History Main / ProhibitedHeroSavesTheDay

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Helen leaves the kids at home with orders to stay safe and watch the baby when she goes to track down her husband only for Dash and Violet to stow away on her plane. Later it's only through Violet's force field ability that the Incredibles are able to escape their bonds and stop Syndrome's plot.

Of course, the official heroes are inevitably captured and awaits their fate, their plans of saving the world dashed to smithereens. Who could possibly save them now? Aha, the Prohibited Hero has decided to snub the authorities (or employ ExactWords) and come along anyway, often becoming TheCavalry. It's a good thing too, because not only does he rescue the regular heroes, he usually manages to simultaneously foil the Big Bad's EvilPlan. If only the [[ObstructiveBureaucrat authorities]] had had some faith in him in the first place.

Compare ChangedMyMindKid when it's the Hero who made the decision not to come along, then relents.

** In season one, Donald forbids the triplets and Webby from joining in on the assault on the Money Bin because Magica De Spell is too dangerous for them to face. They decide to go anyway, and their unique fighting styles serve to bewilder Magica enough to make an impact. [[Spoiler: {{Subverted}} or {{Invoked}}, depending on how you look at it. Donald specifically told them to stay behind ''knowing'' that they would disobey and find a way to get there right when he needed them.]]

* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', five members of Class 1-A (Deku, Kirishima, Todoroki, Iida and Yaoyozoru), who are still students and therefore not allowed to publicly act as heroes, secretly launch their own operation to rescue the kidnapped Bakugo while All Might and the other pro heroes are commencing their own rescue. [[spoiler:The students get Bakugo to safety, which allows All Might to fight his arch-enemy All For One without having to worry about anyone getting caught in the crossfire. Afterwards their teacher Eraser Head tells them that the only reason they aren't getting expelled (along with the classmates because they knew about the rescue operation but didn't tell the teachers) was because All Might was forced to retire after the battle and heroes are needed more than ever before.]]

* In ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'', Axel Foley is explicitly prohibited from investigating his friend's murder. He does it anyway, and ends up taking down Victor Maitland.

* In the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' crossover for ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' and ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'', Xavin commands his fellow Runaways to flee New York when the Skrull forces appear, fearing that they'll all be killed. They choose to ignore his commands and end up saving him from his former mentor, who's now become one of the Skrull religious fanatics.

* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', five members of Class 1-A (Deku, Kirishima, Todoroki, Iida and Yaoyozoru), who are still students and therefore not allowed to publicly act as heroes, secretly launch their own operation to rescue the kidnapped Bakugo while All Might and the other pro heroes are commencing their own rescue. [[spoiler:The students get Bakugo to safety, which allows All Might to fight his arch-enemy All For One without having to worry about anyone getting caught in the crossfire. Afterwards their teacher Eraserhead tells them that the only reason they aren't getting expelled (along with the classmates because they knew about the rescue operation but didn't tell the teachers) was because All Might was forced to retire after the battle and heroes are needed more than ever before.]]

* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', five members of Class 1-A (Deku, Kirishima, Todoroki, Iida and Yaoyozoru), who are still students and therefore not allowed to publicly act as heroes, secretly launch their own operation to rescue the kidnapped Bakugou while All Might and the other pro heroes are commencing their own rescue. [[spoiler:The students get Bakugou to safety, which allows All Might to fight his arch-enemy All For One without having to worry about anyone getting caught in the crossfire. Afterwards their teacher Eraserhead tells them that the only reason they aren't getting expelled (along with the classmates because they knew about the rescue operation but didn't tell the teachers) was because All Might was forced to retire after the battle and heroes are needed more than ever before.]]

Of course, the FiveManBand is inevitably captured and awaits their fate, their plans of saving the world dashed to smithereens. Who could possibly save them now? Aha, the Prohibited Hero has decided to snub the authorities (or employ ExactWords) and come along anyway, often becoming TheCavalry. It's a good thing too, because not only does he rescue the regular heroes, he usually manages to simultaneously foil the Big Bad's plans. If only the [[ObstructiveBureaucrat authorities]] had had some faith in him in the first place.

Those prone to FridgeLogic may wonder if the delayed arrival of the Prohibited Hero contributed to her success. It's possible that had she gone with the FiveManBand, she would have been captured along with them. It may be that part of her success is that she was the WildCard the Big Bad was not expecting.

* This is the basic plot point of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', as often times, superheroes fighting crime would also happen at the expense of other [[HeroInsurance innocent bystanders caught in the middle]]. After an increase in lawsuits against famed supers, the government initiated the Superhero Relocation Act, forcing supers to retire from their hero work, and continue to live out their lives in anonymity. Bob Parr, however, can't resist wanting to relive his glory days as Mr. Incredible.

