History Awesome / ElfenLied

* Bando, who kicks this guy's ass and keeps on kicking it even when hit with a spiked poisoned ball--which he then takes out of his own body and [[KickTheSonOfABitch shoves it up Unknown Man's ass!]] Admit it, this is one of the most memorable moments in the series.

* Bando says he owes Mayu a kill for [[IOweYouMyLife saving his life]], then changes his tune when he realizes Mayu knows where Nyu is and starts beating her. Mayu pulls out his phone number, asks him to help her stop the big guy who's beating on her, and says he's not much of a man. Even Bando realizes that she's dead on the money and lets her go. Let's repeat: a fourteen-year-old HeartwarmingOrphan has more balls than the RatedMForManly PsychoForHire who's out for blood.

* Near the end of the manga: Kouta has a fatal gunshot wound, Lucy's body is already at limits from an abortive attempt at avenging the aforementioned fact '''[[KillEmAll on a global scale]]''' (which ended in technically minor damage to the neighbouring city), and JSDF air and maritime forces are already scrambling to take her out with their ''full firepower'' - fighter jets, warships, missiles, the whole works. What does Lucy do? She proceeds to sing the title song ''Elfen Lied'' while patching up Kouta's body ''on a cellular level'' '''and''' [[TheLastDance blasting the JSDF forces out of both sky and sea]], ''[[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask simultaneously]]''. And she knows full well that she's going to end up with a terminal ''and'' ultimately fatal SuperpowerMeltdown from the effort.

%%* Episode 8, when the kids cross the MoralEventHorizon, and Lucy 'awakens' after a passionate scream.

--->'''Lucy:''' Are you having fun?

** Lucy and Bando's fight in episode 2. Bando figures out he just needs to stay at least two meters back, and Lucy's vectors can't reach him. Cue Lucy ''throwing a boat at him.''

* Lucy using her powers to brutally execute her tormentors. While it was a StartOfDarkness, watching the little monsters finally get their long overdue comeuppance (and the ringleader's fear just before dying) was infinitely satisfying

** [[ThePollyanna Nana]] is quite an impressive character for such a bleak series. For starters, she faced ordeals such as being experimented upon, dismembered by Lucy, then badly outclassed by Mariko and all kinds of horror being thrown at her in the series, normally she would end up like Lucy and Mariko and go misanthropic with all the [[MuggingTheMonster horror]] [[UnstoppableRage it]] [[KillAllHumans implies]]. But no, she defied her nature to [[KillAllHumans kill all humans]], maintained an unshakable positive outlook in life, just because of the kindness of her Papa and later of the [[TrueCompanions people at the Maple Inn]]. She never killed anyone despite having the capability to do so. [[EarnYourHappyEnding And she became the only surviving diclonius in the series and thus can finally experience a happy life.]] Guess being [[TropesAreNotBad idealistic]] can work in Elfen Lied universe.

%%Moments subpages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff.

* Despite being overwhelmed by and badly frightened by the vicious pedophile [[FanNickname Unknown Man]], Mayu fights off memories of her stepfather's rape and keeps the monster busy just long enough to call...

** [[ThePollyanna Nana]] is quite an impressive character for such a bleak series. For starters, she faced such as being experimented, dismembered by Lucy, then badly outclassed by Mariko and all kinds of horror being thrown at her in the series, normally she would end up like Lucy and Mariko and go misantropic with all the [[MuggingTheMonster horror]] [[UnstoppableRage it]] [[KillAllHumans implies]]. But no, she defied her nature to [[KillAllHumans kill all humans]], maintains an unshakable positive outlook in life, just because of a kindness of her Papa and later by the [[TrueCompanions people at the Maple Inn]]. She never killed anyone despite having the capability to do so. [[EarnYourHappyEnding And she became the only surviving diclonius in the series and thus can finally experience a happy life.]] Guess being [[TropesAreNotBad idealistic]] can work in Elfen Lied universe.

* Nana is badly outclassed by Mariko, and becomes a plaything to the cruel little girl---until Mariko hears Nana call for her 'Papa' Kurama, mocking Nana for this and threatening her 'Papa' (who is really Mariko's Papa) Enraged, Nana literally pulls herself together, punches Mariko out of her wheelchair and disables her vectors when she won't apologize for her threats.
* Bando rescuing Nana and Kurama from an enraged Mariko...by shooting a rocket at her. When Mariko catches it and smugly tries to claim that such a thing can't kill her, Bando shoots the rocket from a far and blows the whole thing up in her face. Of course she survives.

* Despite being overwhelmed by and badly frightened by the vicious pedophilic Unknown Man, Mayu fights off memories of her stepfather's rape and keeps the monster busy just long enough to call...

