Line #64 ThrowTheDogABone/WesternAnimation


1	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
2	** Lemongrab gets one in "You Made Me" when Princess Bubblegum introduces him to a clone of himself to reduce his psychotic loneliness over having a castle with no one else to keep him company. [[spoiler:Though this doesn't last...]]
3	** In "Don't Look", the ButtMonkey NEPTR is hailed as a hero after he destroys the mountain hermit's cursed eyes.
4	* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' has a rare good ending for Carl in "Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past", where Carl goes [[ItMakesSenseInContext from having all the water on his property cursed to turn into elf blood for all eternity unless he has sex with a space ape Santa Claus]], to selling said cursed property to [[Music/{{Danzig}} Glenn Danzig]] for a million dollars and moving out. Unfortunately, due to the series' love of NegativeContinuity, he's right back where he started next episode.
5	* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' is quite TheChewToy and was probably subjected to more AmusingInjuries than any protagonist of any popular cartoon made in the 2010's. He also ended up being the only one to get the girl he wanted and stayed in a healthy relationship with her.
6	* Literal Dog: The ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' movie ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish'' actually subverted FailureIsTheOnlyOption for everyone, including {{B\|adlyBatteredBabysitter}}uttons, who was finally rewarded when Mindy called her mom "Mommy" and instead of losing a meal, and getting chewed out, was given a huge pile of steaks.
7	** There was also Rita and Runt being adopted by Dr. Scratchinsniff and Brain getting a position of significant power.
8	** [[EveryoneHatesMimes The Mime still got the shaft though.]] In fact, dropping a safe on him was ''Yakko's'' wish.
9	** A Christmas episode has Chicken Boo posing as... a MallSanta. When his disguise fails, he escapes the usual torrent of abuse when rescued by the real Santa Claus, who says he deserves a happy ending just this once.
10	** A half-literal example in the {{crossover}} episode featuring [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Elmyra]] - after spending the whole episode tormenting the Warners, they have the perfect idea - introduce Elmyra to Mindy. When Mindy wanders off into danger as she usually does, Buttons [[BadlyBatteredBabysitter prepares for his usual routine]], but the Warners stop him - as Elmyra takes all the abuse Buttons usually does. Buttons obviously can't thank the Warners enough.
11	*** Also counts as a great TakeThatScrappy moment.
12	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
13	** Zuko is finally thrown a bone at the start of the third season; he's finally been accepted back into the Fire Nation by his father, he's restored the honor he's been fighting for two seasons and three years to get back, he's got a girlfriend, and his father has allowed him to sit at his side once more. The problem for Zuko is that he finally realizes that (aside from the girlfriend whom he loves) ''he doesn't want any of that'' anymore, that restoring his honor came at the price of betraying his uncle Iroh, that the Fire Nation [[HeelRealization really are the villains of this story]], and that being the good little prince beside his father is something that fundamentally goes against the man he has become (not to mention that this new title came as a result of a lie on his sister's part)....which leads to his true HeelFaceTurn.
14	** Sokka, the unlucky comic relief for most of the series, gets a bite in one late-series episode where a sword master accepts him for martial training. [[TookALevelInBadass It only gets better from there.]]
15	** In retrospect, the [[ButtMonkey Cabbage Guy]]. After years of having his cabbage cart smashed every time he appears on screen, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' shows that he becomes the founder of one of the most successful businesses in the world. His successor, unfortunately, inherits his bad luck when he gets framed for supplying the Equalists. "Not my Cabbage Corp!"
16	** Asami has [[TheWoobie suffered a lot]], getting her heart broken twice by [[spoiler:Mako]], having her dad [[spoiler:turn out to be an equalist]], and losing her family wealth. While by the time the {{grand finale}} rolls around shes rebuilt her family's business, [[spoiler:her father who she had just reconciled with performs a {{heroic sacrifice}}, seemingly as a final screw you from the universe. On the plus side, she has a {{relationship upgrade}} with [[PhysicalGod Korra]]]].
17	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' provides examples of this with Ollie. He is treated like the standard {{Mook}} but Shriek rewards him by giving him a vibrating fork that was specifically designed to stimulate the pleasure center of the brain. The results are disturbing. He gently presses the fork to the side of his head and within seconds he begins moaning pleasurably. Shriek turns off his [[DisabilitySuperpower suit]] and is unable to hear as result, but seconds after, Ollie stumbles around and falls over. By the time Shriek leaves the room Ollie's mouth is wide open [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything and he has a look of euphoric bliss on his face]].
18	* ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'':
19	** The series finale has Waspinator, TheChewToy [[CosmicPlaything of Fate]], left on Earth after leaving the Predacons where he becomes the leader of a village of Protohumans. It's obviously more significant if you [[FanonDiscontinuity ignore]] ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'', though he wasn't nearly TheChewToy there that he was in ''Beast Wars'', as he spent most of the time sharing a body with Thrust, and was one of the only three characters to survive the entirety of both series.
20	--->"Waspinator happy at last."
21	** Waspinator was originally scheduled to die, but because he was popular, one of the writers convinced the executives to let him change it to him surviving the [[DroppedABridgeOnHim bridge-dropping]] that killed Scorponok and Terrorsaur by the ContrivedCoincidence of falling into a CR Chamber instead of a pit of lava.[[labelnote:note]]Well, ''[[NeverFoundTheBody maybe]]'' killed them. [[FixFic Other writers don't care for that bit and brought them back as Transmetals, going off of the fact they were last seen being hit by the quantum surge and starting to mutate from it.]] [[ButtMonkey Who emerged from the lava with much difficulty, long after the Beast Wars were over, and were left stranded on prehistoric Earth by themselves.]][[/labelnote]]
22	** Whenever Waspinator fights Silverbolt. Silverbolt ''never'' beat Waspinator in combat or even landed a real hit. Waspinator, on the other hand, beat him three separate times.
