History Main / CynicIdealistDuo

* [[Characters/GravityFallsDipperPines Dipper Pines]] and [[Characters/GravityFallsMabelPines Mabel Pines]] from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. While Dipper doesn't have an excessively negative outlook, he does tend to be slow to trust anyone unfamiliar to him (and he is not helped by the craziness of his surroundings, either), especially in contrast to Mabel, who has a much brighter demeanor and is rather naïve and unsuspecting to the point of being an AllLovingHero.

Can overlap with RedOniBlueOni, OddFriendship (if it's a best friend duo), SiblingYinYang (if it's a sibling duo). See also FourPhilosophyEnsemble, which adds Realist, Apathetic, and/or Conflicted to the mix.

* Dipper and Mabel from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. While Dipper doesn't have an excessively negative outlook, he does tend to be slow to trust anyone unfamiliar to him (and he is not helped by the craziness of his surroundings, either), especially in contrast to Mabel, who has a much brighter demeanor and is rather naïve and unsuspecting to the point of being an AllLovingHero.

* The eponymous ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', respectively. Rick Sanchez has been TheCynic and a nihilist for a very long time, since long before the series began, after having SeenItAll in the universe and coming to the conclusion that nothing and no one really matters because there are infinite versions of existence and the people in it. Morty Smith, meanwhile, started out the series as idealistic but naive, and has become significantly more jaded over the course of the series thanks to Rick's influence, including having an progressively easier time committing acts of violence. However, he nonetheless still tries to help people and do the right thing as much as he can, and rather than turning into a StrawNihilist like Rick, has instead become TheAntiNihilist.

* Literature/NeroWolfe and Archie Goodwin of the long-running detective series tend to have this kind of dynamic. Wolfe tends to be the grumpy, misanthropic old recluse with little interest in or goodwill towards the world and the people in it, while Archie is the cheerful, friendly, and good-natured man-about-town who embraces life to the fullest. That said, neither is exactly stuck at the extreme end of either side of the scale; there's hinted to be an old-fashioned romanticism deep down under Wolfe's crusty exterior, while Archie tends to adopt a kind of seen-it-all snark as a way of protecting himself against the world when things get tough.

* In ''Literature/TheBrokenEarthTrilogy'', Ykka is an idealist who wants to build a society where orogenes, who are victims to a lot of FantasticRacism, can be accepted members of society, while Essun is cynical and feels such a society cannot last and the other people will eventually turn on the orogenes.

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* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'' has the Templar Order and the Assassin Brotherhood representing this. The Assassins believe in the good of humanity, that allowing freedom to flourish could bring world peace. However the Templars aren't as naive this way, as they're convinced people are naturally selfish and can only be pushed towards peace through order. Ironically, this feud survived centuries throughout the world. Yet neither faction is better nor worse than the other in the end.

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* ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'': Our heroes are the enthusiastic dreamer Miguel (Idealist) and his more pragmatic and level-headed partner in crime Tulio (Cynic).
* Nick and Judy from ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}''. Thanks to the FantasticRacism against foxes, Nick became a bitter and cynical ConArtist, whereas Judy starts out as a WideEyedIdealist whose intention is to "make the world a better place".

* The four Hogwarts Houses from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' have been defined this way, by their values. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, both express optimism in life. People can always be depended on, to do the right thing in their understandings. Gryffindor aspiring [[HonorBeforeReason courage and chivalry]], Hufflepuff having faith in [[NiceGuy kindness and loyalty]]. Ravenclaw and Slytherin however, have been known to view others as [[TheChessmaster more tools, to further their own desires]]. Both as you can imagine, aren't overly keen on the intentions of people. Ravenclaw being the lesser evil, since they only want [[TheSmartGuy knowledge]]. While Slytherin is infamous for being [[AmbitionIsEvil dangerously power-hungry]].

* The four Hogwarts Houses from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' have been defined this way, by their values. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, both express optimism in life. People can always be depended on, to the right thing in their understandings. Gryffindor aspiring [[HonorBeforeReason courage and chivalry]], Hufflepuff having faith in [[NiceGuy kindness and loyalty]]. Ravenclaw and Slytherin however, have been known to view others as [[TheChessmaster more tools, to further their own desires]]. Both as you can imagine, aren't overly keen on the intentions of people. Ravenclaw being the lesser evil, since they only want [[TheSmartGuy knowledge]]. While Slytherin is infamous for being [[AmbitionIsEvil dangerously power-hungry]].

* The four Hogwarts Houses from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' have been defined this way, by their values. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, both express optimism in life. People can always be depended on, to the right thing in their understandings. Gryffindor aspiring [[HonorBeforeReason courage and chivalry]], Hufflepuff having faith in [[TheNiceGuy kindness and loyalty]]. Ravenclaw and Slytherin however, have been known to view others as [[TheChessmaster more tools, to further their own desires]]. Both as you can imagine, aren't overly keen on the intentions of people. Ravenclaw being the lesser evil, since they only want [[TheSmartGuy knowledge]]. While Slytherin is infamous for being [[AmbitionIsEvil dangerously power-hungry]].

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* ''Machinal'' is about a deeply troubled young woman who enters into an unhappy marriage with a cheerful go-getter businessman. Their optimistic and pessimistic traits are exaggerated in their last scene together, in which they are each reading a newspaper, with him only being interested in bland uplifting pieces and her focusing exclusively on morbid and distressing stories.