History Main / AffablyEvil

* PoliticallyCorrectVillain: The villain doesn't discriminate against any group of people (and may be the {{Foil}} to a villain who does).

Traditional villains are evil in thought, word, and deed. They KickTheDog every day, just because [[ForTheEvulz they think it's funny]], [[{{Jerkass}} they can't sympathize with the pain of others]], and/or [[KnightTemplar they think suffering is justified when it serves their cause]]. Alternatively, they may simply be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness inscrutable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination inhuman]] to inspire anything but dread.

Then there's these guys. There's nothing separating Alice from an ordinary nice person (except that she wants to use an infant's soul to power her Doomsday Machine so she can TakeOverTheWorld). And you'd never know it, because you only see her when she invites all the neighbors over for a barbecue in her backyard. A less-developed villain would be the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- but she's not: Alice's good humor is a genuine part of her personality. She's the very opposite of an AntiHero: she's so thoroughly dedicated to Evil that she can be pleasant and kind in her daily life without any risk of slipping to the other side. Alice would KickTheDog she just petted if it got her closer to her goals, but she won't do evil just for evil's sake. She's devoted to her family, [[BenevolentBoss fair to her employees]], and she [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoys a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

Affably Evil villains are often [[ALighterShadeOfBlack not as scary]], since they hold onto more of their humanity than [[EvilVersusEvil a traditional monster]]. Alternatively, their relative humanity makes them ''more'' frightening by playing up the contrast between their friendly personality and their horrible deeds. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

If this trope gets exaggerated, Alice will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite Bob the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer him]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to him like he's an old friend, try to appeal to Bob's better nature and convince him that the [[EvilPlan her plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, a villain is still a villain, and Alice has no use for Bob if he won't change his mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice she ''really'' is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner Bob's mother over for tea]] might send a stronger message...

If this trope gets exaggerated, Alice will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite Bob the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer him]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to him like he's an old friend, try to appeal to Bob's better nature and convince him that the [[EvilPlan her plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, a villain is still a villain, and Alice has no use for Bob if he won't change his mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice she ''really'' is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner Bob's mother out to tea]] might send a stronger message...

Traditional villains are evil in thought, word, and deed. They [[KickTheDog indulge in cruelty]] just for [[ForTheEvulz giggles]], [[{{Jerkass}} have no sympathy for the pain of others]] and/or [[KnightTemplar think any suffering is justified when it serves their cause]]. Alternatively, they may simply be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness inscrutable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination inhuman]] to inspire anything but dread.

If this trope gets exaggerated, this villain will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer them]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to them like they're an old friend, try to appeal to their better nature, and convince the hero that the [[EvilPlan villain's plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, a villain is still a villain, and he has no use for a hero who won't change their mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice the villain really is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner the hero's mom out to tea]] might send a stronger message. The friendliness of said villains can serve to humanize these guys. In situations with EvilVersusEvil, they are often ALighterShadeOfBlack in this conflict. Alternatively, their relative humanity makes them ''scarier'' by playing up the contrast between their welcoming personality and their horrible deeds.

Usually a WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can come off as this if charismatic and funny enough. In fact legitimately insane characters can at times balance this with FauxAffablyEvil more easily than sane ones, since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

Usually, villains have a personality or manner that underscores how villainous they are. They may [[KickTheDog indulge in cruelty]] just for [[ForTheEvulz giggles]], be [[{{Jerkass}} callous to the pain of others]] and/or [[KnightTemplar fanatically devoted to their cause]], or they may simply be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness unknowable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] to be on the side of humanity.

