Line #116 Main/GrewASpine


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3	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/combine_images_1_4.png]]]]
4	[[caption-width-right:350:Anne takes standing up to someone with a ToxicFriendInfluence to a whole new level.]]
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7
8	->''"Catching my breath, letting it go,''\
9	''Turning my cheek for the sake of the show.''\
10	''Now that you know, this is my life!''\
11	''I won't be told what's supposed to be right!"''
12	-->-- '''Creator/KellyClarkson''', "Catch My Breath"
13
14	Bob may have opinions, but he doesn't act on them if someone disagrees. Instead, he will follow their instructions or advice. This someone might be anyone, a single person that he is dependent on, or the prevailing attitudes in society. Then Bob starts to trust and act on his own judgment and begins to go his own way. Bob earlier had no independent judgment in relation to some external factor, and this is the growth and expression of his own judgment: he's growing a spine.
15
16	This is a form of CharacterDevelopment, and often a defining moment in a RiteOfPassage. It's also a staple of a ComingOfAgeStory, where it does not necessarily mean that Bob has more [[HeroicResolve resolve]] than earlier, but rather that he has learned to follow his own independent judgments. It might be lousy judgment, but at least he has started to develop and act on it.
17
18	It might be caused by PostSupportRegret, as Bob has only been spineless with a ToxicFriendInfluence who he believed to be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, only to be betrayed by his friend and shown the [[AwfulTruth Awful]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk Truth]], leading to a BrokenPedestal which motivates him to finally stand up to his BigBadFriend.
19
20	As a trope, this can take two forms:
21
22	# A plot arc for a character. This is the long and slow variety.
23	# A single scene, where the character unambiguously chooses their own way in a plot-relevant fashion.
24
25	This trope is frequently seen in ComingOfAgeStory. Some starting points for this trope is the ExtremeDoormat or ShrinkingViolet, but the character might just be inexperienced and unsure of themselves. After all, this is all part of growing up. CallingTheOldManOut is a specific subtrope. May coincide with TookALevelInBadass, TheDogBitesBack, ChallengingTheBully, NotAfraidOfYouAnymore, or SuddenPrincipledStand. Has nothing to do with the evolution of vertebrate animals. Not to be confused with ConditionedToBeWeak, a physically powerful being too afraid to stand up to their abuser despite obviously being far stronger than them.
26	----
27	!!Examples:
28
29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32	* ''Manga/SevenSeeds'': Natsu Iwashimizu's character development revolves around this. She started off avoiding [[{{Hikkikomori}} participating in school]] a lot and was much too shy, slow, and afraid of other people to do anything on her own, only following instructions or advice. But she has learned to do things on her own more and more, including standing up to people trying to put her down.
33	* ''Manga/AKB49RenaiKinshiJourei'': Hiroko opposed her FantasyForbiddingFather for the first time in her life after he demanded she quit her aspirations as an IdolSinger and she refused, which led to her father estranging her and her gaining even more resolve than before to pursue her dreams.
34	* ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'': As a SchoolgirlSeries with an emphasis on the ComingOfAgeStory aspect of it, this happens to some of the more introverted characters.
35	** Mai "Ino" Inose's admiration towards Mikage means before she was named the president, she pretty much treats Mikage as her personal LivingEmotionalCrutch and doesn't do much really of her own. It took her a whole episode (Episode 7) that she decided to take steps that, in her words, to make herself more like an independent school club president, first by participating in the Earth Science Olympiad.
36	** Ao Manaka is not a true doormat, but her [[TheQuietOne fear of speaking]] causes her to be really reluctant to speak up for herself, regardless of what she thinks. She gets better eventually, to the point that during the Ishigaki arc, people describe her as being gutsy, despite still mostly TheQuietOne.
37	*** In the beginning she needs to be encouraged by Moe to approach [[ChildhoodFriends Mira]]. In the tenth episode, it's her turn to encourage the usually [[GenkiGirl energetic]] Mira to go to the summer camp without her. At this point, Mira noticed she had become stronger.
38	*** Ao initially isn't the best at standing up for herself, as she admits that she hadn't even considered [[spoiler:telling her parents that she doesn't want to [[ReallyMovesAround move]]]]. Later, not only does she do just that, but [[spoiler:she even makes arrangements to travel to Ishigaki Island by herself without telling Mira or Endou]].
39	* ''Manga/BlackClover'': Asta tends to have this effect on a lot of people, inspiring them to become stronger.
40	** Following an incident in their childhood where a grown man tried to steal Yuno's magic stone and Asta stood up for him, Yuno decided to become more assertive so that he could take care of himself and stop crying in the face of danger.
41	** Initially, Noelle puts up a brave face while in truth she's afraid of both [[PowerIncontinence her own magic]] and her abusive older siblings. After being inspired by Asta, she not only [[TookALevelInBadass gains control over her magic and becomes a powerhouse]], but she also gains the courage to stand up to and {{curbstomp}} her sadistic brother Solid and eventually gains the respect of [[AloofBigBrother Nozel]].
42	** After being inspired by Asta, Finral Roulacase resolves to become less passive and cowardly, with him training his magic and standing his ground against his brother.
43	** Mimosa begins as a sweet, demure girl who mostly uses her magic for healing. After meeting Asta, she's inspired to become stronger. By the time of the Royal Knights Tournament, she's learned offensive spells and become much more confident and headstrong, giving orders in battle which even pleasantly surprises Asta.
44	* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': This is the conclusion of Zenitsu's character arc. He finally forces himself to grow out of his self-deprecating mental abyss, forsaking his sleep trance mode entirely, when the tragedy of his master's death strikes. He goes on to face the cause of said tragedy in the form of his former fellow disciple, Kaigaku, who now turned into a demon. Zenitsu faces Kaigaku head-on and kills him, the older disciple whom Zenitsu was previously completely submissive to out of a mix of respect and an inferiority complex. Despite their differences, however, Zenitsu still wanted to see him as a brother before everything went south.
45	* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': Main character Tohru Honda is such an AllLovingHero that she frequently puts other people's needs before her own, and has some trouble with asserting herself. As part of her character development, she learns to stand up for what she believes in (like breaking the Zodiac curse) and that it's all right to put her needs before others once in a while.
46	* Yukiteru of ''Manga/FutureDiary''. This [[SanitySlippage backfires horribly]], until he manages to {{earn\|YourHappyEnding}} his ''[[BittersweetEnding almost]]'' {{happy ending}}.
47	* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'': After Onizuka saves him from AttemptedSuicide and helps him get back at his bullies, Noboru is much less docile and passive, even jumping into action to save his bully from drowning.
48	* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'': Twice.
49	** In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'', Jonathan Joestar is constantly beaten up and humiliated by Dio Brando, but he's too timid to stand up to him. Then Dio [[ForcefulKiss steals]] the SacredFirstKiss of Jonathan's LoveInterest, Erina Pendleton, and attacks her for immediately washing her mouth out with muddy puddle water. For Jonathan, this is the final straw: He personally confronts Dio at the Joestar family mansion to avenge Erina's honor and [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beats him so brutally that Dio actually bursts into tears]].
50	** In ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'', this is the way [[AudienceSurrogate Koichi Hirose]] unlocks the next EvolutionPowerUp for his Stand, Echoes. Whenever he found a reason to stop running in fear of an enemy, Echoes would evolve into a new form to match the growth of Koichi's soul.
