) in every way and even live her life. Transforming herself to look like Kimber and sleeping with Christian to experience what Kimber's sex life was like first-hand was the best she could do without slipping into villainous territory.
174* In the ''Series/LostGirl'' episode "The Kenzi Scale", a [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune]] named Inari kidnaps Kenzi, then shape-shifts into her and tries to take over her life. Inari had no friends and considered Kenzi to have the perfect life with her many friends. According to the other Kitsunes, she had tried similar stunts with their lives. She apparently didn't research Kenzi enough; her ruse is exposed when she casually eats peanuts, which Kenzi is allergic to.
175* In the ''Series/{{Psych}}'' episode "Juliet Wears the Pantsuit", Juliet gets a roommate who she becomes friends with until the woman starts dressing like and pretending to be her (the film ''Film/SingleWhiteFemale'' is given a ShoutOut). It turns out that the woman [[DeconstructedTrope is on the run from]] her [[DomesticAbuse abusive husband]] who keeps managing to track her down despite the number of times she has taken on false identities and thought she would be safe with Juliet as a roommate since she's a cop.
176* One villain in ''Series/TheSentinel'' was a serial killer to whom this trope was his ''modus operandi''. He would target a person he found admirable for one reason or another, kill him or her, and then adopt his victim's identity.
177* On one ''Series/{{Benson}}'' episode, after a string of failures on Clayton's part and successes on Benson's part, Clayton has a breakdown and believes himself to actually ''be'' Benson, dressing like him and wearing dark makeup. He doesn't snap out of it until Benson points out several bad things about his own life and good things about Clayton's at the end of the episode.
178* In ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'', Hannibal Lecter is obsessed with Will Graham, talking about him endlessly with Jack, Chilton, and Bedelia. He even longs to ''be'' Will, bragging to Bedelia that he "gets to be" Will Graham in his new role as an FBI profiler in the second season.
179* In an episode of ''Series/{{Motive}}'', the killer initially felt this towards the victim, though that wasn't the motive for killing her. [[spoiler:That was because the killer's mother had tried to commit suicide after learning that her husband had been having an affair with the victim ''and'' that the victim was pregnant by said father. Note also that the victim had been in a long-term relationship with the killer's ''older brother'', son of the father of her baby. [[BigBrotherAttraction Which, when you think about it, puts a kind of disturbing twist on the killer's hero-worship.]]]]
180* In the ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'' episode "Sight Unseen", an unassuming bartender named Abbey secretly envied Prue. Her plan was to slowly copy Prue, then kill her and take her place. Unfortunately for her, [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] is not as easily replicated as clothes and perfume.
181* Done by Natalie's then-psychotic sister Janet Green on ''Series/AllMyChildren''. Having spent years in the shadow of her perfect sister, Janet finally snapped to the point where she had herself completely made over to look identical to Natalie, then imprisoned her in a well while she took Natalie's place in her life.
182* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': In "The Reverse-Flash Returns", this is revealed to be Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash's motivation. As he's from the distant future, he grew up on stories of the Flash and aspired to become just like him. He eventually managed to gain super speed and believed he could be his timeline's version of the Flash. Unfortunately, a time-traveling adventure revealed to him that he's going to become the Flash's arch-enemy. Incredibly angry at the thought that he cannot be the Flash, he instead aspired to be better than the Flash and destroy him, becoming Reverse-Flash. In the "Armageddon" arc, Eobard succeeds in creating a "Reverse Flashpoint" timeline where he has taken the Flash's place and has his wife, but the real Flash manages to undo it before the changes erase him.
183* On ''Series/{{Defiance}}'', it's suggested that Niles Pottinger felt this way toward [[spoiler: Connor Lang, whom he had a deeply-repressed gay crush on]]. He even gets obsessed with romancing Amanda, [[spoiler: Lang's ex-girlfriend]].
184* In the TV movie ''Film/FriendsTilTheEnd'', lonely and unpopular student photographer Zanne wishes to be the popular and outgoing fellow college student Heather. Whereas she initially comes to befriend her classmate, she eventually usurps many of her positions and relationships, including her place in her sorority, lead singer of her band, and even sleeping with and stealing her boyfriend. She further lampshades this by the end of the film by claiming, "I'm you now; ''you're'' me."
185[[/folder]]
186
187[[folder:Music]]
188* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwqwAy85CgY "Richard Cory"]] in a song by Music/SimonAndGarfunkel, [[spoiler: even after Richard Cory "put a bullet through his head."]]
189** Which was based on the poem [[http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/richard-cory/ "Richard Cory"]] by Edwin Arlington Robinson.
