History Main / SympathyForTheHero

* In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', during Ash's first encounter with [[KnightOfCerebus Belladonna]], she ''instantly'' tries to comfort him upon realizing he knows what it feels to see a loved one being hurt. The fact that she discovered [[spoiler:[[LongLostRelative they might be]] [[LukeIAmYourFather half-siblings]]]] is also a major factor in this.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', toward the end of Hinata's fight against Neji, Neji's teacher, Might Guy appears slightly sad when noting that Hinata is no longer able to fight against Neji and gives Neji a WhatTheHellHero when he tries to kill her. FridgeBrilliance kicks in when you remember that he's also Lee's teacher, and he strongly identifies with those who are trying to take down a more talented opponent through hard work and determination.

* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', in spite of being enslaved by Babidi's magic, Yamu [[EvenEvilHasStandards was genuinely repulsed]] by his partner Spopovich's ColdBloodedTorture of Videl and even urged him to stop.
* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', [[spoiler:Reiner Braun]], despite what he says to his relatives, apologises directly for being responsible for what's happened to Eren Yeager and his friends and family. In the same scene, Eren [[SympathyForTheDevil shows some of the opposite]] of this trope, along with a NotSoDifferentRemark. [[spoiler:He still transforms into a Titan and kills Willy Tybur and a number of innocent bystanders, however]].
* Since the Tag Battle Tournament at the end of the first season of the Diamond and Pearl arc of the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime, Team Rocket grew a fondness for Ash's Chimchar due to his tragic backstory, even rooting for Ash every time it battled.
* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': Played with. A black ops operative, Erde, who Akira ends up fighting is a NobleDemon who out of a misunderstanding, pities Akira for being a TykeBomb. He isn’t one (it’s part of a MistakenForSpies RunningGag), and Akira gives him SilentTreatment instead of correcting.

** In one story, Spidey confronted by the Argentinian crimelord (and very powerful superhuman), the Black Tarantula, who seeks to kill the hero in order to seal a bargain with another crimelord. Black Tarantula proceeds to curb-stomp Spidey, wondering aloud why he refuses to quit when everyone is after his head. Then he finds out that the reason is, he's looking for the kidnapped Normie Osborn:

''[short pause as he ''really'' hits Spidey hard]''\\
'''Black Tarantula:''' ...which makes my own task all the more difficult. ''[hits him again]'' While the local authorities may mistake you for a criminal, those who lurk in the shadows see your true heroism! ''[stops fighting, as Spidey clearly can no longer fight back]'' Ironic, isn't it? Your enemies know you better than your allies. [[note]]It's later revealed that the reason he feels this way is because he can relate; he was once a married man with a son. However, the Black Tarantula title has been around for decades, passed from father to son, and the current one, Carlos was going to do the same with his son, Fabian. His wife left with Fabian to prevent this though the Spider-Girl comics see that Fabian indeed becomes the new Black Tarantula.[[/note]]

* During the ''Kindly Ones'' volume of ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'', Lucifer notes that while he once swore to destroy Dream (over a fairly trivial matter), he now feels almost sorry for him when he sees the mess that Dream has gotten into.
* In ''ComicBook/CaptainAtomArmageddon'', ComicBook/CaptainAtom gets a lot of this, especially from Mr. Majestic and the Authority, who both recognize that Cap is a good man and a hero, and that it's not his fault that he's going to blow up and [[ApocalypseHow/ClassX4 destroy the universe]]. They do their best to help him, and Angie Spica, the Engineer, a member of the Authority, even gets romantically involved with him. That doesn't stop her, and the rest of the Authority, from trying to kill him, in the mistaken belief that that will stop him from destroying the universe.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', Bane engineers a massive prison break at Arkham Asylum just when Batman is already sick and rough around the edges, knowing Batman's own worst instincts will compel him to bring them all in personally. Watching him afar, he concludes that if he ''didn't'' want Batman's blood so badly, he'd pity him.

