History Main / DrunkWithPower

* In ''Manga/Beastars'', [[spoiler:bears must take a FantasticDrug and honey in order to suppress their bodies from HulkingOut, at which point they become DrunkWithPower and become violent enough to go feral. Riz from the Drama Club has too much strength while calmed down, but if he goes over the limit, he becomes a beast.]]

* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'': The [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil Public Safety Commission]], while once a good, necessary institution, has devolved into a band of {{yakuza}}-style thugs who abuse their authority to make the students' lives miserable. However, it's heavily implied that at least some of their corruption was the result of their leader Kuyou, an [[ANaziByAnyOtherName anti-human]] [[KnightTemplar extremist]] who is ultimately revealed to have been [[spoiler: TheMole for [[FarEastAsianTerrorists Fairy]] [[AntiHumanAlliance Tale]]]] all along.

It's a FaceHeelTurn, but usually a very minor and temporary one; usually, the newly promoted tyrant's conduct will result in either everyone being fired for breathing or quitting ''en masse'' in protest, just in time for a fresh crisis that plunges the tyrant completely out of their depth, resulting in much humiliation as they either have to go crawling back to everyone they've just been bullying to meekly ask them to come back and help them fix things before the boss arrives, or for the boss to actually arrive (often unexpectedly early) only to see exactly what chaos has resulted in their absence.

If this is applied to a lot of people (mostly humans) and in a longer state, then this trope often became the greatest justifications that HumansAreBastards or HumansAreTheRealMonsters, since men often fall in to their darker natures and it is so tempting to just indulge on their newfound power at cost of everything else without them caring, justifying aliens or whatever non-human species (regardless if they were also bastards or not) to declare war against humans, as they are so prone of getting destructively DrunkWithPower.

* ''Anime/MagicalProjectS'': Eimi, the hall guardian of her school, is constantly enforcing the rules (even outside school or when close of dangerous situations) to the point that when she gets superpowers, she still enforces the school rules.

* Happened in the ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'' episode ''The Seven Days of Fire''. The Chief Mechanic goes on vacation and leaves his Number 2 in charge; shortly after he found the mechanics' massive PornStash, burned it and began imposing ludicrous restrictions on them. This kicks off what amounts to a civil war, with warring factions forming and dissolving left and right (although no faction ever had numbers in the double digits) until the Chief comes back a week later and puts an end to it.

* An interpretation of Light Yagami in ''Manga/DeathNote''. After using the notebook twice, he develops a god complex and becomes a remorseless, vindictive murderer who stops at nothing to rid the world of criminals and remake it in his image. But when he temporarily loses his memory of everything he's done while acting as Kira in a MemoryGambit, he immediately becomes a righteous NiceGuy who despises Kira's twisted, narcisstic brand of "justice", and is genuinely dedicated to finding and arresting Kira alongside L and the task force.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'', [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Copper Who Doesn't Do Anything]] Fred Colon finds himself the most senior officer in the Watch after Vimes, Carrot, and Angua all go to {{Uberwald}} for the book's A-plot. The normally laid-back Sgt. Colon almost immediately snaps under the pressure and becomes the authoritarian and paranoid ''Captain'' Colon, firing and demoting people left right and centre and causing the rest of the Watch to go on strike. He's an unusually sympathetic example in some ways, however, as he ''knew'' he was out of his depth and his behaviour is as much a book-long FreakOut as it is this trope. Besides, you can't help but feel for poor Fred when it occurs to him that Commander Vimes will be coming ''back'' at some point and will not be at all amused when he sees what's been going on in his absence... [[spoiler:Carrot gets to the Watch House first, Sam being somewhat preoccupied with Sybil's big news, and apparently manages to sort it all out.]]

* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'': Rosco was already one of the show's villains, due to his never-ending desire to catch the series' protagonists and his alignment with the corrupt Boss Hogg. But give him money – $10 million, to be exact – and Rosco turns from the inept, Wile E. Coyote lawman to a power-hungry, money crazed despot. (Well, not really a despot, but...) That's exactly what happens in Season 4's "The $10 Million Sheriff", where Rosco thinks that he's inherited a fortune, hires a criminal to hunt down Bo and Luke (in exchange for a $100,000 payoff)... and most tellingly insults Boss and wipes him out in a rigged poker game. The trope is quickly ended when Rosco finds out he didn't really inherit $10 million.

