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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/293277db0f03c1e3108285a9de8df0cc.jpg]]
2 [[caption-width-right:350:"You and I are one, now and forever."]]
3
4Even one of [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} the darkest children's cartoons]] of all time can have uplifting moments.
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8'''''WARNING:''''' Contains spoilers.
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10* Bronx is not technically a gargoyle. Rather, he's a gargoyle beast, but he is still very intelligent and considered a full-fledged member of the clan.
11* The "Awakening" arc is chock full of heartwarming moments.
12** In Part 1, when the Trio explain to Tom that most gargoyles don't have names. When the boy asks what they call each other, Brooklyn simply says that they refer to their fellows as [[TrueCompanions "Friend"]].
13*** In the same episode, when the Princess, her courtiers, and the refugees are rounded up as prisoners, Tom assures his mother that "[his] friends, the gargoyles" will be coming to rescue them. Despite limited interaction with them, Tom still considers the gargoyles to be his friends.
14** After Goliath expresses anguish over having been "denied everything, even [his] revenge". Princess Katherine, who'd been extremely prejudiced against the gargoyles and Goliath in particular for so long, looks saddened and wants to comfort him. Afterward, we see her turnaround on her feelings towards gargoyles, including horror at the Magus' cursing the clan into endless sleep, and the fact that she immediately agrees to look after the remaining gargoyle eggs as though they were her own.
15** The clan's re-awakening in Manhattan:
16--> '''Goliath:''' We're awake...? WE'RE ALIVE! We're together again!
17** When she first meets the clan, Elisa asserts that a good detective never trusts anyone, hence why she investigates Xanatos. Yet when she accidentally falls off the roof due to seeing Goliath, his first impulse is to save her. When they catch their breath, he asks her what she was doing there and please don't fall this time. She can't help but smile. This "monster" rescued her, has a sense of humor and escorts her to a safer ground. Goliath determines that he shouldn't trust people, but he comes to like her as well.
18** When they meet in Central Park at night and get ambushed, Elisa breaks out of her captors' hold and spends the whole night keeping Goliath from getting shattered or killed. She then has an UnbrokenVigil by his side until he awakens.
19* "Deadly Force":
20** Elisa was shot and is in the hospital. Goliath comes to secretly visit her while she's unconscious. He takes her hand and tells her to keep fighting and not give up.
21** In the end, Elisa immediately forgiving Broadway for accidently shooting her and fully admits to being equally at fault for leaving her gun lying around.
22** The last shot of the show, where Goliath and Broadway turn to stone outside the window to Elisa's hospital room as if standing vigil.
23* Near the end of "Reawakening", after Demona and Xanatos have filled the resurrected Coldstone with lies, blaming Goliath for the deaths of the entire clan. Coldstone had gone on a city-wide rampage, and tries to kill his own brother. When the pair fall of the bridge, their battling on into the water below, it seems like Goliath is finished. But as he looks into his rookery-brother's dimming eyes, Coldstone remembers a maxim that he was taught alongside Goliath: "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." Needing no further convincing, Coldstone saves Goliath's life.
24** On a minor note, Xanatos watches the clan quietly as they regroup and doesn't interfere. It's almost as if he respects family enough to leave them all be in their moment of reconciliation.
25** After Goliath reaches his decision to protect all of Manhattan thenceforth:
26--->'''Elisa:''' Is there anything you need?\
27'''Goliath:''' Yes. I need a detective.
28* In "Leader of the Pack", the ending reveals that the whole endeavor was simply to allow Fox early parole so she and Xanatos could be together. Xanatos tells her than the battle itself didn't matter, it was all about helping Fox. As twisted as Xanatos can be, there is something heartwarming in him telling Fox how much she matters to him.
29* Goliath and Elisa dancing in "Eye of the Beholder." It's just too sweet for words.
30--> '''Lexington''': (''as he, Brooklyn and Broadway watch Goliath and Elisa with approval'') They should have Halloween more often.\
31'''Brooklyn''': Yeah...
32** In the same episode, when it becomes apparent that Xanatos was really trying to save Fox and not simply retrieve the Eye of Odin.
33** When the transformation curse is finally broken, Elisa covers Fox with the petticoat of her gown [[ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing so she's not exposed.]]
34* When Goliath helps Elisa back to her feet and the pair hold hands and smile while Goliath is still (temporarily) human in "The Mirror".
35** Freshly turned into a gargoyle, Elisa admits she'll never get used to jumping off rooftops.
36--->'''Goliath:''' I'll always be there to catch you.
