Minion with an F In Evil: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

{{quote|''You're quasi-evil. You're semi-evil. You're the margarine of evil. You're the Diet Coke of evil. Just one calorie, not evil enough.''|'''Dr. Evil''' (to his [[Genre Savvy]] son Scott), ''[[Austin Powers]]: The Spy Who Shagged Me''}}

 

 

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]].

 

 

{{examples}}

 

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

* The entirety of the Gedou Otome Tai from ''[[Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge]]''. While they're daughters of low-ranking [[Mooks]] from an evil organization, their ability to actually do anything evil is zero.

* 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.

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

* Chachamaru on ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is technically a villain because she's trying to kill Negi, but that's only because she's following her programming. When she's not doing that, she can be seen retrieving lost balloons for little girls, helping old ladies across the street, and rescuing stray cats.

* In ''[[Ratman]]'', the minions of Jackal, who wear spooky skeleton outfits, in the first chapter forget they were supposed to kidnap Shuto. So they instead played with and fed stray kittens.

* Antylamon, the last of the 12 Devas in ''[[Digimon Tamers]]''. While the other Devas would usually attack humans on sight, Antylamon doesn't attack or threaten Suzie, the first human she meets, at all. Suzie even makes her do a [[Heel Face Turn]], as she not only defends Suzie from Makuramon, but becomes her partner.

 

== [[Film]] ==

* Whitey, the large albino rat from ''[[Flushed Away]]'', who comes across more as a [[Gentle Giant]] than anything.

{{quote| '''Vizzini:''' Finish him! Finish him, your way.<br />

'''Fezzik:''' Oh goody, my way. Thank you, Vizzini... which way is my way?<br />

'''Vizzini:''' Pick up one of those rocks, get behind a boulder, in a few minutes the man in black will come running around the bend, the minute his head is in view, ''hit it with the rock!''<br />

'''Fezzik:''' My way is not very sportsman-like. }}

** It was Deejay. And why was Deejay evil? In his own words "because I'm being paid a damn fortune!". Zangief wasn't paid like Deejay was causing his turn.

*** 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.

* 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.

{{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.

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

 

* The children's book ''Which Witch?'' features Belladonna, who tries her hardest to be an evil, hag-faced black witch like all the rest. Unfortunately her natural tendency is that of a [[Purity Sue]]-level white witch that makes all the other witches feel sick.

* Some of the mooks in the ''[[Redwall]]'' series.

** Also in ''[[Deathly Hallows]]'', when the trio are caught and brought to Malfoy Manor, and Draco is asked to take a look at them to see if they've got the real Harry Potter, he clearly knows it's them, and is clearly reluctant to identify them, since he knows that doing so will ensure that Voldemort will come and kill them.

 

* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' has plenty of examples, most recently Luke Rattigan in ''[[Doctor Who/NS/Recap/S4 E5 The Poison Sky|The Poison Sky]]'', who thinks the Sontarans killing people with his inventions is cool but lacks the nerve to get his own hands dirty and {{spoiler|ultimately sacrifices himself so the Doctor won't have to.}}

** Davey in the pilot of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. This is the guy who refuses to follow Maria and Luke into a womens' bathroom, because "That room is designated for females only. We are males... this culture says we must never go in."

** Well, if you overlook the "murdering a girl in cold blood" thing or the fact he seems to hate Bajorans even more than [[Big Bad|his boss]]... He's actually more of a [[Dragon Ascendant]] who does a [[Heel Face Turn]].

* Sgt. Schultz from ''[[Hogan's Heroes]]'' is often seen a a bumbling underling to Colonel Klink, and unlike most of [[Those Wacky Nazis]], he is willing to turn a blind eye to Hogan and his crew's antics.

** Schultz basically knows everything that everyone is doing, knows whether they're bad or good, is hyper-effective when he needs to be, and is a cheerful fat man who made toys for the little children before the war. Yes, it's true, the Nazis drafted Santa Claus.

