Line #92 Main/InnocentBystander


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4	->''"Hey, I'm just an innocent bystander innocently standing by!"''
5	-->-- '''Hobbes''', ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'', [[Recap/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeriesS1TVM1CalvinsBatmanAdventure "Calvin's Batman Adventure"]]
6
7	Ah, the Innocent Bystander: where would {{villains}} be without them to use as {{Human Shield}}s and [[HeroTropes the heroes]] to rescue in a HostageForMcGuffin? This noble profession has been much maligned by its [[SortingAlgorithmOfMortality incredibly high mortality rates]] and penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a setting where [[BeingGoodSucks being the hero is a major pain in the rear]], these characters have a rare talent for making things more difficult for the hero. Bonus points if these bystanders [[UngratefulBastard are super unappreciative]].
8
9	Though similar to {{Muggles}}, the main difference is that the Innocent Bystander is not necessarily clueless or mundane (superheroes, wizards, or mutants can be innocent bystanders in the right, or wrong, circumstances), they just happen to be near a situation most qualified heroes would be [[BringMyRedJacket hard pressed to escape alive.]] Essentially, they are those who must be protected, rescued or saved from a villain who will [[ImAHumanitarian eat,]] [[NotMyDriver kidnap,]] [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]], or kill them. Since they're [[RedShirt pretty expendable]], it's even odds a few will be killed just to show how [[KickTheDog evil the bad guy is.]]
10
11	Not surprisingly, these folks are often the crux for heroes [[DramaPreservingHandicap having to operate]] with a NoHarmRequirement. Stomping the bad guys would be [[InvincibleHero a cakewalk for our heroes]]...if only it didn't mean that their efforts would result in unfathomable amounts of CollateralDamage and threatening the lives [[DestructiveSavior of the very bystanders they're trying to save]]. If you often find yourself wondering why the hero has to [[HoldingBackThePhlebotinum hold back against evil doers]] all the time, this trope is often why. Often the heroes' go-to solution is [[TakingTheFightOutside to take the fight AWAY from the helpess innocent folks and their property]] so that they can finally [[TheGlovesComeOff go all out]].
12
13	If the Bystander gets dragged along for the ride (be it as a hostage or a press-ganged helper for the hero), they may get upgraded to MauveShirt. If a RunningGag is made of how the same Bystander(s) keep running into the heroes, it's an example of a YuppieCouple. If there's a whole bus full of these, it's a BusFullOfInnocents. Despite their squishiness, they may use a DefiantStoneThrow in the hero's favor.
14
15	Quite a few series start with this premise. Arthur Dent of ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' is essentially an Innocent Bystander caught up in events he can't understand. By the end of the series he becomes something of a HeroicBystander, though. They do get a chance at the spotlight sometimes though; check out InnocentBystanderSeries, and its cousin trope the LowerDeckEpisode.
16
17	Innocent Bystanders are often the targets of:
18	* CowerPower
19	* FoeTossingCharge
20	* FriendlyTarget
21	* HostageForMcGuffin
22	* HumanShield
23	* SadisticChoice
24	* TestedOnHumans
25
26	Compare with the ActionSurvivor (who is essentially an Innocent Bystander as an action movie protagonist) and UnluckyExtra (when the same poor guy shows up multiple times).
27
28	Contrast BadassBystander, InvulnerableCivilians. Not to be confused with the LivingProp, who has no bearing on the scene whatsoever besides adding to the scene's atmosphere.
29
30	----
31	!!Examples:
32
33	[[foldercontrol]]
34
35	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
36	* Okajima Rokuro in ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' -- who just so happens to be the main character.
37	* Subverted in the first episode of ''Manga/ElfenLied'' where TheDitz secretary Kisaragi, is beheaded and used as a body shield by the main character Lucy, possibly showing how ruthless and sadistic she is. Then again, it's ''Lucy'' we're talking about. The same Lucy who ruthlessly murders whole families simply because she needs a place to sleep. Even if you can get her doing it to the cruel orphanage kids as she both [[BreakTheCutie gets broken]] ''and'' finally gains access to her powers, the Kisaragi deal and the families are... not as justified/understandable/ whatever. Even more so when [[spoiler:this also includes Kouta's father and sister]].
38	* Manga/{{Akumetsu}}, no matter how extreme his plans get, will never let the innocent become involved. It's part of what keeps him from JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.
39	* Rushuna's first run-in with the Jester in ''Anime/{{Grenadier}}'' is a straight example, with the Jester even doing a bit of LampshadeHanging as he notes that while Rushuna can dodge the blasts of his gun, her less-than-super friend sure as hell can't.