23	* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': Lumpus has a mad crush on Jane Doe, but his efforts to get her to realize that always backfire hilariously. Jane frequently misinterprets his motives, leading her to see him either as A) a friend, or B) a jerk. {{Failure\|IsTheOnlyOption}} is Lumpus' only option, as Jane gets together with and even ''marries'' everyone except Lumpus. The second-to-last episode focuses on the two, and is called "Wedding Bell Blues". They get HappilyMarried and become an OfficialCouple in the end.
24	** Of course, the last episode then [[YankTheDogsChain yanks it away from him]] and he ends up in jail.
25	*** WordOfGod says Jane Doe bailed him out of jail.
26	* Owing to the show's cynical nature, the titular characters of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' almost never win. However, they manage to score a victory in the episode "All You Can't Eat" when Rancid Rabbit (who bans them from the Taco Depot simply because he hates them) gets fired from his job as manager; Dunglap takes over Rancid's job and the duo are now allowed to eat there whenever they want.
27	* Happens frequently with ButtMonkey AlphaBitch Sissi on ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', particularly in the series finale.
28	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'':
29	** In season 1, Jay is presented as very luckless in his love life, on top of being a huge ButtMonkey in general, with the women he scores with either having ulterior motives or being a StalkerWithACrush who holds him captive... except in one episode, where he actually manages to have a one night stand with a woman that actually admires him without any negative consequences.
30	** In season two, he finally finds a steady love interest in Alice.
31	* Penfold gets to shine in some ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' episodes:
32	** "Chicken Run": As he and DM dodge the attack of giant chickens, Penfold dives into a vial of a growth formula, causing ''him'' to grow giant size and apprehend the villains, Greenback and Stiletto.
33	** "Public Enemy No. 1": For a brief time, Penfold takes a super speed pill and outwits DM (who has amnesia and is brainwashed by Greenback into thinking he's a master criminal).
34	** "Lost, Found And Spellbound": Penfold winds up finding the missing Prof. Squawkencluck while DM deals with a mischievous witch doctor (followed by his groping for an explanation to Colonel K and the narrator wondering if the show will be renamed for Penfold).
35	** "Beware Of Mexicans Delivering Milk": Penfold takes the initiative in stopping El Loco's plan to rob the Bank of England after DM's strength is drained by spiked milk. DM winds up stopping El Loco, but Penfold does get the last laugh at the end.
36	** "Turn Of The Tide": Penfold [[ItMakesSenseInContext sacrifices his eyebrows]] to save the earth and receives a new toy to replace his lost one. DM is bent out of shape because he has to pay to have the Mk. III repaired after it had been earlier damaged.
37	** "There's A Penfold In My Suit": A zig-zag: a mystical stone in the country of Bratyslovakia causes DM and Penfold to switch bodies.
38	* Tucker Foley, the PluckyComicRelief in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' who was unlucky with girls, usually got the short end of the stick, and suffered massive {{Flanderization}} finally caught a break in the GrandFinale when he became the youngest mayor in Amity Park history.
39	* In ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'', Dick Dastardly is thrown a bone in "Home Sweet Homing Pigeon." Klunk, Zilly and Muttley's discharges are imminent, so Dick gets them to sign his memory book. He tricks them--the three actually signed re-enlistment forms. The episode ends with Dastardly doing a Muttley snicker.
40	* During his "Ruler of Kongo Bongo" election campaign, [[WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry Donkey Kong]] promises [[TheBrute Krusha]] that he won't pummel him next time he tries to steal the [[MacGuffin Crystal Coconut]]. When Krusha ''does'' get his hands on the coconut, Donkey Kong ''keeps his promise'' and lets Krusha off the hook. As long as he returns the Crystal Coconut, of course.
41	* ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer'' does this once with Swiper. In the Halloween episode, they successfully stop him from swiping (it's normally a crapshoot whether they succeed or not depending on where they want the episode to go). After the usual "Swiper no Swiping!" and "Awww, maaaan!" exchange, they teach him how to trick or treat, then proceed to give him some candy after he asks for some.
42	* Frizz and Nug of ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'', while always {{Harmless Villain}}s doomed to failure, at least finish off some episodes with the last laugh, usually when something terrible befalls [[SitcomArchNemesis Urpgor]]. Perhaps most prominent in "The Spidermobile", they spend the majority of the episode, for once, trouncing the heroes effortlessly and make off with the stone with comparatively few AmusingInjuries. They also manage to avoid a retaliation this time, instead watching amused as their abusive bosses take a HumiliationConga in their place.
43	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'':
44	** Subverted for WesternAnimation/{{Donald\|Duck}} in the second season, [[BornUnlucky naturally]]. When he begins molting from constant stress, and his attempts to relax throughout the episode are repeatedly foiled, his family eventually takes pity on him and books a month-long cruise just for him. Unfortunately, [[YankTheDogsChain this goes horribly wrong]] when he [[spoiler:stumbles upon Della's rocket seconds after she leaves it and accidentally launches it, shooting himself into space and crashing on the moon...[[FromBadToWorse where he is immediately taken hostage by aliens]]. Even upon escape, his attempt to warn of the coming invasion fails, and he spends the rest of the season stuck on a deserted island with his family none the wiser.]]
45	** Played straight in Season 3's "Louie's Eleven", as Donald ends up meeting Daisy, who can not only perfectly understand him, but actually loves his singing voice.