37* A blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment from ''The Price''. All of the clan, except Goliath, end up stranded on a roof at the mercy of Macbeth (or so they think), who is on a hovercycle and has a laser gun. There is no way they can escape without getting shot. Hudson jumps in front of the trio and flares out his wings, blocking them from view and making himself a bigger target, fully willing to die if it means the rest of his clan has a chance of survival.
38* The end of the "The Cage" when Elisa takes their parents and sister to see Derek. Their shock at seeing his mutated state lasts about a few seconds before they rush over and tearfully embrace him. Following up from the massive DownerEnding of "Metamorphosis", it's VERY pleasing to watch.
39** And Goliath is outside the window, watching this with a contented smile on his face. Consider that even though his own family was destroyed (''all'' of his rookery brothers and sisters are dead), he's pleased that Elisa's was able to come back together damaged but still whole, and for now that's enough.
40** It's ambiguous if Sevarius really created a cure or simply developed a poison, but Maggie doesn't care either way.
41--->'''Maggie:''' Any risk is better than living as a monster!\
42'''Derek:''' I'm a monster.\
43'''Maggie:''' But you're strong, stronger than me. I can't live this way.\
44'''Derek:''' I couldn't either, not without you. Maggie, we're not strong alone; we're strong together.
45** Derek is deeply apologetic about misjudging Goliath. Goliath doesn't begrudge him in the slightest and offers all of the Mutates an invitation to join his clan.
46* A lot of pieces in a series this long, but of particular note:
47--> '''Princess Katherine:''' He'll hunt us to the ends of the earth!
48--> '''Magus:''' *''gentle/sincere smile''* Then I'll take you beyond them. (and he ''does'')
49* Goliath reconciling with the Magus on Avalon:
50--> '''Magus:''' I cursed your clan.
51--> '''Goliath:''' ''You saved our children.''
52* The ending of Bronx's spotlight episode "The Hound of Ulster".
53--> '''Bronx''': (''looking as proud as ever'')
54--> '''Elisa''': (''with a smile'') Don't look so smug Bronx.
55--> '''Goliath''': Bronx has a right to feel proud of himself. It's not everyday a land gets one of its old heroes back, and a land with a hero soon finds other deeds for him to do.
56* The end of "Mark Of The Panther" also.
57--> '''Goliath''': Your quick thinking helped us defeat Anansi. I am proud of you, my daughter.
58--> '''Angela''': Oh, father! (''hugs Goliath right before they turn to stone'')
59** Particularly heartwarming because, up to that point, Goliath had been unwilling to claim Angela as his daughter - in traditional gargoyle culture, children are raised communally with all adults who contributed eggs to a generation acting as "rookery parents" to that generation regardless of biological relation, but Angela, having been raised by humans, was more focused on the notion of her biological parentage. This troubled Goliath, both due to his concern for the survival of gargoyle traditions and worry about the ''other'' half of Angela's parentage, which led to him stubbornly refusing Angela's attempts at parent-child bonding and making her feel rejected. Diane Maza helping Goliath understand Angela's point of view and pointing out that he was her father by both gargoyle ''and'' human definitions helped him to finally open up to her.
60* In ''Shadows of the Past'' The Captain redeems himself for his betrayal of the gargoyles many years ago. After Goliath recovers, he and his group see The Captain's spirit and gives him one more message of gratitude before he passes on.
61-->'''The Captain''': Thank you Goliath, you have helped me break the shackles of hate and guilt that held me here. Farewell, old friend.
62** Even before this, Goliath tells Eliza and Angela that the Captain was his friend. Without even needing to say it, he has forgiven him.
63* Leo, Una, and Griff's reunion at the end of "M.I.A.". It's made very clear with the change in personality Leo and Una have, as they are moody and bitter in modern times, but as soon as Griff returns, they are elated and ready to genuinely protect their human neighbors.
64** Said human neighbors smile at the sight of the three gargoyles driving off a gang of hoodlums rather than fleeing in terror like the citizens of New York do all too frequently. Made even better as WordOfGod has stated that afterward, the London Clan became the best worst-kept secret in the city, with the humans never making their existence public, out of genuine gratitude for all the good they did.
65** Even in the past, it happens, as Griff and Goliath help the Royal Air Force pilots battle the Luftwaffe. One pilot is astonished that the gargoyles are real, and absolutely thrilled that they're fighting by their side against the Nazis, and he saves an injured Goliath's life by shooting down an enemy fighter that was attacking Goliath. Griff waves at the pilot in gratitude and the pilot smiles and gives a thumbs up to the gargoyles.
