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Changes: The Dragon

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The Dragon is the [[Big Bad]]'s top enforcer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave the heavy thinking to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires the hero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.
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[[File:Darthvader3.png|thumb|Darth Vader]]The Dragon is the [[Big Bad]]'s top enforcer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave the heavy thinking to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires the hero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.
 
The Dragon will occasionally commit a [[Heel Face Turn]] when confronted by the heroes. If he does so, chances are very good that he will end up [[Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work|killing the Big Bad]] when the heroes [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|cannot bring themselves to do so]]; often by [[Taking You with Me|joining the villain in death]] as a [[Redemption Equals Death|final act of redemption]].
  
The Dragon will occasionally commit a [[Heel Face Turn]] when confronted by the heroes. If he does so, chances are very good that he will end up [[Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work|killing the Big Bad]] when the heroes [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|cannot bring themselves to do so]]; often by [[Taking You with Me|joining the villain in death]] as a [[Redemption Equals Death|final act of redemption]].
   
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Please note that effectively being the Big Bad's secretary, or just constantly hanging around them is not enough to be a Dragon. Like [[The Lancer]] for [[The Hero]], the Dragon is somebody the Big Bad can rely on (or thinks they can rely on) in a time of trouble to step up and beat the living heck out of the Hero, or maybe just take charge for a while, should the Big Bad not be around to do the job.
  
Please note that effectively being the Big Bad's secretary, or just constantly hanging around them is not enough to be a Dragon. Like [[The Lancer]] for [[The Hero]], the Dragon is somebody the Big Bad can rely on (or thinks they can rely on) in a time of trouble to step up and beat the living heck out of the Hero, or maybe just take charge for a while, should the Big Bad not be around to do the job.
   
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[[Trope|Tropes]] related to Dragons:
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[[Trope]]s related to Dragons:
 
* [[Beta Bitch]] - in the Girl Posse led by the resident [[Alpha Bitch]].
  
* [[Beta Bitch]] - in the Girl Posse led by the resident [[Alpha Bitch]].
 
* [[Big Bad Duumvirate]] - when he achieves equal footing with the Big Bad.
  
* [[Big Bad Duumvirate]] - when he achieves equal footing with the Big Bad.
 
* [[Co-Dragons]] - Two or more characters split the Dragon role between them.
  
* [[Co-Dragons]] - Two or more characters split the Dragon role between them.
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* [[Climax Boss]] - generally when Dragons are encountered in [[Video Game|Video Games]].
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* [[Climax Boss]] - generally when Dragons are encountered in [[Video Game]]s.
 
* [[Corporate Samurai]] - If a [[Mega Corp]] or [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] is the villain, this sort of character can fill the role of the Dragon.
  
* [[Corporate Samurai]] - If a [[Mega Corp]] or [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] is the villain, this sort of character can fill the role of the Dragon.
 
* [[Demoted to Dragon]] - A previous Big Bad is revealed to be, or is reduced to being, the Dragon to another villain.
  
* [[Demoted to Dragon]] - A previous Big Bad is revealed to be, or is reduced to being, the Dragon to another villain.
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The term "dragon" actually originates from folklore where the hero will often end up fighting an ''actual'' dragon before even fighting the more intelligent but weaker Big Bad and described as such in "The Hero Of A Thousand Faces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. Hence, dragons (or stand-ins for them) are often portrayed as a Big Bad's second-in-command.
  
The term "dragon" actually originates from folklore where the hero will often end up fighting an ''actual'' dragon before even fighting the more intelligent but weaker Big Bad and described as such in "The Hero Of A Thousand Faces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. Hence, dragons (or stand-ins for them) are often portrayed as a Big Bad's second-in-command.
   
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For literal dragons and their permutations, see [[Our Dragons Are Different]]. Not to be confused with [[Dragon Lady]], who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''[[Dragon]]'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with [[The Savage Dragon]]. The heroic version of this trope is [[Number Two]] or [[The Lancer]], or [[The Hero]] in a [[Big Good]] vs Big Bad scenario. See also: [[The Man Behind the Man]], [[Hypercompetent Sidekick]], [[Psycho for Hire]], [[The Consigliere]].
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For literal dragons and their permutations, see [[Our Dragons Are Different]]. Not to be confused with [[Dragon Lady]], who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''[[Dragon]]'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with [[The Savage Dragon]]. The heroic version of this trope is [[Number Two]] or [[The Lancer]], or [[The Hero]] in a [[Big Good]] vs Big Bad scenario. See also: [[The Man Behind the Man]], [[Hypercompetent Sidekick]], [[Psycho for Hire]], [[The Consigliere]].
   
 
Considering that calling someone a bad person in [[Real Life]] isn't a good idea, not to mention subjective, '''[[No Real Life Examples, Please]].'''
  
Considering that calling someone a bad person in [[Real Life]] isn't a good idea, not to mention subjective, '''[[No Real Life Examples, Please]].'''

Revision as of 05:22, 18 March 2016

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File:Whatisthybidding1 6117.jpg

"What is thy bidding, my master?"


File:Darthvader3.png

Darth Vader

The Dragon is the Big Bad's top enforcer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave the heavy thinking to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires the hero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.

The Dragon will occasionally commit a Heel Face Turn when confronted by the heroes. If he does so, chances are very good that he will end up killing the Big Bad when the heroes cannot bring themselves to do so; often by joining the villain in death as a final act of redemption.

The Dragon is an integral part of the Five-Bad Band dynamic. If there's a Quirky Miniboss Squad, the Dragon is often the unofficial leader.

Please note that effectively being the Big Bad's secretary, or just constantly hanging around them is not enough to be a Dragon. Like The Lancer for The Hero, the Dragon is somebody the Big Bad can rely on (or thinks they can rely on) in a time of trouble to step up and beat the living heck out of the Hero, or maybe just take charge for a while, should the Big Bad not be around to do the job.

Tropes related to Dragons:

The term "dragon" actually originates from folklore where the hero will often end up fighting an actual dragon before even fighting the more intelligent but weaker Big Bad and described as such in "The Hero Of A Thousand Faces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. Hence, dragons (or stand-ins for them) are often portrayed as a Big Bad's second-in-command.

For literal dragons and their permutations, see Our Dragons Are Different. Not to be confused with Dragon Lady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or Dragon, which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with The Savage Dragon. The heroic version of this trope is Number Two or The Lancer, or The Hero in a Big Good vs Big Bad scenario. See also: The Man Behind the Man, Hypercompetent Sidekick, Psycho for Hire, The Consigliere.

Considering that calling someone a bad person in Real Life isn't a good idea, not to mention subjective, No Real Life Examples, Please.

Examples of The Dragon include:


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