History Main / HeroicBSOD

The trope is named in honor of [[UsefulNotes/BlueScreenOfDeath the infamous Microsoft Windows error]] that indicates that the system has screwed itself big time (the technical term is "stop error"). A particularly literal version could involve a character (preferably a supercomputer or other ArtificialIntelligence) literally displaying a Blue Screen Of Death.

If opponents discover a character's BSOD trigger, they may employ it as a weapon — although if they over-use it, the victim may wise up and seek treatment. Even comedy characters can find that a BSOD leads to CharacterDevelopment, marking the start of a series of new experiences, or causing them to revise their world-view. HopeIsScary is a frequent reaction to the beginning of recovery for any character. HesBack often marks a character's full recovery, perhaps accompanied by a WorldOfCardboardSpeech. Conversely, a character who never recovers has fallen over the DespairEventHorizon.

* Koden goes through a temporary one in the ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'' episode 'The Camping Webisode' after he discovers the gang's campsite has been trashed.

The trope is named in honor of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSOD an infamous Microsoft Windows error]] that indicates that the system has screwed itself big time (the technical term is "stop error"). A particularly literal version could involve a character (preferably a supercomputer or other ArtificialIntelligence) literally displaying a Blue Screen Of Death.

[[caption-width-right:336:[-[[{{Pun}} Windows]] of the Soul [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.]]-] ]]

** "Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us", often called "Laurens' Interlude", in which the titular Hamilton receives news that his friend and implied lover John Laurens has been killed in battle. He stays silent for a while, and then finally responds with a choked

* HeroicBSOD/WebComics

** At the end of Volume 3, Yang experiences an emotional collapse that makes her completely give up on life and take to her bed in depression. She spends most of Volume 4 recovering from it. [[spoiler:During the Battle of Beacon, she sees Adam stab Blake; by recklessly charging in with her Semblance at full-power, she leaves herself wide open to Adam's strike, which is so powerful that he cuts through her Aura and amputates her arm. In the battle, the school is destroyed, some of her friends are killed, and Blake flees Vale without saying anything to her team-mates. Yang spends Volume 4 in a lethargy of depression, betrayal and PTSD. She only begins her road to recovery when she realises that her father can't protect her younger sister, who ran away from home to investigate the villain that attacked Beacon, because he has to stay home to look after Yang. That makes her determined to get back on feet again so that she can go after Ruby to protect her.]]

** When the God of Light needed a servant to guide humanity towards a state of harmony, he gave TheChosenOne a warning that, if not heeded, would lead only to a life of pain and despair. [[spoiler:When the God of Light reincarnated [[BigGood Ozma]], it was with the warning that [[BigBad Salem]] was no longer the woman he loved and, if he sought her out, he would find only pain. Ozma seeks her out anyway and they end up happily married with four daughters until he eventually discovers her idea of helping him unite humanity is to destroy every human that resists, and that her plans for their daughters put them in danger. His attempt to rescue his children leads to a terrible battle that destroys their marriage and their daughters' lives. Ozma falls into a deep depression that lasts for [[ResurrectiveImmortality several lifetimes]]. However, [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne no matter what happens to him]], Ozma always finds a way to [[{{Determinator}} pick himself back up]] and return to his divine mission to save humanity from a fate of destruction come Judgement Day. Ozma was eventually reincarnated into a man who was able to throw off the depression, invent the cane that [[LegacyOfTheChosen Ozpin and Oscar]] now wield, and who was able to both love again and start fighting back against Salem.]]

