History Main / OpposedMentors

* ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII'' has the main character pick up an EvilMentor after an argument with Miyagi.

* ''Film/ABronxTale'' is a {{Subversion}}. The movie is about a kid called Calogero growing up under the conflicting influences of his hard-working, honest, but poor father, and the charismatic, rich and powerful, AffablyEvil local mafia don Sonny. Despite their different social standings and lifestyles, [[NotSoDifferent both of them want the same future for him]]: doing well in school so he can go to college and stay out of trouble. The real difference is that Lorenzo just wants him to keep his head down and off the streets while Sonny wants to teach him street smarts so he knows how to navigate trouble and avoid it.

* ''Fanfic/JauneArcLordOfHunger'': For the first half of the fic, Jaune is caught between two mentors with clashing ideologies: Glynda Goodwitch, Jaune's teacher at Beacon, and Darth Nihilus, the entity responsible for giving him his powers. Glynda is of the belief that WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility and teaches Jaune to use his telekinesis without being fueled by his emotions. Nihilus influences Jaune to embrace all his worst impulses and to let his emotions flow through him while using the Force. At first, Jaune doesn't want to become like Nihilus and tries to follow Glynda's advice. [[spoiler:After falling to the Dark Side, he chooses Nihilus and rejects everything Glynda ever taught him.]]

* A number of characters have these in ''Manga/{{Vagabond}}''. For example, the way UsefulNotes/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.

** 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).
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': In Xena's backstory the evil shamaness Alti is pitted against Cyane, the noble Queen of the Amazons. They even have a mental struggle with Xena literally between them. Cyane wins, but Xena [[spoiler:chooses Alti, and kills Cyane and the other leaders of the northern Amazons, helping Alti to trap their souls and prevent them from crossing over. Xena eventually sets things right.]] Alti is also pitted against Lao Ma, though they never directly argue over Xena.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' played with this. Stan and Francine wanted to raise Steve different ways. But when they settle the disagreement with a bet (which Francine wins), Stan clones their son to prove his parenting method is better by raising Steve-O his way. It turned out neither one alone worked, both versions of Steve quickly turn out terrible (the original is disgustingly lazy and entitled and the clone turns into a total psycho who tortures animals and tries to [[KillAndReplace]] the original to claim his easy life for himself)

* ''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.

** 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 MudWrestling scene between the two.

** 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.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'': In the Extended Edition, Faramir is emotionally torn because he wants to be a dutiful son to his father Denethor, but Gandalf (whom Denethor strongly dislikes) nevertheless has a profound influence on his mindset. Gandalf approves of Faramir's decision to release Frodo and Sam from his custody, whereas Denethor is ''furious'' that he let them go, and angrily accuses Faramir of being a "wizard's pupil." When Denethor orders him to go on a suicide mission, Faramir chooses to obey his father despite Gandalf's plea that he shouldn't throw his life away needlessly.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'': In the Extended Edition, Denethor angrily accuses Faramir of being a "wizard's pupil," and regards his second son's mindset to be "disloyal" to his own. Gandalf approves of Faramir's decision to release Frodo and Sam from his custody, whereas Denethor is ''furious'' that he let them go.
-->'''Denethor''': This is how you would serve your city? You would risk its utter ruin?\\
'''Faramir''': I did what I judged to be right.\\
'''Denethor''': What you judged to be right? You sent the Ring of Power into Mordor in the hands of a witless halfling!
** And later:
-->'''Faramir''': [Boromir] would have kept [the One Ring] for his own! And when he returned, you would not have known your son.\\
'''Denethor''': BOROMIR WAS LOYAL TO ME!!! NOT SOME WIZARD'S PUPIL!!!
* ''Film/{{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"''.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'': In the Extended Edition, it's downplayed in Faramir's case because he's loyal to his father Denethor mostly at the level of MyMasterRightOrWrong, but Gandalf, who had tutored Faramir when he was younger, had nevertheless influenced him to a sufficient degree that Denethor angrily accuses Faramir of being a "wizard's pupil," and regards his second son's mindset to be "disloyal" to his own.

