# People in TV/Movies/Books/etc who were bad at their jobs. (Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094 "2019-03-13T20:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/61 "2023-04-09T01:25:41Z")
Most of the people in charge of protecting the main character(s) are incredibly incompetent. Sure, there’s always one incredibly brave man (always a man) who takes a bullet, but the rest of the security detail, Secret Service protection, personal bodyguards, etc. are pretty much good only for the bad guys to use up some of their ammunition on before the hero finally kicks their asses. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/62 "2023-04-09T01:51:26Z")
For a Master Hitman I feel John Wick makes a bunch of tactical mistakes he really shouldn’t. He only gets away with it because this is a world where EVERYBODY has assassin connections but also is really incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/63 "2024-11-20T03:25:02Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > The Chazz Palmentieri character in _The Usual Suspects_ put together the world’s worst lineup then let a criminal mastermind slip through his fingers. I don’t recall that detective having anything to do with the lineup of five men that look nothing alike. He was hearing Verbal Kinte’s story about that incident. I’ll have to check. > [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > No mention so far of _House_. Four wrong diagnoses for every right one, That’s not really fair. House’s cases often were already undiagnosed by other doctors. He only took complicated cases, not run-of-the-mill cases. Comparing his missed-diagnosis rate to your local pediatrician is comparing apples and kumquats. > [@JohnT](#): > > One would think a droid trained/programmed in “protocol” (is it ever defined what a “protocol droid” does?) C3PO never made sense to me. How could a droid for handling cultural interactions and political situations be so inept with people? I’ve decided we all misunderstood what “protocol” means. It’s a droid for handling all the protocols of data interlinking across all the myriad of computer technologies across the Empire. His job is sorting out computer speak, not diplomatic interactions and human culture protocols. I just made that up, but it actually fits. Think about it - his conversation with Owen Lars is about communicating with 'vaporators. He mentions his first job was interpreting for some other machinery like 'vaporators. So he knows nothing about Princess Senator Leia, as he is not a diplomacy droid, he’s a self-mobile computer interface agent. Who is a braggart and annoying shit. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > For that matter, Worf on _Star Trek: The Next Generation_. Second-strongest being on the ship (behind Data), tons of training in armed and unarmed combat, and yet, it seemed like he regularly got his clock cleaned when the fighting started. Worf suffered from being the benchmark character. Show establishes one character as tough, so that anytime they need to quickly prove how tough an opponent is, they just defeat the benchmark. I was rewatching “Unforgiven” the other day, and English Bob fulfills that role for Gene Hakman’s character, the Sheriff. We are introduced to English Bob on a train, where he’s taking smack about the President, and some cowboy tries to provoke him, until someone IDs him and we get his history. Then we get a shooting demo of pheasants from the train - with pistols. When English Bob gets to town, he is confronted by Gene Hackman’s character and backs down, because he knows who he is. This, Hackman’s sheriff is established as a great gunslinger and a tough bastard. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/64 "2024-11-20T11:08:49Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > His job is sorting out computer speak, not diplomatic interactions and human culture protocols. He specifically says he is, or starts to before Owen cuts him off:- “I am well-versed in all the customs…” I don’t think he was going to say “…of droids” when Owen had just asked if he was programmed for “etiquette and protocol” Note that the people who are irritated by him seem to be mostly hicks and lowlifes. Don’t recall Leia being all that irritated with him (and we see other protocol droids in definitely diplomatic situations) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/65 "2024-11-20T13:57:28Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > at the people who are irritated by him seem to be mostly hicks and lowlifes. Don’t recall Leia being all that irritated with him (and we see other protocol droids in definitely diplomatic situations) I suspect his normal job largely consists of sucking up to people. He’s the guy you send to escort dignitaries to their seats while making meaningless small talk. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/66 "2024-11-20T14:06:48Z")
Jed Mercurio’s terrific medical drama _[Bodies](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398427)_ includes a nuanced portrayal of one highly esteemed obstetrician who can’t accept that he has become a danger to his patients. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/67 "2024-11-20T14:24:53Z")
I’m surprised I missed my favorite answer to this question five years ago. _Every_ law enforcement officer (except McClane) in _Die Hard_, LAPD and FBI both (yes, including Al Powell), Thornburg, Harry Ellis, Argyle (arguably), Karl, and Holly’s nanny. It’s actually astounding how inept every one is, except Hans and John. I think Holly maybe could be put in that group, and Takagi was OK. He was just up against someone better. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/68 "2024-11-20T14:34:02Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Note that the people who are irritated by him seem to be mostly hicks and lowlifes. Don’t recall Leia being all that irritated with him (and we see other protocol droids in definitely diplomatic situations) Leia was a saint, with the constitution of an ox. She endured whatever torture Vader conjured up with his torture bot. Han was constantly annoyed with 3Po. Hey, it’s my lie, I’ll tell it my way. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/69 "2024-11-20T14:36:43Z")
