History Main / MajorlyAwesome

* Major Reisman in ''Film/TheDirtyDozen'' (pictured above).

%%* Major "Dutch" Schaeffer of ''Film/{{Predator}}''.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

* Major "Dutch" Schaeffer of ''Film/{{Predator}}''.

* Phillip Bromley, the SOE agent from ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorRisingSun.'' He specializes in sabotage which causes the Japanese to fear him.
* Major Blackmore from ''[[VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts]]''. We overhear some British soldiers talking about an OffscreenMomentOfAwesome where he took on seven Germans by ''himself''.
** ''Company Of Heroes 2'' features a Major as a deployable unit for the Americans. Deploying him is required in order to access the American heavy vehicle units, and he has the ability to order both recon flights and off-map artillery strikes. Additionally, despite his "squad" consisting of only two men in addition to himself[[note]]other American rifle units have at least four and typically five men each[[/note]] it still has the same two slots for equipping heavier weapons as any other squad - in fact, the first weapon picked up is usually grabbed by the Major himself!
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' has Major Deanna [=McOnie=], in command of the Osean Ground Defence forces [[spoiler:tasked with restoring the remaining [[VideoGame/AceCombat4ShatteredSkies Stonehenge railgun]] so it can shoot down Arsenal Bird, a [[RobotWar rogue drone]] CoolAirship. It's rusted from years of neglect and barely functional, it can fire only one shot before breaking down, and the targeting computers are wrecked. So the Major has to calculate the firing trajectory ''herself'', taking into account the Coriolis effect and other atmospheric conditions as well as the visual distortion from the Arsenal Bird's deflector shield. And of course, her shot is a dead bullseye that cleaves the Arsenal Bird in half.]] [[GoodLookingPrivates Beauty]], [[GoodWithNumbers brains]] and badassery all in one. No wonder she is an EnsembleDarkhorse.

* Major Glory of the [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Justice Friends]].

* Major Adam Steiner from the animated series of ''TabletopGame/BattleTech''
* MadScientist Major Dr. Ghastly, from the short-lived Evil Con Carne segment from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''.

* Major Bernd Baltzar from ''Manga/GunkaNoBaltzar''.
* In the ''Manga/Area88'' manga, Hoover Kippenburg was once a major in the West German air force and a NATO air commander.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* Major [[MeaningfulName Chip]] [[AIIsACrapShoot Hazard]] from ''Film/SmallSoldiers'', even though he's a toy. The guy's literally programmed to be one of these. That, and he's voiced by Creator/TommyLeeJones.
* ''Film/MajorPayne'', though in this case his badass status is PlayedForLaughs.
* Major "Dutch" Schaeffer of ''Film/{{Predator}}''.

* T.E. Lawrence is promoted from lieutenant to major in charge of leading the Arab guerilla forces against the Turks after successfully taking Turkish-held Aqaba in ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''.

* Subverted to a degree with Major Gates from ''Film/ThreeKings''. Although he ''is'' a decorated Ranger/Special Forces officer who is serving with Delta Force during the events of the film. He's also voracious, crass, extremely apathetic, and overall not what one imagines when they think of a fabled officer who holds the rank of major.
* In both ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' and ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', William Stryker is at the rank of Major.
* TheAntagonist [[ColdSniper Major König]] from ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates''. Some of the kills he pulls off have to be seen to be believed. Notably, based on historical records, he seems to be completely fictional.

* Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge, captain of the SS-161 Stingray in ''Film/DownPeriscope'', takes on the US nuclear navy in an old diesel sub [[spoiler:''and wins!'']]
* Major Claremont in ''Film/BreakheartPass''. Although he initially appears to be TheNeidermeyer - with his over officious attitude and insistence on doing things 'by the book' - but ultimately every decision he makes is shown to have been for the good of the train and his men. And when the chips are down, he shows himself to be highly skilled with both pistol and the sword.
* Major Dan Kirby (Creator/JohnWayne) in ''Flying Leathernecks'' commands a squadron of US Marine fighter pilots. He hits pretty much every note of this trope, from leading his pilots into the fight to being torn up inside over ordering men into battle when he ''knows'' some of them won't come back.

* Major Rawne from ''Literature/GauntsGhosts''.

* ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}'': Sharpe becomes a Major in ''Sharpe's Enemy''.

* [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The Major]] from ''Literature/{{Daemon}}'' is objectively pretty badass.
* [[Literature/HandOfThrawn Major Grodin Tierce]] spends most of his on-page time strategizing and trying to make the BigBadTriumvirate hold together, but he does have a few very memorable action moments - and some of that strategy was damned impressive, too. Amusingly, many people are surprised at just what he can do and how much he knows, for a lowly major. A number of other characters in the Expanded Universe books top out at major, usually ones who don't have their eye on wider command but are pretty badass; among them Wes Janson and Hobbie Klivian.
* In ''Literature/RatsBatsAndVats'', the two competent officers end up promoted to major.
* Lt. Commander Nimue Alban and her alter ego Major Merlin Athrawes in Literature/{{Safehold}}.

* The protagonist of ''Series/MajorDad'' is Major John [=McGillis=], USMC, a decorated Vietnam veteran who demonstrates impeccable military bearing at all times.

* ''Series/{{Mash}}'':

* Major Briggs from ''Series/TwinPeaks''.

* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'':
** Major John Sheppard in Season 1.
** After Major John Sheppard's promotion, Major Evan Lorne takes up the role as his adjutant.
* Major Zod, BigBad of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'''s 9th Season. Though he does promote himself to [[FourStarBadass General]] in the last few episodes of the season.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie has the rank of Major in seasons 2, 3 & 4.
* ''Series/{{Band of Brothers}}'': (Eventual) Major Dick Winters.
* ''Series/{{Sharpe}}'': Richard Sharpe spent most of his TV series as a Major in the army of UsefulNotes/TheDukeOfWellington.
* ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie'':
** Major Nelson (Creator/LarryHagman). An astronaut with a hot female genie.
** Averted with Nelson's best friend Major Healey.
* ''Series/HoratioHornblower'':
** "The Frogs and the Lobsters": Major Edrington comes from BlueBlood and TheProudElite, and he's a smirking GentlemanSnarker. He's a very competent leader and soldier, too, and his general coolness endeared him to fans and made him very memorable despite the fact that he appeared only in one part of the miniseries.
** Major Côtard is a French soldier who collaborates with the British because he strongly opposes Napoleon Bonaparte. Even though he has FrenchJerk vibes and is suspected of disloyalty, he proves himself a worthy ally and his fighting skills are badass.

* ''Series/CasesOfTheFirstDepartment'':
** Maj. Tomas Kozak is a cool and competent policeman who should be head of the department, however, he's his deputy but at times he must do his boss's duties. He's one of the most charismatic people on the show though he looks moody.
** Maj. Vaclav Plisek is the oldest and most experienced policeman on the team. He has a great ability to read the crime and connect leads. He has awesome knowledge of the history of crime and he knows the criminals' psychology. His ideas prove right most of the time.
* [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The Major]] from ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit" is the only one of said characters who was ever truly determined to escape the room they're trapped in. [[spoiler:He succeeds, but not for long.]]
* In the first season of ''Series/WhoWantsToBeASuperhero'', one of the final three contestants was a goofy guy known as Major Victory, who was very popular with the fans and his fellow super-wannabes. According to the man who wore the cape, he conceived of the character as Captain Victory, and Creator/StanLee himself changed it to Major before filming because he thought it sounded better.
* ''Series/McHalesNavy'' was about the adventures of Lieutenant Commander Quinton Mchale, the commanding officer of PT-73, and his crew as they spent time in the Pacific theater of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII alternating between fighting the Japanese and throwing huge parties.

* The Aggressors from Super Robot Wars Original Generation. They were the guys who ''invented'' mecha combat in that universe:

* Lieutenant Commander Shepard of the [[SpaceNavy Systems Alliance Navy]] from ''Franchise/MassEffect''. It's outright stated that s/he's an O-4 in the [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 first game]], but s/he never gets a chance to advance past this rank, not even after [[SavingTheWorld what s/he did]].
** As of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', [[spoiler:Kaidan Alenko]] has been promoted to Major, and also lives up to the OfficerAndAGentleman trope.
** [[spoiler:Ashley Williams]] is also a Lieutenant Commander by game 3.
** As of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' [[spoiler:Kirrahe]] is promoted to Major.
** Remember "Big Ben" from the third game's first trailer? He turns up during the endgame as one of Anderson's right-hand soldiers, where we learn his name is Major Coates.
* Majors Strickland and Laurence Barnes from ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}''. Second name doesn't ring a bell? They call him... Prophet.
* Rosch from ''VideoGame/RadiantHistoria''.

* Major Manson in ''[[VideoGame/{{BattleZone1998}} Battlezone II]]''. He leads from the front lines, is a very moral officer, and since he took place in the Biometal wars of the 1960s, he's also an OldSoldier, being in his late 60s to early 70s.
* Lieutenant Commander David "Section" Mason from ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' who leads his team of Navy SEALS through the near end of the modern world - and if you get the right ending, manages to prevent it.
* The highest rank the Trooper can reach in ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', at the end of chapter 2/beginning of chapter 3, is Major.

The rank of Major is one often overlooked in works of fiction. It is neither quite as cool as '[[ColonelBadass Colonel]]', nor does it have the same ring as '[[TheCaptain Captain]]', nor does it have the same air of authority to it as '[[FourStarBadass General]]', and so for the most part is an ignored rank. But occasionally a character comes along, who happens to hold that rank, and do so while being a [[IncrediblyLamePun major]] badass. This trope covers those people.

** Nobody knows the first name of Major ______ de Coverly because he's such a MemeticBadass that nobody dares to ask.

** Major Sidney Freedman was the psychiatrist equivalent of this. The 4077 considered him the best in his field, so he was their go-to choice for mental cases and he always seemed to know what to do.

* Major [[BaldBlackLeaderGuy Cedric Daniels]] in ''Series/TheWire''. He starts as a Lieutenant, and becomes Majorly Awesome, ColonelBadass, and finally DaChief, before realizing he doesn't want to be at the head of such a flawed police department. [[spoiler:The fact that he immediately starts getting blackmailed doesn't help. He quits and becomes a lawyer.]]

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' has Major Ocelot.

* Major Bernd Baltzar from ''Manga/GunkaNoBaltzer''.

* Major Bernd Baltzar from ''Manga/GunkaNoBalzer''.