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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/animaniacs_goodfeathers.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:With this dynamic, expect [[{{Pun}} squab-bles]].]]
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-> '''Magrat Glick:''': That other man brought [the baby prince] out here to save him. He wanted us to keep him safe! It’s obvious. It’s destiny.\\
'''Granny Weatherwax:''': Oh ''obvious.'', I’ll grant you it's ''obvious.'' Trouble is, just because things are obvious doesn't mean they're true.\\
'''Magrat:''' Yes, but the point is-\\
'''Granny:''' The point is, that people are going to come looking. Serious people. Serious looking. Pull-down-the-walls and burn-off-the-thatch looking. And-\\
'''Gytha 'Nanny' Ogg:''' Howsa boy, den?\\
'''Granny:''' ''And'' Gytha, I'm sure we'll all be a ''Lot'' happier if you'd stop [[CutenessProximity gurgling like that]].\\
'''Nanny:''' You're not telling me how to look after a child. And me with fifteen of my own?

In certain group dynamics, you will notice three characters with different mannerisms, attitudes, and personalities that are easy to identify with -- [[NiceGuy a character who is nice and gentle]], [[{{Jerkass}} a character who is mean and tough]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold and the character who is caught in between the two other characters.]]

* '''Nice Character''': This character is simply what they are -- nice, polite, friendly, and helpful. They show everybody a great deal of respect and kindness, [[TurnTheOtherCheek even to their worst enemies]]. They're the kind who never lose their temper nor resort to violence, although [[BewareTheNiceOnes they do when pushed too far]]. Other variations would have them to be seen as [[WideEyedIdealist naive and gullible]] due to seeing no reason to be justifiably angry with others and always [[RousseauWasRight believes there's some goodness in them]], and often at times, they can appear to be [[StupidGood too nice]]. They'll most definitely be the peacemaker when the mean and in-between characters get into fights, which can qualify them as TheHeart. They can also serve as the MoralityPet for the mean character or even the inbetween character on their worst days. If they're the dumb one, they'll easily be a KindheartedSimpleton. In a trio of siblings, they'll most likely be the youngest. They can be the TokenGoodTeammate if they're a part of a villainous trio or if the in-between character is more mean than nice. In a FreudianTrio, they're commonly either TheMcCoy or TheKirk.
* '''Mean Character''': The [[{{Foil}} polar opposite]] of the Nice Character. Simply put, this character is rude, unfriendly, harsh, and abrasive. They're the one that the nice and the in-between character have trouble getting along with. The mean character will usually bully the nice character and will engage in fierce arguments with the in-between character. While they may turn out to be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, they will put a heavy emphasis on "Jerk", and their heart of gold will appear on a few occasions. In a trio of heroes, they'll be a gritty and violent AntiHero who will show no mercy to anyone who gets in their way, or at least a GoodIsNotNice hero who genuinely does good, but is nevertheless rude and rough. They may be [[TheKilljoy grouchy]] and [[TheCynic cynical]], always seeing the worst in everything and everyone. If they're the leader, expect them to be either strict and no-nonsense or bossy and egotistical. If not, they'll be TheLancer who will be the first to criticize TheHero's leadership or decision-makings. In a trio of siblings, they'll most likely be either the middle; rebellious and grumpy due to their [[MiddleChildSyndrome placement of birth]], or [[BigBrotherBully the eldest]], if they resort to bullying their younger siblings. If the "mean" aspect goes too far, they can be the TokenEvilTeammate. In a FreudianTrio, they're commonly either TheMcCoy or TheSpock.
* '''In-Between Character''': This character isn't as well-mannered as the nice character as they have a few negative traits, but they aren't as abrasive and unpleasant as the mean character. They may be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold with a heavy emphasis on "Heart of Gold". If they're not a jerk, they will most likely have a SugarAndIcePersonality who can either be too aloof, quiet, or serious to be nice or mean. If they're indeed a NiceGuy, it won't be to [[GoodIsNotDumb a naively idealistic extreme]], and not to the point of [[GoodIsNotSoft being a pushover]]. With the nice and mean character being respectively optimistic and pessimistic, the in-between character stands on the realistic side of things. If the nice and mean characters have a certain serious flaw such as being too naive or too rebellious and brash, the in-between character will often be the OnlySaneMan trying to keep them in check. If they're the dumb one, this means that their niceness and meanness will vary from time to time due to their stupidity. They'll commonly have a close [[BigBrotherInstinct brotherly/sisterly relationship]] with the nice character and will have a rivalry with the mean character. In common ways, they will be TheLeader or the mentor of the group who shows respect for their comrades while keeping the two in line in one way or another, mostly the mean one. For this case, the character will most likely be TheHero. In a trio of siblings, they're most likely to be either the middle, or the [[BigBrotherMentor eldest]]; as they are lawful and charming as they care for their siblings, but can be judgemental. In a FreudianTrio, they're commonly either TheKirk or TheSpock.

If DumbIsGood is in effect, this may overlap with SmartJerkAndNiceMoron.

Darker versions of this trope can qualify. For example, if there is a trio of villains or jerks, there will be one who is [[AffablyEvil nicer]] or [[TokenGoodTeammate more innocent]] than the other two and the other villain/jerk who is [[EvilerThanThou more villainous and meaner than the other two.]]

If this trope applies to three female characters, they'll typically be TownGirls too, with the nice one as the GirlyGirl (unless she is an AlphaBitch), the mean one as the {{Tomboy}} ([[TenderTomboyishnessFoulFemininity Unless the Girly Girl is mean]], then she’ll likely be in-between) and the in-between one as neither.

If there are 6 characters in a group, the dynamic will come in 3 pairs, meaning that there will be a nice pair, a mean pair, and an in-between pair.

Note that this group dynamic can be a unique way to establish moments of how each character acts and what defines them. This is a snippet in the PowerTrio explaining the basic makeup of trios -- "Trait 1, Trait-opposite-of-Trait-1, Trait-Between-the-Two."

Compare TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil, a scenario in which the trio gets into conflict with each other.
