Minion with an F In Evil: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''Order of the Stick! I will [[Blood Bath|bathe in your blood]] [[Comically Missing the Point|with lavender bath gel and a good loofah]]!''|'''The Monster in the Darkness''', ''[[The Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|The Order of the Stick]]''}}

No, he doesn't kick himself by accident when trying to [[Kick the Dog]]. He's a henchman to a [[Card Carrying Villain]] who can't quite wrap his mind around card-carrying villainy. As such, they often get confused and do "good" things like saying please or thank you or [[Helpful Mook|being kind to the heroes in some way]] by mistake -- and get yelled at for it by their superior if caught. This character type tends to be predicated on the assumption that [[Rousseau Was Right]]; theoretically, this so-called "villain" hasn't properly learned how to be bad. Very much [[Played for Laughs]], and most commonly used in children's shows. They often get a [[Mook Face Turn]] at the end of the series, or earlier if their boss is particularly mean with a [[Mistreatment Induced Betrayal]]. They may also get a [[The Dog Bites Back]] moment to go along with it.

No, he doesn't kick himself by accident when trying to [[Kick the Dog]]. He's a henchman to a [[Card-Carrying Villain]] who can't quite wrap his mind around card-carrying villainy. As such, they often get confused and do "good" things like saying please or thank you or [[Helpful Mook|being kind to the heroes in some way]] by mistake -- and get yelled at for it by their superior if caught. This character type tends to be predicated on the assumption that [[Rousseau Was Right]]; theoretically, this so-called "villain" hasn't properly learned how to be bad. Very much [[Played for Laughs]], and most commonly used in children's shows. They often get a [[Mook Face Turn]] at the end of the series, or earlier if their boss is particularly mean with a [[Mistreatment Induced Betrayal]]. They may also get a [[The Dog Bites Back]] moment to go along with it.

Not to be confused with [[Affably Evil]] characters, who ''are'' evil but polite about it. Certain versions are relatives who the villain is obliged to keep around despite their incompetence, or horrific monsters that turn out to actually be [[Gentle Giant|Gentle Giants]].

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Contrast [[Harmless Villain]], [[Worthy Opponent]], [[Punch Clock Villain]], [[Reluctant Monster]], and [[Obliviously Evil]]. See also [[Poke the Poodle]], [[White Sheep]], [[Merciful Minion]], and [[Good All Along]]. Compare and contrast with [[Hero With an F In Good]]. Frequently hold back a truly terrifying boss due to the [[Conservation of Competence]].

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

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* Shia in ''[[Pita-Ten]]'' is the epitome of this trope; as demon she's not only supposed to do evil, she *has* to do evil, but she always seems to wind up baking cookies for everybody, or cleaning up the apartment she shares with Misha (an angel almost as bad at doing good as she is at doing evil), or just in general being polite, soft-spoken and helpful, much to the exasperation of her demon-adviser in cat form, Nyaa.

** In the manga {{spoiler|When she dies Nyaa admits that she may have been a far more successful demon than he realized by making everyone love her then dying and leaving everyone sad.}}

* DojiDevil, a one-shot character in the [[Hot Springs Episode]] of ''[[Kyouran Kazoku Nikki]]'', always on cleaning duty as punishment. She was trying to find whoever was fated to die at the springs (it ended up being a [[Self Fulfilling Prophecy]]) so she could steal a soul and gain recognition, but was so touched by them that she spent most of her time cheering them on and trying to help them. She finally sets up a plan to kill them all so the family won't be separated but regrets this almost immediately.

* DojiDevil, a one-shot character in the [[Hot Springs Episode]] of ''[[Kyouran Kazoku Nikki]]'', always on cleaning duty as punishment. She was trying to find whoever was fated to die at the springs (it ended up being a [[Self-Fulfilling Prophecy]]) so she could steal a soul and gain recognition, but was so touched by them that she spent most of her time cheering them on and trying to help them. She finally sets up a plan to kill them all so the family won't be separated but regrets this almost immediately.

* Shiyu Kusanagi in the ''[[X 1999]]'' manga, CD Drama and TV series. What is a [[Gentle Giant]] who goes out of his way to help other people (including his enemies!) doing in the humanity-destroying Dragons of the Earth group?