* In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', during Ash's first encounter with [[KnightOfCerebus Belladonna]], she ''instantly'' tries to comfort him upon realizing he knows what it feels to see a loved one being hurt. The fact that she discovered [[spoiler:[[LongLostRelative they might be]] [[LukeIAmYourFather half-siblings]]]] is also a major factor in this.

* ''Fanfic/GazDreamsOfGenie'': Despite being somewhat of a JackassGenie, Azie still shows several moments of sympathy for Dib having to deal with having a [[BigBrotherBully sibling like Gaz]] [[spoiler: and after [[BecomingTheGenie switching lives with her]], swears to be a better sister to him]].

* There's a scene in ''Film/TheProphecy'' where {{Satan}} briefly commiserates and shows sympathy to Detective Daggett (a cop who years earlier lost his faith just before he was set to become a Catholic priest) about how hard it is to believe and keep faith.

* In the 2003 film version of ''Film/PeterPan'', Hook uses a BreakingLecture on Peter to take away his flight and distract him. Throughout it, Hook talks about how Wendy will eventually grow up and move on, leaving Peter to die alone, forgotten, and unloved. At the end he suddenly looks tremendously sad and adds "Just like me."
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'':
** After Spider-Man saves the train from falling off the tracks in ''Film/SpiderMan2'', he's exhausted and almost falls off the train. The people in the train pull him back in and lay him on the floor. Peter's lost his mask in the fight, so everyone in the train can see how young he is. One man notes with sympathy, [[AntiClimacticUnmasking "He's... just a kid. No older than my son."]] One young bystander gives Peter back his mask, and they promise to keep his secret. Then when Doctor Octopus returns, they all [[GoThroughMe vow to protect him.]] Unfortunately, Doc Ock doesn't have a problem with that.
** [[Film/SpiderMan1 The first movie]] also has InnocentBystanders coming to Spidey's aid when he [[TakeAThirdOption chooses to save both MJ and the children]], enabling him to succeed and disproving, at least for the moment, the Green Goblin's claim that eventually the people will come to hate him.
* ComicBook/TheJoker often tries to relate to Batman throughout the course of ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', especially in expressing how they're both freaks on the margin of society. At the very end he even grudgingly praises the fact that Batman is incorruptible, and cannot be made to break his moral laws. Unfortunately he had a backup plan, and succeeded in breaking Harvey Dent.
* At the very end of ''Film/TheGerman'', [[AntagonistTitle The German]] silently offers a cigarette to Red Leader, after [[spoiler:both pilots have been interned by the neutral Irish.]]
* This is the source of Riddick's redemption in ''Film/PitchBlack''. He's a borderline sociopathic murderer who has been killing people all his life to escape his past and will sacrifice anyone to save himself. Carolyn Fry starts out much the same way; while not being a criminal she's willing to jettison all the passengers in the opening and tries to [[TheAtoner cope with the guilt for the rest of the movie]]. Riddick initially admires Fry for her "strong survival instinct" and offers her at the end to leave the planet together by threatening to leave her behind to die if she doesn't. She eventually refuses and professes her willingness to die for the others. This declared intent of self-sacrifice intrigues Riddick enough to go back with her. He is eventually distraught when [[spoiler:she sacrifices herself to save him]] and he angrily yells that she said she would die to save the passengers, but [[spoiler:"not for me!"]]

* Parodied in Film/HotShotsPartDeux when a victim of torture refuses to crack, leaving his captors genuinely impressed--"I see you're no stranger to pain". The guy informs him "[[HenpeckedHusband I've been married]]". His captors nod in sincere sympathy and agreement, then wince in horror when he says "''Twice''".