----
!!Example subpages:
[[index]]
* NiceMeanAndInbetween/AnimeAndManga
* NiceMeanAndInbetween/{{Film}}
* NiceMeanAndInbetween/LiveActionTV
* NiceMeanAndInbetween/VideoGames
* NiceMeanAndInbetween/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics:''
** Between the series' three most prominent teenage boy characters, we have:
*** [[TheAllAmericanBoy All-American Boy]] and {{Nice Guy}} Archie.
*** {{Jerk Jock}} Reggie.
*** [[DeadpanSnarker Snarky]] {{Big Eater}} Jughead.
** There's also Archie's three love interests:
*** [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Blonde haired]] {{Girl Next Door}} Betty.
*** [[ManipulativeBitch Manipulative]], [[MsFanservice seductive, haughty]] red headed {{Alpha Bitch}} Cheryl who one ups Veronica on the {{Jerkass}} scale.
*** Veronica, who's also an {{Alpha Bitch}} but has more of a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold heart of gold]] in comparison to Cheryl.
* ''ComicBook/{{Bone}}'' has the three Bone cousins. Fone Bone is the kindest and most moral of the trio, while Phoney Bone is greedy and always cooking up dubious money-making schemes. Smiley Bone goes along with Phoney's schemes without hesitation and acts as TheGadfly often, but is a FriendToAllChildren who is loyal to his family and friends.
* The Duck cousins, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, Gladstone Gander and Fethry Duck from ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse''. Scatterbrained but sincere, optimistic and friendly Fethry is always the Nice one, while Donald and Gladstone are prone to alternate portrayals. Sometimes Gladstone is the jovial but InnocentlyInsensitive In-Between and Donald is the selfish and prone to violence Mean, while other times Gladstone is the arrogant and disrespectful Mean and Donald is the honest, loyal yet hot-tempered In-Between. It helps that Donald's role in stories varies between heroism and outright villainy, largely depending on whether his positive or negative aspects are emphasized.
* ''ComicBook/JosieAndThePussyCats'': Melody is the [[DumbIsGood ditzy but nice one]], Alexandra is the mean and sarcastic one, and Josie is really nice, if not as nice as Melody.
* ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' has the trinity of Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}}, and Franchise/WonderWoman. Superman is the nice, [[IdealHero idealistic]] hero in contrast to the [[TheStoic humorless]], grumpy Batman, while Wonder Woman mediates between the two.
* ''ComicBook/TheMagicians2022'': The [[CruelElephant Big Magician]] is a {{Jerkass}} who forces a group of frogs into being pawns in his schemes, tricks the children of a village into giving him food in exchange for "toys" (actually the aforementioned frogs temporarily changed into toys), and is rather abrasive toward his fellow magicians. The [[ThievingMagpie Small Magician]] is an opportunistic thief and usually acts cowardly but is never actively malicious like the Big Magician. The Girl Magician is a CaringGardener who is only ever mean to a cranky old man who was already being really rude to her, tries her best to make sure the other two know how to exploit the Outside and practice their magic, is the only one of the trio willing to take in a DoorstopBaby, and [[spoiler:posthumously buries the hatchet with Aisha by restoring her youth and mind in exchange for carrying on the legacy of magic.]]
* The first three ComicBook/{{Robin}}s have such a dynamic after Jason's return. Dick (ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}) is easily the most openly friendly and kind member of the Batclan even if he has a quick temper and is fiercely protective of his family's privacy and safety. Jason (ComicBook/RedHood) comes back angry and violent, using murder and intimidation to achieve his goals. Tim (ComicBook/{{Robin|1993}}) is more mellow than either of his brothers, he joined up to act as a peacekeeper and mender of family ties and maintains that position even after he has lost his idealistic attitude, Tim is the member of the family to try and bring Jason back into the fold after repeated attacks.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' has Michelangelo (nice), Raphael (mean), and Leonardo and Donatello (in-between).
* In the ''ComicBook/GothamCitySirens'', MisanthropeSupreme ComicBook/PoisonIvy is the Mean, erratic but perky ComicBook/HarleyQuinn is the Nice, and cat burglar with a conscience ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} is the grounded In-Between.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
** [[Characters/MarvelComicsProfessorX Xavier]], [[Characters/XMenMutants Moira MacTaggert]] and [[Characters/MarvelComicsCyclops Cyclops's]] [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insane]] PhysicalGod children.
*** [[Characters/MarvelComicsXMan X-Man]] (Nice) is a CrazySane AllLovingHero/prophet/shaman. Legion (In-between) has major daddy issues, NoSocialSkills, [[LackOfEmpathy little empathy]] and is constantly riding the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor. But he's a saint compared to [[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR Proteus]] (Mean) a sadistic psychopath who became TheSociopath in-utero!
*** This dynamic eventually evolves: Legion (Nice) still [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold lacking in social skills]] but has mellowed out a lot since [[LoveRedeems being in a relationship with Blindfold.]] Proteus (In-between) has surprisingly pulled a HeelFaceTurn and is now part of the group that brings dead mutants [[BackFromTheDead back to life]]. And X-Man (Mean) has pulled a FaceHeelTurn after crossing the DespairEventHorizon and become a WellIntentionedExtremist with a semi [[AGodAmI messiah complex]] - he later revealed that he was just playing the part and had a HeelRealization, becoming a GracefulLoser. However, he's still probably the comparatively mean one of the bunch.
** The three Summers brothers have settled into this dynamic recently. [[Characters/MarvelComicsCyclops Cyclops]] (Nice), [[Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ Vulcan]] (Mean), [[Characters/XMen60sMembers Havok]] (In-between).
** Weapon X showcases this to a tee - Wolverine is a Berserker hero, Sabertooth is a Sociopath villain, while Maverick is typically ALighterShadeofGrey.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': [[DogsAreDumb Odie]] (nice) is nothing but friendly and [[ExtremeDoormat passive]] towards Garfield. [[CatsAreMean Garfield]] (mean) is constantly selfish and lazy, and loves to bully both Jon and Odie. [[ButtMonkey Jon]] (in-between) is usually a NiceGuy but is often arrogant and sometimes unfair to Garfield (although knowing how he treats him, it can be justified, most of the time).
