"You told me you didn't have a power. So, when I saw this timid, Quirkless boy try to save a life, it inspired me to act, too. There are stories about every hero, how they became great. Most have one thing in common; their bodies moved before they had a chance to think. Almost on their own...That was true for you, too, wasn't it? Young man, you, too, can become a hero!"
— All Might, My Hero Academia
Ideals are all well and good, but they can be difficult to cling to and uphold in an ever-shifting world. Idealism tends to fade as bitter experience teaches people that ideals aren't always possible to uphold. Cynicism is easier to manage. Being suspicious and wary of people is easier, and some would even argue that it's smarter.
Sometimes, however, a character comes along who is just so frank, so earnest, so genuine and sincere that others find themselves daring to believe in their vision of how things can be. Sometimes, they'll even acknowledge that idealism isn't easy to hold on to, that sometimes it's safer to compromise, or even to abandon one's ideals for pragmatism. But they've chosen not to do that.
And their conviction actually moves others to their cause. People join up because this one idealistic person won them over with their earnest optimism.
The person who accomplishes this tends to be the Nice Guy, and may well be either the Idiot Hero or a positive portrayal of Dumb Is Good. This is one of The Paragon's possible qualities. They may even be the Big Good for the work. More than a few might be a Friend to All Living Things, or at least a Friend to All Children. Many will be a Determinator. And almost all will adhere to Thou Shall Not Kill.
If this person has set off on what is almost certainly a suicide mission, expect someone who was swayed by their earnestness to come in for a Big Damn Heroes moment, and often shifting the tide of battle in their favor.
Stories that feature such characters often tend towards the idealistic side of the Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism. However, not always. Sometimes writers like to subvert expectations and execute a Deconstruction with an eye towards a Downer Ending, often trying to justify it by invoking This Is Reality.
May overlap with Win Them with Laughter.
Compare Because You Were Nice to Me, where an act of kindness to one person can earn their trust and cooperation. Contrast Confound Them with Kindness, where the "earnestness" may be an act to make others drop their guard & be unnerved.
Examples:
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Anime & Manga
- Black Cat (2000): In the anime adaptation, Train defeats Creed by breaking his Tao sword and refusing every opportunity to kill him, asserting he'd rather struggle in the world Creed hates and hold to his newfound ideals, despite having a Dark and Troubled Past almost one-to-one with Creed's. This eventually inspires Creed to take up a new sword and help the heroes against Mason Ordrosso.
- Interviews with Monster Girls: After a pair of girls drive Yuki to tears with their gossiping, Hikari confronts them directly. She calls them out for rumor mongering, and appeals to their humanity. When they point out Hikari can't stop them, Hikari admits that's true, and says they'll likely start spreading rumors about her next. Then she pauses and walks back the last statement, saying it was unfair of her, and she apologizes for suggesting it. The two are clearly moved, and one asks why she got involved. Hikari says it's because she made a promise to her sister, Himari. When the two are seen again, it's with the demi-human girls as friends from then on.
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood: Thinking Jonathan was a naive nobleman that wandered into Ogre Street, Speedwagon and two of his thugs attempted to mug him however they were swiftly defeated. As an angry mob began to form around them, Speedwagon ordered them to stand down after realizing Jonathan was holding back and asked to know why. Jonathan stated he was here to save his father, thus he did not wish to cause grief for their families by killing Speedwagon or his companions. The sentiment moved Speedwagon greatly and it became the basis of their friendship.
Speedwagon: [thinking to himself] Is this guy for real? He's completely naive! But... Yes, my friends are all fine, too. He's a true gentleman to the core! I like your style!
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2009): Despite knowing that Linebeck is a cringing, cowardly bottomfeeder who doomed his last crew, Link asserts that he sees him as a fellow shipmate and saves him from the Cubus Sister despite having every reason not to. This causes Linebeck to change his ways and even attempt a Heroic Sacrifice to save Link from Bellum in the finale.
