History Main / ClocksOfControl

** The plane of [[LawfulNeutral pure Law]] is known as the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus, an EternalEngine of continent-sized interlocked wheels and gears, whose native beings are [[ClockworkCreature literal automata]] strictly following their role in the mechanism. Once such race, the inevitable, are tasked with enforcing the rule of law across the multiverse.

* In some versions of the cosmology of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', the Elemental Plane of Law is itself a great "Clockwork Nirvana"; one enormous machine of interlocking wheels, whose native beings are [[ClockworkCreature literal automata]] strictly following their role in the mechanism. Inevitables are one such race who are tasked with enforcing the rule of Law across the multiverse.

[[folder:Web Video]]

* [[TheCaligula Sergey]] [[EvilChancellor Taboritsky]] from VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysOfEurope is represented with clock motifs - his unification theme has clocks playing in the background, and has a decision screen called "The Clockworks" and warns that "[[VaguenessIsComing the clock must never reach Midnight]]". [[spoiler: Eventually, it's revealed that "The Clockworks" are representations of [[SanitySlippage his mental state]] and "Midnight" is [[VillainousBSOD his eventual mental breakdown]].]]

May overlap with ClockKing, a character who is punctual when it comes to time. With this trope, it need not necessarily be time that the characters are obsessed with, just anything that involves keeping some sort of order. See also TheWatchmaker, another trope about the complexity of clocks used to represent a characterizing trait.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Film/Clockwise'': The main character Brian Stimpson embodies this trope, being obsessed with punctuality, running his school (named Thomas Tompion, after a famous clockmaker) to a precise schedule.

* Cogsworth from ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is more of a downplayed, benevolent example than most. He is the Beast's butler, who was turned into a clock as part of the BalefulPolymorph curse on the castle. While by no means a bad person, he tends to be pompous and uptight, although as the movie goes on, he shows more of a NotSoAboveItAll side.

* "[[https://youtu.be/GHGWyIh6ooI Cuckoo]]" by Rob Cantor is a VillainSong sung from the perspective of a CorruptCorporateExecutive who [[CardCarryingVillain openly gloats]] about his desire to enslave orphans and force them to build cuckoo clocks so he can get rich off of them.

In fiction, clock motifs are often used to represent characters who are fanatics about order and control. These characters tend to be, more often than not, sinister {{Control Freak}}s, due to the view that OrderIsNotGood. Just note that this trope isn't inherently evil, and it can occasionally be used for more harmlessly uptight characters, such as those with SuperOCD.

* The short story ""Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman" by Creator/HarlanEllison is about [[BigBrotherIsWatching a ruthless dystopian government]] led by a figure known as the Master Timekeeper or the "Ticktockman". Under the Ticktockman's rule, everyone is perpetually bound to an incredibly strict schedule every day, and failing to follow this schedule is punishable by death, which the Ticktockman carries out by stopping one's heart.

* Dr Nefarious Tropy of the ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' video games is a TimeMaster villain. His attire is completely time themed, consisting of armour covered in clocks and watches and gears and even his method of time hopping, the Time Twister, utilises a giant clock with his mug on it. Tropy is regularly depicted as even more of a SmugSnake than Dr Neo Cortex, acting like a complacent and snooty EvilBrit by default but quickly reverting to temper tantrums whenever he starts losing to the bandicoots.

There are a few reasons for this symbolism. For one thing, clocks are known for having a rhythmic, consistent tick-tock sound. Alternatively, it may have to do with the passage of time itself, which is also unfailingly consistent. Clocks are often seen as the best objects to symbolize the concept of time. Also, clockworks are usually made of metal, which is cold and rigid, much like these characters.

-->--'''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'''

In fiction, clock motifs are often used to represent characters who are fanatics about order and control. These characters tend to be sinister {{Control Freak}}s, due to the view that OrderIsNotGood, but it can occasionally be used for more harmlessly uptight characters, such as those with SuperOCD.

* Tony the Talking Clock from ''WebVideo/DontHugMeImScared 2'' puts on a front of being a polite gentleman that [[FauxAffablyEvil starts to erode whenever he's not getting his way]]. He is ''insistent'' that the students listen to his song teaching them about how time works, even though some of the things he teaches hardly make sense. Out of all of DHMIS' "teachers", he is the closest to being a SternTeacher, but without any reason or fairness.

->''"There's a time and a place for mucking around!"''
-->--'''Tony the Talking Clock''', ''WebVideo/DontHugMeImScared 2''

* Staya from ''VideoGame/TinkerQuarry'' is a mechanical toy whose body is covered with clocks. He is also the merciless dictator of the Dollhouse, who forces everyone to stay in their rooms under the threat of being violently attacked. The fact that he resembles a dog makes him something of an AngryGuardDog, as well as a [[VisualPun watchdog]].

In fiction, clock motifs are often used to represent characters who are fanatics about order and control. These characters can range from being simply fastidious and stuffy to downright {{Control Freak}}s. It could even be someone with SuperOCD.