History Main / HeroicSafeMode

* Sam Temple's defining trait in [[Literature/Gone]]. He's ordinarily a regular surfer. During times of crisis, however, he becomes 'School Bus Sam', who does what has to be done. The first incident is when he parks the bus on the side of the road after the driver has a heart attack. It comes in useful when he becomes fire chief, then mayor, then sheriff of his community.

* Sam Temple's defining trait in ''[[Literature/Gone]]''. He's ordinarily a regular surfer. During times of crisis, however, he becomes 'School Bus Sam', who does what has to be done. The first incident is when he parks the bus on the side of the road after the driver has a heart attack. It comes in useful when he becomes fire chief, then mayor, then sheriff of his community.

* Sam Temple's defining trait in ''Literature/Gone''. He's ordinarily a regular surfer. During times of crisis, however, he becomes 'School Bus Sam', who does what has to be done. The first incident is when he parks the bus on the side of the road after the driver has a heart attack. It comes in useful when he becomes fire chief, then mayor, then sheriff of his community.

* Apollo Justice in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' suddenly becomes dark and brooding, determining to uncover the truth behind the death of his best friend Clay Terran. [[spoiler:The true reason for this is because he perceives ability points out his colleague Athena Cykes is hiding something from him, and she turns out to be the main suspect for the crime. As a result, he shuts down his ability, refusing to believe Athena is a murderer.]]

* [[ActionGirl Sarah Connor]], in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', spends a good chunk of the movie this way, after the events of the [[Film/TheTerminator first film]]. It's only after [[spoiler:she [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone nearly kills an innocent man in front of his wife and son]]]] that she snaps out of it and lets herself feel like a normal person again.

* ComicBook/SpiderMan has gone into these on several occasions. One implied example is in the classic issue #33[[note]]the one where he's trapped under a machine when the building is flooding; you know the one[[/note]]; at one point, Spidey lets himself get beat up so that he can gather his strength, then unleashes a flurry of hits on a bunch of thugs who are attacking him. He eventually realizes that he's no longer hitting anything and that everyone's knocked out. This kind of thing only happens when one has entered into HeroicSafeMode.

* In the second series of ''Literature/The39Clues'', [[spoiler: Amy, who had previously appeared to be better adjusted to the insanity going on around her than her younger brother Dan,]] goes into HeroicSafeMode near the end of ''Trust No One''. [[spoiler: She]] even refers to the detached side as "Safe [[spoiler: Amy]]" and the involved side as "Scared [[spoiler: Amy]]." Last we see of [[spoiler: her in that book, she literally takes off running away from her brother and friends, shocked after the revelation that the Vespers seek to build a doomsday device and that she had just given them the final piece they need to do it.]]

* Shuro in ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'' has gone into one after Falin's loss, neglecting food and sleep in his single-minded efforts to save her. Deconstructed in that this is actually weakening his body, unlike his ex-party member Laios, Falin's own brother, who has the same goal but has been eating and resting to ensure he remains in peak fighting condition when he reaches her.

--->Coolness trickled into her mind until her skull was filled with it. Her world seemed extra sharp and extra real. Part of her, someplace deep inside, wailed; that seemed unreal, as if she watched a crying baby from a great distance.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', it is Zenitsu's sleeping trance mode, his method of temporarily eliminating his inner conflict esteemed from self-hatred: the extreme fear of dying fighting against demons on the front lines, but his sincere loyalty towards the few people who like him at all prevents the boy from running away; thus Zenitsu developed his sleeping trance, a way in which he can fight without fear, almost a SplitPersonality but in actuality it is the ideal hero version of himself Zenitsu doesn't have enough confidence to become quite yet, in the trance mode Zenitsu can fully commit to being a brave demon slayer without hindering himself, and when the trance wears off Zenitsu isn't aware of what just transpired, disassociating himself from the danger he wouldn't want to be placed in normal circumstances.

* ''VideoGame/ArTonelicoIIMelodyOfMetafalica'' has the protagonist Croix and his adopted little sister as their own little family. They're actually pretty normal, without him seeming overprotective. That is until she's actually in life-threatening danger. He manhandles most of [[spoiler: an entire battalion of soldiers before his own commander takes him down.]] When he wakes up and realizes she's not with him, he then heads for the facility where she is. Too bad they didn't [[spoiler: have another battalion there to stop him that time.]] He doesn't speak at all during the first part and shows no emotion, and he's very quiet during the second. [[spoiler: They don't bother him again because they're too scared to upset him]].

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'': After being subjected to a BreakingSpeech by Monsoon and subsequently undergoing a HeroicBSOD, Raiden recovers his "[[AxCrazy Jack The Ripper]]" persona to be able to beat him in the ensuing fight between them. Surely enough, Raiden beats Monsoon [[CurbStompBattle pretty handily]] [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill and thoroughly]] and calms down afterwards.