!!Other examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* Skeletor in the 2014-2015 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7VxQUxg0Ec "Happy Honda Days"]] commercials is genuinely interested in helping you save money on a new motor vehicle. Now if you can excuse him while he steps out to crush [[Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse He-Man]]...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* Huo Haha from ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' works for the antagonists Big M. and Little M. and clearly shows interest in helping them find the elemental staffs in Season 8 so that the Supermen can't use them to wake up the president, but he has a heart of gold and will take into account the feelings of others. He often accomplishes this through trivial things such as apologizing for his EvilLaugh since he thinks the Supermen might be scared by it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/ScaryGary'': The Evil Conscience is life-sized with a suit and tie, and has a pretty friendly introductory conversation with Gary, although it ends on a bit of an awkward note.
-->'''Gary''': [[GoodAngelBadAngel Where’s the angel?]]
-->'''Evil Conscience''': He didn’t share my vision, so I ate him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'': John, [[spoiler: the source and avatar of the Hunger, which consumes entire realities, is pleasant and polite, even playing chess with Merle, and enjoying their conversations. He also kills Merle repeatedly, and his goal is to eat all of reality so he can undo the laws of the universe.]]
* ''Podcast/TheMagnusArchives'':
** Michael Crew is a servant of the Vast, and has cheerfully screwed up countless lives in it's service- but when Jon confronts him, he remains a very polite host until he's asked a question he finds prying. And even then, he still answers the question and doesn't make his attack on Jon fatal.
** Oliver Banks remains pleasant and cordial, even after giving in to his status as [[spoiler: an Avatar of the fear of death itself.]]
** [[spoiler: Helen]] becomes this, after she replaces her former captor and becomes the new incarnation of [[spoiler: the Distortion]]. She's friendly and sometimes even helpful to Jon and the rest of the Archive's staff- which doesn't mean she won't willingly throw away her humanity and embrace her new status as [[spoiler: a part of the Twisting Deceit]], trapping and terrifying humans just as she herself once was.
* In ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}'', several stars come off like this. Part of it comes off as them trying to awkwardly work human concepts into their conversations despite not understanding how any of them work. Antares is happy that she gets to talk to people instead of just destroying the planet right off the bat. Sargas is very polite when he tells the students of Vertumnus to turn over the Sequinox girls or else he'll kill everyone.
** During the Gemini arc when the girls land in a gothic horror-themed dimension, Vampire!Ethan is this. He's very cordial to the group, allows Harmony to stay in a wing of his home when she's chased there, and eats as few humans as possible. That being said he mainly allows the group inside because [[spoiler:they're monsters, as is Harmony]], and he does believe that he's "owed" humans to eat.
* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'': Lauren Mallard, the NVCR program director from [=StrexCorp=]. She seems to be a genuinely sweet, bubbly young woman, and Cecil describes her as "a delight" and "the kindest, most gentle manager we have ever had at this station" (although, to be fair, that's not saying much). But she takes a rather sinister interest in knowing the names of Cecil's loved ones, which he becomes wary of.
* Baron Ragoon in ''Podcast/{{Hello From the Magic Tavern}}'' is the ruler of a minor domain just over the mountains fro Hogsface. He comes across like a small-town mayor with a strong interest in keeping order, expanding infrastructure, increasing employment, and reducing Foon's ridiculously high rate of child mortality. He is unfailingly polite and welcoming, and invites our heroes to live in his pleasant realm. He's also an open, devout supporter of the {{Dark Lord}} whose plan to reduce child mortality to have wild animals kidnap children and put them to work, and he found a wife by abducting a woman and killing her fiancée and family. Chunt is surprised that somebody so nice could be so evil; Arnie points out that there's a difference between being nice and being polite.
** Also, the protagonists' counterparts in the {{mirror universe}} are just as friendly and easy-going as the main universe (or more so in Chunt's case), but casually discuss conquering Foon in the name of the Dark Lord over a tasty meal of fresh human flesh.
* ''Podcast/UnwellPodcast'': [[spoiler: Silas]] has several polite interactions with Lily, and offers her both advice and brandy at different points, despite being someone Lily's family has been trying to keep at bay for generations, [[spoiler: as well as setting his dogs on two campers]].
* ''Podcast/BrimstoneValleyMall'': All the main characters, save for [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Misroch]], fall under this, being demons working for Hell who nonetheless are fairly likable people. They all also play with MinionWithAnFInEvil, since most of them view the whole "damning souls" thing as [[PunchClockVillain just a job]], and not one they're in a particular hurry to do.