* Demon God Ifurita in the TV series version of ''[[El Hazard]]''

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*** Not quite - he legitimately thought that General Bison was the ''good'' guy, and that the forces of evil and oppression were against him because of it.

* Doc Hopper's assistant, Max, from ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' warned Kermit about Hopper's plans.

** This has become Bobo the Bear's schtick post-''[[Muppets Tonight]]''. He's a F-grade minion to [[The Men in Black|K. Edgar Singer]] in ''[[Muppets From Space]]''; to [[Overreacting Airport Security|Officer Frank Meany]] in ''[[A Muppets Christmas Letters to Santa]]''; and to [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|Tex Richman]] in ''[[The Muppets (Film)|The Muppets]]''.

** This has become Bobo the Bear's schtick post-''[[Muppets Tonight]]''. He's a F-grade minion to [[The Men in Black|K. Edgar Singer]] in ''[[Muppets From Space]]''; to [[Overreacting Airport Security|Officer Frank Meany]] in ''[[A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa]]''; and to [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|Tex Richman]] in ''[[The Muppets (Film)|The Muppets]]''.

* Administrative Assistant Bob from ''[[Demolition Man]]'' isn't actively evil... he's just trying to help out whoever is in charge. (It's his job to help, after all.) This is why he can go from working for [[The Chessmaster|Doctor Raymond Cocteau]] to working for [[Card Carrying Villain|Simon Phoenix]] to working for [[Rebellious Spirit|Edgar Friendly]] without once ever batting an eye.

* Administrative Assistant Bob from ''[[Demolition Man]]'' isn't actively evil... he's just trying to help out whoever is in charge. (It's his job to help, after all.) This is why he can go from working for [[The Chessmaster|Doctor Raymond Cocteau]] to working for [[Card-Carrying Villain|Simon Phoenix]] to working for [[Rebellious Spirit|Edgar Friendly]] without once ever batting an eye.

* Dug in ''[[Up (Film)|Up]]'' before his [[Heel Face Turn]]

* Hopper's brother Molt in ''[[A ~~Bugs~~ Life (Animation)|A Bugs Life]]''. While Hopper is malicious, cunning and depraved, Molt is... not.

* Hopper's brother Molt in ''[[A Bug's Life (Animation)|A Bugs Life]]''. While Hopper is malicious, cunning and depraved, Molt is... not.

{{quote| '''Hopper:''' ''(to Molt)'' I swear, if I hadn't promised ''mother,'' on her ''death-bed'' that I wouldn't kill you, I would ''kill'' you!}}

* Jenner's best friend and minion Sullivan from ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'' isn't really a bad guy at all, he just didn't choose his friends wisely. When Jenner plots to kill Nicodemus and Mrs. Brisby's children he objects to this, which leads to his [[Heel Face Turn]]. Unfortunately, before he can officially join the heroes, he is stabbed in the back and mortally wounded by Jenner for interfering with his plans... but before he expires he pulls a [[Redemption Equals Death]] when he throws a dagger into Jenner's back and kills him... with his last dying breath.

* From ''[[Tombstone]]'' - [[Mc Masters]], Texas Jack Vermillion, and Turkey Creek Jack Johnson don't mind robbin' and stealin', but don't like messin' with the women for the evulz. Also Deputy Billy Breckinridge thinks there has to be some law.

* From ''[[The ~~Sorcerers~~ Apprentice (Film)|The Sorcerers Apprentice]]'': Drake Stone, an arrogant Morganian turned celebrity illusionist, is recruited by Horvath to release Morgana, but he never does anything ''that'' evil. It's pretty clear that Drake starts to feel incredibly uncomfortable with the consequences of his actions, especially when Horvath implies that children will die for his cause.

* From ''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Film)|The Sorcerers Apprentice]]'': Drake Stone, an arrogant Morganian turned celebrity illusionist, is recruited by Horvath to release Morgana, but he never does anything ''that'' evil. It's pretty clear that Drake starts to feel incredibly uncomfortable with the consequences of his actions, especially when Horvath implies that children will die for his cause.

* Evil's assistants in ''[[Time Bandits]]'' are all pretty dim and full of useless suggestions.

