Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Main / MentalHandicapMoralDeficiency

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Downplayed with Charlie. He's significantly mentally disabled and is a generally pretty decent person...[[DamnedByFaintPraise compared to the rest of the Gang]]. By normal people's standards, he's a manipulative, violent stalker who's repeatedly kidnaps people, and there's been several moments (most famously "[[Recap/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiaS08E04CharlieAndDeeFindLove Charlie And Dee Find Love]]") where it's made clear he's capable of genuine malice like the rest of the Gang.

to:

* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Downplayed with Charlie. He's significantly mentally disabled and is a generally pretty decent person...[[DamnedByFaintPraise compared to the rest of the Gang]]. By normal people's standards, he's a manipulative, violent stalker who's repeatedly kidnaps people, and there's been several moments (most famously "[[Recap/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiaS08E04CharlieAndDeeFindLove Charlie And Dee Find Love]]") where it's made clear that, despite his disabilities, he's still very much capable of genuine malice like the rest of the Gang.genuine, intentional malice.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Downplayed with Charlie. He's significantly mentally disabled and is a generally pretty decent person...[[DamnedByFaintPraise compared to the rest of the Gang]]. By normal people's standards, he's a manipulative, violent stalker who's repeatedly kidnaps people, and there's been several moments (most famously "[[Recap/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiaS08E04CharlieAndDeeFindLove Charlie And Dee Find Love]]") where it's made clear he's capable of genuine malice like the rest of the Gang.

Added: 2478

Changed: 2567

Removed: 1353

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Alphabetizing example(s)


%%%
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
%%
%%%



[[folder: Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and [[WouldHurtAChild child murderer]] Black Manta was retconned into having a crippling case of autism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil -- but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.
* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his [[GruesomeGrandparent abusive grandmother]] by trying to take her apart and put her back together]]. Funnily enough, this makes him one of the few Batman baddies who meets the legal definition for insanity, as [[ObliviouslyEvil he genuinely doesn't understand that what he's doing is wrong]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's {{rogues gallery}}.

to:

[[folder: Comic
[[folder:Comic
Books]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and [[WouldHurtAChild child murderer]] Black Manta was retconned {{retcon}}ned into having a crippling case of autism.HollywoodAutism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil -- but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.
* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
** Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's RoguesGallery.
**
Humpty Dumpty. A Dumpty (most prominently featured in ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'') is a big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his [[GruesomeGrandparent abusive grandmother]] by trying to take her apart and put her back together]]. Funnily enough, this makes him one of the few Batman baddies who meets the legal definition for insanity, as [[ObliviouslyEvil he genuinely doesn't understand that what he's doing is wrong]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's {{rogues gallery}}.
wrong]].



* In ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'', there is Fuckwit, the "Down Syndrome clone" of the local Superman expy.

to:

* In ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'', there is Fuckwit, the "Down Syndrome clone" of the local Superman expy.SupermanSubstitute.



[[folder: Film - Live Action]]

to:

[[folder: Film - Live Action]][[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]



* ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes1977'': Mercury, [[CannibalClan The Clan]]'s lookout is portrayed as the mentally stunted "pet" of the family, speaking in a slow, thick voice, struggling with language, and generally being accepted as a source of amusement to his older, more competent, and more vicious brothers, Pluto (who courtesy of his actor's real-life Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is [[EvilCripple physically handicapped]]) and Mars (the only one of Papa Jupiter's sons who isn't disabled in some fashion).
* ''Film/HotFuzz'': Lurch is a hulking behemoth but also a simpleton unable to vocalize anything other than a high-pitched affirmative "Yarp", and still he willingly works for the villains without any remorse.

to:

* ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes1977'': Mercury, [[CannibalClan The Clan]]'s lookout lookout, is portrayed as the mentally stunted "pet" of the family, speaking in a slow, thick voice, struggling with language, and generally being accepted as a source of amusement to his older, more competent, and more vicious brothers, Pluto (who (who, courtesy of [[Creator/MichaelBerryman his actor's actor]]'s real-life Hypohidrotic hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia dysplasia, is [[EvilCripple physically handicapped]]) and Mars (the only one of Papa Jupiter's sons who isn't disabled in some fashion).
* ''Film/HotFuzz'': Lurch is a hulking behemoth but also a simpleton unable to vocalize anything other than a high-pitched affirmative "Yarp", and he still he willingly works for the villains without any remorse.



* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] in ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] It's left somewhat ambiguous that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.

to:

* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] in ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] rage]]. It's left somewhat ambiguous that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.