46	* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'':
47	** The Eds, usually {{Failure Hero}}es, get this on the ''very'' rare occasions they close an episode on a triumphant note. "A Glass Of Warm Ed" and "Dim Lit Ed" end with them making unnegated profit from a scam. "May I Have This Ed" ends with the entire school collapsing into a ruined heap, with everyone being hurt in the process ''except'' the Eds who are the only ones able to escape. Still, the episodes where all three of them do get a happy ending are extremely rare. TheMovie finally ends with them popular with the other kids.
48	** Even if Jimmy is often [[ButtMonkey the butt of the jokes]], he actually comes out on top in most Jimmy-centric episodes. The exception is "One Size Fits Ed" and only because he was still working with [[LoserProtagonist the Eds]] by the end of the episode. When he starts working against the Eds, he always gets the last laugh on them.
49	** Being the [[OutOfFocus least-explored]] of the cul-de-sac kids, Nazz gets a bone thrown her way in TheMovie, where she gets a significant subplot with Kevin, a level in badass and she's the only cast member (besides the Kanker sisters) who gets her last name revealed: Von Bartonschmeer.
50	* Meg Griffin in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' has several due of to be the major ButtMonkey of the show.
51	** In the "Peter's Daughter" episode Peter treats Meg kindly after she goes into a coma.
52	** A more recent episode features Meg getting her chance to abuse everyone else on the show for once, and the episode ends with Brian revealing that he wrote a nice article about her for Teen People magazine, describing her as being far sweeter and kinder than the typical American girl.
53	** She amazingly gets one in the episode ''A Fistful Of Meg'' when she used her unattractive features to fight off a school bully named Mental Mike, and managed to win.
54	** Despite how unattractive and horrible to look at Meg supposedly is, she's had quite a few boyfriends and has been confirmed to have had sex with at least three guys who liked her for who she was.
55	** With the exception of "Road to the Multiverse", the writers thankfully toned down the Meg bashing in season 8.
56	** Meg's only real scene in "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS21E5UnzippedCode Unzipped Code]]" sees her having a good laugh about the calendar and getting complimented by Peter for her joke.
57	* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'':
58	** The episode "[[Recap/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriendsS3E12SettingAPresident Setting a President]]" ' is this for Frankie, who not only manages to win an election to be in charge of the eponymous house, but then enforces regime changes everyone likes, punishes Bloo and emphatically doesn't find out that it was harder than her old job. It's seemingly subverted when seeing Herriman suffering and struggling with a bagging job at the supermarket, and while she feels guilty for him, she's more put off by how her new job pays less than her old one. She then returns the job to its previous incumbent (also brought back to the house), and looks like a saint in doing it, with him claiming that he now owes her one.
59	** ''WesternAnimation/DestinationImagination'' throws a big bone for Frankie. After years of cooking, cleaning, taking care of numerous imaginary friends, and pretty much running the house single-handedly without a bit of gratitude from anyone or an ounce of respect from her slave driving anal stuck-up bunny boss, she is rewarded when Mr. Herriman acknowledges her importance to the home and has the chores split up amongst everyone. Whether the change sticks in the last episodes of the series remains to be seen.
60	** The second-to-last episode of the series "[[Recap/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriendsS6E9FoolsAndRegulations Fools and Regulations]]" was yet another for Frankie. Bloo's ridiculous antics, established as a major source of grief for Frankie, actually help her in the end by earning some badly-needed fundraising donations for the house. Funny enough, Frankie punishes Bloo anyway for being such a jerkass.
61	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' has the Season 2 premiere, "Dexter’s Date", one of the few episodes where [[ButtMonkey Dexter]] actually catches a break at the end. After being stuck in ShapeshifterModeLock for most of the episode, he’s able to change back into himself and get back to his date with Steff. While he fears that the date has been a disaster, Steff says she had a lot of fun thanks to [[ItMakesSenseInContext The Lobe’s musical number and subsequent chase with Freakazoid]]. She then kisses him on the cheek.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
63	** "Xmas Story": Even by Robot Santa's impossible standards, Zoidberg qualifies for the Nice List, receiving a pogo stick for an Xmas gift. What's more, Zoidberg uses this gift to save the day by bouncing up to cut a wire and electrocute Santa.
64	** In "The Six Million Dollar Mon", Zoidberg stops Hermes from turning himself into a robot by reminding him of his family (and by having saved Hermes' discarded body parts). Afterwards, Hermes' wife orders him to thank Zoidberg.
65	-->'''Hermes:''' But I hate him!\
66	'''[=LaBarbara=]:''' We all do! But credit where credit's due!
67	** In fact, a lot of Zoidberg's appearances in the Comedy Central run have him doing better in a number of ways. One episode focuses on his relationship with the Professor, cementing their friendship, showing he's actually a brilliant doctor when not treating humans, and has the respect of ''Mom'' of all people. Another episode shows he's largely come to terms with his financial situation (something he's shown a few times before), manages a zen-like outlook on both a windfall fortune and losing it almost immediately, and ends the episode having formed a connection with Amy over her temporary poverty and dancing with her to his own theme tune.
68	** And a final bone throwing came in "Stench and Stenchability" (the series' penultimate episode on Comedy Central) where old crabcakes was given a love interest. And unlike Edna, no last second dumping and death from mating. And thanks to being born without a sense of smell, getting a nose transplant, and never knowing a good smell from bad, she even loves his stank.
69	* Similar like the comic strip which is based on, Jon in ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'' never gets a single girlfriend. But during the end of the episode “Dream Date”, he did get a date with the former secretary of the TV studio who are trying to use Jon as a setup for higher ratings, which Garfield lets Jon date her, as he lampshades it to Odie.
70	-->'''Garfield:''' New rule of the show Pup, every 9 weeks we do a happy ending. Come on, let's go steal their pizza.