- Mission: Yozakura Family: Taiyo's earnest, straightforwardly nice personality wins over the rest of the Yozakuras after he marries into the family. This is most noticeable with Kengo and Kyoichiro. The former is an incredibly guarded Master of Disguise who struggles to trust others, but can tell that a "kind idiot" like Taiyo would never think of trying to betray him. Kyoichiro despises Taiyo as a Knight Templar Big Brother who thinks Taiyo is unworthy of being with Mutsumi. But Taiyo is so consistently nice to Kyoichiro despite the latter's bullying and Mutsumi is so happy to be around Taiyo that Kyoichiro begrudglingly gives Taiyo his blessing by the end of the series.
- My Hero Academia:
- Izuku Midoriya wanted so badly to be a hero, despite being a Muggle in a world of superhumans. He even met his ideal hero, All Might, who initially told him that his dream wasn't possible, not to be cruel, but to encourage him to set realistic goals. However, when All Might, struggling with severe limits to his own powers due to an injury, witnesses the powerless Midoriya rush into a dangerous situation to try and save a childhood friend, despite having no power, All Might decides that he will support Midoriya, and decides that Midoriya is worthy of receiving All Might's power.
- All Might himself tries to invoke this. Despite knowing that he's losing his powers and that he can only maintain his powers for three hours a day, he still suffers from Chronic Hero Syndrome, and cannot help but rush in when there's trouble. But even knowing he's near his limits won't stop him from rushing in to face a veritable army of villains that are attacking his students, providing a Big Damn Heroes moment that restores hope to the students and manages to hold out until the rest of the pro heroes can arrive.
- Revolutionary Girl Utena: Zig-zagged. Utena herself is a Plucky Girl bordering on Idiot Hero who stands out as the most well-adjusted member of The Beautiful Elite, in contrast to the Dysfunction Junction that is the Absurdly Powerful Student Council. In time, her earnestness and indomitable spirit win her the admiration of many, including several of her fellow duelists. However, Utena also assumes that everyone else is as earnest as she is, which both leaves her vulnerable to various Manipulative Bastards and blind the suffering of anyone who has problems they can't talk openly about.
- Shinobi Undercover: Yodaka is an antisocial Nervous Wreck with No Social Skills who desperately wants friends but is so cripplingly withdrawn that he feels the need to retreat rather than spend five minutes with a stranger. So he blends in with the worst of the members of Squad No. 9 sent to guard Aoi. But his general honesty regarding how much he appreciates his teammates' help and his inability to put on a convincing facade wind up winning him those friends. He and Aoi become mutual First Friends because she can tell he genuinely wants to be her friend instead of putting on a facade like the other ninja dispatched to fill specific roles in her life. Hibari develops a crush on Yodaka when he defends her actions as a ninja after Tsubame calls her a failure. Umineko's hero worship of him is validated by how Yodaka expresses his appreciation for Umineko's help. So Yodaka's earnestness winds up creating a circle of friends who would defend him to the last despite his worries that he'll never get them on his own.
- Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: Iruma is so earnest and sweet as the only human in the demon world that half his peers have become his harem.
Comic Books
- In Superman: Secret Origin, Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis as an idealistic Intrepid Reporter in contrast to the general cynicism and selfishness that has overtaken in the city in Lex Luthor's wake. But his heroics as Superman and unerring kindness and optimism gradually win over the city's people, who go from distrusting him to adoring him and wanting to emulate him. This leads to a Bookends situation. When Clark was on his way to the Daily Planet for the first day of his new job, an old woman crankily calls him an oaf with his head in the clouds after he bumps into her by accident. At the end of the book, she bumps into another newcomer to Metropolis and acts much nicer about it, telling him he'll fit right in while encouraging him to look up at the sky to catch a glimpse of Superman.
Films — Live-Action
- Christopher Robin: Pooh does this with a now grown-up and world-weary Christopher Robin. Christopher initially sees Pooh as a nuisance, especially because of the pressure he is under at work trying to save others' jobs, forcing him to leave his family for the weekend. But Pooh's childlike wonder and guilelessness cause Christopher to question his priorities, realizing how much he has neglected those who matter most to him and coming around to Pooh's Simple-Minded Wisdom, which ultimately helps him save his company.