[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheElenium'': [[TheBrute Adus]] is a physically disfigured and almost nonverbal killing machine, who suffers from berserk rages and enjoys killing and raping anyone he encounters. Despite the best efforts of his employer, Martel, Adus is barely literate, incapable of looking after his own hygiene, and utterly useless for any tasks that don't involve murder or immediate and straightforward violence. Alternately described as "frighteningly stupid," "barely human," and a "walking battleaxe", Adus is pretty clearly disabled in some fashion, even if the characters, living in a medieval Europe analogue, lack the language to describe him as such.

to:

[[folder: Literature]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheElenium'': [[TheBrute Adus]] is a physically disfigured and almost nonverbal killing machine, machine who suffers from berserk rages and enjoys killing and raping anyone he encounters. Despite the best efforts of his employer, Martel, Adus is barely literate, incapable of looking after his own hygiene, and utterly useless for any tasks that don't involve murder or immediate and straightforward violence. Alternately described as "frighteningly stupid," stupid", "barely human," human", and a "walking battleaxe", Adus is pretty clearly disabled in some fashion, even if the characters, living in a medieval Europe analogue, lack the language to describe him as such.



** Joe (no last name) from Season 3's "Damaged" was a mentally disabled killer who murdered the parents of one of his friends in a rage when the father struck him. Years after the murders he is arrested by the BAU when the carnival he works at returns to town.
** Lucas Turner of the Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], then [[FedToPigs fed their bodies to the family's pigs]] while Mason watched.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was a severely intellectually disabled man who was also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, with sulfuric acid, culminating in [[EvilUncle an assault on his niece]] that leaves her permanently mutilated.
* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': In the comics, Melvin "Gladiator" Potter was a mentally ill man who suffered from the delusional belief that he was a Roman gladiator and the Kingpin was his Emperor. In the show, Melvin was instead presented as mentally disabled, admitting to requiring help from his friend Betsy in order to tell right from wrong and living in fear of Kingpin, who had threatened to harm Betsy if Melvin didn't work for him. When Matt defeats Melvin in a fight and offers to save Betsy from Kingpin, Melvin, depicted as an IdiotSavant when it comes to weapons and armor design, quickly switches sides and begins designing costumes for Matt.
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Cyril O'Reily suffered brain damage during a street fight and has the mental faculties of a kindergartner. While normally a placid fellow, he becomes extremely violent when agitated, and his naivete means he has no problem with going along with his brother Ryan's schemes.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
* In ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'', it's not clear what is wrong with David: he may have an mental disorder or a FictionalDisability, but he's extremely unnerving, creepy, and hyper-focused on serial killers, which leads to him killing several people.

to:

** Joe (no last name) from Season 3's "Damaged" was "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS3E14Damaged Damaged]]" is a mentally disabled killer who murdered the parents of one of his friends in a rage when the father struck him. Years after the murders murders, he is arrested by the BAU when the carnival he works at returns to town.
** Lucas Turner of the Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS4E25ToHell To Hell...]]"/"[[Recap/CriminalMindsS4E26AndBack ...And Back]]" suffers from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was is entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason Mason, whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed kills them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], hammer, then [[FedToPigs fed feeds their bodies to the family's pigs]] while Mason watched.
watches.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was "[[Recap/CriminalMindsS7E2Proof Proof]]" is a severely intellectually disabled man who was is also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, etc., with sulfuric acid, culminating in [[EvilUncle an assault on his niece]] that leaves her permanently mutilated.
* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': ''Series/Daredevil2015'': In [[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} the comics, comics]], Melvin "Gladiator" Potter was is a mentally ill man who suffered suffers from the delusional belief that he was is a Roman gladiator and the Kingpin was is his Emperor. In the show, Melvin was is instead presented as mentally disabled, admitting to requiring help from his friend Betsy in order to tell right from wrong and living in fear of Kingpin, who had has threatened to harm Betsy if Melvin didn't doesn't work for him. When Matt defeats Melvin in a fight and offers to save Betsy from Kingpin, Melvin, depicted as an IdiotSavant when it comes to weapons and armor design, quickly switches sides and begins designing costumes for Matt.
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Cyril O'Reily suffered brain damage during a street fight and has the mental faculties of a kindergartner. While normally a placid fellow, he becomes extremely violent when agitated, and his naivete means he has no problem with going along with his brother Ryan's schemes.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
* In ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'', it's not clear what is wrong with David: he may have an mental disorder or a FictionalDisability, but he's extremely unnerving, creepy, and hyper-focused on serial killers, which leads to him killing several people.
Matt.



* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode "[[Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption Redemption]]". John Hawkins is convinced that Roger Berry, a man he put away years ago who has just been released, is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepts that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer -- who was framing Roger for his crimes -- is captured by John by the end of the episode.
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Cyril O'Reily suffered brain damage during a street fight and has the mental faculties of a kindergartner. While normally a placid fellow, he becomes extremely violent when agitated, and his naivete means he has no problem with going along with his brother Ryan's schemes.
* In ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'', it's not clear what is wrong with David: he may have an mental disorder or a FictionalDisability, but he's extremely unnerving, creepy, and hyper-focused on serial killers, which leads to him killing several people.