* Charlie, Lucy and Linus from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''. Charlie (nice) is a sweet, helpful kid in spite of his constant ButtMonkey and FailureHero status. Lucy (mean) is a bossy fussbucket who often delights in putting Charlie Brown down, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold though she does have a good side]]. Linus (in-between) is an InnocentProdigy who always goes to Charlie Brown's support when he needs it, but he does have his moments of [[RageBreakingPoint assertiveness]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AshAndSerenasAtomicOdyssey'': Serena's rivals in the Tandor Contests fit the bill. Vitor is the most easygoing and friendly (Nice), Sayaka is rude and arrogant (Mean), and Aisha is nice for the most part but can be pretty rough around the edges when angered (In-Between).
* ''Webcomic/AskWhitePearlAndStevenAlmostAnything'' has Amethyst, Pearl and Garnet fill these roles after they learn that Steven is a Diamond:
** Since Amethyst has been LockedOutOfTheLoop and wasn't part of the Rebellion, she lacks the sort of history and baggage the other Crystal Gems have regarding the Diamonds. As a result, she's the most willing to judge Steven on his own merits, and is the only one to continue treating him like her adoptive younger brother figure.
** Pearl, by contrast, is utterly ''convinced'' that he's White Diamond in disguise (given how [[SecretKeeper she's the only one who knows]] that [[spoiler:Rose is really Pink Diamond]]). She also believes that White Pearl/Earl is {{Brainwashed}}, trying to spur her to turn against him and rejecting the notion that Earl [[MoreThanMindControl legitimately cares]].
** Garnet, meanwhile, is caught In-Between. While she distances herself from Steven, she also makes an effort to ''understand'' him rather than simply rejecting him outright as Pearl has, and strives to keep the peace between her and Amethyst.

* Creator/CoeurAlAran:
** ''Fanfic/ArcRoyale'': The three Salem-aligned [[AlternateSelf Jaune iterations]] who directly accompany Cinder's team to Vale. [[Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY Grimm]], despite being half-Grimm, is the most moral member of them all; refusing to seriously risk any innocent lives and erring on diplomacy, on top of only sticking with the villains out of sympathy for an embittered alternate version of his mother (Nice). Fanfic/{{Null}} is murderous, completely ruthless, and will kill anyone including his own allies in an ''eyeblink'' if he thinks it necessary to achieve his goals (Mean). [[Fanfic/RelicOfTheFuture Ashari]] has staunch limits to how far he'll go to win and is solely staying with the villains to redeem a villainous alternate version of his loved one, but he's still brutal, snarky, and unafraid to bloody his hands (Inbetween).
** ''Fanfic/RelicOfTheFuture'': The three generals of Salem who clash with Jaune [[spoiler:and who (unlike Cinder) never side against Salem to the end]]. Hazel (Nice) is a PunchClockVillain who is diplomatic at best, apathetic at worst if hurting you isn't part of his mission and if you aren't Ozpin. Watts (Mean) is a narcissistic sociopath [[spoiler:who tries to murder Winter in front of Jaune using the couple's own project ''purely'' to spite Jaune for an imagined slight, when they're supposed to be allies no less, and he continues to take glee in mentally torturing Jaune while threatening to shut down an entire hospital and then bring Salem's wrath down on Jaune and his loved ones – tellingly, Jaune doesn't feel even remotely sorry about offing Watts even when the latter gets the most excruciating and undignified death of the three]]. Tyrian (Inbetween) is a vile, murderous sadomasochist who revels in the death and destruction he wreaks, but even ''he'' manages to be less spiteful and slightly more valorous than Watts, [[spoiler:plus Jaune suspects that Tyrian has less moral agency in his evil actions than the others due to his insanity. The three generals are also killed in this specific order]].
* ''Fanfic/HowBadCanALittleGossipBe'': Luca's three main suitors.
** Matteo (Nice): the [[{{Adorkable}} dorky]] DoggedNiceGuy.
** Mr Ricci's son (Mean): the [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain bigoted]] and [[SmugSnake arrogant]] StalkerWithACrush.
** Alberto (In-between): the [[BruiserWithASoftCenter hot-headed yet caring and protective]] BullyHunter.
* The Red Lotus Trio in ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail''. Atticus is the Nice for being a kind and loyal corgi king, Lexi is Mean for having a hatred for passengers ("free-riders") and Chloe is the In-Between shown to be a kind and caring girl yet is known to have plenty of resentment issues.
* Life Fiber Hunters in ''Fanfic/NaturalSelection'' follow this dynamic, with Ira as the nice, Nonon as the mean, and Satsuki as the in-between. Ira tends to act like an honorable knight with a strong devotion to both justice as well as Satsuki herself. Nonon is by far the most sarcastic and blunt of the three and gives no quarter when dishing out insults even at her own teammates expense (though usually always with [[JerkassHasAPoint good]] [[AngerBornOfWorry reason]]). Satsuki, while devoted to her mission of saving the world from the Life Fibers and is polite with her fellow teammates, is also incredibly stoic with a strong case of GoodIsNotNice as well.
* ''Fanfic/PokemonCrossing'': Between the three main characters:
** Tank is the Nice (most friendly and outgoing, least likely to snark)
** Kidd is the Mean (most sarcastic and standoffish of the trio)
** Benedict is their In-Between (rude to villains like Team Cottage, but affable with other Pokémon trainers)
* ''Fanfic/PokemonMysteryDungeonWhatCameAfter'': Popplio, Riolu, and Alesia respectively. Alesia isn't as short-tempered or sarcastic as Riolu, but laughs along with him at Toucannon's insult at Trevenant while Popplio refrains from doing so, and when Riolu gets bitten by a Magikarp, Alesia is busy laughing her ass off while Popplio assists Riolu.