* ''VideoGame/ArTonelico2'' has the protagonist Croix and his adopted little sister as their own little family. They're actually pretty normal, without him seeming overprotective. That is until she's actually in life-threatening danger. He manhandles most of [[spoiler: an entire battalion of soldiers before his own commander takes him down.]] When he wakes up and realizes she's not with him, he then heads for the facility where she is. Too bad they didn't [[spoiler: have another battalion there to stop him that time.]] He doesn't speak at all during the first part and shows no emotion, and he's very quiet during the second. [[spoiler: They don't bother him again because they're too scared to upset him]].

* Shuro in ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'' has gone into one after Falin's loss, neglecting food and sleep in his single-minded efforts to save her.

* Delf of ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' is of the EmpathicWeapon variety, and can do this for his wielder, Saito, using magic he has absorbed to forcefully move his body when he is too injured to move on his own.

-->-- ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', "The Serpent's Pass"

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''

* In ''[[LightNovel/SwordArtOnline Sword Art Online II]]'', Kirito gets approached in Gun Gale Online by a player who has a Laughing Coffin tattoo, which [[TraumaButton triggers memories]] he had repressed of [[ShootTheDog killing a couple of Black Coffin members back in SAO]]. He briefly [[HeroicBSOD shuts down]], but he's in the middle of a tournament so he has to move. In his next several fights, he charges straight at his opponent without much apparent thought.

* Shion from ''LightNovel/No6'' has two moments like this.

Keeping the computing metaphor, some heroes have a hardier Operating System than the norm, which when faced with the HeroicBSOD instead enters [[TitleDrop Heroic Safe Mode]]. During this period the hero "shuts down" non-essential thought processes and focuses entirely on "fight or flight", hoping that when the danger is over they can "restart" in safety. Especially strong-willed heroes who go into Safe Mode while loved ones are in danger will usually [[HeroicResolve protect them]] to near-suicidal extremes. In other cases, they may wind up snapping at their own friends who try to push them ''out'' of Safe Mode. Luckily, these loved ones can usually push the restart button with a CooldownHug. They will (at ''best)'' [[TerseTalker talk in monosyllables]], become either [[TheStoic completely]] [[TranquilFury emotionless]] or [[UnstoppableRage absolutely enraged]], but they will always, ''always'' terrify friend and foe alike with an unfiltered DeathGlare. When a hero fully reboots from this mode back into their standard operating procedure, PostVictoryCollapse usually kicks in, or the full-on HeroicBSOD may kick in after the direct danger to the hero and/or their companions has passed. It is often seen as the good counterpart of a VillainousBreakdown.

Where this gets interesting is if the hero has a SplitPersonality or AdaptiveArmor that is not normally in the driver's seat. With the hero "out to lunch", the passenger may decide to take survival into his, her or ''its'' own hands (neurons?) and control their body until the hero is well again. This varies depending on the nature of the SplitPersonality. For example, a soul bound EmpathicWeapon might default to ''AttackAttackAttack'', while a more evil EnemyWithin might decide it's a good time to unlock the hero's SuperPoweredEvilSide.

** The eponymous Index has a literal safe-mode installed into her, that activates anytime the main consciousness goes down. The computer analogy is quite literal. The safe-mode even shouts out status messages.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', it is Zenitsu's sleeping trance mode, his method of temporarily eliminating his inner conflict esteemed from self-hatred: the extreme fear of dying fighting against demons on the front lines, but his sincere loyalty towards the few people who like him at all prevents the boy from running away; thus Zenitsu developed his sleeping trance, a way in which he can fight without fear, almost a SplitPersonality but in actuality it is the ideal hero version of himself Zenitsu doesn't have enough confidence to become quite yet, in the trance mode Zenitsu can fully committ to being a brave demon slayer without hindering himself, and when the trance wears off Zenitsu isn't aware of what just transpired, disassociating himself from the danger he wouldn't want to be placed in normal circumstances.

* Potentially deconstructed in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. After [[spoiler: Kamina's death]], Simon enters a somewhat berserker state in battle, done in an attempt to [[spoiler:channel Kamina]] and attempting to function as a person and moving on. However, delaying in coping with his grief is unhealthy, taking a severe toll on his physical and mental facilities (it's implied that he has been neglecting sleep and not eating as much while also acting more aggressive). The lack of help from any of the team makes it worse. Simon is ultimately worked through the grief thanks to Nia's help and eventually finds the confidence to move forward once more.

