# What fictional characters do judge most (and least) trustworthy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979 "2012-12-04T18:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/1 "2012-12-04T18:45:32Z")
In the current Walking Dead thread, **Human Action** writes: > [@The Walking Dead; 3.08 "Made to Suffer" (open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-3-08-made-to-suffer-open-spoilers/642799/110): > > Michonne is seriously committed to the idea that Andrea should trust her on principle and without evidence. This thread is not about The Walking Dead in general, or Michonne’s mute psychopathy, or how hot Laurie Holden is. Those are all worthy topics, particularly, the last, but if you want to talk about them you should go to the linked thread, unless you’re posting cheesecake of Laurie Holden of course, because, _damn_, that girl has some nice wheels. No, this thread is about the trustworthiness of fictional characters. The question is this: You’re in a given fictional universe of the action/adventure type, and you come across Heroic Character X apparently about to assault or murder someone you had heretofore trusted. Absent evidence, what characters are you going to trust on principle and immediately, and thus be willing to await an explanation given at that character’s convenience? Contrariwise, who are you most likely to be suspicious of and want an immediate explanation from? In the _Immediately Trust_ category, I’m going to nominate Jethro Gibbs, from NCIS. If, while in the NCISverse, I turn a corner and see Gibbs holding a gun on Barack Obama, I’m going to think, “Holy crap, Barry really was the Manchurian candidate!” In the _Probably Suspicious_, I’ll nominate Xena. If I turn a corner and see Xena’s latest reincarnation about to disembowel the president, I’m likely to think, "Damn it, woman, you backslid _again_? (I’m not going to try to stop her, though, as I want to live.) But that’s just me. Anybody else Incidentally, the spirit of the thread calls for us to restrict ourselves to heroic characters. If you turn a corner and see the Joker about to shoot someone you’ll surely assume it’s an unjustified murder unless the victim is, I dunno, the Joker or somebody. That said, I expect this caveat to be ignored by post 10, so I’m only including it so I don’t have to rant later. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/2 "2012-12-04T18:54:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In the current Walking Dead thread, **Human Action** writes: > In the _Immediately Trust_ category, I’m going to nominate Jethro Gibbs, from NCIS. If, while in the NCISverse, I turn a corner and see Gibbs holding a gun on Barack Obama, I’m going to think, “Holy crap, Barry really was the Manchurian candidate!” Dammit, Skald, get the frak out of my head. I would totally have said this if I had thought of it first. As for untrustworthy, it’s going to be Gregory House, MD. I wouldn’t trust that man with the combination to my old high school locker. He can practice medicine on me if my life’s in danger, but I want someone with a Taser standing right behind him. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/3 "2012-12-04T19:02:57Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Dammit, Skald, get the frak out of my head. As I have told you before, **I** am not in your head. I have **quasi-telepathic nanobots** in your head transmitting certain pieces of information on a regular schedule. And they’re there for [del]RhymerInc profit because of contract you signed at gunpoint[/del] for your own good. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/4 "2012-12-04T19:13:13Z")
In the completely untrustworthy category, I’d say Mr.Morden from **Babylon 5.** Even before he says a single word, he just oozes sleaze. And then once the, “What do you want?”-s start pouring out, I wouldn’t even bother saying “nothing” before leaving for fear that he’d fulfill that request and make the universe cease to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/5 "2012-12-04T19:13:29Z")
Immediate Trust for Factual Situations: Sherlock Holmes from the BBC re-boot. Brains almost totally divorced from distortions caused by empathy or emotion. Not anyone I’d want for a friend, but if there’s facts, I’m going with whatever he says. Immediate Trust just because: Michael Carpenter from the Dresden Files novels. I’m not a Christian, but I want to be on that man’s team. Immediate Distrust just because: Mal from Firefly. Poor dude is constantly picking fights cause he’s peeved, and just generally getting shit wrong. Good heart, but not wrapped up too tight. He’d be able to convince me he’s right if necessary, but my immediate response is “Oh Lord, what’s he gotten himself into this time.” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/6 "2012-12-04T19:13:47Z")
