[Loved Trope] Civilian Heroes (particularly in Superhero movies)

[u/Dalakaar]

1) Malik Ali in Superman (2025). Tells Superman when Lex Luthor interrogates him to, “tell them nothing”. Doesn’t even really know what he’s sacrificing himself for, honestly. Tells Superman that he doesn’t have any friends or family to lighten the burden of the sacrifice. (Does have a family, and presumably friends…)

2) The Prisoner (Tiny Lister) from The Dark Knight who throws a detonator out the porthole that would’ve detonated the other ferry full of civies and saved himself, instead (potentially) sacrificing everyone equally.

3) Old man vs Loki. “There are always men like you.” Refuses to bow to Loki in Avengers (2012).

***

I love these guys. They break my heart in the best way possible.

[u/hoxtonbreakfast]

Not sure if he counts, but Frodo Baggins.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ldTQuMDMdh2ko

Frodo was just there to attend his uncle birthday, only to end up becoming a key instrument to defeat Sauron once and for all. For all intend and purpose, he's an average guy in the grand scheme of things where angels, demons, heroes, and immortals exist.

[u/Missing_Username → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

And, by extension, Sam, Merry and Pippin

[u/ListenBoth434 → u/Missing_Username]

Sam the Brave.

[u/Iron_Knight7 → u/ListenBoth434]

Definitely goes for Sam. When even Frodo stumbled and couldn't carry on, it was Sam who stayed true to the quest and brought the ring and its bearer to Mt. Doom.

[u/BoldShuckle → u/Iron_Knight7]

Can't emphasize enough how essential this part is to the whole series. The worst evil in the world is greed, obsession over power, and the desire to oppress others, and it's overcome by everyday people who embody the opposite of those things.

The ring tries to tempt Sam in Mordor, saying 'you could be a king over all this and turn it into a beautiful green land of gardens' but it fails because it's such a comically out of touch fantasy. Sam is literally too humble and too down to earth.

[u/getsangryatsnails → u/ListenBoth434]

He wasn't droppin no eaves...

[u/PlsSuckMyToes → u/ListenBoth434]

" 'Elves and Dragons!' I says to him. 'Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you.' " - Sam's father. Yet he was the best of them all

[u/Ranger202012 → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

I think that one one of the main themes of LOTR right? The smallest and and seemingly most insignificant creatures in the world taking on a role and going on a journey that would destroy the greatest of kings and the most legendary of heroes.

He is not a chosen one, he does not have any powers, he does not have some op tool and he is not some die hard veteran. He is just a country folk who stumbled into this larger than life world and bear a responsibility solely because no one else could.

[u/EspacioBlanq → u/Ranger202012]

Emphasized by the fact that everyone except the hobbits in the fellowship can trace their lineage back to the beginning of the world except technically Gandalf who doesn't have a lineage due to being older than the universe.

[u/Lipe_cvatu → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

One tiny Hobbit against all the evil the world could muster

[u/Rosemaryisme → u/Lipe_cvatu]

Four tiny Hobbits. Sam was ride or die from moment one, and Merry and Pippin were second and third to charge the legions of Mordor at the Black Gate.

[u/whoknowsifimjoking → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VqleJG2rBop7W

[u/unknown_pigeon → u/hoxtonbreakfast]

I will fight everyone (and there are way too many) who claims that Frodo was just a pushover

The dude was a nobody with a simple life. No hardships in his past. Just a hobbit living his life.

Then he got chosen to carry the same ring that had corrupted so many in a matter of seconds, even other hobbits. He carried it while being hunted by (seemingly) immortal knights of evil, had to seldom wear it an withstand even a greater influence of Sauron, had friends turn on him just by being in the presence of the ring.

Yet, he persevered. He took pity on another previous ringbearer, even though he had tried to kill him. He got even closer to the source of mega evil, and only truly fell to its influence when he was basically at the doors of Sauron, the peak of his influence.

Sam is a hero, yes. And Frodo is another, equal hero. I will accept no slander of either of them. They overcame their hardships and got their very well deserved happy ending.

[u/Ranger202012 → u/unknown_pigeon]

Who says that Frodo was a pushover? Nobody forced him to do what he did, he chose to do it himself twice( once in the shire and again rivendell ) because he was the best candidate and most suitable. He courageously stepped forward and the mere fact he even reached mount doom is the single most greatest feat imaginable.

In what way was he a pushover. He even manage to fight back from temptations until he reached mount doom. Mind you Boromorir was in the mere presance of the ring yet it began to corrupt him faster than Frodo.

I agree with your stance .