History Main / RudeHeroNiceSidekick

* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': The title character is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who has "an ego the size of a small planet" and is prone to being dismissive towards people, especially if he feels they're being stupid or stealing his spotlight. At worst, he's a WellIntentionedExtremist. His sidekick/HeterosexualLifePartner Launchpad [=McQuack=] treats people in a much friendlier, more understanding way. [[JustifiedTrope Launchpad and Gosalyn were meant to "ground" Darkwing and keep him in check.]]

* While more of an AntiHero, space captain Zapp Branigan from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' is a {{Jerkass}}, while his co-pilot, the alien Kif Kroker is a SensitiveGuy.

Contrast the SarcasticDevotee (who is generally ruder than their leader) and PsychoSidekick (who's defined by being less moral than the hero).

* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': The title character is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who has "an ego the size of a small planet" and is prone to being dismissive towards people, especially if he feels they're being stupid or stealing his spotlight. His sidekick/HeterosexualLifePartner Launchpad [=McQuack=] treats people in a much friendlier, more understanding way. [[JustifiedTrope Launchpad and Gosalyn were meant to "ground" Darkwing and keep him in check.]]

* WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} is grumpy and crude, whereas his sidekick Donkey, as irritating as he may be, is [[DumbIsGood much more well-meaning and out-going.]]

* WesternAnimation/Shrek is grumpy and crude, whereas his sidekick Donkey, as irritating as he may be, is [[DumbIsGood much more well-meaning and out-going.]]

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': An example of being TheLancer than the sidekick, Alphonse Elric is very much the more approachable and affable of the Elric Brothers, despite often being confused for Edward Elric (and he being a soul sealed in a suit of armor.) Ed meanwhile is a cynical individual due to the trauma he and his brother endured, the responsibilities of fixing what he has done and just his mercurial personality. He does undergo CharacterDevelopment that has him soften up a bit and open up to people.

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** The Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald fit this trope to a T, to the point where Clara makes efforts to help her Doctor be more emphatic and nice to people, and the Doctor refers to her as his carer because "she cares, so I don't have to". As the series goes on, however, it becomes clear that the two of them aren't so different, with Clara revealing a ruthless streak of her own.

* ''Disney/TheGreatMouseDetective'': Basil, a GoodIsNotNice detective, has a tendency to be brusque and unconcerned with others (he has NoSocialSkills), while Dr. Dawson is an {{Adorkable}} SensitiveGuy who gets involved in the adventure to begin with because he can't stand to see a little girl cry. Given that this is a ''Sherlock Holmes'' story with mice, the dynamic between Basil and Dawson mirrors the one between Holmes and Watson. This being Disney, he (and [[TheCutie Olivia]]) wind up [[DefrostingIceQueen defrosting Basil.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'': Inverted; Rapunzel largely maintains her sunny, kindhearted and excitable disposition from [[Disney/{{Tangled}} her introductory film.]] Her handmaid/bodyguard/best friend Cassandra has a much darker and sterner personality[[spoiler: which ultimately becomes harsher in hindsight when she becomes a villain.]]

** The Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald fit this trope to a T, to the point where Clara makes efforts to help her Doctor be more emphatic and nice to people. As the series goes on, however, it becomes clear that the two of them aren't so different, with Clara revealing a ruthless streak of her own.

* ''WesternAnimation/SherlockGnomes'': Sherlock gets wrapped up in himself quite a bit and even treats Watson poorly. The considerably friendlier Watson sticks with him and tries to clean up the messes resulting from his harshness. [[spoiler: Eventually even he has enough and temporarily collaborates with Moriarty due to Sherlock's poor behavior.]]

* ''Film/{{Superbad}}'': Seth (Creator/JonahHill) is a foul-mouthed, misogynistic pervert who's incredibly rude to everyone, especially to Fogell. Evan (Creator/MichaelCera), meanwhile, is friendly, considerate and open towards others; unlike Seth, he openly objects to making out with Becca while she was intoxicated.

* ''Film/{{Superbad}}'': Seth (Creator/JonahHill) is a foul-mouthed, misogynistic pervert who's incredibly rude to everyone, especially Fogell. Evan (Creator/MichaelCera), meanwhile, is friendly, considerate and open towards others; unlike Seth, he openly objects to making out with Becca while she was intoxicated.

