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Reliable Traitor: Difference between revisions
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(Import from TV Tropes TVT:Main.ReliableTraitor 2012-07-01, editor history TVTH:Main.ReliableTraitor, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license) |
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A minion of the [[Big Bad]], down from [[Les Collaborateurs]] up to and including [[The Dragon]], who is motivated by pure [[Ambition Is Evil|self-interest.]] They talk back, dislike their associations, and overall make clear they don't like the antagonist. The [[Big Bad]] is nonetheless assured this will be [[Conservation of Competence|their best]] [[Evil Minions|minion]] (until they [[Heel Face Turn|desert]]) because they are not concerned with sucking up, just getting results and getting out of whatever debt or obligation makes them work with villains in the first place.
If done well, the [[Reliable Traitor]] comes off as not always good, just [[Anti
Compare [[The Starscream]], [[Lovable Traitor]], [[Self Proclaimed Liar]]. Often prone to [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]].
{{examples
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
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== [[Toys]] ==
* "Darkness" ([[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"|it's a]] [[Code Name]]) from ''[[Bionicle]]'' hangs over the Shadowed One's shoulder, waiting for him to show weakness so he can kill him and assume leadership of the [[Bounty Hunter|Dark Hunters]]... The Shadowed One is well aware of this and actually ''encourages'' it; the idea being that this way the Shadowed One will be ever vigilant and [[Card
== [[Video Games]] ==
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* Archer in ''[[Fate Stay Night]]''. Lancer and Assassin also have shades of this trope, being motivated by being [[Blood Knight|Blood Knights]] while being stuck with Masters who deny them battles, but neither of their masters appreciate them either.
* In ''[[Dawn of War]]'', [[Ax Crazy|Lord Bale]] expresses concern over joining forces with the Orks against the Blood Ravens due to their unpredictability, to which the [[The Chessmaster|Sorcerer Sindri]] replies "Orks are not unpredictable. On the contrary, you can rely upon them to turn against you." It doesn't matter either way, [[Xanatos Gambit|since the Alpha Legion's scheme was made to work no matter which side won and started fighting them directly]].
** ''Winter Assault'' features two very brief [[Enemy Mine|alliances]], which are brief because each side expects the other to betray them, and each side doesn't disappoint. However the fact that each of them betrayed the other side because they expected ''the other side'' to betray ''them'' might put this into [[Self
** In ''Dawn of War II: Retribution'', Abaddon fully expects Eliphas to betray him at the first opportunity, but isn't concerned as for the moment Eliphas is completely under his power and must follow his commands. This incredibly short-sighted behavior might contribute to Abaddon also being [[Fan Nickname|known as]] [[General Failure|Failbaddon]].
* ''[[War Craft]]'' has plenty of these. First case was [[Evil Sorcerer]] Gul'dan, who Orc Warchief Orgim Doomhammer kept around because he knew Gul'dan would be useful to the Horde, even though he didn't trust the warlock. Statements about Gul-dan say that he preferred having himself surrounded by untrustworthy, ambitious individuals like himself because he knew how they thought, and actually didn't like having individuals motivated by loyalty around him because he had no clue how they thought. Additionally, Ner'zhul, the Lich King, works for Kil'Jaeden despite quite clearly having ulterior motives--since Kil'Jaeden never trusted Ner'zhul, he had his [[Elite Mooks]], the Dreadlords, watch the Lich King.
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[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Reliable Traitor]]
[[Category:Trope]][[Category:Pages with comment tags]]
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