[[StarWars http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Princess_Leia.jpg]]
[[caption-width:230: Leia, not quite a perfect example, but the closest one we got.]]

-->'''Sally''': Why am I "The Woman"?\\
'''Dick''': [after a {{beat}}] ''Because you lost.''
-->''[[ThirdRockFromTheSun 3rd Rock From The Sun]]'' {{pilot}} "Brains and Eggs"

The "feminine", "spiritual", "[[TheHeart heart]]", and/or sometimes "[[DistressedDamsel damsel]]" aspect of the FiveManBand. By tradition this role is usually female, the [[TheSmurfettePrinciple token girl]], though this isn't always the case. In general, though, they serve as something different then the rest of the team. When the rest of the team is all guys, the chick is female. Whereas the other roles are aggressive and sometimes outright violent, The Chick's is to balance it out with a passive, peacekeeper role.

[[TropesAreNotBad This doesn't mean that they are, by definition, useless]] (no matter what [[RealWomenNeverWearDresses some people]] think). The problem is, she is a ''really'' hard character to pin down, especially in an action-oriented show that [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption doesn't play to]] [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway her natural strengths]]. If badly written, she's in danger of becoming a DamselScrappy: a [[{{Wangst}} whiny]], [[TheDitz ditzy]] [[TheLoad deadweight]] whose only purpose is serving as the DistressedDamsel and/or LoveInterest. Fortunately, though, better writers can portray even these "useless" Chicks effectively — at least so long as these characters do have [[CharacterDevelopment agreeable attitudes and acceptable reasons for being part of the band, and/or develop them as the story advances]].

Their functional role will often be TheHeart and social influence of the group. Sometimes this means they'll serve as the TeamMom, taking care of the smaller details, both within the group and in the world outside. They look after innocents, deliver [[AnAesop The Aesop]], mediate the argument between TheSmartGuy and TheBigGuy, bitchslap TheLancer out of [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope getting too dark]], and convince the ObstructiveBureaucrat to let them continue their quest. It's not the coolest job in the world, but it's helpful.

In many other times, the chick may just be the female who is different from the guys. As the TokenGirl, she would be more concerned with other things like shopping, dating and fashion.

It is possible for TheChick to become an ActionGirl or be one from the start, but there is a fine balance being "feminine" ''and'' aggressive. Often, an ActionGirl will be [[TheLadette a girl with a guy's personality]], though sometimes they DO express [[{{Shorttank}} a wish to be a bit more chicky]] without losing their fighting skills. If they [[TookALevelInBadass take level in badass]] ''without'' losing their core personality, then they've effectively upgraded to an ActionGirl. Conversely (and unsurprisingly), it's ''WAY'' too common to have fans unfairly label {{Chickification}} to an ActionGirl if she shows ''any'' [[RealWomenNeverWearDresses sort of "female emotion"]].