- Eddie the Eagle: When Peary first meets Eddie, he initially finds him very annoying, and doesn't treat him much better than anyone else does. While he does relent and give him some ski lessons, he's adamant that he's not a coach and openly tries to get Eddie to leave him alone. But Eddie's sheer dedication and optimism end up slowly winning Peary over, and he resolves to get him into the Olympics, finally regaining his own dedication and optimism after years of being The Alcoholic with a failed career and no friends. It gets to the point that, when Eddie nearly gives up after seemingly failing on his final attempt to make the cut, it's Peary who is diving into the rules to find a solution and he also tries to encourage him to aim for something higher than merely being in the games. He later discusses how, when he first met Eddie, the guy was like gum on his shoe and that he desperately just wanted to be left alone, only to have his walls worn down by Eddie's enthusiasm and drive.
- Night Falls On Manhattan: After Sean (presently running for district attorney) tells his liberal courtroom rival Vigoda that he'll prosecute the police corruption he alleges if he can provide evidence, Vigoda observes in half-shock he actually means it.
Vigoda: You're a romantic. [Sean nods] Look at you, you're blushing.
Sean: It's the heat.
Vigoda: You're blushing! ...I think I'm gonna vote for you. - Office Space: Peter Gibbons' straightforward, bluntly honest interview with the Bobs so thoroughly impresses them that they fast-track him for a promotion to upper management. Compare that to Michael Bolton's brown-nosing, which only got him laid off.
- The Secret of My Success: Brantley's ability to persuade people with optimism is his biggest advantage as he climbs the Wall Street ladder. He seduces Vera with an honest, kind appraisal of her looks and personality, gets Christy to join his work to expand the Pemrose Corporation by showing his ideas are both positive and practical, and charms several financial backers Vera introduces him to at a garden party. It all comes in handy when all the people he's shown his earnestness back Brantley's power play to save Pemrose from a hostile takeover, remove his evil uncle from the CEO position, and take charge of the company himself.
- Star Wars: A New Hope: Luke Skywalker is a wet-behind-the-ears farm kid who has only just learned of his connection to The Force and has nowhere near unlocked his full potential. But when he finds himself aboard the Death Star, he concocts an off-the-cuff plan to rescue Princess Leia, along with Han and Chewie. And when the Rebel Alliance is planning an attack against the Death Star, Luke doesn't hesitate to join up, even lecturing Han for not wanting to help. His ideals got to Han because just as Darth Vader is about to take Luke out, Han swoops in and takes out one of Vader's support ships, startling the Sith Lord, and allowing Luke to finish the mission.
Literature
- As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World: Ars wins over several allies this way, including the jaded and impoverished orphan Charlotte and the young but prodigious mercenary Pham. It goes both ways for his fiancée (later wife) Licia, a genuinely kind girl who Had to Be Sharp to navigate and win the nobles' political games.
- Discworld: Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is honest, truthful, trusting and idealistic. In the Wretched Hive of Ankh-Morpork, this should give him a life-span measured in seconds, but somehow it doesn't. Everybody except the absolutely irredeemable likes him, and are at least somewhat inspired to be better people because doing otherwise would be letting him down somehow.
It was a kind of magic. He told people they were good chaps, and they knew they weren't good chaps, but the way he told them made them believe it for a while.
- The Gospel of Luke features, chronologically speaking, the first Christian saint personally assured of his seat in Heaven by Jesus himself. The man's only distinguishing characteristics were the timing of his crucifixion also being that of Jesus's, and his simple request as they both were slowly dying that Jesus remember him when he got to Heaven; Jesus declared that they'd both ascend there that very day.
- A Practical Guide to Evil: Subverted at the end of Volume 4 (planned to be Book 9 in the rewrite). Sve Noc realizes that Catherine is sincere in her desire for collaboration, but ultimately decides against it, presumably because they aren't sure Catherine is sincere enough. Catherine realizes this, and decides to make a show of faith by abandoning the only thing resembling an advantage she still has. This time, it works.
Live-Action TV
- Andromeda: When Dylan Hunt recruits a crew of cargo runners looking for a big score, he slowly gets them to believe in his cause. When the fiftieth planet to join the Commonwealth starts to hesitate, they need to hear from Dylan because of his reputation, but he is unavailable. After the crew's attempt to use a deep fake is exposed, Beka tries honesty.