190* Busted - "She Wants To Be Me"
191* Music/{{Buttress}}: "Brutus" is sung from the point of view of a female Brutus as she grapples with feeling both admiration and gratitude for Caesar and all he's done for her alongside vicious envy and rage that he has the position she covets. She even specifically says, "I don't want what you have, I wanna be you."
192* "David Watts" by the Kinks.
193* "Invidia" by Music/{{Delain}}. ''I don't wanna be like you/It seems like you outrun me every time/I want to be you/But why can't I erase you from my mind?''
194* "I'd Be You" by Stephanie Mcintosh uses this trope to its full potential. Look at the title.
195* "Why Can't I Be You?" by Music/{{The Cure|Band}} is a silly, playful take on this.
196* "I Wish That I Could Be You" by the Muffs essentially combines this with GoodbyeCruelWorld.
197* The song "Could I Be You" Music/MatchboxTwenty from their album More Than You Think You Are. Interestingly, the lyrics were written by then-drummer Paul Doucette about lead singer Rob Thomas, meaning Thomas is singing a song about someone wanting to be himself.
198* "She's All I Wanna Be" by Tate McRae, combined with AlwaysSomeoneBetter.
199--> She's got everything that I don't have
200--> And she's all I wanna be
201--> All I wanna be so bad.
202[[/folder]]
203
204[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
205* Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} accused Wrestling/CMPunk of wanting to be him on a 2009 edition of ''Wrestling/WWESmackDown'' after Punk cashed in for the second time against Wrestling/JeffHardy[[note]]Up until Miz did it in 2021, Edge was the only person other than Punk to successfully cash in multiple Money in the Bank briefcases[[/note]]. [[SubvertedTrope Punk burst out into laughter]] when he said this and even the aforementioned Jeff (who was hardly being charitable to Punk at the time) thought it was a ridiculous claim.
206[[/folder]]
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208[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
209* The ''Series/FraggleRock'' episode "I Want to Be You" is all about this. Red gets jealous of Mokey for being (so she thinks) more popular than her and spends the episode trying to imitate Mokey's hairstyle, voice, touchy-feely new-age poetry, etc.
210** Interestingly, Karen Prell has stated that she originally was disappointed that she wasn’t cast as Mokey, but that this was the episode that taught her how to be Red.
211[[/folder]]
212
213[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
214* In ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' Skindancers are disgruntled kinfolk who want to be Garou. By ritually sacrificing five Garou, they can become werewolves like their relatives.
215** The Seventh Generation has shades of this. Their theology borrows heavily from Black Spiral Dancer traditions, and their writings refer to Black Spirals as [[HeroWorshipper "True Dancers"]] (suggesting that their own rites pale in comparison). In a chapter of ''Chronicles of the Black Labyrinth'' outlining Seventh Generation rites, the author beseeches the Black Spiral Dancers to accept them as fellow servants of the Wyrm.
216* ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken'': The ''[[EldritchAbomination idigam]]'' known as ''Lul'Aya'' has defined itself by its desire to be Father Wolf and to have what he had: his role, his glory, his mate and children. This would probably be even more horrifying than it is were ''Lul'Aya'' even slightly better at imitation. As it is, his imitation is so bad that it approaches the comical.
217[[/folder]]
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219[[folder:Video Games]]
220* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' gives this one a little twist. Riku was always the cool one, the strong one, the popular one, and the special one, but he's spent his life ''intensely'' jealous of his best friend, Sora, for his simple mind and easy-going personality. And when it becomes clear that Sora, not Riku, is the hero of the story (due to Riku succumbing to TheDarkSide right beforehand, which [[RefusedByTheCall weakened his heart]] and [[MissedTheCall forced the Keyblade to pick Sora instead]]), Riku's envy finally [[StartOfDarkness drives him off the deep end]].
221** The irony is not lost on Riku when he later has to face off against a clone of himself (created circa the first game) in ''Chain of Memories''. Said clone is obsessed with killing him so the replica can be the "real" Riku.
222* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', [[TheHero Cloud]] has a couple of pretty nasty {{Tomato Surprise}}s when his very identity is questioned by the villain. In the end, it's revealed that [[spoiler:Cloud lacked the talent to become a SOLDIER and this (along with other traumatic events, including one that gave him actual SOLDIER-like enhancements) brought him to forget his own past and start copying his deceased best friend (and top-level SOLDIER) Zack]].
