History Main / SycophanticServant

Contrast with the BattleButler and YesMan. Sometimes overlaps with CrustyCaretaker and ProfessionalButtKisser, though the latter is in it only in order to look out for his own status while the sycophant has a genuine amount of admiration and adoration for his boss. If the character endures endless abuse at the hands of their master, then they're a BumblingSidekick. May overlap with VileVillainLaughableLackey if their boss is a noticeably more serious villain. Just about the polar opposite of TheStarscream, although it's not uncommon for TheStarscream to ''pretend'' to be this trope. See also TranshumanTreachery.

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': [[Characters/HarleyQuinnTheCharacter Harley Quinn]]'s obsession with ComicBook/TheJoker is so bad, that in an episode wherein he is perfectly willing to leave her in the city while he nukes it and she is about to quit, he gets her back in one line. This is completely in character.

* Zim of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. ''Everything'' he does is for the Tallest, and he goes to ridiculous lengths to try to impress them. It never works, since they originally [[ReassignedToAntarctica sent him out in space so he would die and never return to Planet Irk]], which he's oblivious to, [[IgnoranceIsBliss for the better.]]

* In ''Film/{{Killers of the Flower Moon}}'' Ernest, the epitome of a dumb henchman, is very much this for his uncle, King Hale. Whether from fear, greed, or familial loyalty, Ernest does virtually anything Hale asks, including poisoning the mother of his child, signing everything to Hale in the event of his own death, and allowing Hale to spank him with a paddle. Ernest sycophantically obliges his uncle by calling him “King,” and uses his uncle’s name to try and keep his fellow stooges in line, without much success. Until the very end it seems like a coin toss whether he will testify against Hale. Rarely has such a servile goon been the leading man of such a major film.

* In “Film/{{Killers of the Flower Moon2023}}” Ernest, the epitome of a dumb henchman, is very much this for his uncle, King Hale. Whether from fear, greed, or familial loyalty, Ernest does virtually anything Hale asks, including poisoning the mother of his child, signing everything to Hale in the event of his own death, and allowing Hale to spank him with a paddle. Ernest sycophantically obliges his uncle by calling him “King,” and uses his uncle’s name to try and keep his fellow stooges in line, without much success. Until the very end it seems like a coin toss whether he will testify against Hale. Rarely has such a servile goon been the leading man of such a major film.

** Lugnut is a borderline case, though it's more fanaticism than slavishness: in some episodes he seems to practically worship Megatron... and in others, there's no "practically" about it. He's also more badass than most Sycophantic Servants, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch of Kill Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''

* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', YesMan was this to Benny. He can also be the [[PlayerCharacter Courier]]'s after you deal with Benny, as being generally agreeable is in his programming. Nonetheless, he's also an HonestAdviser in that he'll point out when your actions run contrary to your goals (such as not stopping any factions that are potential threats or destroying the SealedArmyInACan intended to be a trump card), though he'll do it in a passive-aggressive way in which he tries to reason that you probably had a good reason for doing such things.

* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', YesMan was this to Benny. He can also be the [[PlayerCharacter Courier]]'s after you deal with Benny, as being generally agreeable is in his programming.

* Colonel Klink of ''Series/HogansHeroes'' does this to pretty much every officer that walks in the door, General Burkhalter especially. To a man, they find it annoying.

* Downplayed with Agent Stone from the live-action ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog'' movie; while he ''is'' entirely devoted to Robotnik and kind of a butt-kisser, his admiration towards the Doctor is genuine and he follows him not out of fear or ambition, but rather out of [[UndyingLoyalty sheer loyalty]].

%%* [[spoiler: Osanai]] from ''Anime/{{Paprika}}''.
%%* Misa Amane and Teru Mikami of ''Manga/DeathNote''.
* The RedShirt scientist Barnes is one of these to [[MadScientist Szilard Quates]] of ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'', to the point that he's honored to be [[YouWillBeAssimilated assimilated]] by his master.
* [[spoiler: Jeremiah Gottwald]] to Lelouch from ''Anime/CodeGeass'', towards the latter half of the second season. Notably, this guy not only joins Lelouch to zealously prove his '''[[MemeticMutation LOYALTY]]''', he joins after he's [[TookALevelInBadass become far more badass than ever before.]] And then he tops himself in the finale. [[SavedByTheFans This was all brought on by the fans' love]] of [[EnsembleDarkhorse the character.]]
* In ''Literature/Overlord2012'' pretty much all the creatures of Nazarick, especially [[CoDragons the Guardians]], act like this towards [[VillainProtagonist Ainz]], treating him like a god, being unquestionably loyal to him, and willing to end their lives for him. Justified, in that Ainz and his former guild members created them as [=NPCs=] to serve them back in YGGDRASIL, so when they were all brought to life in the New World they were made automatically [[UndyingLoyalty utterly loyal]] to their creators.