Beka: I'm probably not the ideal spokesperson for the Commonwealth. I used to think it was the dumbest idea I'd ever heard. But as time went by, I found myself believing in it, willing to fight for it, even willing to die for it. And if that's not enough for you, then nothing, not even Dylan Hunt, ever will be.
- Leverage: Hardison is the most idealistic and positive member of the Leverage team. And on more than a few occasions, he's managed to win the others over with his optimism.
- In "The Wedding Job", Nate is very reticent to take on mob boss Mosconi, "A guy who lives in our town and kills people". Hardison is one of the first to speak up for the client, saying if they take out the mob aspect, it's a basic breach of contract issue. The client's husband took the fall for Mosconi on the promise of Mosconi paying off the debts he owed on the restaurant and taking care of his family. He wins Eliot and Parker over quickly, with Eliot pointing out that there's no court of law that the client can go to to resolve the issue, and Parker adding that makes it exactly the kind of case they tackle.
- In "The Boys' Night Out Job", Nate finds out that Hardison gave Hurley, a former mark who turned out to be not so bad and was eventually helped by the Leverage team, Nate's contact info. After a trying night of fending off not one but two different gangs that want to kill Hurley because he stumbled into their turf war and drug smuggling without meaning to, Nate asks Hardison why he would ever give Hurley Nate's info. Hardison points out that Hurley had genuinely become a good person, and that Nate had become so focused on the part of the job where they wrecked the bad guys that he thought it might do Nate some good to see that they'd actually helped someone. Nate gives Hardison a genuine thanks.
- Ted Lasso: In "Trent Crimm, The Independent", the titular reporter interviews Ted for an article, and given he had previously been highly critical of Ted's appointment, Rebecca expects the resulting article to be strongly negative. However, Ted's folksy, down-to-earth attitude, acknowledgement of his total lack of knowledge of Association Football, and earnest desire to do his best and help his players to grow regardless, end up winning Trent over, and he ends up concluding in the article that he "can't help rooting for [Ted]" despite still believing Richmond FC are doomed.
Theatre
- In Cross Road, Asha chases Niccolò Paganini around Europe, waiting outside after his concerts and even sneaking backstage, to ask him to give her violin lessons. He keeps refusing, but one night, her earnest "I Want" Song about how music will give her freedom wins him over, and he agrees to teach her.
Video Games
- Flower Knight Girl: Dahlia is a former mercenary who views Flower Knights as those who "smile on the outside, but are dark on the inside" after she was wrongly accused of a crime with nobody taking her side. While she's mistrustful of any Flower Knight, she has come to see Acacia as an exception, due to the latter being a genuinely Nice Girl with no dark secrets, and thus now works for them as a member of the Acacia Corps. Though with that said, Dahlia still works for Acacia at arm's length, unable to earnestly express her gratitude beyond her job out of fear of potentially losing faith in them.
- Honkai Impact 3rd: Seele is so earnest and innocent that her Split Personality not only is vehement in protecting her, but also gets influenced by her over time to act nicer, even if in a Tsundere way. The Herrscher of Sentience, who normally likes teasing/pranking people and act tough, can't help but be more earnest around Seele too.
- Mass Effect: This is the general use of Paragon speech checks: Shepard gives an appeal to the person's better nature with such sincerity that even hardened mercenaries and criminals can't help but be moved by it, getting them to cooperate. By the third game a Paragon Shepard is able to get mortal enemies like the geth and quarians to set aside centuries of conflict with a speech check (assuming they've done a few other things beforehand).
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers: In special episode 5, Grovyle manages to win Dusknoir over by telling him how he wants his life to shine in the memories of others and affirming his trust in him even after Dusknoir lures him into a trap to erase his soul.
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby: This is more or less the universal reaction (both In-Universe and out) to Haru Urara. She's an incredibly ditzy Perennial Loser who's never won a single race, yet her relentless optimism, love of racing, and genuine desire to someday win end up endearing her to just about everyone she meets. It's even mentioned that she bombed the entrance exam to get into Tracen Academy, but they let her in anyway because her sunny disposition and Determinator traits won over the admissions board.