* In ''RolePlay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'' we have:
** Ammy (Nice), Herbert (Mean), Tagg (In between)
** Sakura (Nice), Lyuri (Mean), Hikari (In between)
** Zeal is a one man example with him representing nice, Red Eyes mean, and Zach the in between.
* In ''Fanfic/WhereTalentGoesToDie'', the sixteen students are divided into groups of four in order to explore the school, and Kaori Miura's three companions fall into this trope. Sae Edogawa is the Nice one, as she's [[NiceGirl a kind and understanding individual]] who's already taken a liking to Miura. Shiro Kurogane is the Mean one, as he holds a lingering grudge against Miura for defeating him in a game of shogi. Akito Sakuragi is the In-Between one, as he doesn't particularly care for Kurogane's attitude, but isn't as active in speaking up for Miura. [[spoiler:The "mean" and "in-between" roles switch after the first murder. Sakuragi kills Kurogane in a bid to escape without even needing a "motive." Meanwhile, Kurogane, despite his dislike of Miura, claims that he'd never seriously consider killing her.]]
* Wonder Girl, Robin and Superboy, known InUniverse as the "Junior Trinity", in the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans Our Own League'' novels. Wonder Girl is a SpoiledSweet, compassionate, and [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]] princess (Nice). Robin is an aloof, [[IDidWhatIHadToDo pragmatic]] ControlFreak with a HiddenHeartOfGold (Mean). Superboy, although very friendly and a loyal friend, can be flippant, an AttentionWhore, and tends to [[TheMillstone invite disaster with his recklessness]] (In-Between). As Beast Boy puts it:
-->'''Beast Boy:''' ''[Points to Wonder Girl]'' You're fun, ''[points to Robin]'' you're no fun, ''[points to Superboy]'' and you're fun whether we want it or not.
* ''Fanfic/SethInThePokecity'': The Barney-related characters. Vinny is an ExtremeDoormat who simply goes along with Flosshead's schemes (nice). Flosshead is a complete {{Jerkass}} who has no real qualms about raising hell for fun (mean). Barney, while an abusive asshole in his own right, [[LazyBum is usually more occupied in television and booze]] (in-between).
* Luca's main suitors in ''Fanfic/TheStoryOfApolloDaphneAndLucaAnItalianTragedy'': [[TheIngenue sweet and kind]] Rosa (Nice), arrogant and hot-headed [[spoiler: Vincenzo]] (Mean) and the mostly friendly yet confrontational Alberto (In-between).
** [[TrueCompanions The Underdogs]] themselves are a more [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] example being all three kind and well-behaved kids, but Luca is clearly the gentlest, most polite and least confrontational of the trio (Nice), Alberto often tends to be quite selfish, hot-headed and stubborn (Mean) and Giulia, while sweet and friendly most of the time, also has a more abrasive streak that especially shows towards [[AloofBigBrother Alberto]] (In-between).
* ''Fanfic/TooMuchTooMuch'': the three central girls of the story reflect this trope, with friendly, laid-back [[GirlNextDoor Vallea]] as the Nice, mean-spirited and snobby [[AlphaBitch Serafina]] as the Mean and cheerful yet impulsive and short-tempered [[FieryRedhead Giulia]] as the In-between.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* A villainous example in ''The Adventures of Petrushka'' by Margarita Fadeyeva and Anatoly Smirnov, with the three servants of Stencil. The Breath-Measurer is the Nice, as he is much less active in oppressing Stencil's subjects than his two colleagues [[spoiler:and, unlike them, has a family that he really loves]]. The Word-Catcher is the Mean, delighting in every tyrannical whim of Stencil's and sadistic towards the commons. The Step-Counter is the In-Between: he is wicked enough but doesn't take bribes and isn't sadistic, and he is so stupid that, with some InsaneTrollLogic, Petrushka persuades him to stop serving Stencil in all but name – without the Step-Counter even realizing it.
* ''Literature/{{Carrie}}'': The three most prominent female characters are [[TheWoobie Carrie White]] (Nice), [[AlphaBitch Chris Hargensen]] (Mean) and [[LovableAlphaBitch Sue Snell]] (In-Between).
* ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'' - The three boys who won a Golden Ticket consists of: Soft-spoken, kind, well-behaved and selfless Charlie Bucket, disruptive bratty smartmouth Mike Teavee and Augustus Gloop, who isn’t as bad as Mike but is still considered a brat.
* The three Heffley brothers from ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid''. All three have their jerk moments, but Greg is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, making him the nice one, while Manny [[spoiler: borderline crosses the MoralEventHorizon at the end of ''Cabin Fever'',]] making him the mean one. Rodrick is mostly a bully to Greg, [[spoiler: but never even comes close to the MoralEventHorizon,]] making him the in-between one.
* ''Literature/EndersGame'' has the three Wiggin children. Peter is a violent sociopath bent on world domination (mean), Valentine is one of the most compassionate people you'll ever meet (nice), and Ender shares Peter's violent tendencies, but unlike Peter, feels genuine remorse when they cause damage (in-between). In-universe, this trope was deliberately invoked by allowing the Wiggins to have a normally-forbidden third child in the hopes that it would be the perfect child soldier, somewhere in between the too-aggressive Peter and the too-peaceful Valentine.
* The Scott siblings in the ''Generation V'' series. Due to their mother experimenting with their upbringings, Prudence is a typical heartless bloodthirsty vampire, Chivalry is somewhat more sympathetic to humans and frequently falls in love with them, and Fortitude (raised as human as possible) is the most similar to and sympathetic to humans.
* ''Literature/GrimoiresSoul'': During Part 3, Harper's the most openly friendly even with the issue of a language barrier (Nice), Reiner's cynical and cantankerous (Mean), and Ceyda's between the two.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** The three leads fit this trope nicely. Harry, being a compassionate, warmhearted AllLovingHero, is hands-down the nicest one of the group, [[BewareTheNiceOnes though he is still able to stand up to meaner characters whenever he doesn't want to put up with their crap]]. Ron is prone to easily losing his temper and can get [[CrazyJealousGuy violently jealous]], [[BerserkButton especially if anyone other than him does anything romantic with Hermione]], though he does become [[TookALevelInKindness more and more sensitive]] as the series goes on. Hermione, while having moments of being [[AcademicAlphaBitch bossy and somewhat vain about how smart she is]], is still a pretty level-headed and well-meaning person and does know when to be kind and who to be kind to if ever they need it.
