History Main / OpposedMentors

* A number of characters have these in ''Manga/{{Vagabond}}''. For example, the way MiyamotoMusashi approaches being a swordsman is influenced both by his father (who coveted his title of "Invincible Martial Artist" but was driven into a a paranoid, TriggerHappy state because of it, convinced that [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt everyone would try to kill him to claim that title for themselves]]... including his 12 year old son) and by mentor figures he encounters along his journey, like the practical RetiredBadass monk In'ei, and philosophical OldMaster Yagyu Muneyoshi, who has renounced violence in his old age.
** Musashi's great rival SasakiKojiro also has opposed mentors. First is his adopted father Jisai, who frantically tries to keep Kojiro away from the dangerous life of a swordsman, (despite being a skilled OldMaster himself) and then there's the half crazy BloodKnight Ito Ittosai, who knows only too well how to bring out Kojiro's inner BloodKnight.

Ways mentors can be opposed include, but are by no means limited to: training regimes (WaxOnWaxOff versus TrainingFromHell), ethics (WithGreatPower verses MightMakesRight), choice of techniques (MagicVersusScience or FighterMageThief can both be a source of duality), whether talent matters (HardWorkHardlyWorks and TheGift versus TrainingFromHell) and progress ([[ObsoleteMentor the new ways]] versus the GoodOldWays).

* The second ''Film/TheKarateKid'' movie has the main character pick up an EvilMentor after an argument with Miyagi.

* The second ''KarateKid'' movie has the main character pick up an EvilMentor after an argument with Miyagi.

* In ''LifeOfPi'' the title character has two mentors, [[OneSteveLimit both named Mr. Kumar]]: the first is an uneducated but devout Muslim shopkeeper while the other is Pi's intelligent, atheistic science teacher. Despite their antithetical worldviews they actually get along well the one time they happen to meet each other, and Pi, whose two main interests are religion and animals, doesn't seem to feel conflicted between them.

* In ''{{Skyrim}}'' you have the choice of being backed by the Greybeards (who are {{Actual Pacifist}}s) and the Blades (who want to slay every single dragon in existence). In the end [[spoiler: The Blades ask you to kill the dragon who served as the mentor to the Greybeards, forcing you to choose one side or the other.]] Neither side is shown as better or worse than the other.

''"Two tigers can't rule the same mountain."''

* In ''TheLifeOfPi'' the title character has two mentors, [[OneSteveLimit both named Mr. Kumar]]: the first is an uneducated by devoutly Muslim shopkeeper while the other is Pi's scholarly, atheistic science teacher. Despite their antithetical worldviews they actually get along well the one time they happen to meet each other.

* In ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara and Toph have ''very'' different opinions on how Aang should be trained. Katara, his [[MakingASplash waterbending teacher]] goes for the soft, encouraging, positive attitude, while Toph, his [[DishingOutDirt earthbending teacher]], prefers the rougher, blunter, drill sergeant style. This culminates in an interesting mud-fight scene between the two.

** FridgeLogic makes the Blades slightly worse, in that they violate their own oath, their stated purpose before finding Sky Haven Temple, and the precedent established by their predecessors serving the Septims and earlier Dragonborn when they refuse to help you unless you kill [[spoiler: Paarthurnax]]. The Greybeards, on the other hand, refuse to help you because you [[spoiler: killed their leader, who had already given you help.]]

** The interaction between the existentialist main pair and their rogue, nihilistic former student, who appeared to be competing for their clients' philosophical allegiance also fits this trope.

* In the ''WarriorCats'' novel ''Crookedstar's Promise'', the titular character is taught by his real mentor, Cedarpelt, but, unknown to other cats, he also is trained in his dreams by the deceased warrior Mapleshade. Mapleshade focuses more on combat skills, while Cedarpelt tries to explain that being a warrior is about more than just being a good fighter. Even their advice on battle moves differs, though that can be explained by the fact that [[spoiler:Mapleshade came from another Clan]].

