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| 3 | %% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks! |
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| 5 | %% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them. |
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| 8 | |
| 9 | [[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arthur_hughes_the_rescue.jpg]] |
| 10 | [[caption-width-right:300:The KnightInShiningArmor in action.]] |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ->'''Dean Chesney:''' God helps those who help themselves.\ |
| 13 | '''Nate Ford:''' And I help people who can't. |
| 14 | -->-- ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', "[[Recap/LeverageS04E09TheCrossMyHeartJob The Cross My Heart Job]]" |
| 15 | |
| 16 | A heroic party whose official professions are defined vaguely enough to allow them to go on all sorts of adventures. Generally requires only one catch (like simply being paid) to take any job no matter how unusual or apparently trite, and all are treated with the same amount of professionalism. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | A noticeable trend is for these groups to be some variation of either mercenary work or detective work. If dealing with supernatural forces, you ''literally'' have a WhoYouGonnaCall on your hands. AdventureGuild is a SubTrope commonly found in a RolePlayingGameVerse. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | People who do this stuff without getting paid generally have ChronicHeroSyndrome. A variant might be that they'll charge based on the client's ability to pay, lowering or even waiving their fees if the case is interesting enough or the customer is in dire enough straits. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | Someone who wanders from place to place doing this is a KnightErrant. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | [[TropeNamers Named for]] the slogan of Angel Investigations in ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Their original line was in fact "We help the hopeless", but it [[BeamMeUpScotty mutated into "helpless"]] at some point. |
| 25 | ---- |
| 26 | !!Examples: |
| 27 | |
| 28 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 29 | |
| 30 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 31 | * The ''[[https://youtu.be/lMzVQdLHC-Q Helmets]]'' TV spot, devised by the campaign group Crimestoppers, depicts members of the general public this way, showing a group of predatory men repelled from accosting two young women by the presence of patrolling citizens in police helmets, with the message being that a culture of vigilance in reporting crime helps reduces its occurrence. |
| 32 | [[/folder]] |
| 33 | |
| 34 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 35 | * ''Anime/TheBigO'': Roger Smith, a "negotiator" (something of a cross between a mediator and a private detective), prides himself in accepting jobs from children and the elderly. Being independently wealthy, he accepts remuneration according to the client's ability to pay, and will work ''pro bono'' if necessary. |
| 36 | * ''Manga/CityHunter'': Most of Ryo's works involves protecting helpless and sympathetic clients from assassins, and while his work motto is [[LovableSexManiac only working for beautiful women]], he willingly takes jobs from desperate men and children without a paycheck. |
| 37 | * The Black Knights from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' are told that their mission is to protect the weak. Even if they are at times being manipulated, they do eventually manage to fulfill this role. |
| 38 | * Automail mechanics do this in the ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' universe, providing ArtificialLimbs for people who would otherwise be incredibly helpless. |
| 39 | %%* ''Manga/FutakoiAlternative'' |
| 40 | %%* ''Manga/GetBackers'' |
| 41 | * The Yorozuya in ''Anime/{{Gintama}}'' regularly take on odd jobs and end up helping all sorts of people, and are not just for the money. |
| 42 | * In ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'', Takeshi Sendoh's backstory has him as an ex-gang leader whose followers actually fought against other gangs to counterattack their abuse of other students. And ever since he was a child, Sendou strove to protect his friends from bullies: his motto was "Leave this to me! I'm gonna protect you ''all''." |
| 43 | * ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'': The characters use their various abilities (supernatural or not) to aid ghosts move on to the afterlife. The ghosts usually tell them to sell their no-longer-necessary material goods as payment. |
| 44 | * Lupin and the gang from ''Franchise/LupinIII'' (though mostly [[Anime/LupinIII the anime adaptations]] and ''not'' [[Manga/LupinIII the original manga]]). They're career criminals, but will often help out those in need, especially if they're being harassed by even worse criminals. |
| 45 | * ''Anime/MagicalPrincessMinkyMomo'': Her mission is to help spread happiness and joy to those most desperately in need of it. |
| 46 | * Sawamura Seiji in ''Manga/MidoriDays'' uses his considerable martial prowess to this end because he was bullied as a child. |
| 47 | * The ninjas from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' are rather like this, jobs ranging from mercenary work to finding a lost cat. |
| 48 | * Starwind and Hawking Enterprises in ''Manga/OutlawStar'' has a [[AdvertisingTropes slogan]] that just screams, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKKQQZcl4K8#t=00m45s "We'll do anything, please pay us!"]] |
| 49 | -->'''Jim Hawking:''' Hello! You've reached Hawking, from Starwind and Hawking Repairs! We fix everything from tractors to relationships, so how can we help you today? |
| 50 | * While not originally their intention, the Straw Hat Pirates in ''Manga/OnePiece'' have reluctantly done this on various occasions throughout the manga's (and anime's) run. |
| 51 | * Minako Aino from ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' just [[ChronicHeroSyndrome can't stop herself from helping anyone in need she stumbles upon]], especially in [[Manga/CodenameSailorV her solo series]], no matter the trouble she may get in doing so (once she's late to school, once she nearly misses a lottery she wants to take part in and ends up winning it as ''Sailor V'', and once she nearly exposes her SecretIdentity), and without asking for rewards (and the one time she ''is'' given a reward for helping a mangaka complete the next chapter before the deadline, Artemis convinces her to give it back). |