51	* In ''Manga/MariaNoDanzai'', [[ShrinkingViolet Yashima]] is constantly abused by [[TheBully Kowase]] after [[CaughtOnTape he records her stealing from a convenience store]]. She puts up with it because she's afraid that [[{{blackmail}} he will expose her and ruin her future prospects]], but also because [[KarmicNod she thinks she's reaping what she's sown]]. After Maria discourages her from thinking like that, Yashima eventually gains enough courage to finally stand up to Kowase while he's trying to drown her in retribution for allegedly hacking his phone, [[MisplacedRetribution which she didn't do and has no idea what he's talking about]]. When Kowase doesn't believe her and threatens to spread her shoplifting and sex videos on the internet if she doesn't give him what he wants, Yashima has enough and dares him to do it, since [[BlackmailBackfire she'll just pay him back]] by [[TakingYouWithMe telling everyone about all the abuse he's put her through]]. Kowase reminds her that if he does, Yashima won't be able to go to a university or find employment; Yashima flat out tells him she doesn't care and that, while she admits that she is afraid of her future being ruined, [[LesserOfTwoEvils it is preferable to having to put up with him for one more day]].
52	-->'''Yashima:''' ''GET OUT OF MY LIFE!''
53	* ''Manga/{{Monster}}'': Kenzo Tenma decides to stop being the doormat of his fianceé and his boss after seeing the immorality of both (the fianceé is not that evil, but this still counts).
54	* ''Franchise/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': This happens to protagonist Shinji Ikari, despite being often criticized for lacking a spine.
55	** In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Shinji actually tends to try and be more confident in himself and self-assured. [[DeconstructedTrope These attempts keep backfiring and sinking him further into despair and pain.]] However, when at the brink of humanity's end, he decides to choose to keep living in a painful world and not doom humanity to loss of individuality and such [[EarnYourHappyEnding earns a happy ending]].
56	** In ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'', Shinji both grows a spine and becomes more badass during the battle against Zeruel. Sadly, [[spoiler:the repercussions of Shinji actually growing a spine for once include humanity being reduced to a fraction of that it used to be]].
57	* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
58	** Koby is introduced as Alvida's groveling, kowtowing doormat. When he meets Luffy and is exposed to the wannabe pirate's determination to find One Piece and become Pirate King, Koby gains the gumption to tell Alvida ''exactly'' what he thinks of her. Later, when Helmeppo tries holding him hostage, he refuses to balk and beg for his life. Gaining the courage to follow his own dream of becoming a Navy Admiral, Koby enlists in the Marines and ends up in a similar situation he had with Alvida, standing up to [[GeneralRipper Admiral Akainu]] even though it nearly costs him his own life.
59	** By his own admission, Usopp is a spineless coward and a liar who would do anything to escape from situations he can't handle. However, after joining the Straw Hat Pirates, [[CowardlyLion he slowly gains the courage to stand up not just for himself, but for his crewmates and his captain, no matter the odds]]. Eventually he transitions into a BadassNormal who constantly faces his own fears, each day inching closer to becoming a "brave warrior of the sea".
60	* ''Anime/SevenMortalSins'': At the start of the series, Maria couldn't do anything but cry as Lucifer forcefully dragged her around. After some time though she slowly lost her fear of the Demon Lords around her. This is demonstrated when she shames Mammon for the cold way she raises her children, and later when she actually challenges Lucifer when she is led to believe that [[ItMakesSenseInContext the fallen angel was terrorizing an alternative world]] ForTheEvulz.
61	* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': This is Simon's character arc in the first half of the story. Simon is a complete wimp unless his CoolBigBro Kamina is around, and relies on him for confidence. But after Kamina [[spoiler:bites the dust in Episode 8 while recovering Team Gurren's new home base]], Simon learns to start standing on his own, becoming rather like Kamina in the process.
62	* ''Manga/YuGiOh'': This is basically the regular Yugi's character arc, as he grows independent of having Yami Yugi as his crutch in life and starts making his own decisions.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Comic Books]]
66	* In the "Outer Dark" arc of ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'', Swift, who's normally more gung-ho, decides to oppose one of Jenny Sparks' orders, as following it might lead to the unnecessary deaths of aliens that might be considered civilians. In "The Nativity", she also forces a truce between the Authority and Krigstein that gives the latter control over the Southeast Asian government that the Authority recently overthrew, in order to avoid a long, drawn-out conflict in which Krigstein's forces were more than willing to kill civilians.
67	* Klak from ''ComicBook/PocketGod'' is a ButtMonkey who gets no respect from the tribe. However, when he starts hanging out with the more assertive Moon, he starts to stand up for himself more often.
68	* In ''ComicBook/SecretSix'', Ragdoll mostly puts up with being treated as The Team Freak and being TheFriendNobodyLikes, but threaten [[MoralityPet Black Alice]] and he actually stands up fully straight instead of his usual PrimalStance in order to defend her, leaving Deadshot visibly frightened.
69	* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story arc ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', the titular Bizarro gets frightened and runs away when it's time to face the enemy eating her planet, but she becomes more courageous after talking to Supergirl.
70	* In one Reboot ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperheroes'' story, the ancient Daxamite hero Valor tells Andromeda, a formerly racist Daxamite heroine and devout Valorian, that they should just leave a villain to die. Andie, who has been deferring to him as the subject of her devotion since they met, tells him in no uncertain terms that she's learned all lives have value and if he hasn't then he's wrong. Valor, who's been trying to get out of his UnwantedFalseFaith since he arrived in the 30th century, is delighted.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Fan Works]]
74	* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'':
75	** [[ShrinkingViolet Shinji]], with the help of [[FieryRedhead Asuka]]'s influence. Fully demonstrated in the fight with Bardiel, where [[spoiler:he and Asuka convince Rei to disobey Gendo and attempt to rescue Hikari]].
76	** Downplayed with [[EmotionlessGirl Rei]]. Thanks to Shinji and Asuka's influence, she becomes more assertive as well... but she hides her newfound assertiveness from Gendo to avoid cueing him into the fact.
77	* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': Luz admits to herself that, before gaining her [[PowerParasite Quirk]], she never stood up to any of her bullies at school. After her experience the [[DeadlyGame Death Camp]], she now has no quarrels about threatening them or getting physically violent with them if they start antagonising with her.
78	* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': After getting Asuka pregnant Shinji convinces himself that he must stop running away and face his responsibilities. In the process, he becomes more assertive and somewhat more strong-willed.
79	-->'''Shinji''': ...but I know one thing: I care for her and for our child. Even if she denies it, this child's part of me. I can't leave those two alone. I just can't. Even if she pushes me aside, I can't leave her!!
80	** {{Subverted}}. Although Shinji tries to be more responsible and determined he is still a shy kid and often he is tempted to run away and hide and a member of the cast (Asuka, Misato…) has to help him or coax him into facing his fears.
81	* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'': In this story, Shinji kept being shy, quiet, and non-confrontational like his canon self, but he resolved to learn to face his troubles, and he charged headlong into combat against whatever was threatening him and everyone.
82	* ''[[Fanfic/TheLamentSeriesChaoticNeutral Chloé's Lament]]'': Upon seeing just how little regard Chloé has for others, to the point that she genuinely doesn't see anything wrong with turning everyone into her {{Mind Control}}ed thralls because she feels that everyone ''should'' serve her, Adrien finally stands up to his ChildhoodFriend and calls her out for being such an EntitledBitch.
83	* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': Several characters - including Asuka - remark to Shinji several times that he needs to learn to push back and stand his ground if he wants to have a relationship with Asuka. Slowly he starts to gain one through the history. After liberating Buenos Aires he is determined to try to be a hero and a good person.
84	* ''Fanfic/ADiplomaticVisit'': [[spoiler:As revealed when the mantle of Hatred is being transferred to Aria Blaze in chapter 11 of the sequel ''Diplomat at Large'', she's been trying to encourage Sonata to do this for a long time so the other siren can stand up for herself.]]
85	* ''Fanfic/DoingItRightThisTime'':
86	** After returning to the past Shinji considers running and hiding for an instant… before resolving he would not run away this time and he would not be scared anymore.