** When the God of Light needed a servant to guide humanity towards a state of harmony, he gave TheChosenOne a warning that, if not heeded, would lead only to a life of pain and despair. [[spoiler:When the God of Light reincarnated Ozma, it was with the warning that Salem was no longer the woman he loved and, if he sought her out, he would find only pain. Ozma seeks her out anyway and they end up happily married with four daughters until he eventually discovers her idea of helping him unite humanity is to destroy every human that resists, and that her plans for their daughters put them in danger. His attempt to rescue his children leads to a terrible battle that destroys their marriage and their daughters' lives. Ozma falls into a deep depression that lasts for [[ResurrectiveImmortality several lifetimes]]. However, [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne no matter what happens to him]], Ozma always finds a way to [[{{Determinator}} pick himself back up]] and return to his divine mission to save humanity from a fate of destruction come Judgement Day. Ozma was eventually reincarnated into a man who was able to throw off the depression, invent the cane that [[LegacyOfTheChosen Ozpin and Oscar]] now wield, and who was able to both love again and start fighting back against Salem.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Yang suffers a huge one by the end of Volume 3 and spends a huge chunk of Volume 4 in this state, being hit pretty hard to the point of giving up, nearly to the point of hitting DespairEventHorizon. [[spoiler:Getting disgraced in the tournament, losing your right arm trying to protect your friend, and then having that friend abandon you shortly after, in addition to losing Penny, Pyrrha and Beacon to Cinder and the Grimm, will do that to you]]. By Volume 4, she's getting a bit better, but she still shows signs of PTSD - when she accidentally drops a glass in the kitchen, it triggers a flashback of [[spoiler:Adam slicing her arm off]], causing her to panic and hyperventilate, and it takes a bit for her to calm down. Given her bubbly BoisterousBruiser personality before, [[TearJerker it's really upsetting viewing]]. Fortunately, by the end of the Volume, she not only [[spoiler:gets a new arm]], but recovers enough to head out into the direction of Mistral, presumably, to look for Ruby. Volume 5, however, shows that she hasn't recovered fully as she has a number of minor panic attacks that she has to fight through and [[spoiler:she ends up sobbing to Weiss that Blake's abandonment hurt her the worst.]]

Compare HeroicRROD (the physical equivalent), FreakOut, and DeerInTheHeadlights. One common reaction is IThinkYouBrokeHim. In RealLife psychology, this sort of thing is known as an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_stress_reaction acute stress reaction]], or a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_breakdown mental breakdown]], and is related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If a character starts singing about their (or someone else's) Heroic BSOD, then it's also an example of BSODSong

[[caption-width-right:336:[-[[{{Pun}} Windows]] [[WindowsOfTheSoul of the Soul]] [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.]]-] ]]

A stunning revelation or horrible event affects a character or someone they care deeply about, leaving them shocked to the point of mentally shutting down for a while, analogous to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Screen_of_Death Blue Screen of Death]]. The effect is similar to passing a DespairEventHorizon, but is temporary rather than permanent. Alternatively, if, say, this occurs during a fight, a hero may have a [[FoeTossingCharge violent outburst]], killing EvilMinions and hurling their own companions aside. They may run off and have to be tracked down by their friends for EpiphanyTherapy. AloneInACrowd typically represents a milder, non-disabling form of BSOD; a related trope is HeroicSafeMode, wherein the hero "defaults" to a fight or flight mindset before rebooting in safety. A ShellShockedVeteran may have a BSOD in their back story.

If opponents discover a character's BSOD trigger, they may employ it as a weapon -- although if they over-use it, the victim may wise up and seek treatment. Even comedy characters can find that a BSOD leads to CharacterDevelopment, marking the start of a series of new experiences, or causing them to revise their world-view. HopeIsScary is a frequent reaction to the beginning of recovery for any character. HesBack often marks a character's full recovery, perhaps accompanied by a WorldOfCardboardSpeech. Conversely, a character who never recovers has fallen over the DespairEventHorizon.

* ''Podcast/RandomAssault'': Alex has one in the ChristmasSpecial, after his Christmas dinner, plans, and the mansion are ruined.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]

* HeroicBSOD/WebAnimation

* The Scorpions' ''Heroes Don't Cry'' is about a man who goes through this after a disaster of some sort - the song leaves it unclear - but, heartwarmingly, resists being DrivenToSuicide and decides to live on, even though he's broken.

