Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Perfection Is Impossible

 Perfection Is Impossible
type
FeatureClass
 Perfection Is Impossible
label
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible
page
PerfectionIsImpossible
 Perfection Is Impossible
comment
A common motivation of villains is the perfectly understandable desire for a perfect world—one where their little sister wasn't murdered and people are all nice to each other, a world where everyone ascribes to their political philosophy. A work is usually set as they try to achieve it, with the protagonists opposing, or after their goals have had some measure of success, and the protagonist has to make others see how imperfect it is.
The reasons perfection is impossible are myriad- existence becomes boring, people are chaotic and changing them is either impossible or requires fundamentally changing them, such as an Assimilation Plot. The most basic reason is that everyone has a different perception of perfect.
Occasionally, even though the characters feel they have found perfection, it may not jibe with what the audience would consider perfect, requiring euthanasia or some other societal taboo.
Sometimes the point will be made that, while perfection is a worthy objective, it is an inherently unattainable one and any who claim to have found it are deluding themselves. This can be turned around to a positive. Perfection may be impossible, but the improvements to yourself make the pursuit worthwhile.
Related to Utopia Justifies the Means. Compare Perfection Is Addictive for examples in which perfection is achievable, but it comes at the cost of losing the ability to enjoy anything of lesser quality. Also see the Perfect Solution Fallacy, in which the insistence on a perfect outcome blinds someone to a less perfect but still attainable result, and Perfection Is Static, where perfection is achievable but undesirable because it never changes.
 Perfection Is Impossible
fetched
2024-04-16T00:47:39Z
 Perfection Is Impossible
parsed
2024-04-16T00:47:39Z
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to ExtremelyOverdueLibraryBook: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to HiveQueen: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to ShootTheDog: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to TakeAThirdOption: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
processingComment
Dropped link to VillainOfTheWeek: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Perfection Is Impossible
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_169f043b
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_169f043b
comment
StarCraft:
Like the Borg, the Zerg are dedicated to the pursuit of genetic perfection by assimilating the DNA of the most advanced species in the galaxy, their end goal being the Protoss (with humans as an afterthought). Upon the overmind's death, Kerrigan took up the mantle as the more literal Hive Queen and became more liberal on what the Zerg could assimilate.
In StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Abathur states that perfection is impossible, but pursuing it as a goal helps improve the Swarm regardless.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_169f043b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_169f043b
featureConfidence
1.0
 StarCraft (Video Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_169f043b
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1beda93b
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1beda93b
comment
Sluggy Freelance's 4U city showed an attempt at Utopia derailed by the technology behind it Gone Horribly Wrong.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1beda93b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1beda93b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Sluggy Freelance (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_1beda93b
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1cc09117
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1cc09117
comment
Bleach: In-Universe example between Mayuri and Szayelaporro Granz, who claims to be 'the perfect being'.
