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Berserk Button - TV Tropes

  • ️Mon Mar 19 2007

Berserk Button (trope)

"Anyone who calls me by that name dies. That is the policy."

Some characters always get enraged when given a certain, minor trigger.

Say, you're dealing with a character who seems perfectly normal, nice and friendly, willing to lend a helpful hand. But then you make a mistake. You make a perfectly innocent observation, maybe point out that they could stand to lose a little weight, or aren't very tall. Or maybe you do something that you think is no big deal in their presence, like asking Who Names Their Kid "Dude"?, or saying that they can't have something. And the character instantly explodes into screaming, frothing Unstoppable Rage.

You have just pressed their Berserk Button.

The Berserk Button is a Trigger that, while insignificant to most, causes a reaction of extreme anger in the specific character. As if a button was pushed that turns them into The Berserker.

For many characters, the Berserk Button is mentioning a physical feature that the character is insecure or in denial about, like their height. This is often used for comedic effect, as an otherwise cool Badass goes off on a hilarious rant over something incongruously silly. But in more serious works, hitting a character's Berserk Button can have terrifying and decidedly un-comedic consequences.

In cartoons, you can usually tell when a Berserk Button has been hit when the character in question turns bright red and starts shooting steam out their ears. Do not mistake this for Turns Red.

Compare and contrast Rage Breaking Point, where it's a series of (individually insignificant) events that together break the character's self-control. If a person gets angry because other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see Serious Business. For things that set the fandom off, see Fandom-Enraging Misconception.

If anything seems to turn the character berserk, they have a Hair-Trigger Temper. Kindness Button is like Berserk Button, but in reverse - it causes the character to become all sweetness and sunshine.

No Real Life Examples, Please! Those make us really mad, especially on this page!

This is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone. Going berserk is all about extreme reactions to minor provocations - a scowl or a frown is not enough to qualify.

Example subpages:

Other examples:

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Advertising 

Asian Animation 

  • In Simple Samosa, breaking the tip on top of Samosa's head is never a good idea if you value your life. This is established right from the first episode, "Sumo Momo", where Sumo Momo learns this one the hard way.

Comedy 

  • Sam Kinison: In his persona he used in standup as well as film and TV roles, he typically would start out talking in a normal voice, then something would set him off and he would begin hollering like a madman.

Comic Strips 

  • Never try to convince Baldo's dad that "Taco Bell Spanish" is actual Spanish.
  • In Heathcliff, don't mess with the Great Bazooli's cat. (The Great Bazooli is a knife thrower who leaves Grandpa Nutmeg against the wall surrounded by knives over a Noodle Incident wrought by Heathcliff).
  • In Knights of the Dinner Table, no-one should ever touch Bob's dice, as Nitro, an ex-Marine, discovered to his everlasting humiliation.
  • A Krazy Kat strip has Bum Bill Bee repeatedly stinging Ignatz over a deceptively realistic fake flower.
  • Luann: Don't interfere with Rosa if Gunther is around.

Manhua 

  • In School Shock, the Spider Vanguard is very displeased about the loss of her twice-licked popsicle.

Manhwa 

  • Telling Shem from Ark Angels that you've stolen her favorite bear-print panties quite literally sends her into a berserker rage which gives her super-strength.
  • The Breaker: Don't ever say the vice-principal has a "shitty car" or damage his car.
  • From Dorothy of Oz: Mara doesn't like being called "Dorothy".
  • Haji from Hot Blooded Woman really hates being called a puppy. Since her full name, "Kang Haji", sounds like the Korean word for "puppy", she really hates it when people call her by her full name.
  • Pamela from The Tarot Cafe doesn't like being called an old lady.
    • For Alecto it's mentioning Pamela's name.
  • Yureka: Referring to the real Yureka as "Fake Yureka".
    • Mentioning Lotto's height deficiencies.
  • Shuuichi, from Zero: The Beginning of the Coffin, doesn't like being called "White Hair" and harming his family.
  • Seunghee, from Zippy Ziggy, really hates perverts and being called "old".
    • Mispronouncing Duckchill's name.

Podcasts 

  • Kevin and Ursula Eat Cheap:
    • Ursula hates it when the package promises things that aren't in the actual food.
    • Ursula also despises the word "hazelnut" and repeatedly emphasises "filbert" as an alternative.
    • Special guest John (now ex-boyfriend of Lizardbeth) hates misuse of the word "superfood" and unnecessary removal of things like fat to make something seem healthier.
  • Midnight Burger: Ava is very protective of her booth in the titular diner. Sitting in it (or touching any of the stuff she leaves there) is a great way to infuriate her.
  • Relative Disasters: Misogyny is a big one for Greg and Ella, in particular the misogynistic laws of 17th century Holland in the Batavia episode and Victorian England in the baby farming episode led to (justifiably) bitter rants from the co-hosts.
  • Liam in Well There's Your Problem absolutely hates fish, of all things. It goes beyond simply disliking their taste or smell; he, quote, "does not respect" their very existence and gets very annoyed when the other hosts mention fish. The Lake Peigneur episode in particular has Liam going on a rant about fish after November jokes about the workers being more afraid of catfish than alligators.
  • You're Dead To Me:
    • Host Greg Jenner absolutely loathes conspiracy theories about history, especially ancient aliens.
    • Downplayed, but Greg, and guests who are also medievalists, aren't very fond of the term "The Dark Ages"

Toys 

  • BIONICLE:
    • Already one of the most vicious of the Piraka, Vezok gets ESPECIALLY violent if you bring up his insane "brother", Vezon; he's still a little sore over being split in two, specifically the fact that Vezon got the brains.
    • If you lock up Hakann, he'll END you for sure.
    • Never take photos of Thok, as that camera learned the hard way.
    • Try annoying Matoro when he's in battle. Go on, try it!