Line #18 Main/TrialOfTheMysticalJury


1	Used in adventure stories and stories that cover a wide range of territory and plot elements.
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3	Basically, the hero has been captured by someone who isn't actually a villain. An angry native tribe, some [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien powerful god-like being]] or, in some cases, the police in another country, have caught the hero doing something that is against their rules. The hero may not even be aware that he has done anything wrong at all, and certainly didn't intend to do it. Nonetheless, the hero is put on trial for having committed some crime.
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5	This is an interesting trope, as it means that the hero's biggest threat at the moment isn't the BigBad, any {{Mooks}}, or anything like that, but rather, [[InspectorJavert someone who is ostensibly good but has mistaken the hero for being bad]]. Even more worryingly, they may have unquestionably [[BlueAndOrangeMorality broken the natives' laws by doing something perfectly ordinary]], and be forced to [[HumanityOnTrial defend humanity in general]]. This is even more dramatic if the hero is threatened with death by these non-bad guys. In fact, this trope essentially means that if the characters who run these trials are powerful enough, they could pose a legitimate threat to the hero's future activities, in a way that a CardCarryingVillain never could. They may even make the main characters question themselves and their own actions and hopefully even provide some philosophical answers for both the court and the audience.
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7	May involve SelfRestraint by the heroes, due to their Good-aligned nature. Moral or legal support for the heroes is often AFriendInNeed. When it's the villain doing this to the heroes, it's a JokerJury. If the heroes are put on trial by the souls of the dead, it's a JuryOfTheDamned. See also HumanityOnTrial, KangarooCourt. One may ask; if the trial is based on an obscure premise, why NobodyEverComplainedBefore.
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9	Often a case of GoodVersusGood, or at least WhiteAndGreyMorality.
10	----
11	!!Examples
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13	[[foldercontrol]]
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15	[[folder:Comic Books]]
16	* Franchise/{{Superman}} was put on trial by the [[PowersThatBe Quintessence]] after the ''ComicBook/OurWorldsAtWar'' storyline where he defeated Imperiex.
17	* The [[TimePolice Time Variance Authority]] had been seen a few times before they arrested ComicBook/SheHulk for attempting to alter the present (she slipped a past version of Hawkeye a note warning him about his death) but that would be the first time their courtroom legal proceedings were viewed. The trials are actually quite reasonable as far as fairness is concerned; they'll provide any necessary witnesses for the defense and go out of their way to provide a defense attorney who is knowledgeable enough, using their own TimeTravel technology to find one if necessary. (In She-Hulk's case, they brought her friend Southpaw from an AlternateUniverse where Southpaw was a defense attorney.) Sentences they hand down, however, can be harsh; they can sentence a convicted criminal to be [[RetGone erased from existence, literally]].
18	* In the 2019 ''Captain Marvel'' series, Carol is put on trial by a council both good and evil magic users. They were gathered at the request of Amora the Enchantress, motivated to avenge her son from an BadFuture being permanently stripped of his magic by Carol's trick. Though the council is above Amora's interests, Carol's power level does demand their attention and addressing whether she should be replaced by someone less reckless or self-justifying.
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21	[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
22	* "Zoned Out" was ''[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls Powerpuff Girls]]'' fan picture strip story heavy on influences from ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' that opens with a trial against the girls. The Mayor is the judge and the jury is comprised of people they know and love--with the Professor as the foreman. It's a DreamSequence, leading to the body of the story (who is causing mayhem in Townsville--or could it be the girls themselves?).
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25	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
26	* ''Film/HeavenlyMusic'': A 1940s bandleader dies and goes to Heaven. He's escorted to the Hall of Music--where he faces Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and all the other dead musical greats. He has to prove to them that 1940s swing is a worthy art form and he deserves to join them in the Hall.
