History Main / IknowYouKnowIKnow

* The Swedish movie ''The Shark Who Knew Too Much'' opens with the main lead chased by a helicopter while shouting this sort of dialogue. Given that he's spent his whole life masquerading as a group of identical triplets who can't stand each other's presence just to trick his father into giving him shareholder majority of the company, it's obvious there's a lot of deception involved.

* ''Hot Lead and Cold Feet'' has Don Knotts' Sheriff deliver this line regarding his arch-nemesis, Rattlesnake: "'Cause he's here and I know he's here. And ''he'' knows I know he's here! But he doesn't know ''I'' know he knows I know he's here, but I know. So I got the edge!"

[[quoteright:320:[[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/peanuts_2a.png]]]]

[[ProperlyParanoid Paranoia]] can be a [[CrazySurvivalist funny thing]]. It seems no matter [[CrazyPrepared how well you've prepared or how you anticipate possible outcomes]], there's always someone who can mess your plan up if they know about it. Ah, but how do you know they know? they may be acting like they don't know so you won't do anything different that they can't predict. This, inevitably, leads to the following paranoid rant:

* Invoked in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'s'' "A Study in Pink". The assassin tempts Sherlock into a battle of wits involving two identical pills: one poisoned, the other harmless. He tries to lure Sherlock in with this form of logic, but Sherlock refuses the terms of the argument, knowing that no matter what choice he makes, the odds of success are still 50/50. He [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and is ready to walk away from the whole thing, but the assassin pulls a pistol on him and threatens to shoot if he doesn't choose. Sherlock then deduces what the other victims didn't, [[spoiler: that the gun is a fake,]] but gets lured back to the table anyway because he ''has to know'' if he can win. And the twist of it is, [[EvasiveFightThreadEpisode the show never says]] if he made the right choice.

* Richie in ''Series/TheClass'' must determine how Duncan's date went for Nicole, but since he's a BadLiar, he ends up revealing Nicole's secret, then Duncan's secret, then both.

** How about agreeing on a series of colored flares: the first general sends up a flare (say, red) meaning that he's ready to attack, and the second responds with the same color to indicate that he will attack as well. Stealth is an issue, but...

* The "[[[[ElectronicTelepathy ESP Center]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr07lrGSNUs]]" wonder from ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}: Call to Power''.
-->'''Subject 1:''' I know what you're thinking.\\

* The "[[ElectronicTelepathy ESP Center]]" wonder from ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}: Call to Power''.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': At the end of [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E08AnInsideMan "An Inside Man"]], [[MagnificentBastard Grand Admiral Thrawn]] implies that he knows that [[spoiler:Agent Kallus]] is the [[ReverseMole traitor]] in the Imperial ranks, and [[spoiler:Kallus]] is aware that Thrawn might know. [[spoiler:It's later revealed in [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E15ThroughImperialEyes "Through Imperial Eyes"]] that Thrawn wasn't as sure of Kallus being the traitor as it seemed, although Kallus was definitely one of Thrawn's top suspects.]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and defied in the ''Manga/DeathNote'' [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/431046/chapters/728720 Welcome To The Family]]'':

[[folder:Parlor Games]]
* This is an important part of strategic play in Mafia and its variations (such as ''TabletopGame/{{Werewolf}}'', to the point that dedicated players have an acronym for it (WIFOM, short for Wine In Front of Me, referencing ''Film/ThePrincessBride''). Players are always trying to operate one level deeper than their opponents, but when someone drops WIFOM into the conversation, they're usually indicating that the speculation has descended into meaningless back-and-forth and either other sources of information should be used to make the decision, or failing that, a blind guess, which while bad play generally is preferable to waffling indefinitely over a decision because the player is trying to get into their opponents' heads.
[[/folder]]

'''Charles''': Yes... ''(heavy dramatic pause)'' ... I know.\\

* In ''WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged'', the Major lets the Hellsing organization find out about his plans so that they could plan around his plan, and he in turn will plan around the plan that they're planning around his first plan.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* In ''WebVideo/HistoryOfJapan'', this is exaggerated by a whole bunch while explaining how World War I got started (and why Japan got involved). In summary, Japan likes Britain hates Germany hates Britain likes Belgium is being trespassed by Germany hates France likes Russia hates Austria hates Serbia shot the leader of Austria.

''FanFic/OfPatienceAndPettiness'': Adrien ''believes'' that he's locked into such a battle with Ladybug after NewTransferStudent Eden arrives. Given her various similarities to the superheroine, he becomes convinced that she ''must'' be Ladybug -- and furthermore, that she knows ''his'' secret identity. This belief swiftly turns toxic, culminating in ATragedyOfImpulsiveness that causes [[spoiler:Eden's akumatization into Asian Beetle]].