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'':
** Vivian's superpower briefly gives her the ability to suppress her [[NervousWreck otherwise highly-strung]] emotions. When this effect fades, Vivian freaks out and then 'crashes', curling up in the corner of her room while the rest of the characters deal with their current issue.
** Jenna's superpower turned her into a walking mass of insects. When Crispin first sets eyes on her, he screams long and hard in abject horror. Jenna is so hurt by it that she breaks down and hides herself away in a closet, [[MadnessMantra repeatedly]] muttering to herself that she's a monster. It takes the arrival of her ChildhoodFriend to help calm her down.
* Jimmy had one in ''Roleplay/DigimonForumRP'' when Ichigo made a HeroicSacrifice just to save him from a Metal Kabuterimon's Electron Cannon.
* A number of instances in ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'':
** Andrew hit a minor BSOD upon realizing fully that LEGO Island, his hometown whose salvation was a major factor in him signing up for the team, had vanished into the Torn World.
** The goal of [[spoiler:the Darkitect's [[FaceYourFears illusions]]]]. He succeeded in giving Rex, Katerina, Minerva, and Hotwire Heroic [=BSODs=], although the effects did not last as long as he had hoped, especially once [[spoiler:the illusions were broken]].
** Pterisa suffered a massive Heroic BSOD once [[spoiler:the Darkitect]] revealed her identity to the Dino Attack Team. One moment, she was confident and [[TheStoic stoic]]. Her Heroic BSOD left her extremely fragile and insecure.
** As a result of [[spoiler:[[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu breaking her arm punching out the Maelstrom]]]], combined with the discovery that [[spoiler: her own mother had been lying to her, she only exists because of a secret affair in a hospital, and her own uncle had been institutionalized after attempting a self-induced lobotomy]] Kate had a rather nasty one. She also got a rather bad case of PTSD after the war.
** Sam Race crashed hard after he [[spoiler:[[ILetGwenStacyDie failed to save his father]]]], and much like Kate, he'll never fully recover from it.
** Rex was suffering a massive Heroic BSOD after the deaths of [[spoiler:Amanda and Trouble]]. This Heroic BSOD was so bad that it actually left him in an AngstComa.
** Minerva suffered a minor Heroic BSOD after [[spoiler:Athena's death]]. She then entered another one after [[spoiler:killing Oswald]], only forcing herself out of it after [[spoiler:being goaded by the Darkitect into keep fighting and to avenge her fallen family]].
* There was a few instances of this in ''Roleplay/StarForceRP'':
** Zuhal's depression after he lost Del.
** Prior to being a character, Nova suffered a brief one when [[spoiler:Drake Kaizer pressed Nova's BerserkButton by killing his girlfriend,]] causing Nova to hunt him down.
** Nova suffered another one after an incident at the Junkyard on Dream Island involving Jake Rayner and Callisto [[spoiler:both of whom were each using a SuperMode due to having Zerker and Saurian's [=OOPArt=]]] causing Nova to view the [=OOPArts=] as something that must be destroyed.
* In ''Roleplay/YuGiOhEastAcademy'', Marcus spends several scenes suffering from a HeroicBSOD after he is [[spoiler: tortured by Haine.]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* In ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'', Werewolves can go into a state of deep spiritual sadness called Harano. However, overcoming it provides the Werewolf with permanent Willpower.
** If done correctly a GM can even get a player to do this. It's immensely satisfing when it happens.
* An occupational hazard of Astartes and Guard officers in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''. One of the more typical comes from the Primarch Corax: after resorting to desperate measures to rebuild his devastated Raven Guard during the Literature/HorusHeresy, he reluctantly and personally executes the horrific monstrosities his orders created, then locks himself in his room for a year and a day, after which he emerges and takes a ship on course for the Eye of Terror, his only word being [[ShoutOut "Nevermore..."]]
** Hlaine 'Mad' Larkin, the unhinged sniper from the Gaunt's Ghosts series, has one of these during basically every battle.
** As mentioned above in VideoGame/DawnOfWar, The Tau have a chance of getting the blue screen if their Ethereal dies. Or, they could go into UnstoppableRage... [[MoreDakka with plasma guns]].
** While were talking about Dawn of War, I would like to take you back to the First game's Single player campaign, after grinding through Orks, Eldar and Chaos troops, Brother Captain discovers his Long Time buddy and Company Librarian turn to Chaos, though the mission's scene doesn't show exactly ''how long'' his BSOD lasted, but it was hinted that he got real mad and by the beginning of the next mission his anger was made manifest by a orbiting [[DeathFromAbove Battle Barge]].
** In the Dark Heresy expansion: Ascension an event specifically designed to cause a Heroic BSOD is one of the ways a character can be promoted to the rank of Inquisitor.
** Roboute Guilliman's reaction upon being revived and seeing the theocratic hellhole the Imperium had become in the absence of him and the other Primarchs is to break down and weep, even saying that it would have been better if [[PredecessorVillain Horus]] had won during the Heresy.
--> ''"Why do I still live? What more do you want from me? I gave everything I had to you, to them. Look what they've done to our dream. This bloated, rotting carcass of an empire is not driven by reason and hope, but by fear, hate and ignorance. Better that we all burned in the fires of Horus' ambition than lived to see this."''
* In the free ''[[Film/TheMatrix Matrix]]'' game [[http://www.steved.org/rp_rules_tins.html "There Is No Spoon,"]] the Sick At Heart optional rules model damage to a character's belief system, and reduces their Matrix stat (the stat that gives them their ability to kick serious ass) on a failed Matrix roll when they choose (or are forced) to act in a way that contravenes or works to destroy their beliefs, personal code or deep abiding reason to live, or are severely tortured or have something else extreme happen to them. A character can actually be worn down to no Matrix stat at all this way, making them little more than another mook under the system's rules, and recovery of Matrix points is difficult, as it involves rebuilding the character's faith in themselves. The notes on this particular optional rule says that it should not be used excessively, as this is meant to be an action game, not a dark tale of the fragility of the mind.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has a defined set of these as part of the Great Curse afflicting all Solar Exalted. Called "Limit Breaks" (unrelated to [[LimitBreak the trope]] except by name), they occur whenever Exalts reach a particular threshold of stress related to their Compassion, Conviction, Temperance, or Valor traits. Effects include catatonia, UnstoppableRage, wallowing in vice, collapsing in a fit of crying, and plenty more; all are highly destructive, incapacitating, or both. The other Exalted types where afflicted with the Great Curse has well, but it usually doesn't take this form. Sidereals, for example, run a bigger risk of everything going to hell if more then a few work together on something. (Unless you're a Lunar, where you get similar issues to the Solars, plus the ability to turn into a 2 ton killing machine at will.)
** The webcomic ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'' has a particularly good example. [[http://keychain.patternspider.net/archive/koc0220.html #220]] is an example of a Compassion Limit Break, 'Heart of Tears'.
** The Unconquered Sun went into one shortly before the Usurpation, and has pretty much withdrawn for 2000 years as a result. Let's put it this way: in his stronghold at the heart of the Daystar, there's a courtroom. In that courtroom, there is a list of people found guilty by the judgment of the Unconquered Sun. The last name listed is his own.
* The psionic power ''Brain Lock'' in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' enforces a bluescreen on the victim.
** Arguably, many fear effects could apply. "[[OhCrap Oh no.]] A dragon. [[DullSurprise We're going to die.]]"
* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'', the TropeCodifier and possibly UrExample and TropeMaker for the SanityMeter, has these in spades. A character can have a HeroicBSOD any time they take too much Sanity damage too quickly, and given that you are facing off against the creations of the TropeMaker for EldritchAbomination in modern times, you can bet Sanity checks will do characters in quickly. Standing there gibbering because [[GoMadFromTheRevelation you've gone mad from the revelation]] does not stop the cultist from gunning you down or the horrible monster from fourteen dimensions from deciding to introduce you to them all at once.
* The table of possible results for a failed "Fright Check" in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' include a number of blue screen-style effects, of varying severity and duration. In addition, all sorts of spells, powers, surprise effects, etc., can produce "mental stun", which is essentially a very short-term BSOD.

