History Main / TheNativeRival

* Tsu'tey in ''Film/{{Avatar}}''. This is a rather epic example. Tsu'tey was a jerk ''at first'', but everything after that is ''entirely the hero's fault''. The love interest was betrothed to the rival, afterall. But, this being a MightyWhitey film, [[spoiler: Tsu'tey winds up dying serving the hero in the war ''the hero'' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero brought upon them all]], after he basically forgave the hero for stealing his betrothed.]]

* In the comics of ''JonahHex'', the eponymous character's saving of the Apache chief he was sold into slavery to earned him this trope.

* In an early episode of the 90s Series/{{X-Men}} cartoon, Wolverine gets thrown into the Arctic sea by Sabretooth, and is rescued by an isolated Inuit tribe. He quickly becomes a favorite of the tribe, being able to hunt and catch fish better than anyone else (albeit this is partially due to previous experience). The tribe's previous favorite son is naturally put out by this. And then he runs into Sabretooth...

* Vanir, the only elf that doesn't fawn over TheHero, in TheInheritanceCycle. Because of this, he's much beloved of the {{Hatedom}}.

Almost always a NobleSavage (unless he's a Native American JerkJock instead), TheNativeRival has been born and raised in the ways of his people and is frequently their greatest warrior--until the arrival of the MightyWhitey. Expect him to be frustrated that his HardWorkHardlyWorks, and [[TheResenter outright hostile]] to the MightyWhitey. Part of his hostility is likely rooted in a [[TriangRelations romantic rivalry]] over TheChiefsDaughter, who at best he'll be the HopelessSuitor or UnluckyChildhoodFriend to and at worst be her DisposableFiance, often via an ArrangedMarriage. Alternatively, he may be the [[NubileSavage love interest]]'s [[MySisterIsOffLimits older brother]] or some other relation.

[[AC:Comic Books]]

[[AC:Film]]
* Tsu'tey in ''{{Film/Avatar}}''. This is a rather epic example. Tsu'tey was a jerk ''at first'', but everything after that is ''entirely the hero's fault''. The love interest was betrothed to the rival, afterall. But, this being a MightyWhitey film, [[spoiler: Tsu'tey winds up dying serving the hero in the war ''the hero'' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero brought upon them all]], after he basically forgave the hero for stealing his betrothed.]]
* That one guy in ''DancesWithWolves''. The first one to meet Kevin Costner. The "I am not afraid of you" guy.

[[AC:Literature]]
* ''Ghost Dance'' - a novel by the author of the {{Gor}} books about the Battle of Wounded Knee - has a native who isn't impressed by the protagonist.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' also did the DancesWithWolves InSpace bit in one episode, complete with a native competitor for the hand of the chief's daughter. Averted because Crichton wanted absolutely nothing to do with the tribe, besides be polite neighbors, and the relationship with the tribal leader's daughter was completely one sided. Played straight because despite all of that, TheNativeRival's Mother was using him to motivate her son to greatness (Through jealous violence).

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* Kerchak the dominant male gorilla in {{Disney/Tarzan}}.
* Kocoum in Disney's ''{{Pocahontas}}'', mainly because he's annoyed at John Smith for getting romantically involved with his intended bride (the title character, who is also [[TheChiefsDaughter The Chief's Daughter]]). He ends up getting killed by Thomas (John Smith's friend) while trying to murder Smith.
* In an early episode of the 90s [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/X-Men X-Men]] cartoon, Wolverine gets thrown into the Arctic sea by Sabretooth, and is rescued by an isolated Inuit tribe. He quickly becomes a favorite of the tribe, being able to hunt and catch fish better than anyone else (albeit this is partially due to previous experience). The tribe's previous favorite son is naturally put out by this. And then he runs into Sabretooth...

* In ElfQuest Rayek of the Sunfolk, a group of brown skinned elves with an Egyptian motif, challenges Cutter, a Wolfrider, part of a group of paler skinned elves, and an outsider, over the love of Leetah, a Sunfolk woman using an ancient ritual. Their relationship is a giant CockFight.
[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Literature]]

* Gender-flipped in ''{{Uglies}}'', with newcomer [[TheMole Tally Youngblood]] as the MightyWhitey, David, [[TheChiefsDaughter The Leader's Son]] as the love interest, and Shay, Tally's old friend who had joined the Smokies earlier, as TheNativeRival. When the situation repeats itself in ''{{Pretties}}'', with a new group and love interest, it's small wonder Shay turns evil.