27	* In the film ''Film/AMatterOfLifeAndDeath'', this is the entire premise. A young English pilot who's just fallen in love is abruptly informed he was supposed to have been killed in what was originally a [[NearMisses near-miss]] airplane crash, and has to face a jury of the dead in his plea to be allowed back into the world.
28	%%* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', when the Ewoks capture the protagonists.
29	* ''Film/TheTestamentOfOrpheus'': Creator/JeanCocteau, playing himself, is confronted by [[TheGrimReaper Death]] and Hertebuise, two characters from his 1950 film ''Film/{{Orpheus}}''. They put him on trial for seeking to reach another world through his art.
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32	[[folder:Literature]]
33	* In ''Literature/TheDevilAndDanielWebster'', Jabez Stone is put on trial to determine whether he must forfeit his soul to the Devil. On the plus side, his attorney is the famous orator Daniel Webster. On the bad side, [[JuryOfTheDamned the judge and jury are all villains from American history]].
34	* The Knave of Hearts' trial in ''Literature/AliceInWonderland''.
35	* Passepartout in Creator/JulesVerne's ''Literature/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays'' was put on trial in India for sacrilege, having entered a Hindu temple with shoes on. This was largely a ploy by the detective [[InspectorJavert Mr. Fix]], to delay Phileas Fogg long enough for his arrest warrant to arrive.
36	* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''His Last Command'', after they escape [[HangingJudge summary execution]], Gaunt and his team face Imperial forces that range from a commissiar who maintains that after their time on a Chaos-tainted planet, they should be presumed tainted despite the total lack of evidence, and [[MercyKill mercifully shot]], to a general who is delighted to see their return [[spoiler:and pulls in many favors to get them off]].
37	* William King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/SpaceWolf novel ''Wolfblade'' opens with an investigation of whether Ragnar, who had destroyed the Chapter's most prized relic in a fight with the forces of Chaos, had done so because he was Chaos-tainted.
38	* William F. Buckley Jr.'s Literature/BlackfordOakes spy novel ''The Story of Henri Tod'' has the hero put on trial by an anticommunist cell in East Germany, on suspicion of his having betrayed one of their group to the KGB. True to form, Oakes doesn't blame them, and in fact believes they are acting completely sincerely and legitimately.
39	* The corrupt eponymous hero of Creator/JosephSheridanLeFanu's ''Mr. Justice Harbottle'' is put on trial by a jury [[spoiler:of those he has had wrongfully executed]] and a judge [[spoiler:who is a parody of himself]].
40	* The White Council plays a fairly major role in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' and this trope crops up appropriately.
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43	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
44	* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "The Squire of Gothos", Captain Kirk is tried by the title character (and [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens superbeing]]) Trelane.
45	** Captain Picard is similarly put on trial by Q in the the final episode of TNG. (The pilot had all of HumanityOnTrial with Picard as their unwilling representative, but he wasn't the only or even main defendant then.)
46	--->''[[KangarooCourt "Soldiers, you will press those triggers if this criminal answers with any word other than 'guilty'."]]''
47	** And then there was [[CreatorsPet Wesley Crusher]] in "Justice", but that was more about [[DisproportionateRetribution the punishment]] than the crime. Too bad they failed to carry out the sentence...
48	* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':
49	** ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' had a literal Mystical Jury called ''The Tribunal of Magic'' judge whether or not to reverse a magic wish which stripped the heroes' powers away. They decide that the begging and pleading from the heroes (as well as the fact that they're the planet's only hope) isn't good enough, and it's not until the near end of the episode (by which point the SixthRanger is down for the count and the heroes are literally backed up against a chainlink fence) that they turn their ruling around.
50	** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'': The season 2 episode "Trick or Trial" introduces the Halloween Intergalactic Court, a court system associated with the monster community. Not truly villains, they charged the Rangers with attacking "innocent monsters" (really Sledge's prisoners, who all lied under oath when their spirits were summoned), but were ultimately convinced otherwise when it was pointed out that the prosecutor Scumlaw had rigged the jury.