* During the invasion of Maple House, Kouta is as overwhelmed as anyone else, till he sees Mayu's dog Wanta get batted back by one of the soldiers. This so enrages him, he seizes a gun and takes Nousou, the leader of the force, hostage. When Nousou taunts him that Kouta wouldn't kill him, Kouta agrees--and threatens to blow his jaw off instead...

* Kouta gets several as well, including getting shot several times to save his [[strike: friends]] family. Most importantly taking a bullet for Lucy even after he figured out she killed his dad and sister ''just because he couldn't stand losing another family member'', even Lucy. Also combined with SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} the several times he takes [[BreakTheCutie one of the girls]] into his house and makes them part of his family with barely any hesitation, just because they need someone to care. It really took courage to forgive someone who casually killed his family yet endure that hatred just to come up with such decision.
* Near the end of the manga: Kouta has a fatal gunshot wound, Lucy's body is already at limits from a abortive attempt at avenging the aforementioned fact '''[[KillEmAll on a global scale]]''' (which ended in technically minor damage to the neighbouring city), and JSDF air and maritime forces are already scrambling to take her out with their ''full firepower'' - fighter jets, warships, missiles, the whole works. What does Lucy do? She proceeds to sing the title song ''Elfen Lied'' while patching up Kouta's body ''on a cellular level'' '''and''' [[TheLastDance blasting the JSDF forces out of both sky and sea]], ''[[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask simultaneously]]''. And she knows full well that she's going to end up with a terminal ''and'' ultimately fatal SuperpowerMeltdown from the effort.

* Bando, who kicks this guy's ass and keeps on kicking it even when hit with a spiked poisoned ball--which he then takes out of his own body and [[spoiler: [[KickTheSonOfABitch shoves it up Unknown Man's ass!]]]] Admit it, this is one of the most memorable moments in the series.

** This ends up getting him shot, which enrages Nyuu--''Nyuu'', not Lucy--into being able to use her vectors. [[BewareTheNiceOnes She tears apart the invasion force]], her horns now immense, doing so not for sadistic fun, but to defend her family. Afterward Lucy ''does'' wake up again and urges Nana to take care of them as she departs Maple House for the final time. Nyuu shows this badassery again when she [[spoiler: tries to rip Kakuzawa a new one after being taken prisoner by him again.]]
* When Barbara, one of the [[spoiler: clones of Mariko]] pursues Nana for the 'crime' of living in peace with Humans, Nana is able to kick her butt all over town--till Kurama is taken hostage. Kurama gets his own again when he emerges from a months-log mental fog to kill Barbara to protect Nana, realizing that while it's his fault Mariko died, in order to truly [[TheAtoner atone]], he cannot make the same mistake with Nana, the only one he has left.

* In the anime, Kurama [[spoiler: letting himself blow up along with his diclonius daughter]] deserves a mention, along with [[spoiler:helping Nana escape in an earlier episode]].
* On that note, Lucy's [[spoiler:BolivianArmyEnding]].

* Episode 8, when [[spoiler:the kids cross the MoralEventHorizon, and Lucy 'awakens' after a passionate scream.]]
* Kouta gets several as well, including [[spoiler: getting shot several times to save his [[strike: friends]] family. Most importantly taking a bullet for Lucy even after he figured out she killed his dad and sister ''just because he couldn't stand losing another family member'', even Lucy.]] Also combined with CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming the several times he takes [[BreakTheCutie one of the girls]] into his house and makes them part of his family with barely any hesitation, just because they need someone to care. It really took courage to forgive someone who casually killed his family yet endure that hatred just to come up with such decision.
* Near the end of the manga: [[spoiler:Kouta has a fatal gunshot wound, Lucy's body is already at limits from a abortive attempt at avenging the aforementioned fact '''[[KillEmAll on a global scale]]''' (which ended in technically minor damage to the neighbouring city), and JSDF air and maritime forces are already scrambling to take her out with their ''full firepower'' - fighter jets, warships, missiles, the whole works. What does Lucy do? She proceeds to sing the title song ''Elfen Lied'' while patching up Kouta's body ''on a cellular level'' '''and''' [[TheLastDance blasting the JSDF forces out of both sky and sea]], ''[[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask simultaneously]]''. And she knows full well that she's going to end up with a terminal ''and'' ultimately fatal SuperpowerMeltdown from the effort.]]

* Who didn't cheer when Lucy [[spoiler: [[OffWithHisHead beheaded]] [[AssholeVictim Professor Kakuzawa]] ]] ?
** Then again in the manga when she [[spoiler: kills his father, who up to that point was the series' BigBad.]]
* In a way, Lucy asking Kouta to give her a [[spoiler:MercyKill at the end. Note that this happened right after Lucy's DNA Voice personality went on a SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum in a last-ditch effort to eradicate humanity. With her body broken, her mind shattered, and her vectors annihilating what's left of the world, Lucy ultimately decides... to ''stop''. With a little help from Nyu and Lucy, the DNA Voice ''defies her very nature'' by ending her rampage and allowing not just a human, but her love interest, to kill her, partly to stop the pain, partly so Kouta could avenge his family, and partly so all of this could finally end. Love made her crazy, but love is what drove her to be happy, and in the end, because of love, Lucy ''beats'' her EnemyWithin, and ultimately earns a happy ending ala reincarnation.]] ''Wow''. This may have been a BittersweetEnding, but it was '''earned'''.

