History Main / JerkassRealization

-> '''Donkey''': "Oh and it is LOVELY. You know, you're really quite a decorator. It's amazing what you've done with such a modest budget. I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder."

A character is lecturing another character (usually a minor character or guest star) then somehow, either by someone else telling them the truth afterwards or the one they are lecturing breaking down and sobbing out the truth the character realizes that they have been a complete {{Jerkass}}.

Can also be when a {{The Reason You Suck Speech}} goes too far.

Also qualifies if a normally nice character is ripping into another character, not realizing that the character they are ripping on is in the room or listening.

Could be considered a minor version of {{My God What Have I Done}} and {{Heel Realization}}

Basic Example: A Boss is yelling at his employee about being late, then it is revealed somehow that his entire family has been killed by a drunk driver. Cue the viewer thinking, "Yep, you're a Jerkass"

* ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'': Say what you will about Matoko Ito, but he get's hit with his twice in the anime. [[spoiler: Though the second time it happens, he gets hit with a knife in the gut before he can actually make amends.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongebobSquarepants}}'' In the April Fools Day episode, Spongebob keeps pulling silly and (to Squidward) annoying pranks on everyonem (Such as not putting Ice in a customers drink, which Spongebob thinks is hilarious), Squidward then sets up a elaborate, physically painful and rather cruel prank on Spongebob that causes the latter to leave the Krusty Krab in tears, After all the customers leave, Squidward looks around and seems the damage his "harmless" prank did to the Krusty Krab and realizes he went to far.

** Done by almost the whole cast in "A Canterlot Wedding Part Two", after Twilight attempts to convince them Princess Cadence is evil, she is ignored and outright disowned by the rest of the reception. Ultimately Cadence [[spoiler: in reality, Queen Chrysalis in disguise]] reveals herself and takes over Ponyville, even going as far as to smugly tell off the ponies for ignoring Twilight and letting her plan go through, leading a solemn Applejack to apologize.

* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fluttershy]] has one in the episode "Putting Your Hoof Down." In the episode she took assertiveness lesson in order to quit being a [[ShrinkingViolet pushover,]] but took them too far and [[TookALevelInJerkAss became a jerk ass.]] She comes to her realization after brutally hurting her friends feelings.

* {{SpongbobSquarepants}} In the April Fools Day episode, Spongebob keeps pulling silly and (to Squidward) annoying pranks on everyonem (Such as not putting Ice in a customers drink, which Spongebob thinks is hilarious), Squidward then sets up a elaborate, physically painful and rather cruel prank on Spongebob that causes the latter to leave the Krusty Krab in tears, After all the customers leave, Squidward looks around and seems the damage his "harmless" prank did to the Krusty Krab and realizes he went to far.

8 ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongbobSquarepants}}'' In the April Fools Day episode, Spongebob keeps pulling silly and (to Squidward) annoying pranks on everyonem (Such as not putting Ice in a customers drink, which Spongebob thinks is hilarious), Squidward then sets up a elaborate, physically painful and rather cruel prank on Spongebob that causes the latter to leave the Krusty Krab in tears, After all the customers leave, Squidward looks around and seems the damage his "harmless" prank did to the Krusty Krab and realizes he went to far.

** A rather odd one in where JD has just revealed to the entire waiting room that he received a DUI last night. Cue flashback to a few minutes ago with [[SassyBlackWoman Nurse Roberts]] saying that a girl involved in an drunk driving accident had made it, but her mother had died. Another {{YMMV}} As the DUI wasn't really JD's fault.

* ''StargateSG1'' (Episode: Lifeboat) Daniel Jackson has become host for about a dozen different consciences (not sure if that's spelled right) and the team goes back to the planet where it happened, they find the person responsible and Sam pretty much orders him to remove the said consciences from Jackson's mind, thus killing them, theorizing that they are already dead. Then she finds out she just asked the man to kill his 10-year old son. Yep, Sam's a Jerkass.