** Also, Nightcrawler encountered an alternate self who served this purpose for Belasco. In an [[ComicBook/EarthX alternate future]], it's determined Nightcrawler -becomes- Belasco. So, um.
* Mephisto had one of these in his first appearance in ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer''. Ironically, Mephisto was himself forced to be this to Thanos during the ''ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet''.
%%* Psycho-Pirate is this to the Anti-Monitor in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': Ever since his first appearance in the '70s, ComicBook/RasAlGhul has a completely loyal hulking manservant named Ubu, who worships the ground he walks on. After a couple of apparent deaths the character is ''still'' around, so it is revealed that there's an entire Ubu ''clan'', and they all serve Ra's.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': The Lowlies of Apokolips; Darkseid's reign has produced an entire race of bootlicking slaves, who will "die for Darkseid" if requested. In "Secret Six", for example, Scandal Savage employs a nameless Lowlie as a servant. Who gleefully begs for all kinds of abuse, as if torture is as necessary as food for its well-being.
* ''ComicBook/NewAvengers2015:'' The Maker has the insect men who make up his organization WHISPER, who pretty much worship him for giving them life. On occasion, they're a little ''too'' sycophantic for his tastes, declaring how ''proud'' they are to record his enemies on the can for him. That their creation appears to involve the Maker removing peoples' brains might have something to do with this.

* ''Fanfic/EarthAndSky'' has Doctor Insanity and Professor Destiny's BeleagueredAssistant Otto, who sucks up to his bosses constantly [[spoiler: until he finally takes too much of their {{Ax Crazy}}ness and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere quits]].]]

** Fife in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeastTheEnchantedChristmas'' is this to [[BigBad Forte.]] [[HeelFaceTurn He gets better]].

* Tabaqui the jackal in the Soviet adaptation of ''Animation/AdventuresOfMowgli''. See the page image.

* The only character to come out of ''Film/ManosTheHandsOfFate'' with any pop cultural significance at all is Torgo, the villain's acid-crazed satyr [[CrustyCaretaker janitor]] of marginal loyalty.
* Peter [=MacNichol=] has played two Sycophantic servants: Janosz in ''Film/GhostbustersII'' as a straight example, and Renfield himself in ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt''.
* Arte Johnson does a similar Renfield parody in ''Film/LoveAtFirstBite.''
%%* Ephialtes in ''Film/ThreeHundred''.
%%* Blix in ''Film/{{Legend 1985}}''.
%%* Farley Claymore, played by Creator/TimCurry, in ''Film/TheShadow''.
* In the 1996 live-action ''Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians1996'', Cruella De Vil has a fair number of people loyal to her, but her PA Frederick takes the cake with the page quote.

* Eli Turnbull is this to BigBad and INS agent Seedling in ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'', however this comes handy when he's left behind in an alien planet and turns into the planet's emperor's new YesMan.

* Damane in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' are forced to become this after some hard core MindRape from the Seanchan. There's a scene in the first book where they appear when Nynaeve frees one out of pity, and the damane without missing a beat starts screaming, begging her slaver to put back on her leash. It's a little creepy.

* In the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' universe, this is essentially what happens to anyone who gets confessed -- they are made completely, unconditionally loyal to their Confessor, to the point where they no longer have any sense of self.

