History Main / LovableCoward

Generally, what distinguishes the Lovable Coward from his far more vicious cousin is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt honesty]]. While the Dirty Coward acts intimidating and cruel when in control of the situation, only revealing his true yellow streak when he realizes the possibility of being injured or killed, the Lovable Coward admits up front he's not the person you want watching your back in a dangerous situation, and tries to avoid being forced into a situation where others have to suffer for his lack of valor. If his friends get set on going to the [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Doomed Valley of the Eternal Torment]], he advocates that maybe [[OnlySaneMan it's a good plan to avoid anywhere in the same country from then on]] and, if critical that he goes, will actually tag along ([[SourSupporter heavily armored, and grumbling]]). Alternately, the Lovable Coward could have standards. [[WhatYouAreInTheDark If offered the opportunity,]] he may demonstrate his loyalty outweighs his fear of the situation, terrified but still helping nayway.

If he becomes renowned for his "heroism", the pride never goes to his head, and even if he only [[FakeUltimateHero admits it internally]], he's the first one to openly sing the praises of the actual heroes and may even grow [[HeroicSelfDeprecation depressed]] they're not the ones enjoying his fame. Ultimately, the Lovable Coward is never a [[TheBully bully]]; whereas the Dirty Coward gleefully takes any opportunity to flaunt and abuse any security he has, the Lovable Coward generally takes the opportunity that safety provides to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the sensation of death being something very, very far away.


Contrast: DirtyCoward, TheSoCalledCoward, and MilesGloriosus. See also CowardlyLion.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Series/TheMagnificentSeven1998'', Ezra freely admits that he's a coward, but always comes back to save his teammates and do the right thing.
* In ''Series/Maverick'', Bret, Bart, and Beau (mostly Bret) are all self-avowed cowards, but end up doing the right thing... eventually.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action Television]]

* J-Hope from Music/{{BTS}} is quick to scare at all kinds of things, but "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSlw12G9vJc the zombie episode]]" of their variety show ''Series/RunBTS'' took this UpToEleven.

Generally, what distinguishes the Lovable Coward from his far more vicious cousin is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt honesty]]. While the Dirty Coward acts intimidating and cruel when in control of the situation, only revealing his true yellow streak when he realizes the possibility of being injured or killed, the Lovable Coward admits up front he's not the person you want watching your back in a dangerous situation, and tries to avoid being forced into a situation where others have to suffer for his lack of valor. If his friends get set on going to the [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Doomed Valley of the Eternal Torment]], he advocates that maybe [[OnlySaneMan it's a good plan to avoid anywhere in the same country from then on]] and, if critical that he goes, will actually tag along ([[SourSupporter heavily armored, and grumbling]]). If he becomes renowned for his "heroism", the pride never goes to his head, and even if he only [[FakeUltimateHero admits it internally]], he's the first one to openly sing the praises of the actual heroes and may even grow [[HeroicSelfDeprecation depressed]] they're not the ones enjoying his fame. Ultimately, the Lovable Coward is never a [[TheBully bully]]; whereas the Dirty Coward gleefully takes any opportunity to flaunt and abuse any security he has, the Lovable Coward generally takes the opportunity that safety provides to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the sensation of death being something very, very far away.

[[quoteright:251:[[Franchise/ScoobyDoo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sd9_4730.JPG]]]]

* In ''Series/The MagnificentSeven1998'', Ezra freely admits that he's a coward, but always comes back to save his teammates and do the right thing.

Generally, what distinguishes the Lovable Coward from his far more vicious cousin is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt honesty]]. While the Dirty Coward acts intimidating and cruel when in control of the situation, only revealing his true yellow streak when he realizes the possibility of being injured or killed, the Lovable Coward admits up front he's not the person you want watching your back in a dangerous situation, and tries to avoid being forced into a situation where others have to suffer for his lack of valor. If his friends get set on going to the [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Doomed Valley of the Eternal Torment]], he advocates that maybe [[OnlySaneMan it's a good plan to avoid anywhere in the same country from then on]] and, if critical that he goes, will actually tag along (heavily armored, and grumbling). If he becomes renowned for his "heroism", the pride never goes to his head, and even if he only [[FakeUltimateHero admits it internally]], he's the first one to openly sing the praises of the actual heroes and may even grow [[HeroicSelfDeprecation depressed]] they're not the ones enjoying his fame. Ultimately, the Lovable Coward is never a [[TheBully bully]]; whereas the Dirty Coward gleefully takes any opportunity to flaunt and abuse any security he has, the Lovable Coward generally takes the opportunity that safety provides to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the sensation of death being something very, very far away.

* LovableCoward/WebComics

* In ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'', Nick Wilde is a {{Downplayed}} example. This aspect of his personality is not prominent most of the time, but is notable in the scene where he and Judy are investigating [[spoiler: the secret facility in the abandoned Cliffside Asylum]], where first he is too scared to open the door and makes Judy go through first, then shortly afterward reacts to the sight of [[spoiler: an savage tiger]] by running behind her. This is all PlayedForLaughs in a way that is clearly meant to be endearing and was likely introduced to [[spoiler:offset the rather dark and creepy atmosphere of the asylum.]]

* The error-prone inept [[spoiler:and immortal]] wizard Schmendrick from ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' was not only a LovableCoward but found himself in the role of the AccidentalHero, until the more conventional hero and KnightInShiningArmor Prince Lir turned up in the latter half of the story. Both Schmendrick and Lir were uncommonly GenreSavvy; they knew what roles fate had destined them to play, to the point of [[spoiler:Lir's HeroicSacrifice to save the unicorn from King Haggard's monstrous Red Bull]].