** Hornblas was a MagneticHero and an all-around NiceGuy before he went missing; hardly anyone has a single bad word to say about him. [[spoiler:As of the first season finale, he's no longer a demon, instead working for Heaven, implying the "affable" won out over the "evil."]]
** Asmoraius and Belzagor are fairly friendly and approachable individuals who aren't afraid to pick fights with humans who irritate them, and have no problem [[HeKnowsTooMuch killing anyone who finds out they're demons]]. Stay out of their way, though, and they're generally quite nice.
** Xaphan is a wide-eyed NaiveNewcomer who is too sweet and enthusiastic to be considered truly evil. She'll lead souls into temptation if she's told to, but she'd much rather play an arcade game or eat a hot dog at the mall.
** As of the first season finale, [[spoiler:the good-natured PerkyGoth Trainee has sold her soul and become a demon, but is still clearly the same friendly girl she's always been. She just serves one of the Princes of Hell now.]]
** Satan Herself is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, at least from what little we see of her in Season One. She even gives the gang some free drink tokens at the [=Y2K=] Party.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/OldHarrysGame'':
** {{Satan}} zigzags this trope and FauxAffablyEvil. To most people, he's faux affably evil, often utilizing ExactWords or even outright lying to make them think he's about to give them what they want right before torturing them. To other supernatural beings, and the handful of humans he genuinely respects, he's this; he'll still torture them if they become annoying, but when he's not doing so he's fairly friendly and can sometimes even act as a caring presence.
** Thomas is introduced as a FauxAffablyEvil CorruptCorporateExecutive. However, over the course of the series, the Prof and Scumspawn manage to reform him somewhat; he's still evil, but he's closer to this trope.
** Gary, Satan's [[spoiler:initial]] top demon, is quite polite despite his love of cruelty.
** {{God|IsEvil}} is respectful of those he speaks to, generally willing to listen to reason (provided you don't question whether there are other gods), wishes his angels were more able to lighten up and have a laugh, and frequently sends people to Hell for little to no reason.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Website/SCPFoundation'':
** The mileage on whether the Foundation is evil varies wildly ([[DependingOnTheWriter often from entry to entry]]), but the Foundation itself can be considered this, as they are most often portrayed as WellIntentionedExtremist {{Anti Villain}}s who often engage in genuinely evil actions for the sake of protecting humanity from the paranormal.
** Within the Foundation, the Ethics Committee can be considered this; they are the ones who decide what is and isn't ethically acceptable for the Foundation to do on a case-by-case basis. While they do try to be as ethical as they can, "ethical" here is entirely relative to the situation; these are the people who invented Procedure 110-Montauk, after all[[note]]a NoodleIncident procedure that involves routinely doing something heinous to a pregnant child to keep her from giving birth to a demon baby that'll destroy the world, and no, it's not [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil what you're thinking]]...''it's worse''[[/note]]. The Ethics Committee orientation sums this up best; the Foundation isn't evil, but sometimes they have to do evil things, and the Committee has to decide when to be humane and when to be evil.
---> Remember this: the Foundation is not evil. We do not torture people "just because". We are against unnecessary cruelty. Which means somebody has to decide when cruelty ''is'' necessary. And that somebody is us.
* Cao Cao in ''Fanfic/FarceOfTheThreeKingdoms.'' He's generally being completely sincere.
* Bill Seacaster from the ''Fantasy High'' campaign of ''WebVideo/Dimension20''. He's a ruthless pirate who fully admits he'll go straight to Hell when he dies, and has killed and robbed countless people with zero remorse. But he fiercely loves his son, doting on him and encouraging him every step of the way, and is a genuinely outgoing, cheerful kind of guy. He treats his son's friends as part of his family immediately upon meeting them, and takes it upon himself to give them some training when he realizes they don't really know how to fight or defend themselves. He even handles it with good grace (more or less) when Fig politely calls him on some thoughtless (but completely unintentional) sexism.
-->'''Bill:''' I'm an old dog, but I can learn new tricks. And I speak in a little bit of an archaic vernacular. I appreciate you having the courage to check me on something, that was honestly not alright. ''[[SuddenlyShouting AND IF YOU SPEAK OUT OF TURN AGAIN]], [[MoodWhiplash I'LL SLIT YA LIKE A FISH]]''!
* Several characters from [[https://sixchances.com/ Six Chances]] are this. First, there's Francis Foxman, a mafia head, who gladly watches children beat the living crap out of a traitor for vengeance but who also refers to everyone by Mr and Ms. Then there's the pirate captain Maria who gladly welcomes people she's conquered onto her crew with a smile all while saying that they now belong to her.
* In ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Dr. Horrible isn't even all that evil at first, and he starts out wanting nothing more than respect.
* In ''Literature/PayMeBug'', Hu Mavis is a Commodore in service to [[TheEmpire The Empire]] [[TheTheocracy of the]] [[ChurchMilitant Radiant Throne]]. He's also a pretty nice guy when you get to know him. [[TheCaptain Grif]] once lamented that they could have been good friends if they weren't on opposite sides of the law.
* Seiji from ''Literature/OnlyVillainsDoThat'' doesn't actually want to be the Dark Lord. Since he doesn't have much choice however, he can at least be ''nice'' about it.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/34353772?view_adult=true Sweet Dreams]]'': [[VillainProtagonist Lolana]] is a centuries-year old Polynesian owner of a popular candy shop who [[TheVamp seduces people]] in order to later on kill and [[LiteralManeater eat them]] to maintain her [[ImmortalityImmorality immortality]] and ensure [[{{Yandere}} they stay forever with her]]. However, she is really pleasant and nice to her lovers even after revealing her true nature, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes genuinely cares about them]], goes out of her way to ensure they die painlessly when she has to kill them and only uses them as last resort, [[KickTheSonOfABitch eating child predators instead when she can]].
[[/folder]]