87	** After having been his dutiful servant in the original timeline Rei slapped Gendo and called him out on everything.
88	* ''Fanfic/TheDragonAndTheButterfly'': A year after he left the archipelago (with the help of Toothless, the Madrigals, and the rest of the people of the Encanto), Hiccup has finally recovered from the years of neglect/emotional abuse he suffered from his father. When Stoick and the Vikings finally find him and try to bring him back, he stands up to Stoick twice: the first time telling him that he's not leaving the Encanto and will never willingly go back to Berk, and the second time calling him out for the aforementioned abuse and [[LaserGuidedKarma disowning him the same way he'd disowned Hiccup]]. Gobber later admits that he's impressed by how far Hiccup's come.
89	* ''Fanfic/ErasedPotential'' sees Izuku becoming more confident thanks to [[PointOfDivergence convincing Aizawa to teach him how to become a]] GuileHero despite being Quirkless. Katsuki first learns about this shift when Izuku stands up for himself against their middle school teacher's attempt to humiliate him into giving up on U.A.
90	* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': Due to being older, Shinji Ikari is less wimpy in this fic than his canon counterpart, but he is still somewhat of a wuss with no motivation or drive to live on. During pillow talk, [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] said to him that he could not keep that attitude when [[LivingEmotionalCrutch people like herself depended on him to live]]. And in fact, in the second story arc, [[BrokenAce Asuka]] [[DespairEventHorizon went through a downward spiral]] Shinji needed to grow a spine to help her and save her from herself.
91	* ''Website/FamilyGuyFanon'': [[WellDoneSonGuy Peter]] grows one in terms of dealing with his {{Jerkass}} father Francis. While the events of "Holy Crap", an episode from the original show, still happens, he grows it in the second season's "[[https://familyguyfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Between_Sanity_and_Madness Between Sanity and Madness]]". In which he spends the whole episode toadying to his father, alongside his mother Thelma, and being an ExtremeDoormat to get even the slightest approval. And while he does hold it in, he eventually reaches his RageBreakingPoint after the two try to drown him and Lois, leading him to finally have an upper hand against them for once. And this actually carries over to future episodes despite their apologies.
92	* ''Fanfic/FashionUpgrade'' (''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug''):
93	** Adrien quickly picks up on the fact that Lila was somehow behind Marinette being moved to Mendeleiev's class. He responds by questioning Lila's ideas more openly and defending Marinette when Lila tries to plant doubts about her. Lila even privately laments that Adrien's tactics are threatening her grip on the class and wonders why he couldn't just keep being a pushover.
94	** By the climax, Marinette has learned her own worth and is more confident asserting herself, as shown in her final conversations with Principal Damocles and Bustier. Damocles in particular realizes that she isn't asking for ''permission'' to use the spare fabric from the fashion show to make quilted bedrolls for the homeless, but that she's simply telling him what she and her classmates intend to do.
95	* In the ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'' fan comic ''Foob's Paradise'', Deanna is constantly running herself ragged with her job, cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing because Michael either spends his time writing or being an EntitledBastard, to the point where she's openly on the verge of a mental breakdown. After some advice from Mira, she starts calling out Michael for his complaining and bad attitude and buys a Crock-Pot and rice cooker and demands that Michael at least learn to cook. This and [[spoiler: a nightmare about him dying in the fire and his family not caring]] get Michael to be a better husband and father.
96	* ''FanFic/ForHisOwnSake'': The entire plot begins when Keitaro finally gets sick of constantly being abused by the Hinata Girls and quits being manager of the inn, breaking up with Naru in the process. From then on, he's ''far'' more willing to stand up to the girls.
97	* ''Fanfic/HailToTheKingThuktunFlishithy'': Series/ZoneFighter helps Shinji to grow a spine through the history. Shinji is still quiet and calm, but he becomes more confident and assertive.
98	* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': In this story, Shinji has become more confident and more determined to protect his family. Although he hates fighting and killing he has learnt to use weapons and practices his aim constantly to defend his wife and his daughter.
99	* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Chloe Cerise first starts out as a shy, insecure girl, bullied by others for being into different things that aren't Pokémon. By the end of Part 1, she's more assertive and can calmly tell others to bug off about her not having a Pokémon and has the courage to say her farewells to her ignorant father and ChildhoodFriend Goh.
100	* ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'': Thanks to his Kryptonian powers and the inspirational speech of Jor-El (Kal-El in the rewrite), Shinji becomes braver, more determined, and a real hero.
101	* ''Fanfic/LeaveForMendeleiev'': Transferring out of Bustier's class does ''wonders'' for Marinette's self-confidence. While she still has to contend with her long-time bully Chloé attending the same school and trying to harass her, having a teacher who actually ''stands up'' against Chloé rather than enabling her, along with making friends who stand firmly by her side and support her, enables Marinette to gradually build up her confidence and stand up for herself more and more.
102	* ''Fanfic/MarinetteDupainChengsSpitePlaylist: Remix'': After [[PointOfDivergence Marinette transfers to another school]], Adrien realizes that his efforts to handle the Lila situation nonconfrontationally hasn't handled anything at all, but simply handed the ManipulativeBitch free rein to keep hurting everyone. He resolves to start standing up to her more but finds asserting himself to be easier said than done, leading to disaster when he [[NiceJobBreakingItHero bails on supporting Chloé after promising to help]], giving Lila a chance to [[MadeOutToBeAJerkass further tarnish Marinette's good name]]. This solidifies his position as TheAtoner and helps strengthen his resolve.
103	* {{Downplayed\| Trope}} in ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide''. Shinji is still pretty insecure and timid, but he makes an effort to become more assertive since he knows he will let Asuka and his family down again unless he stops running away, mans up, and takes responsibility for his actions, he even gradually succeeds in doing so. It is perhaps most obvious in his interactions with Asuka, especially after he gains a better understanding of her; he finds that while it just isn't in his nature to be confrontational with her (plus he knows that such an approach wouldn't be very likely to change her mind anyway), he can, often successfully, appeal to her better nature during an argument.
104	* ''Fanfic/OnceMoreWithFeelingCrazy88'': The premise of [[PeggySue this story]] is [[TimeTravel Shinji returning to the past]] with a steel rod inserted into his back to manage to make up for his complete lack of a spine in the original series, and thus saving the world.
105	* ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs'': Shinji forces himself to grow a spine AND keep it intact to protect Asuka and [[BrotherSisterIncest Rei]].
106	* ''Fanfic/TheOneToMakeItStay'' [[DownplayedTrope downplays this]]: While Marinette is no ShrinkingViolet, a key part of her CharacterArc is learning how to stand up for herself. Not just against obvious bullies like [[AlphaBitch Chloé]] and [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]], but against things like her friend Alya [[ControlFreak being pushy and controlling]], or Chat Noir's [[EntitledToHaveYou entitlement]] and refusal to take 'No' for an answer.
107	* The Giselle Interlude of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' features Joe, who is often picked on by the rest of his classmates, who are considered as a whole the "Golden Generation" of the Pokémon Tech trainer school, for being the least remarkable and wanting to try things out of the norm, but never actually retaliated. After Ash and Misty show up and [[CurbStompBattle utterly beat]] [[HumblePie and humiliate the students]], he chats with Ash for a bit, who advises him to follow his own path and not to take abuse from anyone. The next day, he decides to quit the school and begin his Pokémon journey on his own, even telling Giselle how he felt about the way she and the others treated him.
108	* ''Manga/ReTake'': Beset by bad dreams of a horrible future, Shinji forces himself to grow up and become a badass to avert it. In the process he gets hurt, [[DespairEventHorizon despairs]], loses Asuka [[spoiler:and then he gets her back]]... and he finally and truly becomes a hero and selflessly saves the world.