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{{quote| '''Ares''' (visibly shaken): He wasn't so bad. He tried hard. He... he was just no good at his job.}}

* Post-vamping, [[Brainless Beauty]] Harmony of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' wanders into this trope a lot. Most famously when she deeply apologizes for not noticing a "No Smoking" sign. She wants to be evil, but like [[The Ditz|everything else]], she's just really bad at it.

{{quote| '''Buffy:''' Harmony, when you tried to be head cheerleader, you were bad. When you tried to chair the homecoming committee, you were ''really'' bad. But when you try to ''be'' bad? '''''[[The Reason You Suck Speech|You suck]].'''''}}

{{quote| '''Buffy:''' Harmony, when you tried to be head cheerleader, you were bad. When you tried to chair the homecoming committee, you were ''really'' bad. But when you try to ''be'' bad? '''''[["The Reason You Suck" Speech|You suck]].'''''}}

* Rusty the Tow Truck in the preschool series ''[[The Big Garage]]''. In fact, [[Once an Episode|in every single episode]], he always joins the cast for the final song of the episode, and leaves the garage just before the credits roll.

== [[Radio]] ==

* Scumspawn in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series ''[[Old ~~Harrys~~ Game (Radio)|Old Harrys Game]]''. He is a demon, one of Satan's chief minions, and much is made of his disgusting physical appearance. He also donates to donkey sanctuaries, is a supporter of Friends of the Earth, is often exceedingly kind to the damned, and has a chaste but touching love for his master.

* Scumspawn in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series ''[[Old Harry's Game (Radio)|Old Harrys Game]]''. He is a demon, one of Satan's chief minions, and much is made of his disgusting physical appearance. He also donates to donkey sanctuaries, is a supporter of Friends of the Earth, is often exceedingly kind to the damned, and has a chaste but touching love for his master.

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* In fandom, Demyx, the magical sitar player of [[Kingdom Hearts|Organization XIII]] is [[Alternate Character Interpretation|either]] an example of this trope or an incredibly scary and evil [[Crouching Moron Hidden Badass]]. In the game itself, he carries cue cards with his mission on them, and his first line is "Run! Run away!"

* In fandom, Demyx, the magical sitar player of [[Kingdom Hearts|Organization XIII]] is [[Alternate Character Interpretation|either]] an example of this trope or an incredibly scary and evil [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]. In the game itself, he carries cue cards with his mission on them, and his first line is "Run! Run away!"

** ''358/2 Days'' expands on this. He now bribes Roxas to do his missions for him and chats gleefully about how being lazy saved him from getting killed at Oblivion.

* Johnny Sasaki in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty]]'' and his identically named and voiced grandfather in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater]]''. While just incompetent in 1, he progressed to the point of making friendly conversation with the people he's on patrol for in ''2'', and his grandfather even shows family pictures to the people he's guarding. Oddly enough, becomes a major character and [[Took a Level In Badass]] in ''4''.

* The Koopa Kids from the ''[[Mario Party (Video Game)|Mario Party]]'' games do this from time to time. One would take coins from players, but occasionally would ''give'' coins instead, then realize his mistake and leave anyway.

* Balrog from ''[[Cave Story (Video Game)|Cave Story]]'' is only a villain because the Demon Crown compels him to obey the [[Big Bad]]. When nobody's looking, he's cheerful, helpful and even {{spoiler|saves Quote and Curly Brace from the [[Load Bearing Boss]] [[Bonus Boss]] Ballos.}}

* Balrog from ''[[Cave Story (Video Game)|Cave Story]]'' is only a villain because the Demon Crown compels him to obey the [[Big Bad]]. When nobody's looking, he's cheerful, helpful and even {{spoiler|saves Quote and Curly Brace from the [[Load-Bearing Boss]] [[Bonus Boss]] Ballos.}}

* E-102 Gamma of ''[[Sonic Adventure (Video Game)|Sonic Adventure]]'' was for the most part an emotionless droid just trying to follow his master Dr Eggman's orders. Then he meets up with [[Morality Pet|a little pink hedgehog and her pet bird]]. [[Tear Jerker|We'll leave it at that..]]