Powers and skills common to the chick are:
* They will usually be TheMedic, the one with the HealingHands. In magical settings, they'll be a SquishyWizard who has contemporary medical training, uses WhiteMagic to [[StatusBuff heal and protect]] her friends, or becomes a BlackMagicianGirl in the course of the story. In other situations, a DarkMagicalGirl or a BarrierWarrior (more fight-active than the StaffChick, but still geared more towards defense than attack) are also common.
* On the flip side, the Chick [[TheHeart can be a healer of mental and emotional hurts]], through an exceptional ability to [[TheMessiah understand people and reach out to them]]. This might be due to [[ArmchairPsychology psychological]] [[ReversePsychology training]], social skills, and/or [[TheEmpath empathy]]. These skills also helps her to gain resources for the team through diplomacy, or work her way through different problems without lifting a hand against anyone when times are hard and not suit for fighting.
* In fact, TheChick often has other traits that help her ''influence'' other people, such as [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses royal authority]] and/or being [[ShowSomeLeg distractingly gorgeous]]. Being pretty and wholesome-looking can also [[BeautyEqualsGoodness help win people's trust]], and sometimes [[ManipulativeBastard having ability to convince others to do things for her or the group]]. The Chick is also the most likely to have Psychic Powers (especially of the foreshadowing variety).
* Chicks tend to be [[StaffChick supporting figures in combat]]. Often they'll have a SimpleStaff, or [[StraightArrow a bow or other ranged weapon]]. Subversions of the archetypal Chick may be given [[ActionGirl greater fighting ability]] than this to allow her to keep up more with her bandmates. Even more of a subversion may make her a CuteBruiser or LadyOfWar, a BlackMagicianGirl or a HotAmazon.
** If it isn't TheSmartGuy (or possible working in tandem with either the actual Smart Guy or the Mentor), the MissionControl and/or VoiceWithAnInternetConnection for the band is often The Chick because it emphasizes her supporting role but still keeps her vitally important to the group.
* In comedies, TheChick can sometimes get things accomplished with the patented ArmorPiercingSlap, or even the MegatonPunch, specially against unruly teammates of TheLancer or TheHero type. Bonus point if said Chick has [[{{Tsundere}} mood swings]] or also possesses [[TheDaria verbal wits]].