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': The mileage on whether they're evil varies wildly (often from entry to entry), but the Foundation itself can be considered this, as they are most often portrayed as WellIntentionedExtremist [[AntiVillain AntiVillains]] who often engage in genuinely evil actions for the sake of protecting humanity from the paranormal.

* LaughablyEvil: A villain who is meant to come across as funny will usually be nice (though some may be [[FauxAffablyEvil faux]]).

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character with no corrupting qualities. They are 0% mean and yet '''cannot''' be affably evil in any sense (though they may be {{Nice Guy}}s).

Usually, villains have a personality or manner that underscores how villainous they are. They may [[KickTheDog indulge in cruelty]] just for [[ForTheEvulz giggles]], be [[{{Jerkass}} callous to the pain of others]] and/or [[KnightTemplar fanatically devoted to their cause]], or they might be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness unknowable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] to be on the side of humanity.

Then there's these guys. There's nothing separating Alice from an ordinary nice person except that she wants to use an infant's soul to power her Doomsday Machine so she can TakeOverTheWorld. And you'd never know it, because you only see her when she invites you over for a barbecue in her backyard, where she shines as a friendly but non-intrusive host. A less-developed villain would be the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- but she's not: Alice's good humor is a genuine part of her personality. She's the very opposite of an AntiHero: she's so thoroughly dedicated to the cause of Evil that she can be pleasant and kind without any risk of slipping to the other side. Alice can KickTheDog she just petted without a second thought if it gets her closer to the success of her EvilPlan, but she won't do evil just for evil's sake. She's devoted to her family, [[BenevolentBoss fair to her employees]], and she [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoys a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

Usually, villains have a personality or manner that underscores how evil they are. They may [[KickTheDog kick puppies]] for [[ForTheEvulz giggles]], be [[{{Jerkass}} particularly insensitive]] and/or [[KnightTemplar fanatically obsessed with their cause]], or might just be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness unknowable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] to be anything but evil.

Then there are villains who are Affably Evil. There is absolutely nothing separating them from being normal, polite people except for the fact that they want to TakeOverTheWorld or use [[PoweredByAForsakenChild human souls]] to power their ArtifactOfDoom. They're not the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- their good humor is a genuine part of their personality. In a way, they're the opposite of an AntiHero: they're so thoroughly dedicated to the cause of Evil that they can be pleasant and kind without any risk of slipping to the other side. They can KickTheDog they just petted without a second thought if it helps them accomplish their EvilPlan, but they're seldom evil for evil's sake. They're devoted to their families, [[BenevolentBoss fair to their employees]], and they [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoy a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: A villain can become Affably Evil in an adaptation of a work where they were depicted as being a jerk.

* AntiVillain: A villainous character that is in a moral grey area, sometimes overlaps with this trope.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: As with good characters, a genuinely nice person is ''terrifying'' when they take the gloves off.
* ChurchgoingVillain: A villain who doesn't see any reason being a criminal should stop them from being devoutly religious (unless they're TheFundamentalist or they go to the ChurchOfHappyology, in which case, they're {{Faux|AffablyEvil}}).