| 52 | %%* The main FiveManBand from ''Manga/SorcererHunters''. |
| 53 | * In ''Manga/TokyoShinobiSquad'', this is the philosophy of the Narumi-kai. They refuse to take jobs they consider dirty and immoral, only fighting to help the less fortunate from those who would harm them. Unfortunately, in a crime-ridden city like Tokyo, this means their paychecks aren't particularly large. Jin's stubborn refusal to take on jobs from well-paying clients who'd use him for dirty tasks earns him the ire of the office designed to regulate shinobi activity as they try to strongarm him into doing these jobs. |
| 54 | -->'''Jin:''' I didn't become a shinobi to curry favor from the elites. I'm only taking on the jobs I want. Nothing has changed. |
| 55 | * The titular organization from ''Manga/UQHolder'' are a group of various immortals who help those that society has forsaken. They also hunt down evil immortals that give good immortals a bad name. |
| 56 | [[/folder]] |
| 57 | |
| 58 | [[folder:Blogs]] |
| 59 | * The ''Blog/KnightsOfFandom'' try to do this for users of Website/{{Tumblr}} who are left feeling helpless by anonymous hate messages (and other circumstances). |
| 60 | [[/folder]] |
| 61 | |
| 62 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 63 | %%* ''ComicBook/ChallengersOfTheUnknown'' |
| 64 | * ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'' has occasionally been known to investigate supernatural cases for a fee. |
| 65 | * [[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and ComicBook/IronFist, ''ComicBook/HeroesForHire'', though if the cause is just enough, they'll waive the fee. |
| 66 | * ''ComicBook/JonSableFreelance'': Although Jon is a mercenary, he charges on a sliding scale of fees. And if he believes in the rightness of a particular cause, that fee may be purely nominal. |
| 67 | * Although ''ComicBook/LadyRawhide'' initially begins her career out of a desire for revenge, she quickly moves on to Zorro's goal of fighting injustice and helping the poor and downtrodden. |
| 68 | %%* ''ComicBook/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice''. |
| 69 | * ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': |
| 70 | ** There is a reason why Superman was called [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1 "Champion of the Oppressed"]] back in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. Despite having [[PhysicalGod the powers of a god]] and the potential to take over the world with barely a thought, he'd rather stop runaway trains and rescue cats from trees. Demonstrated in this quote: |
| 71 | --->'''Black Adam:''' You fight for the Wizard?\ |
| 72 | '''Superman:''' I fight for those who can't fight for themselves! |
| 73 | ** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} can't stop herself from helping people in need. During the early [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], she spent more time protecting the weak and making people happy anonymously than fighting supervillains. "Help for all" is actually her motto. |
| 74 | --->'''Supergirl:''' My cousin once said in an interview that he stood for "Truth, Justice and the American Way of Life". If anyone asked me, I'd say I stand for "Hope, Help and Compassion For All." |
| 75 | * ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'' has ''[[BigBad Negan]]'' of all people state that the concept of society is ''built'' on this trope, further adding to his AntiVillain nature. |
| 76 | -->'''Negan:''' Maybe you fucking nutcases need me. Because if that's how you do things, you're so fucked in the head you might as well be dead bodies pretending you're still fucking alive. |
| 77 | [[/folder]] |
| 78 | |
| 79 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 80 | * In ''Fanfic/OriginStory'', it is noted several different times that Alex Harris (the [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Kryptonian]] superhero known as Superwoman) spends more time helping people and stopping natural disasters than she does fighting supervillains. She actually calls the Avengers out for being more interested in fighting amongst each other than helping people. |
| 81 | -->You people call yourselves heroes, but all you're doing is running around fighting each other! When was the last time you fed the hungry? When was the last time you helped irrigate a desert? When was the last time you were there for someone who just needed a friend? That's what being a hero is all about. You're all like children, throwing temper tantrums. |
| 82 | [[/folder]] |
| 83 | |
| 84 | [[folder:Film]] |
| 85 | * ''Film/AFewGoodMen'' has the Marines realizing that "We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves." |
| 86 | * The eponymous team in ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', whose philosophy, as Peter says in a television ad, is that "no job is too big, no ''fee'' is too big!" Though they do milk business customers like the Sedgewick Hotel for all they're worth, they're more forgiving when it comes to private individuals like Dana and Louis. |
| 87 | * ''Film/SevenSamurai'' gives a somewhat ambivalent and often cynical treatment of this. Its [[ForeignRemake remake]], ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'', plays the whole situation as straight, unambiguous heroics. |
| 88 | * The Jedi in ''Franchise/StarWars'' are an order of peacekeepers who go about the galaxy defending the Republic and those who are a part of it. Although they aren't a part of any law enforcement, they do command a lot of respect and influence, and sometimes even their very presence is enough to help someone out. |
| 89 | [[/folder]] |
| 90 | |
| 91 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 92 | * In several ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' books, the characters (who are fighting a guerrilla war against an occupying alien force) complain about [[WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld missing school]], yet they always end up skipping school ''anyway'' to fight the good fight. |
| 93 | %%* Justice, Inc. in ''Literature/TheAvenger''. |
| 94 | * The Steel General of ''Literature/CreaturesOfLightAndDarkness'': "Behold the one who comes upon scenes of chaos, and whose cold metal hand supports the weak and the oppressed." |
