History Main / WhatTheHellHero

When characters InUniverse call out one of the heroes for doing something clearly unheroic, if not outright heinous.

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]].[[note]]Fighter: "Yay!"[[/note]] [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty.]][[note]]Black Mage: "Yay!"[[/note]]]]

Some video games offer dialogue trees or something similar that might allow your character to call someone out for their horrible behavior, which can be immensely satisfying. If your character is the one being called out, it's WhatTheHellPlayer MyGodWhatHaveIDone may be a self-inflicted version. Can come right off the heels of a SadisticChoice foisted on the player in a video game. The hero may attempt to invoke IDidWhatIHadToDo as their justification, though this does not always succeed. Of course, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and one should beware of their own MoralMyopia leading to TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong. Results may vary against the SociopathicHero or TheUnfettered; beware you don't get a ShutUpKirk or HannibalLecture in response. EtTuBrute may also counts as this when a hero does not make a full FaceHeelTurn, but gets called out for nearly betraying their allies. If it's a child calling out a parent, it's CallingTheOldManOut. Can overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech if a character points out a hero's flaws in very long detail in the most brutal way possible. Can also overlap with CowardiceCallout if the hero is being called out on shortcomings that are rooted in fear or a lack of well-placed courage. A character verbally chastising the hero may realize they [[WasTooHardOnHim were too hard on them]] if they feel uncomfortable in chewing out the hero. The hero may lash out at the reproof if they CantTakeCriticism.

Some video games offer dialogue trees or something similar that might allow your character to call someone out for their horrible behavior, which can be immensely satisfying. If your character is the one being called out, it's WhatTheHellPlayer MyGodWhatHaveIDone may be a self-inflicted version. Can come right off the heels of a SadisticChoice foisted on the player in a video game. The hero may attempt to invoke IDidWhatIHadToDo as their justification, though this does not always succeed. Of course, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and one should beware of their own MoralMyopia leading to TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong. Results may vary against the SociopathicHero or TheUnfettered; beware you don't get a ShutUpKirk or HannibalLecture in response. EtTuBrute may also counts as this when a hero does not make a full FaceHeelTurn, but gets called out for nearly betraying their allies. If it's a child calling out a parent, it's CallingTheOldManOut. Can overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech if a character points out a hero's flaws in very long detail in the most brutal way possible. A character verbally chastising the hero may realize they [[WasTooHardOnHim were too hard on them]] if they feel uncomfortable in chewing out the hero. The hero may lash out at the reproof if they CantTakeCriticism.

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]].[[note]]Fighter: "Yay!"[[/note]] [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty]].[[note]]Black Mage: "Yay!"[[/note]]]]

Occasionally, an author will drop some black into his otherwise flawlessly good guy hero... and have others, particularly TheHeart (and ''especially'' TheMcCoy), ''notice.'' This can add guilt and remorse to a character as they [[KickTheMoralityPet feel shame for their evil actions]], and legitimately have to fight to [[ClearMyName restore their name]], [[MustMakeAmends undo the harm]], or simply live with the guilt and shame of it. In this case, you can expect to hear some variation of "Haven't you done enough already?" More extremely, it can be the first step towards AntiHero-dom or a full-blown FaceHeelTurn. A RedemptionQuest is usually considered the most noble or morally good way to respond to this.

Some video games offer dialogue trees or something similar that might allow your character to call someone out for their horrible behavior, which can be immensely satisfying. If your character is the one being called out, it's WhatTheHellPlayer MyGodWhatHaveIDone may be a self-inflicted version. Can come right off the heels of a SadisticChoice foisted on the player in a video game. The hero may attempt to invoke IDidWhatIHadToDo as his justification, though this does not always succeed. Of course, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and one should beware of his own MoralMyopia leading to TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong. Results may vary against the SociopathicHero or TheUnfettered; beware you don't get a ShutUpKirk or HannibalLecture in response. EtTuBrute may also counts as this when a hero does not make a full FaceHeelTurn, but gets called out for nearly betraying his allies. If it's a child calling out a parent, it's CallingTheOldManOut. Can overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech if a character points out a hero's flaws in very long detail in the most brutal way possible. A character verbally chastising the hero may realize s/he WasTooHardOnHim if s/he feels uncomfortable in chewing out the hero. The hero may lash out at the reproof if he CantTakeCriticism.

Of course, the critics aren't necessarily infallible themselves. There may be times when those making the criticism may not be aware of extenuating factors for the heroes. Sometimes, those making a What The Hell Hero statement can get one in return- an AntiHero may call TheHero out on being too inflexible to do what is necessary, while the hero may respond that his critic's methods are little better than those of the villains.

'''Important note''': This article is ''exclusively'' about scenes where the hero is called on his morally ambiguous or directly evil actions by characters ''in the story''. '''If the DesignatedHero is a {{Jerkass}} (or worse), but no one calls him on it in the series, then take your example to DesignatedHero. Good-intended mistakes fall under NiceJobBreakingItHero.''' Reviewers can call out this in their reviews, but they themselves are not engaging in What the Hell, Hero? as they are not part of the series being criticized. A skit still has to be based on events in the series; not something they make up so they can do the criticizing themselves.

