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Summary
FromThe WitchertoStranger Things , the “ lone wolf and sonny ” figure of speech has become particularly popular in the preceding few years . The conceiver of the trope isLone Wolf and Cub , an iconic manga series that was adapted into a authoritative movie dealership . The serial publication revolves around shōgun ’s executioner Ogami Ittō , who , after being disgraced by the Yagyū kin group ’s false accusations , takes on the life of an assassin and hit the road to exact retaliation – with his three - class - old son , Daigorō , in tow . TheLone Wolf and Cubmovies are among the most beloved gems of the samurai genre .
The “ lonely wolf and sonny ” trope has since been adopted by Hollywood productions in the sci - fi , phantasy , horror , and natural action genre . The series ’ introductory setup of a badass warrior protect a young minor on a journey through a deadly surroundings has been used as a fomite to tell all kinds of level . The Last of Ussees solitary wolf Joel escorting his greenhorn Ellie across a zombi - infested post - apocalyptical wasteland . Star Warsshows fromThe MandaloriantoObi - Wan Kenobihave borrowed this figure of speech . There are a ton of corking “ lone wolf and rookie ” duos in film and TV shows .
One of the most influential franchise in film history ; here ’s every Japanese Lone Wolf and Cub samurai flick ranked from high-risk to best .
10Ogami Ittō & Daigorō (Lone Wolf & Cub)
Played by Tomisaburō Wakayama and Akihiro Tomikawa
The parent - child relationship provide the write up with its philia
It goes without saying that one of the most iconic “ only wolf and cub ” duos is the original one . Lone Wolf and Cub ’s Ogami Ittō and Daigorō are the mastermind of this trope and still place among the most iconic . InShogun Assassin , Ogami gives Daigorō a choice : he can either take Ogami ’s sword , choosing to join his vengeful quest , or he can take his own ball , choosing death to be with his recent mother in Heaven . He prefer the sword , and thus begins their epic journeying .
TheLone Wolf and Cubmoviesestablished all the hallmarks of this trope . The parent - child relationship provides the tale with its heart as the two characters are surrounded by ferocity and hostility . They seek retaliation , but they get swept up in a crowd of unlike side mission along the way .
9Obi-Wan Kenobi & Leia Organa
Played by Ewan McGregor and Vivien Lyra Blair
Cast
This series explained why Leia contact out to Obi - Wan in her hour of indigence in the originalStar Warsmovie
Ewan McGregor reprise his purpose as theStar Warssaga ’s most loveable Jedi in the Disney+ miniseriesObi - Wan Kenobi . The floor picks up with Obi - Wan in the middle of his post - Purge exile on Tatooine . At the behest of Bail Organa , Obi - Wan reluctantly puts his cushy exile on hold to relieve a 10 - year - old Princess Leia from a band of hood hired by the Empire . After he saves her , the two go on a barbarian intergalactic risky venture on the run from purple personnel .
Vivien Lyra Blair did a terrific job of retake Carrie Fisher ’s disaffected spiritfrom the original trilogy , and shared endearing chemical science with McGregor as her reluctant male parent figure . This serial explain why Leia reached out to Obi - Wan in her hr of demand in the originalStar Warsmovie . They grow an unbreakable bond while fly the Empire together .
8Arya Stark & The Hound (Game Of Thrones)
Played by Maisie Williams and Rory McCann
They commence off as enemies , but after traveling together , they finally make peace treaty with each other
From Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly to Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth , the sprawling ensemble mould ofGame of Throneswas full of improbable duos brought together by unusual circumstances . One such duad is a “ lone wolf and rookie ” pairing : Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane , well known as “ The Hound . ” They start off as enemies , but after travel together , they eventually make heartsease with each other . In time of year 4 , Arya has the chance to kill the Hound – something she consecrate to do for twelvemonth – and decide to part with his life history .
In George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebooks , Arya and the Hound did n’t stay together for very long . But the TV show ’s writer acknowledge what a great dynamic they had and flesh it out across a few episodes . They became one of the show ’s most memorable character reference pairings .
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
7Léon & Mathilda
Played by Jean Reno and Natalie Portman
A professional assassin reluctantly takes his orphaned 12 - class - old neighbour under his flank after her family is massacred by a corrupt DEA factor inLéon : The Professional . As they get to know each other better , Mathilda becomes Léon ’s protégéeand he teach her the art of kill . However , as Mathilda gets closer and secretive to actually becoming a cause of death , he starts to regret teaching her his trade and tries to avoid sending her down the same drab route he took .
Jean Reno gives a sales talk - perfect turn as a grizzled torpedo jaded from years of killing for line money and shares outstanding chemistry with his on - concealment protégée Natalie Portman ( in her feature film debut ) . Most “ lone wolf and cub ” story revel in teaching their young ward to kill . But Léon will do anything to sway Mathilda away from the living of a killer .
6Jim Hopper & Eleven (Stranger Things)
Played by David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown
He welcome her into his home and vow to protect her
When a superpowered kid named Eleven take to the woods from a secret political science science laboratory and stray into the quaint little town of Hawkins inStranger thing , the local constabulary gaffer Jim Hopper take her under his wing . He welcomes her into his home plate and vows to protect her from the sore scientist who want to recapture her to keep try out on her . Hopper turn a loss his own girl , Sara , so elevate Eleven give him a second chance at fatherhood .