| 95 | * Some of ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'''s recurring protagonists fulfill this role. When asked why, their response is usually along the lines of "because ''someone'' has to". |
| 96 | %%* ''Literature/DocSavage'' |
| 97 | %%* This is the purpose of the Sidhe Foundation in ''Literature/DocSidhe''. |
| 98 | * The Thirty in ''Literature/{{Drenai}}'' are a group of {{Warrior Monk}}s destined to die in battle. They only fight once in their lives, and so choose only battles that appear to be hopeless. |
| 99 | * ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': |
| 100 | ** Harry Dresden, the only professional wizard in UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}. A lot of people ask him why he fights so hard, so unswervingly, for the {{muggle|s}} population that [[{{Masquerade}} doesn't even believe]] in the things he fights. Behind the [[TheSnarkKnight facade of snark]], the real reason is that he doesn't think it's right that anyone, any''thing'', is picking on the helpless. |
| 101 | ** [[ThePaladin The Knights of the Cross]] are also known for this. There are only three of them, but each one is the bearer of a sword whose hilt has one of the Nails of the Cross worked in -- the same nails that were impaled into Christ. They travel the world and help people. Believing in the big G isn't a necessity either, even though they work with literal angels. They just have a strong conviction of helping those who are in danger. |
| 102 | * The MITHRIL Organization from the ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' series, on an international scale. They are, amongst other things, hired by the UN to clean up civil wars and stop ethnic cleansing. |
| 103 | * ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'': In the ''Vows and Honor'' stories, Kethry's magical sword 'Need' compels her to help any woman in trouble -- sometimes, even if the woman in question doesn't ''want'' help. |
| 104 | %%* Sir Michael from the ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries'' is like this. It gets him in some trouble. |
| 105 | * The titular heroes of ''Literature/TheMouseWatch'' do more than fight [[NebulousEvilOrganisation R.A.T.S.]] and solve crimes. They save animals (and humans) who are in any kind of danger, and their training video says their duties can include "helping an elderly person cross the street" and "helping build a well for a thirsty village". |
| 106 | * ''Literature/MythAdventures'': Skeeve's team and later the ''M.Y.T.H. Inc.'' crew seems to take any client who can meet their fees. Admittedly, they've built up such a reputation by now that not just anyone can afford to hire them. |
| 107 | * This was Touch Me's main ''raison d'etre'' in ''Literature/Overlord2012'', and why he formed the party Nine's Own Goal. In ''YGGDRASIL'', players who picked the monstrous Heteromorphic races were often bullied by those that picked Humanoid or Demi-Human ones, and the mass slaughter of Heteromorphs was even a requirement to take certain job classes. Touch Me, a Heteromorph himself who liked to role play as a KnightInShiningArmor, would swoop in to save any fellow Heteromorph who was under attack, including protagonist Momonga. |
| 108 | * Kel, the heroine of the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin aptly named]] ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' quartet, spends most of her time outside training kicking the collective asses of anyone who picks on helpless people. She's ''good'' at it, too. |
| 109 | * ''Literature/RepairmanJack'' will fix anything, barring mechanical appliances. |
| 110 | * ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' is one of the most iconic examples. As a PrivateDetective, many of Holmes's cases are brought to him by clients needing help, up to and including InspectorLestrade and the rest of Scotland Yard. Holmes charges his clients for his efforts, but he'll sometimes waive the fee for clients who have limited means and/or especially interesting problems. He's also been known to ignore requests from the wealthy and powerful when their cases don't interest him in favor of commoner clients whose problems appeal to him. |
| 111 | * ''Literature/StarWarsAllegiance'': The Hand of Judgment doesn't even get paid. They are five stormtroopers who [[DefectorFromDecadence left the Empire]] -- or, as one of them says, "The Empire left us" when the [[StateSec ISB]] went after one of them for [[NeverHurtAnInnocent refusing to kill unarmed civilians]]; this incident made them realize that the Empire was no longer what it had been when they signed up, so they stole an ISB ship and fled. From there, while they argued about what to do, they kept running into situations where Imperial citizens, or people they ''thought'' were Imperial citizens, were in danger, and they kept trying to help them. |
| 112 | * This is one of the [[BadassCreed Ideals]] of an order of the Knights Radiant in the ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''. |
| 113 | -->''"I will protect those who cannot protect themselves."'' |
| 114 | * One of the jobs of the Seeker of Truth in the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' series. Because of all of the world-threatening dangers that Richard ends up fighting, he very rarely has time to help the little guys. Knowing this, when he ''does'' have time, he teaches them to help themselves, often leading by example. It's surprisingly effective. Kahlan had a similar moment, but only if the definition of 'helpless' includes "tiny military force pitting themselves against hilariously larger force". |
| 115 | * ''Literature/TravisMcGee'' usually gives his profession as 'salvage consultant'. His normal fee is the half of value of whatever he is hired to recover; if the client object he's quick to remind them that [[CharacterCatchphrase half of the lost property/money is considerably more than none of it]]. Will occasionally wave the fee entirely ForGreatJustice. |
| 116 | * Downplayed in ''Franchise/TheWitcher''. Sure, [[HunterOfMonsters witchers are mutated, raised and trained to kill monsters]], WalkingTheEarth for rest of their days and actively seeking dangers to fight... but being characters from a LowFantasy DeconstructorFleet, they do it for a reasonable price and only when they find it worth the hassle, or when rent is due. |
| 117 | [[/folder]] |
| 118 | |
