False Innocence Trick: Difference between revisions

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== Film ==
== Film ==
* ''[[Star Trek V the Final Frontier]]''. The ''Enterprise'' passes through the barrier around the heart of the galaxy and finds the legendary planet Sha Ka Ree, believed to be the home of God. The protagonists find God apparently imprisoned there, and he tries to trick them into helping him escape. Kirk figures out there's something funny going on and manages to get "God" to reveal his true natu're before he gets away.
* ''[[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]''. The ''Enterprise'' passes through the barrier around the heart of the galaxy and finds the legendary planet Sha Ka Ree, believed to be the home of God. The protagonists find God apparently imprisoned there, and he tries to trick them into helping him escape. Kirk figures out there's something funny going on and manages to get "God" to reveal his true natu're before he gets away.
{{quote| '''Kirk:''' [[Armor-Piercing Question|"What does God need with a starship?"]]}}
{{quote| '''Kirk:''' [[Armor-Piercing Question|"What does God need with a starship?"]]}}
* In ''[[Phantasm Oblivion]]'', in a dream, the Tall Man is caught by a noose and he begs the protagonist, Michael to cut him down.
* In ''[[Phantasm Oblivion]]'', in a dream, the Tall Man is caught by a noose and he begs the protagonist, Michael to cut him down.
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== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==
* ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TOS episode "[[The Twilight Zone (TV)/Recap/S2 E41 The Howling Man|The Howling Man]]". A man stumbles upon a castle and finds a prisoner held captive by the monks who live there. The prisoner claims he's being held unjustly by an insane religious order, which seems to be confirmed when the head of the order insists that the prisoner is actually the Devil in disguise. The man decides to free the prisoner, and only then finds out that he really ''is'' the Devil in disguise. The man spends many years searching for him to atone for his mistake, and finally traps him again. Naturally, the man's maid [[Here We Go Again|thinks he's crazy for insisting that his prisoner is the Devil...]]
* ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TOS episode "[[The Twilight Zone/Recap/S2 E41 The Howling Man|The Howling Man]]". A man stumbles upon a castle and finds a prisoner held captive by the monks who live there. The prisoner claims he's being held unjustly by an insane religious order, which seems to be confirmed when the head of the order insists that the prisoner is actually the Devil in disguise. The man decides to free the prisoner, and only then finds out that he really ''is'' the Devil in disguise. The man spends many years searching for him to atone for his mistake, and finally traps him again. Naturally, the man's maid [[Here We Go Again|thinks he's crazy for insisting that his prisoner is the Devil...]]
* ''[[Charmed (TV)|Charmed]]'':
* ''[[Charmed]]'':
** There was an episode where the sisters try to save a man trapped in a painting, but it turns out he was evil all along.
** There was an episode where the sisters try to save a man trapped in a painting, but it turns out he was evil all along.
** Another episode sees the sisters trying to save demon children from their ice cream truck prison.
** Another episode sees the sisters trying to save demon children from their ice cream truck prison.
* ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation]]'':
* ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'':
** When Captain Picard was [[Alien Abduction|abducted by aliens]] in "Allegiance," {{spoiler|one of his fellow abductees is really a member of the alien race that captured them}}.
** When Captain Picard was [[Alien Abduction|abducted by aliens]] in "Allegiance," {{spoiler|one of his fellow abductees is really a member of the alien race that captured them}}.
** Troi, O'Brien and Data were [[Grand Theft Me|bodyjacked]] by noncorporeal beings in "Power Play." They claimed to be survivors of a Starfleet vessel that had crashed on an uncharted world about two hundred years before. {{spoiler|They were actually convicted criminals}}.
** Troi, O'Brien and Data were [[Grand Theft Me|bodyjacked]] by noncorporeal beings in "Power Play." They claimed to be survivors of a Starfleet vessel that had crashed on an uncharted world about two hundred years before. {{spoiler|They were actually convicted criminals}}.
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* In the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[Doctor Who/NS/Recap/S1 E3 The Unquiet Dead|The Unquiet Dead]]", the Gelth claim to be refugees from the Great Time War who have lost their bodies and only want to use dead humans as Meat Suits. It turns out that there are many more of them than they claimed, and they want to take over all humanity, not just the dead ones.
* In the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[Doctor Who/NS/Recap/S1 E3 The Unquiet Dead|The Unquiet Dead]]", the Gelth claim to be refugees from the Great Time War who have lost their bodies and only want to use dead humans as Meat Suits. It turns out that there are many more of them than they claimed, and they want to take over all humanity, not just the dead ones.
** The fact that they killed a guy at the start of the episode should've been a clue. How? By possessing a guy's dead mother and having her choke her son.
** The fact that they killed a guy at the start of the episode should've been a clue. How? By possessing a guy's dead mother and having her choke her son.
* ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'': This is how we meet our first Vorta, Eris, as a "prisoner" of the Jem'Hadar.
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'': This is how we meet our first Vorta, Eris, as a "prisoner" of the Jem'Hadar.