** Dr. Cox is really annoyed by a quite frankly VERY annoying paramedic, even the audience hates are at this point, then he finally and gloriously goes off on her, telling her to go home to her son that she doesn't shut up about. Then another paramedic give Cox a baseball card from the Ambulance they had just left. Cox then remembers that she said it was her son's favorite card and he never went anywhere without it, also how he'll always be the age his is in her picture to her. If you haven't guessed it yet [[spoiler: Her son was killed after being hit by a car]], damn...

* ''WebOriginal/TheCinemaSnob'' In his review for ''TheZookeeper'', Jerrid blasts Jake for not showing up, thus forcing Jerrid to watch the movie. In the recent ''HarryPotter'' movie, Jake says the reason he didn't show up was because he had a huge family emergency. The audience also probably thought Jake was dipping out so it gets the audience with a Jerkass Realization, along with Jerrid's.

** Rainbow Dash learns it very fast in ''Hurricane Fluttershy'', realizing that her brusque manner of coaching and motivating the other pegusi is only terrifying her friend early in the episdoe, and makes an effort to be much calmer and praises her when she really improves, despite the improved to level still being a bit low.

* Say what you will about [[SchoolDays Matoko Ito]], but he get's hit with his twice in the anime. [[spoiler: Though the second time it happens, he gets hit with a knife in the gut before he can actually make amends.]]

* ''ArrestedDevelopment'' A rare moment when a character actually realizes that they've said something terrible:

* In Episode 2x04 of ''{{Glee}}'', [[MarySue Rachel Berry]] has a self-inflicted one of these when she finally realizes that her determination to win at everything and hog all the spotlight, all the time, has made her into a genuinely loathsome individual. She then spends the rest of the episode trying to lose at something so she can consider herself a good person again. Shame it doesn't last - by Episode 2x09 she's walking into class with her mouth taped up in protest over someone else being featured at Sectionals, and when her eternal rival Quinn Fabray hands her [[WhatTheHellHero an immensely satisfying talking-to]] about the selfish 'schoolgirl bubble' in which she lives her life in 2x15, all it inspires is a dreary self-justificatory whine set to music - but it was nice while it did...

* ''FinalFantasyX'' Tidus realizes that his suggestions for what they could do after Yuna completes her pilgrimage are rather cruel when [[spoiler: it turns out that summoning the [[SummonMagic final Aeon]] will kill her.]]

* ''TheCinemaSnob'' In his review for ''TheZookeeper'', Jerrid blasts Jake for not showing up, thus forcing Jerrid to watch the movie. In the recent ''HarryPotter'' movie, Jake says the reason he didn't show up was because he had a huge family emergency. The audience also probably thought Jake was dipping out so it gets the audience with a Jerkass Realization, along with Jerrid's.

* {{Futurama}} When Fry is sent to the future and can't go on his date with Leela, for years she thinks he stood her up. Then she gets the Video Card that fell out of the time machine, many years later. She then realizes she has been mad at him her entire life and it wasn't his fault.

* ''TheSimpsons'', Nelson points at his reflection and delivers his trademark laugh. He then remarks, "Hey, that hurts. No wonder no-one came to my birthday party."

* [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fluttershy]] has one in the episode "Putting Your Hoof Down." In the episode she took assertiveness lesson in order to quit being a [[ShrinkingViolet pushover,]] but took them too far and [[TookALevelInJerkAss became a jerk ass.]] She comes to her realization after brutally hurting her friends feelings.

* {{Futurama}} When Fry is sent to the future and can't go on his date with Leela, for years she thinks he stood her up. Then she gets the Video Card that fell out of the time machine, many years later. Sh then realizes she has been mad at him her entire life and it wasn't his fault.

** Worse one probably was when Ron was craning his neck to get a look at the Longbottom's beds, then he is told of the Longbottom's ''[[FateWorseThanDeath Conditon.]]''
** When Hermione is ''[[SoapboxSadie lecturing Harry again]]'' about his connection to Voldemort and makes the mistake of saying he likes it. Harry's {{Death Glare}} pretty much shuts her up and has her bending over backwards apologizing. {{YMMV}} if this is a true Jerkass Realization as she pretty much knew she was being one as soon as she said it.