* In Literature/TheBible, Pontius Pilate only reluctantly allows Jesus' execution, acknowledging that he had done no wrong by Roman laws. This has carried over to numerous portrayals of Pilate.
* In ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' book ''Outlaw of Gor'', when Tarl returns to Gor he finds that his city has been reduced to rubble by the Priest-Kings, and a mind-altered representative of the Priest-Kings shows up to inform him that it's all Tarl's fault. But Tarl sees that the man who is being used as a puppet by the Priest-Kings is crying for him - he feels pity for Tarl, the one emotion that's forbidden in Gorean custom.
* In the novelization of the [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie Mortal Kombat movie]], Goro sadly tells Johnny Cage's friend Art that Art fought well just before killing him at [[BigBad Shang Tsung's]] command. Which makes [[YourSoulIsMine what Shang Tsung does to Art]] all the more [[KickTheDog hateworthy]].
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Frequently, some the villains will comment on how Harry's life as a hero has given him little to no reward. It's usually a ploy [[WeCanRuleTogether just to get Harry to join them]], so Harry learns to tune them out. Though [[SuccubiAndIncubi Lara Raith]] seems to feel sincerely bad when she learns that Harry hasn’t had sex in four years.

* In the ''Series/{{Hornblower}}'' episode ''Duty'', [[spoiler:Wolfe]] states that he sincerely admires Commander Hornblower. It's just that he hates everything that he stands for.
* In one ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode that takes place in a carnival, a member of the freak show wonders how Mulder can bear to be so perfectly normal in appearance.
* Despite working for Yggdrasil corporation in their behind the scenes manipulation in ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' [[spoiler:DJ Sagara]] seems to genuinely respect the determination and resolve of the Beat Riders in general and Kouta in particular.

* On ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', Slade expresses this towards [[spoiler:Moira]], who sacrifices her life during a SadisticChoice directed towards Oliver [[spoiler:so that both of her children get to live]].

* ''Series/TwentyFour'': CorruptCorporateExecutive Jonas Hodges expresses sympathy for Jack Bauer.
-->'''Hodges:''' I watched the Senate Hearing yesterday. And I was disgusted with how you were treated. You should be regarded as a hero, not a criminal.\\
'''Jack:''' I broke the law.\\
'''Hodges:''' You were following your instinct to protect your country. Just like me!

* In ''Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra'', Octavius Caesar spends most of the play bringing Antony down, but still seems to feel sorry for him; though the "Poor Antony" line can come across as either sincere or mocking depending on the direction, his open and indisputable grief when he hears of Antony's death suggests he was sincere.

* Lich sorcerer Xykon thoroughly outclasses hero Roy Greenhilt during the Battle of Azure City in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' and takes a certain degree of pity on him, [[YearsTooEarly offering to let him go off and train for awhile]] so they can have a decent fight later on. Roy refuses, of course, and things end... poorly.

** In ''Breaker of Infinities'', Jadis, who knows Allison's future and knows the future cannot be changed, [[spoiler:still tries to 'save' her from it by giving her a LeaveYourQuestTest. Allison points out that while Jadis' attempts at compassion is incredibly condescending, she is genuine and Allison in some ways appreciated the effort. After Allison leaves, Jadis can be seen beseeching the long-dead corpses of the gods to pray for Allison on her behalf.]]

-->'''Tien:''' [[DeadpanSnarker (sarcastically)]] The fact that you have any hope left in your life is your most admirable quality.\\

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The Monarch tries to break Dr. Venture with a device designed to generate mental trauma, but finds that he's already [[TooBrokenToBreak so broken that it doesn't have any effect]]. Another time, he and Dr. Girlfriend manage to break into Dr. Venture's lab, but quickly lose the will to do anything once there after seeing an entire history of Dr. Venture's failures there.
-->'''The Monarch:''' What can I do to this guy that life hasn't already? I almost feel sorry for him.
* Discord toys with this in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** In "The Return of Harmony -- Part Two", Twilight Sparkle is thoroughly broken, alone, and defeated, and Discord appears to [[EvilGloating gloat]]. When she ignores him he ''appears'' to show her sympathy and asks her to cheer up. When she [[HeroicBSOD doesn't]] he ''[[KickTheDog gleefully yells "YES!!!" and cackles maniacally]]'', happy that he's [[BreakTheCutie broken her]] once and for all.
** When Discord once again causes trouble in "Keep Calm and Flutter On", he asks the duped Fluttershy to come join him in his chaos like he had with Twilight above. When she angrily refuses his friendship, he scoffs at the idea he should feel bad just because [[ExplainExplainOhCrap she's the one friend he ever had....]] His HeelFaceTurn is cemented when realising he actually feels bad for how his plan affected Fluttershy.

