History Main / KeepingTheEnemyClose

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. Captain Shinji Hirako of the 5th Division distrusted Sosuke Aizen and made Aizen his lieutenant so he could keep an eye on him. Aizen found a way around this by using a dummy. Ironically, Aizen explains that the fact that he never trusted him is how he was able to make it work. If Shinji had gotten to know Aizen better, then he would've noticed that the double's mannerisms didn't quite match his own. Since he kept Aizen at a distance, he never learned enough about him to see through the deception. In the end Aizen used his position to perform evil experiments and eventually turn Hirako and a number of other high level Soul Reapers into hollows.
* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', L's primary tactic at one point is to actually [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace keep Light handcuffed]] to him so he can't act as Kira. This backfires on him because it allows Light to come into contact with the Death Note again.
* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Lelouch does this to Rolo during the Geass raid and the second Tokyo battle before [[spoiler:he intends to dispose him as payback for murdering Shirley and/or attempting to replace Nunnally ([[SparedByTheAdaptation the former doesn't happen in the movie versions]], but the latter still remains one reason)]]. Unfortunately for the former, [[PoisonousFriend Rolo makes various other Black Knights suspicious]] [[PsychoSupporter by telling them he trusts him the most]]. Should've reined him in a bit more.
** Earlier in the season, Villetta and Rolo are assigned to the OSI detail to watch over Lelouch in order to keep him from using his Geass or becoming Zero. Lelouch manages to flip the script on them both via blackmail of the former's relationship with Ohgi, and convincing the latter that he has no future with Britannia, respectively. (Unfortunately, he fails to keep an absolute leash on either.)
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': The 2nd Hokage never trusted the Uchiha clan and felt their extreme emotions meant that even as allies they were a FaceHeelTurn waiting to happen. [[spoiler:Later events would prove that [[JerkassHasAPoint he had a point]].]] He put them in charge of Konoha's law enforcement so that he could more easily keep an eye on them.

* ''Series/TheXFiles''. Fox Mulder is contacted by a 'Deep Throat'-type whistleblower. At the end of the episode, he's revealed to be working for the GovernmentConspiracy, and cites this trope as to the reason why. However Deep Throat

Often times, Alice keeps Bob close by appointing him to a position of power, such as her personal adviser. Alternatively, Alice might associate herself with Bob's friends, or in rare occasions, [[FriendlyEnemy might even try to form a relationship with Bob himself]]. Anything that can work to keep Bob under check at all times.

* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' book ''The Darkest Hour'', Firestar thinks that Darkstripe will be less than a threat in [=ThunderClan=] - where Firestar can keep an eye on him - than he would be if he left to join [[BigBad Tigerstar]]. This doesn't last long, however: just a few days later, Darkstripe attempts to [[WouldHurtAChild poison a kit]] [[HeKnowsTooMuch that saw him scheming]] with Tigerstar's deputy, Blackfoot.

* In ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'''s review of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', Optimus Prime discusses this trope when wondering why Megatron keeps {{Starscream}} around despite the latter [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder always trying to betray the former]]. According to Optimus Prime, Autobots [[DefiedTrope don't believe in this trope]] and instead JustShootHim.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', this is generally understood as one of the major reasons why {{Starscream}} is second-in-command to Megatron despite (or rather, due to) his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.

* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Lelouch does this to Rolo during the Geass raid and the second Tokyo battle before [[spoiler:he intends to dispose him as payback for murdering Shirley]]. Unfortunately for the former, [[PoisonousFriend Rolo makes various other Black Knights suspicious]] [[PsychoSupporter by telling them he trusts him the most]]. Should've reined him in a bit more.

* ''Literature/{{Thrawn}}'' introduces a cavzat to the classic "friends close, enemies closer" phrase: To Thrawn, ''allies'' should be kept close (and enemies closer), but true friends don't need to be "kept" anywhere and deserve trust and freedom.

-->--'''Michael Corleone''', ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII''

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* As quoted by Jack Donaghy on ''Series/ThirtyRock'':

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS09E02DevilMayCare "Devil May Care" (S09, Ep02)]], Sam and Dean bring Crowley, the King of Hell, inside their heavily warded secret bunker.

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* In ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'''s review of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', Optimus Prime discusses this trope when wondering why Megatron keeps [[TheStarscream Starscream]] around despite the latter [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder always trying to betray the former]]. According to Optimus Prime, Autobots [[DefiedTrope don't believe in this trope]] and instead JustShootHim.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', this is generally understood as one of the major reasons why [[TheStarscream Starscream]] is second-in-command to Megatron despite (or rather, due to) his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.

* A slightly modified version spoken by [[HeroOfAnotherStory Gaheris Rhade]] in an AlternateReality episode of ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' regarding Tyr: "Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies under constant surveillance." It helps that there's nowhere on ''Andromeda'' that Tyr can go where the SpaceshipGirl won't see him.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'', Heather uses her understanding of what reality show producers like best to get to the final three of ''Island'', and so despite hating Leshawna, acts nice to her for this reason.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland'', Heather uses her understanding of what reality show producers like best to get to the final three of ''Island'', and so despite hating Leshawna, acts nice to her for this reason.

* Michael Corleone of ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII'' is the TropeNamer, who learned this trope as a lesson from Vito and practices it with Roth and Don Altobello.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5'', [[GenreSavvy Kalus]] promoted [[TheStarscream Grimian]] to second-in-command because a wise one once advised him about this trope.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland'', [[GenreSavvy Heather]] uses her understanding of what reality show producers like best to get to the final three of ''Island'', and so despite hating Leshawna, acts nice to her for this reason.

* In ''{{LEGO}} [[KnightsKingdom2 Knights' Kingdom]]'', King Mathias knows that Vladek is a dangerous, brooding, scheming fellow who would usurp the throne if given the chance. So, he appoints Vladek to the position of his personal adviser so he can always keep an eye on Vladek and make sure he's not up to no good. Unfortunately, this backfires, since Vladek doesn't remain content being the king's adviser.

* In ''Literature/AFeastOfCrows'' Jaime Lannister ponders a different version; keep your friends behind you and your enemies in front (where you can see them).

* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. Discussed in "The High Sparrow". King Stannis suggests to Jon Snow that he might want to [[ReassignedToAntarctica transfer Alliser Thorne]]. Jon says that he heard it was best to keep your enemies close, but Stannis retorts that whoever said that didn't have many enemies. Instead Jon promotes Thorne but transfers Janos Slynt, Thorne's closest supporter. [[spoiler:Slynt refuses to be transferred and is executed by Jon Snow, firmly establishing his authority when Thorne refuses to oppose the execution.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', this is how Homer gains his position at the nuclear power plant. He led a protest against the plant's numerous safety violations, so Mr. Burns placated the protesters by making Homer the head of safety. Burns explained to Smithers afterwards that this allows them to keep a close eye on Homer and punish him in due time. (However, this seems to have completely failed--in subsequent episodes it becomes a running gag that Burns never remembers who Homer is, in spite of how often they interact.)

-->--'''Michael Corleone''', ''[[Film/TheGodfather The Godfather Part II]]''

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* Leonard of Quirm in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}} books'', the Disc's [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed equivalent]] of LeonardoDaVinci. He's not a villain as such, just unconsciously very dangerous: an amiable old man who is brilliant and naive enough to invent all sorts of misusable devices (implied at one point to include ''nuclear bombs'', which he thinks could be useful in civil engineering "when the mountains get in the way.") Lord Vetinari has him locked in a cell in the palace with a supply of art materials to keep him occupied.'