View source for The Dog Bites Back

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{{quote|''"I will treat any beast which I control through magic or technology with respect and kindness. Thus if the control is ever broken, it will not immediately come after me for revenge."''
|'''[[Evil Overlord List]], Rule #48'''}}

It's all gone to hell. [[Collapsing Lair|The base is collapsing about your ears]], your [[Evil Plan]] is [[Out-Gambitted|in ruins]], the heroes are lining up for the [[Humiliation Conga]]—what more could go wrong?

Well, remember that [[Mook]]? Or that victim you had cowed, or enchanted? Doesn't matter who it was specifically, but what ''does'' matter is that he's the one [[Kick the Dog|you've been abusing]] since you, and he, showed up.

He's got a knife. And no shame about stabbing you [[In the Back]].

Unlike the [[Bastard Understudy]] and [[The Starscream]], this character attacks as a crime of opportunity. There is no danger that he will take over the villain's place in the grand scheme of things. The backstabber often ends up dead—but this is not often a case of [[Redemption Equals Death]], because the motive is often not heroic; even victims are generally motivated by [[Revenge]]. The villain's only control was fear, and when he's no longer afraid...

May shade into [[Give Me a Sword]] when the character ''fails'' to act rather than actively attacks him; a wounded and powerless [[Big Bad]] may be helpless unless his [[Mook]] throws him something, so he demands it, and the Mook—just doesn't. This can sometimes tie into an [[Ironic Echo]] if the Mook uses the Big Bad's own [[Villainous Demotivator]] lines as a reason he can't help.

Especially likely for the villain who holds [[It's All About Me]]. Can result from a backfired attempt at [[Being Tortured Makes You Evil]].

The [[Reverse Mole]] and the [[Fake Defector]] may launch similar attacks, for similar motives, but in their case, the attack was planned, or else the plan was to look for such openings. Losing control of a [[Tyke Bomb]] or a [[Psycho for Hire]] may result in this as well.

May be used to preserve [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him]] in the same way as a [[Disney Villain Death]].

Often occurs in the form of [[Bodyguard Betrayal]]. Subtrope of [[Hoist by His Own Petard]] and [[Karmic Death]]. See also [[Nice to the Waiter]]. Not to be confused with [[The Dog Shot First]]. If the dog biting back does some puppy-kicking of its own, it's [[The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized]]. If the hero deliberately sets this situation up, it's [[Do with Him as You Will]].

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{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Death Tropes]]
[[Category:Villain Ball]]
[[Category:Tropey the Wonder Dog]]
[[Category:Ending Tropes]]
[[Category:Plot Twist]]
[[Category:Betrayal Tropes]]
[[Category:Friendly Fire Index]]
[[Category:Example as a Thesis]]
[[Category:Ironic Tropes]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dog Bites Back, The}}