{{Mentor}}s are always helpful to any self respecting hero. Not only can they pass on knowledge or training, but also points of view, philosophies and even allies (or possibly [[GuiltByAssociation enemies...]]). Unfortunately, sometimes TheHero is particularly talented (or maybe in the right place at the right time) and has more than one mentor trying to recruit them as a student...and they almost always have opposing philosophies.

OpposedMentors are an excellent opportunity for character development; the hero is given a choice between them, and the one he chooses (and whether he comes to regret it eventually) can represent what the hero is on the path to becoming (or [[EvilMentor risks becoming]]). Expect the mentors to alternately argue with each other by proxy as they give the hero advice (BonusPoints for having the hero "trapped" between them as they shout back and forth, eventually ignoring the hero all together in favour of their opinion). If one of the mentors is evil you can almost guarantee that they were once a student of the other mentor and if not, that both mentors were students of the same master (who the evil mentor no doubt betrayed, although a good mentor being a DefectorFromDecadence isn't unheard of).

It's also just as likely that both mentors are good but disagree on some key point. In this case it's far more likely that the hero will either remain neutral and learn from both of them or that one of them will [[MentorOccupationalHazard die or turn evil]]. Sometimes one of the mentors is proved to be right (in which case the other mentor is likely to accept that and mend their ways or, as you might guess, turn evil). Other times the hero will, through accepting both their philosophies, surpass them both (generally by becoming a JackOfAllStats).

If the hero rejects a mentor then the spurned mentor will almost certainly take on TheRival as a student ([[RivalTurnedEvil possibly tempting them towards evil]]) or stick around until the hero discovers that their chosen mentor [[BrokenPedestal wasn't all they appeared to be]].

Ways mentors can be opposed include, but are by no means limited to: training regimes (WaxOnWaxOff versus TrainingFromHell), ethics (WithGreatPower verses MightMakesRight), choice of techniques (MagicVersusScience or FighterMageThief can both be a source of duality), whether talent matters (HardWorkHardlyWorks and TheGift versus TrainingFromHell) and progress ([[ObsoleteMentor the new ways]] versus the GoodOldWays).
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!!Examples;

* The second ''KarateKid'' movie has the main character pick up an EvilMentor after an argument with Miyagi.
* Pyro in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' had the choice between [[BigBad Magneto]] or [[BigGood Xavier]]. This is often the case with some characters in the comics too.

* ''IHeartHuckabees'' featured philosophically opposed existential detectives (who both served as {{Trickster Mentor}}s for their clients) who may or may not have actually been working together, but would never admit it.
** The interaction between the existentialist main pair and their rogue, nihilistic former student, who appeared to be competing for their clients' philosophical allegiance also fits this trope.

* An evil example is in the CSLewis novel ''ThatHideousStrength'', where the two chief villians disagree on the best way to dehumanize their initiate/captive.

* In the ''WarriorCats'' novel ''Crookedstar's Promise'', the titular character is taught by his real mentor, Cedarpelt, but, unknown to other cats, he also is trained in his dreams by the deceased warrior Mapleshade. Mapleshade focuses more on combat skills, while Cedarpelt tries to explain that being a warrior is about more than just being a good fighter. Even their advice on battle moves differs, though that can be explained by the fact that [[spoiler:Mapleshade came from another Clan]].

* In ''{{Scrubs}}'' [[DrJerk Dr. Kelso]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Dr. Cox]] have this dynamic for the first few episodes, with both being presented as possible mentors to JD. With Dr. Kelso being concerned with money (arguing that if the hospital doesn't make a profit, it'll close) and Dr. Cox arguing that the patient should come first. JD chooses Cox, earning him Kelso's contempt (although later episodes show Kelso in a better light). They recycled this plot a few times;
** One episode had JD ''think'' that Cox and a Private Practice Doctor were warring mentors to him, but really it was about the PPD having slept with Jordan.
** When JD moved up to attending in the middle of the series they replayed the Cox vs Kelso only this time with Cox taking Kelso's part and JD taking Cox's part with some of the new interns being the ones caught in the middle.
** In the last season, after the {{Retool}} Drew was subject to the warring between Denise and Cox (although given he was in a relationship with Denise it was as much about the sexual relationship as much as the mentorship).