It ''is'' possible for a male character to be TheChick, often the NonActionGuy, and/or TheOneGuy in an dominantly female cast. Paradoxically, it's also possible to be TheChick on teams that have several females.
----
!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Sakura of TsubasaReservoirChronicle is both a straight example and a subversion, since that character had already appeared in another work by the same authors, where she was TheHero. She kept exactly the same personality, but with a serious downgrade in magic habilities and three fighting experts as companions she transformed into a Chick. She also regularily lampshades the fact that she feels useless in the group because of her unability to fight. Later she upgrades to being an ActionGirl once she gets her hands on some guns and ADayInTheLimelight. She also doubles as TheEmpath, the OracularUrchin and TheMessiah. Later, in Infinity country, once a certain member of the group has left, she arguably becomes TheHero and (litteraly) TheChessMaster.
* Likewise, Sakura from ''{{Naruto}}''.
**Not just Sakura, there's Ino from Team 10, Hinata from Team 8, Tenten from Team 9, Temari of the Sand Siblings, Tsunade from the Sannin, Rin from Kakashi's original team, Konan from Akatsuki, Tayuya from the Souns Four, Kin from the three Sound Genin, Karin from Hebi, Kurenai as a Team Leader, [[spoiler: even the 5th Mizukage at the meeting of the Kages in the manga is the only female Kage at that point. It seems Masashi Kishimoto will put major characters into comas to maintain his ratio of exactly one female in every major group in Naruto]]
* Nami of ''OnePiece'', though she too has [[TookALevelInBadass Taken A Level In Badass]] as of late.
* "G-3" Jun the Swan from ''{{Gatchaman}}''. A TropeCodifier for Anime/Manga characters. Primarily, the TokenGirl from being on an all male team. Can be seen as either an ActionGirl who is self-sufficient from owning and running her own snack bar and a skilled fighter that can defend herself on par with her male companions, or a victim of {{Chickification}} and occasional DistressedDamsel when the story calls for it to give Ken/Joe some hero spotlight moments.
** Also, since she's the technical and demolitions expert of the team, she is arguably better at being TheSmartGuy than the show's actual smart guy.
* Total inversion: The Aasu sisters from ''PuniPuniPoemi'' are all Chicks, ''[[WeAreTeamCannonFodder all five of them]]''. Their powers also [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway suck]].
* ''OutlawStar'' makes two other bandmates women in order to counterbalance TheChick Melfina; specifically, TheBigGuy (Aisha) and TheSixthRanger (Suzuka).
* Botan, Keiko, Yukina, Shizuru and Atsuko from ''YuYuHakusho''. All five have needed to be saved at some point (manga-only, in Atsuko's case), but are generally side characters ''just'' outside of the CompetenceZone. They're all tougher than the normal Chick ([[HealingHands Botan, Yukina]] and [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling Shizuru]] have more-or-less useful powers too) and can hold their own against humans, but they still can't reach BadassNormal level when facing demons. Or can they?
* Anzu/Tea of YuGiOh, and Shizuka when she was around.
* Caro in ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha [=StrikerS=]'', who manages to fit this role in [[PinkBishoujoGhetto a mostly female cast]] by being a ten-year old who has {{Status Buff}}ing as one of her specialties and is generally less action-oriented compared to everyone else. Of course, since this is ''Nanoha'', where [[LittleMissBadass small and female]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes are traits you should run away from]], her other specialty is [[SummonMagic summoning]] [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]]. [[{{Kaiju}} Big dragons]]. [[PersonOfMassDestruction Approach chick with caution]].
* Azmaria in ''ChronoCrusade'', the TokenLoli with spiritual powers that allow her to heal others and fly...and not much else. In the anime she's mostly there to [[DistressedDamsel look cute and get in trouble]], although she does serve as a peacemaker of the group. In the manga she behaves this way at first, but through CharacterDevelopment she slowly becomes stronger and more determined--enough that, during the final battle, her ability to stay calm under pressure holds the rest of the team together during a crisis and her spiritual knowledge serves a key part in stopping the BigBad and his plans.
* [[MsFanservice Mikuru]] from ''TheMelancholyOfHaruhiSuzumiya'', the only member of the FiveManBand that Haruhi gets ''right''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Both Silk Spectres from ''{{Watchmen}}''. They're [[DeconstructorFleet deconstructions]] of both The Chick and MsFanService.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* [[StarWars Princess Leia]] is the [[ActionGirl Action Girl]] version of the Chick
** As is her mother, [[StarWars Padme Skywalker, nee Amidala]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* While ''{{Animorphs}}'' fans have had some trouble agreeing on who's actually TheChick, Rachel has never been a contender. She's beautiful, her hobby is gymnastics, and she loves both shopping and her boyfriend, but she's TheBigGuy, an ActionGirl who becomes a BloodKnight.
** Cassie, the animal-loving pacifist and girlfriend to "{{the Hero}}", Jake, is a more likely suspect.
* Being TheChick may be all that is consistent in Trillian across all versions of ''TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''. DouglasAdams admitted that he didn't write her as a well-rounded character because he never really understood women.
