It was wanting to mention Brenda Lieigh Johnson's moment on "The Closer" that made me realize we don't have a topic like this, that I know of. What are some extraordinary moments where, even for the main characters or all-around-badass, their courage or moxy astounded you? When has a wimpy secondary character made you stand up and cheer? Post about TV moments of courage here.

The moment I am thinking of is when Brenda is investigating a murder with an (undeserved) IAB investigation over her head, to the point of ignoring her boss's phone call to arrest a murderer instead. Her voice shakes and you know she thinks this is the last arrest of her career, but she's as fierce and unwavering and intuitive about the suspect as always. The "Moonlight Sonata" in the background is just gravy.

You know, Edward R. Murrow was pretty courageous when he took on the red-baiting Senator from Wisconsin, Joe McCarthy. Come to think of it, they should make a feature film about that and have that earnest young man from ER direct.

Ianto Jones from Torchwood, S1 Countrycide.
We'd already seen that he was out of his depth, in a situation for which he was untrained and inexperienced. he's basically scared out of his wits, but he's still doing his best to escape any opportunity he gets. And then he's faced with a cannibal about to tenderize him...and he smiles and headbutts the guy - knowing full well he's going to get hurt or even killed as a result.

The flip side of Murrow-McCarthy, the TV camerman who rescues two injured Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents at Waco. His reward was to get beaten down by other ATF agents. How's that for an UO?

never mind.....

An *ahem* fictional TV Moment of Courage just reran this morning -- Doyle's death on Angel. Letting Cordy know he was a demon ("We'll never know if you could love a face like this."), kissing her to pass on his visions, pushing Angel aside so Angel will live to fight on... making the dangerous leap to the platform and flipping the switch that will save everyone aboard but kill him. He chooses the certain death. (And Glen's real life death later just makes this harder to watch.)

Even though it's sports-related, I'd like to nominate Tiger Woods winning whatever-it-is-he-won with a bad leg. Hell, yeah, Tiger. Got the eye of . . . yourself.

Tiger winning with the bad knee was amazing indeed. Great choice.

Derek Jeter smashing his face to get the out against the Sox in an important game. When I watch ESPN and they're doing a list on great plays I always expect this to be in there, and it always is.

Angel Doyle's death in Hero. *bawls*

When Cordelia chooses the visions even though they're killing her.

When Gunn kills the professor so that Fred doesn't have to.

When Fred escapes in The Magic Bullet and finds a way to make Angel wake up from the spell.

The entire gang in the finale "Not Fade Away."

Gilmore Girls Rory yelling "Because I love you.." to Dean in S1 is corageous to me. Like her, I don't really say 'I love you' to anyone no matter how much indeed I do love them. So I'm always so "proud" of her when she sucks it up and says it. Well, screams it in public.

Prison Break - When Sucre practically chose death before ratting Michael out. That had to be one of my favorite moments in the entire series. So awesome.

My so called life When Brian refuses to say who fired the gun.

Eli Stone When Eli tries to convince people there's going to be an earthquake even though they think he's crazy because he had done it before and nothing happened.

Heroes When Noah asked for his memory to be erased to keep Claire safe.