71	* Toby Determined from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' is a wannabe newspaper reporter that is constantly insulted for his dorky appearance by his peers, including the object of his infatuation, television reporter Shandra Jimenez. In the SeriesFinale, he gets a makeover as "Bodacious T" and joins Shandra's crew as a sports reporter.
72	** Robbie, who is usually portrayed as a villain due to his crush on and eventual relationship with Wendy, is redeemed in "The Love God", when he and Wendy's friend Tambry begin dating. There's some conflict initially (Wendy is mad that Tambry would date her ex, Nate is mad about Robbie dating Tambry despite knowing about Nate's crush on her and Lee is mad at Nate for not telling him about his crush on Tambry), and it was started with a love-potion, but things eventually smooth out and they're seen is a constant throughout the rest of the series.
73	** Lil' Gideon and Pacifica Northwest, both initially villains, get their redemption arcs by the end of Season 2, and both help complete the Cipher Wheel.
74	** Dipper repeatedly failed to get the girl and can be quite TheWoobie. At the end of the show, he does manage to at least get an ImpliedLoveInterest with Pacifica, which was further expanded on in [[AllThereInTheManual material outside the show.]]
75	** Old Man [=McGucket=], a local kook, [[spoiler:who lost his memory as a brilliant inventor who worked with the Author, Stanford Pines]], spends most of the first three-quarters of the as a homeless crazy old man whom even his son dislikes and is estranged from. Eventually, however, after discovering his importance, the protagonists help him remember who he is, allying with them along with numerous other survivors come the apocalypse, and by the finale, he manages to sell dozens of patents to the US government overnight and becomes a millionaire, even buying out a mansion and, [[TheStinger as shown in the finale credits]] reconciling with his son.
76	* Arnold of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' tried to give a nice day to the usually unlucky Eugene, but it's subverted as he fails continually. Then it's {{Double Subver\|sion}}ted as Eugene at least ''thinks'' one good thing happened (getting a new fish), even though it was cancelled out (the fish was eaten while he wasn't looking).
77	** His performance in "Eugene, Eugene" counts, too.
78	** In "Helga's Love Potion" Brainy, after countless OffhandBackhand from Helga, is kissed by her (in his forehead). He faints.
79	* Shortly after ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeScratTales'' finished airing, the studio released a short video of Scrat ''finally'' eating his acorn after 20 years of not being able to.
80	* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' does this twice with Dib. The first time, he's visited by the Meekrob: beings of pure energy who took on the form of shoes & gave him superpowers. [[spoiler:Turns out it was [[LotusEaterMachine all a dream Zim put him]] in to [[LawOfDisproportionateResponse find out if he threw a muffin at his head.]]]] The second time, after dealing with Tak, Dib just happens to be able to scavenge her spaceship without any snapback. He would have gotten it fully operational and used it to visit other planets if the series hadn't been ScrewedByTheNetwork.
81	* Henry of ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam!'' was given this in an episode where June's pranks finally pushed him too far and he quit the show. He goes on to start a highly successful restaurant while the show suffers without him. He eventually comes back after seeing that June genuinely misses him and regrets what she did.
82	* [[spoiler:The 87th episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'' had [[CosmicPlaything Stumpy]] win for once, without cheating.
83	* The last season of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' is basically this for Ron.
84	** The final episode is this for Dr. Drakken, whose invention defeats the [[TripodTerror alien war machines]], getting him the recognition he always craved.
85	*** At the cost of his villain status, which, [[GoodIsBadAndBadIsGood depending on which side you're on, can be either a good thing or a bad thing]].
86	* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'':
87	** In "A Beer Can Named Desire", when the Hills go to New Orleans, Bill Dauterive comes along to visit his family and his three beautiful cousins start flinging themselves at him. However, [[KissingCousins one is blood-related]] while the other two just married into the family, but since he doesn't know which is which he treats the whole situation like a minefield. [[spoiler:His AmbiguouslyGay cousin Gilbert eventually spills the beans, and when the Hills drop back by to pick Bill up, he responds to Peggy's "How was your weekend?" with "Both of 'em!" while grinning ear-to-ear.]]
88	** Also, in "Petriot Act", where Bill temporarily adopts a soldier's dog, Buddy. Most of the episode revolves around Hank realizing (to his dismay) that the animal that he adopted is a [[spoiler:cat]], but Bill and Buddy spend the entire episode happy. And then, at the end of the episode, he gets a salute from the entire crew of the aircraft carrier that Buddy's owner works on as he returns Buddy, and gets a ride home on a fighter jet.
89	** A few episodes throw smaller bones Bill's way: "Blood and Sauce" has him finding success selling his family's barbecue sauce recipe; though Gilbert keeps him from franchising, the episode ends with him bonding with Bobby. "Tankin' It To The Streets" has Bill get super depressed when he thinks that he was the subject of government experiments that made him fat and dumb; Hank reminds him that his past successes all happened because he never gave up, which results in Bill successfully picking up a female police officer ''while in his underwear'', and later [[NotNowWereTooBusyCryingOverYou gets to hear his friends praise him]] when they think he pulled a HeroicSacrifice.
90	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'':
91	** WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck gets one in "WesternAnimation/DuckingTheDevil", he spends the majority of the short frantically trying to lead the escaped Tasmanian Devil back to his zoo cell for a reward of $5000. He actually succeeds, and on top of that, when Taz swipes a dropped dollar, Daffy charges in to fight him for it ''and wins''. It should be noted this short was made long after Daffy had evolved into a pompous fall guy.
92	--->'''Daffy:''' I'm a coward, but I'm a ''greeeedy'' little coward!