| 119 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 120 | * In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', Angel Investigations starts with the slogan "We help the hopeless" as its original advertising slogan, but it evolves into "helpless" in later seasons, and in at least one instance, "We hope you're helpless." |
| 121 | * So sayeth the OpeningNarration of ''Series/TheATeam'': "In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for [[ClearMyName a crime they didn't commit]]. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the UsefulNotes/LosAngeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team." |
| 122 | %%* ''Series/BurnNotice'' |
| 123 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'' has the Doctor and whatever companions are hanging with him this week -- whether it be creepy statues or the end of reality itself. Not really a 'profession', of course; the Doctor does it for the glory of seeing everything cool in the universe and helping people. |
| 124 | -->'''The (Twelfth) Doctor:''' I'm not a good man! I'm not a bad man! I'm not a hero! I'm not a President! And no, I'm not an officer! You know who I am? I am an ''idiot''... with [[Characters/DoctorWhoTheTARDIS a box]] and a screwdriver, passing through, helping out. And I don't need an army, I never have. |
| 125 | %%* Gary and his friends on ''Series/EarlyEdition''. |
| 126 | * In ''Series/{{Elementary}}'', Sherlock, unlike most incarnations of Franchise/SherlockHolmes, doesn't charge at all for his services, relying on the fact his family is ''very'' wealthy, and his dad will pay the bills as long as he's clean. Lampshaded by an exception early on; when he expresses his dislike of a bank by charging them twelve times his usual fee, he tells Watson he's going to have to make up a usual fee. And then multiply it by twelve. |
| 127 | * ''Series/TheEqualizer'' does this [[TheAtoner to atone]] for the things he's done as an agent for "The Company". In the pilot he just asks for the client to donate a small fee to charity in payment, and he implies that he's already made enough money through his work for the Company (enough to afford a Jaguar and expensive apartment) not to charge people. |
| 128 | * The crew of the good ship ''Serenity'' in ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. As an added bonus, some of their jobs ''do'' involve helping the helpless; for instance, upon realizing that one of their jobs involves ''exploiting'' the helpless, Captain Mal does a HeelFaceTurn and brings the stolen loot back. In the words of Mal: "[[JustLikeRobinHood We rob from the rich and sell to the poor]]." |
| 129 | * ''Series/TheGoodies'': When they're not carrying out {{Zany Scheme}}s for themselves, the Goonies actually do want money for what they do, but they usually do it so ''badly'' that they're lucky if they get off scot-free. In one episode they pledged to not do any more charity work and the next person who wanted help better pay up for it... and then the next person who walks in is a [[MaleGaze beautiful woman]]. They promptly [[DistractedByTheSexy forget their pledge]] and help her anyway. |
| 130 | %%* Paladin in ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''. |
| 131 | %%* ''Series/HumanTarget'' |
| 132 | * French-Canadian series ''Il était une fois dans le trouble'' revolves around the problem-solving enterprise with the unintentionally rude name of "C'est Quoi Ton Problème?" (What's Your Problem?). When the employees aren't carrying out their boss Jon's latest GetRichQuickScheme or dealing with their own interpersonal issues, they usually help clients with various problems and charge them to stay afloat. Played with in that the problem solvers are absolutely ''not'' qualified or competent for their given profession, yet still manage to solve said problems anyway. |
| 133 | * Michael Knight from ''Series/KnightRider'' is, as the OpeningNarration says, "A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law." |
| 134 | * ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' has this from the second episode on (in the pilot, each of the five thieves makes it out with over $32 million on short-sold stock). It's an odd duck because, unlike most other examples of this trope, the characters really don't need money very much at all and are therefore never broke. Then again, international thieves are a lot like stockbrokers: if the guy's broke, he's probably not worth hiring. |
| 135 | %%* ''Series/MacGyver1985'' |
| 136 | * In ''Series/TheMagician'', Tony Blake is independently wealthy, and will freely use his skills to aid anyone he thinks is facing injustice. |
| 137 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': |
| 138 | ** ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': Following the events of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', S.H.I.E.L.D. begins to reformat itself back into this, which was its original purpose before everyone got ideas about "stopping threats [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope before they start]]". Skye has a quick conversation to this effect with the leader of a DifferentlyPoweredIndividual colony. |
| 139 | --->'''Skye:''' He could hurt people!\ |
| 140 | '''Jiaying:''' Those people aren't my concern.\ |
| 141 | '''Skye:''' Well, they're mine. I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. |
| 142 | ** ''Series/Daredevil2015'': Nelson & Murdock is a firm that provides legal services to working class residents in Hell's Kitchen that can't go anywhere else. For instance, they decide to defend Karen Page because Matt knows from her heartbeat that she's innocent, she admits that she doesn't have any money to afford an attorney, and she's their first client in the seven hours since Matt and Foggy signed the lease for their office space. |
| 143 | ** ''Series/JessicaJones2015'': Jessica Jones' private investigation business caters to all walks of life. She's reliable enough (when sober) that high-price attorneys like Jeri Hogarth and corporate billionaires like [[Series/IronFist2017 Joy Meachum]] are willing to employ her services. That said, she puts aside the issue of money whenever it comes to helping those that Kilgrave has victimized. |
| 144 | ** ''Series/LukeCage2016'': Luke's initial superheroics against Cottonmouth are all in the name of the innocent Harlem residents that Cottonmouth harasses and intimidates. In fact, a RunningGag of the show is people offering Luke money in exchange for his superheroics, or telling him he could charge money for his services, and Luke refusing (especially funny given Luke's "Heroes For Hire" past in the comics). |
