History Main / DarkMistress

When her boyfriend is brought to justice or when the gang is being dismantled, this character runs a very high risk of being treated as an AccompliceByInaction, regardless of her status in her boyfriend's entourage. And if her boyfriend is being targeted by a RoaringRampageOfRevenge for whatever reason, she will ''at best'' get turned in. In all other cases, she receives NoSympathy and is very unlikely to survive, even if she has children.

* In ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'', [[BeautifulSlaveGirl Kore]] is this to Crassus, the BigBad of Season 3. She herself is not evil and serves as a MoralityPet to Crassus, who genuinely loves her and treats her as an equal, actually seeming to prefer her to [[YourCheatingHeart his wife]] (making Kore a [[TheMistress near-literal example]]). [[spoiler: This [[TraumaCongaLine doesn't work out]] [[KickTheMoralityPet so well for her]] in the end, though]].

* In ''Film/{{Madhouse}}'', film star Paul Toombes (Creator/VincentPrice) plays a character named Dr. Death. Paul is annoyed when the producer insists on giving Dr. Death a pretty assistant, and even more annoyed at how unprofessional the actress (who happens to be sleeping with the producer) is.

Compare TheMistress, MafiaPrincess, DaddysLittleVillain. Contrasts DatingCatwoman when the love interest is in the opposite good/evil side, and UnholyMatrimony where the love interest is a full-blown villain in her own right and presented more as the villain's equal.

* Kanae from ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. ''Heavily'' deconstructed: her parents barely cares about her [[spoiler: and her mom cavorts with her fiance]], it's clear that Akio is only engaged to her to gain control of Ohtori, she's shown as incredibly nervous about their relationship and her dealings with his ''very'' odd younger sister Anthy, [[spoiler: she cracks BADLY once given enough prodding by [[ManipulativeBastard Mikage]] and [[CreepyChild Mamiya]]]], and ultimately [[spoiler: it's implied that Akio and Anthy are slowly poisoning her.]]

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', Lucy Saxon is an unusual example. She's not just The Master's companion and girlfriend. She's his ''wife''. She insists that she's to stand by him for better or for worse at first, even though he's evil. Later, their relationship becomes more empty. Eventually it becomes clear that the Master doesn't care about her, and even becomes emotionally, physically, and even (it is strongly implied) sexually abusive. By the end, she's well past blind, doe-eyed admiration. In fact, sometimes it seems she ''loathes'' him for how he's broken her spirit. So it's not surprising when [[spoiler: she fatally shoots him, while giving a vacant look.]]

* Harmony in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' took a turn as this after becoming a vampire, dating Spike. She was pretty much TheLoad to his group, and she eventually broke up with him for treating her as an annoying nuisance, but got back together with him several times. Her attempts to go [[BigBadWannabe solo as a villain]] were feeble enough that she eventually got an office job instead.

* Polly Peachum in ''Theatre/TheThreepennyOpera''. Interestingly, she's the main character, and spends much of the play (and the novel) wondering how she got into this situation. It's essentially Marxist commentary on the inability of young women to realize they can live independently of men, and to realize that there's other ways of being financially secure than (a) a criminal life or (b) a life as a sex object. (Later on in the play, Lucy is a straighter example of the trope. She's replaced by Fanny in the novel.)

* A ''very'' rare gender-flipped version of the trope is seen in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': Seifer's entire goal in life is to be a sorceress' Knight (protector/henchman/plaything). He ends up being lured in by the villainness almost instantly, being reduced to her lackey for the rest of the plot. Whether or not there's a sexual element to it is left unexplored. Said sorceress is also his [[spoiler: [[WifeHusbandry foster mother]]. [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Or so it seems.]]]]

** Toyed with in the relationship between Zuko and Mai though. He's former main antagonist (on the cusp of a HeelFaceTurn), and she's the DarkActionGirl who came along on the villainous ride because she was bored and had nothing else to do. In the end though, she is one of the few positive things Zuko has to turn his back on when he leaves the Fire Nation. They even share a cheesy scene where they both agree how they hate just about everything...except each other.

** She then reunites with an OldFlame, Phantom Limb, to become his villain-mistress Queen Etherea. We see how [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain ineffectual]] The Monarch is without her beside him as the voice of reason. Dr. Girlfriend doesn't fare much better either, as Phantom Limb reminds her of why she left him in the first place: Limb is a high-class bore who simply wishes to have her prance around his mansion in skimpy outfits, as opposed to The Monarch, who treasures her intelligence as well as her being "heat incarnate". With The Monarch, she's second-in-command; with Phantom Limb, she serves drinks to house guests.
** At the end of Season 2 she returns to The Monarch and the two get married. This also raises her VillainCred in the Guild; she is equal to The Monarch in their eyes. She takes a new name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

* The Golden Age ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' comics present an example with "[[CaptainColorbeard Captain Redbeard]]" who secretly serves as the public face of his wife Nifta's criminal organization, with him being knowingly set up to take the fall for her plans and actions while she--until they find themselves facing Wonder Woman--manages to seem like an innocent civillian unaware of her husband's activities despite being the mastermind and actively involved in carrying out her plots.