93	** Excluding "WesternAnimation/WhatsOperaDoc", [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone seeing he felt remorse in that one]], there have been only been two cartoons where Elmer Fudd won against WesternAnimation/BugsBunny (''WesternAnimation/HareBrush'', and ''WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage'') and two others (''WesternAnimation/FreshHare'' and ''WesternAnimation/BugsBonnets'') that ended in a draw.
94	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
95	** A RunningGag in the episode "The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000" involves Rainbow Dash not being able to get a cup of the Apple family's homemade apple cider because they always run out by the time she reaches the booth, or in one instance because she spilled the cup (leading her to ''shove the dirt it was spilled on into her mouth''). She finally gets a mug at the very end of the episode. And she gets the mug from none other than Pinkie Pie, who up until that point, had been hoarding mugs of cider and unintentionally rubbing it in Rainbow Dash's face about how good the cider tasted.
96	** From the beginning Spike is the ButtMonkey and is treated at best as a servant and at worst fairly shabbily, with his EstablishingCharacterMoment consisting of him being slammed in a door, having the gift he bought for someone else destroyed, and Twilight Sparkle not even noticing. This continued all through Season One and Two all the way to ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E21DragonQuest Dragon Quest]]'' where Spike gets [[ADayInTheLimelight his first adventure]], Twilight Sparkle shows she loves him dearly by dropping everything to go full MamaWolf and keep him safe, and that he and the ponies love each other so dearly he's proud to call them his family.
97	** ...and continued in ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E24EquestriaGames Equestria Games]]'' again with Spike, who's still often the butt of many jokes, who is celebrated as a hero by the denizens of the Crystal Empire, and gets to save the day there a second time after going through ''two'' humiliating experiences. Spike's reputation in the Crystal Empire is this in general, as he's well-respected and quite nearly worshipped there while back in Ponyville he's the ButtMonkey.
98	* Charlie Brown from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' achieved this trope in two of the animated specials: ''It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown'' (where, in spite of [[NeverMyFault being blamed for causing his team to lose a football game]], he actually gets to kiss [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen The Little Red-Haired Girl]]) and ''WesternAnimation/ItsMagicCharlieBrown'' (where he takes advantage of being turned invisible and actually kicks Lucy's football. Lucy is not amused.). Even when Charlie Brown turns visible again and Lucy is able to pull it away again, he's still thrilled that he was able to finally kick it. Snoopy then uses his magic to suspend Lucy in mid air. She's not amused by that, either.
99	** A nod to the football gag was used by ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in one episode. In a cutaway gag, Lucy yanks the football away as Charlie Brown tries to kick it, causing Peter to appear and ''beat the crap out of Lucy'' for toying with Charlie Brown all this time and forces her to hold the football in place. Charlie Brown kicks it and cheers in glee, while Peter delivers a final kick for Lucy for not being a professional psychiatrist.
100	*** Also used in ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' when Charlie Brown stops at the last minute and kicks Lucy. [[LaserGuidedKarma "That's for years of humiliation,]] [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch!"]]
101	** Notably ''not'' employed in the comics themselves, though, where any and all triumphs Charlie Brown achieves are ''always'' dragged down or retconned, such as an example where he hit a home run and won the baseball game, yet it later turned out this was only because the female pitcher had a crush on him. Another time, a winning run was walked in because the pitcher couldn't pitch strikes to Linus' toddler brother Rerun (who thought they were [[ComicallyMissingThePoint playing for the Stanley Cup]]). Sadly, a "youth sports commission" not unlike the Mafia forces Charlie Brown to forfeit the victory after it's revealed Snoopy had money on the game.
102	*** Charlie Brown does get at least one victory in the comics. During the last part of its run, he helps Rerun by defeating a bully in a game of marbles.
103	*** Another time was when Lucy was berating Charlie Brown at her psychology booth for wasting his life when he spent the morning cleaning his closet shelf. To prove her point, she asked Linus what he was doing that morning. When he said he just watched TV, Lucy is humiliated seeing her argument explode in her face while Charlie Brown makes the most of this great turn of events with a smug "My closet shelf is real clean!"
104	** There was also a comic where Violet was bragging to Charlie Brown about how much better her dad is than his dad. Charlie Brown interrupts her and takes her to his dad's barber shop, pointing out how his dad is always ready to wave to him, giving him that little amount of time, any time. This shuts Violet up, and is one of the few times Charlie Brown gets the last word in over anyone.
105	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'':
106	** [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Cute, ridiculously-nice Jeremy]] embodies this trope for [[ButtMonkey Candace]]; many episodes have Candace putting herself through all sorts of grief trying to bust her brothers, [[YankTheDogsChain coming within inches of doing so and failing]], only for Jeremy to show up in the last sixty seconds and somehow manage to make her day brighter. Later, they become an OfficialCouple.
107	*** An episode set 10 years into the future shows that Candace eventually uses all her busting experience to become a successful lawyer.
108	** [[MadScientist Doofenshmirtz]] also gets this occasionally, usually either from his FriendlyEnemy [[AnimalSuperhero Perry]] or his PerkyGoth [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter daughter]] [[MoralityPet Vanessa]]. Come the end of the show, having spent the entire series having his plans be thwarted, he fully reforms, presumably to become a much better person.
109	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Despite his ButtMonkey status, Sean does get tossed a bone in "Tiny Blue Dot" where his being space-sick is treated with concern.
110	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' There are moments where Randall gets a lucky break.
111	** Season 1 episode "Randall's Reform". Randall temporarily becomes popular and is accepted by the other kids. While he enjoys his new popularity and acceptance, he misses his friendship with Miss Finster, so he chooses to go back to being a snitch.
112	** In the Season 3 episode "Buried Treasure", Randall is one of the kids that is in on discovering the treasure. When the treasure is revealed to be a bunch of toys and the kids decide to play with them before burying them with their favorite toys, it is implied that Randall plays with the toys and other kids.