!!Examples

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

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

* In the Franchise/StarWars film ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Anakin Skywalker is told to stay put in the cockpit of a Naboo fighter. [[ExactWords Technically he obeys]], but that doesn't stop him [[spoiler: taking the fighter into battle, destroying the [[TheMothership droid control ship]] and preventing the imminent surrender of the good guys on the ground.]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode, "The Other Guys", the clueless LabRat SG-1 groupies are told to return through the stargate when a Goa'uld squad takes the team prisoner. The minor system lord they're supposed to meet (Actually a Tok'Ra informant) is assassinated and the groupie geeks need to rescue the heroes.

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* ''[[{{VideoGame/Overwatch}} Overwatch]]'' is now attempting this on an organizational scale, as Winston recalls former agents despite a ban on association related to Overwatch. Six years before this, when Overwatch still legally existed, it intervened in the London Null Sector uprising under the direction of Commander Morrison, despite orders not to get involved. (This could be one of the reasons that led to its disbandment next year.)

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': [[spoiler: After Gendo fired them, Shinji and Asuka end up coming to Rei's rescue during the fight against Zeruel by hijacking Unit-03 (which hand been in storage ever since Hikari got absorbed). Though in a subversion, Rei was ultimately the one to deal the finishing blow.]]
[[/folder]]

Those prone to FridgeLogic may wonder if the delayed arrival of the Prohibited Hero contributed to her success. It's possible that had she gone with the FiveManBand, she would have been captured along with them. It may be that part of her success is that she was the WildCard the Big Bad was not expecting. Maybe the meddlesome authority figure was just being GenreSavvy.

* In the StarWars film ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Anakin Skywalker is told to stay put in the cockpit of a Naboo fighter. [[ExactWords Technically he obeys]], but that doesn't stop him [[spoiler: taking the fighter into battle, destroying the [[TheMothership droid control ship]] and preventing the imminent surrender of the good guys on the ground.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSuperMarioBros3'' episode "Super Koopa", the heroes chase King Koopa to Paris to save Luigi, but Princess Toadstool tells Toad to stay behind, who complains, "I always stay behind!" (Nevermind the many other episodes where he ''is'' involved in the adventure.) Unlike other examples, though, Toad actually stays behind (although he still complains about it). It's only when Koopa throws the Mario Bros. into jail and [[UnwillingSuspension hangs the Princess from the Eiffel Tower]] is Toad finally summoned to help them.

[[folder: Film ]]

* In the StarWars film ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Anakin Skywalker is told to stay put in the cockpit of a Naboo fighter. [[ExactWords Technically he obeys]], but that doesn't stop him [[spoiler: taking the fighter into battle, destroying the [[TheMothership droid control ship]] and preventing the imminent surrender of the good guys on the ground.]]

* In ''Film/{{Balto}}'', Balto is not taken on the medicine run (in spite of having been the fastest canine in a race) because he's half-wolf. He tracks down the sled team and leads them home after his rival, Steele, gets them lost.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In ''Film /PoliceAcademy'', first Hightower is kicked out of the Academy, and later Mahoney is as well; but just as Mahoney is packing his things a riot overwhelms the city, forcing them to call up the Academy recruits as backup. Mahoney quietly puts on his uniform and boards the bus to go help quell the riots. When Mahoney confronts the prime instigators, who should show up but Hightower (in civilian clothes), who helps subdue them by pretending at first to be on the side of the rioters.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* In episode 19 of ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'', [[TheHero Aaeru]] and [[TeamMom Yun]] are inexplicably grounded while the rest of [[TheSquad Chor Tempest]] are sent after the enemy's elusive AirborneAircraftCarrier. The two of them eventually decide to violate their orders and sortie to save the day, but not before [[spoiler:Mamiina is killed in action]].

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* In the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' crossover for ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' and ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'', Xavin commands his fellow Runaways to flee New York when the Skrull forces appear, fearing that they'll all be killed. They choose to ignore his commands and end up saving him from his former mentor, who's now become one of the Skrull religious fanatics.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* In the StarWars film ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Anakin Skywalker is told to stay put in the cockpit of a Naboo fighter. [[ExactWords Technically he obeys]], but that doesn't stop him [[spoiler: taking the fighter into battle, destroying the [[TheMothership droid control ship]] and preventing the imminent surrender of the good guys on the ground.]]
* This is the basic plot point of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', as often times, superheroes fighting crime would also happen at the expense of other [[HeroInsurance innocent bystanders caught in the middle]]. After an increase in lawsuits against famed supers, the government initiated the Superhero Relocation Act, forcing supers to retire from their hero work, and continue to live out their lives in anonymity. Bob Parr, however, can't resist wanting to relive his glory days as Mr. Incredible.
* In ''Film/{{Balto}}'', Balto is not taken on the medicine run (in spite of having been the fastest canine in a race) because he's half-wolf. He tracks down the sled team and leads them home after his rival, Steele, gets them lost.
* ''Film/PacificRim'': Mako, Raileigh, and Gipsy Danger are held back because Mako was not entirely prepared for the Drift. [[spoiler:After the three other Jaegers get taken out of the fight, Gipsy Danger is the only one left. They single-handedly defeat all the Kaiju.]]
* In ''Film /PoliceAcademy'', first Hightower is kicked out of the Academy, and later Mahoney is as well; but just as Mahoney is packing his things a riot overwhelms the city, forcing them to call up the Academy recruits as backup. Mahoney quietly puts on his uniform and boards the bus to go help quell the riots. When Mahoney confronts the prime instigators, who should show up but Hightower (in civilian clothes), who helps subdue them by pretending at first to be on the side of the rioters.
* In ''Film/BeverlyHillsCop'', Axel Foley is explicitly prohibited from investigating his friend's murder. He does it anyway, and ends up taking down Victor Maitland.
* In ''Film/AttackTheBlock'', Probs and Mayhem are considered [[TagalongKid Tagalong Kids]], and when things start to get dangerous, Moses tries to intimidate them into going home and laying low. Not only do they disobey him, they end up saving Biggz's life when they take down one of the alien beasts with an improvised [[KillItWithFire flamethrower]].