66** Said pilot was Douglas Bader, a real-life WWII fighter pilot who served [[HandicappedBadass despite having lost both his legs]]. Greg Weisman had actually met him once before he passed away, and wanted to honor him by giving him a part in the show.
67* By the end of "Walkabout" not only has Dingo [[HeelFaceTurn reformed]] (for real this time), it's he who manages to talk down the newly sentient Matrix. Thereafter, the Matrix decides to join forces with the reformed criminal as a superhero team themselves. Proving that sometimes, [[AIIsACrapshoot A. I.]] ''[[SubvertedTrope Isn't]]'' [[AIIsACrapshoot a Crapshoot]].
68** Heck, just how genuine Dingo is, saying that he missed being a Hero and wanted to try it again legitimately. Even Goliath, who has real reasons to not care about him due to the Pack, seems genuinely proud of Dingo and has let bygones be bygones.
69* After seeing so many fall under the sway of the [[AmuletOfDependency Eye of Odin]], even Goliath is not immune to its influence. But by the end of "Eye of the Storm," he is the only one able to successfully remove it himself. [[PapaWolf All the motivation that he needed was for Angela to be in danger.]]
70* After seeing [[PapaWolf Xanatos]] and [[MamaBear Fox]] do so many selfish and downright evil things in the past, it's nice to see their more human side emerge in "The Gathering."
71** In part one, Xanatos probably does the most heroic ([[DidntThinkThisThrough and simulatneously idiotic]]) things he's ever done when he tries to attack Oberon head-on in an attempt to protect his son.
72* Petros Xanatos to David in Part 2: "We haven't always seen eye to eye, but I've never been more proud to be your father."
73** David's response was similarly sweet, if to the point: "Thanks, Pop."
74* The Manhattan Clan's reunion in "The Gathering, Part 1".
75-->'''Lexington:''' I can't believe you're finally home!
76-->'''Brooklyn:''' Welcome back!
77** Goliath telling his clan that they are not the last of kind as there are other gargoyles around the world.
78--->'''Hudson:''' We're not the last. We're not alone.
79* The conclusion to "Hunter's Moon":
80-->'''Elisa:''' You know how I feel about you, right?
81-->'''Goliath:''' How we ''both'' feel... Yes.
82-->'''Elisa:''' Good. ''(leaps up to him and gives him a kiss)''
83** Also from "Hunter's Moon".
84-->'''Goliath''': I thought I told the clan to stay behind.
85-->'''Broadway''': The clan did stay behind. [[LoopholeAbuse But Elisa needed a lift.]]
86** In a strange way, the fact that the MOMENT Jason Canmore saw Ellie was going to be in trouble due to the rocket about to hit the clock tower and went in to save her was strangely heroic and a decent reminder that, though the Hunters hate gargoyles, they do try and keep it between them and only them while avoiding casualties. More's the shame that this didn't carry over when [[FaceHeelTurn Jon]] decided to change that when he created the [[TheKlan Quarrymen]].
87* Strangely, [[PetTheDog Xanatos and Fox's relationship]]:
88-->'''Xanatos:''' I think we love each other - as much as two [[MagnificentBastard people such as ourselves]] are capable of that emotion.
89** [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoment And he was right]].
90* The ending speech in ''A Lighthouse In The Sea Of Time'' is heartwarming for anyone who loves books. In fact, the whole episode is. If you aren't that big a book lover, Robbins having an epiphany and being able to write again counts, too.
91** The entire relationship between Hudson and Robbins in this episode is heartwarming. It starts with Hudson meeting a man who can't react to a gargoyle's fearsome appearance, who only perceives Hudson as a man who needs help.
92-->'''Hudson:''' I have nothing to offer in return except my thanks.
93-->'''Robbins:''' That's payment enough.
94** After spending some time getting to know each other, Hudson feels comfortable enough to open up to Robbins about something he couldn't even share with his family.
95-->'''Hudson:''' Who could teach me? I've never told my clan I can't read.
96-->'''Robbins:''' I could teach you. But that's not really the point, is it?
97-->'''Hudson:''' It... shames me.
98-->'''Robbins:''' I understand. But it isn't shameful to be illiterate, Hudson. It's only a shame to stay that way.
99** When Macbeth discovers that the MacGuffin book wasn't Merlin's spellbook but his diary, he's on the verge of destroying it, but Broadway stops him by saying that even if it's not a magic book, the book is still magic. Macbeth relents.
100-->'''Broadway:''' No! They are magic! But you can't burn them, Goliath. You can't! It's Merlin's ''life'', in his own words. When you read them, they take you there. It is magic, Goliath. Precious magic.