[[folder: Video Games]]
* Debilitas in ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[AndCallHimGeorge crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a [[OurHomonculiAreDifferent homunculus]] created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].
* {{Defied|Trope}} with Sigma of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''. He's afflicted by [[FictionalDisability a black hole-induced mental condition]] akin to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but the reason he works for [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Talon]] has nothing to do with said condition making him evil. He's a perfectly noble scientist and [[TokenGoodTeammate easily its nicest member]], but [[ObliviouslyEvil he's led on to believe that Talon is some kind of charitable institution allowing him to advance his work for the betterment of humanity]], with Talon exploiting his inability to fully understand what's happening to him [[PersonOfMassDestruction to weaponize his devastating gravity powers.]]

to:

[[folder: Video [[folder:Video Games]]
* Debilitas in from ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[AndCallHimGeorge crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a [[OurHomonculiAreDifferent homunculus]] created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].
* {{Defied|Trope}} with Sigma of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''. He's afflicted by [[FictionalDisability a black hole-induced mental condition]] akin to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but the reason why he works for [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Talon]] has nothing to do with said condition making him evil. He's a perfectly noble scientist and [[TokenGoodTeammate easily its nicest member]], but [[ObliviouslyEvil he's led on to believe that Talon is some kind of charitable institution allowing him to advance his work for the betterment of humanity]], with Talon exploiting his inability to fully understand what's happening to him [[PersonOfMassDestruction to weaponize his devastating gravity powers.]]powers]].



[[folder: Webcomics]]

to:

[[folder: Webcomics]][[folder:Webcomics]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* The ''Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' franchise has always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat-out described by another family member as "simple".

to:

* ''Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'': The ''Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' franchise has always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat-out described by another family member as "simple".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' and its sequels, spinoffs, and remakes have always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat-out described by another family member as "simple".

to:

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' and its sequels, spinoffs, and remakes have The ''Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' franchise has always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat-out described by another family member as "simple".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilt because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.

to:

* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilt being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.

to:

* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilty guilt because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in person; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.

to:

* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in person; prison; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': {{Subverted|Trope}} for drama in the episode ''[[{{Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS3E6Redemption}} Redemption]]'', John Hawkins is convinced that the man he put away years ago who has just been released Roger Berry is responsible for a series of murders and rapes despite the fact that Roger Berry is mentally disabled and his mother protests his innocence. However, in this case, Roger has an airtight alibi, and John's team begins to be skeptical of Roger Being guilty because of his disability. John insists that Roger is smarter than he looks. Ultimately, John accepted that he got the wrong man and put an innocent person in person; thankfully, the real killer who was framing Roger Berry for his crimes was captured by John Hawkins by the end of the episode.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and child murderer Black Manta was retconned into having a crippling case of autism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil -- but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.

to:

* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and [[WouldHurtAChild child murderer murderer]] Black Manta was retconned into having a crippling case of autism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil -- but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.



* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's rogues gallery.

to:

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's rogues gallery.{{rogues gallery}}.



** Non, General Zod's [[TheBrute giant]], mute henchman, was intellectually disabled by way of a lobotomy forced on him by Krypton's ruling council when he dared to voice his support for Jor-El's theories about Krypton exploding.

to:

** Non, General Zod's [[TheBrute giant]], mute henchman, was intellectually disabled by way of a lobotomy {{lobotomy}} forced on him by Krypton's ruling council when he dared to voice his support for Jor-El's theories about Krypton exploding.



* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' has an {{antivillain}}ous version in Master-Blaster a tag-team duo comprising the [[EvilGenius smart]] but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]], Master and the hulking giant, Blaster, who suffers from Down's Syndrome and cannot survive Bartertown's ruthless society without Master's guidance. Blaster acts as Master's enforcer, enabling the two to rule Bartertown as tyrants until Auntie Entity and Max spike their wheel.

to:

* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' has an {{antivillain}}ous version in Master-Blaster Master-Blaster, a tag-team duo comprising the [[EvilGenius smart]] but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]], dwarfed]] Master and the hulking giant, giant Blaster, who suffers from Down's Syndrome and cannot survive Bartertown's ruthless society without Master's guidance. Blaster acts as Master's enforcer, enabling the two to rule Bartertown as tyrants until Auntie Entity and Max spike their wheel.



* Debilitas in ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[AndCallHimGeorge crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a homunculus created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].

to:

* Debilitas in ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[AndCallHimGeorge crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a homunculus [[OurHomonculiAreDifferent homunculus]] created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult, Jason, masking his condition with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific {{serial killer}} and mass murderer.

to:

* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult, Jason, [[MaskingTheDeformity masking his condition condition]] with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific {{serial killer}} and mass murderer.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


There can be a number of reasons for this combination. Perhaps the character is so severely limited in his ability to understand what is and is not acceptable that he simply does not know any better. This can go double if he is surrounded by equally or even more malicious abled people who enable or encourage his behaviour. Perhaps he is angry at a world that ostracizes or rejects him because of his disability and lashes out because of this. Perhaps his evil and his handicap, at least in theory, have nothing to do with one another; you don't have to be a genius to be dangerous, and evil people come in all forms. Maybe he's an [[AntiIntellectualism anti-intellectual]] with [[ConMan a vested interest in peddling bullshit]]. Or perhaps the writer is simply "othering" people with nonstandard intellectual gifts; needless to say this trope, like EvilCripple, can be terribly ableist depending on how it's employed. No matter how it's played, potential for UnfortunateImplications runs ''extremely'' high.