Later, when Nemu dies, Mayuri has a hallucination of Szayelaporro calling him a hypocrite. Mayuri hates perfection yet he considered Nemu to be his perfect creation. Mayuri comes out of his despair after that and decides to make another Nemu.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1cc09117
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_1cc09117
featureConfidence
1.0
 Bleach (Manga)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_1cc09117
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2b70efd4
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2b70efd4
comment
In the Old World of Darkness game Changeling: The Dreaming, this is the whole problem of Nocker equipment. They're so dedicated to perfection that they'll keep tweaking and tweaking only to have some tiny quirk or hiccough elude them.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2b70efd4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2b70efd4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Old World of Darkness (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_2b70efd4
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2ba1d958
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2ba1d958
comment
The machines in The Matrix first tried to create a perfect simulation to keep the humans in it pacified.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2ba1d958
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_2ba1d958
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Matrix
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_2ba1d958
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_3b34143f
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_3b34143f
comment
In Harry Potter, Voldemort saw death as an imperfection. In trying to free himself from it he both brought it upon other people and destroyed his own soul, which over time made him lose what was important in living in the first place.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_3b34143f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_3b34143f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Harry Potter
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_3b34143f
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_40852654
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_40852654
comment
Medaka Box: The Flask Plan is devoted to figuring out how to artificially create the perfect (complete) human being. Leaving alone their willingness to use normal students as sacrificial test subjects, this very foundation is the main reason Kurokami Medaka (a person super-talented enough to be mistaken for "perfect") calls the project nothing more than a pipe dream. Why? Because if a person where to have all their flaws removed, they would no longer be a person at all. Thus, the very idea of a "perfect person" is an oxymoron. The closest to a "perfect person" Medaka had ever met was, in fact, the "perfectly imperfect" Kumagawa Misogi, a living example of how dangerous a fixation on unreachable perfection can be. Later in the story, it is revealed that Ajimu Najimi started the Flask Plan fully aware that its goal was unachievable, and that its express purpose all along was to fail.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_40852654
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_40852654
featureConfidence
1.0
 Medaka Box (Manga)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_40852654
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_468c2a7a
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_468c2a7a
comment
Judge Dee has a conversation with an artist he doesn't really like, telling him there's no point in perfection, as otherwise there'd be nothing left to do.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_468c2a7a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_468c2a7a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Judge Dee
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_468c2a7a
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4cc06582
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4cc06582
comment
Hot Fuzz and the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4cc06582
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4cc06582
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hot Fuzz
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_4cc06582
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4d9653ef
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4d9653ef
comment
Lawful factions in Planescape often commit major screwups in the name of perfection.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4d9653ef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_4d9653ef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Planescape (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_4d9653ef
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_56dce3c2
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_56dce3c2
comment
The goal of the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is to create the perfect society by genetic engineering. This fuels the Vicious Cycle of him creating and then murdering multiple worlds for failing to meet his impossible standards.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_56dce3c2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_56dce3c2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_56dce3c2
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5ada53ed
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5ada53ed
comment
Hugo Drax's fatal error in the James Bond film Moonraker; he uses Jaws as a henchman, but when Jaws realizes that he and his love interest will be disposed of as imperfect he helps Bond foil Drax's plan.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5ada53ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5ada53ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 James Bond
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_5ada53ed
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5e150650
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5e150650
comment
In Exalted 2e, the Unconquered Sun has perfection as part of his purview. Unfortunately for old Sol, this manifests partly as him being so virtuous in each Virtue category that he often has to suppress one just to properly function, and part of the reason for his addiction to the Games of Divinity is the fact that they were made by the Eldritch Abomination Primordials, and thus one of the few things he doesn't win all the time. So, in this case, it's more "Perfection Is Difficult".
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5e150650
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_5e150650
featureConfidence
1.0
 Exalted (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_5e150650
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_64854b49
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_64854b49
comment
In StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Abathur states that perfection is impossible, but pursuing it as a goal helps improve the Swarm regardless.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_64854b49
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_64854b49
featureConfidence
1.0
 StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (Video Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_64854b49
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6a4c8f1b
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6a4c8f1b
comment
In One-Punch Man, the central conflict is that the main character has achieved a certain type of perfection, in that he can take out any enemy with one punch — and as a result, he is bored out of his skull.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6a4c8f1b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6a4c8f1b
featureConfidence
1.0
 One-Punch Man (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_6a4c8f1b
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6ac55ec7
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6ac55ec7
comment
Common in Dungeons & Dragons.
In Dragonlance, the attempt to create a perfect good world resulted in morally questionable attempts to get rid of evil, culminating in the Cataclysm.
Likewise in Dragonlance (and later taken with them out into the Spelljammer setting), the tinker gnomes of Krynn have a variation on this: a "perfect" invention, as rarely as they may produce one, is considered a failure because it means that future generations of gnomes can no longer improve on it.