113	** In the Season 3 episode "The Ratings Game", when The Ashleys start a rating system where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest, Randall gets a 1. Though, to be fair, Mikey also gets a 1 and Gus even gets a 0. At the end of the episode, where the Recess gang gives everyone 10 cards, Randall sits alone, implying he will be the only one not getting a 10 card, but then Mikey gives him a 10 card.
114	--->'''Randall:''' After Mikey has just given him a ten while he was depressed But...how? Why?\
115	'''Mikey:''' Because you're really good at being you!
116	** In the Season 4 episode "The Biggest Trouble Ever". Randall happily plays in a pile of leaves with other kids.
117	** In the Season 4 episode "Some Friend". It is revealed that Randall is invited to Menlo's birthday party and he is seen enjoying himself with the other kids at the party.
118	* At the end of the WesternAnimation/RoadRunner short ''WesternAnimation/ZoomAndBored'', the Coyote purchases an Ahab Harpoon Gun, but unfortunately, he gets caught in the rope attached to it, and goes on a wild ride. By the end of the short, he is a blubbering mess. The Road Runner appears right behind him, and you'd expect him to go "Beep beep!" and scare him, but instead, [[NoFourthWall he looks to the audience]] and [[TalkingWithSigns holds up a sign]] saying, "I just don't have the heart!", and zips away, flipping the sign over saying, "'Bye!"
119	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': This are moments were [[Characters/RickAndMortyJerrySmith Jerry Smith]] gets a lucky break.
120	** The Season 2 premiere has the B-plot end with Jerry successfully performing a romantic gesture for Beth, and the final scene is him being consistently funny enough to put her in a laughing fit.
121	** The Season 2 finale has him getting a Federation-mandated job after him being nagged for being unemployed for the past season.
122	** While he still has to admit to his own frailties at the end of it, the penultimate episode of Season 3 has his apartment getting cleaned up by a very attractive alien huntress named Kiara (who has had sex with him a few times by that point), him learning a bit of telekinesis, and then managing to get away with dumping her through what Morty lampshades as a DeusExMachina with a free answering machine thrown in for good measure. Rick also leaves him a friendly message on said answering machine, calling him "J-man" and saying he killed Kiara's ex, who'd been coming to kill Jerry, for him. Then [[spoiler: leaves another message apologizing for having sex with Kiara]].
123	** The Season 3 finale ends surprisingly great for him. He still has his telekinesis from the previous episode; He and Beth remarry after she finds out how much of a [[BrokenPedestal bad father Rick is]] and that she's grateful that such a "simple" man like Jerry still loves her. Both Morty and Summer, for once, take his side over Ricks, likely due to them losing some respect for him. He is finally re-established as the "patriarch" of the family after Rick angrily admits that he does a better job at it than him. But most notably, Beth defends him when Rick insults him by calling him a "dipshit", meaning that Jerry is finally respected by the family.
124	** As of season 6 he has arguably fully grown out of his ButtMonkey position. While he is still nebbish and snively, by the end of the season he's gone viral as a cool dad, briefly became a space super hero, goes on a serious adventure with Rick, gets to watch a 2 hour longer cut of Miracle on 34th street with his family, and has a second wife.
125	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' gave Angelica a bone in the episode "Tommy and the Secret Club" when Tommy bails out on her own club and starts his own. She ends up timidly approaching him and asking if she can join in, which Tommy agrees because in his club, everyone's in.
126	* After a long, long chain of failures, there are ''two'' occasions late in ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' where the method home ''isn't'' irrevocably lost. In the first case, Jack is defeated by an invincible warrior guarding it... but the warrior spares his life and explicitly sees a FutureBadass Jack coming back to use the portal at some point ahead. In the second, the portal is destroyed (by Jack [[GrandTheftMe possessed by Aku's evil]]), but Jack is told that it will be rebuilt in due time, at which point he may use it.
127	* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/SheepInTheBigCity'' is often subjected to misfortune, but there are some episodes where things go well for him.
128	** "Wish You Were Shear" has Swanky forgive him for not getting her an anniversary present and turn away the greyhound that Sheep was at risk of losing her to.
129	** "An Officer and a Gentlelamb" ends with Sheep getting his job at the barbershop back, his boss preventing the top secret military organization from attacking him again by hiring a gorilla to act as a bouncer.
130	** "Oh, the Ewemanity" begins with Sheep's attempts at helping others being rudely interrupted by firemen and police officers who order him to leave such things to "the professionals". In the end, Sheep manages to save the Big City from being destroyed by a meteor, a volcano, and a flood in one fell swoop and is rewarded for his heroism when the same firemen and police officers from before praise him and protect him from General Specific.
131	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
132	** After being a ButtMonkey for nearly ten seasons, Kirk Van Houten (Milhouse's dad) finally caught a break in a recent season when he married Luanne again and moved back to his old home, and essentially, recovering his good old life.
133	** This happens occasionally for Grandpa Simpson, who is usually ignored by his family. This usually happens with Bart helping him do something cool, like trying steal the Hellfish treasure, running away to Branson, MO, or escaping the nursing home. Not to mention having everyone learn he used to be (and briefly was again) a professional wrestler. And beating up [[AssholeVictim Mr. Burns]] ''twice''.
134	** Hans Moleman, whose status as a ButtMonkey is cemented by his tendency to only appear in episodes for a brief scene in which he is injured, dies, or his decrepitness is played for laughs, gets to medal in high jump in the senior olympics in one episode. He seems very pleased with himself.
135	** And of course, Martin beating the crap out of Jimbo and his gang as payback for the decades of bullying he received on the show during TheMovie. [[SweetAndSourGrapes (He thought he was going to die, so he figured he might as well give it a shot.)]]