'''Important note''': This article is ''exclusively'' about scenes where the hero is called on his morally ambiguous or directly evil actions by characters ''in the story''. '''If the DesignatedHero is a {{Jerkass}} (or worse), but no one calls him on it in the series, then take your example to MoralDissonance or DesignatedHero. Good-intended mistakes fall under NiceJobBreakingItHero.''' Reviewers can call out the MoralDissonance in their reviews, but they themselves are not engaging in What the Hell, Hero? as they are not part of the series being criticized. A skit still has to be based on events in the series; not something they make up so they can do the criticizing themselves.

It shows the fans that the author knows their hero did wrong, thereby averting MoralDissonance.

-->-- '''[[BigBad Lazarevic]]''', ''VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves''

The opposite of ProtagonistCenteredMorality; contrast also DesignatedHero and HeroInsurance. See also WhatIsEvil and NotSoDifferent for when a ''villain'' is the one pointing this out, or acting as though there's something to point out to mess with the hero. (A variation is when the villain will ''praise'' the hero, which [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame the hero will find profoundly humiliating]].)

** WhatTheHellHero/UltimateMarvel

Some video games offer dialogue trees or something similar that might allow your character to call someone out for their horrible behavior, which can be immensely satisfying. If your character is the one being called out, it's WhatTheHellPlayer MyGodWhatHaveIDone may be a self-inflicted version. Can come right off the heels of a SadisticChoice foisted on the player in a video game. The hero may attempt to invoke IDidWhatIHadToDo as his justification, though this does not always succeed. Of course, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and one should beware of his own MoralMyopia leading to TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong. Results may vary against the SociopathicHero or TheUnfettered; beware you don't get a ShutUpKirk or HannibalLecture in response. EtTuBrute may also counts as this when a hero does not make a full FaceHeelTurn, but gets called out for nearly betraying his allies. If it's a child calling out a parent, it's CallingTheOldManOut. Can somewhat overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech if a character points out a hero's flaws in very long detail in the most brutal way possible. A character verbally chastising the hero may realize s/he WasTooHardOnHim if s/he feels uncomfortable in chewing out the hero. The hero may lash out at the reproof if he CantTakeCriticism.

[[foldercontrol]]

!!Other examples:
[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'', Poppy gets this from Biggie and Branch for not listening to anyone, including her friends.
** Played for laughs in the third season premiere of the preceding spin-off series ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTheBeatGoesOn''. Branch goes on a conspiratorial rant about how the hidden box of disguises belongs to a non-Pop troll infiltrator that needs to be rooted out. Poppy not only dismisses Branch's concerns (comically revealing that ''every other'' Pop troll has one), but she has an entire musical number that [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech encourages everyone in the village to ignore Branch]]. After all the others leave, though, she quickly admits Branch is right and that he needs to help her find the infiltrator. Branch immediately calls Poppy out for the previous song (she justifies it by noting how easily Pop trolls panic, and she "had to really sell it").
[[/folder]]

** Played for laughs in the third season premiere of the preceding spin-off series ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTheBeatGoesOn''. Branch goes on a conspiratorial rant about how the hidden box of disguises belongs to a non-Pop troll infiltrator that needs to be rooted out. Poppy not only dismisses Branch's concerns (comically revealing that ''every other'' troll has one), but she has an entire musical number that [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech encourages everyone in the village to ignore Branch]]. After all the others leave, though, she quickly admits Branch is right and that he needs to help her find the infiltrator. Branch immediately calls Poppy out for the previous song (she justifies it by noting how easily trolls panic, and she "had to really sell it").

'''Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly'''

Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly

!!Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly

Occasionally, an author will drop [[BlackAndGrayMorality some]] [[GreyAndGrayMorality gray]] into his otherwise flawlessly good guy hero... and have others, particularly TheHeart (and ''especially'' TheMcCoy), ''notice.'' This can add guilt and remorse to a character as they [[KickTheMoralityPet feel shame for their evil actions]], and legitimately have to fight to [[ClearMyName restore their name]], [[MustMakeAmends undo the harm]], or simply live with the guilt and shame of it. In this case, you can expect to hear some variation of "Haven't you done enough already?" More extremely, it can be the first step towards AntiHero-dom or a full-blown FaceHeelTurn. A RedemptionQuest is usually considered the most noble or morally good way to respond to this.

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]].[[note]]Fighter: "Yay!"[[/note]] [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty.]][[note]]Black Mage: "Yay!"[[/note]]]]

Almost never applies to those PowersThatBe who have an OmniscientMoralityLicense, although characters who RageAgainstTheHeavens might attempt it. Likewise, villains tend to be immune to this thanks to their ItsAllAboutMe attitude (or, at best, MoralMyopia), though a HeelRealisation might clue them in, perhaps leading to a VillainousBSOD. (This trope doesn't really apply to villains who are just doing it ForTheEvulz.) Those pesky {{Trickster Mentor}}s may also find themselves on the receiving end of RageAgainstTheMentor.

-->-- '''[[BigBad Lazarevic]]''', ''{{VideoGame/Uncharted}} 2: Among Thieves''

Of course, the critics aren't necessarily infallible themselves. There may be times when those making the criticism may not be aware of extenuating factors for the heroes. Sometimes, those making a WhatTheHellHero statement can get one in return- an AntiHero may call TheHero out on being too inflexible to do what is necessary, while the hero may respond that his critic's methods are little better than those of the villains.

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]]. [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty.]][[note]]"Yay!"[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]]. [[note]]"Yay!"[[note]] [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty.]][[note]]"Yay!"[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:300:Except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]]. [[GuiltByAssociationGag He's a casualty.]][[note]]"Yay!"[[/note]]]]