51	** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'': The season 2 episode "Monster Mix-Up" features the return of the Halloween Intergalactic Court, this time trying the six Gruesome Grunts (an evil team of monsters). Most of the trial involves the Rangers trying to prove they and the Grunts had switched bodies due to another monster named Versix (which they had), until a disguised Mick arrives and testifies for them, getting the court to investigate his claims more carefully. When it's proven to be true, the Court restores all of them to their rightful bodies and releases the Rangers to deal with Versix.
52	* With Teal'c's [[HeelFaceTurn previous]] status as TheDragon, it's unsurprising that ''Series/StargateSG1'' used this early in its run with him being put on trial for murder by some villagers. Unusually, his [[TheAtoner Atoner]] feelings are so strong he is willing to allow himself to be found guilty and executed despite his teammates repeatedly urging him to escape.
53	** It's worse because this planet's version of a trial is clearly a KangarooCourt - the JudgeJuryAndExecutioner is the son of the victim! When Daniel points out that the judge should be impartial (he explains it as having no opinion on the matter), the man is confused, after all, everyone has an opinion. He also says that a third party would not be able to adequately judge a crime without having any relation to it. Additionally, unlike a modern Western court, this one doesn't care about the killer's state of mind (Teal'c was choosing the lesser of two evils), only the act itself.
54	* An episode of ''Series/RedDwarf'' involves the characters defending their right to exist against a self-appointed celestial eugenicist convinced that too many people were taking for granted their extremely unlikely chance at life.
55	** In another episode, Rimmer is found guilty by the AI of a prison station because he feels guilty about causing the deaths of the Red Dwarf's original crew. Kryten must then convince the AI that his feeling of guilt did not reflect an actual crime.
56	* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZone1959S3E9DeathsHeadRevisited Deaths-Head Revisited]]", Gunter Lütze is put on trial by the ghosts of his victims at Dachau. He is found guilty and sentenced to a lifetime of insanity.
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59	[[folder:Video Games]]
60	* In ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the protagonist finds himself on Manaan, a planet that has declared itself neutral in the ongoing war between the Republic and the Sith, but trades freely with both of them. After being hired by the Republic to spy on the Sith on the planet, he is caught red-handed massacring the entire population of the Sith base and is put on trial for breaking the neutrality treaty. Later, under vaguely-related circumstances, the exact same thing happens. Interesting in that both times the hero is actually guilty of what he's being charged with, but having the unquestionable moral high ground (or being [[KarmaMeter that damn evil]]) helps him talk his way out of it.
61	* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' the main character is accused of having slaughtered the village of Ember (which you recently passed through) - and much of the second act of the game was spent trying to gather the evidence that would prove your innocence. It's an unusual instance, since the city of Neverwinter bent over backwards to give the PC the best possible outcome - such as making him a noble so that he would '''get''' a trial, instead of just being extradited immediately.
62	* The failed Genesis game ''VideoGame/AwesomePossumKicksDrMachinosButt'' has a trial of various tropical animals demanding you to answer various ecological questions for points.
63	* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' Start with Commander Shepard on trial, likely for the "crime" s/he committed in Arrival (which was essentially a SadisticChoice). Since they are skeptical about the existence of the Reapers (delaying them was the reason for committing the "crime" in Arrival), the trial would seem to have a bad outcome for Shepard. [[spoiler:[[{{Irony}} Thankfully]], the [[OhCrap Reapers]] invade Earth during the trial.]] [[MemeticMutation S/He doesn't have time to justify him/herself to you, s/he has a galaxy to save. Excuse him/her.]]
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66	[[folder:Webcomics]]
67	* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', the party is put on trial by [[{{Wutai}} Azure City]] and a being of pure Law [[spoiler:or rather, Roy's father under an illusion spell; the whole thing is a ploy to deliver some exposition]].
