History Main / AllPowerfulBystander

* Uatu from MarvelComics, who's bound to exactly the degree of interference that makes the plot more interesting. He is part of an entire race of beings called ''The Watchers''. They are highly evolved and highly powerful but their roles are to... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin just watch.]] Even with the rare instances of Uatu doing anything at all, he's considered one of the more meddling members of his race.
** An to give you an idea of how powerful Watchers are, there have been a few Watchers that have gone insane and attacked, such as Aron the Rogue Watcher. When that happens, even the FantasticFour have to call in for help.

* Belial from ''{{Priest}}'' is this. A human who [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence descended to hell]] to continue fighting against the fallen angel that destroyed his life. [[AntiHero Ivan Isaacs]] traded Belial half his soul so he could fight the same fallen angel for the same reason Belial is fighting them.

Our heros might be good at what they do, but this person is on [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence another level altogether]]. For some reason, this makes [[TheGodsMustBeLazy them]] [[GoodIsImpotent useless]].

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* Kisuke Urahara definetely qualifies as an AllPowerfulBystander. He has incredible powers as a [[spoiler:former soul reaper]] and yet it seems that he prefers to sit by and let Ichigo and the others do all the work.

* Uatu from MarvelComics, who's bound to exactly the degree of interference that makes the plot more interesting.

* They're "not allowed". There are ''other'' {{All Powerful Bystander}}s out there, so any action they takes would be rendered null and void by an [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil equal and opposite reaction]] by one of them. Also, they would give the AllPowerfulBystander a smackdown if he tried.

* They doesn't really care. They're gods, not the universe's babysitter.

Our hero might be good at what he does, but this guy is on [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence another level altogether]]. For some reason, this makes [[TheGodsMustBeLazy him]] [[GoodIsImpotent useless]].

An AllPowerfulBystander is a being who is ''so'' powerful that it seems likely he could just solve the entire plot with a snap of the fingers. He is, effectively, {{God}}.

But he's not going to fix the problems facing the universe. Why? Well, there are a variety of reasons:

* He's "not allowed". There are ''other'' {{All Powerful Bystander}}s out there, so any action he takes would be rendered null and void by an [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil equal and opposite reaction]] by one of them. Also, they would give him a smackdown if he tried.
* He likes to see creatures expand and perhaps even ascend to his plane of existence ''at some point in time''
* [[GodIsEvil He enjoys the suffering.]]
* Everything he puts the Heroes and Villains through is part of a XanatosGambit of such subtlety and scope that [[InMysteriousWays mere mortals can't comprehend it]]. Whether or not anyone ever finds out the end result is iffy.
* He doesn't really care. He's a god, not the universe's babysitter.

Sometimes a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien, but most of the time, he's presented as something beyond the "simple" notion of an alien being.

Usually, he just shows up to give the hero a mission and some [[FigureItOutYourself cryptic advice]]. Often overlaps with the SpiritAdvisor.

The thing that distinguishes an AllPowerfulBystander from your run-of-the-mill SpiritAdvisor is that on ''very'' rare occasions, when you are really [[NothingCanSaveUsNow totally boned]], you might be able to [[PolitenessJudo persuade]], convince, or shame him into bailing you out. However, this usually comes at some tremendous price, and "the consequences are dire". Often, so dire that you end up wishing you'd [[FigureItOutYourself solved your problems yourself]].

Sometimes, the Bystander is also a TricksterMentor. His advice is no less cryptic, but is at least more interesting.

* The Ellimist in ''{{Animorphs}}'', both the TV series and the books.
** Let's not forget the his EvilCounterpart, Crayak. Whenever one of them wants to interfere with something, the other gets to as well.

* Everything he puts the Heroes and Villains through is part of a XanatosGambit of such subtlety and scope that [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness mere mortals can't comprehend it]]. Whether or not anyone ever finds out the end result is iffy.

** Kokonoe is a better example.

* Seijuro Hiko from ''RurouniKenshin'' taught the main character every sword skill he knows, except that, unlike Kenshin, Hiko's got the raw muscular power to use Hiten Mitsurigi style to its fullest, and doesn't bother with Kenshin's ThouShaltNotKill philosophy. [[WordOfGod The author stated ouright]] that Hiko was far too powerful for anyone else in the series to handle. That's why he was made too apathetic and anti-social to ever go after the {{Big Bad}}s himself.

** Justified in that he is MostlyDead. He only can really affect Clark, or people that happen to possess a Kryptonian artifact (or manage to enter the Fortress of Solitude).

* Lots of these in ''{{Planescape}}'', as it is set across the various homes of gods, demons, angels, and so on. The Lady of Pain stands out, as she is the absolute power in Sigil, and if she doesn't like how someone's affecting it--whether it's an upset of power among the factions, a god horning in on her territory, or even someone trying to worship her--they'll get flayed alive or sent to an inescapable Maze. However, there's the twist that she can never leave the city either, which is one of the reasons it's called the Cage.
** Less ''can't'' and more ''chooses not to''. The Lady has ''[[RageAgainstTheHeavens killed gods]]'', and not in the "epic battle of the ages" sense but in the "[[CurbstompBattle boom headshot]]" sense. Insisting that the Lady ''can't'' do something is tantamount to invitation to RocksFallEveryoneDies. The fact that she fillets even the people who ''worship her as a goddess'' seems to imply that she just wants to be left alone.
*** Less "can't" or "doesn't want to" and more "might or might not be able to" and "might or might not want to". The Lady is mysterious. No one knows what she is. She might even be [[RunningGag six giant squirrels with a headdress, robe, and ring of levitation and illusions]].
**** She's the DM's in-game avatar.

* The Valar in ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'', who could easily smite Mordor but instead send five minor powers, and tell them not to take direct action either. The last time the Valar took a direct hand, they half-wrecked the place and nearly wiped out the mortal races.

* Evangeline in MahouSenseiNegima. She's quite possibly the most powerful character to make an appearance yet (curbstomping a demon god and [[spoiler:Fate Averruncus, who [[MemeticBadass Rakan]] was only ''slightly'' better than]]) yet is completely disinterested in helping out. In fact, she stops the headmaster from interfering during Mahorafest and makes him sit on the sidelines and watch the events unfold!

*** Less "can't" or "doesn't want to" and more "might or might not be able to" and "might or might not want to". The Lady is mysterious. No one knows what she is. She might even be three squirrels with a costume and a wand of flaying and mazing.