Then there are villains who are Affably Evil. There is absolutely nothing separating them from being normal, polite people except for the fact that they want to TakeOverTheWorld or use [[PoweredByAForsakenChild human souls]] to power their ArtifactOfDoom. They're not the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- their good humor is a genuine part of their personality. In a way, they're the opposite of an AntiHero: they're so thoroughly dedicated to the cause of Evil that they can be pleasant and kind without any risk of slipping to the other side. They can KickTheDog they just petted without a second thought if it helps them accomplish their EvilPlan, but they're seldom evil for evil's sake. They're devoted to their families, [[BenevolentBoss good to their employees]], and they [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoy a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

Then there are villains who are Affably Evil. There is absolutely nothing separating them from being normal, polite people except for the fact that they want to TakeOverTheWorld or use [[PoweredByAForsakenChild human souls]] to power their ArtifactOfDoom. They're not the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- their good humor is a genuine part of their personality, not a mask. And this is what ultimately differentiates them from those tropes and FauxAffablyEvil. In a way, they're the opposite of an AntiHero: they're so thoroughly dedicated to the cause of Evil that they can be nice without a chance of slipping to the other side. They can KickTheDog they just petted without a second thought if it helps them accomplish their EvilPlan. But they're seldom evil for evil's sake. They can be a loving family man and a BenevolentBoss, and they're likely to [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoy a good reputation in the community]], because after all, being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

If this trope gets exaggerated, this villain will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer them]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to them like they're an old friend, try to appeal to their better nature, and convince the hero that the [[EvilPlan villain's plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, the villain is still a villain, and he has no use for a hero who won't change their mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice the villain really is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner the hero's mom out to tea]] might send a stronger message. The friendliness of said villains can serve to humanize these guys. In situations with EvilVersusEvil, they are often ALighterShadeOfBlack in this conflict. Alternatively, this can actually be used to make them ''scarier'' by playing up the contrast between their normal, friendly personality and their horrible, repulsive crimes.

In the event an Affably Evil villain does undergo a VillainousBreakdown, the very traits that make them so pleasant often serve to make their breakdown extremely creepy or outright scary. [[BewareTheNiceOnes A kind, friendly man suddenly going into a psychotic rage is made all the more scary by the simple fact that he was previously so nice and kind]]. If they [[DissonantSerenity keep their inviting personality]] while going AxCrazy, they may cross into FauxAffablyEvil territory with only skin-deep manners, which is a much more frequent behaviour than a truly kind criminal.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: If someone is such a nice person, can they really be a villain? ([[BewareTheNiceOnes Yes]].)

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: While most villains may put up a polite front in public, some genuinely earn the respect and loyalty of the people with charm and good deeds.

Then there are villains who are Affably Evil. There is absolutely nothing separating them from being normal, polite people except for the fact that they want to TakeOverTheWorld or use [[PoweredByAForsakenChild human souls]] to power their ArtifactOfDoom. They're not the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- their good humor is a genuine part of their personality, not a mask. And this is what ultimately differentiates them from those tropes and FauxAffablyEvil. In a way, they're the opposite of an AntiHero: they're so thoroughly dedicated to the cause of Evil that they can be nice without a chance of slipping to the other side. They can KickTheDog they just petted without a second thought if it helps them accomplish their EvilPlan. But they're seldom evil for evil's sake. They can be a loving family man and a BenevolentBoss, and they're likely to [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoy a good reputation in the community]], because after all, being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

If this trope gets exaggerated, this villain will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer them]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to them like they're an old friend, try to appeal to their better nature, and convince the hero that the [[EvilPlan villain's plan]] is cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, the villain is still a villain, and he has no use for a hero who won't change their mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice the villain really is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner the hero's mom out to tea]] might send a stronger message. The friendliness of said villains can serve to humanize these guys. In situations with EvilVersusEvil, they are often ALighterShadeOfBlack in this conflict. Alternatively, this can actually be used to make them ''scarier'' by playing up the contrast between their normal, friendly personality and their horrible, repulsive crimes.

