# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/41 "2012-12-05T22:38:15Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I haven’t read _Hannibal Rising_ and shall throttle anyone who quotes from it, but in _Hannibal_-no-suffix he rapes and brainwashes Clarice Starling. Even apart from my love of book-Starling, which is deep and abiding, movie-Starling is either Jodie Foster or Julianne Moore, both as sacrosanct in their persons as Kaylee. > > Hannibal Lecter needs killing. The most I’ll concede is that a person in combat with Hannibal may ALSO need killing. Clearly, you allowed your unclean desires for the character of Starling to interfere with really reading the novel both textually and sub-textually. As I’ve noted before, the theme of all the novels, except _Rising_ which doesn’t actually exist, is metamorphosis into a true self as midwifed by Dr. Lecter. The Tooth Fairy was trying to become The Red Dragon. Buffalo Bill was trying to become a woman. Lecter did _not_ mind rape and brainwash Starling. He helped her through the difficult process of metamorphosis (which TF and BB had both failed) into her true self. You, sirrah, would have kept her as a well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste because that Starling appeals to you. Hannibal, heroically, aids her in putting all that behind her. Remember, other than her idealized memories of her father, her life up to the point of what you call “mind rape and brainwashing” had little in it that was good. She was not a happy woman until the end of the novel. ---
**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 5, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/42 "2012-12-05T22:42:35Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Clearly, you allowed your unclean desires for the character of Starling to interfere with really reading the novel both textually and sub-textually. Untrue. Jodie Foster is beautiful; she isn’t hot. I appreciate her aesthetically. > [@](#): > > As I’ve noted before, the theme of all the novels, except _Rising_ which doesn’t actually exist, is metamorphosis into a true self as midwifed by Dr. Lecter. The Tooth Fairy was trying to become The Red Dragon. Buffalo Bill was trying to become a woman. Lecter did _not_ mind rape and brainwash Starling. He helped her through the difficult process of metamorphosis (which TF and BB had both failed) into her true self. You, sirrah, would have kept her as a well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste because that Starling appeals to you. Hannibal, heroically, aids her in putting all that behind her. Remember, other than her idealized memories of her father, her life up to the point of what you call “mind rape and brainwashing” had little in it that was good. She was not a happy woman until the end of the novel. As my great-grandmother said just before she shot the solipsist for whose murder she was hanged: “Yeah, you talk a good game, sonny, but I’m not buying it. It is NOT turtles all the way down.” ---
**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 5, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/43 "2012-12-05T22:50:51Z")
Oh, Starling was NOT a hustling little rube, Scumpup! She was a hero worthy to be a champion of Athena. I have made note of your libelous statements and will be passing them on to God. What happens next is up to Her. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/44 "2012-12-05T22:54:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Oh, Starling was NOT a hustling little rube, Scumpup! She was a hero worthy to be a champion of Athena. > > I have made note of your libelous statements and will be passing them on to God. What happens next is up to Her. I have notified Tchernobog that you went crying to mommy. He said not to worry about it. ---
**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 5, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/45 "2012-12-05T22:57:00Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I have notified Tchernobog that you went crying to mommy. He said not to worry about it. Rhymers also do not weep. While Pallas understands sorrow, having grieved mightily over the tragic but entirely necessary destruction of Troy, she expects and requires that her adult acolytes petition her rationally, not lachrymosely. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/46 "2012-12-05T23:06:17Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Are you feeling well? You left out Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, and Jagga in the “trust” category. Not to mention Lion-O & the Wilies in the “suspicious” category. None of them would ever kill someone, despite what those ridiculous comics said. Actually, I can’t think of a cartoon I watch where they would kill people. Maybe a few people in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, but not heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/47 "2012-12-05T23:30:50Z")
I haven’t watched the first episode of Leverage yet but it’s waiting for me and so the chars are on my mind so: Immediately Trust: Eliot, Hardison and surprising to me but instinctively Parker Probably suspicious:Nathan, Sophie Distrust: At this point no one. For a gang of crooks they’ve done a hell of a job of going not quite straight but definitely moral. ---
**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 5, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/48 "2012-12-05T23:37:59Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I haven’t watched the first episode of Leverage yet but it’s waiting for me and so the chars are on my mind so: > > Immediately Trust: Eliot, Hardison and surprising to me but instinctively Parker > Probably suspicious:Nathan, Sophie > Distrust: At this point no one. For a gang of crooks they’ve done a hell of a job of going not quite straight but definitely moral. I’d not necessarily trust Parker; she has poor impulse control. I’d be most inclined to trust Eliot, because more than any of the others, his deal is that he wants to atone for an outright murderous and evil past. He’s the one most conscious of his own capacity for evil and most diligent about controlling it. If he decides that someone needs killing, he’s probably right. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/49 "2012-12-05T23:42:05Z")
Trust: Spenser Hawk, if he’s working for Spenser Jules Winnfield Distrust: Hawk, if he’s not working for Spenser Vincent Vega ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/50 "2012-12-05T23:45:49Z")