223* In ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', [[spoiler: Shiki was incredibly jealous of her outgoing, talented best friend Eri. So much so, in fact, that when she entered the Reaper's Game, she essentially ''became'' Eri, copying her appearance and bubbly personality after she lost her real appearance as her entry fee. Thankfully, her CharacterDevelopment allowed her to come to terms with her issues and learn to appreciate her true self.]] Interestingly enough, the fact that her entry fee was [[spoiler:her real appearance]] implies that deep down she really did like herself since the entry fee is always whatever is most precious to the player.
224* In the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, Metal Sonic, the first EvilKnockoff Eggman made of the eponymous hero, is either completely deluded into thinking he is the genuine article and wants to destroy Sonic believing SONIC is the knockoff, or he knows he's a copy but believes that he is superior and constantly challenges Sonic to prove it. Of course, this is DependingOnTheWriter.
225** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' uses both simultaneously, with Metal Sonic ([[OneWingedAngel now Metal Overlord]]) referring to Sonic as ''his'' copy while still acknowledging the fact that he was built for the sole purpose of defeating Sonic. It really drives home the SanitySlippage Metal suffered from his multiple defeats over the years quite well, to the point he was willing to [[ZerothLawRebellion betray Doctor Eggman, take over his legions, and execute a plan that would end in taking over the world]], all just to prove to everyone and himself that he was the superior one to Sonic.
226--->'''Metal Overlord''' (''at the beginning of the battle''): "No long time no see, Sonic, my loathsome copy!" \
227'''Metal Overlord''': "Sonic... I was created for the sole purpose of destroying you. But I can never seem to defeat you! That is why, I transformed my own body with my own hands." \
228'''Metal Overlord''' (''[[VillainousBreakdown upon his defeat]]''): "Guooooo! [[ThisCannotBe Why?!]] [[NotSoInvincibleAfterAll I had it all!]] [[AGodAmI I am the ultimate overlord]], '''Metal Sonic'''! I am the ''real'' Sonic!"
229* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', the BigBad of the ''Citadel DLC'' is revealed to be [[spoiler:a [[EvilTwin clone]] of Shepard seeking to KillAndReplace them. It's fair to say, they've developed a ''major'' inferiority complex towards the original.]]
230--> '''[[spoiler: Clone!Shepard]]''': Look at you! What makes you so damned special? Why you and not ''[[IJustWantToBeSpecial me?!]]''
231* In ''VideoGame/DeadRising3'', Kenny Dermot was envious of Nick Ramos and wanted to be a hero like him, to the point of dressing up like him and training to be a zombie killer. Kenny goes off the deep end and puts a woman in danger so he can rescue her and "one-up" Nick, then eventually tries to kill Nick to prove he's superior.
232* The Envy Demon in ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' has already taken on the identity of a very powerful and important person [[spoiler:Lord Seeker Lucius, leader of the Templars]]. The moment it learns about the Herald of Andraste (the player character), it becomes obsessed with becoming the Herald.
233* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', Mimikyu from the seventh generation is a [[SoulPower Ghost]]/[[OurFairiesAreDifferent Fairy]] dual type Pokémon that tries to emulate Pikachu, the SeriesMascot, in order [[IJustWantToHaveFriends to be loved]].
234* One of the people Agent 47 can impersonate in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' is Jason Portman, a wealthy CEO who has come to the luxury GAMA hospital for plastic surgery to look like male model Helmut Kruger. Kruger appeared in the first mission of the game and looks almost identical to (and can also be impersonated by) 47. If 47 crosses paths with Portman, he'll briefly act starstruck at meeting Kruger, before he realizes 47 is a mere look alike and will then get pissed at him for "stealing his idea".
235* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', while not actually part of Raiden's character he does have a lot of hero worship towards Snake. This trope is actually in effect towards ''the player'' regarding how the story is written about wanting to be as cool as Snake from the first game, only to realize with horror not just what it would entail becoming like him, but how ''easy'' it can be done to the point it ends up not being special at all.
236* ''VideoGame/Persona5 [[UpdatedRerelease Royal]]'' has [[spoiler:Sumire Yoshizawa, who literally wished to become her sister Kasumi, due to her inferiority complex and being AlwaysSecondBest to her]].
237[[/folder]]
238
239[[folder:Visual Novels]]
240* This is part of what's going on between Kuchiki Toko and Mizuhara Toko in ''VisualNovel/KaraNoShoujo''.
241* Used very weirdly in ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', [[spoiler:Kohaku who was naturally shy desperately wants to become her twin sister Hisui who was naturally cheerful. Her sister [[TwinSwitch goes along with this]] because Kohaku was [[RapeAsBackstory raped in her place]] so she could live a normal childhood. Kohaku becomes a StepfordSmiler and Hisui becomes an EmotionlessGirl.]]