** In the ''[[HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone first book]]'', after looking in the Mirror of Erised, Ron (who saw himself as {{The Ace}} in it) speculates as to whether it shows the future. Harry (who saw himself surrounded by his family) reminds him that his parents are dead

** An odd sort of one that made the readers a Yep, I'm a Jerkass, when [[spoiler:Snape's true motivations are revealed]], his naysayers took a big hit. As did Harry Himself.

** Raiden:
--->''"The fate of billions will depend upon you. Heh heh heh heh! ...sorry."''
*** Rare Humorous Jerkass Realization.

** Donkey:
-->''"I like that boulder, that is nice boulder"
** Another Shrek one is where Shrek mistakenly thinks Fiona is talking about him when she says "Big. Stupid, Ugly Beast", he is very rude to her the following day. Donkey sets him straight later though.

-->''"The fate of billions will depend upon you. Heh heh heh heh! ...sorry."''

** Another Shrek one is where Shrek mistakingly thinks Fiona is talking about him when she says "Big. Stupid, Ugly Beast", he is very rude to her the following day. Donkey sets him straight later though.

** The [[spoiler: Magical Maintence man the trio forced to leave was there to be with his wife when she had to go up against Umbridge and the [[FantasticRacism Anti-Muggle trial]],]] cue Jerkass Realization.

* ''StargateSG1'' (Episode: Lifeboat) Daniel Jackson has become host for about a dozen different consciences (not sure if thats spelled right) and the team goes back to the planet where it happened, they find the person responsible and Sam pretty much orders him to remove the said consciences from Jackson's mind, thus killing them, theorizing that they are already dead. Then she finds out she just asked the man to kill his 10-year old son. Yep, Sam's a Jerkass.

** [[spoiler: After JD's father passes away]], JD gets mad at Cox, Cox narrowly averts this trope by getting mad at JD but immiedietly feeling like a Jerkass, [[spoiler: as he knows JD's father has died]]. Then Ted joins in the taunting of JD, Ted asks why are they clapping and Dr Cox says, "[[spoiler: His dad died]], dammit...." Ted then immidietly stops clapping. Ted, You're a Jerkass.

* ''{{NCIS}}'' When Mcgee's sister is a suspect, Gibbs asks her if she was planning on being a writer like her brother. She says "I plan on being a [[SarcasmMode writer]]". Really, you're brother just [[BigBrotherInstinct resigned]] for you cause they wanted to lecture him for protecting you! Yeah, a true You're a Jerk.

* In Episode 2x04 of ''{{Glee}}'', [[MarySue Rachel Berry]] has a self-inflicted one of these when she finally realises that her determination to win at everything and hog all the spotlight, all the time, has made her into a genuinely loathesome individual. She then spends the rest of the episode trying to lose at something so she can consider herself a good person again. Shame it doesn't last - by Episode 2x09 she's walking into class with her mouth taped up in protest over someone else being featured at Sectionals, and when her eternal rival Quinn Fabray hands her [[WhatTheHellHero an immensiely satisfying talking-to]] about the selfish 'schoolgirl bubble' in which she lives her life in 2x15, all it inspires is a dreary self-justificatory whine set to music - but it was nice while it did...

* {{Futurama}} When Fry is sent to the future and can't go on his date with Leela, for years she thinks he stood her up. Then she gets the Video Card that fell out of the time machine, many years later. Sh then realizes she has been mad at hime her entire life and it wasn't his fault.

-> Donkey
-->''"Whoa. Look at that. Who'd wanna live in a place like that?!"''
-> Shrek
-->''"That would be my home"''
-> Donkey
--> ''"Oh and it is LOVELY. You know, you're really quite a decorator. It's amazing what you've done with such a modest budget. I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder."''

** In the ''[[HarryPotter/{{ptitlexgrkh7ma}} first book]]'', after looking in the Mirror of Erised, Ron (who saw himself as {{The Ace}} in it) speculates as to whether it shows the future. Harry (who saw himself surrounded by his family) reminds him that his parents are dead

* ''TheSimpsons'', Nelson points at his reflection and delivers his trademark laugh. He then remarks, "Hey, that hurts. No wonder no-one came to my birthday party."