Immediately trust Sam Vines or Carrot Ironfoundersson. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/7 "2012-12-04T19:20:06Z")
Immediately Trust: Horton Probably Suspicious: The Cat in the Hat ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/8 "2012-12-04T19:23:47Z")
Immediately trust: Batman Probably suspicious: Roland of Gilead Immediately distrust: Mason Verger ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/9 "2012-12-04T19:27:37Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Immediate Distrust just because: Mal from Firefly. Poor dude is constantly picking fights cause he’s peeved, and just generally getting shit wrong. Good heart, but not wrapped up too tight. He’d be able to convince me he’s right if necessary, but my immediate response is “Oh Lord, what’s he gotten himself into this time.” I wouldn’t automatically distrust Mal, and I’d be inclined to believe him once he explained himself, but I’d need him to do just that. Unless he were pointing a gun at Jane or Simon, or Kaylee, that is. In the first case, J’d assume Mal was in the right unless I had enormous evidence otherwise; in the second I’d assume Simon had started something he couldn’t finish but I might try to talk Mal down; and in the third I’d say “What the fuck is wrong with you, Cap’n? Kaylee is not to be harmed for any reason! Now put down the gun before I shoot you in the back!” (I would not say any of that if I were in Mal’s eyeline for obvious reasons.) Zoe, on the other hand: immediate trust, nearly but not quite at the Gibbs level. > [@Scumpup](#): > > Immediately trust: Batman > Probably suspicious: Roland of Gilead > Immediately distrust: Mason Verger I’m with you on the latter two, but _Batman_? When was the last time that he was both entirely stable and not an asshole? For comic book characters: Wonder Woman, Captain America, Thor, and Storm all get the default benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/10 "2012-12-04T19:34:26Z")
Trust - Sam from LOTR Distrust - Gollum ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/11 "2012-12-04T19:35:33Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m with you on the latter two, but _Batman_? When was the last time that he was both entirely stable and not an asshole? Especially in light of Crazy Steve Batman in All Star Batman and Robin, your point is not without merit. Keep in mind though that, other than the odd Elseworlds, I’m not a regular reader. My mental picture of Batman is how he was portrayed in the 70’s and early 80’s as the writers made a deliberate effort to leave 60’s camp Batman behind, but before The Dark Knight Returns was published and Crazy Steve was conceived. I’m also strongly influenced by how he was portrayed in BTAS. That Batman was a good egg. For a character with as many different versions as Batsy has, I guess I should have specified which Batman I’d trust. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/12 "2012-12-04T19:41:23Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Trust - Sam from LOTR > Distrust - Gollum Gollum’s not a hero. But then, I did predict people would ignore that part of the OP. I’m not sure about Sam. I can think of at least one major incident when Sam’s instincts were wrong. I’d trust (the book versions of) Gandalf, Aragorn, Faramir, Elrond, and probably Merry out of hand; whoever they were holding the sword on has just been revealed as a servant of Morgoth, and I’m just late to the party. Legolas and Gimli may have lost their tempers at an insult to Galadriel. Pippin may well be mistaken; Eowyn may be trying to commit suicide-by-proxy; Boromir and Frodo may be ring-influenced, depending on the point in the story. > [@Scumpup](#): > > Especially in light of Crazy Steve Batman in All Star Batman and Robin, your point is not without merit. Keep in mind though that, other than the odd Elseworlds, I’m not a regular reader. My mental picture of Batman is how he was portrayed in the 70’s and early 80’s as the writers made a deliberate effort to leave 60’s camp Batman behind, but before The Dark Knight Returns was published and Crazy Steve was conceived. I’m also strongly influenced by how he was portrayed in BTAS. That Batman was a good egg. For a character with as many different versions as Batsy has, I guess I should have specified which Batman I’d trust. Oh, I’m sure I’ve made worse mistakes. Ignoring the Adam West version (too different from any other to be reconciled), my experience of Batman begins with the Englebert/Aparo version in the 70s: specifically the Joker fish story. That Batman isn’t an asshole, but you can push him too far. Even then it was clear that his no-killing rule isn’t an ethical stance like Superman’s; it’s because he knows that once he starts, he’s not gonna stop till the Justice League puts him down. