Not Me This Time: Difference between revisions

* ''[[Batman]]'':

** In the year-long [[Story Arc]] "Hush", after having seen his [[Old Friend|old childhood friend]] "Tommy" being supposedly gunned down by the Joker, Bruce is [[Unstoppable Rage|chasing after him in a murderous rage]]. A part of his mind is confused that the Joker is protesting his innocence (something he's [[Card-Carrying Villain|not exactly known for]]), but it's drowned out by the red rage.

** "Joker: Devil's Advocate" is another example of this: the Joker was actually innocent of the crime of placing Joker venom on lickable stamps. Turns out it was a disgruntled member of the Post Office who did it to frame the Joker, who killed his wife.

** In a recent Batman issue, Batman pursues a recently escaped Joker because he thinks Joker was responsible for attacking and poisoning Commissioner Gordon's wife. After defeating him, however, and Batman tells him to stay away from the Gordons, Joker revealed that this time, he was completely innocent of attacking the Gordons. {{spoiler|It was actually James Gordon Jr. who did the deed}}.

* In ''[[Star Wars Legacy]]'', the Yuuzhan Vong were accused of using the terraforming to devastate the already damaged planets ecosystems even further by causing deformities in the terraforming process, an accusation that stemmed from their role in the Yuuzhan Vong conflict long ago. The Yuuzhan Vong protested that they were in fact innocent and that they did not cause the deformities, at least not deliberately, to which the Jedi believed them. Turns out, they really were innocent: The One Sith sabotaged the terraforming project with the help of a Yuuzhan Vong plant of theirs who wanted revenge for their defeat.

* Just before the [[Our Worlds at War]] Mega-Crossover over at DC, Superman is tussling with General Zod in the upper atmosphere, when a huge SOMETHING flies past Superman, towards the Earth. Supe's response?

'''Zod''' "No, listen, to me. That wasn't mine." (they stare at each other) "Perhaps this is best settled later?" }}

* In ''[[Curtis]]'', Greg and Diane Wilkins are in their bedroom for the night, only to hear a crash originating from Curtis and Barry's room. They naturally assume that they got into a fight again. However, the final panel has them screaming for help with multiple crashing sounds, revealing that this time, the crash was not from one of their fights.

* In the ''[[Star Trek TNG|Star Trek: TNG]]'' episode "Firstborn", Lursa and B'Etor of the House of Duras are suspected of an assasination attempt against Worf. It turns out {{spoiler|a future version of Alexander, Worf's son, had traveled back in time to stage this attempt so as to motivate the young Alexander to become a Klingon warrior}}.

* Not a recurring [[Big Bad]], but in one episode of ''[[Columbo]]'' the killers try to make it look like a repeat offender did their murder. Columbo doesn't seem convinced but pays a visit to that offender to be sure.

'''Offender:''' Homicide... no, I haven't done one of those recently. }}

* Japanese [[Police Procedural]] ''Kochira Hon-Ikegamisho'' had a number of reformed criminal characters who would often be questioned following crimes that resembled their earlier ones.

* In one episode of [[NCIS]], Tony is framed for a crime. One of the first people he suspects is Ziva.

'''Ziva''': Alright, I could. '''But''' I didn't. }}

* Happens in quite a few episodes of ''[[Bewitched]]''. Darrin usually assumes that his troubles are being caused by his [[Evil Matriarch|wicked mother-in-law]], Endora, who claims to be innocent (or doesn't appear in the episode at all). It turns out to be someone else was screwing with Darrin, or the problem was completely mundane with no magic involved. To be fair, Endora([[Hijacked by Ganon|or someone working for her]]) ''is'' the problem most of the time.

* In ''[[The Mentalist]]'', a serial abductor/killer, known as the balloon killer, was suspected of kidnapping a child. However, after shooting him, he implies (and Jane confirms via phone and a note) that this time, he's innocent.