** Prosecutor Klavier Gavin (rock star who flirts with anything that moves) and Ema Skye (grouchy because her dream was denied)

** Prosecutor Nahyuta Sahdmadhi (aloof mystic who seems to find the very idea of defense attorneys blasphemous) and Ema Skye (finally a forensic scientist and much happier now)

* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': The title character is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who has "an ego the size of a small planet" and is prone to being dismissive towards people, especially if he feels they're being stupid or stealing his spotlight. His sidekick/HeterosexualLifePartner Launchpad [=McQuack=] treats people with a much friendlier, more understanding demeanor. [[JustifiedTrope Launchpad and Gosalyn were meant to "ground" Darkwing and keep him in check.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'': Rapunzel largely maintains her sunny, kindhearted and excitable disposition from [[Disney/{{Tangled}} her introductory film.]] Her handmaid/bodyguard/best friend Cassandra has a much darker and sterner personality[[spoiler: which ultimately becomes harsher in hindsight when she becomes a villain.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': The title character is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who has "an ego the size of a small planet" and is prone to being dismissive towards people, especially if he feels they're being stupid or stealing his spotlight. His sidekick/HeterosexualLifePartner Launchpad [=McQuack=] is friendly if somewhat of a ditz. [[JustifiedTrope Launchpad and Gosalyn were meant to "ground" Darkwing and keep him in check.]]

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* Sonic and Tails in ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic''. Unlike the [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog games continuity]] where he is laid-back and nice (though cocky), Sonic is terribly rude, self-centered, and immature while Tails is the nice one who would always be on the receiving end of Sonic's bullying.

* Tails from the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series is known to be mild-mannered and humble than Sonic, who is a bit cocky, but is nonetheless a nice guy.

The AntiHero can be anywhere in the spectrum, from a SociopathicHero to a [[GoodIsNotNice really virtuous but mean one]]. The sidekick, by contrast, openly cares about other people and tries to respect their feelings. The sidekick commonly tries to balance out the hero's mean disposition and/or to be their voice of reason. If the hero is rude because [[CloudCuckoolander he just thinks oddly]], the sidekick may be a CloudcuckoolandersMinder.

# The idealistic side: The nice sidekick trying to turn the anti hero into a nicer one and succeeds in the end.
# The cynical side: The anti hero shows the sidekick that being nice won't do him any good. The sidekick being nice is portrayed as misguided.
# The neither side: Either nothing changes between the two, or the hero becomes slightly nicer and the sidekick becomes slightly meaner.

Subtrope of {{Foil}}. May overlap with BroodingBoyGentleGirl if the hero is a guy and his sidekick is a girl, or CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough, when it's done with a OfficerAndAGentleman and a coarse SergeantRock. Compare NobleTopEnforcer (the EvilCounterpart for the nice sidekick), MoralityChain (someone that keeps the borderline-good guy from turning bad), MoralityPet (someone who exists to humanize a bad guy/make him more relatable), and TheLancer. Often results in a {{Good Cop Bad Cop}} situation. HypocriticalHeartwarming may also apply if the hero is harsh on his sidekick but even harsher on anyone else who doesn't treat him well.

The AntiHero can be can be anywhere in the spectrum, from a SociopathicHero to a [[GoodIsNotNice really virtuous but mean one]]. The sidekick, by contrast, openly cares about other people and tries to respect their feelings. The sidekick commonly tries to balance out the hero's mean disposition and/or to be his/her voice of reason. If the hero is rude because [[CloudCuckoolander he just thinks oddly,]] the sidekick may be a CloudcuckoolandersMinder.

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* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero''. The Zero in this timeline is completely straight-laced and cold, while his sidekick Ciel the RebelLeader is a compassionate MotherlyScientist. Played with, since she's actually her superior.

* The duo of ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' easily count. Drake is the self-centered, manipulative lady's man versus his more reasonable, outgoing and considerate step-brother, Josh, [[ButtMonkey who unfortunately gets exploited Drake constantly]].

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Guts is a NominalHero, and initially a NinetiesAntiHero, who is deliberately callous and mean to anyone who tries to make friends with him, [[JerkassFacade partly for their own good]]. Puck, his FairyCompanion, is a cheerful soul with a strong moral compass, often criticizing Guts for antagonizing people and acting as his MoralityChain whether he likes it or not.

* The duo of ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' easily count. Drake is the self-centered, manipulative lady's man versus his more reasonable, outgoing, and considerate step-brother, Josh, [[ButtMonkey who unfortunately gets exploited Drake constantly]].

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': At least initially, Armin is more gentle and compassionate compared to Eren's hate-fueled kill-everything mentality.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': An example of being TheLancer than the sidekick, Alphonse Elric is very much the more approachable and affable of the Elric Brothers, despite often being confused for Edward Elric (and he being a soul sealed in a suit of armor.) Ed meanwhile is a cynical individual due to the truama he and his brother endured, the responsibilities of fixing what he has done and just his mercurial personality. He does undergo CharacterDevelopment that has him soften up a bit and open up to people.

** Subverted with Prosecutor Simon Blackquill (''very'' scary convicted murderer) and Bobby Fullbright (perpetually smiling idealist); neither man is as he seems