Archetype:Powerful Bystander

Powerful Bystander
After an attempt to bestow knowledge on another race resulted in that race destroying itself, the Watchers (Marvel Comics) are committed to observing and compiling knowledge on all aspects of the universe without any direct interference.
Archetype of:	Powerful bystander.

"GOHAN IS THE STRONGEST IN THE UNIVERSE, BUT STILL DOESN'T DO CRAAAAAAAAAP!"

― Dragon Ball Z Abridged

"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

― God Entity (Futurama)

"As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely."

― The Prime Directive, Star Trek

"From our far planet, my people watched countless worlds evolve over eons of what you call time. Some for good, others for evil, some so debased by war, greed and hatred that they descended into savagery. But, though our power is great, we are pledged only to watch, never to interfere."

― Uatu (Fantastic Four, "The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus, Part 1")

"I don't understand. Couldn't Mystra just destroy The Absolute?"
"I've no doubt she has the power to do so, but as for the permission... Ao would not look kindly on her meddling in mortal affairs. Divine intervention has a tendency to make things worse, not better."

― Tav and Gale (Baldur's Gate 3)

The archetype of a character who doesn't/can't intervene and fix a situation despite being completely capable of doing so.

Properties

The character is a "powerful bystander", a being who can easily resolve situations through their vast power, but for various reasons do not do so. The reasons may vary, but are generally because they are forbidden from directly interfering.

Associated Powers

• Balance Preservation
• Legendary Status
  • Overpowered
    • Plot Device Techniques
      • Story-Breaking Power
• Nigh-Omnipotence/Omnipotence (In some fictions, superior beings do not interfere with the affairs of the lower worlds and are in the position of spectators.)
  • Conditional Omnipotence
• Omnineutrality (In some fictions, superior beings that are spectators are nether good nor evil.)
• Rule Bending (In some fictions, superior beings that are spectators can only bend the rules of non-intervention without technically breaking it.)

Relationships

• Guardian: Powerful bystanders are often a type of guardian.

Flaws/Weaknesses

• Interference may come at a great cost, such as the character's depowerment or even death.

Example Characters

See also: All-Powerful Bystander, Alien Non-Interference Clause, and God's Hands Are Tied

• Prismo (Adventure Time)
• Powers That Be (Angel)
• Royal Guard (Bleach)
  • Ichibē Hyōsube
• Celestialsapiens (Ben 10 series)
• The Contumelia (Ben 10 series)
• Elders (Charmed)
• Observants (Danny Phantom)
• Phantom Stranger (DC Comics)
• Destiny (DC Comics/Vertigo)
• Angels (Dragon Ball series)
• Supreme Kais (Dragon Ball series)
• Grand Zeno (Dragon Ball series)
• Ryuk (Death Note)
• The Greybeards (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
• Ao (Forgotten Realms)
• "God Entity" (Futurama)
• Yuki Nagato (Haruhi Suzumiya)
• Galacta (Marvel Comics)
• The Watchers (Marvel Comics)
  • Uatu
• Celestials (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
  • Arishem The Judge
• Quetzalcoatl/Lucoa (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid)
• Raiden (Mortal Kombat)
• Hiko Seijuro XIII (Rurouni Kenshin)
• Prophets (Star Trek)
• Q species (Star Trek)
• Ascended Beings (Stargate)
• Nox (Stargate SG-1)
• The Unseen Elder (The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine)

Gallery

Despite being the most powerful and highest-ranked Shinigami in existence, the Royal Guard (Bleach) does not get involved in the day-to-day affairs of Soul Society and only acts to guard the Soul King.

As the commander of the Royal Guard and one of the oldest Shinigami ever, Ichibē Hyōsube (Bleach) primarily enforces their neutrality; as long as the foundations of the world itself remain, he does not care what else happens to it.

The Observants (Danny Phantom) possess a strict code "to watch and never act," though that doesn't stop them from asking beings like Clockwork to intervene in their stead.

Unable to be killed by human means and capable of killing by simply writing names into his Death Note, Ryuk (Death Note) is only stopped from interfering in Light's plans and conflicts because to do so would be boring.

Angels like Whis and Vados (Dragon Ball series) are not allowed to intervene in anything except when something directly relates to the God of Destruction they serve...

...with Merus being erased from existence as a result of intervening in the fight against Moro.

The Supreme Kais (Dragon Ball series) are normally not supposed to intervene in mortal affairs; their job is to create life, watch over the mortals, and give them guidance, with direct intervention being delegated to Destroyer Gods.

Though the most powerful fighter in his universe, Hiko Seijuro XIII (Rurouni Kenshin) has no interest in most conflicts in the outside world and refuses to get involved.

Celestials such as Arishem (Marvel Cinematic Universe) are very powerful cosmic beings, but believe that any mortal affairs are trivial compared to their true purpose.

Galacta (Marvel Comics) has the same Power Cosmic as her father, Galactus, but prefers to live incognito on Earth; both to avoid attention and because her refusal to indulge in her Cosmic Hunger weakens her considerably.

Quetzalcoatl/Lucoa (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid) is a member of the Spectating Faction of dragons, refusing to intervene in the affairs of other dragons despite her vast power as a former goddess.

While he has the raw power to directly defeat most threats, the Phantom Stranger (DC Comics) is limited to warning others about them, generally through cryptic clues and advice.

Though a powerful god, Raiden (Mortal Kombat) is limited by needing to take a mortal form to compete in the Mortal Kombat tournaments, and even then can only do so if directly challenged.

Elder Gods (Mortal Kombat) are powerful beings that watch the realms, but will not interfere in the realm's conflicts unless their rules are broken.

The Powers That Be (Angel) are limited to guiding the forces of good.

The "God Entity" (Futurama) is a very powerful cosmic entity that may or may not be God itself, but prefers to keep its interference as limited as possible to avoid making others reliant upon it, while also trying to avoid making them lose hope altogether.

Though Yuki Nagato (Haruhi Suzumiya) wields vast power as a humanoid interface, her job is merely to observe.

The Unseen Elder (The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine) is one of the oldest and strongest of all Higher Vampires; and while not evil per se, he greatly prefers to remain in isolation in his cave rather than interfere in any matters.