* In {{Enid Blyton}}'s ''Famous Five'' books Anne is so much of TheChick she verges on a YamatoNadeshiko. Oddly though it is Dick though that takes the role of TheHeart.
* JourneyToTheWest features a very... odd subversion of this trope - the monk [[TheLoad Xuangzang]] is so perfect an example of TheChick he's (note the masculine) sometimes even ''portrayed'' as such. This, of course, leads to ''tons'' of HoYay with the other main character of the story, [[BadAss Sun]] [[TheLancer Wukong]]. Given his overall uselessness, stupidity, and propensity to be captured by anything under the sun, it's no wonder why most everyone who reads the story [[TheScrappy kinda really hates him]]. In a double subversion, it's also as become common to protray Wukong [[GenderBender as the girl]], just to make him (her?) seem more awesome.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Princess Deirdre of ''TheMysticKnightsOfTirNaNog''
* Gwen from ''{{Torchwood}}''
** Toshiko Sato is TheSmartGuy in ''{{Torchwood}}''.
* A lot of [[DoctorWho The Doctor]]'s companions.
* Kimberly from ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' is the typical ValleyGirl with a crush on the SixthRanger. In the pilot episode she teased that she didn't want to join the group because of "helmet hair." Trini on the other hand, despite having a few chick-like elements, has more in common with TheLancer and TheBigGuy.
** The ultimate gender-balance trick in any FiveManBand has to be in the StockFootage the series is built on, the Yellow Ranger is [[ShesAManInJapan actually male]]. This is obvious enough in the stunt sequences.
** Kim's JonasQuinn Kat ended up not much different from her, but as a whole the female Rangers have drifted to all {{Action Girl}}s even while generally keeping the TomboyAndGirlyGirl dynamic.
* Sweet Dee from ''ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' is "the useless chick" according to Mac's breakdown of the FiveManBand. She certainly seems to be the most emotional member of the Gang, but that may be because she's also the ButtMonkey.
* Detective Irene Daniels of ''TheCloser'', who isn't seen in too much physical combat (although she can certainly hold her own), and is much more girly than the rest of the all-male Priority Homicide Squad (besides, of course, [[TheHero Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson]]). However, she is apparently brilliant at forensic accounting - tracking down relevant documents relating to murder victims and suspects.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Princess Peach from the ''SuperMarioBros'' games. Even in her solo game, ''Super Princess Peach'', her abilities are very stereotypically feminine.
** More evident in ''SuperSmashBros'' - in ''The Subspace Emissary'' she makes herself useful by breaking up fights and turning potential enemies into friends, mysteriously producing tea, in contrast with the {{Action Girl}}s Samus and Sheik.
* Rika of ''PhantasyStar IV'' is TheChick for most of the game once all of the permanent, non-optional members are in-- she's even briefly TheChick in a PowerTrio. However, she's much more well-balanced than the typical RPG example: all of her magic-- ''all of it''-- is healing or status magic, but she's a powerful melee fighters and her physical attacks are second only in damage output to [[TheHero Chaz]] once he gets the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Elsydeon]]. Before that, they're about equal.
* [[{{Disgaea}} Flonne]] plays this trope straight. Yukimaru subverts it by having better combat skill than most chicks.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* In ''{{Series/No Rest For The Wicked}}'', November is both very fragile and the person holding the entire group together.
* Zoe from ''SluggyFreelance'', by virtue of being the only character who thinks playing with dimensional portals, TomesOfEldritchLore, and powerful explosives is a bad idea.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Daphne Blake of ''ScoobyDoo''. Subverted in the movie, where she's still TheChick of the group but has additionally [[TookALevelInBadass Taken A Level In Badass]]. (Being played by [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Sarah Michelle Gellar]] pays off.) Since Daphne's a clear-cut Chick, Velma is TheSmartGuy as another woman.
* April O'Neil in ''TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. Note that her characterization differs according to the movies or series.
* Starfire of ''TeenTitans'', though she is of the ActionGirl and CuteBruiser variety.
* Maguro from ''SushiPack''
* Arcee from G1 ''{{Transformers}}''. It helps that she's pink. So very, very pink.
** Subverted brutally in the IDW comic, where she's a KnightTemplar out for vengeance. Why, you ask? because in that continuity, [[OneGenderRace Transformers are supposed to be all male]], and she's rather peeved about being turned into the exception.
* Abby aka Numbuh 5 from ''KidsNextDoor'': A definite [[TheLancer Lancer]]. Much less girly than Kuki aka Numbuh 3.
* Daizy from ''[[WowWowWubbzy Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!]]'' is the demure, feminine member of the four friends, contracting with Widget's more tomboy-ish personality.
* Elisa and later Angela on ''{{Gargoyles}}'' both hold TheChick role (Angela moreso than Elisa). They are both highly competant in combat though.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

