You make great points!
"The matter at hand is, should we canonize behavior that we would find reprehensible in today’s world? If your friend’s ex sought their help because the ex was going to be murdered by neo-nazis - and your friend was a dick about it; would you find that behavior acceptable? The real question is, just because someone is sad, angry, or emotionally heightened, does that give then an excuse to be destructive to the point life (and possibly the fate of the world) to be endangered?"
It reminds name a bit of Han Solo who behaves like an absolute jerk but you love him because in the end he comes through. I totally agree they should not be canonized. What is interesting though is they become a counterpoint to noble behavior. It circumscribes the nobility so much more clearly. Maybe, in fiction anyway, we need those characters to show us true goodness and altruism.
But I very much get our point. I am constantly irritated at Calista Flockhart's character in Supergirl. Mega-bitch and then sometimes not bitchy. But then the not bitchy moments get turned into some messed up altruism.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.