History PlayingWith / TheCape

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob is a MessianicArchetype, the powers he gains make him essentially a God, the enemies he fights are pure evil and his costume is amazingly garish.

* '''Discussed''': "God, Cape, why can't you stop being such a friggin' boy scout all the time?" "What, and deal with the LaserGuidedKarma your crap brings, Cowl?"

** Bob is forced to kill a whole group of strangers to save the life of his family, friends, and LoveInterest. But he can't bring himself to do it and ends up blaming himself for their deaths and/or impulsively kills the villain in an UnstoppableRage for having him make such [[SadisticChoice decisions]]. Bob can't escape the guilt he feels and can't stop wondering what he should have done.

** Bob realizes that some (if not all) problems don't have perfect solutions & it's up to him to decide what's the right corse of action whether it be to kill a life in order to save another or nothing at all.

%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob is TheMessiah, the powers he gains make him essentially a God, the enemies he fights are pure evil and his costume is amazingly garish.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Discussed''': ???

* '''Subverted''':
** On the outside Bob ''appears'' to be a noble and heroic superhero, but he's actually corrupt, [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] and {{hypocrit|e}}ical.

** Bob uses his powers, gadgets or training to make himself a symbol of fear and chaos: a Super-Villain. But it turns out that the only reason Bob became a super-villain was to force society to improve.
*** In essence, [[WebOriginal.DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog He's Doctor Horrible.]]

** Bob is forced to kill someone else to save the life of his family, friends, and LoveInterest. But he can't bring himself to do it and ends up blaming himself for their deaths and/or impulsively kills the villain in an UnstoppableRage for having him make such [[SadisticChoice decisions]]. Bob can't escape the guilt he feels and can't stop wondering what he should have done.

** In Response to Deconstruction #2, Bob realizes that some (if not all) problems don't have perfect solutions & it's up to him to decide what's the right corse of action whether it be to kill a life in order to save another or none at all.

** Bob realizes that some (if not all) problems don't have perfect solutions & it's up to him to decide what's the right course of action whether it be to kill a life in order to save another or none at all.

** Bob is forced to kill someone else to save the life of his family, friends, and LoveInterest. But he can't bring himself to do it. He ends up blaming himself for their deaths and/or impulsively killing the villain in a homicidal rage for having him make such [[SadisticChoice decisions]].

** Bob realizes that EvenEvilHasLovedOnes and some of them are decent people & doesn't think he should cause them pain by having them lose a loved one just because that person harmed others. After all, won't that make him as just as bad?

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ideals and values are overly idealistic and out of place in the real world he finds himself in. He often find himself struggling

** The writers/producers/etc. believe in the moral code of the Cape.

* '''Downplayed''': Bob is a good person who gains superpowers and uses them to help others as a costumed hero while trying to follow a LawfulGood [[TheFettered code of conduct]], but he's not flawless. Sometimes he yells at his {{sidekick}} for making mistakes or [[TenMinuteRetirement gets frustrated and tries to quit]]. Plus, his costume is fairly muted and [[WeaksauceWeakness he's powerless in the presence of mice]].

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Justified''': "Bob was an avid comic book reader when he was a kid, so when he got superpowers he knew instantly that he was going to use them to become a superhero like the ones he used to read about."

* '''Inverted''': Bob gains superpowers, but decides to use them for his own personal advantage (or even to become a villain).
** Alternatively: The NinetiesAntiHero.
* '''Subverted''': On the outside Bob ''appears'' to be a noble and heroic superhero, but he's actually corrupt, [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] and [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]].
* '''Double Subverted''': On the outside Bob ''appears'' to be a noble and heroic superhero, but he's actually corrupt, [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] and [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]] -- but he eventually has a [[HeelFaceTurn change of heart]] and begins to genuinely use his powers for noble and heroic purposes.
** Alternatively: Bob uses his powers, gadgets or training to make himself a symbol of fear and chaos: a Super-Villain. But it turns out that the only reason Bob became a super-villain was to force society to improve.
* '''Parodied''': Bob tries to use his superpowers to help people and do the right thing, but he's hopelessly incompetent and [[StopHelpingMe ends up doing more harm than good.]]
** Alternatively: Bob ''would'' have been a perfect superhero in the 1950s, but his values are completely [[GoodIsOldFashioned out of date]] and no one takes him seriously.
* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ideals and values are overly idealistic and out of place in the real world he finds himself in. He often find himself struggling
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob's ideals and values are overly idealistic and out of place in the real world he finds himself in, and his powers cannot solve every problem he encounters. However, he nevertheless manages to overcome these problems to make the world a better place.
** There are some problems Bob can't fix. He accepts that and concentrates on helping out in the ways he can. Just because he can't stop government corruption and religious turmoil is no reason not to foil bank robberies and defend the world from alien armadas.
** "You don't get it. My values are unrealistic, lofty and dated, yes. But they hold me to a standard. A standard ''[[TakeThat you could never meet]]'', [[AntiHero Darkguy]]."

* '''Enforced''': Bob's the Cape because the producers are consciously attempting to attract an audience only vaguely familiar with classic superhero conventions.
** Alternatively, the writing team makes Bob a noble figure bringing hope to a dark world as a backlash against the NinetiesAntiHero.

* '''Invoked''': "I shall use these powers for good, to help and protect the innocent! I shall become a superhero!"

----

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob is TheMessiah, the powers he gains make him essentially a God, the enemies he fights are {{Complete Monster}}s and his costume is amazingly garish.

* '''Discussed''': "You know, if I had superpowers, I'd use them to make the world a better place..."

** "You don't get it. My values are unrealistic, lofty and dated, yes. But they hold me to a standard. A standard [[TakeThat ''you'' could never meet]], [[AntiHero Darkguy]]."

** "You don't get it. My values are unrealistic, lofty and dated, yes. But they hold me to a standard. A standard you could never meet, [[AntiHero Darkguy]]."

* '''Parodied''': Bob tries to use his superpowers to help people and do the right thing, but he's hopelessly incompetent and ends up doing more harm than good.

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ideals and values are overly idealistic and out of place in the real world he finds himself in. Despite his immense superpowers, he fails to accomplish anything of meaning and ends up being defeated, often leaving the world a worse place.