101* In the beginning of "The Gathering" we see a few glimpses of Oberon's Children having what seem to be casual conversations with the gargoyles of the Avalon clan, which is refreshing since most of Oberon's children are portrayed as {{Jerkass God}}s with very little regard for mortal life.
102* When Oberon wanted to use Boudicca to track Puck, he asked Princess Katharine politely and thanked her afterwards, even though she would never dare say no to him. Despite his haughtiness, this moment showed that he really can be a benevolent ruler to those he feels have earned his respect.
103* Rather subtle, but learning that Xanatos chose Owen over one wish from Puck speaks volumes about their relationship.
104** During "The Gathering," Owen leaves early to avoid a confrontation with Oberon. He does leave Xanataos with defence mechanisms, but Xanatos' reaction to this throughout the episodes makes it clear that he feels rather betrayed, and is later delighted to see Owen returning.
105* From the "Hunter's Moon" arc, Jon Canmore sparing the lives of the Clan after seeing them during the aftermath of the destruction of the clocktower. [[FaceHeelTurn Too bad it doesn't last...]]
106* Lexington's (facial) reaction to finding out that Amp is single. He's so happy!
107** The 2022 comic series definitively confirming on-panel that the two have started a long-distance relationship. In the issue released just before Pride Month, no less!
108** The lead-up to that confirmation is a sweet moment between Broadway and Lex, the latter of whom had been feeling lonely and left-behind by his brothers lately (with Broadway spending more time with Angela and Brooklyn's sudden forty-year time travel jaunt leaving him much older and with a mate and life experiences no longer shared with the other two). Lex is clearly unenthusiastic when Broadway tells him that he and Angela are planning their commitment ceremony, but brightens immediately when Broadway asks if he would serve as his second for the event, sincerely replying that he would be honored. Broadway then, with a knowing grin, asks Lex how his "long-distance thing" with Staghart is going, to which Lex simply responds with a shy but happy smile.
109* Anytime that Demona goes MamaBear on anyone who tries to hurts [[MoralityPet Angela]]. Those are the moments that reminds the viewers and the Clan that Demona is still capable of love.
110* From Issue 5 of the graphic novels, "Bash," after Goliath has been stabbed at Xanatos' Halloween party, and he and Elisa have agreed to try and "see other people" during the previous two issues:
111-->'''Goliath:''' You cannot...stop me...I will...say it...this once...[[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove I love you]]...
112-->'''Elisa:''' I love you too. ''(They kiss)''
113* In the timeline outlined by WordOfGod, gargoyles are no longer hunted down in the future, but ''merely tolerated''. After the end of the [[AlienInvasion Space Spawn invasion]], true acceptance will finally come. Cities across the world will bid to host future clans.
114* Any moment that David and Fox have with their son, [[MoralityPet Alexander]].
115** David was there helping Fox give birth to their son and then brings his son down to introduce him to his grandparents.
116** David and Fox going into full PapaWolf and MamaBear modes, respectively, when Oberon threatens to take their son away from them.
117*** On this note, Petros standing side-by-side with David as part of the last line of defense. He wasn't impressed by his manipulating time to kickstart his fortune, but standing against impossible odds to defend his family? ''That'' is worth his respect. And he freely gives it.
118** David plays with Alex in his office while talking to Detective Bluestone. When the said detective makes a comment on how David should make sure he's not doing anything illegal, David just asks Alex "Can you say 'harassment'?" Alex responds with giggles and David proudly states "I knew that you could" while cuddling him.
119* Hudson and Lexington's trip to England where they met the London Clan. After a very long time, it must have been great to be part of a whole clan, even if they were just guests. Their stay lasted for two months, and they even got to spend the holidays there.
120* From "The Silver Falcon", Martin Hacker mentions that Matt consider Elisa the best partner he ever had. And that's before Matt learn that the Gargoyles are real.
121* Dr. Sato becoming friends with the gargoyles and the Mutates. Best of all, he keeps their friendship a secret, just like Elisa and Matt did.
122** The fact that Dr. Sato only freaked out for a few seconds when he figured out his patient wasn't human, and only over not having access to any supplies and having no knowledge of gargoyle biology. Once Owen supplied the former and Elisa the latter, he immediately got to work treating Goliath's stab wound, no questions asked. It might not seem like much, but keep in mind that there are all too many doctors out there who will refuse to treat ''human'' patients over far more trivial differences.