* In the [[Mystery Science Theater 3000]] episode [[The Dead Talk Back]]:

'''Crow:''' (as suspect) "Crossbow killing...but I had nothing to do with ''this'' one!" }}

* On one episode of ''Dracula: The Series'', [[Dracula|the title vampire]] encounters the heroes in a crypt when the casket opens. A minor character climbs out and reveals that he was turned into a vampire. Dracula replies "Don't look at me. He's not my type."

* In the last episode of the third season of ''[[The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police|Sam and Max Freelance Police]]'', [[The Devil]] himself shows up to refute any claims that the [[Doomsday Device|Devil's Toybox]] is in any way related to him. In fact, the Toybox predates the Devil by an order of magnitude and the object was named this way by mistake. yes, the ''Devil'' thinks that what {{spoiler|Junior}} is doing is a bit [[Even Evil Has Standards|too evil]].

* In ''[[Sly Cooper]] 2'', Carmelita believes that Sly is responsible for the theft of the Klockwerk parts. While Sly had been planning to steal them, the Klaww Gang stole them first.

* In [[Dragon Quest II]], you get to meet the Dragonlord's grandson, and he's even sitting on his grandpa's throne. However, the fact Charlock Castle looks like crap kinda disabuses you of the notion he had anything to do with the plot, and he's outright confirms it. In fact, not only does basically consider his and your families' pasts water under the bridge, he even [[Enemy Mine|considers Hargon a pretentious upstart]] and gives you some info on how to kick his ass.

* [[Ratchet and Clank All 4 One]] starts with Dr. Nefarious siccing a huge monster onto Ratchet, Clank, and Captain Qwark. After the monster is beaten, a massive spaceship appears in the sky, and as the four are staring up in wonder, Nefarious remarks, "That's not one of mine." just before they get abducted.

* ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'':

** Happens in episode "Lisa the Vegetarian," when it was Lisa who did something bad for a change:

'''Bart:''' (Standing beside her) "What?"<br />

'''Marge:''' "Sorry, force of habit. Lisa, [[Big No|nooooo!]]" }}

** In "Wedding For Disaster", Homer is kidnapped and Bart and Lisa, after finding a potential clue, assume Sideshow Bob is responsible. They track him down, but he is proven innocent of this particular crime. Ironically, one of the true culprits was a near-victim of Sideshow Bob in the past, Selma Bouvier, along with her [[Psycho Lesbian]] twin sister, Patty Bouvier.

** Happens earlier in "Brother from [[Frasier|Another Series]]" where Bob goes to work building a dam with his brother Cecil's company. Bart suspects Bob is up to no good as usual but this turns out to be the one time he isn't planning something evil, it's his brother in an embezzlement (and technically revenge) scheme. When Wiggum shows up to arrest Cecil, he arrests Bob as well, mostly just out of habit.

'''Cecil:''' [[Genre Savvy|Tell them they'll live to regret this]].<br />

'''Bob:''' ''You'll all live to regret this!'' [[Sarcasm Mode|Oh, thanks a lot, now]] ''[[Sarcasm Mode|I]]'' [[Sarcasm Mode|look crazy]]! }}

** Bart has been expelled from Springfield Elementary School [[Recycled Script|twice]]. Ironically, both times it was for something that he didn't actually do.

* In the ''[[Sushi Pack]]'' episode "The Thing That Wasn't There," an electrical creature that [[By the Eyes of the Blind|only Maguro can see]] is causing havoc all over the city. Since the attacks all have to do with electricity, the rest of the Pack assume that Unagi, the electric eel member of [[Evil Counterpart|The Legion of Low Tide]] is up to no good. When they confront him, he denies having anything to do with it.

'''Unagi''': "Hm... Not bad. But that isn't my plan. I don't have a plan. I wish I had a plan!" }}

* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'':

** In the episode which provides the page quote, the girls are pranked into believing the series regular villains are doing something evil and confront them -- only to find all three of them [[Villains Out Shopping|relaxing at home]]. Although the girls are not convinced, the villains quickly realize something is up and [[Big Damn Villains|team up to deal with the pranksters themselves.]]