Lawful factions in Planescape often commit major screwups in the name of perfection.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6ac55ec7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_6ac55ec7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dungeons & Dragons (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_6ac55ec7
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_72262aee
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_72262aee
comment
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Azula is an interesting example. For a time, it seems that she is absolutely perfect and unbeatable. However, the minute her friends Mai and Ty Lee turned against her, she starts to become more unhinged until her Villainous Breakdown in the finale.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_72262aee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_72262aee
featureConfidence
1.0
 Avatar: The Last Airbender
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_72262aee
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_77be988d
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_77be988d
comment
In Thief of Time, The Auditors create a female body for their agent. They mean to make her attractive but since they don't really understand the concept of beauty, they keep "improving" the original design, removing birthmarks and smoothing the skin and hair until she looks like porcelain doll. Later it turns out that all their human bodies have another flaw - their senses are so perfect that any food that isn't completely bland kills them with sensory overload.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_77be988d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_77be988d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Thief of Time
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_77be988d
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_7832b74c
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_7832b74c
comment
Steven Universe:
In "Historical Friction", Mayor Dewey writes a play about his ancestor William Dewey, the founder of Beach City, and portrays him as perfect and flawless. Not only is this depiction historically inaccurate, the audience really likes the more flawed portrayal Steven does after Pearl helps rewrite it. Steven also drives it home by saying that everyone makes mistakes, and the important thing is to get back up and try again.
It ultimately turns out that White Diamond believes herself to be the one flawless being, and that the only way for other beings to be perfect is to be extensions of her. She ultimately has a breakdown when she realizes that she herself is not perfect, but is more willing to hear out what Steven and the other Gems have to say once she does.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_7832b74c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_7832b74c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Steven Universe
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_7832b74c
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_81692f99
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_81692f99
comment
In Star Trek, the Borg are driven to assimilate more peoples and cultures so they can reach perfection (using all the best parts of each culture and their technology). Of course this leads to mercilessly killing, assimilating, and destroying civilizations. The Borg also venerate the Omega Particle which they see as an icon of perfection. Every attempt to synthesize one ended badly, since the particles are so unstable they only last for an instant before exploding with enough force to wipe out a Borg fleet and permanently damage subspace in the area (making warp travel impossible).
In the Star Trek: Voyager Two-Part Episode "Year of Hell", the antagonist is the captain of a temporal weapon who's spent centuries trying to achieve the perfect timeline. Right at the start of the episode he achieves a 98% restoration. Except in that timeline, and all the others he's tried to create, his wife has been removed from existence. Ultimately, the only way to restore his wife is to erase the timeship itself and undo everything it did to the timeline.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_81692f99
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_81692f99
featureConfidence
1.0
 Star Trek (Franchise)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_81692f99
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8273cf00
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8273cf00
comment
The overlapping theme of Brutal Orchestra is this trope. Nowak was a struggling artist inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and was a perfectionist in life. It's greatly implied that this perfectionism was what led to him being Driven to Suicide. In the game's Bittersweet Ending, Nowak has accepted this lesson, deciding to make his last living moments making a memorial to his life and Dying Dream. Even though the in-game character Bosch mentions that it won't be perfect and the rain will wash it away, Nowak responds that everyone who needs to see it is already here, stopping when his strength fails him, and succombs to his fatal injuries.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8273cf00
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8273cf00
featureConfidence
1.0
 Brutal Orchestra (Video Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_8273cf00
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8ba4613a
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8ba4613a
comment
Death Note: Light's inability to accept this fact is pretty much the root cause of everything that happens in the series, from his descent into villainy, to the lives he destroys. If he just simply acknowledged at the start that killing was wrong, that he of all people made an honest to goodness mistake (granted, killing someone, even if they're assholes, is a hell of a mistake to make) and went through with getting rid of the Death Note, the entire story would never have come to pass.