136	** In "Moe Baby Blues", Moe becomes a town hero for accidentally saving Maggie while about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.
137	** In "Pay Pal", Shauna Chalmers makes out with Gil Gunderson at the grocery store to stop his rambling:
138	--->'''Shauna:''' If I make out with you, will you shut up?\
139	'''Gil:''' Ah, give it a shot.
140	** Parodied in "I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot" when he crashes his car into a tree to avoid hitting Snowball V, and happily comments how it means he'll get to claim insurance. The car then explodes (''twice'') offscreen, but he apparently survives.
141	** Comic Book Guy finding true love and getting married in season 25's "Married to the Blob".
142	** About 8 years later, Moe would receive the same reward in Season 33’s “The Wayz We Were”, with Maya, the little woman he dated in Season 20’s “Eeny Teeny Maya Moe”, returning to the series and accepting his marriage proposal.
143	* Kenny of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' [[TheyKilledKennyAgain died]] in most episodes from the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first five seasons]], but occasionally there would be an episode where it seemed like he was going to die, but ends up surviving, such as the first Christmas episode, the first episode where he ''didn't'' die. The show teases his demise several times be forcing him through pointlessly dangerous situations, but he comes through unscathed each time. When the episode ends, Kenny cheers in triumph. Another episode where this happens is in the Season 3 opener, "Rainforest Shmainforest," where he is struck by lightning, but is saved by his then-girlfriend before he could succumb to the lightning blast. He also survives Season 4's "Fat Camp," though, he ends up being sent to jail for giving Creator/HowardStern oral sex.
144	** It should be noted that, due to his [[TheChewToy Chew Toy]] status, many fans [[BaitAndSwitch expected one of the letters of "Merry Christmas" to fall on him.]]
145	** In "Poor and Stupid", Kenny falls in the middle of a Nascar race track, two cars are coming straight a him at full speed, Kenny braces for the inevitable... and then the drivers notice him and manage to dodge him crashing and burning at the sides of Kenny.
146	*** Don't forget how (in TheMovie) Kenny [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence finally got his just reward]] for his years of ButtMonkey status, complete with [[HolyHalo little halo and glowing trail as he went to Heaven.]]
147	*** Not to mention ascending into a land of giant breasts in the clouds.
148	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
149	** While Squidward is the biggest ButtMonkey on the show, there are moments every so often where something genuinely good happens to him:
150	*** "Band Geeks" has Squidward actually leading a band to an awesome glam-rock superbowl show that made his SmugSnake rival Squilliam ''have a heart attack''.
151	*** In "House Fancy", [=SpongeBob=] destroys Squidward's house while he's trying to make it more fancy than Squillam's... only for the [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible resulting rubble]] to indeed beat Squilliam's house.
152	*** "Suction Cup Symphony" Squidward managing to compose a musical piece for a competition, and having that piece selected to be played despite [=SpongeBob=]/Patrick's general annoyingness. When the composition is actually played , it's revealed that he actually wrote the annoyingness into the piece, you'd expect this to be a YankTheDogsChain where everyone goes nuts over [=SpongeBob=], but then the people start cheering... for Squidward.
153	*** In "Enchanted Tiki Dreams", [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick build a paradise for Squidward full of things he loves doing. He actually gets along with them and has a great time. Even at the end, when the land is destroyed, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick salvage it and voluntarily give him a way to take out his anger on them.
154	*** "Love That Squid" has Squidward fall in love with a female octopus named Squilvia. Squidward turns to [=SpongeBob=] for advice, but it goes wrong. When Squidward finally has enough, he starts yelling at [=SpongeBob=] right in front of his girlfriend. At first, Squid thinks she's going to break up with him for said outbursts, but it ends up making her more attracted to him.
155	*** In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'', he wants [[IChoosetoStay to stay on land in his Sour Note form]], but [=SpongeBob=] wants to bring the whole gang back home. He's dismayed to be just an ordinary cashier again, but [=SpongeBob=], via page from magical book, made him keep his "rock-hard abs".
156	*** "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS12E8SandysNuttyNiecesInsecurityGuards Insecurity Guards]]" has Squidward submitting a painting to a museum, but getting turned down. He sneaks in to put it in himself, and while he gets arrested, the painting stays up, meaning he did get what he wanted.
157	*** "Squid's on a Bus" has Squidward placing a bet with a bus driver over who can do their jobs better. Although he has to put up with a lot of annoying stuff, he wins the bet in the end.
158	*** In "Jolly Lodgers", Squidward is annoyed by a jellyfishing convention in the hotel he has to stay at. He calls pest control, forcing everyone out. The episode ends with him, wearing a gas mask, dancing alone in his hotel room now that he finally has the pace and quiet he wanted.
159	*** At the end of "Krusty Koncessionaires", Squidward gets to meet one of his favorite musicians, making him literally die happy. Even after Mr. Krabs forcibly revives him, he comments, "...still the best day of my life."
160	*** "Mandatory Music" is a HumiliationConga for Squidward as he gets arrested for his bad music playing, then is upstaged by a class of children who can perform better. At the end, it turns out he does have musical talent, but it's with his nose flute (like [=SpongeBob=]) and not his clarinet. He plays a concert in the park for [=SpongeBob=], his teacher, his classmates, and everyone who initially hated his music, who are now cheering for him. It ends with him crying TearsOfJoy.
161	*** In "Big Top Flop", Squidward does a SadClown act at a circus. Everyone loves it and cheers for him, and he exits happily.
162	** Mrs. Puff and Plankton both get their wishes come true in "Wishing You Well". Mrs. Puff drives off with a brand new boat while Plankton has grown to several hundred feet and able to merrily crush buildings as he pleases.