40	* These sorts of characters are often used in ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' to show just how dire the situation has gotten--or how badly the heroes have screwed up. Near the beginning of the series, innocent bystanders are caught in the rubble after a fight Chrono and Rosette have with demons -- luckily, Azmaria has healing powers. Later in volume 5 of the manga, several civilians are caught in a battle [[spoiler:between Aion, Viede, and Chrono in the middle of an UnstoppableRage]]. Many of them are killed because [[spoiler:of CHRONO'S actions, and not the bad guys as much]].
41	* [[spoiler:Winry's parents]] in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. [[spoiler:Winry nearly becomes one of these herself when she overhears that Scar killed them.]]
42	* Poor, poor [[spoiler:Rangyaku and Keikei]] in ''Literature/TheTwelveKingdoms''.
43	* Saji Crossroads and Louise Halevy from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' are cruel [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of this trope.
44	* ''Anime/{{Penguindrum}}'' has Asami Kubo, a young girl whom Kanba meets up with in episode 4. [[spoiler: She's pushed down a metro escalator. She lives to tell, but ends up being given LaserGuidedAmnesia.]]
45	* ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'' had Mr. Noodle and Miss Soup, who were always trying to have a romantic moment, but were constantly interrupted by aliens, demons, monsters, and teenagers rampaging through.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Comic Books]]
49	* In the ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story "Pastoral", the villains menace the people attending a carnival in an attempt to draw out local hero Roustabout.
50	* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'':
51	** ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lanterns]] fight back against an alien invasion in planet Grax, and Supergirl saves an innocent little girl who was about to be killed. Later on, [[spoiler:Supergirl enemy Worldkiller-1 threatens with body-snatching an innocent bystander unless Kara lets it take over her body.]]
52	** In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl1982 Supergirl Volume 2]]'' #23, when Supergirl fights a mutant, the super-villain shoots at random bystanders to keep her distracted.
53	--->'''Supergirl:''' Good Lord! Don't you care what happens to these people?\
54	'''Barry:''' Frankly... NO!
55	** ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'': After arriving in Metropolis, Bizarrogirl tears up the place. Her rampage killed one person and hurt plenty more. Once she understands human concepts of "right" and "wrong" she is devastated and falls apart.
56	** In that same story, Kara feels guilty about the thousands of innocent people killed by Zod and his army during the climax of ''ComicBook/NewKrypton''.
57	--->'''Supergirl:''' I didn't tell her that's '''exactly''' how I felt after New Krypton. After my people killed '''thousands''' of innocent bystanders.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Fan Works]]
61	%%* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' provides the page quote.%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample
62	* ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'': Satan Girl's first action is killing off the crew of a [[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes United Planets]] starship. Her second action is smashing a pleasure cruiser full of innocent civilians into pieces just because wanton destruction arouses her.
63	* ''Fanfic/JimmysVisitWithDrFranklin'': Richie was the one who got shot, even though he wasn't Jimmy's target.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
67	* In ''Anime/CowboyBebopKnockinOnHeavensDoor'', a convenience store robber takes an elderly customer hostage and demands that Spike and Jet drop their weapons. In an EstablishingCharacterMoment, Jet drops his gun, Spike doesn't, takes aim at the robber and shoots him.
68	* ''WesternAnimation/FlushedAway'': When Roddy first meets Rita and is nabbed by Spike and Whitey, he tries to paint himself as one, stating the trope word for word. Unfortunately, the thugs misunderstand this as him [[MondegreenGag introducing himself as "Millicent Bystander"]] and refer to him as such for the rest of the film.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
72	* In ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005'', John mentions that he's killed fifty or sixty people (though he doesn't keep track), and asks his wife not to be intimidated. She interrupts that she's killed three hundred and twelve.
73	-->'''Jane:''' Some were two at a time.\
74	'''John:''' Are you counting innocent bystanders?
75	* Todd and Margo in ''Film/NationalLampoonsChristmasVacation'' may be a couple of obnoxious jerks, but are just going about their lives when, due to their crazy neighbor, their carpet is ruined, their window gets broken, and the police invade ''their'' house by mistake.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Literature]]
79	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
80	** In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', it's revealed several {{Muggles}} were killed in an explosion during a confrontation between Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. It turns out the explosion was caused by [[spoiler:Peter, to frame Sirius and [[FakingTheDead fake his own death]].]]
81	** In the climactic scene of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', [[spoiler: Cedric Diggory is murdered simply because he happened to grab the Portkey at the same time as Harry (at Harry's behest). "Kill the spare" is one of the most chilling sentences in the entire series.]]
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
85	* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the character of Jonathan is the go-to innocent bystander whom Buffy saves several times per season until [[spoiler: he decides to become a super-villain himself]].