| 145 | %%* ''Series/TheMiddleman'' |
| 146 | * ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is about an ex-CIA officer who needs a sense of purpose and a billionaire software developer with a conscience; they help people who are ''going'' to be the victims of violent crimes, according to the predictions of a government surveillance supercomputer. In other words, {{Big Brother|IsWatching}} helps the helpless. |
| 147 | * ''Series/ThePretender'' does it for free, since he can steal from the baddies' bank accounts. |
| 148 | %%* ''Series/PushingDaisies'' |
| 149 | * ''Series/Sanctuary2007'' has a slight twist on this, as the main characters generally help abnormal humans, while fighting the more dangerous ones. |
| 150 | * In the South African series ''Shadow'', the title character is a VigilanteMan who funds his activities by stealing from whatever gangster he takes on in the course of an episode, and sometimes he passes on some of this money to the client if he thinks they need it. |
| 151 | * ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': |
| 152 | ** Jean-Luc Picard is among the very few people in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants who wanted to save Romulan lives when the Romulan star was about to explode. His personal mission is to rescue Soji from the Zhat Vash. In "Stardust City Rag", he describes her to Seven of Nine as: |
| 153 | --->'''Picard:''' Someone who has no else to help her, someone who will likely die if I don't. |
| 154 | ** As a Qowat Milat acolyte, Elnor chooses to [[TheChampion bind his sword]] to Picard's quest because it meets the requirements for worthiness, i.e. it's a lost cause. Protecting Picard (a fragile elderly man) and rescuing Soji (a sentient android whose life is in grave danger) requires Elnor to confront the Tal Shiar ''and'' the Zhat Vash on his lonesome, which would be an impossible task for anyone who isn't a Qowat Milat. Technically, Elnor is not Hugh's qalankhkai because he didn't swear the oath, yet he behaves exactly like one. Hugh is a NonActionGuy, so Elnor takes it upon himself to be his bodyguard, and he supports Hugh's goal to seize control of the Artifact from the Romulan Free State because the latter had sanctioned the slaughter of the xBs. Even after Hugh [[spoiler:dies]], Elnor is still [[TakeUpMySword willing to implement Hugh's plan]] because, as the older man reminds Elnor before he [[spoiler:passes away]], it's a lost cause. |
| 155 | ** The goal of the Fenris Rangers, a vigilante group which includes Seven of Nine, is to help those who have no one to help them in the lawless regions of the former Romulan Neutral Zone. |
| 156 | ** As the Executive Director of the Borg Reclamation Project, Hugh supervises the recuperation of ex-Borg drones who have recently undergone the reclamation procedure. The xBs are the most loathed people in the galaxy, so virtually no one is willing to make the effort to understand that they're victims who need help. Hugh was once part of the Collective, so he knows all too well what it's like to be in their place, and he tries his best to care for those who have no else to care for them. |
| 157 | * ''Series/VengeanceUnlimited'', for one million dollars or [[YouOweMe a favor]]. |
| 158 | [[/folder]] |
| 159 | |
| 160 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 161 | * "Music/TheProtomen" has Megaman helping the populace who cryptically/symbolically chant 'We are the dead.' |
| 162 | [[/folder]] |
| 163 | |
| 164 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 165 | * The Wrestling/{{WWE}} tag team, sometimes [[TwoGuysAndAGirl trio]], The [[Wrestling/RonSimmons Acolyte]] [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield Protection]] [[Wrestling/{{Jacqueline}} Agency]] (APA for short) hired themselves out to various underdog {{face}}s for bodyguarding, six-man-tag-teaming, and general-purpose ass-kicking. They even had a few faux-commercials for their services, with the tag line "APA: 'cause we need beer money!" Also see Kronik late in the run of Wrestling/{{WCW}}, though they were just as likely to take a job ForTheEvulz. |
| 166 | [[/folder]] |
| 167 | |
| 168 | [[folder:Roleplays]] |
| 169 | * ''Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForumsDemonSoulSaga'': The philosophy of the Helper's Club and its president, Saya Akitsuki. If you make a request on the billboard in front of their club room, the club will do its best to fulfil it, and their general audience are, well, those in need of help. |
| 170 | * In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', the [[ThievesGuild Union Workers]] do this, shielding people who have nowhere else to go. |
| 171 | [[/folder]] |
| 172 | |
| 173 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 174 | * While the vast majority of mercenaries in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' are ''not'' this, the Brotherhood of Randis are. A Christian order of HumongousMecha pilots, the Brotherhood operates in the impoverished and pirate infested worlds of the Periphery. When they aren't delivering righteous beatdowns to said pirates, they are building schools and hospitals. Any money they receive in thanks is invested into their organization. |
| 175 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and many of its campaign settings like ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' have pretty much all and any adventuring groups (chartered or not) that have no strict official affiliation, as a cheap and easy way for the GameMaster to get the adventure started -- it's a particularly good fit for the LawfulGood alignment, though NeutralGood characters can often fit this as well. |
| 176 | * The Knights Hospitaller in ''TabletopGame/{{Infinity}}'' are an order of {{Warrior Monk}}s who see it as their sacred duty to help others, from protecting their allies to going on high-risk missions to liberate captives and prisoners of war. |
| 177 | * Troubleshooters from ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' treat all jobs with the same amount of professionalism. That amount is zero. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin They find trouble, they shoot it]]. |
