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| - There's nothing quite so evil as when a character takes a clear step toward villainy and decides to Kick the Dog. Sometimes, though, the kick falls flat--not because it wasn't evil, mind you. The intent, malice and ill will are all there. It's just that at this moment, the dog isn't a sweet innocent puppy. It's a devious son of a bitch that's trying to sink its teeth into someone's leg. This is one effective way to kick off a believable Start of Darkness while keeping the character sympathetic. Important note: this trope is not to be confused with its close cousin Pay Evil Unto Evil, in which an Asshole Victim also suffers from another's cruelty. The difference lies in how much the perpetrator knew about the victim, and whether that was his motive for committing the act. Compare:
* Kick the Son of a Bitch: While escaping from a bank heist gone sour, a couple of robbers gun down anyone who gets in their way. Among the victims, unbeknown to them, is a certain pimp who was notoriously cruel to his prostitutes and recently managed to beat the rap for murdering one of them. He will not be missed.
* Pay Evil Unto Evil: While escaping from a bank heist gone sour, a couple of robbers gun down anyone who gets in their way. One of the robbers spots a certain pimp he knows who was notoriously cruel to his prostitutes and recently managed to beat the rap for murdering one of them; figuring this is as good a time as any for revenge, he takes aim and shoots him. See also Kick the Dog, Take That Scrappy, Asshole Victim (especially when the Son Of A Bitch in question ends up dead), Even Evil Has Standards. Compare with Alas, Poor Scrappy, Poke the Poodle, and Designated Villain. Also compare--but do not confuse--with Pay Evil Unto Evil. Examples of Kick the Son of a Bitch include:
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