History Main / NumberTwo

* On ''ParksAndRecreation'', Leslie Knope is Number Two to Ron Swanson, director of the Parks and Rec department.
** Her title may be that of a Number Two, but she's the only one getting anything done, since Ron has admitted on camera that he hates government, and plays the ObstructiveBureaucrat to the hilt.

* This rotates over the game in LegendOfDragoon:

* Levi from ''AttackOnTitan'' is this to Commander Erwin, who is one of the few people Levi respects. Though that doesn't exempt Erwin from Levi's rudeness.

* The ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series has a wide and ever-changing variety of these due to having LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters (who are often given [[AnyoneCanDie suprisingly little]] PlotArmor). In the first book, Captain Harrington's Number Two is Alistair [=McKeon=], who starts as an embittered CommanderContrarian [[hottip:*: he fully expected to be promoted to Captain and take command of the ''Fearless'', except the far-younger Harrington was transferred in to fill the post instead]] before he finally steps up as TheLancer.

->''"Finally we come to my number two man. His name...[[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep Number Two]]."''

* In ''SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'', Tetsuya is this to the Hagane's Captain Daitetsu, and Sean is this to the Hiryu's Captain Lefina. Sadly, due to SixthRanger rules, the only counterpart to the Kurogane's Captain-slash-AcePilot [[strike:Elzam]] Ratsel is some nameless mook with his eyes obscured. [[spoiler:After Daitetsu's death, Tetsuya takes over as TheCaptain and Eita becomes his Number Two.]]

Not to be confused with [[Script/NumberTwo the original script]] for Film/BackToTheFuture Part II.

The right-hand man of TheLeader, or second in command. Usually TheLancer and a {{Foil}}. Generally takes over the "ship" when TheCaptain wants to be off doing [[BuffySpeak non-Captainy things.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', Astrid falls immediately into this role with her usual talent as Hiccup and his dragon riders fly in to fight the Green Death, particularly when Hiccup disembarks to free Toothless the Dragon.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. Never outright stated in the show, but Cyborg seems to function as leader whenever Robin is AWOL or otherwise unable to lead, e.g the season one finale.

* In ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Zack is Jason's second.

* In ''Law and Order: SpecialVictimsUnit'' season nine premier Captain Cragian had to leave and Munch took his place.

* Herc Hansen to Stacker Pentecost in ''PacificRim''. It makes sense seeing how both of them were piloted Mark-1 Jaegers and were likely good friends. Taken further when [[spoiler: after Pentecost's HeroicSacrifice, Herc becomes the new Marshall.]]

[[folfer:Fan Fiction]]

* In ''[[MassEffect1 Mass Effect]]'', Commander Shepard starts out as [[BigGood Captain Anderson's]] Executive Officer on the ''Normandy'' [=SR-1=]. Once s/he's given command of the ''Normandy'', Navigator Pressley becomes XO.
** In ''MassEffect2'', Miranda Lawson serves as XO on the ''Normandy'' [=SR-2=], as well as acting as Shepard's [[TheHandler Handler]]. Jacob Taylor and Garrus Vakarian can act as unofficial Number Twos, if you're so inclined.
*** Garrus seems to be the biggest contender here, having the same attitude as a Paragade Shepard, being a leader in his own right, and in canon traveling with Shepard through the entire series. By ''MassEffect3'', the Turians are essentially treating Garrus as their Shepard.
** In ''MassEffect3'', Liara takes over as the unofficial XO of the ''Normandy'', uses her new position as [[spoiler: the Shadow Broker]] to aid in gathering war-assets, while coordinating with the Alliance on the progress of [[spoiler: the Crucible project]].

* Colonel Andrea Stavros, played by Anthony Quinn, in ''TheGunsOfNavarone''.

* {{franchise/Homestuck}}: Diamonds Droog was Spade Slick/Jack Noir's second in command. [[spoiler: When Slick recruits the Felt, Crowbar becomes the new second in command.]]

* Fuyutsuki plays this role in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'', typically being left in charge at the drop of a hat (or an Angel) and it's notably rare for both himself and Commander Ikari to be absent (almost as notable as it is for Ikari to be present).

** And from other pirate groups, we have Marco, who is this to Whitebeard. Silvers Rayleigh to Gold Roger. Brook was like this to his previous captain, before circumstances forced him into becoming Captain himself. Killer to Kid. Every other first mate counts.

** And from other pirate groups, we have Marco, who is this to Whitebeard. Silvers Rayleigh to Gold Roger. Brook was like this to his previous captain. Bepo to Trafalgar Law. Killer to Kid. Every other first mate counts.

Number Two is the right-hand man of TheLeader, second in command. Usually TheLancer and a {{Foil}}. Generally takes over the "ship" when TheCaptain wants to be off doing [[BuffySpeak non-Captainy things.]]

The evil bad guy version of Number Two is TheDragon, who's second in charge to the BigBad. Sometimes gets "promoted" to CommanderContrarian. The dimwit version is NumberTwoForBrains.