** The Black sisters fit this as well. Andromeda Tonks is the nice one. She was disowned by her family for marrying a Muggleborn and her daughter become an Auror. Narcissa Malfoy is the in between. She’s a pureblood supremacist but she still cares for her family and grows to have a distaste for Voldemort himself. She’s willing to lie to him, even though it would kill him eventually, to make sure Draco survives. Bellatrix is the mean one. She’s a fanatical follower of Voldemort and kills two of her own family members for being on the good side.
** Of the three main Hogwarts professors, Albus Dumbledore is a kind, supportive man (nice), Severus Snape is a bitter SadistTeacher (mean), and Minerva [=McGonagall=] is [[SternTeacher a strict disciplinarian who still cares deeply about her students]] (in-between).
* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'': This trope applies to the three more plot-relevant Bennett sisters, who also happen to be the only three to get married during the story. Jane (nice) is incredibly sweet-natured and always wants to see the best in others, Lydia (mean) is a careless brat who almost ruins her family without a qualm, and the heroine Elizabeth (in-between) is well-intentioned but not so idealistic as Jane and prone to jump to conclusions (setting the scene for her CharacterDevelopment). Their corresponding husbands likewise fit the trope: NiceGuy Mr Bingley (nice), BitchInSheepsClothing Mr Wickham (mean), and JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mr Darcy (in-between).
* In ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'', Fezzik is a nice GentleGiant, Vizzini is a mean EvilGenius, and Inigo is in-between as he's charming and polite but also obsessed with revenge.
* ''Literature/SecretSanta2007'': Popular girls Celia, Amber, and Shawna. Celia is a NiceGirl who wants to be friends with kids from other cliques. Amber is an uncomplicated AlphaBitch. Shawna is vain and entitled, but she isn't malicious and has a DefrostingTheIceQueen arc.
* ''Literature/{{TheShining}}'': The Torrance family consists of: Wendy (Nice), Jack (Mean) and Danny (In-Between).
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** The three Lannister siblings fit this. While not exactly good, Tyrion is by far the one having the most morals, has plenty of PetTheDog moments despite siding with the "evil Lannister" side, and is definitely the one that the readers are supposed to root for (nice). Cersei is unabashedly vile, with no redeeming features barring her love for her children, and she never changes one bit (mean). Jaime starts out just as evil as Cersei, but undergoes a slow CharacterDevelopment that eventually sees him becoming a proper knight (in-between).
** Cersei's children form these as well. Joffrey is a monster who is even viler than his mother (mean). Tommen is far too nice and naive for his own good (nice). Myrcella is just as nice as Tommen, but is more assertive, and has political acumen that is noted by several characters, despite her age and gender (in-between).
* From ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'':
** Out of the three sons of Finwë the youngest, Finarfin, is the nice one, the "fairest and wisest" son who tries to persuade the Noldor not to rebel against the Valar; the eldest, Fëanor, is the mean one who succumbs to his own pride and greed and instigates untold suffering by binding himself and his sons to the dreadful Oath, while middle son Fingolfin is in-between, prideful to a lesser extent than Fëanor and with nobler intentions.
** The seven sons of Fëanor also fall into these three categories. The M-brothers (Maedhros and Maglor) are the nice ones, being the closest to repenting of their evil, and the most heroic when not being compelled by the evil Oath of their father. The C-brothers (Celegorm, Caranthir and Curufin) are the mean ones, being hot-blooded {{Jerkass}}es who, in addition to following the Oath, became outright antagonists to the more heroic characters, although Caranthir attains some measure of redemption later on. The A-twins (Amrod and Amras) are in-between, with less of their character-defining traits spelled out other than that they are close to each other and follow the Oath along with their brothers.
* In the fairy tale ''St. Joseph in the Forest'', three daughters, one at a time, enter the woods and discover the cottage of St. Joseph. He lets them stay for a night, asks for a portion of their food, and offers to let them sleep in his bed while he sleeps in the straw. The youngest child (nice) gives him the biggest portion of food, despite not having much to begin with, says she will be fine with sleeping in the straw, and gets a big sack of money. The middle child (in-between) shares the food equally with St. Joseph, offers to share the bed with him, and gets a small bag of money. The oldest child (mean) eats almost all the food despite having enough to share, readily sleeps in the bed while letting St. Joseph sleep in the straw, and gets stung to death by lizards and snakes.
* "Three Brothers, Two Sisters, and One Cup of Poison", a short story in the young readers' mystery anthology collection ''Super Puzzletastic Mysteries'', features triplet brothers Drake (a rude PerpetualFrowner), the cheerful Blake, and Jake TheStoic (who, along with Blake, acts as TheDutifulSon, albeit partially to avoid being disenherited), who become suspects in the attempted murder of their wealthy mother. [[spoiler:Blake is the culprit and admits his niceness is an act, while Drake unsuccessfully tries to frame both of his brothers before Blake is exposed to get both of them disinherited and leave him as the sole heir]].
* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': For the first few books of ''[[Literature/WarriorCatsPowerOfThree Power Of Three]]'', the prophesied three start out this way. Hollypaw(leaf) starts out as the nice one who is the most courageous and sociable of the three ([[spoiler: until when she finds out Squirrelflight isn't their biological mother]]). Jaypaw(feather) is the mean one due to being the most rude and sarcastic out of all the them. And Lionpaw(blaze) is the in-between due to being a bit arrogant but also friendly.
* In ''Literature/WingsOfFire'', we have the guardians of the [[FiveManBand Dragonets Of Destiny]]. [[ActualPacifist Webs]] is the kindest to the dragonets and doesn't hate Glory for being a [=RainWing=], [[DownplayedTrope but he's too jaded and cowardly to stop the other guardians from trying to kill her]]. [[{{Jerkass}} Kestrel]] is the cruelest out of the three, verbally and physically abusing the dragonets, even chaining them to stalagmites if they misbehaved. [[TheStoic Dune]] is the dragon in the middle, not being as friendly to the dragonets as Webs but not as abusive as Kestrel, even having occasional moments of kindness.