'''Batman:''' I know what it's like to try and rebuild a life. ''[he takes out a bag and hands Harley her dress]'' [[DeathByOriginStory I had a bad day too, once.]]\\

-->'''The Joker:''' It's true, Batsy. I know everything. And, kind of like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents, I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the "sturm und batarangs", you're just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy. It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic... Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway! ''[maniacal, mocking laughter]''
[[/folder]]

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Played with. A black ops operative, Erde, who Akira ends up fighting is a NobleDemon who out of a misunderstanding, pities Akira for being a TykeBomb. He isn’t one (it’s part of a MistakenForSpies RunningGag), and Akira gives him SilentTreatment instead of correcting.

** PlayedForLaughs during the Thriller Bark Saga during Perona's fight with Usopp. He triumphantly shouts that her EmotionBomb power has no effect on him because he naturally has "[[CowardlyLion a negative personality]]". This ''drives her to tears'' and prompts her and her {{mooks}} to start cheering for him to not give up, with him being frustrated by his opponent taking pity on him.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Frequently, some the villains will comment on how Harry's life as a hero has given him little to no reward. It's usually a ploy [[WeCanRuleTogether just to get Harry to join them]], so Harry learns to tune them out. Though [[HornyDevils Lara Raith]] seems to feel sincerely bad when she learns that Harry hasn’t had sex in four years.

* In ''[[ComicBook/CaptainAtom Captain Atom: Armageddon]]'', Cap gets a lot of this, especially from Mr. Majestic and the Authority, who both recognize that Cap is a good man and a hero, and that it's not his fault that he's going to blow up and [[ApocalypseHow/ClassX4 destroy the universe]]. They do their best to help him, and Angie Spica, the Engineer, a member of the Authority, even gets romantically involved with him. That doesn't stop her, and the rest of the Authority, from trying to kill him, in the [[spoiler:mistaken]] belief that that will stop him from destroying the universe.

* ComicBook/SpiderMan:
** In one story Spidey confronted by the Argentinian crimelord (and very powerful superhuman), the Black Tarantula, who seeks to kill the hero in order to seal a bargain with another crimelord. Black Tarantula proceeds to curb-stomp Spidey, wondering aloud why he refuses to quit when everyone is after his head. Then he finds out that the reason is, he's looking for the kidnapped Normie Osborn:

* During the ''Kindly Ones'' volume of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', Lucifer notes that while he once swore to destroy Dream (over a fairly trivial matter) he now feels almost sorry for him when he sees the mess that Dream has gotten into.

:: She promptly gives him a chaste peck on the cheek as thanks... then stops, thinks about it, and gives him TheBigDamnKiss that has Robin and Poison Ivy looking on stunned, before [[FoeYay suggesting that Batman call her later, which makes him gently chide her not to push her luck]].

* Mixed with CondescendingCompassion in ''FanFic/{{Dominoes}}''. As a [[PsychicPowers empath]], Shinichi is able to sense that most of those around him are well aware of how their actions are hurting him, and honestly feel bad about it... but not enough to stop. This, paired with the fact that [[spoiler:his abusive father is so callous that he doesn't feel even the ''slightest'' bit sorry for anything he's done]], has left Shinichi deeply doubting his own worth.