109	* In ''Fanfic/RolePlayingEvangelion'', Asuka's plan is built on the idea that she will be able to spit her feelings out if Shinji grows a backbone. Thus, she feels inwardly pleased when he sometimes snaps or talks back during their acting sessions.
110	* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] in ''Fanfic/SashaAndTheFrogs''. Thanks to Grime, Anne realizes just how toxic her relationship with Sasha was much earlier than in canon, which ends up unleashing a lot of suppressed anger that Anne had being bottling up for years. Under Grime’s influence, this anger keeps growing to the point that she ends up out for Sasha’s blood, unaware that Sasha has undergone a HeelRealization and is trying to turn herself around. [[spoiler: This reaches a head during the story’s version of ''Reunion'' with Anne refusing to listen to Sasha’s attempts at talking her down and becoming increasingly aggressive as their fight continues. This culminates in Anne delivering a fatal blow that [[BackFromTheDead temporarily]] kills Sasha, who only survives due to her [[SuperMode Calamity powers]].]]
111	* ''Fanfic/ScarTissue'': The events of the Angel War and [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Instrumentality]] had removed any fragment of backbone that Shinji grew during the War, and he was wimpier than ever in the [[AfterTheEnd post-Impact world]]. However, throughout the fic, Shinji forces himself to regrow a spine to confront [[ItsAllMyFault his inner intense self-hatred]] and protect his surrogate family, as seen when [[spoiler:he saved [[LoveInterest Asuka]] after they got shot by a sniper]].
112	* ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'': [[AfterTheEnd After Third Impact]], Shinji needs to man up in order to survive, help Asuka [[spoiler:and later raise their daughter together]]. And he manages it, maturing and becoming a better and stronger person who'll defend his family at all costs. Threaten [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Asuka]] [[spoiler:[[PapaWolf or Aki]]]] [[TheBerserker at your own risk]].
113	* ''Fanfic/ShinjiAndWarhammer40K'': At the start of the story Shinji is his wimpy canon self, but after finding a suitcase full of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' figurines and books he gradually grows a gigantic spine, becoming an utterly fearless badass that earns the reverence of his people for his heroism and the love of women for his gentleness.
114	* In ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'' Shinji tries to be braver and more confident, especially after finding out that [[LoveInterest Asuka]] is ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}''.
115	* ''Fanfic/SynepeiesACollectionOfNTRConsequences'': In the chapters where the doujin MC is the protagonist, he will inevitably have changed from the weak-willed doormat he was in the original doujin, who just let himself be cheated on, to a firm man who openly calls out his supposed beloved for her betrayal and dumps her at minimum.
116	* ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'': A darker example. After being abandoned by his father, Shinji found a mentor who raised him and forced him to grow a spine. However his teacher was an amoral trickster, and Shinji grew into a trickster, violent, mostly uncaring asshole. [[AntiHero He STILL fights to protect humanity and he only targets people who are worse than him or have tried to make him harm]], and he still cares for other people (such as Asuka, Rei, and Misato. May Heaven help you if you hurt them), but he is a ManipulativeBastard and a {{Jerkass}}.
117	* ''Fanfic/TwinningWithATwist'': Essentially Sammy's CharacterDevelopment over the course of the fic: separated from Amy and placed on a team with supportive teammates, she starts becoming more self-confident, and even stands up to Amy with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
118	* In ''Fanfic/{{Wake}}'', Shinji suddenly becomes more assertive and able to stand up for himself after Third Impact.
119	* ''Fanfic/WithConfidence'' begins with [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia Izuku]] being hit with a Quirk that boosts his confidence significantly, leading to him [[WhatTheHellHero laying into his teacher, classmates, principal, and some heroes]]. [[spoiler:After it wears off, with some careful nudging from Inko, his confidence boost becomes permanent, and he will not tolerate shit from anyone as Hada Shiro found out the hard way.]]
120	* ''Fanfic/{{Your Wish Is My Command\|MiraculousLadybug}}'': Thanks to Lila Wishing [[RoleSwapAU to swap lives with him]], Adrien is a ''far'' more outspoken person than he was in the previous reality (courtesy of not having an absolute ControlFreak for a father). He has no problem telling Lila off whenever she tries to pry into his life to the point of actually telling his parents what she's been doing. He also tells off Chloé when she's being her usual SpoiledBrat self.
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
124	* Vakama in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}} 2'' has to learn to trust himself and stop expecting guidance from his would-be mentor Lhikan, not only to be a leader but also to unlock his [[MaskOfPower mask power]]. Unfortunately, he becomes ''over''confident in the sequel and almost gets his team killed, sinking back into his brooding, self-hating old self, then directing his hate toward his partners.
125	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'': Mother Gothel spent eighteen years keeping Rapunzel from the world, telling her that she wasn't ready or that the world was too dangerous. Despite asking numerous times to leave, Rapunzel backs down when Gothel says no. Throughout the movie, however, Rapunzel gains more confidence in herself and her abilities (to Gothel's frustration). This culminates in (after [[spoiler:Rapunzel learns that she's the lost princess, meaning that Gothel kidnapped her and lied to her about it her whole life]]) a ''beautiful'' TheReasonYouSuckSpeech that breaks any control Gothel had on her, but unfortunately, this invokes an enraged Gothel to take action by chaining Rapunzel.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
129	* George [=McFly=] punches out Biff Tannen after seeing Lorraine threatened by him in ''Film/BackToTheFuture1''. From this point on, he no longer allows Biff to bully him.
130	** Then at the dance with Lorraine, some knucklehead muscles in, leaving George unsure what to do and on the verge of walking away. Just as it looks like Marty is going to fade out of existence and is done for:
131	--->'''George''': Excuse me. ''[shoves the creep to the floor and takes back his girl]''
132	* Luke leaving Yoda's training in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to save Han and Leia [[spoiler: [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this; while it does lead to him taking more direct action in the fight against the Empire rather than just doing what Yoda or Ben tell him, growing a spine does not result in instant emotional maturity or fighting skill, and Luke ends up physically and mentally savaged by Darth Vader during their duel and his actions almost lead to him and all his friends being captured by the Empire. It's only after he's gained wisdom and patience in between ''Empire'' and ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' that he's able to come into his own as a Jedi and a hero of the Rebellion.]]
133	* This is a big part of Raven's character development in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''. [[spoiler: The downside is she joins the wrong side in doing so, forsaking the only family she's ever known.]]
134	* Todd in ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'' goes from [[ShrinkingViolet extremely shy and incapable of speaking up for himself]] to [[spoiler: the first student to stand on his desk in support of Mr. Keating when the latter is fired.]]
135	* ''Film/BlackSwan:'' Nina, as she gets in touch with her darker side. Her snapping when her mother tries to stop her performing is the deciding moment in her twisted ComingOfAgeStory. [[DarkIsNotEvil From there on out, Black Swan Nina takes control]] and ''really'' shines.
136	-->'''Nina:''' ''[pushing her mother's hands off]'' [[BadassBoast I can't handle this? I'm the Swan Queen! You're the one who never left the corps.]] ''[slams door]'' I'm moving out!
137	* Near the end of ''Film/SchoolOfRock'', Ned the perpetual pushover is getting chewed out by his girlfriend for his spinelessness. Right when she asks if he's ever going to get around to standing up for himself, he interrupts her by heading off to the concert that she didn't want him to go to. Many of the kids also grow spines in a more gradual way, by learning to defy their overly strict parents.
138	* At the end of ''Film/TheHangover'', Stu finally stands up to his domineering, abusive, and philandering girlfriend Melissa, even going so far as to dump her.