[[folder:Theater]]
* In ''Theatre/{{Ajax}}'', after having been induced to madness and very publicly slaughtering livestock while under the impression they were his allies, Ajax is fairly subdued once he is in his right mind again and discovers everyone knows what he's done. This is a [[DrivenToSuicide prelude to suicide]].
* In the 2013 West End musical ''Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', Charlie Bucket, up to this point a CheerfulChild who makes the most of his meager lot in life, falls into one of these after learning that the fourth of the five Golden Tickets has been found just after his one chance at finding a ticket failed. For the next week he is glum and quiet, not even asking to hear one of Grandpa Joe's stories. Even when his father suggests they could look for shooting stars in the sky to wish upon, Charlie's response is a mere "Don't waste a wish on me". Thankfully, the next day fortune finally smiles upon him when circumstances result in him finding the final ticket.
* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'': Viscount de Valvert tries to bully Cyrano telling him his nose is very big. After Cyrano ends his own HurricaneOfPuns (a LongList of genially funny {{Gag Nose}}s), he provokes a mini HeroicBSOD to Viscount De Valvert.
-->'''De Guiche''' ''(trying to draw away the'' '''dismayed''' ''viscount):'' Come away, Viscount!
* ''{{Theatre/Hamilton}}'':
** "Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us", often called "Laurens' Interlude", in which the titular Hamilton receives news that his friend and implied lover John Laurens has been killed in battle. He stays silent for a while, and then finally responds with a choked
-->I have so much work to do.
** "It's Quiet Uptown", in which the company observes him undergoing another one. He paces up and down the streets of New York end to end, all day, every day, TalkingToTheDead (specifically his son).
* Hector has one in ''Theatre/TheHistoryBoys''
-->[[BigShutUp WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT THESE EXAMS!]] Shut up, all of you! [crying] What made me piss my life away in this godforsaken place? There's nothing of me left.
* In ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'', the Baker, after hearing some terrible news, goes into one of these, ''in song form''. Literally, he sings a song about how he just wants to stop everything.
-->"No more feelings... Time to shut the door ... Just no more ..."
%%* ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' has "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".
* ''Theatre/MissSaigon'': John, to Kim, about Chris. "He went crazy when he lost you, spoke to no one for a year. Then he finally said I'm home now, my life has to go on here." Of course, it didn't really go on--earlier in the play we see him waking from a bad dream and his wife's lyrics indicate that this is a nightly occurrence.
* ''Theatre/NextToNormal'', several characters have them:
** Natalie has one during her piano recital.
** Dan has one when Diana starts to remember Gabe.
** Diana is having one throughout the entire show.
* ''Theatre/ThePlayThatGoesWrong'': Jonathan/the Inspector has this when he's unable to find the prop he needs, Max having moved it after accidentally sitting on it. He repeats "a ledger?" over and over as he looks for until he's screaming, then curls up on the couch sobbing. [[AudienceParticipation The audience]] pointing out said ledger is sticking out from under the couch does not help.
* ''Theatre/SpringAwakening'', Melchior suffers from one when he sees [[spoiler: Wendla's grave.]]
[[/folder]]

