Line #3 PlayingWith/BlackAndGrayMorality


1	'''Basic Trope''': One side is clearly evil while the other side is morally ambiguous.
2	* '''Straight''': {{Ev\|il overlord}}ulz is a BigBad who plans on taking over Tropeville. On the other hand, there's [[TheHero Bob]], who is {{pragmatic\|Hero}}, [[PayEvilUntoEvil vengeful]], [[KnightInSourArmor cynical]], and sometimes [[{{Jerkass}} unfriendly]]. You [[NotSoSimilar can't really compare]] the two, however.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** And on the top of that, [[DesignatedHero Bob]] [[NominalHero is]] {{only in it for the money}}, is ''very'' {{blood\| Knight}}thirsty and violent, is {{alo\|Of ally}}[[LonersAreFreaks of]] and [[TokenEvilTeammate sha]][[TerrorHero dy]], and shows many traits of a {{socio\|Pathic hero}}[[TheSociopath path]], but ''somehow'' can be considered an {{ideal hero}} when compared to [[CompleteMonster Emperor]] [[HateSink Evulz]].
5	** The notoriously {{unscrupulous\| hero}} and {{destructive\| savior}} [[FiveManBand mercenary band]] [[NamesToRunFromReallyFast Midnight Reapers]] are little more than organized, [[RapePillageAndBurn despoiling raiders]] and [[RuthlessModernPirates pirates]] who perennially terrorize the countryside and possess enough [[MoreDakka firepower]] to [[MightMakesRight overwhelm anyone who dares to question their ways]]. It is composed of the [[HateSink unsympathetic]], [[TheSociopath sociopathic]], [[CompleteMonster demonically evil]] [[TheLeader Bob]], [[HumanTrafficking human trafficker]] and [[TheSmartGuy devilishly cunning]] ConArtist [[KickTheDog Alice]], over-the-top NinetiesAntihero [[SuperStrength Charlie]], [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil carnally depraved]] practitioner of [[HumanSacrifice ritual sacrifice]] [[PedophilePriest David]], and {{sadist}}ic [[BurnTheOrphanage orphan-]][[EatsBabies eater]] [[CardCarryingVillain Emily.]] One is led to believe that these guys are your ''[[BlatantLies "every day"]]'' roster of {{Villain Protagonist}}s... until [[OmnicidalManiac The Progenitor of]] [[GreaterScopeVillain the Dark Ages]] shows up.
6	** ALighterShadeOfBlack: Despite being unquestionably evil, [[AffablyEvil Bob]] [[VillainProtagonist the main character ]] is still more sympathetic than BigBad [[FauxAffablyEvil Evulz]].
7	** EvilVersusEvil: Both sides are unambiguously and equally evil.
8	* '''Downplayed''':
9	** Bob is friendly and benevolent to people who treat him the same as well. But when it comes to people who enjoy hurting him, he is often [[GoodIsNotNice mean]] and [[RejectedApology unforgiving]] to them.
10	** Bob may be kind for the most part, but he can prove [[GoodIsNotSoft how to act appropriately]] to people like Evulz when necessary.
11	** Evulz is a {{Jerkass}} while Bob is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
12	** ALighterShadeOfGrey: While neither side is good and both sides are sympathetic, one side still has a higher moral ground than the other.
13	*** ADarkerShadeOfGrey: Bob remains a straight-up AntiHero, but [[AntiVillain Evulz]] himself isn’t a clear-cut {{villain\|s}}, yet is still portrayed as less sympathetic by the narrative and is still easy to root against.
14	** ALighterShadeOfBlack and [[ALighterShadeOfGray Gray]] morality.
15	* '''Justified''':
16	** Bob has experienced many [[FreudianExcuse unfortunate events]] in his personal lives which have caused him to behave bitterly.
17	** A flashback reveals how Bob's [[AllLovingHero kindness]] and [[WideEyedIdealist idealism]] were free passes for the unrepentant villains to [[TheFarmerAndTheViper continue doing evil]], so he seriously [[GrayingMorality took drastic measures]] in making sure the villains have their justice, even if it means [[MurderIsTheBestSolution killing them]]. Bob even {{re\|Formed but rejected}}jects the villains who [[HeelFaceDoorSlam are truly trying to change]].
18	** Bob lives in a CrapsackWorld where it's difficult and unnecessary to be a nice guy when the crime rate and other immoral practices are increasing rapidly, and he needs to stop it once and for all.
19	** Bob's moral standards are [[BlueAndOrangeMorality incomprehensible and questionable to anyone]], whether be it the villains [[ValuesDissonance or the audience]].
20	** [[IDidWhatIHadToDo Bob did what he had to do.]]
21	** The story takes place in a WorldOfJerkass, so a {{villain\|S}} [[EvilIsPetty who is a]] {{jerkass}} would obviously be of the black morality, while a [[TheHero hero]] [[GoodIsNotNice who is also a]] {{jerkass}} would be an AntiHero, thus, of the gray morality.
22	** HumansAreBastards in this setting, so it is possible for true {{villains}} to exist. True heroes? [[CrapsackWorld They don’t]].
23	* '''Inverted''': WhiteAndGreyMorality; Bob is a [[IdealHero shining, pure hero]] while Evulz is a WellIntentionedExtremist at worst, but is nevertheless, [[AntiVillain redeemable]].
24	* '''Subverted''':
25	** It would seem that Bob is cynical and unfriendly, but after [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizing how far he has gone]] in his goal to save Tropeville, he becomes become more idealistic and forgiving.
26	** The series introduces [[TagalongKid Lukas]], a fourth grader who is idealistic, benevolent, and a shining example for humanity.