* The [[TheHecateSisters Witches of Lancre]] from ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Magrat Garlick is the sweet and naive one, albeit [[ShrinkingViolet shy]], Granny Weatherwax is the grumpy mean one, and Nanny Ogg mediates between with her friendly attitude and [[VitriolicBestBuds constantly bickers with Granny]].
* In ''Literature/WiseChild'', Juniper, Euny, and Wise Child form this trio as female ''dorans''. Juniper is nice (a compassionate and selfless healer, as well as Wise Child's maternal figure), Euny is mean (a tough and ill-tempered elderly woman with little patience), and Wise Child is in-between (bratty and hotheaded at times, but a kind girl at heart).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/OldHarrysGame'':
** In the early series, The Professor is the nice, a WideEyedIdealist who sees the good in everybody and is almost endlessly forgiving even to the cruelest people. Thomas is the mean, a ruthless murder-rapist who doesn't care about anyone or anything but himself. {{Satan}} is the in-between, an AntiVillain who hates humans and loves cruelty, but whose torments are usually reserved for [[PayEvilUntoEvil people who it's really hard to feel sorry for]] and who [[EvenEvilHasStandards has some lines even he won't cross]] [[DependingOnTheWriter (though he's a little inconsistent as to what exactly his lines are)]].
** Later series created a secondary trio of Scumspawn as the nice ([[MinionWithAnFInEvil he tries to be mean out of love for Satan, but he really doesn't have it in him to hurt people]]), Thomas as the mean (for the same reason as before, though he did PetTheDog with increasing frequency), and Edith as the in-between (she's definitely not evil, but she's not exactly likeable or easy to get along with either)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/KingLear'':
** Lear's daughters. Cordelia is the saintly, kind-hearted NiceGirl. Regan is the BloodKnight who murders and dishes out torture. Goneril is less outwardly vicious than Regan, and more of a BitchInSheepsClothing. It is easy to interpret Goneril as actually feeling remorse for her crimes, while Regan has no such regrets.
** The sisters' three husbands each correspond to this as well. Cordelia's the King of France is a NiceGuy who marries Cordy even when she is disinherited. Regan's the Duke of Cornwall is a sociopath who gouges Gloucester's eyes out. Goneril's the Duke of Albany turns a blind eye to any suffering for the first half of the play, before finally pulling a HeelFaceTurn.
* The three sons of Rowland de Bois in ''Theatre/AsYouLikeIt'', in order of appearance: the gentle-natured Orlando (nice), his abusive older brother Oliver (mean) and Jacques (in-between by default simply because we don't find out much about him.)
* In ''Series/{{Spooksville}}'': Of the main three, Adam is the nice (being a kind, friendly, and [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]]) Sally is the mean (being [[DeadpanSnarker rather sarcastic and cynical,]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold but still ultimately a brave and good-hearted girl]], and Watch is the In-between (He's not quite as nice as or [[TheHero heroic as Adam]] but still a decent kid in general.)
* The Queens in ''Theatre/SixTheMusical''. Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr are the Nice, with the former being a loving wife and mother, and admitting she lacks the fire of some of the other queens, while the latter is the first to point out how stupid and pointless their game of MiseryPoker is. Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard are the Mean, the former throwing plenty of insults Catherine of Aragon's way and admitting her temper and sharp tongue are part of the reason she lost her head, while the latter delivers some outright savage criticisms to the other queens before she sings her song. Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleeves are the In-Between, with Aragon firing right back at Anne Boleyn, but generally leaving the other queens be, while Anne of Cleeves merely watches the drama unfold, while bragging about how well her life went after divorcing Henry.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/TheAmazingDigitalCircus'': Each of the players fall under one of these categories:
** Gangle, Kinger, and Ragatha are Nice. All of them are very helpful and polite to each other, with Ragatha and Gangle in particular being {{Extreme Doormat}}s that often get abused by Jax. Kinger is also a KindheartedSimpleton despite having the least amount of sanity within the group and often provides UnwantedAssistance.
** Jax is Mean. He is a sociopath who regularly abuses everyone in the Digital Circus (especially Gangle and Ragatha), puts both players and [=NPCs=] lives in danger for his own amusement, and cares only about himself and his own desires. [[NeverMyFault He also never blames himself for putting everyone in danger]], and seeks violence and despair in the adventures that he goes on.
** Pomni and Zooble are In-Between. Both of them are the ones that swear more than a few times despite the MagicalProfanityFilter coded in the game, and are also prone to insulting or shouting at everyone's antics (particularly Jax and Caine). Additionally, Zooble shows disinterest in the adventures while Pomni was more than willing to abandon everyone at the circus if it meant finding an escape. However, they are shown to have a softer side, where Pomni [[spoiler:befriends Gummigoo after he learns the truth and later grows more fond of the other Circus members]], and Zooble [[spoiler:had finished arranging everything for Kaufmo's funeral while the others were at the Candy Canyon Kingdom]].
* ''WebAnimation/AnnoyingOrange'': The main trio of Orange, Pear, and Little Apple. Little Apple (Nice) is usually a daredevil and friendly in spite of his [[HairTriggerTemper short temper]] (no pun intended) towards being called a midget. [[VillainProtagonist Orange]] (Mean) is a sadistic {{Jerkass}} who loves to annoy other foods and even his friends for no other reason than to get a little joke out of it. Pear (In-Between) is still quite nice like Little Apple and isn't an asshole like Orange, but he's usually the OnlySaneMan who constantly has to deal with Orange's antics and all the chaos going on in the kitchen, not to mention his DeadpanSnarker behavior towards him.
* ''WebAnimation/BowsersKoopalings'':
** Larry, Wendy, and Ludwig follow this trope when they have scenes together. Larry is the nice one, as he's shown to be the nicest Koopaling, doesn't tend to make fun of people (except call them a "jerkhole" when they treat him like shit), and loves to have fun, Ludwig is the mean one, as he's shown to be selfish, often looks down upon his siblings and likes to think he's better than all of them, and even makes fun of them at times (mostly towards Larry), and Wendy is in-between as she sometimes tends to mock others and call people names at times, but still has a good heart and she's also the more sane Koopaling.