* ''Series/{{Grimm}}'': [[spoiler:Juliette]] is somehow turned into a Hexenbeist from an alchemy experiment, giving her psychic powers and a were-zombie face. As she uses her powers (especially to kill in self-defense), she grows more unhinged and less people (including Nick) like being around her. Then she ''snaps'' when [[spoiler:she discovers Adiland is pregnant with Nick's baby]], causing her to betray the team, burn the trailer down, and join the Royals out of spite. It takes [[spoiler:being ''killed'', reincarnated as a new personality, and then healed of her sociopathy with a magic stick]] for her to return to some semblance of sanity.

** It doesn't show too often, but Tim at least privately sees himself as the dictator of [[ShowWithinAShow Tool Time]]. Showcased with his constantly threatening to fire Al, his reactions anytime Binford sticks him with any kind of producer, and most evident in the final season when he lets Mark create a segment to show off his finished hotrod - "There's just three rules: My show. My show. My show.".

** In one of the several instances of 'Frank in charge', there was a downplayed example when Frank decides that the medical staff is getting too alcohol-dependent, and declares the 4077 'dry'. He's a jerk about it, overbearing and shows all the signs of the trope... ''but'' it becomes clear as it goes along that Frank is more-or-less ''right''. Hawkeye and Trapper even find themselves asking themselves in horror if Frank has a point after they almost tear into each other over something trivial from booze withdrawal.
** It reaches an extreme with Frank when after being left in command he brings Pierce up on mutiny charges (which is a capital offense). After all sides are heard, the court marshal board concludes that Frank should have never been left in command, and had he not been drafted as a doctor he would have been assigned as a pastry chef.
** Frank's replacement, Charles Winchester, went another way: when presented with power, he didn't lord it over the camp. He mainly used it as an excuse to drink more and get extra time off his shift, and the rest of the camp ran as efficiently as ever. However, in one episode ("Tell It to the Marines") Winchester assumes command in Potter's absence and turns Klinger into his personal valet.
** Examined in "Commander Pierce". While Hawkeye does start acting authoritarian and in the way he normally despises officers' behaving, it's clear that it's because he's discovering the real problems and headaches of command in the absence of Potter and incapacity of Winchester. As CO he can't afford to only look at his own problems anymore, he has to consider the needs of the unit... and suddenly he finds himself doing the stuff he hated in previous commanders.

* A calling card in Wrestling/{{AAA}}. From co-founder Wrestling/{{Konnan}}, to company owner Joaquin's son Dorian Roldan down to referee Hijo del Tirantes, there seems to be no one in any authoritative position that isn't susceptible to the trap of unwarranted self-importance.

* [[spoiler:Wheatley]] from ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' demonstrates this once you reach the midpoint of the game, when [[spoiler: the player helps him take over [=GLaDOS=]' chassis]], repeatedly commenting on the newfound grandeur. That's swiftly followed by [[EvilLaugh a maniacal laugh,]] [[TheCaligula accusing you of sabotaging and belittling him the entire time,]] [[FaceHeelTurn and then punching you down an elevator shaft.]] Once in power, his "great ideas" lead to [[spoiler:the facility coming within five minutes of exploding.]] And, in the end, [[spoiler:he's genuinely sorry for being such a jerk, and apologises to the player character. Too bad she'll never hear it, since he's now in space.]]

* The ''Skyrim'' GameMod ''VideoGame/{{Falskaar}}'' shows this with Yngvarr, the BigBad who eventually amasses enough power that he clearly relishes the brutality he subsequently inflicts. The same applies for side-quest villain Vernan, who gains magical power and goes insane in the process.

* ''VideoGame/Persona5'' follows a group of teenaged [[PhantomThief Phantom Thieves]] as they target adults who abuse their positions of power and authority while making others suffer. Their targets include (but are not limited to) a high school volleyball coach and former Olympian who physically abuses students while perving on female students, a renowned artist who plagiarizes the works of his pupils, and a CEO who works his employees to the point of physical illness.