| 178 | * ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'': This is the specific Duty of the Champions, who regain [[{{Mana}} Wisps]] whenever they help someone do something they couldn't do on their own or protect the innocent from harm. |
| 179 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' teams with any sort of ethics at all tend to fall into this category. Of course, most Shadowrunners are immoral scumbuckets who'd slit their own mama's throat for a single nuyen, but the player characters are exceptions... hopefully. |
| 180 | [[/folder]] |
| 181 | |
| 182 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 183 | * ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': This is Phoenix Wright's motivation. Of course, he'd ''like'' to get paid and take cases like a normal lawyer. It's just that almost all of his clients are close personal friends, dead broke but obviously innocent, or find some way to shanghai him into getting involved in the case. His sense of justice doesn't let him turn the jobs down. |
| 184 | * Interestingly, both factions of the ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries'', the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod, lay claim to this trope. GDI frequently rescues civilians from the horrors of war and disaster, while Nod's entire ideology revolves around offering sanctuary and purpose to the downtrodden. |
| 185 | * The protagonists of the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' games can optionally be played as this kind of SmallStepsHero. They can take time out of their saving-the-world adventures to do things like give money to an orphaned child or track down supplies for homeless refugees. Some of their companions, most notably in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', may express frustration or even outright contempt for these tendencies. |
| 186 | ** Cole from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' is obsessed with helping people due to his [[TheEmpath empathic]] abilities; he used to be a [[SympatheticMurderer serial killer]] who would target people who wanted to die, until he finally [[BlueAndOrangeMorality understood]] that this was wrong. Now he instead works to help everyone around him in every way he can; the Inquisitor can gain [[RelationshipValues approval]] from Cole by helping everyone they meet, even if Cole isn't in the active party at the time. [[spoiler:It's suggested that this is because he's a Spirit of Compassion who was trapped in the material world.]] |
| 187 | ** At the end of ''Inquisition'', and again at the end of its final DLC ''Trespasser'', this can be seen in a few ways depending on the player's choices. [[spoiler:If Leliana has been made Divine Victoria, she rededicates the Chantry to this cause. If Blackwall is released, he takes to WalkingTheEarth and doing exactly this by bringing hope to people like himself. If the Grey Wardens are not banished from Orlais, they sever ties with the motherhouse at Weisshaupt and commit themselves to doing more than just hunting darkspawn to help the people of Thedas.]] |
| 188 | * ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': |
| 189 | ** In the series' mythology, this falls within the realm of Stendarr, the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedric Divine]] God of Mercy, Justice, and Compassion. He is a protector deity and heavily associated with Restoration magic. His [[TheCommandments Commandment]] states: "Be kind and generous to the people of Tamriel. Protect the weak, heal the sick, and give to the needy." |
| 190 | ** Fittingly, in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the Vigil of Stendarr is a ChurchMilitant order dedicated to hunting down and destroying supernatural threats to mortal life, including Daedra, Daedra worshipers, vampires, lycanthropes, and others. The Vigil formed in the wake of the [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion Crisis]] with the goal of preventing any similar incidents. The Vigil believes itself to be doing good and helping the helpless, which is, for the most part, accurate. They'll cure disease free of charge and work to eliminate supernatural threats to mortal life. However, they can also veer into KnightTemplar territory pretty easily. |
| 191 | * ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' ...but they mainly just dance around to music so people have the courage to actually do the job themselves. |
| 192 | * This is one of the reasons Petra gives to Scarecrow in ''VideoGame/EmeraldCityConfidential'' when he asks her why she became a detective. |
| 193 | * In his solo ending, Heath from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' moves to Ilia and becomes a mercenary, where it's noted that "[h]e fought not for country, but for people in need". |
| 194 | * Downplayed in ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance''. A.I.M. ends up on the side of the good guys a lot of the time, but it is implied that the organisation cultivates this image after the events of the first game (securing production of hugely valuable medicine) gave them a lot of good press. Also, several mercenaries comment that it is nice to work for the good guys. However, this doesn't change the fact that A.I.M. is an organisation of mercenaries and their members expect to be paid handsomely for their services, or that several members of the organisation have worked for some pretty damn unsavory people. |
| 195 | * ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Garrus describes his team of mercs as this in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. Shepard can be this in every game if the player chooses. Tali even does some LampshadeHanging: "What is it about you that makes people think we enjoy being in harm's way?" |
| 196 | -->'''Shepard:''' Listen, you're stuck here until this quarantine is over. That could take weeks. What you really need is to get this problem solved right now. That's what I do -- solve problems. |
| 197 | * Invoked in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' in terms of how Militaires Sans Frontières are operating in Costa Rica. As a country with no military force, it is defenseless against the invading [[spoiler:CIA-backed Peace Sentinel force. Even after it becomes apparent their clients are associated with the KGB, MSF continue with their mission until the CIA is pushed out of the country]]. |