Then there are villains who are Affably Evil. There is absolutely nothing separating them from being normal, polite people except for the fact that they want to TakeOverTheWorld or use [[PoweredByAForsakenChild human souls]] to power their ArtifactOfDoom. They're not the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing--their affability is a genuine part of their personality, not a mask. And this is what ultimately differentiates them from those tropes and FauxAffablyEvil. If they have underlings, expect them to be a BenevolentBoss. In a way, they're the opposite of an AntiHero. They may PetTheDog on occasion, but won't hesitate to kick it with steel-toed boots the next second if it helps them accomplish their EvilPlan. They may well be a VillainWithGoodPublicity because, after all, being evil doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

If this trope gets exaggerated, this villain will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite the hero out to tea]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer them]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk friendly, try to appeal to the hero's better nature, and convince the heroes that the [[EvilPlan villain's plan]] isn't worth getting involved in or is even [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, if the hero still won't change their mind, the villain will remind them that they are, after all, still a villain. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice the villain really is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner the hero's mom out to tea]] might send a stronger message. The friendliness of said villains can serve to humanize these guys. In situations with EvilVersusEvil, they are often ALighterShadeOfBlack in this conflict. Alternatively, this can actually be used to make them ''scarier'' by playing up the contrast between their normal, friendly personality and their horrible, repulsive crimes.

* NobleDemon: A villain with standards who never goes the extra mile to be truly monstrous.
* ObliviouslyEvil: A villain that doesn't realize that they're a villain. It should probably be obvious as to why this trope applies to this type of character.
* OpponentInstruction: An opponent who tries to help out while fighting.

* PoliticallyCorrectVillain: The villain is against the discrimination of a group of people.
* PragmaticVillainy: A villain who may be affable for their own reasons. Some definitely overlap with this trope.
* PunchClockVillain: The villain may not be exactly evil, depending on what their villainous duties are -- they simply have a job to do, and their employer just happens to be evil. Of course, if that job involves something like brutally slaughtering innocents, their apathetic detachment makes them not much better.
* SouthernGentleman: Some southern villainous characters may be this, especially if well-spoken (if not, some may be [[FauxAffablyEvil faux]]).
* TokenGoodTeammate: One member of the RoguesGallery who isn't as malicious as the rest.

* VillainRespect: They respect the hero as their rival, and consider them a WorthyOpponent. Sometimes, they'll also help the hero out, against EvilerThanThou villains.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: This trope may be the reason ''why'' they're so popular with common people.
* VillainsOutShopping: Affably Evil behavior in otherwise normal villains. Often a trait of a CardCarryingVillain, especially in the more ironic portrayals.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Basically the EvilCounterpart of this trope.

* EqualOpportunityEvil: It's just not polite to be prejudiced, even if you are a villain.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: A villain who will not cross certain ethical and moral boundaries, and is outright disgusted or appalled by others who do so or even mention them.
* EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily: Villains are mutually nice to each other.
* EvilParentsWantGoodKids: They themselves may be evil, but they certainly don't want that evilness to create a VillainousLineage.
* EvilVirtues: Polite and friendly villains will often hold "good" morals and values in order to win support for their followers.
* FairPlayVillain: When the villain ''invokes'' BondVillainStupidity simply because [[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof it's tradition]].

* FriendlyEnemy: When the main villain of the work is ''legitimately'' friends with the protagonist.
* GentlemanThief: Steals things [[KarmicThief only from people who deserve it]], and is very polite and classy about it.
* GoKartingWithBowser: The villain puts aside their differences with the hero to play a game or spend some quality time together.
* AHeroToHisHometown: Can sometimes be seen as affably evil by other characters in-story, even if they're not actually a villain.
* LaughablyEvil: A villain designed to amuse the audience (though some may be [[FauxAffablyEvil faux]]).
* LawfulEvil: A villain that respects certain rules and adheres to a particular code - the law, the tradition, his own CodeOfHonor or something else. His evil acts may be done just to enforce his own rules.
* ALighterShadeOfBlack: A villain that will often be the lesser of two evils in an EvilVersusEvil situation.
* LovableRogue: Technically on the side of wrong, but they're so darn likeable, they become an AntiHero.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: A person who believes they are serving a good cause will not likely be someone who is [[EvilIsPetty needlessly cruel]] and can even be quite reasonable.

* BaddieFlattery: The villain gives the hero some compliments, but only as a ploy to confuse them or throw them off guard.

* EvilIsPetty: A villain who is evil at even the smallest level -- he'll blow up the world ''and'' dock his secretary's salary.
* FauxAffablyEvil: An evil character who merely ''acts'' nice. The Affably Evil character will often serve as TheDragon or [[EvilMinions Evil Minion]] to this type of person
* GoodIsNotNice: A character who is cold, rude, and occasionally cruel without ceasing to be a good person.
* GoodIsNotSoft: A good (and nice) person who is ruthless to their enemies.