In the live action films, Light's initial motives for killing was because the legal system was abused by those with connections. Soichiro acknowledges that imperfect people will create imperfect laws, but calls out Light for thinking serial killing will lead to perfect justice.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8ba4613a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_8ba4613a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Death Note (Manga)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_8ba4613a
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_90c73dda
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_90c73dda
comment
Animorphs features the Howlers, a race of super-warriors who serve Crayak, supposedly exist to kill, and who have never been defeated. It doesn't take long for the Animorphs to question whether an entire race could be pure evil or have a perfect war record. It turns out Crayak edits their shared memory to prevent concepts like "compassion" or "defeat" taking root, as well as covering up any time they were defeated.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_90c73dda
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_90c73dda
featureConfidence
1.0
 Animorphs
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_90c73dda
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_9d7ec380
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_9d7ec380
comment
The Good Place: This turns out to be the problem with the Good Place itself. It gives you literally anything you want, when you want it. That's great... for a few centuries. The problem is that it lasts forever. After enough time, it is impossible to keep anyone satisfied. The sheer ennui that results renders those in the Good Place as mindless "happiness zombies", incapable of most forms of higher thought.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_9d7ec380
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_9d7ec380
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Good Place
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_9d7ec380
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a18e938e
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a18e938e
comment
The Flintstone Kids, in one of Captain Caveman's episodes, show Perfect Man, a Flying Brick that presents himself as much better than Captain Caveman in every aspect; not just more powerful but also handsome, smarter and more educated (not that takes that much to beat Cavey in these aspects). After a while, and having replaced Captain Caveman (and Son) as the city's hero, he reveals his Smug Super and JerkJock-like tendencies, and starts implementing several laws of his own and jailing even those committing minor infractions in order to make the city as 'perfect' as he perceives himself, plus making clear he is beyond the formal authorities' capacities to stop him and that he's willing to use force against them. When the police chief asks Captain Caveman back to save the city, it's a Curb-Stomp Battle with Cavey on the receiving end until he has one of his Genius Ditz moments and makes Perfect Man to realize he really isn't perfect because nobody likes him, the realization being enough to cause a Villainous Breakdown on Perfect Man to the point he no longer opposes resistance and gets jailed without problems.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a18e938e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a18e938e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Flintstone Kids
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_a18e938e
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a5549ed0
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a5549ed0
comment
The overarching plot of The Bible is about working around this trope.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a5549ed0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a5549ed0
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Bible
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_a5549ed0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a59b5e9d
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a59b5e9d
comment
In The Giver, the creators of the society sought to eliminate war and prejudice, among other things, but in the process they give up many freedoms, the ability to see color, and kill anyone that doesn't fit in.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a59b5e9d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a59b5e9d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Giver
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_a59b5e9d
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a825da3e
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a825da3e
comment
The Phyrexians in Magic: The Gathering created a society based upon seeking perfection (and on worshiping their power-mad leader). "Perfection" involves removing most human body parts and replacing them with machines and rotting zombie flesh, turning themselves into horrific zombie/cyborg patchwork abominations designed to be the "perfect" killing machines. Their sense of aesthetics is based solely on how efficiently any given "design" can kill things. Most non-Phyrexians are understandably horrified by the results.