** Thirdly in ''Mario Gets Woke'', he gets hold of the Youtube Remote that can bend the target to the user's will. It doesn't bade well and caused a lot of chaos, [[UpToEleven barely after getting his hands on it]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BumpInTheNight'' has an episode called ''Farewell 2 Arms''. It features Molly Coddle getting her arm ripped of. After that, she gets new arms with the help of Bumpy and Squishington. Then she slowly becomes more [[spoiler:evil]] for someone with a last name which is Coddle. After that, she wants [[HeelFaceTurn MR. BUMPY'S HEAD!]]

** In one episode, Bart's newfound interest in law-enforcement sees him team up with Principal Skinner to rapidly become a fascistic hall-monitor, at roughly the same time that Lisa, disillusioned after being told she'll never be a jazz musician, becomes the school rebel. In order to save Lisa from being expelled after she steals the teacher's copies of all the school textbooks, Bart reverts to his old ways.

-->"Have you ever tried going mad without power? It's boring. Nobody listens to you."

* An interpretation of Light Yagami in ''Manga/DeathNote'', after using the notebook twice he develops a god complex and becomes a remorseless sociopath who stops at nothing to rid the world of criminals. But when he temporarily loses his memory he decides that the mysterious SerialKillerKiller known as "Kira" is a monster and works to stop him, until he lays hand on the Death Note again and regains his memories of using it before.

Often found in the WorkCom. WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity and AGodAmI are this to the extreme. See DrunkOnTheDarkSide for the superpower equivalent. When it occurs due to elevated expectations and wedding-related stress, see {{Bridezilla}}. Compare AcquiredSituationalNarcissism, NewAbilityAddiction, AmbitionIsEvil, ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney See ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem for when someone tries to justify their actions even when their position ''does not'' give them authority to do so.

* ''Film/BruceAlmighty'': Subverted in that he doesn't exactly change much after gaining the power -- he's the same clueless jerkass he was, but with the power of God, so naturally he causes damage, even without wanting it.

* You've probably met a moderator or admin from any number of message boards that acted like this, often accompanied by a [[AGodAmI not-so-sarcastic god complex]] if not a [[SmallNameBigEgo not-so-sarcastic hero complex]], [[ForumPeckingOrder vehement belief in a caste system for said message board]], and a sadistic satisfaction for tormenting and banning "noobs" for the flimsiest of reasons.

Often found in the WorkCom. WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity and AGodAmI are this to the extreme. See DrunkOnTheDarkSide for the superpower equivalent. When it occurs due to elevated expectations and wedding-related stress, see {{Bridezilla}}. Compare AcquiredSituationalNarcissism, NewAbilityAddiction, AmbitionIsEvil, ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney. See ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem for when someone tries to justify their actions even when their position ''does not'' give them authority to do so.

* You've probably met a moderator or admin from any number of message boards that acted like this, often accompanied by a [[AGodAmI not-so-sarcastic god complex]] if not a [[SmallNameBigEgo not-so-sarcastic hero complex]], [[ForumPeckingOrder vehement belief in a caste system for said message board]], and [[SuffersNewbiesPoorly a sadistic satisfaction for tormenting and banning "noobs" for the flimsiest of reasons.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' featured an episode where Steve became the school announcer, but the power went to his head, and caused him to believe whatever he said came true. ''Everyone'' who used the intercom in the episode eventually went mad with power. ''Everyone''.
** Even after they were on the intercom ''for just a few seconds.''

** When it turns out Patrick is a descendant of royalty, he begins taking anything he wants and acting like a tyrannical king. When [=SpongeBob=] lampshades how much of a jerk he's become, Patrick doesn't realize he's right until he sees himself in the mirror and notices that he's literally turning into a monster.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'': In "Fragments", Steven becomes unrestrained and impulsive after training with Jasper for 3 days. [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder It doesn't end well.]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'': In ''Fragments'', Steven becomes unrestrained and impulsive after training with Jasper for 3 days. [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder It doesn't end well.]]]]

They've become [[TitleDrop Drunk with Power]].

* In season 5 of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', Sister tells the Reds that she was sent to join their team because their leader is dead (Much to their confusion, as Sarge is still alive) and that one of the normal soldiers would be promoted. Simmons eagerly jumps at the opportunity and establishes himself as the new CO, leading to this exchange;

* Played for laughs in ''Videogame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'', where the Big Bad Government Guy goes mad with power upon obtaining the titular Stick of Truth... AKA, a prop in a children's game that the kids treat as a Macguffin of ultimate power (IE, whoever holds it [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem get to make up the rules of said children's game]]).