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' backstory, during the Alessian Revolt, this plays out in a bizarre, metaphysical way between Akatosh, the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent draconic]] God of Time and [[TopGod chief deity]] of the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedra]], and Pelinal Whitestrake, the [[GodInHumanForm physical manifestation]] ("Shezarrine") of the spirit of the [[GodIsDead "dead" creator god, Lorkhan]], who was sent to be Alessia's divine "champion" in her war against the (primarily) Daedra-worshiping [[OurElvesAreBetter Ayleids]]. Pelinal was aware that Akatosh knew [[TheBerserker just how insane he was]] and could always feel Akatosh's burning gaze upon him. Crosses over with TeethClenchedTeamwork for Akatosh and RageAgainstTheHeavens for Pelinal, as Pelinal, being a Shezarrine, is the physical incarnation of Lorkhan's soul. During the [[CreationMyth creation of Mundus]], the mortal plane, Lorkhan convinced/tricked (depending on the storyteller) the et'Ada ("original spirits") who would become the Aedra (including Akatosh) into sacrificing large portions of their divine power to create Mundus. In revenge for this perceived treachery, the Aedra killed Lorkhan, tore out his "divine center" (heart), and cast it down into the world he created where his spirit would be forced to wander. Akatosh considered it a "moment of weakness" when he went with Lorkhan's plan to create Mundus and likely still harbors a grudge. When Pelinal went too far in one of his berserker fits of rage and damaged the lands themselves, Akatosh and the other divines [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere nearly left Mundus in disgust]] until they were placated by Alessia. To quote ''The Song of Pelinal'':

-->'''Daphne Greengrass:''' If we take Nagini he's going to know we know and we really don't want him knowing we know until we want him to know.

-->'''Harry:''' This gets a bit complicated. But basically Dumbledore knows why Voldemort wants me dead, and why he killed my parents and tried to kill me all those years ago. But he - Dumbledore - didn't know that I knew. But I do know, and he knows I know, but he doesn't know that I know he knows I know…

* Trading card games can have a variety of rules, exceptions, and so on to keep things interesting, but ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' is well-known for the numerous and sometimes surprising ways the action can be altered, and the official rules tell you to ''expect'' this by saying that if a card says something contrary to the rules, '''you follow the card'''. There are cards to alter almost any aspect of the game: from draw to battle to endgame, so ''any'' action you take can begin this kind of mindgame.

--> “It is not his style to leave the execution of something like this to a subordinate like that. He might never get his hands dirty, but he wants to be there to watch.”\\

--> '''Nico:''' [...] But I knew she knew she didn't have time.

** In Chapter 32, [[TheRival Gary]] and [[JerkAss Paul]] have a full battle against each other. Gary, knowing that Paul's Torterra, his strongest Pokémon, can use Stealth Rock, prepares in advance with a couple of Pokémon to prevent him from setting it up. However, Paul anticipated that he'd try this, so he countered by switching Torterra out and send out a different Pokémon to crush Gary's. [[spoiler: While the battle isn't shown in full, it's later revealed that Gary lost, ''[[CurbStompBattle badly.]]'']]

* ''Fanfic/BloodstainedHeroesOfHumanity'': After the indoor battle trial Katsuki indirectly reveals that he knows Izuku's vampirism and warns him to act more discreetly so eavesdroppers not in know won't know what they're talking about.
* ''Fanfic/NewBeginningsSmallville'': Played for laughs when Lois is introduced to Kara, remembers Kara Kent from what she still believes to be a "hallucination", and asks if she is from Krypton.
-->'''Kara:''' (confused) "So did she know or not?"\\

'''Kara:''' (bewildered) "What?"

* In the ''Comicbook/BatMite'' miniseries, Bat-Mite belives that the villain Gridlock is a senator who uses "gridlock" as part of his campaign slogan.

* Played with in ''FanFic/MyImmortal''. When [[strike:Ebony]] Enoby travels back in time, she knows that [[strike:Snape]] Snoop possessed [[strike:James]] Samaro and made him kill [[strike:Lucius]] Lucian. She, however, did not "want them to know [she] knew." Whether or not Tom knew she knew is not made clear, but it is likely, as [[spoiler:he is Volxemort and commanded Snop]]. "Suddenly it's a {{sitcom}}," the dramatic reading snarked at this bit.

* Happens in ''FanFic/DeathNoteEquestria'', mostly between Twilight and L.
* In a chapter of ''FanFic/DragonAgeTheCrownOfThorns'', Theron Mahariel, the Dalish Elf Warden, contemplates how he's been passively spying / been allowed to eavesdrop on some secret talks between the GuileHero dwarven noble protagonist and Alim Surana, OneManArmy mage. The extent of the I know he knows I don't, etc., has to be seen to be believed. And it's only ''slightly'' played for laughs.

