History Main / UselessBoyfriend

* In 'WesternAnimation/'WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[strike:effectively]][[strike:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against magical threats. Which are, like, 90% of the threats.

* In ''WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[strike:effectively]][[strike:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against magical threats. Which are, like, 90% of the threats.
* In ''{{WITCH}}'', Cornelia's boyfriend, Caleb, is an undeniable badass, leading the resistance forces in Miridian, running daring raids against [[TheEmpire Phobos' forces,]] and even saving the girls in their first encounter. Despite all of this, he is next to useless against Phobos, Cedric, or any of the [[BigBad Big Bads, really.]]

* BuffyTheVampireSlayer's boyfriend in seasons 4-5, Riley, was a [[BadassNormal Badass Normal]] who was completely and utterly outclassed by [[SuperStrength Buffy.]] The show even [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs the trope,]] with all the UnfortunateImplications that come along with it. Riley eventually feels useless and weak compared to Buffy and leaves her. Later it turns out that he marries a different, and less [[SuperEmpowering empowered]] [[ActionGirl Action Girl.]]

* In ''WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[spoiler: effectively]][[spoiler: competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against magical threats. Which are, like, 90% of the threats.

** Matt Olsen, Will's boyfriend, subverts this trope. When he finds out of Will's second life, he decides that he isn't going to let Will get hurt with him around. He takes copious amounts of TakingALevelInBadass [[spoiler: after his succesful BattleInTheCenterofTheMind against his BrainwashedAndCrazy self]], gets himself new powers and is now on equal footing with them! Sadly, the series is canceled before we can find out if he'd end up getting shunted back into this category.

* In ''SailorMoon'', Tuxedo Mask was the mysterious protector of the main characters while Usagi and her team got stronger. He becomes completely useless against the first and last [[BigBad Big Bads,]] often leaving Usagi alone for the bigger battles. (In his defense, it's not like he wants to: in the first series [[spoiler: he's gravely injured and then dies in between the fight with Beryl and the one with Metallia!Beryl]], in ''S'' [[spoiler: he's keeping Chibi-Usa alive via constantly transferring some of his own LifeEnergy to her comatose body after her Heart Crystal is stolen]], in ''Super S'' [[spoiler: the influence of Black Moon leave him greatly debilitated]], and in ''Stars'' [[spoiler: he was [[BusCrash dead]] again]].)

* ''WonderWoman:''Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman's official LoveInterest for decades, was a USA Air Force pilot and agent. But he ended up rescued by WonderWoman as often as LoisLane was by {{Superman}}. Eventually they wrote him out of the series, even [[PairTheSpares marrying him to Wonder Woman's female sidekick]], Etta Candy.

When this trope is played straight, it is used to denote [[YouGoGirl GirlPower]]. This trope is a necessity due to the fact that the girls are the ones that are supposed to have the spotlight and be the heroines, as most of this shows are primarily intended for girls.

See [[YouGoGirl GirlPower]], ActionGirl, InformedAbility, [[MagicalGirl Magical Girl,]] or [[DamselInDistress Damsel In Distress.]] Also look at [[BadassDecay Badass Decay.]] Contrast FauxActionGirl, this trope is a part of the DistaffCounterpart thereof.

* Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman's official LoveInterest for decades, was a USA Air Force pilot and agent. But he ended up rescued by WonderWoman as often as LoisLane was by {{Superman}}. Eventually they wrote him out of the series, even [[PairTheSpares marrying him to Wonder Woman's female sidekick]], Etta Candy.

* Fey of the WhateleyUniverse has immense magical powers and has beaten The Necromancer in one-on-one duels. Her boyfriend Stalwart is an inventor, and not all of his inventions work.

*** The comic was also good at subverting it. When Matt learns about TheMasquerade, he helps the girls hiding it from their parents. Next story arc, he is a DistressedDude, but at then end he manages to save the day. [[Then we learn he was a ReallySevenHundredYearsOld secret protector.]]

* Lampshaded and... Parodied?... with Steve Trevor, love interest of WonderWoman in his appearance at ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': In all other incarnations (comics, animation, live action TV) he is a fairly proactive guy, (except comics, as you can see above) in the ColdOpening of “Scorn of Star Shappire” he is a secret agent so confindent that WonderWoman will come to her rescue that he doesn’t move a muscle to get out of a DeathTrap, left her do all the work, and gushes in her presence. And this immortal line:

** The other thing is that it's Kim's show, so she's usually the hero with Ron as loyal support, though he has a number of AllUpToYou moments. [[hottip:*: Some fans thought there were too many of these, but that's a debate we don't want to re-open.]]

* In ''WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[spoiler:effectively]][[spoiler:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against magical threats. Which are, like, 90% of the threats.

* In ''SailorMoon'', Tuxedo Mask was the mysterious protector of the main characters while Usagi and her team got stronger. He becomes completely useless against the first and last [[BigBad Big Bads,]] often leaving Usagi alone for the bigger battles.

* In ''WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[spoiler:effectively]][[spoiler:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against [[strike:magical]] any threats.

** Matt Olsen, Will's boyfriend, subverts this trope. When he finds out of Will's second life, he decides that he isn't going to let Will get hurt with him around. He takes copious amounts of TakingALevelInBadass, gets himself new powers and is now on equal footing with them! Sadly, the series is canceled before we can find out if he'd end up getting shunted back into this category.