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== Video Games ==
== Video Games ==
* In ''[[Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero (Video Game)|Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero]]'', Sub-Zero ([[Mortal Kombat (Video Game)|the elder]]) is imprisoned in the Netherrealm. His fellow prisoner is normally Scorpion, but if the player decided not to kill Hanzo Hasashi, then the other prisoner is {{spoiler|Shinnok, the [[Big Bad]] of this game and [[Mortal Kombat 4 (Video Game)|Mortal Kombat 4]]}}. He claims that he's an unjustly imprisoned soul like Sub-Zero and notes that he's playing [[Big Good|Raiden's]] "game" for the time being. His manipulation of Sub-Zero indirectly helps {{spoiler|himself escape from the Netherrealm several years down the road}}.
* In ''[[Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero]]'', Sub-Zero ([[Mortal Kombat (video game)|the elder]]) is imprisoned in the Netherrealm. His fellow prisoner is normally Scorpion, but if the player decided not to kill Hanzo Hasashi, then the other prisoner is {{spoiler|Shinnok, the [[Big Bad]] of this game and [[Mortal Kombat 4]]}}. He claims that he's an unjustly imprisoned soul like Sub-Zero and notes that he's playing [[Big Good|Raiden's]] "game" for the time being. His manipulation of Sub-Zero indirectly helps {{spoiler|himself escape from the Netherrealm several years down the road}}.
* In one quest in ''[[Oblivion]]'', you can buy a house, only to find that it's haunted. Investigation reveals the corpse of a lich (imprisoned for being evil) who claim's he's [[The Atoner|turned good]] after having time to reflect on his crimes. Unfortunately [[Stupidity Is the Only Option]] if you want to complete the quest.
* In one quest in ''[[Oblivion]]'', you can buy a house, only to find that it's haunted. Investigation reveals the corpse of a lich (imprisoned for being evil) who claim's he's [[The Atoner|turned good]] after having time to reflect on his crimes. Unfortunately [[Stupidity Is the Only Option]] if you want to complete the quest.
* ''[[Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door]]'': Although it appears that the "evil" beings trapped in the black chests were originally good ({{spoiler|the game appears to imply that they were the original four heroes of legend}}), the end result is the same nonetheless. They plead for Mario to let them out, so of course, he does. They curse him as thanks. Kind of subverted, because [[Cursed With Awesome|the curses help you]], to the point that you literally cannot continue without "acquiring" them.
* ''[[Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door]]'': Although it appears that the "evil" beings trapped in the black chests were originally good ({{spoiler|the game appears to imply that they were the original four heroes of legend}}), the end result is the same nonetheless. They plead for Mario to let them out, so of course, he does. They curse him as thanks. Kind of subverted, because [[Cursed with Awesome|the curses help you]], to the point that you literally cannot continue without "acquiring" them.
** [[Subverted Trope|It is also implied that they themselves are being forced to curse you]], [[Loophole Abuse|yet choose to do so in a manner such that the "curse" is more of a blessing in disguise.]]
** [[Subverted Trope|It is also implied that they themselves are being forced to curse you]], [[Loophole Abuse|yet choose to do so in a manner such that the "curse" is more of a blessing in disguise.]]
* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', there's a quest in the Arathi Highlands where you're contacted by an earth princess named Myzrael, who seeks your help to escape her confinement. To free her, you kill some of her guardians and release her from her crystal prison, where you find out that she's evil. Sort of subverted though, in that she was driven to madness by the Old Gods, and now resides in Deepholm, where she is once again sane and good.
* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', there's a quest in the Arathi Highlands where you're contacted by an earth princess named Myzrael, who seeks your help to escape her confinement. To free her, you kill some of her guardians and release her from her crystal prison, where you find out that she's evil. Sort of subverted though, in that she was driven to madness by the Old Gods, and now resides in Deepholm, where she is once again sane and good.
* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda a Link To T He Past (Video Game)|The Legend of Zelda a Link To T He Past]]'', this is how you trigger the boss fight with the boss underneath Kakariko village. You are told he kidnapped one of the descendants of the sages, and in some way you can say he did it, but he also disguised himself as the girl and hid himself in his own prison.
* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|The Legend of Zelda a Link To T He Past]]'', this is how you trigger the boss fight with the boss underneath Kakariko village. You are told he kidnapped one of the descendants of the sages, and in some way you can say he did it, but he also disguised himself as the girl and hid himself in his own prison.
* Happens on two different occasions in ''[[Baldurs Gate]] II'':
* Happens on two different occasions in ''[[Baldur's Gate]] II'':
** The first time is while escaping from [[Big Bad|Irenicus]]' dungeon. You run across an imprisoned man in a [[Gilded Cage|rather luxurious]] cell, with a large number of booby-trapped treasure chests to boot. If you let him out, he shortly afterward reveals he's a doppelganger and attacks, with rather predictable results.
** The first time is while escaping from [[Big Bad|Irenicus]]' dungeon. You run across an imprisoned man in a [[Gilded Cage|rather luxurious]] cell, with a large number of booby-trapped treasure chests to boot. If you let him out, he shortly afterward reveals he's a doppelganger and attacks, with rather predictable results.
** The second time is about halfway through the game, when {{spoiler|Yoshimo, who had (potentially) joined you near the start, reveals himself as a [[Sixth Ranger Traitor]] for Irenicus, due to a geas placed on him. The next time you meet him after that, there is no way around [[Killed Off for Real|killing him off for real]]}}.
** The second time is about halfway through the game, when {{spoiler|Yoshimo, who had (potentially) joined you near the start, reveals himself as a [[Sixth Ranger Traitor]] for Irenicus, due to a geas placed on him. The next time you meet him after that, there is no way around [[Killed Off for Real|killing him off for real]]}}.
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* In ''[[Shadowgate]]'', the room with the Golden Horn is also occupied by a beautiful young woman who is chained to the wall. If you try to grab the Horn, the "prisoner" will transform into a vicious werewolf that tears you apart. The only clue that something is off with the prisoner is that the description notes that she looks beautiful in [[Lunacy|moonlight]].
* In ''[[Shadowgate]]'', the room with the Golden Horn is also occupied by a beautiful young woman who is chained to the wall. If you try to grab the Horn, the "prisoner" will transform into a vicious werewolf that tears you apart. The only clue that something is off with the prisoner is that the description notes that she looks beautiful in [[Lunacy|moonlight]].
* This is the main plot point in the 2004 ''[[Bards Tale]]'' game.
* This is the main plot point in the 2004 ''[[Bards Tale]]'' game.
* In ''[[Batman Arkham Asylum]]'', you can see Clayface in a glass cell. But in fact, he [[Shapeshifting|changes his appearance]] each time the camera wanders away from him and tries to trick you into releasing him. Good thing the game doesn't offer you the opportunity to free him, or this troper would have done it.
* In ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]'', you can see Clayface in a glass cell. But in fact, he [[Shapeshifting|changes his appearance]] each time the camera wanders away from him and tries to trick you into releasing him. Good thing the game doesn't offer you the opportunity to free him, or this troper would have done it.




