Line #24 Main/PowerTrio


1	[[quoteright:249:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/powertrio_0.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:249:[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince "Why is it when something happens, it is always you three?"]][[note]]From top: Sabrina, Jill, & Kelly (''Series/CharliesAngels''); Lucky, Dusty, & Ned (''Film/ThreeAmigos''); Moe, Curly, & Larry (Film/TheThreeStooges), Huey, Dewey, and Louie (''WesternAnimation/{{DuckTales\|1987}}'')[[/note]]]]
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4	-> '''UsefulNotes/JosefStalin''': How many legs does a stool have?\
5	'''Grigori Zinoviev''': Three.\
6	'''Stalin''': Because it cannot stand on one or two.
7	-->-- ''Film/{{Stalin}}'' (a few years before Stalin decides ICanRuleAlone)
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10	[[RuleOfThree Three]] is a common number in ensembles.
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12	The most common pattern for this is for two members of the group to be each other's {{Foil}}s, frequently coming into conflict with each other, with the third member of the group acting as the mediator, keeping TheTeam together and balancing their respective personalities (in which case, see FreudianTrio). This is the dynamic that makes the ensemble powerful. In fact on almost any metric of personality, appearance, or skill, you could break the trio down to two extremes and a medium.
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14	Note the word 'ensemble'. These characters interact directly with each other. You can have three characters in a story that serve as {{foil}}s of one another without it being a Power Trio.
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16	Power Trios can be embedded in larger ensembles. ThreePlusTwo is a Power Trio within a FiveManBand. The Five Temperament version of the FourTemperamentEnsemble sometimes manifests as two Power Trios with the same central member. The MagnificentSevenSamurai often have one, and sometimes two, Power Trios of their own.
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18	Below, we list the many variations of a Power Trio. FreudianTrio is one of the more frequently found versions and is often the basis of the other trios. They can overlap.
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20	[[index]]
21	* BalanceSpeedStrengthTrio: One [[JackOfAllStats balanced]], one [[FragileSpeedster weak-but-fast]] and one [[MightyGlacier strong-but-slow]].
22	* BeautyBrainsAndBrawn: The GirlyGirl, [[{{The Smart Guy}} The Smart Gal]], and [[{{The Big Guy}} The Big Gal]].
23	* BigThinShortTrio: One big, one thin, and one short.
24	* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: One with blonde hair, one with dark brown/black hair, and one with red hair.
25	* ChromaticArrangement: Three characters ColourCodedForYourConvenience, most commonly as red, blue, and either green or yellow.
26	* ComicTrio: An idiot that comes up with stupid plans, another idiot who blindly follows instructions, and a [[OnlySaneMan relatively normal person]] who tries and fails to stop them.
27	* FighterMageThief: A MightyGlacier, a SquishyWizard, and a FragileSpeedster.
28	* FireIceLightning: A Power Trio of elemental powers. Usually analogous are TheSpock to Ice, TheKirk to Lightning, and TheMcCoy to Fire.
29	* FireWaterWind: Another Power Trio of elementals, one PlayingWithFire, the next MakingASplash, and the third will BlowYouAway.
30	* FreudianTrio: The three characters represent the Ego (or [[TheKirk Kirk]]), Superego (or [[TheSpock Spock]]), and Id (or [[TheMcCoy McCoy]]) of Freudian psychology.
31	* GirlPosse: An AlphaBitch, a BetaBitch, and a BrainlessBeauty.
32	* TheHecateSisters: Three female characters representing the maiden, the mother, and the crone.
33	* HeroRivalBaddieTeamUp: A hero, a rival and a villain making a team against a common enemy.
34	* KnightKnaveAndSquire: One idealistic fighter, one pragmatic fighter, and one inexperienced fighter.
35	* LandSeaSky: One of land, one of sea, and one of sky.
36	* MasculineFeminineAndrogyneTrio: A masculine character is grouped with a feminine character and an androgynous character.
37	* NiceMeanAndInbetween: A nice character, a mean character, and a character who sticks in between the two.
38	* PhysicalMysticalTechnological: Physical perfection, magical powers, and tech gadgets.
39	* RockTrio: Three-man rock band containing guitar, bass, and drums.
40	* SpeedSmartsAndStrength: One is speedy, one is smart, and one is strong.
41	* TerribleTrio: A villain with two henchmen.
42	* TheThreeFacesOfAdam: Three male characters roughly representing adventure, authority, and wisdom.
43	* TheThreeFacesOfEve: Three female characters representing the child, the wife, and the seductress.
44	* ThreePlusTwo: A Power Trio within a FiveManBand.
45	* ThreeSuccessfulGenerations: The youth who will make something of himself, the adult who is making something of himself, and elder who did make something of himself.
46	* TokenTrio: A [[WhiteMaleLead male of the majority]], a TokenMinority male, and a [[TokenGirl Token Female]] (just as likely to be of the majority or [[TwoferTokenMinority another minority]]).
47	* TownGirls: Where one is butch, one is femme, and one is neither.
48	* TwoGirlsAndAGuy: TheHeroine and her best friend, and a guy who is [[JustFriends just a friend]], or TheHero and his BettyAndVeronica.
49	* TwoGuysAndAGirl: TheHero vs. TheLancer, mediated by ([[LoveTriangle and sometimes fighting over]]) the token girl.
50	* TheWeirdSisters: A trio of supernatural women, such as witches, {{fairy godmother}}s, or female {{seers}}.
51	* WithAFriendAndAStranger: Central character, joined by a childhood friend and another character from out of nowhere.
52	[[/index]]

Context Main / PowerTrio