* In the final case of the Phoenix Wright trilogy of the [[Ace Attorney]] series, there is a character who receives instructions to help with a murder and is so innocent as to misinterpret them as instructions to throw gravy onto a portrait. The same case also involves a {{spoiler|[[Purity Sue]] who is absolutely committed to helping protect both a [[Complete Monster]] and a [[Sympathetic Murderer]] and following any instructions from them regarding how to help them avoid being caught.}}

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*** It's also suggested that without Nale and the others constantly supplying him with ice cream, [[Psychopathic Manchild|Thog would go on a bloody rampage out of boredom.]]

*** This very debate is lampshaded by Roy when they fight in the arena.

* ''[[~~Eight~~ Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'' features so many subversions of standard hero and villain roles that this trope inevitably shows up, most notably with Garland, who can't seem to grasp that [[Affably Evil|offering the goodguys cupcakes]] is not proper behavior for a wannabe [[Evil Overlord]]. It's so bad that his captive, Princess Sara, has to ''help'' him be evil. The rest of the Dark Warriors are hardly any better: Bikke makes [[The Simpsons|Ralph Wiggum]] look bright (his worst "crime" is getting his entire crew killed by being [[Forgot to Feed The Monster|too cheap to feed them]]), Vilbert is a [[Goth]] vampire who thinks he's in a LARP, and Drizz'l might be a threat except that he's forced to play [[Only Sane Man]] for the other three idiots.

* ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'' features so many subversions of standard hero and villain roles that this trope inevitably shows up, most notably with Garland, who can't seem to grasp that [[Affably Evil|offering the goodguys cupcakes]] is not proper behavior for a wannabe [[Evil Overlord]]. It's so bad that his captive, Princess Sara, has to ''help'' him be evil. The rest of the Dark Warriors are hardly any better: Bikke makes [[The Simpsons|Ralph Wiggum]] look bright (his worst "crime" is getting his entire crew killed by being [[Forgot to Feed The Monster|too cheap to feed them]]), Vilbert is a [[Goth]] vampire who thinks he's in a LARP, and Drizz'l might be a threat except that he's forced to play [[Only Sane Man]] for the other three idiots.

** This is also inverted, as the most effective villains in the entire story, by atrocities committed, are the Light Warriors, of whom Fighter is the only actually good member (maybe). He fails to be evil so thoroughly that he [[Horrible Judge of Character|genuinely believes]] that he and his [[Ax Crazy|murderous]], [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath|sociopathic]] friends are the good guys.

** The Light Warriors fall into this a lot--not because they're not evil enough, but because they're too stupid to do it right.

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* Dr. Kinesis' minions in ''[[Evil Plan (Webcomic)|Evil Plan]]'', who seem to think that Kinesis' cruelty is simply the way their leader shows them he loves them. Hint: It isn't.

* Fuchsia from ''[[Sinfest]]'' is well on her way to becoming this after crushing on Criminy. Now, instead of tormenting the souls of the damned, she reads them stories and sings comforting songs to them.

** Lil' E is Devil's "[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=935 true believer]" and [[Loony Fan]], but of [[Seven Deadly Sins]] he has any skill [http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=976 only in Sloth], otherwise his attempts to be [[Card Carrying Villain|E-e-evil]] end up [[Poke the Poodle|less than impressive]], hilarious or even adorable. He consistently [http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1529 fails at evil].

** Lil' E is Devil's "[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=935 true believer]" and [[Loony Fan]], but of [[Seven Deadly Sins]] he has any skill [http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=976 only in Sloth], otherwise his attempts to be [[Card-Carrying Villain|E-e-evil]] end up [[Poke the Poodle|less than impressive]], hilarious or even adorable. He consistently [http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1529 fails at evil].

* Wilson and especially Pickett, [http://www.notfunnycartoons.com/main.html Notfunny Cartoons]' resident [[Mad Scientist|mad scientists]]. Examples include the Killbot 5000, who works as a kindergartener because he couldn't bring himself to hurt a soul, or the genetically engineered werewolves, which would be fine if they didn't keep on coddling rather than killing. At one point, Wilson accuses Pickett of not being serious about this whole "evil science" thing. Pickett quickly pulls out a remote with a big red button, saying he's not sure anymore what it does, but if he recalls correctly, it should be something very bad. So Wilson presses it. A split second later, the phone rings. When they pick it up, the response is "Something very good just happened. Thank you."

* [[Evil Diva (Webcomic)|Evil Diva]]: The title character. Even when the school sends home a letter to alert her parents to how good she is acting, she can't help herself but help a kitten caught in a tree.