123* "Vows" has a moment that is actually made more powerful by knowing it was an animation error. What should have been the last love between Demona and Goliath fading into the stars, instead showed them embracing in the clock tower as the scene ended. It has been established in( and out)-universe that history in the Gargoyles' world cannot be changed. Not only will Goliath and Demona never get together again, alternate timelines do not exist. Yet the love Goliath had with her was so strong it even transcended an established story, giving hope where there should be none at all.
124* One of the few moments from the widely-disliked season three that was looked on favorably by many fans and Greg Weisman alike, and subsequently adapted for the comic continuation, was Jeffrey Robbins figuring out Hudson's gargoyle nature. It was even more heartwarming in the comics version, wherein Robbins gives Hudson a chance to tell him the truth before revealing he knew all along, and doesn't take it personally at all that Hudson didn't tell him sooner.
125
126[[folder:The Goliath Chronicles (non-canon)]]
127* CanonDiscontinuity though the third season may be, Goliath's final narration, at the end of "Angels in the Night," was by far the best.
128--> '''Goliath:''' One thousand years ago, we lived in a world that understood our purpose. It was the age of Gargoyles. Ten centuries later, we awoke to a world bent on our destruction. Somehow, we never lost hope, and today, we have come full circle. A new age has begun, and we live again.
129** Xanatos' total 180 in personality. His bribing several construction workers employed by Castaway to modify a trap designed to kill the clan, and suggesting to Goliath that they make a clean start elsewhere is not only heartwarming. [[XanatosGambit It's still totally in character for him]]. Even after a HeelFaceTurn, he hasn't lost the edge.
130** Another moment of heartwarming from the ''Goliath Chronicles'' is Robbins revealing that he knew Hudson was a gargoyle and didn't care. Helps that Greg Weisman [[ApprovalOfGod confirmed that he always thought this was how it should turn out]].
131*** There is something in that episode that is really sweet. Throughout the ''Goliath Chronicles'' (and part of the comics as well), the Quarrymen are very much active and many New Yorkers are supportive of their desire to hunt the gargoyles down, but in this episode, we see a group of people decide to form their own little organization who are the complete opposite of the Quarrymen, namely that they are not scared of the gargoyles, instead they believe that humans and gargoyles could coexist peacefully. After the Quarrymen thrash their meeting and send a few of the people to the hospital, it's very heart warming to see how happy the founders of the group are when Angela drops by their hospital room to meet them and thank them for their support and kindness.
132** Canon or not, "Ransom" is a beautiful show case of how much Lexington [[BigBrotherInstinct cares for Alex]]. Not only does he turn himself in to the CorruptPolitician who is orchestrating the whole thing, but when the rest of the Clan shows up to try to rescue him, he outright ''demands'' they rescue Alex first because he doesn't want the kid hurt. And the DivingSave he makes and how most of the audience reacts? All just icing on the cake.
133** Baby Alex playing on the floor with Bronx and gleefully calling him "Doggie!" while Lex and Fox awkwardly make up because they have something in common: they both care about Alex.
134* "A Bronx Tale" gave the often neglected gargoyle beast another chance to shine (after "The Hound of Ulster"). He and that little Amish child Matthew were surprisingly adorable.
135* In "The Dying of the Light," Hudson began showing symptoms of glaucoma, his vision starts failing and he already lost vision in one eye already in a battle already, leading to him a depressed state. Hudson decided to pay his friend Geoffrey a visit one last time, but due to Geoffrey being blind himself, he immediately figured out that Hudson was going blind. When Geoffrey even called his optometrist and told her specifically she's going to be helping a Gargoyle, something Hudson said he didn't want to admit because he was afraid of losing his friendship with him, Geoffrey told him he knew the entire time. Right when Geoffrey and Hudson prepared to leave, he told Hudson to never again assume he would be a bigot, something that Hudson was all too ashamed of thinking.
136-->'''Hudson''': How could I assume the worst of man in you when you are truly the best? I'm sorry.
137-->'''Geoffrey''': (''smiles'') Accepted, now let's go.
138** The Optometrist in general. While she can be a bit of a character, she is all heart and is willing to help Hudson's retain his eyesight as best as she can. Her partner is just as trusting too. Hudson immediately thanks her for helping him in the end, which she only tells him to think nothing of it, as she would have helped him either way.
139* It may be non-canon, but Angela and Demona's mother-daughter bonding in "Generations" is nothing but an episode of sweetness. [[TearJerker Too bad it didn't last.]]
140* "Seeing isn't Believing": Taurus hastily calls to Elisa when he realizes she is walking right into a trap. No stoicism or simple performance of duty, just someone very fearful for her life, a touching show of how their relationship has progressed from professional courtesy to genuine friendship.
141[[/folder]]

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