== Webcomics ==
== Webcomics ==
* In ''[[Girl Genius (Webcomic)|Girl Genius]]'', Agatha mentions this trope when she first encounters Othar Tryggvassen, '''[[Gentleman Adventurer]]!''' who asks her to free him. She believes he's doing this and does not free him; however, he [[Wrong Genre Savvy|actually believes]] he's the hero being held by the villain.
* In ''[[Girl Genius]]'', Agatha mentions this trope when she first encounters Othar Tryggvassen, '''[[Gentleman Adventurer]]!''' who asks her to free him. She believes he's doing this and does not free him; however, he [[Wrong Genre Savvy|actually believes]] he's the hero being held by the villain.
** Agatha does rescue him eventually, after learning some unflattering things about their mutual 'host'. He helps her escape at a later date in return. And then he tries killing her, so she throws him out of an airship. As it turns out, Othar is hardly a 'fake good'; [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|his definition of 'good' just differs slightly from hers]].
** Agatha does rescue him eventually, after learning some unflattering things about their mutual 'host'. He helps her escape at a later date in return. And then he tries killing her, so she throws him out of an airship. As it turns out, Othar is hardly a 'fake good'; [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|his definition of 'good' just differs slightly from hers]].




== Western Animation ==
== Western Animation ==
* ''[[Teen Titans (Animation)|Teen Titans]]'': Raven befriends a knight hero in a book by the name of Malchoir. He tells her stories of how an evil dragon trapped him there. He teaches her powerful magic and things seem awesome. Until, {{spoiler|The spells are dark magic that cause more chaos than good, but before Raven realizes she sets Malchoir free only to find out "Malchoir" is the name of the evil dragon, not the knight.}}
* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'': Raven befriends a knight hero in a book by the name of Malchoir. He tells her stories of how an evil dragon trapped him there. He teaches her powerful magic and things seem awesome. Until, {{spoiler|The spells are dark magic that cause more chaos than good, but before Raven realizes she sets Malchoir free only to find out "Malchoir" is the name of the evil dragon, not the knight.}}


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/False_Innocence_Trick"