In New Phyrexia, the White and the Blue Faction carry on this design in two different flavors.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a825da3e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_a825da3e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Magic: The Gathering (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_a825da3e
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ae0356e0
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ae0356e0
comment
Courage the Cowardly Dog: "Perfect" had the poor dog go through a near nervous breakdown trying to please a mysterious old-school teacher into being perfect yet failing miserably each time, much to her anger and frustration. Afterwards, the teacher warns him that on his final he will either pass the test or else everywhere he will be known as imperfect. Due to the pressure, Courage ends up having nightmares, one of which is the infamous "perfect trumpet thingy" found in the nightmare fuel page. However, with encouragement from a friendly fish in his bathtub (it's a weird show) who tells him that that there is no such thing as true perfection, and that he could do anything, despite his imperfections, Courage is able to best his test using unorthodox methods and the teacher melts and vanishes into the ground screaming in rage at Courage's success.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ae0356e0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ae0356e0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Courage the Cowardly Dog
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_ae0356e0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af42a07f
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af42a07f
comment
Serenity showcases the horrible side effect of the Alliance trying to create utopia.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af42a07f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af42a07f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Serenity
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_af42a07f
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af6562ac
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af6562ac
comment
In Sailor Nothing, this is the background of the entire Yami-Gaia; a priestess tried to purify herself of corruption, but instead gave it physical form as the Queen.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af6562ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_af6562ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Sailor Nothing
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_af6562ac
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b0c66bf6
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b0c66bf6
comment
This is the reason why Nina in Black Swan starts going through an emotional breakdown.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b0c66bf6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b0c66bf6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Black Swan
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_b0c66bf6
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b9b796cf
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b9b796cf
comment
Saber of Fate/stay night tried to be a perfect king for her country, always making the correct and fairest decisions while disregarding any personal feelings that might cause her to falter. But the more perfect her decisions became, the less she was able to relate to the people and understand how they would feel about her decisions and the more they came to question her ability to lead. It all came to a head when her "son" Mordred revealed her identity to her at Morgan's prodding and was rejected on the grounds that she didn't have the capacity to be a king. A correct decision in that Mordred really wasn't ready for that yet, but the way Saber worded it trampled on both Mordred's admiration for her and desire to be loved and the resulting resentment became one of the main causes for the kingdom's fall.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b9b796cf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_b9b796cf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fate/stay night (Visual Novel)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_b9b796cf
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c4282b71
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c4282b71
comment
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic:
In The Point of No Return, Twilight Sparkle spends the entirety of the episode fearing that she got her favorite librarian fired after failing to return an Extremely Overdue Library Book before moving to Ponyville. It later turns out, however, that the librarian, Dusty Pages actually chose to leave her job after Twilight's mistake made her realize she'd spent almost her entire life trying to maintain her perfect record and was missing out on other exciting new things to try. For bonus points, the book that Twilight borrowed, and had never even bothered to read is aptly titled, Perfection, the Impossible Pursuit.
In the Equestria Girls special Sunset's Backstage Pass, it turns out that the Villain of the Week is the band she wanted to see repeatedly looping the day to ensure their final concert is perfect. Sunset eventually convinces them that the fans aren't looking for perfection, just an awesome concert in general, and they're finally able to give a performance that they're satisfied with.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c4282b71
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c4282b71
featureConfidence
1.0
 My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_c4282b71
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c7d47d93
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c7d47d93
comment
In Central Park, Season 1 "Hot Oven", The Tillermans sings "Imperfectly Perfect". Owen and Paige sings that Molly and Brendan's love doesn't have to be perfect by using Owen's messy pizza as a metaphor, and then the whole Tillerman family sings how it's better to prefer the imperfection.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c7d47d93
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c7d47d93
featureConfidence
1.0
 Central Park
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_c7d47d93
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c92b38c4
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c92b38c4
comment