139	* In ''Film/SeparateTables'', this is the conclusion of the character arc for Sybil, the ShrinkingViolet dominated by her bitchy MyBelovedSmother. Her hesitant romance with Major Pollock, a fellow guest at the hotel, is wrecked when her mother humiliates Pollock, exposing him as a PhonyVeteran and a CovertPervert who was caught hitting on women in darkened theaters. After Major Pollock comes down for breakfast, Sibyl's mom makes a show of leaving the hotel dining room, and demands Sibyl leave with her—but for the first time, Sibyl defies "Mummy", remaining at her seat and insisting on welcoming Major Pollock for breakfast.
140	* Pan in the film ''Film/TheGranary'', after facing Fear suddenly has the strength to face the burglars who he's been afraid of.
141	* Elliot in ''Film/{{Bedazzled\|2000}}'' starts out afraid to ask the girl he likes out and keeps trying to be friends with his coworkers who don't really like him. By the end, thanks to the Devil's hijinks, he grows up, asks the girl out, gets rejected, takes it in stride, and decides he doesn't really want to hang out with people who don't treat him well. It's heavily implied this was the Devil's plan all along.
142	* At the end of ''Film/{{Kenny}}'', as he is about to drive away in his septic tank truck after a long and exhausting day, Kenny's way is blocked by a luxury car whose driver insensitively brushes off his requests to move. Kenny breaks his longstanding habit of amiability to [[ExcrementStatement fill the man's car with human waste]], a suggestion that perhaps Kenny has decided to stick up for himself a little bit more.
143	* ''Film/Steam2007'': Both Elizabeth and Laurie's character arcs involve gaining confidence to stand up against people in their lives.
144	** Elizabeth, given the influence of her rebellious girlfriend Niala, defies her controlling parents and comes out to her mom.
145	** Laurie tells her ex-husband Tom off and cites all the stuff that would come out in court if he tried to get full custody of their son, shooting down his attempt to intimidate her into doing this voluntarily.
146	* ''Film/AGoodWomanIsHardToFind'': Sarah learns to stand up for herself over the course of the film, as she's forced to just as a matter of survival.
147	* ''Film/TheDark2018'': Alex changes from a frightened boy who still obeys the rules of his abuser even when he isn't around to take some initiative for himself.
148	* ''A Madea Christmas'': Not only does [[NiceGuy Connor]] finally punch [[SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp Tanner]] in the face, but he also stands up to Lacey's [[ObnoxiousInLaws mother Eileen.]]
149	* In the biopic film ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', The sheepish Congressman George Yeaman gets bulled into voting in favor of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. When it finally comes time to vote in the House, Yeaman meekly states "my vote ties us", and the clerk asks him to speak up. Suddenly, vertebrae align, and he ''owns'' his vote as he exclaims in a [[SuddenlyShouting sudden change of vocal volume]]; "I said Aye, Mr. [=MacPherson=], [[BigYes AAAAAAYE!]]" to the jubilation of the proponents and calls of "Traitor!" from the opponents he was marginal with before. After it's all done and the amendment passes, he is seen joining in the revelry in the House chambers, singing "Battle Cry of Freedom" with the rest.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Literature]]
153	* In the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
154	** In ''Shards of Honor'', this is combined with SuddenPrincipledStand when Sergeant Bothari refuses to rape [[spoiler:Cordelia]] as per Admiral Vorrutyer's orders.
155	--->'''Bothari:''' She's Commodore Vorkosigan's prisoner. Sir.
156	** Ekaterin in ''Komarr'' and ''A Civil Campaign'', though it is probably better to say that she found and nurtured the spine, rather than grew it.
157	* William de Worde Grew a Spine relative his father in ''Literature/TheTruth''. An example of the ComingOfAgeStory variant.
158	* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'':
159	** Donkerri ordering the Caineron troops to their posts in the end-battle in ''Dark of the Moon'', countermanding his grandfather's orders.
160	** A plot arc for Torisen in his relation to Adric Lord Ardeth in the same book.
161	* ''Literature/PeterPaysTribute'' has the main character Matt and his counterpart Peter both learn how to stand up to their father figure.
162	* ''Literature/EllaEnchanted'' is a concrete-metaphor version of this, where the protagonist has been magically compelled to be a pushover.
163	* In ''On Basilisk Station'', the first ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' novel, Alistair [=McKeon=] has a strange variety. He proposes a moral course which is promptly discarded as wrong, but the very act of making an independent proposal against TheCaptain and arguing for it was a key in developing the dynamic between the characters.
164	* This is the main character development arc for the protagonist of ''Literature/DocSidhe''.
165	* A minor plot point (and [[KudzuPlot one of many]]) in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. Nynaeve is infuriated that the Kin are helplessly deferential to the Aes Sedai despite being technically independent and in many ways more learned. She endeavours considerably to get them to collectively "grow some backbone" and stand up for themselves, and they gradually do... to her, [[HilarityEnsues which is not remotely]] [[HypocriticalHumor what she intended]].
166	%%* This is Tris's character arc in ''Literature/{{Divergent}}'', as she's initiated into a community of brave and reckless adrenaline junkies.
167	* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': The premise of the first book, ''Literature/AMagesPower'', is Tasio trying to invoke this on Eric, the ExtremeDoormat. Being a TricksterGod, he does this by promising Eric help, then dropping Eric in mercenary company and (seemingly) abandoning him. The unsaid message is "grow a spine or lose your head." [[spoiler: The definitive moment of growth is when he refuses to be bribed by an orc attempting to rape a friend of his, and instead, kills said orc. Tasio arranged for this scene.]]
168	* In ''Literature/DontCallMeIshmael'', this is a big part of Ishmael's CharacterDevelopment. It takes a long time for him to become more self-confident and stand up for himself. At the beginning of the first book he lets bullies walk all over him, but this slowly changes when he joins the debate team.
169	* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', moments that demonstrate this make up half of Belgarion's ComingOfAgeStory. Most frequently in the form of rebellion against his [[MyBelovedSmother aunt Polgara]], until he gains enough maturity and perspective to realize that she really is acting in his best interest.
170	* ''Literature/HouseholdGods'': As a result of her experience in the past as Umma, Nicole stands up for herself more, pushing to get the job she deserves and her ex-husband's delinquent child support.
171	* ''Literature/HaniAndIshusGuideToFakeDating'': Part of Hani's arc is learning to believe in and stand up for herself, especially toward her so-called friends.
172	* ''Literature/OfFireAndStars'': Dennaleia starts out as a very demure, obedient ProperLady. Falling in love with tomboy Mare, along with embracing her illicit magic, inspires Dennaleia to stand up and defy those opposing both these things.
173	[[/folder]]
174
175	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
176	* In the climax of the ''Series/BigTimeRush'' episode "Big Time Cameo", ''Coco.0'' heroine Dara learns to stand up to her abusive EvilStepmother and the boys manage to convince her to let her kiss Carlos in the show.
177	* ''Series/{{Dates}}'': Demure, shy Erica's character arc is her coming out as a lesbian rather than continue pretending she's straight for her family to pursue things with her LoveInterest Kate after Callum encourages her.
178	* ''Series/{{Fallout\|2024}}'': Norm is introduced as Lucy's shiftless, unmotivated, and lazy CowardlyLion little brother. Over the course of the first season, however, his SpottingTheThread that something had gone horribly wrong in a neighboring Vault sees him grow into a GuileHero with a dogged determination to uncover the truth of what is happening around him.
179	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': It's been steadily happening to Sansa since Ned's execution, but come Season 6, she's boldly declaring war on the Boltons and insisting on the need to retake Winterfell.
180	* In one episode of ''Series/HeadOfTheClass'' Jawarhalal (an Indian student) is suddenly well known for agreeing with everyone about everything. Then the class goes to see Mr. Moore's off-off-off-Broadway post-[[{{Postmodernism}} post-Modern]] production of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}''. Everybody hates it except Jawarhalal, who defends it to everyone. They're so caught up in trying to prove him wrong that until the end of the episode, they never ask him ''why'' he likes it and don't notice that he's disagreeing with them, counter to his personality.
