general media Best Morally Gray Characters

[Castle Bleck 19,455]

Shelly De Killer in Ace Attorney -- yes, he's an assassin with zero qualms about killing and kidnapping, but he also has a code of honor against things like betrayal, unnecessary cruelty, and disrespect for the dead.

Edited May 14, 2017 by A.V.

[Moonlight 7,291]

Dexter Morgan from the TV show DEXTER is my personal favorite. He kills people but only those who deserve it (such as serial killers unless they had a good reason to kill), fair's fair. 

[Megas 28,139]

Travis Touchdown from No More Heroes - There are a lot of fights where he feels bad for killing the assassins or outright refuses(a good example being Shinobu, as he felt that she was too young to die). He also tends to have respect for some of them

[Snoochi 28]

I'd say Light Yagami 

 

 

Given with the power to kill anyone with just a name he wants to clean up the world by killing those who break the law or who he deems unworthy of living. wanting to create a peaceful world can often includes a lot of killing.

[Castle Bleck 19,455]

wanting to create a peaceful world can often includes a lot of killing.

 

And a lot of potato-chip-eating as well.

[Blue Moon 6,345]

Walter White from the TV Show Breaking Bad is one of my favorite morally gray characters. The way and the extent that his character develops throughout the show is amazing and it's hard to tell whether you should hate him or sympathize with him. He is what I think of first when I think of morally gray characters.

[Castle Bleck 19,455]

Boba Fett in Star Wars, for the same reasons as Shelly De Killer above -- as well as a sympathetic backstory, and a kick@$$ legacy in books (Unless Disney's decided those don't count anymore?).

Edited May 14, 2017 by A.V.

[Yellow Diamond 7,578]

@Snoochi, I don't think Light Yagami (when in possession of the notebook) is in any way, shape, or form morally ambiguous. He's murderous and ruthless, as exemplified when he killed Naomi Misora (who wasn't a criminal) when she threatened to provide L with vital information. He even ponders how he would like to see the method she uses to commit suicide. The dude was pretty twisted.

 

One of my favorite morally ambiguous characters is Adam Jensen from Deus Ex: Human Revolution. He's determined to get to the truth, but that comes with a slew of morally and ethically questionable acts. He also strikes me as reflective enough to acknowledge his own willingness to do some unsavory things.

[Snoochi 28]

@Snoochi, I don't think Light Yagami (when in possession of the notebook) is in any way, shape, or form morally ambiguous. He's murderous and ruthless, as exemplified when he killed Naomi Misora (who wasn't a criminal) when she threatened to provide L with vital information. He even ponders how he would like to see the method she uses to commit suicide. The dude was pretty twisted.

 

One of my favorite morally ambiguous characters is Adam Jensen from Deus Ex: Human Revolution. He's determined to get to the truth, but that comes with a slew of morally and ethically questionable acts. He also strikes me as reflective enough to acknowledge his own willingness to do some unsavory things.

Hmm well i see what you mean but his overall ambition was to make a better world and it did end up working people feared him so much so commit crimes. he did do a lot f'd up shiz but thats why i think he counts as grey.

[Kamii 596]

@A.V.
Did you really just remind me of de Killer?
I'm a huge fan of Ace Attorney and I should really play the games again.

As for grey characters, I can't really think of one. I can imagine it's personality and some characteristics, but I don't remember the character itself... Sorry

[Discordian 6,021]

Hmm well i see what you mean but his overall ambition was to make a better world and it did end up working people feared him so much so commit crimes. he did do a lot f'd up shiz but thats why i think he counts as grey.

More often than not most evil people, fictional or otherwise, do so out of a desire to create a better world in the image of their own personal view of what should be paradise.

 

Light is better written than most but he's not special in that regard.

[Castle Bleck 19,455]

Grand Admiral Thrawn in Star Wars -- he's willing to be ruthless whenever necessary, but unlike guys like Palpatine and Tarkin, he'd rather be sensible and peaceful whenever possible.

 

"I want them also alive if possible. If not, I'll understand."

Edited May 14, 2017 by A.V.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

• Holmes.

Bauer.

Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill.

Bryan Mills in Taken.

Bond.

Horatio Caine in CSI: Miami.

Sarah in Orphan Black.

The ship's entire crew in Firefly.

Omar in The Wire.

Everyone in Hustle.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

1. Dexter Morgan from Dexter.

2. Solid Snake and Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid.

3. Aiden Pearce from Watch Dogs.

4. Shadow the Hedgehog from Sonic.

5. Logan, AKA Wolverine from X-Men.

6. Bruce Banner, AKA The Incredible Hulk.

7. Mr Fox from Fantastic Mr Fox.

8. Michael Desanta from GTA V.

9. Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman.

10. Any Character from Twisted Metal: Black.

11. Dan Pink from Doctor Who.

12. Commander Shepherd from Mass Effect.

13. Master Chief from Halo.

14. Ezio De La Auditore and pretty much all of the Assassin's in Assassin's Creed.

15. Leo Steinbuck from Zone of the Enders.

 

 

My favourite example is Solid Snake when he SPOILER ALERT: Kills the Boss, he feels guilty for doing it as she was an american hero and a villain. ''The world will never know what she did''. Snake weeps a tear at the Boss's grave. He feels guilty for killing his spiritual mother. Snake never liked killing. Another one of my favourites is Dexter Morgan, even though deep inside he is a cold heartless B*stard who never cares for his wife. He was not even upset when SPOILER ALERT: his wife dies but he was upset when FURTHER SPOILERS: His sister dies. ''I Love you Deb''. He is sometimes a very heartless person.

Edited December 19, 2014 by 41Hornet

[Castle Bleck 19,455]

The government in A Clockwork Orange -- they have scary methods, but are very hard to blame when it comes to Complete Monsters like Alex.

Edited May 14, 2017 by A.V.

[Unr3alGamer 230]

The first character I think of is Walter White from Breaking Bad. Some of his actions are so despicable that you want to hate him, yet some of his actions are so admirable that you want to sympathize with him.