* In the novelization of the [[Film/MortalKombat Mortal Kombat movie]], Goro sadly tells Johnny Cage's friend Art that Art fought well just before killing him at [[BigBad Shang Tsung's]] command. Which makes [[YourSoulIsMine what Shang Tsung does to Art]] all the more [[KickTheDog hateworthy]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Lich sorcerer Xykon thoroughly outclasses hero Roy Greenhilt during the Battle of Azure City in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' and takes a certain degree of pity on him, [[YearsTooEarly offering to let him go off and train for awhile]] so they can have a decent fight later on. Roy refuses, of course, and things end... poorly.

This can easily serve as a lead in to a villain making a NotSoDifferentRemark, seeing the hero as a WorthyOpponent, [[WeCanRuleTogether offering to rule together]], or, more darkly, trying to BreakThemByTalking.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The Monarch tries to break Dr. Venture with a device designed to generate mental trauma, but finds that he's already [[TooBrokenToBreak so broken that it doesn't have any effect. Another time, he and Dr. Girlfriend manage to break into Dr. Venture's lab, but quickly lose the will to do anything once there after seeing an entire history of Dr. Venture's failures there.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The Monarch tries to break Dr. Venture with a device designed to generate mental trauma, but finds that he's already [[TheWoobie far too broken]] so it [[DisabilityImmunity doesn't have any effect]]. Another time, he and Dr. Girlfriend manage to break into Dr. Venture's lab, but quickly lose the will to do anything once there after seeing an entire history of Dr. Venture's failures there.

Compare ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne and AntagonistInMourning. See MirrorCharactes for a frequent cause of this. When the villain sees the hero going through so much shit and cannot understand how they can still be heroic after that, it's often because EvilCannotComprehendGood. Compare ''and'' contrast BaddieFlattery. SympathyForTheDevil is the inverse, when the heroes are sympathizing with the villain. See also HurtingHero, which is often what leads to this.

This can easily serve as a lead in to a villain making a NotSoDifferent speech, seeing the hero as a WorthyOpponent, [[WeCanRuleTogether offering to rule together]], or, more darkly, trying to BreakThemByTalking, etc.

Compare ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne and AntagonistInMourning. When the villain sees the hero going through so much shit and cannot understand how they can still be heroic after that, it's often because EvilCannotComprehendGood. Compare ''and'' contrast BaddieFlattery. SympathyForTheDevil is the inverse, when the heroes are sympathizing with the villain. See also HurtingHero, which is often what leads to this.

* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', [[spoiler:Reiner Braun]], despite what he says to his relatives, apologises directly for being responsible for what's happened to Eren Yeager and his friends and family. In the same scene, Eren [[SympathyForTheDevil shows some of the opposite]] of this trope, along with admitting that they're NotSoDifferent. [[spoiler:He still transforms into a Titan and kills Willy Tybur and a number of innocent bystanders, however]].

* This was the central idea for the song ''Superman'' by Five For Fighting. John Ondrasik said the inspiration was thinking about how Franchise/{{Superman}} is missing out on living because of his ChronicHeroSyndrome.

* Lich sorcerer Xykon thoroughly outclasses hero Roy Greenhilt during the Battle of Azure City in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' and takes a certain degree of pity on him, offering to let him go off and train for awhile so they can have a decent fight later on. Roy refuses, of course, and things end... poorly.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The Monarch tries to break Dr. Venture with a device designed to generate mental trauma, but finds that he's already [[TheWoobie far too broken]] so it [[DisabilityImmunity doesn't have any effect]].
--> "What can I do to this guy that life hasn't already?"

[[/folder]]
----

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* A surprising number of villains feel bad for all the crap the Straw Hats go through in ''Manga/OnePiece''. It usually helps show the MoralityKitchenSink going on all over the place. Most notably, Franky, leader of a vicious bounty hunter gang, breaks into tears when he hears how Usopp left the Straw Hats to keep the Going Merry. Keep in mind, he had savagely beaten up Usopp about a dozen chapters ago, and was now holding him prisoner. This eventually leads up to his HeelFaceTurn.