See [[YouGoGirl GirlPower]], ActionGirl, [[MagicalGirl Magical Girl,]] or [[DamselInDistress Damsel In Distress.]] Also look at [[BadassDecay Badass Decay.]] Contrast FauxActionGirl, this trope is a part of the DistaffCounterpart thereof.

* Played straight with Mickey of ''DoctorWho'' at first, then subverted.

* In ''{{Witch}}'', Cornelia's boyfriend, Caleb, is an undeniable badass, leading the resistance forces in Miridian, running daring raids against [[TheEmpire Phobos' forces,]] and even saving the girls in their first encounter. Despite all of this, he is next to useless against Phobos, Cedric, or any of the [[BigBad Big Bads, really.]]

See [[YouGoGirl GirlPower]], ActionGirl, [[MagicalGirl Magical Girl,]] or [[DamselInDistress Damsel In Distress.]] Also look at [[BadassDecay Badass Decay.]] Contrast FauxActionGirl.

[[quoteright:289:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wonder_woman_and_steve_trevor_7337.jpg]]

* In ''WinxClub'', the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[strike:effectively]][[strike:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against [[strike:magical]] any threats.

See [[YouGoGirl GirlPower]] ActionGirl, [[MagicalGirl Magical Girl,]] or [[DamselInDistress Damsel In Distress.]] Also look at [[BadassDecay Badass Decay.]]

** The other thing is that it's Kim's show, so she's usually the hero with Ron as loyal support, with a number of AllUpToYou moments[[hottip:*: Some fans thought there were too many of these, but that's a debate we don't want to re-open.]]

* In SailorMoon, Tuxedo Mask was the mysterious protector of the main characters while Usagi and her team got stronger. He becomes completely useless against the first and last [[BigBad Big Bads,]] often leaving Usagi alone for the bigger battles.

* [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy's]] boyfriend Riley in seasons 4-5 was a [[BadassNormal Badass Normal]] who was completely and utterly outclassed by [[SuperStrength Buffy.]] The show even [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs the trope,]] with all the [[UnfortunateImplications Unfortunate Implications]] that come along with it. Riley eventually feels useless and weak compared to Buffy and leaves her. Later it turns out that he marries a different, and less [[SuperEmpowering empowered]] [[ActionGirl Action Girl.]]
* In {{Charmed}}, Cole turned into this after his HeelFaceTurn, but then turned into a {{Muggle}}.
* Played straight with Mickey of DoctorWho at first, then subverted.

* TheServant series, by LoriFoster, has Gaby as the supernatural protagonist and Luther as her {{Muggle}} love interest. If it were a straight up detective series, Luther would be pretty badass. Unfortunately, since he's not supernaturally empowered, he can't hold a candle to Gaby.

* In WinxClub, the specialists are depicted as completely badass warriors, due to the fact that they are training all the time to be [[BadassNormal Badass Normals.]]For this reason one would logically expect them to be able to fight [[strike:effectively]][[strike:competently]] ''at all'' against the forces of evil. Despite this, they are completely useless against the [[BigBad Big Bads,]] and very weak compared to the WinxClub against [[strike:magical]] any threats.
* In {{Witch}}, Cornelia's boyfriend, Caleb, is an undeniable badass, leading the resistance forces in Miridian, running daring raids against [[TheEmpire Phobos' forces,]] and even saving the girls in their first encounter. Despite all of this, he is next to useless against Phobos, Cedric, or any of the [[BigBad Big Bads, really.]]
* The wielders of the Forest Stones from [[PrincessGwenevereAndTheJewelRiders Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders,]] despite riding {{Badass}} wolves and having their own [[GreenLanternRing magic stones]], were unfortunately made all too aware of this trope. They have been kidnapped, transformed, and in short are pretty much useless.
* In KimPossible, [[{{Sidekick}} Ron Stoppable]] is this for Kim. Despite the act that he has "mystical king Fu powers" he is unable to beat Shego nor any villain of the week.Most of the time Kim does all the work.He becomes aware of this trope at the last episode and feels outclassed compared to Kim.Even in the last episode when he was allowed to [[spoiler: awaken his powers and beat the {{BigBad}}s by himself, he was unable to use his powers until the last moment and when Kim was knocked out.]]
** Ron really is more of a subversion however.example. He is, in fact an attempt at lampshading this trope. The main difference is that Ron hasn't made any claims to be badass, he knows he isn't badass, and he knows if he gets into a fight.

* In KimPossible RonStoppable is this for Kim. Despite the act that he has "mystical king Fu powers" he is unable to beat Shego nor any villain of the week.Most of the time Kim does all the work.He becomes aware of this trope at the last episode and feels outclassed compared to Kim.Even in the last episode when he was allowed to [[spoiler: awaken his powers and beat the {{BigBad}}s by himself, he was unable to use his powers until the last moment and when Kim was knocked out.]]

** Ron really is a subversion however.example. He is, in fact an attempt at lampshading this trope. The main difference is that Ron hasn't made any claims to be badass, he knows he isn't badass, and he knows if he gets into a fight.