86	* Subverted in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' when [[spoiler:Michael and Lincoln's father]] appears to be an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time when Paul Kellerman is about to try to kill Lincoln. Kellerman gets ready to kill the old man, but can't even turn around before copping a shovel to the back of the head.
87	%%* ''Series/{{Scandal}}'': Amanda Tanner.%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample
88	* Happens in ''Series/DoctorWho'' on occasion, with some random civilian getting dragged into the villainous plot of the moment. A typical example is Arthur Ollis in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS10E1TheThreeDoctors The Three Doctors]]", who ends up getting teleported away along with the various Doctors and their companions. At least his job as a wildlife warden means he's got a shotgun with him...
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Magazines]]
92	* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' once did a superhero parody with a character named, literally, Innocent Bystander, something along the lines of: "Officers! The jewel thieves went down that alley! You can easily head them off!" "You've saved the day again, Innocent Bystander!"
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Music]]
96	* [[Music/JoyDivision Joy Division's]] [[Music/UnknownPleasures "Shadowplay"]] features such a protagonist:
97	-->''"As the assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor,\
98	And with cold steel, odour on their bodies made a move to connect,\
99	But I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left."''
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
103	* An early ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' strip had Linus (then a baby who couldn't walk or talk) getting blamed for something, and another character protesting, "He's just an innocent by-sitter!"
104	[[/folder]]
105
106	[[folder:Video Games]]
107	* You do ''not'' want to be an Innocent Bystander in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. While the more "good" characters will fight at night and in remote locations to avoid involving you, if you do happen to catch them fighting and threaten to break their {{Masquerade}}? They'll kill you. Even if they aren't villains.
108	* Civilians in most open-world games can be this, if they get caught in the middle of a mission, a car chase or violent rampage.
109	** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', ''VideoGame/CrazyTaxi'', ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'', ''VideoGame/{{Postal}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}''... Some get it worse than others. You'll probably be alright in ''Bully'' and ''Crazy Taxi'', but if you're a pedestrian in ''Postal'' and ''Grand Theft Auto'', and [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential the player's a cruel dick with a love for wanton destruction]]... well, nice knowing you.
110	** ''VideoGame/InFamous2'' takes this to the next level, with the evil perk "Bystander Bonus" -- each pedestrian takedown gives you a small amount of XP, making collateral damage quite rewarding in the long run.
111	* Tourists in ''EvilGenius''. If they see something incriminating or get trapped inside your base, they'll panic and raise the international heat on your operations if you don't... pacify them (said pacification ''can'' involve killing them, or simply [[AffablyEvil pampering them until they're too confused to know which way is up]]).
112	* Purple shape people in ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfSquare'' are innocent citizens of Shapeland. They will run away if attacks hit them. You can protect them from enemies if you want to, but [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential you can also choose to murder these poor people. You won't receive any penalty]].
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Webcomics]]
116	* The creator of ''Webcomic/UnionOfHeroes'' once invited his readers to become Innocent Bystanders of his photocomic by sending him portraits which were later included in the story.
117	* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' the MainCharacters are actually responsible (though usually accidentally) for quite a few Innocent Bystanders biting the dust. In fact, once two fans of the strip won the right to have a cameo appearance in the story. Pete Abrams, the writer/artist, honored this agreement, and had them [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever crushed to death by Aylee]].
118	* ''Webcomic/{{Waterworks}}'': The workers of the eponymous facility, which was invaded by a gang of thugs, are initially this, but they provide the characters with increasing amount of help throughout.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Web Videos]]
122	* ''WebVideo/WorldWarTwo'': The sub-series the "War Against Humanity" gives focus to the millions of civilians who are wounded and murdered as a result of the war and atrocities such as UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust related to the war.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Western Animation]]
126	* The YuppieCouple of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', Margot and Brendan were frequently made innocent bystanders. It happened so often they even began getting snippy at each other when their ideas for a quiet getaway turn into a run in with monsters or kidnappers or robots or what have you.
127	* In the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Planet of the Capes" exactly one person on a certain alien planet ''isn't'' a superhero; he's named Normal Guy and the planet's superhero population devote themselves to protecting him. ''And only him.'' [[spoiler:In the end, he becomes a supervillain just to get them all off his back.]]
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Real Life]]
131	* This trope is what signaled the eventual doom of the cigarette industry. When the health threat of second hand smoke was proven by the 1980s, it was a fact that no PR firm could spin about the need to restrict smoking. After all, the tobacco companies could manipulate their addicts to ignore scientific evidence, but there was no way they could do the same to non-smokers.
132	[[/folder]]

Context Main / InnocentBystander