History Main / MessianicArchetype

* The titular character from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''. Let's count his Messiah credentials... He is TheChosenOne by prophecy. He has [[TrueCompanions a number of devoted followers.]] He's persecuted for most of his early life for being a [[PersonOfMassDestruction Jinchuriki]]. [[spoiler:He's technically dead with Kurama extracted from him and is about to be revived to save the world]] and most especially [[spoiler:he is the reincarnation of the youngest son of the Sage of Six Paths, AKA the God of Shinobi, who was chosen as the Sage's successor]].

* ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'' features a secularized reconstruction of the trope. [[spoiler:The Zero Dawn AI, [=GAIA=], is effectively "god" in the setting, recreating life on Earth after an ApocalypseHow total extinction. However, when ''some''thing causes all her subordinate functions (named after greek/roman gods) to go rogue, her prime concern is [=HADES=], a contingency function for wiping the slate clean in the event that [=GAIA=] creates a nonviable biome. To respond, she engages in a ThanatosGambit, self-destructing to contain HADES after causing the UterineReplicators that respawned the Human race to clone her creator, Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, to solve the problem. This clone, [[PlayerCharacter Aloy]], is effectively an immaculate conception by [=GAIA=] and is inherently able to access all the old Zero Dawn facilities due to her genetic match to the project's director.]] Combine this with the benighted tribal religions of the time, and Aloy's [[spoiler:clone-]]inherited traits of intuitive genius, indomitable will, and a compassion to heal the world, and you have a secular Messiah.

* Lelouch Lamperouge in ''Anime/CodeGeass'' often compares himself to a Messiah who produces miracles and can be seen as a Messianic Archetype at the end of the series. Or more accurately, a DarkMessiah. [[spoiler:[[ZeroApprovalGambit He redirected all the entire world's hatred upon himself so that the world may be united against him as a common enemy, causing peace]].]] His "dark" aspects come from his [[AllLovingHero deep love]] for his friends (and [[BigBrotherInstinct younger sisters]] in particular), but to strangers too -- to the point where he becomes ruthlessly vengeful against those who threaten the innocent.

* Cable in ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'', so much so that he tries to sacrifice his life to show humanity that they can rise above war and prejudice. But, that doesn't mean that he is ''above'' a little violence to get things done.

** ''Film/TheMatrix'': Neo, the prophesied savior known as "the One" bears a close resemblance to UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}}. He came before, but was prophesied to come again, and resurrects close to the end. On the other hand, he's far more violent than the Christian depiction, but perhaps would be closer to Jewish views of the Messiah as a warrior king. Morpheus may also resemble John the Baptist, Trinity Mary Magdalene, and the Oracle the various prophets who are believed to have foretold Christ.

* Blue from ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' (yes you read that right). She is a special puppy, and that has nothing to do with being blue. She is the target of a prophecy, born during an important cosmic event, announced by a divine winged being (Moona), appeared on Christmas Day, is a RealityWarper born and raised around common puppies, is constantly accompanied by her TrueCompanions, is an [[TheEmpath empath]] and is an AllLovingHeroine who gives advice to people close to her.

** Jon Snow is set up this way, what with the noble nature and the mysterious parentage and the possibly being the only hope for a good future for the common folk and the looking like Jesus. And, of course, the whole "being betrayed by his followers and then brought back from the dead" thing.

** Daenerys Targaryen definitely invokes some Christ parallels. In the first season, the Dothraki think she will give birth to the Stallion that Mounts the World and this seems to connect to a prophecy that she herself believes, which marks her as the Dragon of the Targaryens, which seems to be confirmed when she successfully hatches three dragons. It was not made clear at that point if the prophesies surrounding her involve the good kind of messiah or the bad one. Jorah Mormont seems to think she is the former. Out of everyone who's vying for the Iron Throne, he believes Daenerys is the only claimant with a good heart and the inner strength that would win her the love of her subjects and the fear of her enemies. On the other hand, he's probably a little biased. It's taken even further in Season 3, where she's responsible for freeing the Army of the Unsullied from slavery, as well as liberating the slaves of Astapor and Yunkai. In all instances, the former slaves pledge their UndyingLoyalty to her and come to revere her as their saviour, and in Seasons 5 and 6, it is revealed that many of the Red Priests of Volantis consider her their religion's ChosenOne, in place of Stannis. Season 8 put a final answer to the question of what kind of messiah.
** Stannis Baratheon, according to Melisandre. Turns out she was wrong in identity, but right in general geography. Stannis wasn't the Chosen One but he would meet the true Chosen One, Jon Snow, and play an indirect role in his path to destiny.

Remember that while many Messiahs die (and many then [[FirstLawOfResurrection come back to life]]), this is still '''not a DeathTrope''', so spoilers should still be marked.

** L, despite being a MagnificentBastard, gets some of this symbolism. [[spoiler: When L figures out Light is about to kill him, he gives Light a foot massage that looks suspiciously like a reference to Jesus washing Judas's feet. The shot of Light holding L's dead body has shades of PietaPlagiarism. He is symbolically resurrected through Mello and Near.]]
Administrivia/PartialContextExample** [[DarkMessiah Light]] [[spoiler:is a failed Messiah. His death causes everything he's worked for to collapse.]]. Light believes he is sacrificing himself to save the world, but his method of doing so is less love and forgiveness and more murder. The lyrics to the first OP (full version) even include the line "Am I a broken Messiah?"

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': [[Characters/AmphibiaAnneBoonchuy Anne Boonchuy]] is a girl of humble beginnings who fits this to a degree. She starts off the series in a town that initially treats her with scorn and disgust, but gains the respect of the people when she stands up for them. [[spoiler: She is betrayed by her friends Marcy, Sasha, as well as Hop Pop, and Andrias, all of whom repent for doing so and who receive her forgiveness. And in the series finale, she sacrifices herself to save the titular setting and its inhabitants from the show's robotic SatanicArchetype, essentially dying for Amphibia's sins, but she does get resurrected, and returns from the dead a changed person to her friends and FoundFamily, having met a deity-like entity.]] Like most Christ-like figures, she still humbles herself and doesn't think much about having power or becoming a ruler. That said, she'd rather live life without the high expectations cast upon her, [[spoiler:so she adopts the humble profession of being a herpetologist. Sure enough, she is worshipped by Amphibia as a savior.]]