** Wendy's three friends, Camilla, Lauren and Ally, also have this dynamic. Camilla is a [[RichBitch wealthy, stuck-up]] SpoiledBrat who treats everyone, including her closest friends, like dirt, Ally is a very friendly person, [[TheDitz if a bit of an airhead]], while Lauren is more friendlier than Camilla, but unlike Ally her patience has a limit.
* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'':
** I.M.P has Millie (nice), Moxxie (mean) and Blitzo (in-between) in the pilot. But in the series, it changed to Moxxie (nice), Blitzo (mean) and Millie (in-between). Though, Millie and Moxxie do swap places depending on the episode.
** Their angelic parrallers, C.H.E.R.U.B has Collin (nice), Keenie (mean) and Cletus (in-between).
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Out of the Brothers Strong, we have [[TheEeyore the mopey and sensitive]] Strong Sad (nice), egotistical CardCarryingVillain Strong Bad (mean), and DumbMuscle Strong Mad (in-between).
* ''WebAnimation/StarterSquad'' has Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur: Charmander is Mean, being a CombatPragmatist who often acts like a {{Jerkass}} to both Squirtle and Bulbasaur, Bulbasaur is Nice aside from the occasional [[PsychopathicManchild psychotic moment]], and Squirtle is In-Between, being nicer than Charmander but much more willing to challenge Charmander's authority than [[ExtremeDoormat Bulbasaur]].
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Ruby's a bubbly and positive PluckyGirl, Weiss is an AcademicAlphaBitch with a tendency to think highly of herself, and Blake is more coolheaded than Weiss but more aloof than Ruby.
* ''WebAnimation/{{Eddsworld}}'': Edd is a down-to-earth NiceGuy, Tom is a cynical grouch and Matt is a narcissistic ditz. During his time on the show, trigger-happy TokenEvilTeammate Tord was also in the "Mean" category.
* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'':
** The "No Hands, No Eyes, No Brain" trio that comprises of [[MrFixIt Handy]], [[BlindMistake The Mole]], and [[TheDitz Lumpy]] gives this sort of dynamic. The Mole is generally a kindhearted character and has never intentionally killed another Tree Friend (Nice). Handy is often grouchy and has the tendency to disregard his peers' injury (Mean). Lumpy is usually a NiceGuy, though many episodes set Lumpy in a villainous, selfish, or mean light (In-Between).
* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'':
** On Blue Team, {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Caboose is the Nice, OnlySaneMan Church is the Mean, and CasanovaWannabe Tucker is the In-Between.
** On Red Team, AmbiguouslyGay Donut is the Nice, BrilliantButLazy Grif is the Mean, and ProfessionalButtKisser Simmons is the In-Between.
* ''WebAnimation/FeraAnimations'': Boyfriend Whitty & Girlfriend could qualify as this. Boyfriend is the nice one who is always willing to help people (even though he sometimes can be a jerk). Girlfriend is an extreme example of the mean one, as she’s aggressive, temperamental, and will violently attack people at the drop of the hat (even though she has TookALevelInKindness). Whitty is in-between because, while he is ruder than Boyfriend, he isn’t as heartless and cruel as Girlfriend either.
* ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'':
** Out of the three main campers, we have the cheerful and friendly Nikki (Nice), the cynical and jaded Max (Mean), and Neil, who is nicer than Max but has his moments of abrasiveness (In-Between).
** Out of all the campers, the balance tends to fall into:
*** Nikki, Space Kid and Dolph as the Nice
*** Max, Nurf and Preston as the Mean
*** Neil, Harrison, Nerris and Ered as the In-Between
** Out of the three main adults, we have the kindly and optimistic David (Nice), the grumpy, borderline psychotic Quartermaster(Mean), and the snarky but genuinely well-meaning Gwen (In-Between).
* ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': The "Neo Trio" have Phoenica/Feenie (Nice), Trixie (Mean) and Molly (In-Between); Molly, a recovering ExtremeDoormat, would be the Nice in almost any other group, but as the OnlySaneMan, she simply can't compete with Feenie's heart full of love and [[RichInDollarsPoorInSense head full of air]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/MeganKearneysBeautyAndTheBeast'', Beauty and her two sisters superficially comform to this trope. Virtue is sweet, domestic and motherly, Temperance is a prickly, sharp-tongued intellectual who was a [[BigBrotherBully Big Sister Bully]] to Beauty when they were little, and Beauty, whose temperament lies in-between the two, often feels inferior because she's neither as sweet as Virtue nor as clever as Temperance. All three sisters are more complex than they seem at first glance, though. Virtue's "niceness" can be unintentionally harmful, as she avoids dealing with problems and negative emotions, and encourages her younger sisters to do the same. Temperance [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold truly loves Beauty]] and is ultimately the one who persuades the family to [[spoiler: let Beauty follow her heart when she confesses her love for the Beast to them.]] And Beauty's balance between sweetness and pragmatism makes her, in their father's words, "the very heart of the family."
* ''Webcomic/DarkMoonTheBloodAltar'': Amongst the seven vampire brothers, Heli, Jino and Noa are the nice, being the more warm-hearted, sweet and openly friendly ones in the group, although Noa is [[ShrinkingViolet shy at first]] and [[TheStoic not very emotionally expressive]], Jaan and Solon are the mean, as while they aren't actually malicious, they are the brothers who are prone to being [[HairTriggerTemper easily-angered]] and are colder and more distant than everyone (Solon in particular outright detests the thought of newcomers in their group) but deep down are [[HiddenHeartOfGold still very caring]], [[BigBrotherInstinct especially of their brothers]]. Shion and Jakah are the in-between as the former is a friendly, sociable and welcoming guy yet at the same time is also [[BrutalHonesty very blunt]] to the point of being InnocentlyInsensitive and the latter may not be as cold or distant as Jaan and Solon are and is generally polite and well-mannered to others but like Solon he's also hesitant to forge friendships with others, suspicious of Sooha and is just as (if not more so) [[PragmaticHero pragmatic]].
** Also shown with their relationship with Sooha: Heli, Jino, Jaan and Shion are close friends with her (nice), Solon is cold and distant to her (mean), and while otherwise friendly Noa and Jakah aren't as close to her (in-between).
