Line #24 Series/VengeanceUnlimited


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vengeance_unlimited.jpg]]
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3	In a post-O.J. world, when people really wanted their vengeance served to them on a silver platter, [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]] delivered: a 1998 series that starred Creator/MichaelMadsen as Mr. Chapel, a vigilante who makes sure those bad guys who thought they got away don't really get away. Someone killed your father and blamed your husband? Someone cashing in on a book deal after getting away with offing someone you hold dear? One quick call to Chapel, and he'll make all your problems go away. Even better, [[TechnicalPacifist he doesn't use guns, nor does he kill anyone]].
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5	There is, as with all sweet deals, one slight hitch. His fee is $1 million. Oh, don't worry, you don't actually have to give him any money. However, in lieu of the fee, you are on the hook for a favor to be called in at any time in the future. And believe you, he will call you for it.
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7	He does have help: K.C. Griffin (Creator/KathleenYork), a former client who has long since paid off her favor, but feels what Chapel feels: A desire to set wrongs right...with torture if necessary. (Hey, torture's not killing, is it?)
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9	The series was quite critically panned for its subject matter, as Chapel did some mighty bad things, and the timing of its release--as noted, right after the O.J. trial. ABC thought it good enough to go up against the juggernauts on Thursday nights. Unfortunately, the gambit failed, and the series was canceled after 16 episodes, the last of which was named "Friends", in deference to [[Series/{{Friends}} the show that vanquished it]].
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11	Compare ''Series/Stingray1985'' and ''Series/{{Leverage}}''.
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13	!!Tropes:
14	%% * BlackAndGrayMorality: Mr. Chapel's vigilantism is the Gray versus the perps' Black.
15	%% * CatchPhrase: "This MakesUsEven. I'm out of your life forever."
16	* DangerTakesABackSeat: A "heroic" example, as Chapel downs an accomplice with formaldehyde this way.
17	* DarkAndTroubledPast[=/=]MysteriousPast: Why has Chapel chosen this line of work? He refers to once having had "a really bad Monday", but never elaborates.
18	* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: In "Clique," Chapel at one point walks out of a room while humming the ''Vengeance Unlimited'' theme song.
19	* DoesntLikeGuns: Played with. Chapel never uses guns, but he will hand you over to people who do.
20	* EngineeredPublicConfession: This is how Chapel gets one persistent fangirl off his back, by making the perp who she idolizes admit to the murder he's targeting him for, with her watching via hidden camera.
21	* FakeKillScare: Mr Chapel captures two bad guys and ties them up on chairs in separate rooms. He shows up in front of one, puts on an apron, grabs a chainsaw, and heads to the next room. There he ungags the second prisoner and threatens him with the running chainsaw, eliciting loud screams of terror, before gagging him again, turning to a table bearing a big slab of juicy meat, and chainsawing through ''that''. Then he comes back to the first prisoner, now much more talkative...%% * {{Gaslighting}}: Chapel does this to his mark in "Critical"...and apparently he had an entire restaurant full of former clients with favors to pay back.
22	%% * NaiveNewcomer: K.C. cashes in her favor in the pilot, then sticks around.
23	* OpenHeartDentistry: When Mr. Chapel gets shot, he calls in a favor. Problem is, no doctors owe him a favor...but a veterinarian does.
24	* PayEvilUntoEvil: All of the targets are {{Asshole Victim}}s who hurt people and got away with it.
25	* ShoutOut:
26	** One of Chapel's previous clients is Boone Paladin, who always gives Chapel free lodging in his chain of motel to repay his favor. The name is an allusion to (Richard) Boone, who played Paladin on ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''.
27	** As well as in "Friends":
28	--->'''Victim of the week:''' You contaminated my clothes with flesh-eating bacteria!?!?\
29	'''Chapel:''' This isn't ''Series/TouchedByAnAngel''.
30	* TechnicalPacifist: Chapel doesn't use guns or kill. He lets other people take care of that.
31	* ThouShaltNotKill: As noted, Chapel never kills his victims, at least not personally. However, he's open to anything else.
32	* VigilanteMan: Chapel provides a rough, brutal form of justice to evildoers who have defied the legal system.
33	* WeHelpTheHelpless: Chapel and KC...and if you can't pay, just be ready for a favor.
34	* YouOweMe: A million dollars or a favor. Most go for the favor. Turned around on Chapel by the computer genius in "Critical", who could've turned him in...but didn't. The same ep had the only client in the series who paid the million rather than the favor.

Context Series / VengeanceUnlimited