 

== [[Radio]] ==

 

 

** ''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''.

* 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.}}

 

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

** He later {{spoiler|saves said paladin (named O-chul) and Vaarsuvius from death via ingested meteors. He teleports them away and Xykon doesn't even realize it was The Monster in the Darkness who did it}}.

** [[Psychopathic Manchild|Thog]] from [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|the Linear Guild]] has elements of this as well. Though he's actually very good at killing people, he's too stupid to realize that this is ''bad'' and would be equally content eating ice cream or playing with a puppy (or whatever poor bystander he can force into the role of the puppy). He's shown to be largely harmless without his boss [[Smug Snake|Nale]] to goad him into evil, though with Nale around he does better (worse?).

*** 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.

** 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.

'''[[Impossible Thief|Thief]]:''' Seriously, hiding the bodies is as important as the murder. }}

* The minon in [http://www.superstupor.com/sust04072008.shtml this] ''[[Super Stupor]]'' comic; not so much an F in Evil as U for "Ungraded".

** His minion, Mitzuna, is a [http://adventurers.keenspot.com/d/20030408.html straightforward example.]

* During the "That Which Redeems" story arc from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'', the Dimension of Pain demons start turning people in the Dimension of Lame into demons as well. However, as one demon puts it, "When you start with wussie mortals you get wussie demons."

* Jurinjo from ''[[Emergency Exit]]'' is amazing at this trope. He helps [[Cloudcuckoolander|Eddie]] buy groceries, delays reporting back from a mission until he eats ice cream and sees a dancing monkey, shows the heroes the location of a [[Plot Coupon]], has doubts about continuing to work for the villain, doesn't want to attack an opponent who seems to be less well armed then he is, is upset when another villain attacks one of the heroes , offers to heal the hero and has to be reminded that villains usually asks for payment, and actually holds up his end of the deal and seems to be making friends with one of the heroes.

** To a lesser degree, Orulla.

* 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].

* 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."

* 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.

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* 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?~

** The best known being the one where she and Kimber form their own duo group; Stormer only returns to the Misfits because she cares too much to let her friends utterly fail, which they would without her.

* Hack and Slash from ''[[Re Boot]],'' who are dismayed when Bob is lost in the Web and unable to keep them from doing anything ''really'' bad, like killing others. Though, considering their level of competence following their [[Heel Face Turn]], they also have an F in Good as well.

* Senor Senior Jr. on ''[[Kim Possible]].'' His father, [[Repetitive Name|Senor Senior Sr.]], took up villainy [[Punch Clock Villain|as a hobby after retiring]] and often ropes his son into acting as an accomplice in his schemes. Senior Senior Jr. has no interest in villainy and would much rather be a boy-band singer.

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

* 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]].

* Nazi [[Mook]] Schulz from ''[[Looney Tunes|Daffy the Commando]]''.

* Guild henchmen from ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' (except for the Guild Blackout squad sent to assassinate the Venture family under orders from Phantom Limb) In fact, the typical henchman is more along the lines of a [[Punch Clock Villain]] than a true servant of evil. Guild henchmen are portrayed as ordinary civilians who just chose an atypical line of work, and thus most of them can't really comprehend their boss' schemes. They can and are used as deadly tools of the supervillain's mastery, but are more typically comfortable with engineering or secretarial positions, or just tag along with the supervillain as he or she live their own lives.

*** 21 completely subverted this in the fourth season {{spoiler|after witnessing 24's murder/accidental death}} when he {{spoiler|[[Took a Level In Badass]] by completely whipping his body and selfdiscipline into shape and becoming "General 21", a highly trained, merciless supersoldier. However he still does not fare very well in the evil department, as he completely fails to torture Hank and Dean and even openly admits to them that he cannot tap into his inner hatred the way the Monarch can.}}

*** Their own boss The Monarch has his own incompetent moments as well. When discussing his arching plans with Monstroso, he suggests "coating the Venture compound with honey so he's devoured by ants and jiggers" and then "stick him in a bag and beat him with a rake." Monstroso shoots down both plans as being stupid.

* Sammy from ''[[The Little Flying Bears]]''.

{{quote| '''Letta:''' She's new.}}

 

{{reflist}}