** In another episode, a hit to the head makes Bubbles believe she is Mojo Jojo, stealing his clothes to match. The other girls instantly assume the latter is responsible, which leads to the priceless line:

** Bubbles proceeded to beat up her sisters, get knocked on the head again by Mojo Jojo, wake up to see him standing over her sisters gloating, assume he did it and kick his ass for hurting her sisters.

* In ''[[Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?|Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego]]'', it often seems like the only time that the two protagonists Ivy and Zack actually do [[Series Goal|catch their nemesis Carmen]] [[Status Quo Is God|is when she didn't do]] [[Failure Is the Only Option|what they caught her for]].

** It plays with this one: When their Rusty and Brock get kidnapped (along with Baron Underbheit and Pete White), the titular characters immediately call the Monarch (more or less the [[Big Bad]]) to demand their release. He responds that it wasn't him this time, but "I have something planned for next week."

** When Brock wakes up and finds himself chained in a dungeon with the other three, he immediately accuses Underbheit of being responsible, leading to this [[Crowning Moment of Funny|priceless response]]:

* ''[[Gargoyles]]'':

** David Xanatos was behind so much of the troubles, that they assumed he was responsible for Goliath and Elisa's disappearance. Brooklyn opposed confronting him on it, as it would only tip him off. It did.

'''Brooklyn:''' [[Sarcasm Mode|Perfect]]. }}

** This happens to him a few times. In another episode, where the Gargoyles are looking into who stole the Scrolls of Merlin, and Broadway is missing, they immediately head to Xanatos, only to have Owen tell them Xanatos had nothing to do with it. He then helpfully suggests they try MacBeth, who ''was'' behind the theft.

* ''[[Kim Possible]]'':

** When she finds out that her [[Arch Enemy]] Dr. Drakken has been broken out of prison by a woman with "green energy blasts", she naturally drops in on his [[Sidekick]] Shego, only to find out later that it was actually an alien who did it.

'''Ron:''' So, it ''wasn't'' you that busted out Drakken?<br />

'''Shego:''' Who do you think I'm vacationing ''from?'' }}

* One episode of ''[[Rugrats]]'' has Suzie blame Angelica for stealing her brand-new tricycle and punishes her by tying her doll to a balloon and letting it go. Despite the evidence against her, Angelica was ''completely innocent'' - Suzie's trike was under her porch, Angelica's trike was her own and Angelica's red hands (which Suzie thought was from opening her garage's painted doors) were actually from her finger painting an apology letter. Thankfully for Suzie, a miracle (or a low-flying plane) gets Angelica's doll back to her and everyone's happy again. Except for poor Chuckie, since it was ''his'' balloon tied to the doll. The lesson he learned that day was "Never let Suzie borrow your balloon".

* In the ''[[Invader Zim]]'' episode "Planet Jackers", Zim initially thinks GIR is responsible for screwing up his telescope, but this turns out to not be the case.

'''GIR:''' I know. I'm scared too! }}

* ''[[Hurricanes]]'' played this trope in the episode "Target: Winston". When Stats reveals to Amanda Carey evidence suggesting that the explosion that almost killed Winston Honeychurch wasn't an accident, she quickly suspected that Stavros Garkos, the show's main [[Big Bad]] and [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]], was behind this. She later learned he wasn't.

* ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' had an episode where Tails had been abducted and Robotnik wasn't behind this.

'''Robotnik:''' Use your spiky head! If I'd had captured your companion, I'd be torturing him right now. }}

* In ''[[Spider-Man: The New Animated Series|Spider Man the New Animated Series]]'', [[Egomaniac Hunter|Kraven the Hunter]] apparently murders Mary Jane. In a rage, Spider-Man very nearly kills Kraven, only to discover that Kraven is innocent. Mary Jane was never murdered, and Spider-Man had been tricked by two other villains into thinking Kraven had killed her. (Kraven had killed the parents of the villains, and they weren't powerful enough to take revenge themselves.) Kraven doesn't get away scot-free, however: Spider-Man still drops him off with the police.