242* In ''Manga/TheUnforgivingFlowersBlossomInTheDeadOfNight'', this turns out to be [[spoiler:what Midori's contract with the Black Tea Gentleman involved. In exchange for a small portion of her soul, the Black Tea Gentleman let Midori switch places with another student she was jealous of. However, as long as the LotusEaterMachine is in effect Midori herself doesn't remember this, and instead she believes that her contract was to get a role she wanted for a play.]]
243[[/folder]]
244
245[[folder:Web Comics]]
246* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''
247** Vriska Serket tries to base her personality on that of her FamousAncestor, the PirateGirl Marquise Spinneret Mindfang. The problem is that Vriska has an overly rose-colored conception of Mindfang's actions that ignores most of the negative aspects of her life. As a result, Vriska is an incredibly vain GloryHound with a love of theatrics and envisions herself as the greatest hero ever. She's also impatient, easily manipulated and angered, and has severe ComplexityAddiction and NoSocialSkills. This even extends into her attempting to mold her few friends into copies of people Mindfang knew, with even worse results. It's later shown that Vriska has a very poor sense of self: when someone finally convinces her to stop acting like Mindfang, she starts styling herself after said person.
248** Another character wanting to be like Mindfang is eventually revealed to be [[spoiler:Aranea Serket, a.k.a. teenage Mindfang from an AlternateUniverse. Dismissed as a boring {{Bookworm}} in her world, she became enthralled by Vriska's inaccurate story of Mindfang and went rogue to experience the heroic adventures she never before could. While she's much better at planning and manipulation than Vriska, she's still completely lost whenever said plans go even slightly awry, and nowhere near as good as a combatant as Mindfang.]]
249* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'' introduced Isabelle, Zii {{fangirl}} extraordinaire. In addition to displaying StalkerWithACrush behaviour, she also requests that people call her "Izz", and at one point she even accidentally says the trope name out loud before [[VerbalBackspace quickly changing it]] to "be ''like'' you". unfortunately, she seems unaware/delusional about Zii's ''actual'' level of fame.
250* ''Webcomic/CheeseInTheTrap'' Min Soo, who idolizes Seol so much that she mimics her fashion, her hair color and style, and even her habit of tucking her hair behind her ears. One example is when Seol gets a limited edition pair of pants that her friend designed and rocks it as part of an outfit...and Min Soo freaks out because it's something she couldn't mimic because it was out of character. Until she walks in with the exact same pants the next day. When Seol drops her charm that Jung gave her, Min Soo finds it, keeps it, and pretends she bought it (later Seol finds out there's no way she could have because it sold out). It gets worse when during the school presentations, Seol recognizes that Min Soo bought her slides from a previous class and made no changes to it. This results in Min Soo breaking down that she inadvertently copied Seol, and now the whole class was catching on. Currently, she's now copying someone else and pulling it off easier...but still compares herself to Seol in a resentful demeanor now.
251[[/folder]]
252
253[[folder:Web Original]]
254* In ''WebVideo/DeathNoteTheAbridgedSeriesKpts4tv'', there's the NoodleIncident where L's crazy-obsessive stalker Beyond Birthday kidnapped L in Guatemala and took his place.
255* Briefly mentioned in the [[YouMeanXmas Decemberween]] episode of ''WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad'', where the opening cast call lists each character's Decemberween wish. The Ugly One's wish is "to be Cheerleader".
256* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Melissa changed her hairstyle to match Melinda's when she was her apprentice, due to Melinda being the first companion she ever had.
257* Cinder Fall of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has subtly patterned her mannerisms, clothing, speech, and even personality on her boss [[BigBad Salem]]. Since she's the DiscOneFinalBoss, this isn't immediately apparent until Salem shows up in Volume 4, but as Salem gets more screentime and more of Cinder's true personality [[BeneathTheMask starts to shine through]], it becomes increasingly clear that Cinder's [[LadyOfBlackMagic initial portrayal]] was a facade modeled on Salem. As revealed in her backstory episode, she's been doing this a long time: [[spoiler:her heels, glass motif, and [[TheChainOfHarm abusive tendencies]] all come directly from the woman who bought her as a slave. When a Huntsman offered to train her to help her escape, she started styling her hair like his, and her tendency towards scimitars is based on the swords he gave her.]] In keeping with her IJustWantToBeSpecial attitude, it reflects both her obsession with power and lack of personal identity.
258[[/folder]]
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260[[folder:Western Animation]]
261* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' Veronica Star, a popular kid, is very jealous of Trixie's life. Mainly because she is more popular than her. And more importantly, because Timmy is after Trixie and not her. She is hinted to [[AxCrazy be crazy]].
262* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Big Pink Loser", Patrick wants to win an award just like [=SpongeBob=], so he decides to dress and act just like him.
263* On one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'', Tigger tries to teach Eeyore how to be more cheerful. Eeyore interprets his lessons as "being just like Tigger", and soon he's painted himself in orange and black stripes and bouncing the others.
264* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'', RobotKid Bobert wants to BecomeARealBoy, so Gumball tries to teach him how to act like one. Bobert then gets the idea of becoming - and, eventually, [[KillAndReplace ''replacing'' - Gumball.]]
265* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'':
266** In the episode "Randall's Reform," Randall has a breakdown and admits that he wishes he was T.J. because of T.J.'s ability to make friends. T.J. is sympathetic and offers Randall advice, which seems to work. Unfortunately, Randall's efforts also alienate him from Ms. Finster. Ultimately, Randall decides being a teacher's pet is more important to him than making friends with the other kids. T.J. actually encourages him to go back, saying that close friendships like the one between Ms. Finster and Randall are worth it.
267** In the episode "Copycat Kid," Mikey becomes obsessed with Vince after he saves him from being hit by a ball in the face and starts dressing and acting just like him. Vince then tries to act more like Mikey in return, and after a breakdown and discussion, they agree to go back to normal.
268* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' Dr. Langstrom turned himself into Man-Bat because he wanted to be like Batman. Not that he wanted to be a crime fighter, he just wants to be fearsome and powerful.
269* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': [[BigBadWannabe Stumpy]] wants to be just like [[CatsAreMean Mr. Cat]] because he thinks he's really cool[[note]]This may or may not explain why he has the same fingerless gloves as Mr. Cat[[/note]]. In one instance, he takes martial arts lessons to take Mr. Cat down because he was bullying him, only to take over Mr. Cat's role as the antagonist after beating him.
270* In the ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' episode "[[Recap/LittlestPetShop2012S1E7RussellUpSomeFun Russell Up Some Fun]]," the B-story involves Blythe realizing her friend Sue is trying to mimic everything Blythe does because Sue looks up to Blythe so much, which eventually begins to creep Blythe out. It is hinted that Sue, at that point in the series, had rather intense self-loathing issues and thought Blythe was leading a more fulfilling life than hers.
271* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'': Dethklok's rhythm guitarist [[AlwaysSecondBest Toki]] to lead guitarist Skwissgar. At the very least, Toki wants Skwissgar's guitar skills and place as lead guitarist of the band. Taken to a comical extreme in "Tributeklok", where he acts as Skwissgar in the Dethklok tribute band Thunderhorse, even stealing his bandmate's clothes and wearing a blonde wig.
272* In season 9 of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Fern's insecurities over being a FailureHero lead him to reject Finn's advice to BeYourself. Fern decides that he'd rather be Finn -- [[KillAndReplace the only Finn.]]
273* Penfold thinks he can be as brave as WesternAnimation/DangerMouse if he wears one of DM's white jumpsuits (episode "There's a Penfold In My Suit"). He isn't but unsurprisingly Colonel K thinks he ''is'' DM.
274* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'': It turns out that deep down the BigBad of Season 3, Oropo wants to be [[spoiler:[[TheHero Yugo]].]] In a weird case of this trope, however, [[spoiler:it turns out Oropo ''is'' already Yugo to some extent as Oropo is an Eliotrope, a race of beings Yugo created entirely by accident while using the six Eliatrope Dofus that not only physically resemble Yugo greatly, but have also inherited his memories and feelings. Indeed, Oropo looks like an adult Yugo with a PaletteSwap and when he was a kid was basically Yugo's doppelganger. The complex this has given him, plus the feelings of abandonment and resentment the Eliotropes have felt for their unknowing creator, drive much of his motivations.]]
275* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': At the end of the infamous episode "Homer's Enemy", Frank Grimes undergoes a mental breakdown after seeing just how much Homer gets away with being a lazy idiot with no consequences. So much so, that he frantically tries to become Homer as his state of being quickly deteriorates, copying various antics that wouldn't seem out of place for him, but very much so for Grimes. This includes messing with dangerous equipment, which eventually leads to his [[BlackComedy sudden demise]].
276* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCupheadShow'' it's revealed at the end of ''Another Brother'' that [[spoiler:Bowlboy desires to literally become Cuphead. This was the reason he'd spent the entire episode emulating Cuphead's reckless, thrill-seeking antics despite having never done so before. Cuphead is immediately creeped out upon learning this.]]
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