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Ender from ''Literature/EndersGame'' is told by one of his commanders to remain on the sidelines without firing his weapon. He disobeys this and is able to turn what would have been a close defeat into a draw.
* This is a major theme in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. The hobbits are frequently encouraged to return to the Shire and let others take responsibility for the Ring, especially Pippin, the youngest of the group. All four of them prove to be vital to the quest in different ways. The same goes for Eowyn. As the highest-ranking female in Rohan, she's [[StayInTheKitchen left behind to take care of Edoras while the men march to war]], but comes along [[SweetPollyOliver in disguise]] and manages to defeat the Witch-King, who could not have been beaten [[NoManOfWomanBorn by a man]].

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* In an episode of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', NonActionGuy Jimmy Palmer is with the team as they pursue the criminal of the week. Gibbs orders Jimmy to stay in the car (obviously intending for Jimmy to not be TheLoad). When the criminal gets in his truck to make a getaway, Jimmy rams him with the car he was forbidden to leave. Jimmy points out the ExactWords to Gibbs afterwards.
* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode, "The Other Guys", the clueless LabRat SG-1 groupies are told to return through the stargate when a Goa'uld squad takes the team prisoner. The minor system lord they're supposed to meet (Actually a Tok'Ra informant) is assassinated and the groupie geeks need to rescue the heroes.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', Jade Chan constantly sneaks away on Jackie's adventure. She is not supposed to help because she is a kid but has saved the group on multiple accounts. She has also been a nuisance an equal (if not greater) number of times.
* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' episode "Terror Island''. After Dr. Quest is kidnapped and taken to the title island Race Bannon forbids Jonny and Hadji from going along on the rescue attempt. They act as {{Little Stowaway}}s and come along anyway. Once on the island they steal a tractor and use it to ram the building where Dr. Quest is being held prisoner, killing the GiantSpider that was about to kill him.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSuperMarioBros3'' episode "Super Koopa", the heroes chase King Koopa to Paris to save Luigi, but Princess Toadstool tells Toad to stay behind, who complains, "I always stay behind!" (Nevermind the many other episodes where he ''is'' involved in the adventure.) Unlike other examples, though, Toad actually stays behind (although he still complains about it). It's only when Koopa throws the Mario Bros. into jail and [[UnwillingSuspension hangs the Princess from the Eiffel Tower]] is Toad finally summoned to help them.

[[AC: Real Life]]

* In ''PoliceAcademy'', first Hightower is kicked out of the Academy, and later Mahoney is as well; but just as Mahoney is packing his things a riot overwhelms the city, forcing them to call up the Academy recruits as backup. Mahoney quietly puts on his uniform and boards the bus to go help quell the riots. When Mahoney confronts the prime instigators, who should show up but Hightower (in civilian clothes), who helps subdue them by pretending at first to be on the side of the rioters.

Compare ChangedMyMindKid when it's the Hero who make the decision not to come along, then relents.

* Benedict Arnold was relieved of command by commanding general Horatio Gates in the 18-day interregnum between the first Battle of Saratoga (Freeman's Farm) and the second battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights). Arnold was left sitting in his tent, with no command and nothing to do, as the battle of Bemis Heights (Oct. 7, 1777) raged around him. He proceeded to leave his tent, gather up a bunch of American soldiers--in defiance of orders, and without any authority other than his own personality--and lead the charge that broke the British line.

* ''Film/PacificRim'': Mako, Raileigh, and Gipsy Danger are held back because [[UnderStatement their synchronization is not as good as it could be.]] [[spoiler:After the three other Jaegers get taken out of the fight, Gipsy Danger is the only one left. They single-handedly defeat all the Kaiju.]]

Of course, the FiveManBand is inevitably captured and awaits their fate, their plans of saving the world dashed to smithereens. Who could possibly save them now? Aha, the Prohibited Hero has decided to snub the authorities (or employ ExactWords) and come along anyway, often becoming TheCavalry. It's a good thing too, because not only does he rescue the regular heroes, he usually manages to simultaneously foil the Big Bad's plans. If only the [[ObstructiveBureaucrat authorities]] had some faith in him in the first place.