Web Videos
- Critical Role: Campaign Two: A variation with Jester Lavorre, who, in spite of also being The Trickster on an Anti-Hero Team, is the only one of the group who has nothing to hide from the start. Her Lonely Rich Kid background makes her try to befriend almost everyone she meets and gives her a soft spot for those who are alone in particular. She befriended Fjord and Beau prior to the campaign and was the one to reach out to the isolated Caleb and Nott in the first episode, so was part of the catalyst that brings the Nein together. She is also so disarmingly nice that even the cagey, standoffish Essek lets his guard down around her. This contributed to Essek's later Heel–Face Turn, after he was revealed to be The Mole in the Dynasty who helped start the war. According to Word of God, Essek was originally Neutral Evil alignment and meant to be a minor villain, but Jester and the Nein won him over.
Western Animation
- Hazbin Hotel: The fact that in "Curtain Call", Emily, a Seraphim, is willing to try and save Hell by stopping the out of control Might of Lilith, despite being injured convinces first Carmilla Carmine and Zestial then the other Overlords to add their power to the shield casted to contain the explosion.
Carmilla: ♪ You would risk your life
Zestial: For souls that Heaven sought to kill...
Together: We cannot just stand by,
It's time to match your strength of will! ♪ - My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: The penultimate episode takes this up to eleven! Over nine seasons, we watched Twilight Sparkle and her friends, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, not only save the world many times, but genuinely offer up friendship, Forgiveness, and redemption to many antagonists as well. And so, when Twilight and company are about to face their darkest hour, all of their friends, and also their former foes, show up in a massive Big Damn Heroes moment, including Changelings, Gryphons, Dragons, yaks, hippogryphs, former villains like Tempest Shadow, and Jerkasses like Chancellor Neighsay, united to protect them from the villainous union of Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow. All because they accepted and believed in Twilight's message of friendship.
- The Owl House: This is what pretty much gets many on Luz Noceda's side through her time in the Boiling Isles, since she has such an outside perspective combined with her quirky nature and kindness. At first, Eda just lets her stay with her on a whim since she's a human (and Eda makes a business selling human wares to the demons on the Isle so Luz would be a vital expert at human objects) but comes to care for her, as does her companion, King. And she even breaks through to hard cases like Amity, who was trying so hard to live up to her mother's standards that being around Luz manages to get her to relax and start questioning what she wants. Even Eda's sister, Lilith, and Hunter, both who were Emperor Belos' staunch supporters, start to change their tune thanks to interaction with her.
- Superman: The Animated Series: In "The Hand of Fate", Superman finds himself facing a magical threat so powerful that even he can't make headway against it. He tries to enlist the aid of Doctor Fate, who has grown weary of fighting and refuses to intervene. Supes then returns for another try at a fight that seems hopeless until Doctor Fate, inspired by Superman's refusal to give up, joins the battle after all.
Doctor Fate: I thought it was only the forces of evil that wouldn't give up. I was wrong.
- ThunderCats (2011): Hattanzo fell into a years-long Heroic BSoD after losing a fight with The Duelist, with his prized masterpiece sword as collateral. After years of drifting as a nihilistic wreck, he comes across Lion-O, who, despite also losing to The Duelist, puts himself to work making another sword for a rematch. He ends up helping Lion-O finish the sword.
Lion-O: You may be content to flop around feeling sorry for yourself, but I'm not! I'll make one hundred more swords if I have to! I'm going to defeat him!
Hattanzo: Not that I care, but...you're doing it all wrong, you need to...
Lion-O: Thanks, but I can handle it.
Hattanzo: ...You don't give up easily, do you?
Real Life
- Fred Rogers was, by all accounts, just as polite, patient, and friendly in real life as he appeared on the set of his show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Indeed, in 1969, when Congress was considering cutting funding to PBS, Fred Rogers was asked to testify before Congress when the hearings weren't going well. He gave a quick overview of what it was that he did for his show, and in six minutes of testimony, his earnest approach not only got PBS the money they were asking for, they were given double what they'd requested.