* Shandala, the one main female character from ''BrokenSaints''. And yet it still doesn't come off as ridiculous, silly, or sexist.
* Jenny in ParkBench, although she's not part of a FiveManBand.



!!Examples of TheChick who doubles as another member

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Hiro in ''Wa ga na wa Umishi''. Technically a full member of Nanba Salvage, her main duties seem to be cooking, bitching at the guys, [[FanService walking around in her underwear]] and, occasionally, data collection.
* ''SailorMoon'': Sailor Moon herself is pretty firmly TheChick, despite being the main character ''and'' TheMessiah. She acts as the team's moral and emotional pillar, and is least often the one to take frontal assault duties when fighting various enemies, generally doing her best to simply survive until she has a chance to whip out a FinishingMove.
** Also, Ami aka Sailor Mercury, is sweet, shy, bookish and has defensive abilities based on [[KillItWithWater water]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], so you'd expect her to be a secondary Chick after Moon. Instead, she's TheSmartGuy, since she also happens to be a TeenGenius.
* ''{{Cyborg009}}'', Francoise aka 003 generally senses danger so the big strong men can deal with it, [[PromotionToParent holds the psychic baby]] and is usually the one who bemoans the fact that their duty as cyborgs keeps herself and the others from living peaceful lives. Yet she ''always'' joins the team in battle when they need her abilities no matter what horrible things she has to see or sense to aid them, keeps her cool when it's needed, gives [[TheLancer the bratty Lancer]] of the group [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan verbal beatdowns]] ''more than once'' without flinching, is [[TheProfessor Dr. Gilmore]]'s most reliable assistant, and when necessary she proves that she is [[ActionGirl fully capable of defending herself and even occasionally saving the day singlehandedly]]. Thus, she doubles as TheChick and TheSmartGuy, with some dashes of TheLancer when on her boldest.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Sapphire from the ''{{Disgaea}}'' series is a rare AxCrazy chick. Has elements of TheBigGuy.
* [[{{SonicTheHedgehog}} Amy Rose]] starts out playing the trope straight, but starting with Sonic Heroes has become an ActionGirl, gaining elements of TheBigGuy like Sapphire above.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Mira Nova from ''BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'': A princess, so definitely The Chick, but a well-rounded heroic type who contrasts Buzz, so also TheLancer.
* Gadget from ''ChipAndDaleRescueRangers'': As implied by her name, TheSmartGuy. It can even be said that, since Gadget very rarely acts girly, the team has a woman, but no Chick.
* Katara, the TeamMom of and the [[CharacterDevelopment original]] [[TheMessiah Messiah]] of ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', combines the roles of TheChick and of TheLancer.



!!Examples of a male member holding TheChick role

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Kyohei, the official team chef, on ''BakuretsuTenshi''.
* Rock from ''BlackLagoon''. He isn't much for violence like Revy and Dutch are, but he makes up for it by being the Lagoon Company's negotiator and "Villain in Training". He's also the most idealistic of the crew, which occasionally puts him at odds with the more cynical Revy.
* Kenneth Robbins aka Ken from ''KaleidoStar''. He [[IllGirl has a weak heart]], so he can't perform (unless it's malabarism or comic routines, in which case he is Anna's ButtMonkey). Therefore, he helps out the all-or-mostly-female acrobats of the Kaleido Stage.
* Shuuichirou Oishi from ''ThePrinceOfTennis''. He's the TeamMom and TheMedic, but sometimes acts as TheLancer to either Tezuka or Kikumaru.
** Another one could be little cute Taichi Dan from Yamabuki, who isn't a regular ''because'' he's much shorter than the other players, so he acts like the team manager.
* In the context of [[AxisPowersHetalia The Allied Forces]], TheChick is the artsy and sensitive [[TheWoobie Woobie]] of the FiveManBand, Wang Yao aka China.
* Male example: Andromeda Shun of SaintSeiya. Enough so that [[DudeLooksLikeALady people get confused]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Angel in the original ''{{X-Men}}'' line-up, mostly because his powers were the least combat-effective. Multiple attempts have been made to power him up over the last 45 years; most of them haven't worked.
** Archangel and the mid-80's would like to have a word with you.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Fiver of WatershipDown. Doubles as TheLancer along with Bigwig, as the two of them are the only ones who will ever call Hazel out after they reach Watership Down.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Xander of ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', despite his attempts to change this, has pretty much always been TheChick of the team.
** In fact, in shows with a lot of supernatural or unusual goings-on -- particularly if there are a lot of {{Action Girl}}s - ''any'' token ordinary human with no special expertise, usually a male, becomes The Chick.
* ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'s'' Daniel Jackson. Carter doesn't fit, she's TheLancer. The catch is both of them share the role of TheSmartGuy.
** Carter was originally written as TheChick and a NonActionGirl, but the writers saw the light by the 6th episode and she became an ActionGirl.
*** Considering her ''first scene'' has her declaring that she's very much military and she participates in the fighting accordingly, and the ''fourth'' episode has her beating a Mongolian warlord in a one-on-one knife fight, this is ''very'' doubtful.
* Much, in ''Series/RobinHood'': The character identifies himself as the "one who deals with little things".
** Djaq could also be considered The Chick, since she's the resident healer and occasionally counsels the guys on their problems (especially Allan)
* Timothy [=McGee=] in ''{{NCIS}}''. All the women in the series take other roles (e.g. Ziva is TheBigGuy, and Abby is TheSmartGuy).
** [[YourMileageMayVary [=YMMV=]]] on that one, because [=McGee=] could just as easily be TheSmartGuy and Abby TheChick.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]