181	* A major part of Fabian's development in ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'' season 2. Just calling out Joy for her {{Jerkass}} traits took a lot of backbone he didn't have before, considering how earlier he was mainly working to just not upset her or Nina.
182	* Throughout ''[[Series/TheJoeSchmoShow Joe Schmo 2]]'', Eleanor is a weeper who breaks down crying due to the smallest slights from Austin, usually because of him favoring the ditz Cammy over her. Just before she quits, however, she finds it in herself to refuse Austin's offer of a pearl necklace to remain on the show, telling him...
183	-->'''Eleanor''': You can take your pearl necklace and your half-hearted locket and shove it up your ass.
184	* Ward Meachum in ''Series/IronFist2017''. At the start of season 1, he's a weak minion of his undead father but gets CharacterDevelopment and starts to assert himself. He finally has enough and stabs Harold, killing him, at least until Harold revives himself just days later. He has a HeelFaceTurn when he finally has the courage to do the right thing and stick with it.
185	* ''Series/MillionYenWomen'': Midori starts out getting regularly shaken for money by [[spoiler:her former foster brother]], but gets more able to confront him thanks to Minami's influence.
186	* ''Series/SesameStreet'': In the climax of the Episode 4512 street scene, Big Bird, who has been shunned by the narcissistic Minnie Mynah who stole possession of his nest according to the rules in Bird Court, finally learns to stick up for himself with Chris' help and calls out Minnie and the Court for taking things that don't belong to them, which in turn leads to Minnie realizing the error of her ways and returns the nest to Big Bird's ownership.
187	* Nate Shelley from ''Series/TedLasso'' starts out as a lowly kit manager who's bullied by the players and barely noticed by the management, but Ted notices his skills at strategy and encourages him to come out of his shell, eventually promoting him to junior coach. However, unlike most examples, this goes in a more negative direction; throughout Season 2, Nate gradually becomes [[TookALevelInJerkass meaner]] and [[ItsAllAboutMe more self-centered]] as he gains more confidence, and he ultimately pulls a FaceHeelTurn by the end of the season.
188	* ''Series/TheWilds'':
189	** While not completely passive, Rafael's inability to see Seth beyond a friend who made mistakes clouds his judgment for much of the season. That is until the final episode when Seth suggests leaving Kirin to drown, causing Raf to beat Seth into unconsciousness when he realizes the person Seth actually is.
190	** Josh becomes more confident during his time on the island.
191	[[/folder]]
192
193	[[folder:Music]]
194	* The last verse of Music/ThePuppiniSisters' "Jilted" is about learning from the experience of being, yes, jilted, and gaining a spine as a consequence.
195	-->''I jumped through hoops to keep that man\
196	But now he's gone I'm finally free\
197	To try new ambitions\
198	And learn new friends' names\
199	And wash my hair through all those football games...''
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Video Games]]
203	* Noel Vermillion's character arc in ''Franchise/BlazBlue''. In the early games, she spends a lot of time doubting her own opinions and neglecting to speak up for herself, even when she has an official mandate to do so, leading to her being pressed down a lot by her BadBoss Jin. In the later half of the series, she steadily develops more confidence, becoming a lot more self-accepting and secure, and fights for herself so much that in ''Central Fiction'' she tells [[spoiler: Susano'o, a PhysicalGod]] not to underestimate her.
204	* In ''VideoGame/EnsembleStars'', this is Makoto's main CharacterDevelopment arc - he starts off as a very shy guy lacking in self-esteem but over time grows much more confident in himself. This is especially obvious when it comes to [[AbhorrentAdmirer Izumi]], who reacted ''very badly'' when Makoto quit modelling and became a scarily obsessive {{Yandere}} towards him. At first Makoto simply tries to run away from him, but as the year goes on he becomes assertive enough to tell Izumi exactly how he feels and force him to change his behaviour. And just to really hammer in the point, 'Makoto' in Japanese [[MeaningfulName means 'courage'.]]
205	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
206	** Yuna from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''. Although it does take a healthy amount of spine to become a summoner in the first place, learning how to have desires for herself rather than the greater good of Spira is a big part of her CharacterDevelopment.
207	** Hope and Vanille from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'':
208	*** Hope follows Lightning on her revenge quest against the Sanctum with the intention of toughening up and though Lightning is initially reluctant and sees Hope as TheLoad, she takes him under her wing. Hope evolves from a complaining victim of circumstance focused on avenging his mother's death to a young man willing to risk life and limb to save an entire world.
209	*** After being too scared to play her part in the ancient war against Cocoon, Vanille's fear and guilt continue to plague her centuries later in the present day. Despite her good intentions in trying to keep history from repeating itself as she tells one lie after another, Vanille's secrets soon catch up to her and she is forced to face them after they result in countless innocent lives being destroyed. Vanille eventually resolves to fight to save Cocoon instead of running away even though it may be a losing battle.
210	* Big Bear in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' was known among CJ and his friends for being a total badass of a gangster, but when they meet up with him, they see he's been reduced to a submissive junkie that is basically a slave to B-Dup and is regularly abused by him. Towards the end of the game, Big Bear is tired of being treated like crap and he punches out B-Dup after being pushed one too many times. He vows to get himself cleaned up and go into rehab to get off of the drugs he's been on.
211	* Naminé in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'', who at first is submissive to her abusive guardians and only defies one when another gives her the go-ahead to, but after being forgiven by Sora for [[FakeMemories what she was made to do to him]], Naminé refuses to obey her captors any longer and boldly declares that she would rather die.
212	* In ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'', Sebastian tries making Amelia more assertive [[spoiler:as part of his "lessons" for her on how to run her café]]:
213	--> '''Sebastian''': You say 'um' too much. You need to be more assertive!\
214	'''Amelia''': I am assertive -- I'm just shy.\
215	'''Sebastian''': Shyness is weakness!\
216	'''Amelia''': I'm not weak.\
217	'''Sebastian''': Of course not. Now -- onto lesson two.
218	* The ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series:
219	** Lloyd in ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' was bullied constantly and would hide in a trash can on the school roof. This changes when Ninten meets him and the two form a friendship. From then on, Lloyd grew braver despite lacking in physical strength, to the point where [[spoiler:he saves Ninten and Ana from a giant robot with a tank]].
220	** Lucas in ''VideoGame/Mother3'' started out as a timid contrast to his energetic twin brother Claus. Adding to his troubles is [[spoiler:his mother Hinawa's death]], but he starts to show signs of bravery by commanding a family of Dragos to scare off the Pigmasks and grows stronger once he learns PK Love.
221	* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'': Vivian starts the game as a ShrinkingViolet who lets herself get bullied and pushed around by her [[BigSisterBully older sister Beldam]]. However, after [[HeelFaceTurn joining Mario]] and having actual support, Vivian slowly becomes way more assertive, to the point where, if you have her out during the fight with the Shadow Sirens at the end of the game, she will actually tell Beldam off.
222	--> '''Vivian:''' I'm with Mario all the way! Today, Sis, I am going to punish YOU, do you hear me?
223	* In ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'', the otherwise usually cowardly Galactic Rangers appear during the second phase of the fight against [[BigBad Dr. Nefarious]] to help Ratchet destroy his minions.
224	* In the ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' [[DownloadableContent DLC]] "Gangstas in Space", The Boss's co-star in the titular film is a girl named Jenny who starts off as an [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fangirl]] feeling powerless in the face of the {{Jerkass}} PrimaDonnaDirector repeatedly lambasting her for breaking character and not following his directions to a T, [[SelectiveEnforcement while ignoring The Boss doing the same]]. She gets more resentful as the storyline progresses, notably killing two of the five girls hired to replace her before [[KarmicDeath straight-up murdering the director using the modified VTOL that you pilot in the third mission]].
