White Knight (glossary term)

Tropes and genres
Synonym(s)	Hero
Related tropes/genres	Martyr
See also	Clam, Social Justice
Related articles on Fanlore.

A White Knight is a character who is a frustrated idealist. He or she is often portrayed as struggling to maintain good over evil, often to the detriment of his or her own mental/physical health.

Kenneth Hutchinson was called "White Knight" in the episode "Bloodbath."

Examples of White Knights

Canon

• Hermione Granger in their "fight" against the exploitation of house-elves who do not want to be free.

Fanon

Starsky & Hutch

And later, while Starsky is perpetrating serious mayhem, Hutch is guiltily wondering what he did to set Starsky off, and hoping Starsky won't feel bad when he comes to and finds Hutch dead. Granted Hutch overdoes his white knighthood, but this is a tad far-fetched.

I, too, see Hutch's changing as a gradual process. Provided that Hutch just did not only decide to do a "useful job" as Debra W. reported from the article she has read, he started out very idealistic, the proverbial "white knight" lead by some inner noble motif. I agree on that. When the first reality shocks hit him he's left with chinks in his armour. I tend to see this "cynicism" as his kind of self-protection, because the way the things go affect him so much.

Why did they join the force? With Hutch it was White Knight Syndrome. That phrase - 'Evil only flourishes when good men do nothing' - is tailor-made for KRH. He really believed that he could make a difference - and his later behaviour points up his disillusionment.

I don't believe Hutch joined the force specifically to 'protect and serve' and I can't subscribe to the 'White Knight' syndrome. It has been said that Hutch joined up to help those less fortunate than himself but I can't help wonder exactly how much hardship Hutch had actually witnessed in his 'cotton-wool' 'silver-spoon' upbringing.

Fans, Fandom, and White Knighting

The terms white knighting and being a white knight are used to describe the actions of someone acting as somewhat of a willy-nilly want-to-be rescuer of what they presume to be underdogs or oppressed groups or individuals, usually by publicly voicing their opinions on behalf of the presumed-to-be oppressed. This can have negative connotations when in some instances the group or individual that is being white-knighted does not appreciate the assumption that they cannot adequately speak up for themselves or that they need verbal support and rescuing of this type. (See also Social Justice.)