* In ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara and Toph have ''very'' different opinions on how Aang should be trained. Katara, his [[MakingASplash waterbending teacher]] goes for the soft, encouraging, positive attitude, while Toph, his [[DishingOutDirt earthbending teacher]], prefers the rougher, blunter, drill sergeant style. This culminates in an interesting mud-fight scene between the two.
* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' played with this. Stan and Francine wanted to raise Steve different ways, and Steve ended up with a clone, allowing both parents to try their own ways. It turned out neither one alone worked.
* In a gag on ''TheSimpsons'' Lisa makes a square on a family heirloom patchwork quilt honoring her two musical mentors:
-->Look Mom, I've finished my patch. It depicts the two greatest musical influences in my life. On the left is Mr. Largo, my music teacher at school? He taught me that even the noblest concerto can be drained of its beauty and soul. And on the right is Bleeding Gums Murphy. He taught me that music is a fire in your belly that comes out of your mouth, so you better stick an instrument in front of it.

* Pyro in the second ''Film/XMen'' movie had the choice between [[BigBad Magneto]] or [[BigGood Xavier]]. This is often the case with some characters in the comics too.

* ''{{Platoon}}'': WideEyedIdealist Chris is torn between two Sergeants about how he should conduct himself in Vietnam. As his closing monologue goes''" The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called "possession of my soul"''.

OpposedMentors are an excellent opportunity for character development; the hero is given a choice between them, and the one he chooses (and whether he comes to regret it eventually) can represent what the hero is on the path to becoming (or [[EvilMentor risks becoming]]). Expect the mentors to alternately argue with each other by proxy as they give the hero advice (BonusPoints for having the hero "trapped" between them as they shout back and forth, eventually ignoring the hero all together in favour of their opinion). If one of the mentors is evil you can almost garentee that they were once a student of the other mentor and if not, that both mentors were students of the same master (who the evil mentor no doubt betrayed, although a good mentor being a DefectorFromDecadence isn't unheard of).

* In the ''WarriorCats'' novel ''Crookedstar's Promise'', the titular character is taught by his real mentor, Cedarpelt, but, unknown to other cats, he also is trained in his dreams by the deceased warrior Mapleshade. Mapleshade focuses more on combat skills, while Cedarheart tries to explain that being a warrior is about more than just being a good fighter. Even their advice on battle moves differs, though that can be explained by the fact that [[spoiler:Mapleshade came from another Clan]].

* ''{{Dragonball}}'': Master Shen and Master Roshi. The former trains brutual fighters and the latter uses trainning for personal disipline.

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* In ''ElTigre'' Manny had his dad, the hero White Pandera, and his grandfather, the villain Puma Loco.

* In ''{{Skyrim}}'' you have the choice of being backed by The Greybeards (who are {{Actual Pacifist}}s) and The Blades (who want to slay every single dragon in existence). In the end [[spoiler: The Blades ask you to kill the dragon who served as the mentor to the Greybeards, forcing you to choose one side or the other.]] Neither side is shown as better or worse than the other.

* ''{{Dragonball}}'': Master Shen and Master Roshi.

* Pyro in the second ''Film/XMen'' movie had the choice between [[BigBad Magneto]] or [[TheDumbledore Xavier]]. This is often the case with some characters in the comics too.

* ''StarWars'' - Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi wan Kenobi and Palpatine. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the dark side.

Ways mentors can be opposed include, but are by no means limited to; training regemes (WaxOnWaxOff verse TrainingFromHell), ethics (WithGreatPower verses MightMakesRight) choice of techniques (MagicVersusScience or FighterMageThief can both be a source of duality), whether talent matters (HardWorkHardlyWorks and TheGift verses TrainingFromHell) and progress ([[ObsoleteMentor the new ways]] verses the GoodOldWays).

Mentors are always helpful to any self respecting hero. Not only can they pass on knowledge or training, but also points of view, philosophies and even allies (or possibly [[GuiltByAssociation enemies...]]). Unfortunately, sometimes TheHero is particularly talented (or maybe in the right place at the right time) and has more than one mentor trying to recruit them as a student...and they almost always have opposing philosophies.

Examples;