They've become Drunk with Power.

Often found in the WorkCom. WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity and AGodAmI are this to the extreme. See DrunkOnTheDarkSide for the superpower equivalent. When it occurs due to elevated expectations and wedding-related stress, see {{Bridezilla}}. Compare AcquiredSituationalNarcissism, NewAbilityAddiction, AmbitionIsEvil and ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney. See ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem for when someone tries to justify their actions even when their position ''does not'' give them authority to do so.

* Pity the poor soul who puts Eric Cartman of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' in a position of (as he calls it) "authorituh." The first time it happened was when he was deputized, and he quickly becomes a RogueCop, patrolling the streets on his Big Wheel tricycle and bludgeoning anyone who looks at him funny. In a more extreme example, when he played Stonewall Jackson in a [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Civil War]] reenactment, he nearly succeeds in reestablishing the Confederacy. And then there's the time he formed a Mel Gibson fan club and nearly started another holocaust.

** Semi-averted in "Commander Pierce". While Hawkeye does start acting authoritarian and in the way he normally despises officers' behaving, it's clear that it's because he's discovering the real problems and headaches of command in the absence of Potter and incapacity of Winchester. As CO he can't afford to only look at his own problems anymore, he has to consider the needs of the unit... and suddenly he finds himself doing the stuff he hated in previous commanders.

** In one of the several instances of 'Frank in charge', there was a partial aversion when Frank decides that the medical staff is getting too alcohol-dependent, and declares the 4077 'dry'. He's a jerk about it, overbearing and shows all the signs of the trope... ''but'' it becomes clear as it goes along that Frank is more-or-less ''right''. Hawkeye and Trapper even find themselves asking themselves in horror if Frank has a point after they almost tear into each other over something trivial from booze withdrawal.
*** It reaches an extreme with Frank when after being left in command he brings Pierce up on mutiny charges (which is a capital offense). After all sides are heard, the court marshal board concludes that Frank should have never been left in command, and had he not been drafted as a doctor he would have been assigned as a pastry chef.

* This is James Ironwood's character arc in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''; his story is that no matter how [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned one thinks they are]], unchecked power and authority will corrupt them. As both headmaster of Atlas Academy and general of its army, Ironwood has two seats on his kingdom's council, giving him major pull in his kingdom's government. Following the Fall of Beacon, he uses those two seats to shut down the kingdom's borders and withdraw foreign aid in a desperate bid to circumvent Salem's plans- [[FailureHero Not that any of it works, mind you]], and in some cases [[UnwittingPawn actually enables her.]] His opponents outright call him a dictator who is abusing his authority, and allies worry that Ironwood is [[HeWhoFightsMonsters taking things too far]]. Throughout Volume 7, Ironwood continually clamps down on the rights of the citizens, and by the end of the Volume, has decided to declare martial law and raise Atlas' floating capital into the atmosphere to escape the Grimm, fully aware- and unconcerned with -that doing so will be leaving everyone else to die.

* In the second act of ''Film/TheFly1986'', Seth Brundle has in the wake of successfully teleporting himself become much stronger, as well as more energetic and virile. He believes that this is because the teleporter also "purifies" those who go through it, meaning his invention is even more remarkable than he ever could have imagined it would be, and also that he is now a superhuman. When his lover Veronica refuses to be teleported herself, he is furious with her for not wanting to be like him. He storms out in search of a lover who ''will'' undergo the process, and almost succeeds by force, stopped only by Veronica, who has realized that something is wrong with Seth not only because he was so sweetly {{Adorkable}} before, but because his skin is looking progressively worse and odd hairs are growing out of his back. He rages at her and near-tosses her out of his loft/lab...but as he actually takes a good look at himself in the bathroom mirror, he realizes ''his fingernails are coming loose'' too. Realizing his body is actually in a state of decay, he soon gets the InternalReveal that he was genetically fused with a stray fly when he teleported himself -- all of the changes in him reflect that he is a HalfHumanHybrid undergoing a SlowTransformation. With that, his power trip is replaced by cold fear.