History Main / DarkShepherd

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* Paul "Pious" Schäfer from the movie ''Film/LaColonia''. He rules his commune, ''Colonia Dignidad'' (Dignity Colony) with an iron fist, and keeps men and women separate because he believes that [[SexIsEvil the love between a man and a woman is wicked and sinful,]] but [[PedophilePriest the (physical) love between man and child is saintly.]] Although the story itself is fiction, [[TruthInTelevision Schäfer did run his commune in the isolated foothills of the Chilean Andes,]] and he died in prison after being sentenced for sexually abusing children.

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* The grim hermit Michael of Macedonia in the ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'' is both a GoodShepherd and a DarkShepherd, who later helps raise up an AlternateHistory version of the Knights Hospitalier.

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-->And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." [Jn 2:13–16]

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* The [[ReligionOfEvil inverse-Catholic]] (with [[EqualOpportunityEvil inverse-Anglican, Baptist, Jewish and Muslim]] sects) covenant of the Lancea Sanctum from ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' doctrinally claim this is their relationship with humanity. Sanctified vampires "[[ScareEmStraight scare humans straight]]" into the arms of God by acting as the predators that they are.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sister Butch]] of ''WesternAnimation/JohnCallahansQuads''. Her only motivation (read: ''only motivation'') for doing anything in life is her faith, and you'd better believe she'll do anything from ''threaten people with eternal damnation for not donating enough to a charity'' to breaking and entry to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome taking on {{Satan}} in a wrestling arena]] for that purpose.

* ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' has a villainous example: Fisher Biskit considers his AlphaBitch twin daughters Whittany and Brittany to be absolutely rotten people. Due to that, he repeatedly creates [[[[SecretTest tasks and trials]] in a constant effort to get them to behave more respectfully towards other people and appreciate their kindness. [[StatusQuoIsGod It invariably fails]], causing the opinions of his daughters to sink further each time. This example doubles as HiddenDepths, as he is depicted as a CorruptCorporateExecutive most of the time, but he is shown to truly understand compassion, honesty, and generosity, repaying it when done to him and hoping that someday, his daughters will do the same.

* ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' has a villainous example: Fisher Biskit considers his AlphaBitch twin daughters Whittany and Brittany to be absolutely rotten people. Due to that, he repeatedly creates tasks and trials in a constant effort to get them to behave more respectfully towards other people and appreciate their kindness. It invariably fails, causing the opinions of his daughters to sink further each time. This example doubles as HiddenDepths, as he is depicted as a CorruptCorporateExecutive most of the time, but he is shown to truly understand compassion, honesty, and generosity, repaying it when done to him and hoping that someday, his daughters will do the same.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sister Butch]] of ''WesternAnimation/JohnCallahansQuads''. Her only motivation (read: ''only motivation'') for doing anything in life is her faith, and you'd better believe she'll do anything from ''threaten people with eternal damnation for not donating enough to a charity'' to breaking and entry to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome taking on Satan in a wrestling arena]] for that purpose.

** Unalaq from SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' wants unity of the Water Tribes whether they want it or not. That, and he also sets up Tonraq to be banished from the North by destroying the spirit forest so that he could be chieftain instead.
* ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' has a villainous example: Fisher considers his twin daughters to be absolutely rotten people. Due to that, he repeatedly creates tasks and trials in a constant effort to get them to behave more respectfully towards other people and appreciate their kindness. It invariably fails, causing the opinions of his daughters to sink further each time. This example doubles as HiddenDepths, as he is depicted as a CorruptCorporateExecutive most of the time, but he is shown to truly understand compassion, honesty, and generosity, repaying it when done to him and hoping that someday, his daughters will do the same.

* [[VideoGame/TheWitcher Geralt of Rivia]] has seen too much to believe that monsters are always defined by their species. If anyone commits horrible crimes for reasons that are exceptionally stupid, he can threaten to consider them monsters and kill them because he really, really wants to kill bad people. Most are pretty stupid, but a few consider throwing down their arms and going home.

* Russian Stalinists think Stalin was this, and the purpose of his cruelty was [[ScareEmStraight scare any and all crooks, mobsters, corrupt bureaucrats and conspirators straight]]. Since UsefulNotes/TheNewRussia is particularly full of mobsters and corrupt bureaucrats, they desperately want someone to do this again.
* Mao Zedong and Pol Pot were both ruthless leaders who were determined to create a "proletarian paradise", and had no problems in disposing millions of people they considered enemies or of no use to them.

* ''FanFic/ShatteredReflection'': Having a seriously DarkAndTroubledPast [[EtTuBrute involving being betrayed by her own version of the]] [[FireEmblemAwakening Shepherds,]] Rose has absolutely no faith in their ability to make moral and rational decisions when she visits the timeline that the story takes place in, and thus defaults to this whenever trying to get them to do something.