*** Chapter 16, original version: As Kyril and his apprentices (minus Soren) are fending off the myriad of {{mutants}}, the readers get a glimpse of Kyril's P.O.V. regarding how he feels about killing these EliteMooks who are [[TorturedMonster Tortured Monsters]] at the same time. On one hand, he regrets having [[YouAreTooLate arrived late]] to spare them of such a fate. On the other hand, he opts to focus on the task at hand, leaving the {{Mangst}} ''after'' the fighting.
*** Chapter 2, remastered version: In the face of an orc ambush, Kyril is surprised, yet doesn't shrink from the sudden assault. Instead, he immediately extends his Saw Cleaver, not even thinking of drawing anything else, and surges forward in a lone counter charge to cut down the orcs. The action is so sudden that it looks like a LeeroyJenkins from an outsider's perspective, except that he can react to sudden situations that fast. This is not getting to how he remains expressionless even when bodies around him are being mangled and maimed by his cleaver, as well as how he merely looks around for any remaining threats with a DeathGlare after the ambush is over.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' novel ''Winner Takes All'', the Doctor is forced by the villains to [[spoiler: use Rose like a puppet/video game avatar without any way to ask for her consent. And worse, in order to save her and others, he has to physically hurt her and make his control over her body even more absolute.]] He gets really, really furious once he realises what he must do. More so than ever in the TV series. He punches the wall, throws things around. And then he simply shuts down, becomes calm and cold and just does it -- while being utterly terrifying in the eyes of the kid who is with him at the time. Then he proceeds to use the rescue plan to arrange for the entire military force of the villains to be atomized. And he doesn't give them any chance to reconsider. Not even one. [[note]]Well, he kind of generically threatened that he was going to destroy their planet if they hurt one hair on her head. But at that point, she wasn't in any immediate danger yet, and he wasn't in his I-really-mean-it mode yet, instead telling others that he just intended to destroy the villain's technology to make them stop doing what they were doing.[[/note]]

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the [[TheNthDoctor Ninth Doctor]] was prone to this kind of behaviour when shit was starting to hit the fan and people started dying. Especially in the beginning, as part of his implied war veteran characterization. At first, Rose the civilian had real trouble understanding the reason for his detachment and thought it was callousness - when actually, keeping a cool head and repressing his emotions was what he needed to do in order to get the job done. In the course of the series he kind of eased up on this behaviour as part of his healing process - only to end up having a HeroicBSOD because of his emotional investment. The pair eventually came to share a steady supply of post-crisis {{Cooldown Hug}}s. Well, not so much "Cooldown" Hugs as "Thank God It's Over And I Can Safely Show How Worried I Was, Please Just Hold Me For A Sec" Hugs. [[note]]It's like a Cooldown Hug, except the huggee is wise enough to know that he needs one. And it's more about the active restoration of humanity than about calming down "hot" anger. Defrosting Hug?[[/note]]

* ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': The kindhearted, idealistic medical intern Emu Hojo always strives to achieve a state where everyone is alive, healthy and happy, a complicated task considering the CrapsaccharineWorld he lives in and his profession. When pressured into an apparently unsolvable situation he hides in his significantly more unscrupulous other self M and gets stuff done in an efficient but disturbing manner.
* ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': The default state of [[AmnesiacHero Sento]] [[QuestForIdentity Kiryu]] is [[DissonantSerenity calm]] and dismissive of everything that doesn't directly concern him. Only some circumstances such as [[ManChild no stress]] or [[NervousWreck too much stress]] reveal that state as being only a mask he holds on to keep his haphazardly cobbled together mind balanced enough to be usable.

* The ''Theatre/{{Mrs Hawking}}'' play series: Mrs. Hawking at the [[spoiler:end of ''Gilded Cages'', when her opponents Mrs. Chaudhary and Mrs. Frost reveal themselves to be her old friends Malaika and Elizabeth.]] Her priority is to get her and hers out of there rather than totally emotionally deal with it.

* After suffering from a hysteric HeroicBSOD after finding out the death and vampirization of his best friend Durkon, [[TheHero Roy]] in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' reboots into this after being given a combination [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech The Reason You Suck]] and RousingSpeech by [[HeroicComedicSociopath Belkar]]. During a short time afterwards, Roy is set on moving forwards, quiet, and snappish to his teammates. After being inside of an illusion world, Roy is able to snap out of it, but it's implied he doesn't fully snap out of it until [[spoiler:he realizes the one controlling Durkon isn't Durkon at all.]]

* This is how you're supposed to respond when your car has a severe mechanical-fault appear while on the road, such as a brake failure, an engine fire, or you're involved in an accident. You need to avoid panicking, get out of traffic, get the car stopped, and put on your flashers. Then you can deal with what happened, emotionally.

* Customer service workers often have to deal with rude customers on a daily basis, and they can't exactly vent their frustrations on the spot since it would sully the reputation of the stores they work for; they have to keep up those [[StepfordSmiler artificial smiles]] and air of professionalism for the next customer. Only once they're off-shift can they finally let out all the pent-up stress caused by all the casual abuse from customers.