163	** "Plankton's Pet" has Plankton get a pet [[AllAnimalsAreDogs water bear/ameoba]] he names Spot to cheer himself up after yet another failed attempt to get a Krabby Patty at the suggestion of [=SpongeBob=]. It shows him love and he loves it, and the episode ends with Spot rescuing Plankton from trouble and showering a happy Plankton with love.
164	** "Karen's Baby" revolves around Karen and Plankton raising their own computer son, whom they name Chip. After Chip grows up, Plankton sees how his first day of work is going. He's now an ATM at a bank, and he trolls Mr. Krabs to the point he has a crying fit. Plankton is very proud.
165	** "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS13E12 You're Going to Pay...Phone]]" ends with Plankton getting legal ownership of the Krusty Krab, with Krabs being unable to do anything about it.
166	** Plankton actually wins in "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS13E21DopeyDickPlanktonAndTheBeanstalk Plankton and the Beanstalk]]", starting his own successful restaurant and humiliating Mr. Krabs.
167	* ''WesternAnimation/TalesFromTheGooseLady'' had a running gag where the children Dot and Randy would often get in trouble because of the Goose Lady's actions and never being able to prove their innocence due to the Goose Lady getting away before anyone can see her. While the Goose Lady still gets away at the end of "A Fisherman, A Fisherman's Wife and a Fish", the two do manage to avoid trouble by [[LookBehindYou telling the security guard that they see Ed Asner]].
168	* Among the villains in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'', Baxter Stockman was one that seemed to exist to be abused. Every time he failed, disobeyed, [[TooDumbToLive or defied]] the Shredder, he was punished by having part of his body removed, a process that, over the course of the series, eventually caused him to physically decay bit by bit until he was a BrainInAJar. Finally, his luck changed, when in the future, Bishop not only offered to use his DNA technology to regenerate his body, but also give him an honest job using his Mouser technology for their agriculture. It seemed things were finally looking up.
169	* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' episode "Percy's Lucky Day" more or less revolves around this happening to Percy. After a rather bad day, Stephen gives him a lucky charm. The next day goes perfectly, he gets chosen for special jobs he doesn't screw up, and just for good measure, he is praised after saving Bill and Ben during an accident. It's revealed that Percy had actually left without the lucky charm, he had just got a genuine stroke of luck.
170	** Every now and then, [[SmallNameBigEgo Gordon and James]] ''don't'' suffer a BreakTheHaughty moment and get to show what splendid engines they genuinely are. Gordon in particular gets several moments it seems he will be upstaged by another engine, only for a dilemma to occur and an opportunity for him to their place in a special train, resulting in him being showered with praise (eg. "Paint Pots and Queens", "Gordon and Spencer", "Thomas and the Runaway Car").
171	* In ''Franchise/TomAndJerry'', Tom actually has managed to one-up Jerry a few times (13, in fact). Even outside of these, there were many shorts where he was granted some sort of truce or happy outcome from Jerry.
172	* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' Harold has moments where he gets a lucky break.
173	** In the season 1 episode "Dodgebrawl", he starts out as TheLoad. When he's the last player on his team not to be knocked out, he uses his figure skating skills to dodge every ball thrown at him. He is able to catch the ball and win the game for his team, Harold's teammates happy lift him in the air.
174	** In the season 1 episode "Not Quite Famous", Harold uses his beatboxing skills to win the talent contest for his team. He is cheered by both teams and hugged by Bridgette and Courtney.
175	** Season 1 episode "Xtreme Torture". While Harold was voted off, he gracefully accepts his fate, as he then reflects that how he won, lost and saw boobies, and after he reveals that he was the one who wrote the love letters for Leshawna, they share a kiss. This makes him him one of the few contestants to not leave depressed.
176	** Season 2 episode "Full Metal Drama". Harold wins the game for his team by beating the other team with his Num-Yo's. Note that even his ArchEnemy Duncan is impressed by his win and admits he did good.
177	** Season 2 episode "Crouching Courtney Hidden Owen". Harold both wins and gets back at Duncan for all the pranks he pulled on Harold this season. Harold and Duncan were working together to carry a cup of water to the Mount Banshee, which is actually the cliff. They must retrieve a bonsai tree which is guarded by a "kung fu master," who is actually Sasquatchanakwa. When Duncan insults Leshawna, Harold tosses the water into Duncan's face and knocks him out with a punch to the face. He win the challenge and enjoys a noodle soup dinner while Duncan sulks outside the tent as Harold indulges in his reward.
178	** Season 2 episode 2008 "A Space Owen". Harold starts pulling pranks on Duncan to get back at him. Even though Harold has been voted off, he runs up to Duncan and pulls down his pants. Even Duncan admits he had that one coming.
179	** In the Season 2 special "Celebrity Manhunt's TDA Reunion Show", Harold joins a successful boy band with Trent, Cody, and Justin. And it appears they enjoy the success and fame as a band. While the band breaks up, they were still going to get back together.
180	** Though it's subtle, Leshawna and Harold's upgraded relationship in Total Drama World Tour. She seemed touched that she was given Harold's Num-Yos to remember him by while she was in the competition, she's excited on seeing her friends AND Harold (complete with him clapping excitedly when she returns), and in the exclusive clip for "Hawaiian Style", they're seen cuddling on a beach, implying that they are now dating.
181	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': The main characters [[spoiler:despite losing Prowl]]. After having spent the entirety of the show either being put down upon or having to give up a chance of a good life for themselves by [[BeingGoodSucks doing the right thing]], they ''finally'' get the chance to return to Cybertron as true heroes, having defeated Megatron.

Context ThrowTheDogABone / WesternAnimation