| 198 | * Samus Aran's missions ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series are generally simple; investigate a disturbance on a planet, [[BountyHunter exterminate all the metroids]], etc. But in quite a few games, she goes above and beyond the strict terms of her contract due to her own heroic sensibilities. The two most extreme examples are perhaps ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes Prime 2]]'' (sent to investigate the missing Bravo team; ends up saving an entire planet from the same creatures that killed Bravo Team), and ''[[VideoGame/MetroidFusion Fusion]]'' (Sent to exterminate the X Parasites, ends up ''defying her orders'' and breaking her contract in order to exterminate not only them, but also [[spoiler:destroy the illegal, Federation-run Metroid cloning project and the planet of SR-388]]). One can only imagine her collecting her meager contract for the investigations that kicked off each adventure. As far as ''Fusion'' goes, she might not even get paid for that mission, given the end result. |
| 199 | * ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'': This becomes Will's entire mission in life in ''Advance Wars: Days of Ruin'', after finding the entire world destroyed and being rescued by Brenner's Wolves. Most notably is when he throws a villain's attempt at [[BreakThemByTalking Breaking Him by Talking]] by admitting that the villain's right and that it doesn't matter: |
| 200 | -->'''Waylon:''' Stuff it junior! You and your little toy soldiers make me sick! All self-righteous... Struttin' around like you own the damn joint... You ain't helpin' people because you care! You do it to feel important! You're a hypocrite, and you ain't better than me! Least I'm honest! [[AtLeastIAdmitIt Least ol' Waylon's honest about who and what I am!]]\ |
| 201 | '''Will:''' ...Maybe you're right. Maybe we are the same. You do what you want to do, and so do I. You fly around and act like a jerk because it's what you want to do. And I help people because it's what I want to do. Does that make me a hypocrite? If I do nothing, people will suffer. People will die. You say I do this to feel important, and maybe you're right. But if that saves even one life, then it's worth it. Understand?\ |
| 202 | '''Waylon:''' Why, you little sack of crap! I heard enough! Folks like you never live very long, anyway. I'm gonna bury you, kid! |
| 203 | %%* Chromas from ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'', including the protagonist Marona. |
| 204 | * ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'': The Van der Linde Gang's philosophy as summarized by Dutch is "we shoot fellas as need shootin', save fellas as need savin', and feed 'em as need feedin'." However, the romantic nature of the crusading outlaw becomes ''brutally'' deconstructed over the course of the game; if Dutch indeed wanted to help others and retreat from the modern world while spreading his quasi-Luddist philosophy, he could've started some sort of anarcho-primitivist collective and lived peacefully in the wilderness. But his insistence on maintaining an Old West gang and fighting injustice through force of arms means that the modern world will always be at his heels hunting him down. Just being a band of outlaws in the first place requires them to fend off other, more vicious gangs for territory and dominance, leaving little time for heroism, while Dutch himself slowly becomes (or is revealed as) a tyrant who doesn't allow anything less than unwavering loyalty in the ranks. Ultimately, all they've got separating them from the O'Driscolls in the eyes of the law is a code of ethics and a mission statement, and the law doesn't give a damn about good intentions. [[spoiler:Whether Dutch sincerely believes in his Robin Hood ideals or is using them as an excuse to justify a life of crime is left up to the player, but taking advice from Micah, [[AxCrazy a trigger-happy psycho]] who's [[ItsAllAboutMe only looking out for number one]], is what ultimately dooms the gang.]] |
| 205 | * The ''Franchise/StarFox'' team routinely goes on interplanetary campaigns to eliminate Lylat System-spanning empires because they honestly want to save the system. Of course, they always make a point of collecting their (often ''extremely'' large) payment for the job. They have to eat somehow. |
| 206 | * The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has the Bracer Guild who are paid to help out their customers and hunt down monsters to protect the citizens. The protagonists also end up doing this, but it varies from game to game. |
| 207 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'' has the protagonists Estelle and Joshua Bright who start out as Junior Bracers in the Bracer Guild and work their way up in the ladder. |
| 208 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure'' has the Special Support Section, a branch of the police who are emulating the ways of the Bracer Guild branch at Crossbell to win back the citizens, who see the police as ineffectual and corrupt. |
| 209 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' doesn't really have a group but Olivert, after his experiences in Liberl, decided to emulate the bracers way of thinking by having one class in a military school consist of both nobles and commoners to see if they can lead the way for both classes to work together. Of course, it helps that the Bracer Guild doesn't have a branch in the Erebonia Empire due to the events that happened back in the ''Sky games''. |
| 210 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsThroughDaybreak'' has the Spriggan occupation with [[TheHero Van Arkride]] being one such person who has an office called the "Arkride Solutions Office" (even though his employees just decided to join him on a whim without his consent). Unlike the Bracer Guild, Spriggans are notorious for accepting requests that can skirt along the line and even break some laws. |
| 211 | * In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'', BLADE's primary mission is to recover the Lifehold core, but they're generally designed to be able to respond to anything and everything that the citizens of New Los Angeles need. From fighting off dangerous Indigens and hostile Xenoforms, Scouting the planet and installing Data Probes, solving domestic disputes, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking finding lost pets]], and anything else under Mira's five moons. Granted, BLADE ''is'' divided into divisions that supposedly specialize in more specific fields but any BLADE, regardless of division, can accept any job if they feel they can handle it. So it's not uncommon for, say, a [[TheBigGuy Harrier]] to provide marriage counseling, or an [[TheBlacksmith Outfitter]] to gun down a rampaging [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever Millisaur]] if they need to. This is justified in universe, as humanity has only been living on the planet for a couple of months prior to the game's start, and they know next to nothing about it. Such flexibility is ideal in a situation where anything can happen. |