27	** Evulz turns out to be misunderstood, and is grey morality at worst.
28	** A new villain, [[AntiVillain Daniel Darkhon]], is introduced, and he is actually morally gray since he's either a KnightTemplar, AffablyEvil, AmbiguouslyEvil, a NobleDemon or a mix of all 4 of these.
29	* '''Double Subverted''':
30	** Bob eventually suffers a bad case of AesopAmnesia but he's still good when compared to the villains.
31	** Lukas undergoes BreakTheCutie. [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth He]] {{d\|riven to suicide}}ies, [[FaceHeelTurn turns]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds evil]], or [[TookALevelInJerkass becomes]] [[SourOutsideSadInside like]] [[UnscrupulousHero Bob]].
32	** [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk Evulz was lying]].
33	* '''Parodied''':
34	** Evulz is clearly evil while Bob is a [[SirSwearsALot foul-mouthed]], [[LovableSexManiac sex driven]], [[TheAlcoholic alcoholic]] dolt.
35	** The bad guys are demons act expectedly evil while the good guys are angels who behave rude towards each other.
36	* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob's level of morality varies depending on how sympathetic the writers are to them.
37	* '''Averted''':
38	** BlackAndWhiteMorality; Evulz is pure evil while Bob is pure good.
39	** GreyAndGrayMorality; Both [[AntiVillain Evulz]] and [[AntiHero Bob]] have flaws and both deserve sympathy from the audience. Neither one is more good or evil.
40	** There is no conflict at all.
41	* '''Enforced''': The author [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids disregards pure heroes]] and wants to write a story about [[AntiHero flawed heroes]]. The author also had to have a pure villain antagonist because the AntiHero was meant to be seen as sympathetic, but that can’t be the case if the AntiHero was fighting against an AntiVillain, AKA another sympathetic person.
42	* '''Lampshaded''': "There are no goody-goody-two-shoes in this world. It's just [[AntiHeroTeam these guys]] fighting against our oppressors."
43	* '''Invoked''': Bob feels that being a [[IdealHero pure hero]] is [[GoodIsBoring boring him to death]], so he decides to change his look and attitude.
44	* '''Defied''':
45	** Bob doesn't want Tropeville to think he's like Evulz, so he [[TheFettered follows a strict moral code and avoids breaking it at all costs.]]
46	** "So you're telling me that my only two options are being a questionable jerk and a slimy bastard? [[ShutUpHannibal Those are pretty shitty options then]]. I'll show you that there is [[AWorldHalfFull room for true heroes]] in this ugly world, [[KnightInSourArmor no matter how jaded I get]]."
47	* '''Exploited''': [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]] [[TheCorrupter attempts to corrupt]] the already morally-flawed [[UnscrupulousHero Bob]] to his [[WeCanRuleTogether side]] by [[BreakThemByTalking telling]] him that [[NotSoDifferentRemark he is just as evil as Evulz]] and [[CrapsackWorld the ugliness of the world]].
48	* '''Discussed''':
49	** "It feels unsafe to be protected by these heroes just as much as it feels unsafe to be harmed by the villains."
50	** "It's the battle of the douchebag factions! Except one is way less scummy than the other..."
51	* '''Conversed''': "Why does this show have the heroes who are fighting against the villains as a bunch of douchebags?"
52	* '''Deconstructed''':
53	** Bob defeated Evulz, but this didn't stop him from keeping Tropeville safe with these stricts laws to help humanity. Because of this, the citizens feel they would rather have been killed by Evulz than being "oppressed" by this hero.
54	** Evulz publicly [[WhatTheHellHero calls out Bob]] for being a {{hypocrite}}. He claims that [[NotSoDifferentRemark Bob isn't any better than he is]], and while he may be an evil man himself, [[CardCarryingVillain Evulz]] still [[AtLeastIAdmitIt admits his flaws]]. As a result, Tropeville begins to view Bob as a lying, self-righteous attention-seeker.
55	* '''Reconstructed''':
56	** A good person is capable of doing bad or cruel things, justified or not, and even if others don't agree with it, [[LesserOfTwoEvils it's more preferable than purely evil people running rampant in the town]].
57	** Bob recognizes his methods and actions will not be accepted so easily by the citizens of Tropeville, which is why he lets [[TokenGoodTeammate Alice]] take control of Tropeville over him, while making it clear that if she [[FaceHeelTurn slips up and becomes as bad as Evulz]], he WILL come back for her.
58	** Bob admits to Tropeville that he's not a perfect man, but that doesn't automatically make him evil. He claims how even though he can act as ruthless as Evulz, he doesn't behave that way to people he doesn't even know, [[NotSoSimilar unlike]] Evulz, who hurts everyone for his own good. In the end, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Bob is still a loving man who can express compassion]] while Evulz is a complete [[TheSociopath sociopath]].
59	* '''Played For Laughs''':
60	** Bob is an {{Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist}} who the fans still adore none the less because he stands against the villains.
61	** Bob is a HeroicComedicSociopath while Evulz is a LaughablyEvil {{villain\|s}} who CrossesTheLineTwice.
62	* '''Played For Drama''': The more Bob fights off evil, the [[HeWhoFightsMonsters more vicious he becomes]].[[note]]Can also be used as a {{deconstruction}} of this {{trope}}.[[/note]]
63	----
64	On one hand you have this page, who is a {{Jerkass}} AntiHero. On the other hand, the BlackAndGrayMorality page is a CompleteMonster at worst. Place your bets, people!
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66	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
67	%%
68	%%* '''Implied''': ???

Context PlayingWith / BlackAndGrayMorality