68	* Subverted in ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'', in which the "Council of Three-And-A-Half" is revealed to consist entirely of people Yeager bullied as a child. Overlaps with JokerJury to a degree, but considering Yeager is [[DesignatedHero really kind of a dick sometimes]], may also be a subversion of that.
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71	[[folder:Western Animation]]
72	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
73	** In the episode "Avatar Day", Aang is arrested by locals while visiting an Earth Nation town. The townspeople charge Aang with murder, since they believe one of his past incarnations, Avatar Kyoshi, killed their town's greatest general. The kicker is that Aang can easily escape, but [[SelfRestraint chooses not to]] because he wants to prove his own innocence via the justice system.
74	** A third-season example shows up when [[spoiler:Zuko]] and Aang go to find the meaning of Firebending, at a (supposedly) abandoned temple of a tribe called the Sun Warriors. They are captured, and blamed for the extinction of the Dragons. Aang tries to play the Avatar card, but is told that because of his disappearing for 100 years, the Fire Nation was able to destroy all of the remaining dragons, and of course [[spoiler:Zuko is a direct descendant of Fire Lord Sozin, who started hunting them for sport]]. They are told they will be judged by the Masters Ran and Shaw, and destroyed if found lacking. In a twist, [[spoiler:the Masters Ran and Shaw are the last surviving dragons]]. They pass, but it's really hairy for a moment.
75	* In an early episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'', Ben uses Alien X to recreate the universe. Later, as a CallBack, Ben 10 is put on trial for that by a species of Omnipotent beings. In the end, he wins via TrialByCombat using his own DNA sample of this omnipotent species.
76	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet\|and the Planeteers}}'' features the planeteers, representing humanity, being put on trial by 12 endangered/extincted animals. Humanity is found guilty and the planeteers admit humanity's mistakes.
77	* In the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' cartoon "The Wearing of the Grin", Porky Pig is put on trial by leprechauns on a charge of trying to steal their pot of gold. Especially cruel for Porky as he'd merely shown up at their castle innocently looking for lodging.
78	* A bizarre example from an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh'': Pooh is asked to take care of a balloon, loses it, and then has a dream where he is put on trial by a jury of horrific accusing balloons.
79	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
80	** Homer dreams of being tried by a jury of donuts. He ends up taking a bite out of his Defense Attorney. It doesn't help his case.
81	** Bart has a similar dream sequence where he is called before the Bird Court and confesses that he killed the mama bird, orphaning her eggs. They had really just called him there to change their newspaper, it was filthy and covered in bird poop. After his confession though, they sentence him to death and try to peck out his eyes.
82	* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' an alien court accuses Green Lantern of blowing up an entire planet. [[UnconventionalCourtroomTactics The Flash offers to be GL's lawyer]].
83	* The [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Classic Disney Short]] "WesternAnimation/PlutosJudgementDay" is about [[WesternAnimation/PlutoThePup Pluto]] having a nightmare about him being put on trial by a jury of demonic cats in Hell after WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse scolds him one day for chasing a cat. The cats testifying against Pluto include a cat that was flattened after Pluto chased him under a steamroller, another cat who was so traumatized by being tormented by Pluto he became a NervousWreck with "dog shock", and nine angels representing the lost lives of a dead cat named Uncle Tom, who drowned after Pluto chased him into a river. Pluto is then proven guilty by the cat jury, and is immediately sentenced to death by being dropped into a fire.
84	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs''
85	** Episode "Harmony Steals the Show" has Harmony on trial for his soul after he has a [[DealWithTheDevil Deal with a Ghost Bar Owner]] giving him a music masterpiece in exchange of his servitude. The Judge is Death, the Jury is made of dead famous musicians and his defense lawyer is Papa Smurf.
86	** Episode "Heavenly Smurfs" has the Smurfs tricking Gargamel into thinking that he died and is facing a trial by Angels and Devils.
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Context Main / TrialOfTheMysticalJury