* ComicBook/{{Spider Man}}:

''(Short pause as he ''really'' hits Spidey hard.)''\\
'''Black Tarantula:''' ...which makes my own task all the more difficult. ''(hits him again)''. While the local authorities may mistake you for a criminal, those who lurk in the shadows see your true heroism! ''(Stops fighting, as Spidey clearly can no longer fight back.)'' Ironic, isn't it? Your enemies know you better than your allies. [[note]]It's later revealed that the reason he feels this way is because he can relate; he was once a married man with a son. However, the Black Tarantula title has been around for decades, passed from father to son, and the current one, Carlos was going to do the same with his son, Fabian. His wife left with Fabian to prevent this though the Spider-Girl comics see that Fabian indeed becomes the new Black Tarantula.[[/note]]

[[folder:Film]]

* In the 2003 film version of ''Film/PeterPan'', Hook uses a BreakingLecture on Peter to take away his flight and distract him. Throughout it, Hook talks about how Wendy will eventually grow up and move on, leaving Peter to die alone, forgotten, and unloved. At the end he suddenly looks tremendously sad and adds "Just like me".

* SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker often tries to relate to Batman throughout the course of ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', especially in expressing how they're both freaks on the margin of society. At the very end he even grudgingly praises the fact that Batman is incorruptible, and cannot be made to break his moral laws. Unfortunately he had a backup plan, and succeeded in breaking Harvey Dent.

* This is the source of Riddick's redemption in ''Film/PitchBlack''. He's a borderline sociopathic murderer who has been killing people all his life to escape his past and will sacrifice anyone to save himself. Carolyn Fry starts out much the same way; while not being a criminal she's willing to jettison all the passengers in the opening and tries to [[TheAtoner cope with the guilt for the rest of the movie]]. Riddick initially admires Fry for her "strong survival instinct" and offers her at the end to leave the planet together by threatening to leave her behind to die if she doesn't. She eventually refuses and professes her willingness to die for the others. This declared intent of self-sacrifice intrigues Riddick enough to go back with her.
** He is eventually distraught when [[spoiler:she sacrifices herself to save him]] and he angrily yells that she said she would die to save the passengers, but [[spoiler:"not for me!"]]

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Frequently, some the villains will comment on how Harry's life as a hero has given him little to no reward. It's usually a ploy [[WeCanRuleTogether just to get Harry to join them]], so Harry learns to tune them out.
** Though [[HornyDevils Lara Raith]] seems to feel sincerely bad when she learns that Harry hasn’t had sex in four years.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

---> '''Jaime:''' Poor Ned Stark. Brave man, terrible judgement.

---> '''Varys:''' There are many who know that without you this city faced certain defeat. The king won't give you any honors, the histories won't mention you, but we will not forget.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

* In Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra, Octavius Caesar spends most of the play bringing Antony down, but still seems to feel sorry for him; though the "Poor Antony" line can come across as either sincere or mocking depending on the direction, his open and indisputable grief when he hears of Antony's death suggests he was sincere.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mass Effect 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Mass Effect 3}}'' with Saren and The Illusive Man, both stating "It's too late for me." The latter more poignant, showing genuine sadness when Shepard won't join him, when he says, "Your idealism is... admirable."

* Lich sorcerer Xykon thoroughly outclasses hero Roy Greenhilt during the Battle of Azure City in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' and takes a certain degree of pity on him, offering to let him go off and train for awhile so they can have a decent fight later on. Roy refuses, of course, and things end...poorly.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' The Monarch tries to break Dr. Venture with a device designed to generate mental trauma, but finds that he's already [[TheWoobie far too broken]] so it [[DisabilityImmunity doesn't have any effect]].