* The Peanut Butter Monster sisters in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Molly is incredibly sweet and cheerful and wouldn't hurt a fly. Golly is arrogant and paranoid and has a penchant for schemes that border on outright villainy. Jolly is eagerly friendly the way only a very lonely person can be, but she's perfectly capable of dishing out violence if you irritate her enough.
* The three main male characters in ''Webcomic/{{Hypergamouse}}''. Stoke is patient, polite and basically decent (just don't tell Jami he's "nice"). Doof is an unjustifiably arrogant buttinski who ''thinks'' he's nice but has a latent vicious streak. Apex has a wandering eye and his internet history is not one to be proud of, but he isn't malicious or abusive. Additionally, he is willing and able to refuse, calmly but resolutely, to give Mindy whatever she wants.
* The main trio of ''Webcomic/NextSoundOfTheFuture''. Gumiya is a NiceGuy who always tries to be kind and helpful towards the people around him, and encourages people to stay optimistic and pursue their dreams. Roll, meanwhile, is a LittleMissSnarker who's sassy and rude even towards her friends and never [[BrutalHonesty minces her words]] when she thinks something is a bad idea. Caught between the two is main protagonist Shine, who is often the victim of Roll's cynical and mean comments even though Gumiya tries to convince her to be nicer. Shine is certainly more affable than Roll, but engages in morally dubious, sometimes law breaking behaviour as a {{paparazzi}} that Gumiya would never do.
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
** Of the human members of the Order: Elan (nice) is friendly, kind and idealistic. While Haley (mean) does have a conscience, she's also very greedy, pessimistic and paranoid, and it takes CharacterDevelopment to make her grow out of the latter two traits. Roy (in-between) is devoted to the cause of helping others and saving the world from Xykon, but he's a cynical and sarcastic KnightInSourArmor due to dealing with his AbusiveDad and his dysfunctional team.
** Of the non-human Order members: Durkon (nice) is a selfless and pious cleric willing to lay down his own life if it'll save others. While Belkar (mean) has experienced some character development, at the end of the day he's still ChaoticEvil and takes pleasure in killing and maiming, and Vaarsuvius (in-between) is haughty, aloof and only polite to people they respect, but is also intent on atoning for their past mistakes.
** A darker example comes with Team Evil's core members. The Monster in the Darkness (nice) is so sheltered and naïve that it makes him a MinionWithAnFInEvil, and [[spoiler:only starts to reform into a TokenGoodTeammate after someone tells him to try and think for himself.]] Xykon (mean) has a LackOfEmpathy and kills people mainly because he's bored and finds that one of the only things that can amuse him. Redcloak is a darker take on the in-between. He's the sole survivor of a goblin genocide who wants to RageAgainstTheHeavens for making his people XP fodder, and generally has sympathetic motives. However, he's completely willing to sacrifice his own people to get ahead and is so deep in the SunkCostFallacy that he's completely unable to accept that he's not in the right for his monstrous deeds.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': [[spoiler:Of the three personalities that have inhabited the body of a certain purple tiefling, Molly (an abrasive but good-hearted man who constantly gives his money away to the poor and tries to leave every town better than he found it) is the Nice, Lucien (a ruthless killer seeking out an ancient city of flesh to unleash upon the Material Plane and devour the world) is the Mean, and Kingsley (a pirate with a thirst for power but a great deal of respect for his friends and crew) is the In-Between.]]
* On the ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'', we have Ranboo as the mild-mannered and polite NiceGuy, Tommy as the abrasive and hot-headed JerkWithAHeartOfGold (mean), and Tubbo is the friendly yet chaotic In-Between.
* The ''WebVideo/DrinkingWithGoosebumps'' channel has this trope with the main three guys. Jason is the Nice, Bob is the Mean, and Ned is the In-Between. Jason is usually respectful and understanding when it comes to treating other people and reviewing the books, Bob is very raunchy and obnoxious and has never given any of the books a 10, and Ned can be a little polite but also apathetic towards the books and Jason.
* In ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'', the main guild has its male membership consist of Sparadrap, poster boy for KindheartedSimpleton, Omega Zell who's both a jerk and a [[PoliticallyIncorrectHero bigot]] and Arthéon, the guild's leader and OnlySaneMan.
* ''WebVideo/SMPLive'' has Schlatt & Co., a group of largely incompetent cryptocurrency scammers. Ty is generally friendly and kind to everyone, Schlatt is a ManipulativeBastard, and Connor can be either of the two depending on how he feels that day.
* ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'':
** Cody is the nice one for being smart, sane and calm, the mean one is downplayed with Bowser Junior since he can sometimes throw a fit when he plays with Joseph and Cody along with being cruel to Cody at times, and Joseph is in-between due to sometimes being the sanest at times and being rude to Cody by calling him weird and making fun of him with Junior.
** The Bowser Junior, Bowser and Chef Pee Pee trio follow this trope too, but this time, Junior's role is different; Junior is the nice one who likes to play with toys and annoys Bowser and Chef Pee Pee, where it's Bowser who's the mean one for [[BadBoss yelling at Chef Pee Pee nonstop and causing additional chores for him]], [[AbusiveParents beating Junior up]] and being a trademark {{Jerkass}}, while Chef Pee Pee mediates in-between where he's smarter than Bowser and Junior and [[OnlySaneMan being much saner than them]], but can sometimes act grumpy towards them when they annoy him, even though Bowser and Junior both start it.
** The Rosalina, Jeffy, and Mario trio follow this trope as well. Rosalina is the nice one for treating Jeffy with respect and [[MamaBear sticking up for him if Mario abuses him in any way]], Jeffy is the mean one for throwing temper tantrums and generally annoying Mario, and Mario is the in-between one for being the StraightMan who disciplines Jeffy when he misbehaves.
* ''WebVideo/SuperMarioRichie'':
** We have the Koopalings: Morton, Lemmy, Ludwig (nice), Roy (mean), Bowser Jr., Larry, Wendy, and Iggy (in-between).
** The Koopa adults: Rowser (nice), Grandpa Bowser (mean), and Bowser (in-between).
[[/folder]]
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