Trust: The Doctor. Distrust: The Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/51 "2012-12-05T23:54:38Z")
In the Vorkosigan Universe of Lois McMaster Bujold Immediately trust: Miles Vorkosigan, Ekaterin, and any and all of the Quaddies. Probably suspicious: Any Cetagandan and Mark. Distrust: Any Jacksonian besides Mark. Non-Bujold characters: Immediately trust: Don and Charlie Eppes Probably suspicious: Neal Caffrey and Mozz Distrust: Captain Jack Harkness ---
**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 6, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/52 "2012-12-06T00:52:41Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Trust: > Spenser > Hawk, if he’s working for Spenser > Jules Winnfield > > Distrust: > Hawk, if he’s not working for Spenser > Vincent Vega I was going to say you could probably trust Hawk, but I’m not sure. Both he and Spenser are willing to lie to bad guys. If you’re in the Spenser-Susan ellipse (I phrase it that way because though the people in it interact more with the former, almost all of them like Susan more than Spenser and would choose her over him), you can trust Hawk to do exactly what he says he’ll do. If he finds it necessary to betray you because of a conflict between you and Spenser/Susan, he’s going to tell you first, not backshoot you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/53 "2012-12-06T01:33:19Z")
> [@](#): > > If he finds it necessary to betray you because of a conflict between you and Spenser/Susan, he’s going to tell you first, not backshoot you. Then again, the same is true of Mal, who I think we all agree does not get a free pass. ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/54 "2012-12-06T01:54:14Z")
Immediate Trust: John Connor (as no less an authority than Kyle Reese explains, “You trust him. He has a strength”). Suspicious: Kyle Reese (I mean, dude showing up with a shot gun and telling me I need to come with him if I want to live? That’s craziness! But he’s pretty hot, so chances are I’m going along with him regardless) Instant distrust: The snotty psychiatrist from Terminator 1 and 2, Dr. Silberman. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/55 "2012-12-06T02:41:00Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Immediately trust: Captain Horatio Hornblower. > > Suspicious of: Richard Sharpe. > > Immediately distrust: Harry Paget Flashman. 😃 I’m with **Malthus** here - that was the trio I was going to post (with the caveat that I’m not sure Flashy meets **Skald’s** heroic requirement). My additional trio: Immediate trust: The Hon. Galahad Threepwood. His methods may be questionable, but a Sound Egg with impeccable judgment for rotters, an ability to outwit interfering aunts, and a decided preference for helping the young folks. Needing explanation: Jeeves. Sound judgment and first rate intellect, with the First Law of protecting Bertie, but his methods could be ruthless, even towards Bertie (one thinks of the unnecessary 18 mile bicycle ride in the dark, and the macabre Nichols-Jackson-Nixon joke). Plus, his Zeroth Law was his own self-interest, as the horrible episode of the girls’ school assembly showed - one _could_ say he was acting in Bertie’s best interest, but the driving force was maintaining his own situation. Immediate Distrust: The Hon. Frederick Threepwood. Heart in the right place and all that, but mentally negligible and lacking sound judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Not_Appearing_In_This_Film)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/56 "2012-12-06T05:34:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Turin was wrong in strategy, not in particular engagements. Apart from poor Beleg, I can’t think of an act of violence he committed when he was egregiously wrong. Go ask the residents of Nargothrond how wrong his strategy was. Oh wait, for some reason they’re not home. Just some graffiti saying “Glaurung was here”. Okay, then, how about judgment from the companion that knows Turin best? “Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?” And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: “Yes, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly.” I’m just not extending the benefit of the doubt to anyone holding a bloodthirsty sentient sword forged from a meteorite; at least not until he buries it hilt deep in Morgoth’s chest in the Last Battle. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/57 "2012-12-06T10:34:11Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Trust: > Superman > Mr Spock > Mistrust: > Dracula > Hannibal Lechter Doubtful– Doc Savage I _respect_ the guy, but that secret upstate hospital of his creeps me out. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/58 "2012-12-06T15:46:44Z")
Captain America immediately comes to mind as “most trustworthy”. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/59 "2012-12-07T13:42:40Z")
> [@Silver\_Tyger](#): > > None of them would ever kill someone, despite what those ridiculous comics said. Actually, I can’t think of a cartoon I watch where they would kill people. Maybe a few people in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, but not heroes. What about Snarf? I’d be suspicious of him/it 😉 > [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](#): > > Trust: The Doctor. > Distrust: The Doctor. Which number? ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979/60 "2012-12-07T14:13:09Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > From the HillBilly Section of the Multiverse. > > Trust: Sheriff Andy Taylor > Jed Clampett > Arnold Ziffel > Lisa Douglas Thank you for the image of Lisa Douglas, in her long frilly negligee, and Arnold holding a rifle in his snout, preparing to kill someone. I lol-ed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fictional-characters-do-judge-most-and-least-trustworthy/642979.md?page=4)