225	* Sophie Grundler from ''VideoGame/TheSandman2014''. She's been a StepfordSmiler for years, trying to put on a brave face and seem okay because she didn't want to cause any trouble to her father, who's busy working and trying to raise her after his wife's death. Her tendency to bottle everything up, as well as pretending to not stand up to her [[WeUsedToBeFriends once-friend-turned-bully]] Regan, caused her insomnia and led to the game's events. In the good ending ''Don't Stay Up Late At Night'', Sophie grows herself a spine and chooses to openly talk about her feelings now, as well as when things bother her; this includes giving a good round of [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech The Reason You Suck Speeches]].
226	* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' has a villain-to-villain example: "Ah, my wayward pet, Garithos. I see you've grown a spine since we last met." Technically the mind control spell the dreadlords put on Garithos was broken but evidently, he lacked the HeroicWillpower to defend himself against it in the first place.
227	[[/folder]]
228
229	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
230	* In ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', this happens to Hisao in Shizune and Lilly's routes. In Shizune's route, while attempting to stand up to Shizune's father in an argument over the Student Council, he reflects on how much he has changed, wondering why he was so resistant to joining the Student Council at first despite his general apathy about life. In Lilly's route, he realizes in the Good Ending that he has relied on her for everything, and so [[spoiler:decides to confront her one last time before her departure for Scotland in order to apologize for not being there when she needed him]].
231	** Also happens for Hanako in her route: slowly through awkward relationship-building in the Good path, and abruptly in the Bad one. In the latter, [[spoiler:Hisao gets excessively pushy, so she furiously tells him how much she hates it when people treat her like she's helpless...[[WhatTheHellHero and how much she hates Hisao and Lilly for failing to understand that]]]]. Some people think her "Neutral" ending is the worst one because it's the only version where she ''doesn't'' grow a spine.
232	* ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters'' is largely the story of how Riki -- a rather nervous, passive, and feminine boy totally content to live [[AlwaysSecondBest in the shadow of his friends]] -- manages to, over the routes, grow into a more independent and strong person. [[spoiler:In fact, it's the very basis of the story--Kyousuke created this world specifically so he and Rin could become strong enough to live on without him after he and the others died in a bus crash]].
233	* In ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'', Sakura is shown to have gone through this after the events of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', becoming much more confident in herself, as well as much more intimidating. Shirou even states she has become much more like her sister, Rin.
234	[[/folder]]
235
236	[[folder:Webcomics]]
237	* In ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'', Syphile manages this through a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5978 while held at swordpoint by her adopted mother Quain'tana]] once her attempted assassination of Quain fails miserably, and Quain [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5980 calls this trope by name]] before [[spoiler:killing Syphile in one blow]].
238	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': Moloch von Zinzer initially bites off more than he could chew by accidentally becoming involved with Agatha around the time she breaks through as a [[TheSparkOfGenius Spark]]. When Wulfenbach forces show up at her home to find the Spark responsible for setting loose a clank in Beetleburg, they assume that Moloch is the Spark and that Agatha is his lover, with [[AwesomenessByAnalysis only Gil suspecting otherwise]] (but keeping it a secret for his own ends), and take them to [[OminousFloatingCastle Castle Wulfenbach]], where eventually the truth comes to light and he is sent to [[PlaceWorseThanDeath Castle Heterodyne]] for [[SureLetsGoWithThat playing along with the misunderstanding]]. Once there [[KarmicNod he comes to regret his mistreatment of Agatha]] and apologizes to her when they meet again, after which he helps her reclaim the castle and slowly regains his confidence along the way to the point that others begin treating him as Agatha's "[[TheIgor alpha minion]]". As Mechanicsburg comes under siege, [[TheLeader commanding the remaining prisoners comes naturally to him as they follow his orders without question]], and [[ChickMagnet a few of the women even begin to take interest in him]].
239	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
240	** Tavros Nitram finally stands up to Vriska and actually goes to fight her when he learns [[spoiler:she created Bec Noir. Too bad it gets him killed]].
241	** Later, [[spoiler: Tavros finds himself still berated by Vriska in the afterlife for a long while until he finally tells her off and flies away.]]
242	* At the start of volume 10 of ''WebComic/MenageA3'', ExtremeDoormat Gary ''finally'' stands up for himself when pulled into the middle of Tracy's and James' relationship mess. In a nice ironic twist, Gary has a momentary flashback to some good advice about showing courage which Tracy herself gave him just a few days earlier — and politely thanks her for that advice.
243	* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'': After Piro spends most of the comic just going with the flow and muttering about how much his life sucks, he helps Kimiko with a really bad situation she got herself into, and she snaps at him for it, even accusing him of just doing it to get laid. He quietly says he didn't deserve that and leaves without another word. Both the fandom and the characters were impressed.
244	-->'''Erika:''' At least Piro was there for you... Looks like your boy might have a bit of spine after all.\
245	'''Kimiko:''' ''[flinches]''\
246	'''Erika:''' You didn't rip his little spine out and stuff it down a garbage disposal, did you?
247	* Defied at the end of ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' prequel volume "Start of Darkness". [[spoiler:TheDragon Redcloak tries to stand up to BigBad Xykon when Xykon orders him to reanimate his dead brother as a zombie. Xykon responds by not only revealing that he knew about the attempts Redcloak had just made to deceive him but also lays down an absolutely brutal combination EvilerThanThou[=/=]BreakingSpeech. The book ends with Redcloak following Xykon's orders and following after Xykon, apparently a broken shell of a goblin.]]
248	-->'''Xykon:''' Huh. First you [[spoiler:kill your baby brother]], then you lie to me about it, now this? Did they have a sale down at the testicle store or something?
249	* ''WebComic/PrincessPrincess2012'': Sadie, due to her kind, shy nature, is cowed easily by her older sister at first. By the end, she's learned to stand up against her (with Amira at her side).
250	* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Reynir has a complicated relationship with this trope, resulting in it being zig-zagged:
251	** He decides to go on a trip without his parent's permission after finding out they have been lying to him about the extent to which the law allows him to travel (they claimed it was less than it actually is). Unfortunately, he ends up in a DeathWorld surrounded by a handful of people who know how to survive it better than he does, resulting in an obedient attitude being a matter of survival and limiting the extent to which he's TheLoad.
252	** There is occasionally a danger that only Reynir can see coming and/or do something about, and he gets better at being assertive in those situations as the story progresses, but he returns to being submissive once those dangers have passed.
253	** Once reunited with his parents, he makes up for having worried them by sticking to an obedient son attitude, to the point that he doesn't correct his mother when she assumes that he's friends with the two travel companions who are around his age but don't particularly like him. However, when one of them decides that Reynir's bed looks much more comfortable than the guest mattresses on the floor, Reynir has no qualms about tilting his mattress to get him off it.
254	[[/folder]]
255
256	[[folder:Web Original]]
257	* Taylor in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' becomes a lot more able to assert herself after she begins kicking large amounts of ass in her supervillain identity, Skitter.
258	* Kitten of ''WebAnimation/IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice'' starts off as a SycophanticServant and a YesMan to the Emperor, but after long exposure to his lord's snarkery and an in-depth crash course on reality of the universe, he morphs into ServileSnarker and outright defies the Emperor once.
259	* ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': The main lesson Giovanni teaches Molly is that she should stop knuckling under the demands of assholes because she matters too. For Molly - an ExtremeDoormat who's become a TripleShifter to make up for her selfish and irresponsible father and sister, and who per WordOfGod was 1-3 years away from violently snapping under the strain - this is a valuable lesson indeed, for all that it comes from a self-proclaimed supervillain, and she ends the Museum arc by refusing to do a late-night shift at the family toy store for the third night running and just going to ''bed''.