* In theory, the Igors of Literature/{{Discworld}} should be like this, since that's part of the Igor tradition. In practice, most of the ones we've seen are either rebellious, or working for such an ''un''-traditional master that the Code of the Igors doesn't quite count. In particular, Igor in ''Literature/CarpeJugulum'' exaggerates his Igorness because he knows it winds up the modernist vampires, while continually muttering against them -- the [[ClassicalMovieVampire Old Count]] treated him like dirt, which he approved of, but the new ones treat him like an embarrassment, which is worse.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** [[spoiler: Knox]] is a follower of the ancient demon Illyria before he resurrects her and even more of a slavish follower after her resurrection. Having been dead to that point Illyria had no direct contact with him before her return.
** Also Harmony, who lampshades her efforts when describing herself as "extremely sycophantic" when introduced as Angel`s new secretary.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** The BigBad Glory evidently has an entire species of Sycophantic Servant demons enthralled.
%%** And, of course, there's Andrew in season six, who is this to Warren.

* Kael'thas has become this to Kil'Jaeden in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' due to a mix of [[EvilIsNotAToy Fel Magic taint]] and his own hunger for power. His blind, zealous and borderline ''loving'' devotion to the Legion Lord is very creepy. Though it might have something to do with the fact that he was brought back from near-death by Kil'jaeden's demons. Before that he seemed quite sane.

%%* Decus from the ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' is this to Alice.
* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', YesMan was this to Benny. He can also be the [[PlayerCharacter Courier]]'s after you deal with Benny, as being generally agreeable is in his programming.
* Chaos cultists in ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' have ''some'' use in combat as invisible detectors, but their all-around weakness, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JrtFazaS7g annoying voices]], and persistent [[YesMan lickspittling]] make them this trope.
%%* Cawlin is basically this to Groose in ''TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''.
* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, this tends to be a trait of the members of the Dark Brotherhood, an illegal [[MurderInc organization of assassins]] whose membership mostly takes a [[PsychoForHire sadistic glee]] in killing and who practice a ReligionOfEvil dedicated to Sithis, the embodiment of the primeval force of chaos. They are led by the [[OneBadMother Night Mother]], an unholy matron said to be the "wife" of Sithis who communicates targets for assassination to [[MouthOfSauron the Listener]]. In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', Cicero is the Keeper of the Night Mother, to whom he is slavishly devoted. He constantly begs to hear her voice call to him, something that only happens to the Listener (in this case, [[spoiler:the [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn]]]]). Also, [[spoiler:if you decide to spare him, he returns in the end of the questline and becomes this ''to you'']].

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes'', Viscount Fenja spends most of her limited screentime sucking up to Duke Aegir, partially out of a genuine desire to help him overthrow Edelgard as emperor, and partially to increase her own status by becoming one of his ministers if his plan succeeds. [[spoiler:Fenja only turns against the duke after being defeated and captured on Azure Gleam, but only because she thinks that the Kingdom army will release her if she tells them what she thinks they need to hear.]]
* Michael Anders from Dead Island 2 is a rare heroic example of this trope. Loyal to Emma up until his death and just can’t help himself but to kiss Emma Jaunt’s ass.

* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'': Sir Pentious' Egg Brigade are anthropomorphic eggs serving a demon conqueror -- except every other sentence that comes out of their cracks is dedicated to worshiping their boss and begging him to shoot them with his ray gun.

* On the animated series ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', Mordred played the Sycophantic Servant role to Darkstorm, leader of the show's villains.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Smithers fulfills this role. In the {{Dracula}} Halloween episode, he was even dressed literally as Renfield (played by Music/TomWaits!) in Francis Ford Coppola's ''Film/BramStokersDracula'' movie.
-->'''Mr. Burns:''' Is it wrong to cheat in order to win a million-dollar bet?\\
'''Smithers:''' Yes, sir.\\
'''Mr. Burns:''' Let me rephrase that. Is it wrong if ''I'' cheat in order to win a million-dollar bet?\\
'''Smithers:''' No, sir. Who would you like killed?