* Discord toyed with this in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** In "Return To Harmony Part Two", Twilight Sparkle is thoroughly broken, alone, and defeated, and Discord appears to [[EvilGloating gloat]]. When she ignores him he ''appears'' to show her sympathy and asks her to cheer up. When she [[HeroicBSOD doesn't]] he ''[[KickTheDog gleefully yells "YES!!!" and cackles maniacally]]'', happy that he's [[BreakTheCutie broken her]] once and for all.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': The episode ''Harley's Holiday'' has Harley Quinn released from Arkham after being judged sane and redeemed. Although she genuinely is, at the start, a misunderstanding whilst buying a new dress[[note]]she paid for it, but then took it before the checkout girl could remove the security tag, then panicked when the security guard attempted to remove the tag after she triggered the alarm[[/note]] leads to a case of DisasterDominoes that sees Harley being chased by [[ItMakesSenseInContext the cops, the mob, and a mad general driving a tank through town]]. All the while, Batman keeps trying to talk Harley into surrendering so they can sort things out. This leads to this exchange at the end, after Batman finally takes her back to Arkham:

'''Batman:''' I know what it's like to try and rebuild a life. ''(He takes out a bag and hands Harley her dress.)'' [[DeathByOriginStory I had a bad day too, once.]]\\

** She promptly gives him a chaste peck on the cheek as thanks... then stops, thinks about it, and gives him TheBigDamnKiss that has Robin and Poison Ivy looking on stunned, before [[FoeYay suggesting that Batman call her later, which makes him gently chide her not to push her luck]].

-->'''The Joker:''' It's true, Batsy. I know everything. And, kind of like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents, I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the 'sturm und batarangs', you're just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy. It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic... Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway! ''[maniacal, mocking laughter]''
[[/folder]]

* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Thanos, of all people, does this multiple times throughout the film. He holds no malice to the heroes for opposing him; he understands why they don't want him to [[TotalitarianUtilitarian kill half the universe]].
** He gives this lecture to Thor after decimating the Asgardian escape ship.
--->'''Thanos:''' I know what it's like to lose. To ''feel'' so desperately that you're right, yet to fail nonetheless. Dread it, run from it, destiny still arrives.
** [[VillainRespect He voices his respect for Tony Stark]], just as Thanos is about to kill him.
--->'''Thanos:''' I hope they remember you.
** He ''comforts'' Wanda after she is forced to [[spoiler:kill Vision to prevent Thanos from getting the Mind Stone, softly telling her that he understands exactly how she feels (because he has just sacrificed Gamora, his adoptive daughter and the one person he truly loved, earlier)... before using the Time Stone to reverse Vision's HeroicSuicide and taking the Mind Stone from him ''anyway''.]]
--->'''Thanos:''' I understand, my child. Better than anyone.\\

* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' reveals that Thanos has always felt this way about all the creatures he's killed and the planets he's destroyed, remarking that it's [[NothingPersonal never been personal]] and that he considers it NecessarilyEvil and ForTheGreaterGood. [[spoiler:However, with all the trouble Earth has been giving him, knowing they were well on their way to undoing his victory, and that they even managed to ''kill'' his future self, he admits he's going to sincerely enjoy obliterating the Earth:]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Thanos:''' In all my years of conquest... violence... slaughter... It was never personal. But I'll tell you now... what I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet... I'm gonna enjoy it. Very, very much.]]

* In ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'', the principal antagonists are Hamilton's political rivals, UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson, UsefulNotes/JamesMadison, and [[Main/TheRival Aaron Burr]]. After an arc of songs about Hamilton's personal life, culminating in the death of Alexander's son Philip. After "It's Quiet Uptown", a heartbreaking song about grief and loss, Jefferson and Madison come back on and Madison is ''sobbing''.

* La Parka Jr. and Cibernético both wanted to take down La Sociedad in Wrestling/{{AAA}} but Cibernético and Los Bizarros, the [[WildCard tweeners]] in the angle, only slightly prioritized attacking La Sociedad over attacking Jr, to the point Jr formed his own group, El Inframundo, to defend himself from Los Bizarros. When that proved insufficient, La Parka Jr ended up joining La Sociedad itself. When Los Bizarros continued to defeat them though, La Sociedad turned on La Parka Jr [[YouHaveFailedMe as a scapegoat for their failure]], causing Cibernético to finally work with him against their common enemy.[[/folder]]