to:

There can be a number of reasons for this combination. Perhaps the character is so severely limited in his ability to understand what is and is not acceptable that [[ObliviouslyEvil he simply does not know any better. better]]. This can go double if he is surrounded by equally or even more malicious abled people who enable or encourage his behaviour.behavior. Perhaps he is angry at a world that ostracizes or rejects him because of his disability and lashes out because of this. Perhaps his evil and his handicap, at least in theory, have nothing to do with one another; you don't have to be a genius to be dangerous, and evil people come in all forms. Maybe he's an [[AntiIntellectualism anti-intellectual]] with [[ConMan a vested interest in peddling bullshit]]. Or perhaps the writer is simply "othering" people with nonstandard intellectual gifts; needless to say say, this trope, like EvilCripple, can be terribly ableist depending on how it's employed. No matter how it's played, potential for UnfortunateImplications runs ''extremely'' high.



* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and child murderer Black Manta was retconned into having a crippling case of autism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil--but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.
* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his [[GruesomeGrandparent abusive grandmother]] by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]] Funnily enough, this makes him one of the few Batman baddies who meets the legal definition for insanity, as [[ObliviouslyEvil he genuinely doesn't understand that what he's doing is wrong]].

to:

* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': For a brief moment in the early 2000s, longtime Aquaman nemesis and child murderer Black Manta was retconned into having a crippling case of autism. This resulted in the previously articulate and verbose Manta being reduced to a murderous drone who could only repeat the words "swim swim!" while trying to kill Aquaman. The writers actually went so far as to suggest that Manta's evil was a product of his autism, and that cured of it and his mental handicap, he might prove good. Aquaman proceeded to magically cure Manta, and was swiftly betrayed by the villain who revealed he'd always been evil--but evil -- but the fact Aquaman thought it would work demonstrates that the King of the Seas apparently believes autism makes you a psychopath.
* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his [[GruesomeGrandparent abusive grandmother]] by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]] together]]. Funnily enough, this makes him one of the few Batman baddies who meets the legal definition for insanity, as [[ObliviouslyEvil he genuinely doesn't understand that what he's doing is wrong]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Ambiguous Disorder is now Diagnosed By The Audience. Tried to reduce use of the word "retard” unless in direct quotes


* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner's other novels utilize this trope; for instance, the severely retarded Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered [[BestialityIsDepraved having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow]].

to:

* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded intellectually disabled Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner's other novels utilize this trope; for instance, the severely retarded impaired Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered [[BestialityIsDepraved having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow]].



* In ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'', it's not clear what is wrong with David: he may have an AmbiguousDisorder or a FictionalDisability, but he's extremely unnerving, creepy, and hyper-focused on serial killers, which leads to him killing several people.

to:

* In ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'', it's not clear what is wrong with David: he may have an AmbiguousDisorder mental disorder or a FictionalDisability, but he's extremely unnerving, creepy, and hyper-focused on serial killers, which leads to him killing several people.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


There can be a number of reasons for this combination. Perhaps the character is so severely limited in his ability to understand what is and is not acceptable that he simply does not know any better. This can go double if he is surrounded by equally or even more malicious abled people who enable or encourage his behaviour. Perhaps he is angry at a world that ostracizes or rejects him because of his disability and lashes out because of this. Perhaps his evil and his handicap, at least in theory, have nothing to do with one another; you don't have to be a genius to be dangerous, and evil people come in all forms. Or perhaps the writer is simply "othering" people with nonstandard intellectual gifts; needless to say this trope, like EvilCripple, can be terribly ableist depending on how it's employed. No matter how it's played, potential for UnfortunateImplications runs ''extremely'' high.

to:

There can be a number of reasons for this combination. Perhaps the character is so severely limited in his ability to understand what is and is not acceptable that he simply does not know any better. This can go double if he is surrounded by equally or even more malicious abled people who enable or encourage his behaviour. Perhaps he is angry at a world that ostracizes or rejects him because of his disability and lashes out because of this. Perhaps his evil and his handicap, at least in theory, have nothing to do with one another; you don't have to be a genius to be dangerous, and evil people come in all forms. Maybe he's an [[AntiIntellectualism anti-intellectual]] with [[ConMan a vested interest in peddling bullshit]]. Or perhaps the writer is simply "othering" people with nonstandard intellectual gifts; needless to say this trope, like EvilCripple, can be terribly ableist depending on how it's employed. No matter how it's played, potential for UnfortunateImplications runs ''extremely'' high.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Ambiguous Disorder is now Diagnosed By The Audience, an audience reaction and an YMMV item;


The intellectual counterpoint to the EvilCripple and the inversion of EvilGenius, this character's morals are as repugnant as his mentality is limited. He might be diagnosed with a real-life condition (however [[HollywoodAutism inaccurately]]) in-story, or it might be left [[AmbiguousDisorder deliberately vague]], but either way, his intellectual impairment and immorality go hand in hand.