* Dr. Girlfriend from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a supervillain in her own right, but because she doesn't have any gimmick to theme herself around (aside from her brief tenure as Lady Au Pair with her Murderous Moppets), she wears a ritzy Jackie Kennedy wardrobe and defines her acts of villainy in relation to her romantic partner, The Monarch. Toward the end of the first season, she dumps him for Phantom Limb to become Queen Etherea, and we see how ineffectual The Monarch is without her around as the voice of reason. Dr. Girlfriend doesn't fare much better either, as Phantom Limb reminds her of why she left him in the first place: Limb is a high-class bore who simply wishes to have her prance around his mansion in skimpy outfits, as opposed to The Monarch, who treasures her intelligence as well as her being "heat incarnate". With The Monarch, she's second-in-command; with Phantom Limb, she serves drinks to house guests. Season 2 ends with her returning to The Monarch and the two getting married. This also raises her rank in the organization to be equally as villainous and she takes a new name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

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* In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, Gizmatic's wife, the mother of Jobe Wilkins. Whenever Jobe meets a particularly ditzy girl, he may tell her she reminds him of his mother.

[[caption-width-right:300:A match made in hell.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_rossjokerharley.png]]

[[quoteright:300:[[Franchise/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qj.jpg]]]]

* ''Manga/{{One Piece}}'': Depending on your subber or dub, Nico Robin is either explicitly or implied to be Crocodile's bedroom buddy. Considering she still acts similarly, and she seemed far from close with any of the Straw Hat crew (until the Enies Lobby arc, at least), it seems like it's more of an act she learned to put on without actually having any meaning.

* [[PrincessClassic Princess Charlotte]] from ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' is [[SatelliteLoveInterest head over heels]] [[LoveAtFirstSight in love]] with Griffith, who turns into the series BigBad in an [[MoralEventHorizon EPIC WAY]]. Yet [[NaiveEverygirl she still remains in the dark]] about all of the [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter horrific actions he has done]] as well as his true nature. While she's not a big plot device in the story, Charlotte is still of importance to Griffith - not so much as a love interest, but as a MealTicket to the throne of Midland. And holy shit, [[BreakTheCutie does the story break her]].

** In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Radiant Dawn]]'', Almedha is revealed as the Dark Mistress to the deceased BigBad of ''Path of Radiance'', Ashnard. Fits perfectly in that they were never married, though really she wasn't "together" with him long, as after their child was born and [[spoiler: she lost her powers, he claimed to hold that child hostage to keep her contained, despite the fact that he dumped the child as an orphan long ago. Her son's identity factors heavily into the plot.]]

* ComicBook/HarleyQuinn from ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' is in an [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] [[MadLove relationship]] with ComicBook/{{the Joker}}. It's a connection she can never quite shake off even when ComicBook/PoisonIvy shows her she can be a supervillain without him, and Batman shows her she doesn't have to be a supervillain at all. In fact, it seems that whenever Harley isn't Joker's Dark Mistress, [[LesYay she's Ivy's]]. In the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse it's only after [[spoiler:Joker dies]] that she's finally able to get out of it.

* Harley Quinn from ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' is in an [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] [[MadLove relationship]] with the Joker. It's a connection she can never quite shake off even when Poison Ivy shows her she can be a supervillain without him, and Batman shows her she doesn't have to be a supervillain at all. In fact, it seems that whenever Harley isn't Joker's Dark Mistress, [[LesYay she's Ivy's]]. In the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse it's only after [[spoiler:Joker dies]] that she's finally able to get out of it.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' plays this straight in one case and subverts it in another. The straight example is a teenage version in the game's backstory, where [[spoiler:the original Ion]] had Arietta. She was utterly devoted to him, even though he was a NietzscheWannabe with a complete LackOfEmpathy. The subversion is in the main game, where it seems like Legretta is this (specifically the LadyMacbeth kind, since she truly believes in her love's ideals and does whatever she can to further them) but the BigBad is ObliviousToLove.
** More to the point, Legretta only loves the BigBad BecauseDestinySaysSo. The Score determined she would fall in love with him; she knows this (and also that he's incapable of loving her back), and hates that she has no control over whom she loves.