** Humorously {{Lampshaded}} somewhat early on, when L challenges Light to a friendly tennis match. The two of them both start long, intricate inner monologues about how they can psychoanalyze the other, even when they know the other already knows this and will be acting accordingly... by the match's end, they both conclude that there's too much knowing going on that neither can conclude anything significant about the other based on the match.

* And all of ''Manga/DeathNote'' from the time L shows up. So, all of it, really. It might as well be called I Know You Know I Know: The Manga Series.
** Especially when [[spoiler: L and Light start working together to catch Kira, who is actually Light. L was always slightly better at the up close and personal mindgames, but Light fared better in the end]].

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Friends}}'', [[Recap/FriendsS5E14TheOneWhereEverybodyFindsOut "The One Where Everyone Finds Out"]], Phoebe and Rachel find out about Monica and Chandler's secret relationship, and something of an arms race begins regarding whether or not "they know we know they know we know!" Joey gets caught in the middle (since he's known for a while), and eventually throws up his hands when he can't keep track of who knows what. When Rachel and Phoebe order him not to tell Chandler and Monica, he exclaims: "Couldn't if I wanted to!". Parodied in the same episode, when Monica walks into the apartment and dramatically says, "They know." Cue the confusion.

* In Creator/TimothyZahn's Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy (''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' books), part of MagnificentBastard Thrawn's effectiveness in battle is based on his reputation: his enemies know fully well he's a nigh-unparalleled master strategist and tactician, so from their perspective each and every move he makes is like Schrodinger's Gambit, existing in a state of It's A Trap and It's Not A Trap until they open the box and the waveform collapses.

* ''FightingGames'' live and breathe this trope in player vs player matches, especially at a high level. There are no moves or techniques in a fighting game that are outright more powerful than all others; each move has its time and place, and importantly, each move counters some options and is countered by some other options. So in order for a player to defend successfully, they have to guess what move the attacker will use, and respond with a defensive option that beats that attack. But the attacker knows this, so they should try to guess what the defender is going to guess, and choose an option that beats that; but the defender knows this, so they should try to guess what the attacker is going to guess that they're going to guess, and defend appropriately. Repeat ad nauseum. The term ''UsefulNotes/FightingGame yomi'' is of relevance, describing the ability to read your opponent's mind.

* ''Main/FightingGames'' live and breathe this trope in player vs player matches, especially at a high level. There are no moves or techniques in a fighting game that are outright more powerful than all others; each move has its time and place, and importantly, each move counters some options and is countered by some other options. So in order for a player to defend successfully, they have to guess what move the attacker will use, and respond with a defensive option that beats that attack. But the attacker knows this, so they should try to guess what the defender is going to guess, and choose an option that beats that; but the defender knows this, so they should try to guess what the attacker is going to guess that they're going to guess, and defend appropriately. Repeat ad nauseum. The term ''UsefulNotes/FightingGame yomi'' is of relevance, describing the ability to read your opponent's mind.

--->'''Doctor:''' No, of course not, and they know I didn't. And I know that they know that I didn't, and they know that I know that--

** A Fourth Doctor book has the Doctor going on and on like this, until Sarah Jane Smith tells him to shut up.
-->'''Sarah:''' You know they're lying.\\
'''Doctor:''' Of course I know. And they know that I know. And I know that they know, and they know that I know that they know [etc., etc.]

* ''Series/DoctorWho'':

* ''Every'' fight during ''Manga/BattleTendency'' of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' follows this pattern. Joseph attacks, the opponent declares they saw it coming and counters, Joseph explains he saw ''that'' coming and twists the attack as needed, and so on until one side or the other goes down.
** This carries over to later parts of the series. For example: Jotaro "faking" his genuine ability to [[spoiler:move through stopped time]] so that Dio would be caught off-guard after calling him on his apparent bluff.

-->'''Thief:''' You realize of course this means Fighter is the smartest.\\

* Negativland's ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T_rhzKly8s&list=PLIzlr2RR_imLgKYH88_rcQ6U4G5TpZp-0 Time Zones Exchange Project]]'' has a moment early on where erstwhile [[AlphabetNewsNetwork Universal Media Netweb]] star Dickie Diamond (Richard Lyons) succumbs to his paranoid delusions and goes completely [[https://archive.org/details/ote over the edge]], flying off in the traffic herders' Whirlycopter armed with a Media-Shifter and that vilest of all weapons, a ''script''. He tells UMN producer Omer Edge (Don Joyce) he's discovered Netweb executives' [[UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheories conspiracy]] to get rid of him: "Don't you think I know that you know, that I know what you and Friday are up to?" [[https://youtu.be/5T_rhzKly8s?t=7m38s Hear it here.]]