* Judai seems to live in this mode in Season 4 of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' after crossing the DespairEventHorizon last season.

Keeping the computing metaphor, some heroes have a hardier Operating System than the norm, which when faced with the HeroicBSOD instead enters [[TitleDrop Heroic Safe Mode]]. During this period the hero "shuts down" non-essential thought processes and focuses entirely on "fight or flight", hoping that when the danger is over they can "restart" in safety. Especially strong-willed heroes who go into Safe Mode while loved ones are in danger will usually [[HeroicResolve protect them]] to near-suicidal extremes. In other cases, they may wind up snapping at their own friends who try to push them ''out'' of Safe Mode. Luckily, these loved ones can usually push the restart button with a CooldownHug. They will (at ''best)'' [[TerseTalker talk in monosyllables]], become either [[TheStoic completely]] [[TranquilFury emotionless]] or [[UnstoppableRage absolutely enraged]], but they will always, ''always'' terrify friend and foe alike with an unfiltered DeathGlare. When a hero fully reboots from this mode back into their standard operating procedure, PostVictoryCollapse usually kicks in, or the full-on HeroicBSOD may kick in after the direct danger to the hero and/or their companions has passed. It is often seen as the good counterpart of a VillianousBreakdown.

Keeping the computing metaphor, some heroes have a hardier Operating System than the norm, which when faced with the HeroicBSOD instead enters [[TitleDrop Heroic Safe Mode]]. During this period the hero "shuts down" non-essential thought processes and focuses entirely on "fight or flight", hoping that when the danger is over they can "restart" in safety. Especially strong-willed heroes who go into Safe Mode while loved ones are in danger will usually [[HeroicResolve protect them]] to near-suicidal extremes. In other cases, they may wind up snapping at their own friends who try to push them ''out'' of Safe Mode. Luckily, these loved ones can usually push the restart button with a CooldownHug. They will (at ''best)'' [[TerseTalker talk in monosyllables]], become either [[TheStoic completely]] [[TranquilFury emotionless]] or [[UnstoppableRage absolutely enraged]], but they will always, ''always'' terrify friend and foe alike with an unfiltered DeathGlare. When a hero fully reboots from this mode back into their standard operating procedure, PostVictoryCollapse usually kicks in, or the full-on HeroicBSOD may kick in after the direct danger to the hero and/or their companions has passed. It is often seen as the good counterpart of a VilliaousBreakdown.

Keeping the computing metaphor, some heroes have a hardier Operating System than the norm, which when faced with the HeroicBSOD instead enters [[TitleDrop Heroic Safe Mode]]. During this period the hero "shuts down" non-essential thought processes and focuses entirely on "fight or flight", hoping that when the danger is over they can "restart" in safety. Especially strong-willed heroes who go into Safe Mode while loved ones are in danger will usually [[HeroicResolve protect them]] to near-suicidal extremes. In other cases, they may wind up snapping at their own friends who try to push them ''out'' of Safe Mode. Luckily, these loved ones can usually push the restart button with a CooldownHug. They will (at ''best)'' [[TerseTalker talk in monosyllables]], become either [[TheStoic completely]] [[TranquilFury emotionless]] or [[UnstoppableRage absolutely enraged]], but they will always, ''always'' terrify friend and foe alike with an unfiltered DeathGlare. When a hero fully reboots from this mode back into their standard operating procedure, PostVictoryCollapse usually kicks in, or the full-on HeroicBSOD may kick in after the direct danger to the hero and/or their companions has passed.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', it is Zenitsu's sleeping trance mode, his method of temporarily eliminating his inner conflict esteemed from self-hatred: the extreme fear of dying fighting against demons on the front lines, but his sincere loyalty towards the few people who like him at all prevents the boy from running away; thus Zenitsu developed his sleeping trance, a way in which he can fight without fear, almost a SplitPersonality but in actuality it is the ideal hero version of himself Zenitsu doesn't have enough confidence to become quite yet, in the trance mode Zenitsu can fully committ to being a brave demon slayer without hindering himself, and when the trance wears off Zenitsu isn't aware of what just transpired, disassociating himself from the danger he wouldn't want to placed in normally.

*** Chapter 2, remastered version: In the face of an orc ambush, Kyril is surprised, yet doesn't shrink from the sudden assault. Instead, he immediately extends his Saw Cleaver, not even thinking of drawing anything else, and surges forward in a lone counter charge to cut down the orcs. The action is so sudden that it looks like a LeeroyJenkins from an outsider's perspective, except that he can [[SuperReflexes react to sudden situations that fast]]. This is not getting to how he remains expressionless even when bodies around him are being mangled and maimed by his cleaver, as well as how he merely looks around for any remaining threats with a DeathGlare after the ambush is over.