Lord Hadrenn of Ebra from the Spellsong Cycle is an interesting case in that _he’s_ not very good at his job, but he’s aware enough of it that he listens to to his significantly more competent (and trustworthy) adviser. The result being that despite being not very suited to the job, he manages to avoid any disastrous missteps anyway. Admiral Han Langsdorff from the Sten series managed to sail his entire fleet into a trap and get it destroyed in a one sided massacre because he was an arrogant xenophobe who was convinced his nonhuman enemies couldn’t _possibly_ be a serious opponent. He genuinely thought they’d freeze in terror, then maybe get a few salvos off before fleeing. Venandakatra the Vile from the Belisarius series (to show how little respected he is, note that even his own peers and superiors will call him “Vile One” to his face) is terrible at everything but self indulgence and cruelty. A terrible leader, strategist and tactician, easily manipulated, prone to (murderous) temper tantrums, incapable of inspiring respect or loyalty, and even severely out of shape physically. Prince Churnazh from the War God series was a tyrant over the sort who equates strength and brutality, and as such refused to believe that his more civilized rival Prince Bahnak could possibly be any danger to him. Which caused him to get smashed in a one-sided war, and eventually toppled from his thrown and killed. Plus, he _twice_ managed to miss a son of his taking the God of Assassins as a patron with the intent to kill him and take his throne, meaning he failed both as a parent _and_ a tyrant. Prince Sarrask of Sask from _Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen_ managed to spend himself into massive debt in various forms of self indulgence (like gold plated armor), and as a result ended up forced into a losing war by the Styphon’s House, the temple that he owed the money to. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/70 "2024-11-20T14:59:07Z")
You know, laddie, for an Irishman, there’s not much mention of drinkin in yer posts. Work on that, would ya, ya auld sod? 😆 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/71 "2024-11-20T15:24:06Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Han was constantly annoyed with 3Po. I did say “lowlifes” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/72 "2024-11-20T15:35:22Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In the books by Ian Fleming, James Bond comes across as incredibly incompetent. He habitually blows his cover, gets the stuffing beaten out of him, lets or causes his partners to be killed, and is captured and tortured. Nor is he an expert skier, diver, or anything else, other than a gourmand and oenophile. Maybe the whole point of the double-aught agent program is to put loose cannons within the agency into win-or-die assignments as completely expendable. When you need an agent who’ll act with all the subtlety of a Daisy Cutter bomb, send in Bond. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/73 "2024-11-20T15:44:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > _Every_ law enforcement officer (except McClane) in _Die Hard_, LAPD and FBI both (yes, including Al Powell), Thornburg, Harry Ellis, Argyle (arguably), Karl, and Holly’s nanny. It’s actually astounding how inept every one is, except Hans and John. I think Holly maybe could be put in that group, and Takagi was OK. He was just up against someone better. Nah, Argyle is pretty good. He got through every lock. I think Hans probably would’ve succeeded in his plan if Karl hadn’t been there. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/74 "2024-11-20T15:45:10Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I just made that up, but it actually fits. Think about it - his conversation with Owen Lars is about communicating with 'vaporators. He mentions his first job was interpreting for some other machinery like 'vaporators. > > So he knows nothing about Princess Senator Leia, as he is not a diplomacy droid, he’s a self-mobile computer interface agent. Who is a braggart and annoying shit. We do hear C-3PO speaking non-computer language to the Ewoks, so her certainly isn’t limited to talking to other machines. It does bother me a bit that , when the Ewok tells C-3PO his plan for diverting the Imperial Guards from the back entrance to the Shield Generator, C-3PO replies “A Goo Tak-tak”, which is basically just the English phrase “A good tactic”. Maybe the Ewoks were just speaking broken English that was hard to understand. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/75 "2024-11-20T15:56:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > We do hear C-3PO speaking non-computer language to the Ewoks And in Jabba’s palace. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/76 "2024-11-20T16:00:41Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Andy Travis, the program director on “WKRP”. What other large market commercial station of the past 40 years > –lets their DJs play their own music? > –can depending on the day or shift sound top 40, then AOR, then oldies, then R&B? > –airs pay for play religion on Sunday mornings? > None of course. Not only does it confuse listeners, but it makes it impossible to sell to advertisers. And that doesn’t even factor in keeping an awful salesman and newsman They actually covered that in one episode. The ratings come in and most of the staff are thrilled that their numbers are up– except Travis, who realizes that up from virtually zero isn’t much of an accomplishment and that probably due solely to the format change. He rues that he should have fired Les and Herb right off the bat. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/77 "2024-11-20T16:09:42Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > As are the Gotham City PD in every incarnation of Batman, obviously. To be fair, even the best police department would be challenged by their city being a magnet for psychopathic super-geniuses. As for ordinary crime, it’s strongly hinted that political corruption, if not at the city level then at the state level, is responsible for entrenched organized crime. Probably half the illegal narcotics entering the US east coast come through the port of Gotham. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/78 "2024-11-20T16:21:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > When you need an agent who’ll act with all the subtlety of a Daisy Cutter bomb, send in Bond. Didn’t Flemming describe Bond as a “blunt instrument”? I know M did (in Casino Royale?). Bond is like Jonathan E in _Rollerball_. Hired as a disposable tool, to be used and thrown away, who manages to actually be good enough to survive when his job was to not. Like Jonathan, eventually it would be necessary to send Bond on a mission where he gets (deliberately) killed, because he knows too much. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/79 "2024-11-20T16:39:28Z")
thank you for this. looking for interesting podcasts for keeping time at work. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094/80 "2024-11-20T16:50:04Z")
Wow, that takes me back. I hope you enjoy that podcast (which I see is still going strong, although it’s changed hosts since I first mentioned it). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-in-tv-movies-books-etc-who-were-bad-at-their-jobs-spoilers/831094.md?page=5)