What turns out to be a somewhat major theme in hololive ERROR. After having unknowingly died, Shino makes a wish upon the Aogami shrine to save her friends and let her keep her happy school life. This results in the creation of a so-called "perfect world" with "perfect friends", as Yuka puts it... but said world is a Lotus-Eater Machine that is constantly suffering through a whole bunch of errors, and said friends are literally not allowed to ever do anything that harms Shino. It also ended up splitting Shino in two, one half being the protagonist with Laser-Guided Amnesia and the other being perfectly aware of what complete horse-shit the whole idea is, and is thus willing to pull her out of the "perfect world" kicking and screaming if it means she'll accept the truth. And then, there's a third Shino (marked by one with brown eyes in Chapter 19) who plays with the real Shino in a bid to get her back to the Perfect World, by twisting her around her little finger so she accepts the other’s proposal to return there by convincing the Dead All Along Shino that the reality she is currently in is also merely a dream.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c92b38c4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_c92b38c4
featureConfidence
1.0
 hololive ERROR (Web Animation)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_c92b38c4
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_cf10c600
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_cf10c600
comment
In TRON: Legacy, CLU was given the directive to create the perfect system, by a young and foolish Kevin Flynn who believed that it was possible. CLU turned the Grid into a dystopia instead, and exterminated the miraculous ISOs because they were an imperfection.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_cf10c600
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_cf10c600
featureConfidence
1.0
 TRON: Legacy
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_cf10c600
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d58a2625
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d58a2625
comment
Utopia (which you might recognize as the Trope Namer for Utopia) seems to be a simple unironic description of a hypothetical perfect society. However, its name is a pun; in addition to straightforwardly meaning "good place", it's one letter away from meaning "no place" — strongly implying that Thomas More thought it was impossible.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d58a2625
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d58a2625
featureConfidence
1.0
 Utopia
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_d58a2625
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d930a4c7
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d930a4c7
comment
Likewise in Dragonlance (and later taken with them out into the Spelljammer setting), the tinker gnomes of Krynn have a variation on this: a "perfect" invention, as rarely as they may produce one, is considered a failure because it means that future generations of gnomes can no longer improve on it.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d930a4c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_d930a4c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Spelljammer (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_d930a4c7
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ef076a36
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ef076a36
comment
In the Star Trek: Voyager Two-Part Episode "Year of Hell", the antagonist is the captain of a temporal weapon who's spent centuries trying to achieve the perfect timeline. Right at the start of the episode he achieves a 98% restoration. Except in that timeline, and all the others he's tried to create, his wife has been removed from existence. Ultimately, the only way to restore his wife is to erase the timeship itself and undo everything it did to the timeline.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ef076a36
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_ef076a36
featureConfidence
1.0
 Star Trek: Voyager
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_ef076a36
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f349915b
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f349915b
comment
In Dragonlance, the attempt to create a perfect good world resulted in morally questionable attempts to get rid of evil, culminating in the Cataclysm.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f349915b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f349915b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dragonlance
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_f349915b
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f74b5f80
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f74b5f80
comment
Babylon 5: The Ikarran civilization created living weapons programmed to destroy anything that wasn't "Pure Ikarran". None of them lived up to their own standards.
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f74b5f80
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_f74b5f80
featureConfidence
1.0
 Babylon 5
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_f74b5f80
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_fdc66d32
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_fdc66d32
comment
Kamen Rider Double: The insert song "Nobody's Perfect", sung by Sokichi Narumi/Kamen Rider Skull, is all about this. One of the lines even declares that not being perfect is "just the proof that you're alive".
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_fdc66d32
featureApplicability
1.0
 Perfection Is Impossible / int_fdc66d32
featureConfidence
1.0
 Kamen Rider Double
hasFeature
Perfection Is Impossible / int_fdc66d32

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Dark Crisis (Comic Book) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Stories and Tales from Dimension 63 (Fanfic) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 The New Adventures of Invader Zim (Fanfic) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 200 Years, A Long Wait for Friends (Fanfic) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Zero no Tsukaima: Saito the Onmyoji (Fanfic) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Moonraker / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Proxima / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 TRON: Legacy / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Purple Hibiscus / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 The Giver / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 The School for Good Mothers / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Hannah Diamond (Music) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 The Lost Primarch Quest (Roleplay) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 No Reservations / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 The Adventures of Pete & Pete / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Dark Dimensions (Video Game) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Socrates Jones: Pro Philosopher (Visual Novel) / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 Big City Greens / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Sunset's Backstage Pass / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible
 UglyDolls / int_c232dbff
type
Perfection Is Impossible