* HeroicBSOD/TabletopRPG
* HeroicBSOD/{{Theatre}}

* HeroicBSOD/{{Podcasts}}
* HeroicBSOD/ProfessionalWrestling
* HeroicBSOD/{{Roleplay}}

* HeroicBSOD/{{Mythology}}

* HeroicBSOD/{{Music}}

* HeroicBSOD/FanFiction

* HeroicBSOD/{{Film}}

!!Examples go on subpages:

Possible triggers include [[MyGreatestFailure failing in something crucial]] such as [[ILetGwenStacyDie saving a loved one]], being [[EtTuBrute betrayed]] by [[HeartbrokenBadass a close friend]], being forced to make an "impossible" choice [[PersonalHorror (e.g. having to choose between using "evil" methods or laying friends open to attack)]], or being hit with a BreakingSpeech or ArmorPiercingQuestion. Other tropes such as TheseHandsHaveKilled often overlap. When the trope is PlayedForLaughs or used for {{melodrama}}tic effect, the cause can be less substantial; deranged behavior from someone supposedly sane, seeing something completely surreal, or being hit with a WallOfText, say.

[[quoteright:336:[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cimo_cleaned_1867.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:336:[-[[{{Pun}} Windows]] [[WindowsOfTheSoul of the Soul]] [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.]]-] ]]

Even after regaining some function, a BSOD sufferer may evince a ThousandYardStare, or go into TenMinuteRetirement. In the longer term, a hero may become [[TheStoic emotionally comatose]] (entering an AngstComa), [[OutDamnedSpot obsessive and guilt-ridden]], [[DumbStruck mute]], or in really bad cases, a [[JadeColoredGlasses jaded]] violent [[AmnesiacDissonance amnesiac]]. A really long-term BSOD would be catatonia; GoMadFromTheRevelation is the worst case. Those who remain functional but don't find a cure for the problem may eventually find SafetyInIndifference or EmotionSuppression; other people may fear that they have become a FallenHero. Comedy and melodramatic uses of the trope are far less likely to lead to long-term problems; the character simply snaps back after a few minutes. A character in a {{slapstick}} comedy show may be thrown into ''several'' blue screens in one episode, as a RunningGag.