History Main / TheDutifulSon

* Feel like guessing who in ''{{Supernatural}}''? In a twist, Dean is just as capable of being a dutiful brother and as shown by "What Is and What Should Never Be", tends to idolize Sam. But it was revealed by the shifter in "Skin" that he/Dean does resent Sam for getting to leave.

* Witz Su from ''AfterWarGundamX'' is supposed to become one of these after his father and younger brother die and leave him to care for his very numerous family (mother, three sisters, one brother). However, Witz runs away from home and becomes a Gundam pilot, something his mom is very upset for, and doubly because she hates mobile suits. [[spoiler: He gets to go back home with his girlfriend, Toniya, so it's hinted they've made amends.]]

* Cesare [[TheBorgias Borgia]] goes above and beyond. He starts off by helping Daddy Rodrigo become [[SinisterMinister pope]], saves his life within the first two episodes, and refuses to leave his side even when [[spoiler: the French are invading]]. All of this despite the fact that his father is basically forcing him to [[SexyPriest become a cardinal]] while giving his TooDumbToLive brother the military position he's always wanted and would most likely excel at.

* In the SteveMartin vehicle ''{{Parenthood}}'', his prodigal brother that his father always preferred turns up and turns out to be as useless as ever, teaching his father the value of Martin's more dutiful ways.

* A variation happens in the SitCom ''{{Wings}}''. Brian and Joe's mother ran out on the family when they were little, and their father... well, <wigflip, cuckoo>. So, anyway, Joe had to step up as a child and be TheDutifulSon; as he pointed out later when he [[CallingTheOldManOut ranted to his returned mom]]: "You left me to take care of two little kids, Brian and Dad!"

** ...[[CompletelyMissingThePoint Did he not notice her boobs??]] I mean, he was all over that her last two movies...

** Regulus Black as recalled by his brother in ''{{Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}''. Subverted, because in the Black family, this meant that he became a Death Eater.

** Percy Weasley [[spoiler: in the first four books]]: prefect in his fifth year (''[[HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone Philosopher's Stone]]''), Head Boy in his seventh year (''[[HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban Prisoner of Azkaban]]''), followed by the career his mother Molly approved of in the Ministry of Magic (''[[HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'') - but his no-nosense attitude give him trouble with his family: Molly sang his praises throughout the first four books and seemed depressed when [[spoiler: he walked out on the family.]]; with Arthur, it's more a matter of absentmindedness than outright favoritism, and his siblings ''do'' love him but are peeved by his attitude (specially the ''very'' chaotic twins.) [[spoiler: (He even has a FaceHeelTurn, but returns home in ''Deathly Hallows'' just in time for the last battle).]].

* In the SteveMartin vehicle, {{Parenthood}} his prodigal brother that his father always preferred turns up and turns out to be as useless as ever, teaching his father the value of Martin's more dutiful ways.

** Milluki, Killua's other older brother, fits the other part of this trope. He doesn't understand why his father and grandfather still favor Killua (the unofficial heir, despite being a rebellious middle child) over Illumi and him, and heavily resents his younger brother for this. Of course, he eagerly accepts the responsibility of disciplining Killua [[FetishFuel with chains and whips]]. Ironically, Milluki himself is a failure of an assassin (essentially an obese otaku geek) according to the rest of the family, though he obviously thinks otherwise.

*** It has, though I don't think it was that. Jesus usually treated Pharisees like a DrillSergeantNasty . The father in the story made a gentle rebuke combined with a reminder that the father still loved him. I think it was at that time directed toward Jews who had worked so hard and now got to see gentiles "get in for free" and by extension anyone who had grown up, serving God more or less faithfully and who felt unappreciated.

** Percy Weasley [[spoiler: in the first four books]]: prefect in his fifth year (''[[HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone Philosopher's Stone]]''), Head Boy in his seventh year (''[[HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban Prisoner of Azkaban]]''), followed by the career his mother approved of in the Ministry of Magic (''[[HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'') - but his no-nosense attitude make him TheUnfavorite in his family [[spoiler: (He even has a FaceHeelTurn, but returns home in ''Deathly Hallows'' just in time for the last battle).]]
*** There's no evidence that Percy was the Unfavorite, though. His mother sang his praises throughout the first four books, and seemed depressed when he walked out on the family. With his father, it's more a matter of absentmindedness than outright favoritism.

You know the one. Stays to [[TheCaretaker take care]] of the farm when TroubledButCute up and leaves. Their attitude at the protagonist's return (it's rare they get the spotlight) varies between uppity, jealous, and happy. Even if happy, expect them to lay the moral smackdown on the hero for leaving.

* In ''TheKingsSpeech'', Prince Albert takes the responsibilities of the throne seriously, far more than his older wastrel brother, David. When David, as King Edward, screws up and is forced to abdicate, Albert has to step up and become King George VI.

* George VI is TheDutifulSon in ''Bertie and Elizabeth''. Interestingly sympathy is with him rather then with his brother who comes off as rather a RoyalBrat.