# Stories Where the Hero Loses (Spoilers possible) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209 "2022-07-19T16:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/81 "2022-07-20T05:18:13Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Are you kidding me? The finale is triumphant! Unlike _Paths of Glory_ (which lead but to the grave). ETA: Oh, and _A Royal Affair_, which ends with a kind of spoiler warning of its own as we see the view from the scaffold from the hero’s own eyes, blurred by tears. ETA2: And who can forget the original _Wicker Man_? Although, he did get a pretty legit, old-fashioned martyrdom out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/82 "2022-07-20T05:26:08Z")
Sucker Punch. A young woman named Babydoll is committed to a hospital for the mentally insane by her stepfather to stop her from talking to the police about how he murdered her sister. Prior to the murder, the stepfather had murdered the girls’ mother and sexually abused them both. He bribes asylum orderly Blue Jones to forge psychiatrist Vera Gorski’s signature to have Babydoll lobotomized In the end, Babydoll does receive a lobotomy. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/83 "2022-07-20T05:41:11Z")
“No Country for Old Men” - Anton Chigurh murders Carla Jean. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/84 "2022-07-20T05:47:00Z")
That one’s a double downer because the sheriff has already failed once at that point. Enough to have properly “lost” by any conventional measure. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/85 "2022-07-20T08:14:34Z")
The Karate Kid. They had that cheater Daniel-san win the tournament by cheating. Johnny, played by William Zabka was the real Karate Kid. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2022, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/86 "2022-07-20T09:31:37Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > Another (great) Australian movie also comes to mind: **Breaker Morant** The expected formality defense lawyer ends up presenting an extremely good case, which pretty much disputes almost all the charges against the heroes. But the since the sacrifice of the heroes is all political, their fate is sealed Morant and co. were not heroes. They _were_ murderers. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/87 "2022-07-20T13:09:03Z")
Brewster McCloud Brewster achieves his dream of flying, but crashes to the ground and dies ie end. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/88 "2022-07-20T13:17:22Z")
The Departed Leo gets killed out of nowhere at the end, but at least his killer gets offed. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/89 "2022-07-20T13:21:54Z")
_The Long Good Friday_ Shand, on old-fashioned London gangster, thinks he has solve his problems by killing a couple of IRA members who have been getting in the way of his plans. Thinking all is well, he gets into his chauffered car and, as it pulls away, discovers it has been commandeered by IRA assassins. The movie fades out with him knowing he’s a dead man. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/90 "2022-07-20T14:49:26Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > > [@Hampshire](#): > > > > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest > > Are you kidding me? The finale is triumphant! Well, sure McMurphy may have gotten the last laugh with Chief making his escape but Ratched claimed two lives in the process. The hero may have won the battle of wills but lost his life in the process along with Billy. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/91 "2022-07-20T14:57:28Z")
Hamlet. Trying to remember a quote I read many years ago… “The tragedy is not that Hamlet dies, but that he dies just as he has become ready to assume the mantle of kingship.” ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/92 "2022-07-20T15:21:51Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > > > > [@Hampshire](#): > > > > > > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest > > > > Are you kidding me? The finale is triumphant! > > Well, sure McMurphy may have gotten the last laugh with Chief making his escape but Ratched claimed two lives in the process. The hero may have won the battle of wills but lost his life in the process along with Billy. That’s a fair interpretation, and one I don’t mean to dissuade you of, but consider… don’t many heroic victories come at great cost? And are you sure you haven’t lost track of who the hero is? Not McMurphy: Chief. Chief finally found the strength, already within himself, to break free of his cage, formed around him as much by himself as the machinations of The Man. He found his voice. He did right by his good friend McMurphy in an act of mercy, and then inspired his fellows in the wake of the traumatic loss of a companion (Billy). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/93 "2022-07-20T15:32:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The Karate Kid. They had that cheater Daniel-san win the tournament by cheating. Johnny, played by William Zabka was the real Karate Kid. ??? As I recall the other Cobra kid cheated by breaking Daniel’s knee. Daniel was definitely the hero in that movie and he won. ~Max ---
**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:** [July 20, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/94 "2022-07-20T15:34:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Well, sure McMurphy may have gotten the last laugh with Chief making his escape but Ratched claimed two lives in the process. The hero may have won the battle of wills but lost his life in the process along with Billy. Thinking about _One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest_ reminds me of the Mad satire of it, in which one inmate asks the question that’s long bothered me. Inmate 1: The Chief’s escaping! Inmate 2: Why are we getting excited? The Chief was in here _voluntarily!_ ---
**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:** [July 20, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/95 "2022-07-20T15:36:50Z")
Hey look everyone! @TriPolar is actually Barney Stinson! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/96 "2022-07-20T15:41:29Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Nrzqc7F-Ans/hqdefault.jpg "HIMYM") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrzqc7F-Ans) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/97 "2022-07-20T15:43:43Z")
I can’t believe I forgot **Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid**! The origin of the “Bolivian Army Ending.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/98 "2022-07-20T15:45:17Z")
Yeah, the term ‘hero’ isn’t at all as simple as it once was. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/99 "2022-07-20T15:49:31Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > The movie “First Blood” ends with Rambo surrendering to the police (and subsequently going to prison). The novel **First Blood** ends with both Rambo and Teasle (the Brian Dennehy character) dying. Whichever of them you consider to be the hero, they both lose. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209/100 "2022-07-20T16:25:59Z")
Came in here to post this one! Oh man, when I first saw _Silent Running_ as a kid, I stayed up and cried all night afterwards. That last scene with Dewey and the watering can… wow, it ripped my heart out. Or maybe it was the [Joan Baez song over the closing credits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ0JGjKYVdU). 😆 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-where-the-hero-loses-spoilers-possible/968209.md?page=6)