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'':
** Lugnut is a borderline case, though it's more fanaticism than slavishness: in some episodes he seems to practically worship Megatron... and in others, there's no "practically" about it. He's also more badass than most Sycophantic Servants, ever ready to use his [[MacrossMissileMassacre hundreds of missiles]], his [[DropTheHammer warhammer]], and [[RocketPunch The Punch of Kill Everything]] to level Autobots (and the entire city block they happen to be in) in the name of '''the grand and glorious MEGATRON!'''
--->'''Lugnut:''' I WILL NOT HIDE! I WILL STAND PROUDLY AND '''SHOUT MEGATRON'S NAME TO THE HEAVENS!'''
** Starscream is stated to have put on a sycophantic act prior to betraying Megatron. Later, one of his clones (who each represent different aspect of his character), Sunstorm, embodies this trait, being both outwardly sycophantic but not-so-secretly untrustworthy.
* In G1 ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'':
** Cyclonus is Galvatron's Sycophantic Servant. His exact level of competence is plot-reliant, but generally he's described as quite powerful and skilled--he could even lead the Decepticons if he weren't so devoted to Galvatron.
** Ditto for Shockwave's relationship to Megatron, before TheMovie (of course this is somewhat in contrast to [[TheStarscream his role in the comics]]).
%%* Slyder, a dragon, to Lydia in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheDiamondCastle''.

%%* Cecil to Mad Margret in ''WesternAnimation/ErkyPerky''.
* Scratch and Grounder to Dr Robotnik in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' (Coconuts is even more devoted to Robotnik, though the latter usually disregards him in favour of the other two).
* Snively ironically started off as one in early ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'', before evolving into a [[TheDogBitesBack vengeful]] [[TheStarscream Starscream]] thanks to Robotnik's [[BadBoss treatment of him.]]
%%* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', Smiley is this to [[MagnificentBastard Megabyte]].
* In another ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' example, there's [[BattleButler Inferno]] from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', who could probably give Lugnut a run for his money in the obsession department. Perhaps a semi-subversion, as his competence level varies throughout the series (due to being an AxCrazy [[PlayingWithFire pyromaniac]] who thinks he's an actual fire ant), but his loyalty never does. Inferno doesn't seem to have a choice in the matter either. It's implied that his ant mode's instincts overpower his programming, leading to his delusion of thinking he's an actual fire ant and his absolute loyalty to Megatron as Queen of the colony.

* Toadie from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'', true to his name he tried to make up for being tiny for a troll by continually sucking up to his boss the Duke despite the Duke constantly taking his anger out on the little guy. Justified in the sense that while the Duke is a pain, at least associating with him gives him some semblance of authority over the regular ogres who casually abuse him out of fun.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool'' (the television spin-off of ''The Emperor's New Groove''), Guaca qualifies as this though Kuzco is the main character and not a villain.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SilverHawks'' Big Bad Mon*Star has this in Yes Man, a Snake man who has a combo VerbalTic and SssssnakeTalk of always muttering "yesss yessss".
* Subverted with Owen on ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', [[spoiler: as it is revealed that Owen is the magical being Puck, who served Xanatos with absolute loyalty mainly because being a part of his schemes amused him.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'': Zox is this to Atrocitus, his capabilities as a Red Lantern tend to vary on episodes.

%%* Mole from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus'' serves as this to Ratty.
* Zim of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. ''Everything'' he does is for the Tallest, and he goes to ridiculous lengths to try to impress them. It never works, since they originally [[ReassignedToAntarctica sent him out in space so he would die and never return to Planet Irk]], which he's oblivious to, [[IgnoranceIsBliss for the better.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' has Chester who was very much a fawning, drooling lackey to Spike despite being used as a punching-bag by him. He encouraged his hero to beat up a cat to cheer him up. By the end, things get to be a little different...[[spoiler: The fact that Spike pays for his bullying ways by getting the snot beaten out of him by an escaped panther and ends up a Nervous Wreck and sucking up to Chester the same way that Chester was a sycophant who was abused by Spike makes for some hilariously ironic Laser-Guided Karma.]]
* Igor in ''WesternAnimation/AttackOfTheKillerTomatoes'', Dr. Gangreen’s assistant, although is possible that his loyalty to Gangreen is out of stupidity and also because he wants to be a news reporter and only if Gangreen’s conquest the world he will.
* Shecky the Jester in ''WesternAnimation/TheBiskitts'' treats King Max well… like a King, but his loyalty and dependence on Max makes no sense as the kingdom is empty and other than the guardian dogs he’s the only subject.
* Toad in ''WesternAnimation/DrakPack'' the loyal lackey of BigBad Dr. Dredd and the classical suck-up, albeit completely useless and his screw ups cause many of Dredd's plans to fail.