-->'''Black Tarantula:''' I applaud your dedication, Spider-Man, as well as your sense of honor. Considering the current bounty on your head, only a man of exceptional virtue would risk himself to save the heir of an enemy!
-->''(Short pause as he ''really'' hits Spidey hard.)''
-->'''Black Tarantula:''' ...which makes my own task all the more difficult. ''(hits him again)''. While the local authorities may mistake you for a criminal, those who lurk in the shadows see your true heroism! ''(Stops fighting, as Spidey clearly can no longer fight back.)'' Ironic, isn't it? Your enemies know you better than your allies. [[note]]It's later revealed that the reason he feels this way is because he can relate; he was once a married man with a son. However, the Black Tarantula title has been around for decades, passed from father to son, and the current one, Carlos was going to do the same with his son, Fabian. His wife left with Fabian to prevent this though the Spider-Girl comics see that Fabian indeed becomes the new Black Tarantula.[[/note]]

* In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', during Ash's first encounter with [[KnightOfCerebus Belladonna]], she ''instantly'' tries to comfort him upon realizing he knows what it feels to see a loved one being hurt. The fact that she discovered [[spoiler:[[LongLostRelative they might be]] [[LukeIAmYourFather half-siblings]] ]] is also a major factor in this.

* In the 2003 film version of Film/PeterPan, Hook uses a BreakingLecture on Peter to take away Pan's flight and distract him. Throughout it Hook talks about how Wendy will grow up, and move on, leaving Peter to die alone, forgotten, and unloved. At the end he suddenly looks tremendously sad and adds "Just like me".

** He ''comforts'' Wanda after she is forced to [[spoiler:kill Vision to prevent Thanos from getting the Mind Stone, softly telling her that he understands exactly how she feels (because he has just sacrificed Gamora, his adoptive daughter and the one person he truly loved, earlier)...before using the Time Stone to reverse Vision's HeroicSuicide and taking the Mind Stone from him ''anyway''.]]

--> [[spoiler:'''Thanos:''' In all my years of conquest... violence... slaughter... It was never personal. But I'll tell you now... what I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet... I'm gonna enjoy it. Very, very much.]]

* In the ''{{Series/Hornblower}}'' episode ''Duty'', [[spoiler:Wolfe]] states that he sincerely admires Commander Hornblower. It's just that he hates everything that he stands for.

-->'''Hodges:''' I watched the Senate Hearing yesterday. And I was disgusted with how you were treated. You should be regarded as a hero, not a criminal.
-->'''Jack:''' I broke the law.
-->'''Hodges:''' You were following your instinct to protect your country. Just like me!

* In ''{{Theatre/Hamilton}}'', the principal antagonists are Hamilton's political rivals, UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson, UsefulNotes/JamesMadison, and [[Main/TheRival Aaron Burr]]. After an arc of songs about Hamilton's personal life, culminating in the death of Alexander's son Philip. After "It's Quiet Uptown", a heartbreaking song about grief and loss, Jefferson and Madison come back on and Madison is ''sobbing''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'': Set up and then defied for the sake of KickTheDog when the Joker finally finds out Batman's secret identity and the reason he became such. The Joker says that it's so disappointing to find out his arch-nemesis is driven by "mommy and daddy dying" that it's making him sad...
-->'''The Joker''': Oh, what the hell, I'll laugh anyway!!! (maniacal, mocking laughter)
[[/folder]]

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* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' reveals that Thanos has always felt this way about all the creatures he's killed and the planets he's destroyed, remarking that it's [[NothingPersonal never been personal]] and that he considers it a NecessaryEvil ForTheGreaterGood. [[spoiler:However, with all the trouble Earth has been giving him, knowing they were well on their way to undoing his victory, and that they even managed to ''kill'' his future self, he admits he's going to sincerely enjoy obliterating the Earth:]]

** Though [[HornyDevils Lara Raith]] seems to feel sincerely bad when she learns that Harry [[HollywoodDateless hasn’t had sex in four years]].