History Main / CowardlyLion

Not all heroes are fearless. Some of them are characterized by nervousness, timidity, reluctance to go anywhere near danger -- all the hallmarks of a coward. Yet when push comes to shove, they will always be right there in the thick of the action, doing whatever it takes to accomplish their objective and get themselves and their teammates out alive. In other words, ''not'' a DirtyCoward.

* Veda Scott was initially known as a lawyer and reporter for Wrestling/RingOfHonor who was also on the bottom of Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}'s totem pole, tending to cower near its established contenders. After she was kidnapped by SCUM though she joined the rest of the ROH locker roomed in clearing them out of ''Supercard of Honor VII''.

* Ricardo Rodriguez in Wrestling/{{WWE}}. Those familiar with even his developmental FCW time would know he was a pretty good wrestler but on the main roster, his {{dirty coward}}ice and submission to Wrestling/AlbertoDelRio made him a VeryPunchableMan. When forced to wrestle Wrestling/TheBigShow though, he did a fairly good job in spite of the size differential being far against him.

* Arlo from ''Film/TheGoodDinosaur''. A major theme of the film is accepting that it's okay to be scared, and finding the courage needed to face your fears.

Not all heroes are fearless. Some of them are characterized by nervousness, timidity, reluctance to go anywhere near danger -- all the hallmarks of a coward. Yet when push comes to shove, they will always be right there in the thick of the action, doing whatever it takes to accomplish their objective and get themselves and their teammates out alive.

Unlike TookALevelInBadass, these characters don't get over their fearful ways after a single moment of glory. They remain scaredy-cats and/or insecure in their regular lives despite the fact that they can kick major ass when they put their minds into it. Many of them will tell everyone to ThinkNothingOfIt, because they think the fear they felt trumps the heroism they performed. These characters may also be {{Combat Pragmatist}}s who get the job done by using brains rather than brawn when they go up against enemies that outclass them and they know they'll get killed if they just charge in and attack. Typically, his closest friends know exactly what he is capable of and know they can depend on him in crises, with a little prompting of course.

Contrast the FearlessFool -- especially when it is invoked to encourage him. Prone to HeroicSelfDeprecation and FaceYourFears. See also LovableCoward.

* Bob from ''Drugstore Cowboy'' is pretty open about his neurosis and his reliance on drugs to keep the stresses of world away from him. The people around him are still awed by the acts of {{Magnificent Bastard}}ry he performs out of sheer panic.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* Wade Duck in ''ComicStrip/USAcres''.
* Dan Thompson's action-strip AffectionateParody ''Webcomic/RipHaywire'' features dog companion TNT who, despite being an abject coward, is always by Rip's side.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

* Veda Scott was initially known as a lawyer and reporter for Wrestling/RingOfHonor who was also on the bottom of Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}'s totem pole, tending to cower near its established contenders. After she was kidnapped by SCUM though she joined the rest of the ROH locker roomed in clearing them out of ''Supercard Of Honor VII''.[[/folder]]

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/LuigisMansion http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/luigis_mansion_dark_moon3.jpg]]]]

* In the HungerGames fanfiction ''Fanfic/SomeSemblanceOfMeaning'', the heroine, Vale, is a [[NiceGirl kind-hearted]] ShrinkingViolet who is (understandably) terrified of going into the arena and [[ChildrenForcedToKill being forced to fight her fellow tributes to the death]]. However, when it comes to defending the people she cares about, [[BewareTheNiceOnes she is no pushover]].

* Agent Lapis from the ''ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'' is fully aware that her first response to just about anything is to panic, which usually manifests as screaming in terror and diving for the nearest hiding place, and frequently [[SourSupporter believes in the worst-case scenario as far as the Duty is concerned]]. But as one unfortunate [[GodModeSue God-Mode Stu]] found out the hard way, if you hurt anybody she holds dear - or even [[FireForgedFriends anybody whom she merely works with]] - she will '''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge END]]''' you.

* [[LoveInterest Steve]] [[BadassNormal Trevor]] in ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' is normally a suave, unflappable spy in the service of the Allies during the [[UsefulNotes/WW1 Great War]], and his moxie is shown in his flashback to the job that led him to stumble onto Themiscyra. However, under the effects of the [[TruthSerum Lasso of Truth]], he reveals how truly terrified he is of the whole travesty of the war.

* [[LoveInterest Steve]] [[BadassNormal Trevor]] in ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' is normally a suave, unflappable spy in the service of the Allies during UsefulNotes/WW1]], and his moxie is shown in his flashback to the job that led him to stumble onto Themiscyra. However, under the effects of the [[TruthSerum Lasso of Truth]], he reveals how truly terrified he is of the whole travesty of the war.

[[caption-width-right:350:"I am afraid of the ghosts...but I still get the job done."]]

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%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1353162914053680100

[[quoteright:335:[[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cowardly_Lion_original_6169.jpg]]]]

* Arlo from ''Film/TheGoodDinosaur''. A major theme of the film is accepting that it's okay to be scared. [[spoiler: And when Arlo's friend is in danger, he finds the courage he needs to face his fears.]]

* Arlo from ''Film/TheGoodDinosaur''. A major theme of the film is accepting that it's okay to be scared. [[spoiler: And when Arlo's friend is in danger, he finds the courage he needs to face those fears.]]

* Arlo from ''Film/TheGoodDinosaur''. A major theme of the film is accepting that it's okay to be scared. [[spoiler: And when Arlo's friend is in danger, he finds the courage he needs to fight back.]]