This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Working Title: Lovable Coward: From YKTTW
Kongming: So... What, exactly, is the difference between this and Dirty Coward? They seem like the same trope to me, with the only distinction being the subjective criterion of likability. Subjectively, I would consider a few of the examples in Dirty Coward to fall under this trope, notably Harry Flashman. Likewise, I'm not sure Zapp Brannigan is a subversion of the Lovable Coward so much as just a Dirty one.
Anonymous Mc Cartneyfan: Dirty Coward is explicitly defined as a villain. There needs to be a trope for people who are not villains but who are, nonetheless, actual cowards.
[Later] I do agree that Zapp Brannigan is a Dirty Coward and not a Lovable one. Cut his entry and put it here.
- Zapp Brannigan of Futurama is a bit of a deconstruction. He shares many characteristics with Captain Jack Sparrow, but comes across as utterly detestable (except for the one moment we see how truly pathetic he really is).
Eponymous Kid: D'oh... But if Flashman, a pompous, cowardly skirt-chaser, is an example, why isn't a pompous, cowardly skirt-chaser like Brannigan?
Kongming: Anonymous MCF, Dirty Coward isn't explicitly defined as a villain, actually. The description merely says that they're usually villains. What's more, most of the examples don't gel with this definition, because a lot of them (Flashman, Shinji, Rincewind, the Spathi, Jack Sparrow, and probably a few more of the ones I'm not familiar with) aren't villainous. Four of those are out-and-out protagonists, even. Eponymous Kid, the thing that separates Harry Flashman and Zapp Brannigan IMO is that Flashman is quite clever and common-sense. Zapp is completely idiotic. I also would not say Flashman is pompous, at least not inside his own head. Anyway, I don't really want to argue about this. My point was just that I think there's a lot of subjectivity in the supposed differences between this trope and Dirty Coward.
Removed this:
- Mr Pink from Reservoir Dogs. Although Your Mileage May Vary when it comes to the "lovable" part, it can be safely said that his behaviour (like hiding during the climatic Mexican Standoff and then running away) is the most logical course of action.
Mr. Pink isn't cowardly. He does all sorts of things throughout the movie that a coward wouldn't do. The reason he runs off during the standoff is because it doesn't concern him. The only options were stand there and watch, join in, or run away.