* The Pigs in ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons'' are devoted to Cyril Sneer. A key difference though is that they are formally his employees, but their faithfulness and how they ignore his mistreatments go beyond any normal or healthy boss-employee relationship.
* Basil to Rataxes in ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'': he is extremely loyal and faithful, to the point of acknowledging that his job is making Rataxes feel good about himself, he let Rataxes take the credit when he does something heroic (like saving Babar's daughter from drowning) and helps Rataxes in all his schemes without questioning. Nevertheless he does have some fun at the expenses of his boss sometimes and Rataxes shows to be extremely depending of him (and he knows it).

* Muttley bounces between this and ChronicBackstabbingDisorder on [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces both of]] [[WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines his shows]], first biting Dick Dastardly's hand, then kissing it after insulting him.

* The RedShirt scientist Barnes is one of these to [[MadScientist Szilard Quates]] of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', to the point that he's honored to be [[YouWillBeAssimilated assimilated]] by his master.

* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'' pretty much all the creatures of Nazarick, especially [[CoDragons the Guardians]], act like this towards [[VillainProtagonist Ainz]], treating him like a god, being unquestionably loyal to him, and willing to end their lives for him. Justified, in that Ainz and his former guild members created them as [=NPCs=] to serve them back in YGGDRASIL, so when they were all brought to life in the New World they were made automatically [[UndyingLoyalty utterly loyal]] to their creators.

[[caption-width-right:338:Now you're just embarassing your boss. [[note]]Shere Khan and Tabaqui the Jackal in ''Animation/AdventuresOfMowgli'', award-winning Soviet adaptation of ''Literature/TheJungleBook''.[[/note]]]]

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, this tends to be a trait of the members of the Dark Brotherhood, an illegal [[MurderInc organization of assassins]] whose membership mostly takes a [[PsychoForHire sadistic glee]] in killing and who practice a ReligionOfEvil dedicated to Sithis, the embodiment of the primeval force of chaos. They are led by the [[OneBadMother Night Mother]], an unholy matron said to be the "wife" of Sithis who communicates targets for assassination to [[MouthOfSauron the Listener]]. In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', Cicero, is the Keeper of the Night Mother to whom he is slavishly devoted. He constantly begs to hear her voice call to him, something that only happens to the Listener (in this case, [[spoiler:the [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn]]]]). Also, [[spoiler:if you decide to spare him, he returns in the end of the questline and becomes this ''to you'']].

* Another example who's actually named Renfield is Turnbull from ''Series/DueSouth''. However, neither Turnbull nor his boss are villains, although Thatcher is, [[MeaningfulName appropriately]], quite [[IronLady intimidating]], and Turnbull himself is [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} highly]] [[AmbiguousDisorder eccentric]].

* Gaston's sidekick, [=LeFou=], in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is constantly sucking up and telling Gaston how great he is even when Gaston make a habit of throwing him around. Then he tells him how great he is at throwing him around.

* Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe to [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon "Mr. MacMahon"]]. What makes them different to most of the other people working closely with Vince was Pat and Gerald legitimately thought Vince was the light of their lives and never aligned themselves with him out of greed, power or fame. Even Vince's own kids back-stabbed him on occasions, but not the stooges.

* Chaos cultists in ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' have ''some'' use in combat as invisible detectors, but their all around weakness, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JrtFazaS7g annoying voices]], and persistent [[YesMan lickspittling]] make them this trope.

** All Imperial characters get the droid 2V-R8 as as a servant on their ship and as a companion (thought not an especially useful one). Anytime you walk by it will start singing your praises and talking about how great you are.

* Smee in ''WesternAnimation/PeterPanAndThePirates'', although Smee is like this in all version. His loyalty is probably the reason why he is second-in-command (with no other merits on his own).

* Muttley bounces between this and chronic backstabber on [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces both of]] [[WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines his shows]], first biting Dick Dastardly's hand, then kissing it after insulting him.

* Muttley bounces between this and ChronicBackstabbingSyndrome on [[WesternAnimation/WackyRacez both of]] [[WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines his shows]], first biting Dick Dastardly's hand, then kissing it after insulting him.

* Ishida Mitsunari from the third game of ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is implied to have been one of these to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the prequel manga. Unfortunately for anyone who shows the slightest sign of wanting to oppose Hideyoshi, Mitsunari is [[AxCrazy terrifyingly]] [[FlashStep good]] at his [[KillEmAll job]].