This is a rare case of a “ lonely wolf and greenhorn ” duo where the sonny is actually more brawny than the wolf . Thanks to a tear of illicit experimentation , Eleven has been imbued with supernatural abilities . The wolf has dedicate himself to protect the cub , but in this case , the rookie is even able-bodied to protect the Hugo Wolf , so they look out for each other .
5Geralt Of Rivia & Ciri (The Witcher)
Played by Henry Cavill and Freya Allan
magic fiend huntsman Geralt of Rivia and the inheritor to the Elder Blood , Ciri , the pennant princess of Cintra , are linked to each other by fate inThe Witcher . While they were destined to join forces from the very outset , Geralt and Ciri did n’t actually gather until the season 1 finis . This allowed season 2 to strike the ground bleed as a “ only wolf and cub ” story as Geralt and Ciri began their journeying across the phantasy realm .
against all betting odds , their dynamic did n’t disappoint .
Henry Cavill and Freya Allan were require to share such powerful on - covert chemistry for it to be believable that cosmic force out brought their character together – and against all betting odds , their dynamic did n’t disappoint . Throughout their journey , Geralt has to fend off various attackers who want to seize the older Blood for themselves . He would run a risk anything to protect Ciri .
4Wolverine & X-23 (Logan)
Played by Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen
Jackman and Keen have the same gruff but deeply touching father - daughter moral force
In Wolverine ’s bittersweet cinematic send - offLogan , director James Mangold combined the obscure no - living - with - a - kill report ofShanewith the heartwarming father - girl road misstep ofPaper Moon . Just when he recall he ’s done with the superhero life , Wolvie is force to do one last good human activity when his long - lost cloned daughter Laura – also known as X-23 – arrives on his doorstep . She needs him to take her across the mete , where her fellow young mutation have shew a safe harbor .
Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen have the same gruff but profoundly touching Father-God - daughter moral force that Ryan and Tatum O’Neal share inPaper Moon . At the beginning of the motion-picture show , Logan could n’t care less about Laura or her pursuit to get home . But by the end of it , he ’s unforced to make the ultimate sacrifice to give her and the next contemporaries of mutants a chance .
Reynolds & Jackman promise they would not unmake Logan ’s termination ; however , a Deadpool & Wolverine theory shows how the Fox film could still play a role .
3The Mandalorian & Grogu
Played by Pedro Pascal
The “ lone wolf and cub ” duo that bring the trope back into the mainstream was the titular bounteousness hunter and his youthful , pointy - eared ward Grogu inThe Mandalorian . The first instalment ofThe Mandalorianintroduced Mando as a moth-eaten - blooded Man with No Name - type antihero , butthe surprising last twist showed a much softer side of the persona . When he finds his 50 - year - old bountifulness is really a baby from Yoda ’s metal money , he has a change of heart .
Mando used to obliterate his bounties , but after meeting Grogu and originate to love him like a Logos , suddenly he would kill anyone else just to keep his bounty safe . He turned his back on his fellow bounteousness hunters and contract on the might of the Imperial Remnants to protect his foster son . Mando is a great founding father in a enfranchisement made iconic by a terrible father .
2Ellen Ripley & Newt (Aliens)
Played by Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
One of Hollywood ’s earliest “ lone wolf and cub ” couple can be found inJames Cameron ’s activity - packed sci - fi sequelAliens . After narrowly escaping the wrath of one xenomorph , Ellen Ripley reluctantly harmonize to go with a dance band of Colonial Marines into an off - universe human dependency that ’s been run over by them , just because there might be subsister who need delivery . When she catch there , she fulfill the only survivor : a young girl cite Newt .
Ripley lost her own daughter while she was drift through space in cryosleep , while Newt ’s total phratry was rend asunder by bloodthirsty extraterrestrial being , so they need each other . They develop a be active surrogate mother - girl family relationship as Ripley is determined to get Newt off the major planet alive . This dynamic is brilliantly contrast with the xenomorph queen , who similarly just wants to protect her children .
1Joel & Ellie (The Last Of Us)
Played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay
Arguably the most iconic “ lone wolf and cub ” duo after the original span is Joel and Ellie fromThe Last of Ussaga . Ellie is immune to the fungal infection that brought civilization collapse down and Joel is tasked with smuggle her across the mortal wastelandthat remain , so that a radical group acknowledge as the Fireflies can develop a therapeutic . Joel lost his own daughter on the irruption day , and in the 20 - twelvemonth interim , he ’s become so close off from his emotions that he ab initio just views Ellie as walking , talking cargo .
Ellie looks up to Joel as a father figure , but he ’s reluctant to embrace that love , because he get it on the loss that could follow . However , after their unbelievable journey across the country – and after they ’ve saved each other ’s life a few times – Joel lastly squeeze Ellie as his surrogate daughter . That love has obscure side consequence , but the one consistency that be is that Joel would do anything to protect Ellie .
Kaitlyn Dever has been vomit as Abby in The Last of Us season 2 , and it ’ll be a joy to see her recreate the better scene from The Last of Us Part II .
