History Main / ThePoorlyChosenOne

* Tai Lung in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''. His mentor Shifu let the pride he felt for his adoptive son blind him to both Tai Lung's [[StartOfDarkness growing personal issues]] and the possibility that he may not be cut out for the title of Dragon Warrior. As a result, Lung grew up thinking he was entitled to the role and when he was rejected, he... [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge didn't take it well]].

* As a failsafe, Creator/FoxKids purchased an alternate ending for the first story arc of ''AnimeDigimonAdventure'', where it's said the kids were found to not be the Digidestined after all, and were sent home.

Compare and Contrast TheChosenWanabee.

Not to be confused with TheChosenZero, where the Chosen One is a loser ''socially'', but ultimately follows the criteria of their chosen-ness.

The Poorly Chosen One was assigned to be the Chosen One of a prophecy or a legacy or some other medium, only for their efforts to fall flat, failing at their task at being the Chosen One. Perhaps TheChooserOfTheOne made a mistake and got the supposed chosen one mixed up, perhaps not. Either way, they were a poor Choice indeed.

[[folder:Anime]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unkar_the_unfortunate_trollhunters.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Here lies Unkar [[TheMagnificent the Unfortunate]]. First night out, torn limb from limb.]]

The Poorly Chosen One was assigned to be the Chosen One of a prophecy or a legacy or some other medium, only for their efforts to fall flat, failing at their task at being the Chosen One. Perhaps TheChooserOfTheOne made a mistake and got the supposed chosen one mixed up, perhaps not. Either way, they were a poor choice indeed.

Not to be confused with TheChosenZero, were the Chosen One is a loser ''socially'', but ultimately follows the criteria of their chosen-ness.

* Michael Rhodes in ''{{ComicBook/Birthright}}'' was believed to save the realm of Terrenos from [[EvilOverlord God-King Lore]] by a sketchy prophecy that not many people believed in the first place. He is trained as a mighty warrior, but when the climatic confrontation against his enemy happens, he gets defeated and strikes a deal with said dark lord to become his enforcer if he gets sent back to Earth. Doubly subverted when it turns out that [[spoiler:the prophecy was never real to begin with and Terrenos was already saved a long time ago... By Lore himself who at one point was a heroic figure who mysteriously turned evil, incidentally making him qualify for this trope]].

* In ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'', Shota turns Zedd young and erases his memory, making him an arrogant youth again instead of a wizened old man. So, when she asks him to [[TheChooserOfTheOne name a new Seeker]], he chooses... himself, which is apparently allowed. He proceeds to act like a JerkAss and is easily tricked by the [[TheDevil Keeper]] to come to the Underworld.

* During the main quest in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', the PlayerCharacter visits the Cave of the Nerevarine, where they can meet the shades of several Dunmer who previously attempted to fulfill the Nerevarine Prophecy, but failed and died.

* Unkar the Unfortunate from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' was a Trollhunter who died on his ''first day'', having been torn limb from limb before he could actually do anything his title of Trollhunter entails. His [[TakenForGranite commemorative statue]] ([[spoiler: which is really his [[DeadGuyOnDisplay re-assembled corpse]]]]) is frozen in fear of his pathetic pleas for mercy.

* Unkar the Unfortunate from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' was a trollhunter who died on his ''first day'', having been torn limb from limb before he could actually do anything his title of trollhunter entails. His [[TakenForGranite commemorative statue]] ([[spoiler:which is really his [[DeadGuyOnDisplay re-assembled corpse]]]]) is frozen in fear of his pathetic pleas for mercy.

* In ''[[Film/SpyKids Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over]]'', a group of Beta-testers believe that Judy is "The Guy", a player believed to be the one to lead them to the prize. Just as they begin to have doubts about this, The ''Real'' Guy appears and takes the lead. Right after he opens the doorway to the fifth and final level, The Real Guy is struck by lightning which [[OneHitKill One-Hit Kills]] him instantly ([[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard in-spite of his 100 lives]]). Judy is then reinstated as The Guy shortly after.

Not to be confused with TheChosenZero, where the Chosen One is a loser ''socially'', but ultimately follows the criteria of their chosen-ness.

!!Examples

[[AC:Film - Live-Action]]

* In ''[[Film/SpyKids Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over]]'', a group of Beta-testers believe that Judy is "The Guy", a player believed to be the one to lead them to the prize. Just as they begin to have doubts about this, The ''Real'' Guy appears and takes the lead. Right after he opens the doorway to the fifth and final level, The Real Guy is struck by lightening which [[OneHitKill One-Hit Kills]] him instantly ([[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard in-spite of his 100 lives]]). Judy is then reinstated as The Guy shortly after.

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGame]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Unkar the Unfortunate from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' was a trollhunter who died on his ''first day'', having been torn limb from limb before he could actually do anything his title as trollhunters entails. His [[TakenForGranite commemorative statue]] ([[spoiler:which is really his [[DeadGuyOnDisplay re-assembled corpse]]]]) is frozen in fear of his pathetic pleas for mercy.

* Smith from ''Film/{{Kaboom}}'' is believed by a cult [[spoiler:led by his presumed deceased father]] to be their Messianic chosen one meant to save the world. Just as he begins to understand the stakes in the story or is even able to comprehend his very destiny, the movie ends with the world being destroyed, Smith failing his chosen one destiny before it even begins.

* In ''[[Film/SpyKids Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over]]'', a group of Beta-testers believe that Carmen is "The Guy", a player believed to be the one to lead them to the prize. Just as they begin to have doubts about this, The ''Real'' Guy appears and takes the lead. Right after he opens the doorway to the fifth and final level, The Real Guy is struck by lightening which [[OneHitKill One-Hit Kills]] him instantly ([[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard in-spite of his 100 lives]]). Carmen is then reinstated as The Guy shortly after.