260	-->'''Giovanni:''' You're really kind of a pushover, aren't you, Bear Trap?\
261	'''Molly:''' I'm sorry...\
262	'''Giovanni:''' See?! This is exactly what I'm talking about! You're doing all this stuff for your dumb family, and you're okay with giving away your Epithet because "she might need it"?! What is that crap?! Like, it's nice to be nice or whatever, but you can't just let people step on you! You're just as important as everyone else is, Bear Trap.\
263	'''Molly:''' (softly) ...Really?
264	[[/folder]]
265
266	[[folder:Western Animation]]
267	* Pictured above, in the climax of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' Season 1 finale, Anne Boonchuy learns to stand up to her longtime friend Sasha and calls her out for her overly controlling behavior. [[spoiler:This scenario gets repeated in the series finale between Andrias and the Core, complete with [[MeaningfulEcho the same lines Sasha and Anne used]].]]
268	* In ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'', Remy manages to speak up for himself and call out his parents for forcing him to go to boarding school when he would rather hang out with Cricket and have fun.
269	* Stacy from ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' began to become more confident during the show's final season, and in the series finale, [[spoiler: she finally stood up to [[AlphaBitch Sandi]] for all the abuse she put her through and inadvertently caused the Fashion Club to crumble.]]
270	* Zilly, the coward of ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'', grows a spine in "Zilly's a Dilly," but it's artifically induced: he's under hypnosis.
271	* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'':
272	** Edd had a few moments of this, notably in "The Day The Ed Stood Still" when he scolds Edzilla (who is Ed in a monster costume) for [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext kidnapping the kids and sticking them onto his wall]].
273	*** In [[WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddysBigPictureShow the movie]], Double D finally grows a spine in regards to his friends (especially Eddy) taking advantage of him whenever they see fit. In fact, he even [[spoiler: wrestles Eddy to the ground while giving the latter a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.]]
274	** Ed lashes out at [[SpoiledBrat Sarah]] in "Little Ed Blue" when she starts one of her typical (violent) tantrums. She cowers in terror before him.
275	** In "A Fistful of Ed", Eddy does what he couldn't do in "A Twist of Ed": stand up to the Kanker Sisters. ''And it works''.
276	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
277	** In "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS4E5TheClevelandLorettaQuagmire The Cleveland Loretta Quagmire]]", Cleveland finally gains the courage to snap at Loretta for her affair with Quagmire.
278	** In "Seahorse Seashell Party" Meg finally calls out both Lois and Peter for being AbusiveParents, her sentiment is so strong that Lois ends up in tears.
279	* Happens to Pacifica Northwest in the climax of the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Northwest Mansion Mystery", where she learns to resist the urge of her AbusiveParents and fix their family name her own way.
280	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'': Mina, Trina's best friend takes a ''lot'' of abuse from her, including changing her name so that they match. But in the GrandFinale, when Trina abandons both her and the heroes to die so that she can be with her unrequited crush, Mina ''loses it'' and gives Trina a long overdue demand for her to give her best friend some proper respect.
281	-->"TRINA RIFFIN!!! I am your BFF! I have been zapped, soaked, swamped, gooped, and probably broke like a hundred laws FOR YOU!!! You left me behind to get smooshed so you could save a boy WHO'S NOT! THAT! INTO YOU!!!"
282	* Played for laughs in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'', where Porky Pig kept falling for upsells despite Bugs' encouragement. Eventually, he does gain the ability to say no... to car insurance after buying a new car.
283	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
284	** In "Putting Your Hoof Down", [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicFluttershy Fluttershy]] does this after assertive training under the minotaur Iron Will. [[TookALevelInJerkass She takes it a little too far]] [[ALessonLearnedTooWell for a while, though]]. Most episodes after keep her assertiveness higher, though it depends on the writer.
285	** In the climax of "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", Diamond Tiara learns to stand up to her overly abusive mother Spoiled Rich, to the point of calling her out of raising her to be the AlphaBitch she is today, and to truly express her natural-born leadership.
286	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': In "Escaping Expulsion", Amity Blight learns to resist the abusive demands of her mother Odalia and finally calls her out for it. Initiated by [[RuleOfSymbolism breaking the necklace they used to telepathically communicate]], as a symbol she's no longer under her control.
287	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty''
288	** [[Characters/RickAndMortyMortySmith Morty Smith]] has been forced to man up often due to the horrible events of his adventures with Rick. By the fifth season's two-episode finale, he still suffers from being in Rick's shadow, but he's really gained a lot of skill and confidence.
289	** [[Characters/RickAndMortyJerrySmith Jerry Smith]] finally stands up to Rick in the season 3 premiere, putting a Him or Me scenario on the table. [[spoiler:Which is exactly what Rick wanted, cause he knew Beth would choose him over Jerry.]] With that said, [[spoiler:it's played straighter when he firmly tells Beth that whether or not she is a clone, he loves her for the woman she is and not let Rick determine that]].
290	* In the climax of the Season 3 finale of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' [[spoiler: [[Characters/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPowerAdora Adora]] stands up to her childhood friend Catra, and calls her out for her toxic, hurtful, and selfish behavior after the latter attempts to destroy all of reality]].
291	-->[[spoiler:'''Adora''': You made your choice…NOW LIVE WITH IT!!]]
292	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': Peter Parker would often [[NiceGuy politely put up]] with Anna Watson's [[IrrationalHatred condescending dislike]] for him. But when Mary Jane got kidnapped and she accused him of being the cause of her niece's disappearance, Peter rightfully got angry with her. Later on, when Mary Jane returned safe and sound, [[PettheDog Aunt Anna hugged Peter]], showing that she may even [[TookALevelInKindness start to respect him]] after all these years.
293	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
294	** Throughout Season 21, Heidi Turner had to deal with being mentally abused by her boyfriend Eric Cartman. By "Splatty Tomato" Heidi no longer wants to be his victim and finds the courage to break up with him for good, even leaving while he threatens to kill himself.
295	** Likewise, [[Characters/SouthParkButtersStotch Butters Stotch]] himself was usually submissive towards Cartman and did what Cartman wanted out of fear of him. However, it would be revealed in a [[WesternAnimation/SouthParkPostCovidTheReturnOfCovid revised timeline]], that Butters had cut ties with Cartman in his adulthood and has told his friend not to waste time feeling bad for Cartman being a CrazyHomelessPerson while cussing back at him when Cartman tries flipping him off.
296	** Liane Cartman ''finally'' stands up to her son Eric in "The Streaming Wars." After he royally screws them over by making her quit her job, they end up living in an old hot dog stand. Liane finally snaps and makes a promise to herself to never give in to Cartman’s demands ever again. She displays this throughout the whole special, by refusing to give in to Cartman’s latest ridiculous scheme, getting her a boob job to seduce a rich guy to take them in. When Cartman continues to try and manipulate her into doing it, Liane refuses to listen to his insane demands, and when he decides to get the implants himself, Liane calls his bluff. But when he actually goes through with it, she is just disappointed at the stupidity Eric displays and just walks away to buy groceries, leaving him with his giant fake knockers, while he begins to rant that she’ll have to give in at some point.
297	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Treats!" [=SpongeBob=] becomes an ExtremeDoormat to Gary and cannot bring himself to say no to his addiction toward Snail Bites; it is through Patrick's advice that he finally learns to firmly say "no", which in turn makes Gary finally stop.
298	* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': In the first season episode "Paintball Deer Hunter", Beth finally decides she's had enough of Heather bossing her around, defiantly answering with a "No." to Heather's latest request before declaring she has quit their alliance and paintballing her.
299	[[/folder]]

Context Main / GrewASpine