The villain's paramour is almost always defined [[SatelliteCharacter in terms of]] [[SatelliteLoveInterest her relationship to the villain]]. The role she plays in the plot, however, depends a great deal on how her character is defined. She may be [[LadyMacbeth just as evil as he is and actually share his goals]]. She could be [[TheDitz a ditz]] who doesn't really like evil things but just isn't bright enough to realize she's in a relationship with a very bad person. In stories where the villain is allowed to be sympathetic on some levels (GreyAndGrayMorality, PunchClockVillain, etc.), she might love him for his better qualities.

The villain's paramour is almost always defined [[SatelliteCharacter in terms of]] [[SatelliteLoveInterest their relationship to the villain]]. The role she plays in the plot, however, depends a great deal on how her character is defined. She may be [[LadyMacbeth just as evil as he is and actually share his goals]]. She could be [[TheDitz a ditz]] who doesn't really like evil things but just isn't bright enough to realize she's in a relationship with a very bad person. In stories where the villain is allowed to be sympathetic on some levels (GreyAndGrayMorality, PunchClockVillain, etc.), she might love him for his better qualities.

Compare TheMistress, MafiaPrincess, DaddysLittleVillain. Contrasts DatingCatwoman when the love interest is in the opposite good/evil side.

* Dr. Girlfriend from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a supervillain in her own right, but because she doesn't have any gimmick to theme herself around (aside from her brief tenure as Lady Au Pair with her Murderous Moppets), she wears a ritzy Jackie Kennedy wardrobe and defines her acts of villainy in relation to her romantic partner, The Monarch. Toward the end of the first season, she dumps him for Phantom Limb to become Queen Etherea, and we see how ineffectual The Monarch is without her around as the voice of reason. Dr. Girlfriend doesn't fare much better either, as Phantom Limb reminds her of why she left him in the first place: Limb is a high-class bore who simply wishes to have her prance around his mansion in skimpy outfits, as opposed to The Monarch, who treasures her intelligence as well as her being "heat incarnate". With The Monarch, she's second-in-command; with Phantom Limb, she serves drinks to house guests. Season 2 ends with her returning to The Monarch and marrying. This also raises her rank in the organization to be equally as villainous and she takes a new name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

* Dr. Girlfriend from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a supervillain in her own right, but because she doesn't have any gimmick to theme herself around (aside from her brief tenure as Lady Au Pair with her Murderous Moppets), she wears a ritzy Jackie Kennedy wardrobe and defines her acts of villainy in relation to her romantic partner, The Monarch. Toward the end of the first season, she dumps him for Phantom Limb to become Queen Etherea, and we see how ineffectual The Monarch is without her around as the voice of reason. Dr. Girlfriend doesn't fare much better either, as Phantom Limb reminds her of why she left him in the first place: Limb is a high-class bore who simply wishes to have her prance around his mansion in skimpy outfits, as opposed to The Monarch, who treasures her intelligence as well as her being "heat incarnate". With The Monarch, she's second-in-command; with Phantom Limb, she serves drinks to house guests. Season 2 ends with her returning to The Monarch and marrying. This also raises her rank in the organization to be equally as villainous and her new name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

Bob's a villain. He's an evil, cruel, sadistic bastard. But no matter how many [[KickTheDog puppies he kicks]], nuns he throws into open wells, or orphans he starves to death, Bob always has a girlfriend. Funny, huh?

* Dr. Girlfriend from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' is a supervillain in her own right, but because she doesn't have any gimmick to theme herself around, she wears a ritzy Jackie Kennedy wardrobe and defines her acts of villainy in relation to her romantic partner, The Monarch. Toward the end of the first season, she dumps him for Phantom Limb, and we see how ineffectual The Monarch is without her around as the voice of reason. Dr. Girlfriend doesn't fare much better either, as Phantom Limb reminds her of why she left him in the first place: Limb is a high-class bore who simply wishes to have her prance around his mansion in skimpy outfits, as opposed to The Monarch, who treasures her intelligence as well as her being "heat incarnate". With The Monarch, she's second-in-command; with Phantom Limb, she serves drinks to house guests. Season 2 ends with her returning to The Monarch and marrying. This also raises her rank in the organization to be equally as villainous and her new name: Dr. Mrs. The Monarch.

* ''VideoGame/{{BioshockInfinite}}'': Lady Comstock, at first. She took on a new philosophy based on Comstock's religion, where sins are basically raw divinity and must be tempered into virtues. Despite her insane husband planning a campaign of city-razing. It took a while, but eventually the hypocrisy got to her and she called her husband out; BIG mistake.

* Bellatrix Lestrange from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' very clearly wishes she was Voldemort's mistress, but Voldemort really doesn't have time for that kind of nonsense. Bellatrix is married, with her husband [[SatelliteCharacter being mentioned only briefly]] and [[Film/HarryPotter the movies]] cutting him out entirely, but she probably wouldn't mind cheating on him, being evil and all, especially since WordOfGod is that it's a loveless marriage.