to:

The intellectual counterpoint to the EvilCripple and the inversion of EvilGenius, this character's morals are as repugnant as his mentality is limited. He might be diagnosed with a real-life condition (however [[HollywoodAutism inaccurately]]) in-story, or it might be left [[AmbiguousDisorder deliberately vague]], vague, but either way, his intellectual impairment and immorality go hand in hand.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
An Axe To Grind is no longer a trope


* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', TheBrute Thog is a simpleminded BloodKnight who takes childlike glee in [[AnAxeToGrind taking a battleaxe]] to everyone in his path. Unfortunately, this makes him useful DumbMuscle for the {{Card Carrying Villain}}s of the Linear Guild. Fortunately, it means that his murderous rampages can be reined in with fudge ripple ice cream.

to:

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', TheBrute Thog is a simpleminded BloodKnight who takes childlike glee in [[AnAxeToGrind taking a battleaxe]] battleaxe to everyone in his path. Unfortunately, this makes him useful DumbMuscle for the {{Card Carrying Villain}}s of the Linear Guild. Fortunately, it means that his murderous rampages can be reined in with fudge ripple ice cream.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his abusive grandmother by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]]

to:

* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his [[GruesomeGrandparent abusive grandmother grandmother]] by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]]]] Funnily enough, this makes him one of the few Batman baddies who meets the legal definition for insanity, as [[ObliviouslyEvil he genuinely doesn't understand that what he's doing is wrong]].



* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult, Jason, masking his condition with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific serial killer and mass murderer.

to:

* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult, Jason, masking his condition with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific serial killer {{serial killer}} and mass murderer.



* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner's other novels utilize this trope; for instance, the severely retarded Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow.

to:

* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner's other novels utilize this trope; for instance, the severely retarded Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered [[BestialityIsDepraved having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow.cow]].



** Lucas Turner of the Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], then fed their bodies to the family's pigs while Mason watched.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was a severely intellectually disabled man who was also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, with sulfuric acid, culminating in an assault on his niece that leaves her permanently mutilated.

to:

** Lucas Turner of the Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], then [[FedToPigs fed their bodies to the family's pigs pigs]] while Mason watched.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was a severely intellectually disabled man who was also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, with sulfuric acid, culminating in [[EvilUncle an assault on his niece niece]] that leaves her permanently mutilated.



* Debilitas in ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[ObliviouslyEvil crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a homunculus created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].

to:

* Debilitas in ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' seems to act like a dog with the mind of a toddler, and he only really wants to play with the pretty dolly. The problem is Fiona is the "pretty dolly" and he'll ''[[ObliviouslyEvil ''[[AndCallHimGeorge crush her to death with his hug]]'' if he gets his hands on her. [[spoiler:You later find out he's a failed experiment, being a homunculus created from a dog's placenta, and that he ''can'' be [[HeelFaceTurn spared and even redeemed]] if you make the right choices]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None





* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' and its sequels, spinoffs, and remakes have always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat out described by another family member as "simple".
* ''Film/{{Titane}}'': Alexia is heavily implied to have been brain damaged in a car accident when she was a child, leaving her with little emotion and strange reactions. There's a growing emphasis on the plate in her head as she gains the will to kill.

to:

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' and its sequels, spinoffs, and remakes have always portrayed iconic slasher Leatherface as intellectually disabled and submissive to his far more overtly malicious family members. He's mute save for his ability to make animal noises, communicates only by means of whichever mask he is wearing, and on at least one occasion is flat out flat-out described by another family member as "simple".
* ''Film/{{Titane}}'': Alexia is heavily implied to have been brain damaged brain-damaged in a car accident when she was a child, leaving her with little emotion and strange reactions. There's a growing emphasis on the plate in her head as she gains the will to kill.
kill.












Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The trope can, and often does, overlap with DumbMuscle, especially if the handicapped character is being manipulated or used by a relative, friend, or associate who does the actual planning. If this is the case, there's a decent chance that the smarter character in the BrainsAndBrawn duo is physically disabled in some way; writers enjoy pairing this character with the EvilCripple. It can also easily overlap with PsychopathicManchild, though the two should not be conflated with one another -- PsychopathicManchild is about a character who is emotionally stunted, while this trope concerns villainous characters with intellectual disabilities. It's not unusual for a character like this to also be portrayed as suffering some form of mental illness, and thus overlap with TheMentallyDisturbed, AxeCrazy, and InsaneEqualsViolent. However, it's very important to remember that mental disability and mental illness are two different things.

to:

The trope can, and often does, overlap with DumbMuscle, especially if the handicapped character is being manipulated or used by a relative, friend, or associate who does the actual planning. If this is the case, there's a decent chance that the smarter character in the BrainsAndBrawn duo is physically disabled in some way; writers enjoy pairing this character with the EvilCripple. It can also easily overlap with PsychopathicManchild, though the two should not be conflated with one another -- PsychopathicManchild is about a character who is emotionally stunted, while this trope concerns villainous characters with intellectual disabilities. It's not unusual for a character like this to also be portrayed as suffering some form of mental illness, and thus overlap with TheMentallyDisturbed, AxeCrazy, AxCrazy, and InsaneEqualsViolent. However, it's very important to remember that mental disability and mental illness are two different things.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