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/13 "2012-12-04T21:17:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > [Snip] > > In the _Immediately Trust_ category, I’m going to nominate Jethro Gibbs, from NCIS. If, while in the NCISverse, I turn a corner and see Gibbs holding a gun on Barack Obama, I’m going to think, “Holy crap, Barry really was the Manchurian candidate!”[/Snip] but what if Jethro is about to break Natalie Portman’s clavicles? Then what? _Immediately Trust_ – Arya Stark - Possible insane, but she’s never been wrong. And only one murder of pure convenience that I can recall. _Immediately Suspicious_ – Daenerys Targaryen - Much to hormonal. Easily deceived and/or manipulated. _Immediately Distrust_ – Sansa Stark - A starry-eyed fool. She is **definitely** someone’s catspaw. Probably Littlefinger’s. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/14 "2012-12-04T21:22:33Z")
I ignored the part that all three choices are supposed to be heroes. So let me ammend my list to replace Mason Verger with Rick Deckard as one I would immediately distrust. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/15 "2012-12-04T21:25:07Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > but what if Jethro is about to break Natalie Portman’s clavicles? Then what? I’m not sure whether to be mildly flattered or mildly dismayed by the attention this shows to my posting history. Just to be safe I’m sending someone over to rummage through your drawers, install key loggers on all your computers, et cetera. With the exception of pre-op transexuals who have murdered an NCIS agent, Gibbs is unlikely to do violence to a woman. I think Portman would be very hard for him. I don’t know exactly how old she is but I would guess early 30s, and having recently done the math I believe he is in his mid-fifties. (Enlisted the Marines in '76, presumably anyone from 17-19). He’s going to see an attractive woman of her age and think “Kelly,” and have a hard time initiating any conflict. If he’s managed to do so, it means that he’s just found out she killed Abby or that she’s a vampire or something. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/16 "2012-12-04T21:53:57Z")
Is Bill O’Reilly a fictional character? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/17 "2012-12-04T22:39:01Z")
Immediately trust: Captain America. He’s pretty much the poster boy for “Lawful Good” alignment. Immediately distrust: Gaius Baltar and Tom Zarek. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/18 "2012-12-04T22:47:51Z")
Immediately trust: Captain Horatio Hornblower. Suspicious of: Richard Sharpe. Immediately distrust: Harry Paget Flashman. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/19 "2012-12-04T22:51:22Z")
Immediate trust: Atticus Finch. The only drawback there is that he’s so completely, morally upright that he might not be as helpful in situations that call for a certain . . . flexibilty. Immediate distrust: Iago, 'cause obviously. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/20 "2012-12-04T22:52:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m not sure whether to be mildly flattered or mildly dismayed by the attention this shows to my posting history. Just to be safe I’m sending someone over to rummage through your drawers, install key loggers on all your computers, et cetera. > > With the exception of pre-op transexuals who have murdered an NCIS agent, Gibbs is unlikely to do violence to a woman. I think Portman would be very hard for him. I don’t know exactly how old she is but I would guess early 30s, and having recently done the math I believe he is in his mid-fifties. (Enlisted the Marines in '76, presumably anyone from 17-19). He’s going to see an attractive woman of her age and think “Kelly,” and have a hard time initiating any conflict. If he’s managed to do so, it means that he’s just found out she killed Abby or that she’s a vampire or something. Seven bloody hells!! It looks stalker-ish typed out like that. I swear, clavicles and Portman and Skald just seems to have created some sort of weird mnemonic in my head. Now I’m going to have self-esteem issues. I need a drink. and I run Windows so all of my computers already have keyloggers. Trust - Daredevil Suspicious - The Punisher Don’t Trust - Deadpool [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979.md?page=2)