| 212 | [[/folder]] |
| 213 | |
| 214 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 215 | %%* The titular Revenant Braves in ''Webcomic/CircumstancesOfTheRevenantBraves''. |
| 216 | * ''Webcomic/TheDragonDoctors'', a group of [[DreamTeam the best]] magical doctors in their respective specialities whose mission is to help people (charging if the patient can pay; being sponsored to help those who can't) suffering from mundane to magical ailments. Given the prevalence of magic in the setting, this lets to their involvement with demons, fast-evolving parasites, assassins, a criminal organization of gender-benders, shamanic serial killers, et cetera. |
| 217 | * The Help Service from ''Webcomic/{{Hellp}}''. In accord with the rather [[AHellOfATime cynical]] setting, they are OnlyInItForTheMoney. |
| 218 | * The N-M-S from ''Webcomic/SamAndFuzzy'', owned, headed and led by the protagonist duo. [[BeingGoodSucks They're... not very successful]]. |
| 219 | * Tagon's Toughs from ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary''. When confronted with an angry pacifist, Captain Tagon responds: "But they're almost always bad guys, and we only do it for the money." |
| 220 | * Quentyn from ''Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor'', as "Questor" is essentially something of a cross between a community champion and a sword for hire. |
| 221 | [[/folder]] |
| 222 | |
| 223 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 224 | * Given that ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' centers around [[{{Tagline}} a group of nerdy-ass voice actors playing]] ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', several adventures involve the protagonists being hired to fulfill some task. |
| 225 | [[/folder]] |
| 226 | |
| 227 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 228 | * ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Finn makes it a personal point to help anyone in need. |
| 229 | * ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': While trying to prepare for the final battle against Fire Lord Ozai and fighting his forces across the globe, the Avatar and his friends will always stop to help those in need. |
| 230 | * ''Franchise/Ben10'' lives and stands by this trope. He will anyone in need, whether alien or human. |
| 231 | * ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' have the motto "No case too big, no case too small" in their theme song, and they appear to follow that principle. |
| 232 | * ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': From babysitting to saving the world, "she can do anything". |
| 233 | * ''WesternAnimation/MightyDucksTheAnimatedSeries'': The squad of commando ducks is pursuing a warlord from their world named Dragaunus to earth. While searching for him, they come across crime around every corner, but choose to ignore it, since Dragaunus is their top priority. However, when the former thief of the group gives them a speech about how if they continue to allow crime to prosper, then they are equally responsible, they devote themselves to fighting crime in the city while searching for Dragonis. |
| 234 | -->''"It's not our problem."\ |
| 235 | "If we don't fight evil wherever we find it, then were no better than Dragaunus."'' |
| 236 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' have been hired by everyone from a pair of young children and a kindly old lady to a Hollywood studio, NASA and the French and Japanese governments. Thankfully, they take that into account when deciding what to charge the customer. |
| 237 | * Jack from ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' is an example of this, helping everyone he met in his journey and fighting evil in general. Unfortunately, a major conflict with this is that he feels compelled to help anyone in need even at the expense of his journey to find a way home. |
| 238 | * Most incarnations of ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', whose teenage heroes, a roaming, freelance detective agency in later versions, stumble into just about every paranormal situation imaginable on a weekly basis and take it upon themselves to help the people they've met and debunk the (usually) [[ScoobyDooHoax fake ghost]]. |
| 239 | * Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/SmilingFriends'', in which it's the main job of the characters to make people smile. This causes them to get into all sorts of wacky zany misadventures. As an example, [[Recap/SmilingFriendsS1E1DesmondsBigDayOut the very first episode]] outright hits them with having to help someone so far gone that he's got a gun aimed at his head and refuses to put it away. |
| 240 | * ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' is all about this trope, with lending a helping hand being Wander's modus operandi. "[[Recap/WanderOverYonderS2E4TheWandersTheAxe The Wanders]]" states that he does it so much because he knows what it's like to be in that situation. |
| 241 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' has a charity organization called "Helpers Helping the Helpless", where helpful helpers help helpless people needing help. Description courtesy of the lady in charge losing her thesaurus (she finds it later). Not ''quite'' this trope, but the name is there. |
| 242 | [[/folder]] |
| 243 | |
| 244 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 245 | %%* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Dershowitz Alan Dershowitz]]. |
| 246 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocence_Project The Innocence Project]]. |
| 247 | %%* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhs]]. |
| 248 | * The idea of [[https://www.effectivealtruism.org/ Effective Altruism]], as it utilizes the most efficient ways to help contribute to charities and the well-being of others. |
| 249 | [[/folder]] |
| 250 |
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