[[foldercontrol]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


Compare InsaneEqualsViolent, EvilCripple, EunuchsAreEvil, DepravedDwarf, and DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery. Contrast EvilGenius and DumbIsGood. When this trope is compared to [[TheSoulless being literally devoid of a soul]], check NeurodiversityIsSupernatural. This should go without saying, but Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.[[noreallife]]

to:

Compare InsaneEqualsViolent, EvilCripple, EunuchsAreEvil, DepravedDwarf, and DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery. Contrast EvilGenius and DumbIsGood. When this trope is compared to [[TheSoulless being literally devoid of a soul]], check NeurodiversityIsSupernatural. If the handicap is the result of inbreeding, this overlaps with InbredAndEvil. This should go without saying, but Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.[[noreallife]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] It's left somewhat ambiguous that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.

to:

* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] in ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] It's left somewhat ambiguous that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.

Added: 791

Changed: 1008

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[AC: Comic Books]]

to:

[[AC: [[folder: Comic Books]]



[[AC: Film - Live Action]]

to:

[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Film - Live Action]]




[[AC: Literature]]

to:

\n[[AC: * ''Film/{{Titane}}'': Alexia is heavily implied to have been brain damaged in a car accident when she was a child, leaving her with little emotion and strange reactions. There's a growing emphasis on the plate in her head as she gains the will to kill.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:
Literature]]



[[AC: Live-Action TV]]

to:

[[AC: Live-Action [[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action
TV]]



* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': Wade Messer, drug dealer, drug addict, petty thief, and accessory to murder is described by Raylan as "a board-certified imbecile" and his behaviour over the course of the show backs this up. His occasional confederate, erstwhile employer, and eventual murderer, alligator poacher, and drug-runner Dewey Crowe, is in a similar boat, being scarcely literate, barely articulate, and unable to tell a good idea from a bad one even if it's explained to him at length. His cousin, Dilly Crowe, is even more impaired, and his brothers, Daryl Jr and Danny regard him as such an impediment to the family smuggling business that they eventually kill him.

to:

* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': ''Series/{{Justified}}'':
**
Wade Messer, drug dealer, drug addict, petty thief, and accessory to murder is described by Raylan as "a board-certified imbecile" and his behaviour over the course of the show backs this up. His occasional confederate, erstwhile employer, and eventual murderer, alligator poacher, and drug-runner Dewey Crowe, is in a similar boat, being scarcely literate, barely articulate, and unable to tell a good idea from a bad one even if it's explained to him at length. His cousin, Dilly Crowe, is even more impaired, and his brothers, Daryl Jr and Danny regard him as such an impediment to the family smuggling business that they eventually kill him.



[[AC: Video Games]]

to:

[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Video Games]]



[[AC: Webcomics]]

to:

[[AC: [[/folder]]

[[folder:
Webcomics]]


Added DiffLines:


[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* {{Defied|Trope}} with Sigma of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''. He's afflicted by [[FictionalDisability a black hole-induced mental condition]] akin to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but the reason he works for [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Talon]] has nothing to do with said condition making him evil. He's a perfectly noble scientist and [[TokenEvilTeammate easily its nicest member]], but [[ObliviouslyEvil he's led on to believe that Talon is some kind of charitable institution allowing him to advance his work for the betterment of humanity]], with Talon exploiting his inability to fully understand what's happening to him [[PersonOfMassDestruction to weaponize his devastating gravity powers.]]

to:

* {{Defied|Trope}} with Sigma of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''. He's afflicted by [[FictionalDisability a black hole-induced mental condition]] akin to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but the reason he works for [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Talon]] has nothing to do with said condition making him evil. He's a perfectly noble scientist and [[TokenEvilTeammate [[TokenGoodTeammate easily its nicest member]], but [[ObliviouslyEvil he's led on to believe that Talon is some kind of charitable institution allowing him to advance his work for the betterment of humanity]], with Talon exploiting his inability to fully understand what's happening to him [[PersonOfMassDestruction to weaponize his devastating gravity powers.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* {{Defied|Trope}} with Sigma of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''. He's afflicted by [[FictionalDisability a black hole-induced mental condition]] akin to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but the reason he works for [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Talon]] has nothing to do with said condition making him evil. He's a perfectly noble scientist and [[TokenEvilTeammate easily its nicest member]], but [[ObliviouslyEvil he's led on to believe that Talon is some kind of charitable institution allowing him to advance his work for the betterment of humanity]], with Talon exploiting his inability to fully understand what's happening to him [[PersonOfMassDestruction to weaponize his devastating gravity powers.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The intellectual counterpoint to the EvilCripple and the inversion of EvilGenius, this character's morals are as repugnant as his mentality is limited. He might be diagnosed with a real life condition (however [[HollywoodAutism inaccurately]]) in-story, or it might be left [[AmbiguousDisorder deliberately vague]], but either way, his intellectual impairment and immorality go hand in hand.

to:

The intellectual counterpoint to the EvilCripple and the inversion of EvilGenius, this character's morals are as repugnant as his mentality is limited. He might be diagnosed with a real life real-life condition (however [[HollywoodAutism inaccurately]]) in-story, or it might be left [[AmbiguousDisorder deliberately vague]], but either way, his intellectual impairment and immorality go hand in hand.



* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken, and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him a destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his abusive grandmother by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five year old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's rogues gallery.

to:

* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'' has Humpty Dumpty. A big, cheerful, affable man, Humphrey doesn't intend to be evil. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a compulsion to fix anything that he perceives as broken, broken and decided that he learns best by taking things apart and then putting them back together, which resulted in him a destroying a train, an elevator, a clock tower, and eventually a vast swath of Gotham City's skyline before finally [[spoiler:accidentally killing his abusive grandmother by trying to take her apart and put her back together.]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Arkham inmate Amygdala is a gigantic man with the intellectual capacity of a five year old five-year-old and tremendous brute strength, as well as a horrific temper. He's often manipulated into acting as muscle for other members of Batman's rogues gallery.



* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult Jason, masking his condition with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific serial killer and mass murderer.
* ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes1977'': Mercury, [[CannibalClan The Clan]]'s lookout is portrayed as the mentally stunted "pet" of the family, speaking in a slow, thick voice, struggling with language, and generally being accepted as a source of amusement to his older, more competent, and more vicious brothers, Pluto (who courtesy of his actor's real life Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is [[EvilCripple physically handicapped]]) and Mars (the only one of Papa Jupiter's sons who isn't disabled in some fashion).

to:

* ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'': The scripts for the early films present a young Jason Voorhees as a physically disfigured and mentally handicapped boy suffering from encephalitis. As an adult adult, Jason, masking his condition with first a pillowcase and then a hockey mask, goes on to become a prolific serial killer and mass murderer.
* ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes1977'': Mercury, [[CannibalClan The Clan]]'s lookout is portrayed as the mentally stunted "pet" of the family, speaking in a slow, thick voice, struggling with language, and generally being accepted as a source of amusement to his older, more competent, and more vicious brothers, Pluto (who courtesy of his actor's real life real-life Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is [[EvilCripple physically handicapped]]) and Mars (the only one of Papa Jupiter's sons who isn't disabled in some fashion).



* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' has an {{antivillain}}ous version in Master-Blaster a tag-team duo comprising the [[EvilGenius smart]] but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]], Master and the hulking giant, Blaster, who suffers from Down's Syndrome and cannot survive Bartertown's ruthless society without Master's guidance. Blaster acts as Master's enforcer, enabling the two to rule Bartertown as tyrants, until Auntie Entity and Max spike their wheel.
* ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'': Rictus Erectus, youngest son of Immortan Joe, is a towering seven foot giant with severe mental deficiencies that render him about intellectually equal to a prepubescent boy. He's also physically disabled, requiring an oxygen tank in order to breath, though this does not stop him from being an [[HandicappedBadass unstoppable fighter]]. As is often the with this trope, he's contrasted with his [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport ill]] but mentally adept father, and especially his eldest brother, Corpus Colossus, who is highly intelligent but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]] due to brittle bone disease.
* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] It's left somewhat ambiguous into that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.

to:

* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' has an {{antivillain}}ous version in Master-Blaster a tag-team duo comprising the [[EvilGenius smart]] but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]], Master and the hulking giant, Blaster, who suffers from Down's Syndrome and cannot survive Bartertown's ruthless society without Master's guidance. Blaster acts as Master's enforcer, enabling the two to rule Bartertown as tyrants, tyrants until Auntie Entity and Max spike their wheel.
* ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'': Rictus Erectus, youngest son of Immortan Joe, is a towering seven foot seven-foot giant with severe mental deficiencies that render him about intellectually equal to a prepubescent boy. He's also physically disabled, requiring an oxygen tank in order to breath, breathe, though this does not stop him from being an [[HandicappedBadass unstoppable fighter]]. As is often the with this trope, he's contrasted with his [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport ill]] but mentally adept father, and especially his eldest brother, Corpus Colossus, who is highly intelligent but [[DepravedDwarf dwarfed]] due to brittle bone disease.
* Implied to be the case with [[spoiler:Robert]] ''Film/{{Searching}}'', who [[spoiler:catfished, stalked, and eventually thought he had killed Margo. His mother Rosemary repeatedly says he's "different" from other kids, struggles fitting in, and suffers from fits of rage.]] It's left somewhat ambiguous into that [[spoiler:Vick]] may just be making excuses for him, but it's at least strongly implied that something is mentally wrong.



* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner 's other novels utilize this trope, for instance the severely retarded Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow.

to:

* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'': The mentally retarded Benjy Compson is castrated for attempting to rape his sister. Many of Creator/WilliamFaulkner 's Creator/WilliamFaulkner's other novels utilize this trope, trope; for instance instance, the severely retarded Ike Snopes in ''The Hamlet'' (who can't even speak, apart from pained efforts to sound out his own name) is discovered having sexual relations with a neighbor's cow.



** Lucas Turner of Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], then fed their bodies to the family's pigs while Mason watched.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was a severely intellectually disabled man who was also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims, but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, with sulfuric acid, culminating in an assault on his niece that leaves her permanently mutilated.
* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': In the comics Melvin "Gladiator" Potter was a mentally ill man who suffered from the delusional belief that he was a Roman gladiator and the Kingpin was his Emperor. In the show, Melvin was instead presented as mentally disabled, admitting to requiring help from his friend Betsy in order to tell right from wrong and living in fear of Kingpin, who had threatened to harm Betsy if Melvin didn't work for him. When Matt defeats Melvin in a fight and offers to save Betsy from Kingpin, Melvin, depicted as an IdiotSavant when it comes to weapons and armor design, quickly switches sides and begins designing costumes for Matt.

to:

** Lucas Turner of the Season 4 finale "To Hell and Back" suffered from both autism and "mild mental retardation" and was entirely under the thumb of his ruthless older brother Mason whom he'd accidentally [[EvilCripple crippled]] when they were younger. Kidnapping homeless men and women for the quadriplegic Mason, Lucas killed them with a [[DropTheHammer hammer]], then fed their bodies to the family's pigs while Mason watched.
** Benjamin "Cy" Bradstone of Season 7's "Proof" was a severely intellectually disabled man who was also a psychopath and sexual sadist. Having been rejected by his sister-in-law after molesting her when they were teenagers, he stalks, disfigures, blinds, and murders women who remind him of her. He later graduates to not only blinding his victims, victims but taking away their senses of touch, taste, etc, with sulfuric acid, culminating in an assault on his niece that leaves her permanently mutilated.
* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': In the comics comics, Melvin "Gladiator" Potter was a mentally ill man who suffered from the delusional belief that he was a Roman gladiator and the Kingpin was his Emperor. In the show, Melvin was instead presented as mentally disabled, admitting to requiring help from his friend Betsy in order to tell right from wrong and living in fear of Kingpin, who had threatened to harm Betsy if Melvin didn't work for him. When Matt defeats Melvin in a fight and offers to save Betsy from Kingpin, Melvin, depicted as an IdiotSavant when it comes to weapons and armor design, quickly switches sides and begins designing costumes for Matt.



* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': Wade Messer, drug-dealer, drug addict, petty thief, and accessory to murder is described by Raylan as "a board certified imbecile" and his behaviour over the course of the show backs this up. His occasional confederate, erstwhile employer, and eventual murderer, alligator poacher and drug-runner Dewey Crowe, is in a similar boat, being scarcely literate, barely articulate, and unable to tell a good idea from a bad one even if it's explained to him at length. His cousin, Dilly Crowe, is even more impaired, and his brothers, Daryl Jr and Danny regard him as such an impediment to the family smuggling business that they eventually kill him.

to:

* ''Series/{{Justified}}'': Wade Messer, drug-dealer, drug dealer, drug addict, petty thief, and accessory to murder is described by Raylan as "a board certified board-certified imbecile" and his behaviour over the course of the show backs this up. His occasional confederate, erstwhile employer, and eventual murderer, alligator poacher poacher, and drug-runner Dewey Crowe, is in a similar boat, being scarcely literate, barely articulate, and unable to tell a good idea from a bad one even if it's explained to him at length. His cousin, Dilly Crowe, is even more impaired, and his brothers, Daryl Jr and Danny regard him as such an impediment to the family smuggling business that they eventually kill him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Seamus O'Reily suffered brain damage during a street fight and has the mental faculties of a kindergartner. While normally a placid fellow, he becomes extremely violent when agitated, and his naivete means he has no problem with going along with his brother Ryan's schemes.

to:

* ''Series/{{Oz}}'': Seamus Cyril O'Reily suffered brain damage during a street fight and has the mental faculties of a kindergartner. While normally a placid fellow, he becomes extremely violent when agitated, and his naivete means he has no problem with going along with his brother Ryan's schemes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}} was originally written as simply having an [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad inverted sense of morality]], and despite their broken speech patterns, the Bizarros of the Silver Age were often capable of feats that would require substantial intellect. In the modern era, however, Bizarro is more often than not written as a mentally disabled Superman, [[HeroWithAnFInGood meaning well, but lacking the intellectual capability to follow through]].

to:

** SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}} Bizarro was originally written as simply having an [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad inverted sense of morality]], and despite their broken speech patterns, the Bizarros of the Silver Age were often capable of feats that would require substantial intellect. In the modern era, however, Bizarro is more often than not written as a mentally disabled Superman, [[HeroWithAnFInGood meaning well, but lacking the intellectual capability to follow through]].

Top