'''Denethor''': ''(SuddenlyShouting)'' BOROMIR WAS LOYAL TO ME!!! NOT SOME WIZARD'S PUPIL!!!

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'': In the Extended Edition, it's downplayed in Faramir's case since he's loyal to his father Denethor at the level of MyMasterRightOrWrong, but Gandalf, who had tutored him when he was younger, had nevertheless influenced him to a sufficient degree that Denethor accuses Faramir of being a "wizard's pupil."

'''Denethor''': BOROMIR WAS LOYAL TO ME!!! NOT SOME WIZARD'S PUPIL!!!

* ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII'' 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.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi-Wan Kenobi -- representing both Jedi tradition and authority, and general goodness -- and Palpatine -- representing an apparent sensible opposition to Jedi strictness really hiding lust for power and temptation to evil. For a long time, as Palpatine hides his evil and lets Anakin stew in his own dissatisfaction rather than openly encouraging rebellion against Obi-Wan, he doesn't even realise there's a clear opposition. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

* ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom'' had Jackie Chan and Jet Li as the two mentors. It even provides a quote, "Two tigers can't rule the same mountain."

* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': After her father's "disappearance" in Season 2, [[CowboyCop Raylan Givens]] and [[BigBad Mags Bennett]] both take an interest in Loretta's future, with Raylan attempting to extract her from the criminal underworld, while Mags leads her further into it. Loretta eventually sides with Raylan once his cold war with the Bennetts turns hot, but as future seasons show, Mags is the one whose influence has ultimately lasted.

* ''Film/StarWars'': Anakin Skywalker has to choose between following Obi-Wan Kenobi -- representing both Jedi tradition and authority, and general goodness -- and Palpatine -- representing an apparent sensible opposition to Jedi strictness really hiding lust for power and temptation to evil. For a long time, as Palpatine hides his evil and lets Anakin stew in his own dissatisfaction rather than openly encouraging rebellion against Obi-Wan, he doesn't even realise there's a clear opposition. Eventually, he chooses Palpatine and turns to the DarkSide.

* In SHINE, one of the primary reasons behind the formation of Wrestling/{{Daffney| Unger}}'s All Star Squad was Valkyrie, and one of Daffney's first recruits was Solo Darling, who was trained by Valkyrie's [[DragonWithAnAgenda odd member out]], Wrestling/IvelisseVelez.[[/folder]]

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

* ''KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'':

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 (The hero may be "[[VisualPun 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).

* ''Film/ABronxTale'' is about a kid called Calogero growing up under the conflicting influences of his hard-working, honest, but poor father, and the charismatic, rich and powerful, AffablyEvil local mafia don Sonny. Subverted in that [[NotSoDifferent both of them want the same future for him]]: doing well in school so he can go to college and stay out of trouble.

* ''XenaWarriorPrincess'': In Xena's backstory the evil shamaness Alti is pitted against Cyane, the noble Queen of the Amazons. They even have a mental struggle with Xena literally between them. Cyane wins, but Xena [[spoiler:chooses Alti, and kills Cyane and the other leaders of the northern Amazons, helping Alti to trap their souls and prevent them from crossing over. Xena eventually sets things right.]] Alti is also pitted against Lao Ma, though they never directly argue over Xena.

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

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).

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 TaughtByExperience and TrainingFromHell) and progress ([[ObsoleteMentor the new ways]] versus the GoodOldWays). See also DuelingMessiahs, who are more concerned with doing right by the world than just one person.

** 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.

* ''Film/ABronxTale'' is about a kid called Calogero growing up under the conflicting influences of his hard-working, honest, but poor father, and the charismatic, rich and powerful, AffablyEvil local mafia don Sonny.