* NiceGuy: The heroic opposite of this trope, when TheHero is a nice person.
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: ''Looks'' evil but isn't, as opposed to an AffablyEvil character who ''is'' evil but doesn't look it.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The character hides a more sinister side behind a nice facade -- unlike them, Affably Evil characters are genuinely nice.
* CompleteMonster: The most heinous characters played seriously with no redeeming or altruistic qualities. They are 0% nice and therefore '''cannot''' be affably evil in any sense (though they may also be FauxAffablyEvil).
* EnemyMine: The villain realizes they need to cooperate with their enemy to achieve a common goal. That doesn't mean they have to be nice about it.
* EvilIsPetty: A villain who harasses others for the sheer delight of it and takes pride in being a disreputable person, and is as far from nice as can be.
* FauxAffablyEvil: A villain who adopts an affable demeanor that isn't genuine, basically mocking Affably Evil. They'll chat pleasantly with their victims while engaging in ColdBloodedTorture, or hum cheerfully to themselves while setting an orphanage on fire. Unlike Affably Evil characters, they're genuinely mean, and often do things ForTheEvulz, but it might not be obvious just by talking to them. The Affably Evil character will often serve as TheDragon or [[EvilMinions Evil Minion]] to this type of person
* GoodIsNotNice: The opposite of this trope. The guy's a hero, but is rude, crude, and sometimes, ''sometimes'' even outright cruel.
* GoodIsNotSoft: A hero is genuinely nice but ruthless to their enemies. Essentially the good version of this trope which could be interpreted as "(very) affably {{Anti Hero}}ic".
* HarmlessVillain: When the villain is not necessarily affable, just no one to be scared of.
* HateSink: A character designated to be hated by the audience. Affably Evil characters are not supposed to be hated.
* LovableTraitor: It's obvious you can't trust them, but they're still all right to hang out with.
* MinionWithAnFInEvil: The reverse of this trope; whereas the Affably Evil is a nice person who ''is'' evil, the Minion with an F in Evil is a nice person who ''tries'' to be evil but fails miserably due them not bringing themselves to do anything that heinous.
* NiceGuy: The heroic opposite of this trope, when ''TheHero'' is outright nice.
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: The character is not really evil, seen as villain only because their intention and goal are contrast to the heroes. Affably Evil characters are '''genuinely evil''', though their niceness is sincere.
* NotMeThisTime: They may not have the crime at the moment, but that doesn't mean they won't do it in the future.

* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: The hero is dismayed to be seen as the kind of person the villain would be nice to.

GoodIsNotNice is the InvertedTrope, and such good guys are particularly good at giving the Affably Evil a proverbial punch in the nose. When both GoodIsNotNice and Affably Evil are used, you may end up with PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes,but if done poorly, you might get a case of JerksAreWorseThanVillains, where the audience hates the heroes for being jerks more than the villain. ImNotHungry is often dealing with this villain. A villain will sometimes engage in TooFunnyToBeEvil to achieve this effect. NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine is a subtrope in many instances.

* FauxAffablyEvil: A villain who adopts an affable demeanor that isn't genuine, basically mocking Affably Evil. They'll chat pleasantly with their victims while engaging in ColdBloodedTorture, or hum cheerfully to themselves while setting an orphanage on fire. Unlike Affably Evil characters, they're genuinely mean, and often do things ForTheEvulz, but it might not be obvious just by talking to them. The Affably Evil character will often serve as TheDragon or [EvilMinions Evil Minion] to this type of person

* FauxAffablyEvil: A villain who adopts an affable demeanor that isn't genuine, basically mocking Affably Evil. They'll chat pleasantly with their victims while engaging in ColdBloodedTorture, or hum cheerfully to themselves while setting an orphanage on fire. Unlike Affably Evil characters, they're genuinely mean, and often do things ForTheEvulz, but it might not be obvious just by talking to them.

* CompleteMonster: The most heinous characters played seriously with no redeeming or altruistic qualities. They are 0% nice (though may be FauxAffablyEvil). These characters therefore '''cannot''' be affably evil in any sense.