* Paul "Pious" Schäfer from the movie ''Film/LaColonia.'' He rules his commune, ''Colonia Dignidad'' (Dignity Colony) with an iron fist, and keeps men and women separate because he believes that [[SexIsEvil the love between a man and a woman is wicked and sinful,]] but [[PedophilePriest the (physical) love between man and child is saintly.]] Although the story itself is fiction, [[TruthInTelevision Schäfer did run his commune in the isolated foothills of the Chilean Andes,]] and he died in prison after being sentenced for sexually abusing children.

The Dark Shepherd can be evil. His point is that you shouldn't be. While his GoodCounterpart has integrity, the Dark Shepherd has low expectations. Out of sympathy or disgust, he sees the sheep as an egocentric, thoughtlessly driven by pleasure or pain, incapable of learning, or perhaps just too addicted to bad behavior, too weak to make the right decision like a hero.

The GoodShepherd is optimistic in his heavenly intentions and arguments, but the Dark Shepherd focuses on the evil in people. The Dark Shepherd is a spiritual DrillSergeantNasty who resorts to threats and fear in the sheep's moment of doubt or descent, to scare the sheep away from the edge of the cliff.

The Dark Shepherd can be evil. His point is that you shouldn't be. While his good counterpart has integrity, the Dark Shepherd has low expectations. Out of sympathy or disgust, he sees the sheep as an egocentric, thoughtlessly driven by pleasure or pain, incapable of learning, or perhaps just too addicted to bad behavior, too weak to make the right decision like a hero.

Heaven is the carrot; Hell is the stick; the Dark Shepherd wields the latter.

* Prophet Sachary Comstock from ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' counts. He convinced everyone in [[FloatingContinent Columbia]] that God told him to build the city as a haven for the chosen people, [[WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant non-Irish white people]] who believe his message that the lesser races are only meant to be used as [[MadeASlave free labor for the chosen few,]] and that a "false shepherd" with [[MarkOfTheBeast an evil mark (AD),]] "will lead [[TheChosenOne the Lamb]] astray."

* Russian Stalinists think Stalin was this, and the purpose of his cruelty was [[ScareEmStraight scare any and all crooks, mobsters, corrupt bureaucrats and conspirators straight]]. Since TheNewRussia is particularly full of mobsters and corrupt bureaucrats, they desperately want someone to do this again.

** Shepherd Book from ''Firefly'' is a Good Shepherd with Dark Shepherd moments, as when he warns Mal that taking advantage of a naive and innocent (-seeming) young woman will get him sent to a "special hell" in "Our Ms. Reynolds". Also, while he [[ThouShaltNotKill won't kill]], the Good Book is a mite fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.

** {{Jesus}} also counts. For someone who preaches about love and {{forgiveness}}, He also (in a rather gentle manner, mind you) warns people of eternal damnation in Hell if they don't repent of their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior. [[BerserkButton And there was this one time when he lost His temper with merchants and moneylenders doing their business on Temple grounds...]]

** {{Jesus}} also counts. For someone who preaches about love and {{forgiveness}}, He also (in a rather gentle manner, mind you) warns people of eternal damnation in Hell if they don't repent of their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior. And there was this one time when he lost His temper with merchants and moneylenders doing their business on Temple grounds...

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' is full of classic Dark Shepherd, usually used on civilians who are corrupt but not yet evil. The Batman doesn't claim to be good, he doesn't act good, but he wants everyone to be good. Most common Dark Shepherd scenario: vanishing, leaving a potential villain with food for thought, but not a scratch on him yet.

** {{Jesus}} also counts. For someone who preaches about love and {{forgiveness}}, He also (in a rather gentle manner, mind you) warns people of eternal damnation in Hell if they don't repent of their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

** Shepherd Book from ''Firefly'' is a Good Shepherd with Dark Shepherd moments, as when he warns Mal that taking advantage of a naive and innocent (-seeming) young woman will get him sent to a "special hell" in "Our Ms. Reynolds".

A form of GoodIsNotNice. Through the lens of GoodCopBadCop, the Dark Shepherd closes the sieve. However, usually aware of the somewhat shameful nature of his persuasion, the Dark Shepherd's work is often private, behind the back of any Good Shepherd that may put a stop to it. Compare HobbesWasRight.

->''"You have two options. You can wait until I leave, and then murder [[spoiler:Abigail]]. But then I'll come back. I'll slay every lice-ridden peasant, anything that moves and can't climb a tree. Or, you can lead honourable lives; clear your conscience and start again, like humans. The choice is yours."''

** Shepherd Book from ''Firefly'' is a Good Shepherd with Dark Shepherd moments, like his "Special Hell" comments from "Our Ms. Reynolds".

* Harry Dresden of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has elements of this in how he treats his apprentice Molly, combined with ScareEmStraight. In an earlier moment, Cassius, who is host to a dangerous demon, fakes a HeelFaceTurn and the Knights have to leave him alone as he has given up the demon, even though its blatantly obvious he did this to not be harmed. As he still has crucial information to his boss' evil plan, Harry gives a candidate for the page quote.