[[AC:Western Animation]]

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* Salish from [[StarTrekTheOriginalSeries "The Paradise Syndrome"]] to Kirk as the [[GodGuise god sent to save them from the coming apocalypse]]. They both go for [[TheChiefsDaughter Miramanee]], Kirk wins [[spoiler:only to lose her after she saves him from the stones of a mob led by Salish]]. And Salish gets away with it completely, [[spoiler: minus Miramanee]].

** Though Sokka is Inuit, too - just from a different Water Tribe.

* Fowler to Rocky in ''ChickenRun''.
* Hahn, Princess Yue's fiance, from AvatarTheLastAirbender
* Atka from [[Disney/BrotherBear ''Brother Bear 2'']] (since the end of the first film, Kenai is now a bear).

* Atka from [[Disney/BrotherBear ''Brother Bear 2'']].

* Rufio from ''{{Hook}}''.

[[AC:Theatre]]
* YourMileageMayVary, but possibly Iago to {{Othello}}. This example is (in addition to being a reversal, as Othello is Mighty Blacky, so to speak) more a question of director/actor interpretation. It's common nowadays to play up the racial angle, but not as much in the past, where Iago would just hate Othello for his success (possibly claims with Iago's wife, although that's a dubious claim), or just ForTheEvulz.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' also did the DancesWithWolves InSpace bit in one episode, complete with a native competitor for the hand of the chief's daughter. I don't remember how it turned out, however... probably, the native competitor got the chief's daughter anyway, since Crichton had to leave to continue the series... There was also a subversion and a couple twists. Because it's ''Farscape''.

* ''{{Farscape}}'' also did the DancesWithWolves InSpace bit in one episode, complete with a native competitor for the hand of the chief's daughter. I don't remember how it turned out, however... probably, the native competitor got the chief's daughter anyway, since Crichton had to leave to continue the series... There was also a subversion and a couple twists. Because it's Farscape.

Not everyone in a MightyWhitey story loves the whitey, and this is an example of continuing white guilt and closed-mindedness. There is one strong (generally male) member of the native party that stands above the rest in his distrust of the white man.

Because he continues being able to speak even after everyone has fallen in love with the outsider, he's likely had some standing in the society before the whitey shows up.

Tensions between the protagonist and TheNativeRival will generally persist over a woman, either [[TheChiefsDaughter The Chief's Daughter]], some other love, or a family member who has fallen in love with the protagonist.

TheNativeRival is generally the last to accept the white man, if he ever does so. If not, he'll either attempt to kill or betray the whitey, or else he will be killed himself. When he does accept the white man, this decision makes every remaining dissenter accept him as well.

* Tsu'tey in ''{{Film/Avatar}}''. This is a rather epic example. Tsu'tey was a jerk ''at first'', but everything after that is ''entirely the hero's fault''. The love interest was betrothed to the rival, afterall. But, this being the MostTriumphantExample of MightyWhitey films, [[spoiler: Tsu'tey winds up dying serving the hero in the war ''the hero'' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero brought upon them all]], after he basically forgave the hero for stealing his betrothed.]]

* Salish from [[StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Paradise Syndrome]] to Kirk as the [[CargoCult god sent to save them from the coming apocalypse]]. They both go for [[TheChiefsDaughter Miramanee]], Kirk wins [[spoiler:only to lose her after she saves him from the stones of a mob led by Salish]]. And Salish gets away with it completely, [[spoiler: minus Miramanee]].

* That one leader lost boy from ''{{Hook}}''.

* Tsu'tey in ''{{Film/Avatar}}''. He naturally stops being a problem once he gets shot down by the human mercs.

* Tsu'tey in ''{{Film/Avatar}}''.

* Tsu'tey in {{Film/Avatar}}.

* Kerchak the dominant male gorilla in {{Film/Tarzan}}.