* Near the end of the manga: [[spoiler:Kouta has a fatal gunshot wound, Lucy/Kaede's body is already at limits from a abortive attempt at avenging the aforementioned fact '''[[KillEmAll on a global scale]]''' (which ended in technically minor damage to the neighbouring city), and JSDF air and maritime forces are already scrambling to take her out with their ''full firepower'' - fighter jets, warships, missiles, the whole works. What does Lucy/Kaede do? She proceeds to sing the title song ''Elfen Lied'' while patching up Kouta's body ''on a cellular level'' '''and''' [[TheLastDance blasting the JSDF forces out of both sky and sea]], ''[[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask simultaneously]]''. And she knows full well that she's going to end up with a terminal ''and'' ultimately fatal SuperpowerMeltdown from the effort.]]

* In a way, Lucy asking Kouta to give her a [[spoiler:MercyKill at the end. Note that this happened right after Lucy's DNA Voice personality went on a SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum in a last-ditch effort to eradicate humanity. With her body broken, her mind shattered, and her vectors annihilating what's left of the world, Lucy ultimately decides... to ''stop''. With a little help from Nyu and Kaede, Lucy ''defies her very nature'' by ending her rampage and allowing not just a human, but her love interest, to kill her, partly to stop the pain, partly so Kouta could avenge his family, and partly so all of this could finally end. Love made her crazy, but love is what drove her to be happy, and in the end, because of love, Lucy ''beats'' her EnemyWithin, and ultimately earns a happy ending ala reincarnation.]] ''Wow''. This may have been a BittersweetEnding, but it was '''earned'''.

* YMMV, but Mayu's amazing courageous act near the end of her backstory. She is sexually abused by her stepfather. Her mother hits her and clearly blames Mayu for his problems. Then one day, Mayu tells the bastard that she is done with this, and gets the fuck out of there. That requires a huge amount of bravery, and Mayu proves she had it.

* [[Badass Bando]], who kicks this guy's ass and keeps on kicking it even when hit with a spiked poisoned ball--which he then takes out of his own body and [[KickTheSonOfABitch spoiler: shoves it up Unknown Man's ass!]] Admit it, this is one of the most memorable moments in the series.

* Bando, who kicks this guy's ass and keeps on kicking it even when hit with a spiked poisoned ball--which he then takes out of his own body and [[spoiler: shoves it up Unknown Man's ass!]]

* Kouta gets several as well, including [[spoiler: getting shot several times to save his [[strike: friends]] family. Most importantly taking a bullet for Lucy even after he figured out she killed his dad and sister ''just because he couldn't stand losing another family member'', even Lucy.]] Also combined with CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming the several times he takes [[BreakTheCutie one of the girls]] into his house and makes them part of his family with barely any hesitation, just because they need someone to care.

** [[ThePollyanna Nana]] is quite an impressive character for such a bleak series. For starters, she faced such as being experimented, dismembered by Lucy, then badly outclassed by Mariko and all kinds of horror being thrown at her in the series, normally she would end up like Lucy and Mariko and go misantropic with all the [[MuggingTheMonster horror]] [[UnstoppableRage it]] [[KillAllHumans implies]]. But no, she defied her nature to [[KillAllHumans kill all humans]], maintains an unshakable positive outlook in life, just because of a kindness of her Papa and later by the [[TrueCompanions people at the Maple Inn]]. She never killed anyone despite having the capability to do so. [[EarnYourHappyEnding And she became the only surviving diclonius in the series and thus can finally experience a happy life.]] Guess being idealistic can work in this otherwise dark series.

** [[ThePollyanna Nana]] is quite an impressive character for such a bleak series. For starters, she faced such as being experimented, dismembered by Lucy, then badly outclassed by Mariko and all kinds of horror being thrown at her in the series, normally she would end up like Lucy and Mariko and go misantropic with all the [[MuggingTheMonster horror]] [[UnstoppableRage it]] [[KillAllHumans implies]]. But no, she defied her nature to [[KillAllHumans kill all humans]], maintains an unshakable positive outlook in life, just because of a kindness of her Papa. She never killed anyone despite having the capability to do so. [[EarnYourHappyEnding And she became the only surviving diclonius in the series and thus can finally experience a happy life.]] Guess being idealistic can work in this otherwise dark series.