* In ''SuikodenI'', one could claim that Gremio plays this role for Tir and company, particularly as TeamMom.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* Elan, from ''OrderOfTheStick'': Clueless, but concerned for the rest of the group, and skilled in [[strike:Social-Fu]] Trope-Fu.
** Bit of a LampshadeHanging [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0590.html here]], where he [[GenreSavvy correctly identifies]] the villain's [[TheSadisticChoice next move]], but not that ''he's'' the DistressedDamsel.
* Slick Giovanni from ''LastResort''. Yes, we know that almost all the prisoners were in some sort of bondage apparel when they brought them to the space station. Yes, we know being in prison equals lots of opportunities to look cute in restraints. But come on, man, [[spoiler:pulling out the sympathy card so you'd get picked by Adharia after Jigsaw turned you down]]? [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway Please tell us that's not your special ability]].
* The Sorrow in ''TheCobraDays'', especially in his early appearances. He's not much of a fighter [[spoiler: unless he's being possessed by a dead ninja]], but he can [[http://thecobradays.net/view.php?date=2006-03-17 be very emotionally insightful, although it doesn't necessarily do him much good.]] He develops more SmartGuy qualities later in the comic.
* Subverted in the webcomic ''Narbonic'' -- Artie the gerbil [[spoiler: who transforms into a 6-foot-2 muscular BigGuy]] is super-intelligent vegan, and pacifist; Mell is an attractive young college intern who loves explosives, firearms, and other typical BigGuy stuff.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* Kotashi, the NonActionGuy and love interest of [[TheSmartGuy the (female) Smart Guy]] in ''SailorNothing''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway Ma-Ti]] on ''CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers''. Even ''he'' knew that what he was best at was getting rescued from danger... ''in the second episode!''
* Antoine in the ABC ("[=SatAM=]") ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' cartoon. While he's supposedly Sally's bodyguard, he's also an ineffectual coward, the comic relief, and often needs rescuing by Sonic. Being [[NationalStereotypes stereotypically French]] doesn't help matters either.
* Cheetor, TheBumblebee of ''BeastWars'', got relatively few action moments compared with his compatriots. This is somewhat understandable, since his role as the FragileSpeedster was usually to act as scout, but the poor kid did get captured or [[TheWoobie injured]] with alarming frequency.
** One of the few good things from ''Beast Machines'' was Cheetor's CharacterDevelopment into TheLancer. His character arc is almost literally from Child--Teenager--Young Adult--Adult, which was marked by [[MerchandiseDriven each change into a new body.]]

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<<|AlwaysFemale|>>
<<|FiveManBand|>>
<<|GenderAndSexualityTropes|>>


<<|AbridgedSeriesTropes|>>