* Dr Virginia Lee in [[Skin Horse]], the [[Government Conspiracy]]'s resident [[Mad Scientist]] ... except she's actually a [[Motherly Scientist]] who isn't at all mad and [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/skinhorse/series.php?view=archive&chapter=35741#strip4 can't even manage] an [[Evil Laugh]]. The [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/skinhorse/character.php?character_ID=2596 cast page] says the trick is to never let her actually think about what she's doing.

* Richard from ''[[Looking for Group]]'' got hauled in front of a court of his (evil) peers because he'd become a minion to protagonist Cale. Eventually he got bored and, shall we say, opted out of the proceedings.

* ''[[Homestuck]]'': The Courtyard Droll, and by extension his troll's session counterpart Clubs Deuce. He gets close to [[The Hero|John]], who creates for himself an [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword|Infinity Plus One Hammer]], and what does he do? ''[[Cloudcuckoolander|He high-fives John]]''. Being incredibly [[Moe]] and something of a [[Shrinking Violet]] doesn't help his case in the slightest.

* ''[[Homestuck]]'': The Courtyard Droll, and by extension his troll's session counterpart Clubs Deuce. He gets close to [[The Hero|John]], who creates for himself an [[Infinity+1 Sword|Infinity Plus One Hammer]], and what does he do? ''[[Cloudcuckoolander|He high-fives John]]''. Being incredibly [[Moe]] and something of a [[Shrinking Violet]] doesn't help his case in the slightest.

** {{spoiler|He does try though: after being sent on a mission by John with the uberbunny and WV, he gets the idea to steal the wallet John gave WV. He then escapes and contacts his superior, Jack Noir. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't his mission in the first place, so he gets barked at. He then goes and actually does his mission, which was to kill Jade. Because of Jack Noir's feelings for Jade he inherited from Becquerel, he kills the Droll and sets up Jade's resurrection. Poor Courtyard Droll.}}

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== [[Western Animation]] ==

* Kronk from ''[[The ~~Emperors~~ New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]'' doesn't quite get the villainy thing. Not so useful, since he's Yzma's only henchman.

* Kronk from ''[[The Emperor's New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]'' doesn't quite get the villainy thing. Not so useful, since he's Yzma's only henchman.

* Mr. Beastly from ''[[Care Bears|The Care Bear Family]]'' would often talk his mind into knots in trying to remind himself that "[[Good Is Bad and Bad Is Good|good is bad and bad is good and...]]".

* Reeka and Draggle from ''[[My Little Pony]]: [[The Movie]]''. Due to their too-nice bumbling, their mother had a musical number in which she basically asked ~Why Couldn't You Be Different?~

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** Which may or may not be just as bad depending on your point of view.

*** [[Dreadful Musician|Actually, it's a lose-lose sitch]].

**** WHOA - back up a bit. Apparently, all of you forgot that not only did Jr. graduate from [[Dangerously Genre Savvy|Genre Savvy U.]] with a degree in [[Why Don't You Just Shoot Him]], [[Took a Level In Badass|he took an advanced course in thievery from Shego]]... and shows signs of becoming an [[Anti Villain]].

**** WHOA - back up a bit. Apparently, all of you forgot that not only did Jr. graduate from [[Dangerously Genre Savvy|Genre Savvy U.]] with a degree in [[Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?]], [[Took a Level In Badass|he took an advanced course in thievery from Shego]]... and shows signs of becoming an [[Anti-Villain]].

* Wingnut, Grizzle's robot minion from ''[[Care Bears|Oopsy Does It]]''. Eventually he stands up to his master, as the entire movie was basically one big [[Mistreatment Induced Betrayal]].

** Grizzle seems to have trouble making suitably evil minions, as his two recurring minions in the series are an [[Affably Evil]] [[Deadpan Snarker]] and [[Too Dumb to Live]]. This could be due to his [[Harmless Villain]] status, though: even when he created the '[[The Spock|smartest robot ever]],' it [[Straw Vulcan|logically]] decided he was the flaw in his own plan and [[The Computer Is Your Friend|kicked him out of his own lair]].

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[[Category:Villains]]

[[Category:Minion With An F In Evil]]

[[Category:Trope]]

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