History Main / MyBelovedMinions

This trope is when a villain shows compassion for their [[EvilMinion minions]]. Maybe they show it subtly, through giving medical care when one of them gets hurt or discreet birthday presents left on a minion's bed. Or perhaps they show their love with more [[LargeHam ham]], showering their minions with hugs and bedtime stories like a doting parent. Either way, the villain is shown protecting their minions to show to the audience that they care for them.

* ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'': William is very attached to all of his underlings, from his brothers to Moran to even the newest member in Bond and the ones seen on screen least often like Moneypenny and Patterson. He refers to them as his trusted companions and even goes shopping to buy them matching gifts and one point, and he's extremely protective of each and every one of them.

* The titular character from ''Fanfic/TheRiseOfDarthVulcan'' bills himself as a textbook EvilOverlord, which makes confusing to his enemies the way he so effortlessly unites creatures of all species and backgrounds under his rule. His kindness is his main selling point; He first developed his army by killing their old BadBoss and setting up a system in which all of them would remain fed and cared for, and began specifically targeting individuals with abilities useful to him to offer care and a purpose for their allegiance. Because of this, his armies are fiercely loyal to him and willing to repay his generosity tenfold.

** Queen Hedrian from ''Series/DenshiSentaiDenziman'' despite being a genocidal egomaniac, is shown to genuinely love her minions and actually mourns the deaths of the Vader monsters whenever the Denzimen kill them.

* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Although he is ambiguously antagonistic, King Dedede is shown to care for his "minions," the Waddle Dees.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': [[VillainProtagonist Gru]] not only remembers each and every minion's name out of the hundreds he has, he also makes sure his minions have a good place to sleep and gives them all a goodnight kiss on the forehead, much like a parent.

A villain of this type will never kill or maim a minion for [[YouHaveFailedMe a single error]], [[VillainousDemotivator to make a point]], or [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness because they are no longer useful]]. This might be because they are genuinely AffablyEvil, or they might just be a PragmaticVillain who believes that people who genuinely feel appreciated and respected will work harder and be [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal more]] [[TheDogBitesBack trustworthy]] than terrorised slaves. On the other hand, if a minion actively betrays them, or shows truly shocking negligence or incompetence, [[BewareTheNiceOnes they might suffer an extremely nasty fate]].

A villain of this type will never kill or maim a minion for [[YouHaveFailedMe a single error]], [[VillainousDemotivator to make a point]], or [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness because they are no longer useful]]. This might be because they are genuinely AffablyEvil, or they might just be a PragmaticVillain who believes that people who genuinely feel appreciated and respected will work harder and be [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal more]] [[TheDogBitesBack trustworthy]] than terrorised slaves.

* The titular character from ''Fanfic/TheRiseOfDarthVulcan'' bills himself as a textbook EvilOverlord, which makes confusing to his enemies the way he so effortlessly unites creatures of all species and backgrounds under his rule. His kindness is his main selling point; He first developed his army by killing their old BadBoss and setting up a system in which all of them would remain fed and cared for, and began specifically targeting individuals with abilities useful to him to offer their allegiance for care and a purpose. Because of this, his armies are fiercely loyal to him and willing to repay his generosity tenfold.

-->'''Darth Vulcan:''' ''Hear my words and heed them. Artful Dodger is my minion. His voice is MY voice. His power is MY power. When he speaks, you shall obey him regardless. I ALONE shall decide when and if he has overstepped his bounds. If you assail him, I will know. If you refuse to heed him, I will know. ''

* ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'': Hans Landa has a curious affection for his SS adjudant, including him in his agreement to defect to the Allies. [[spoiler:When Aldo Raine shoots his second, Landa is very upset and furious, warning Aldo that he will be executed for his insubordination. Aldo disagrees, saying that his superiors only care about Landa.]]

A SubTrope to PetTheDog, BenevolentBoss, EvenEvilHasStandards, and EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily. Related to VillainousVirtues, and VillainousFriendship. Sometimes related to AntiVillain, AffablyEvil, or VillainousParentalInstinct and FoundFamily if the villain and their minions are particularly close. SisterTrope to EvenEvilHasLovedOnes and EvilCounterpart to AFatherToHisMen. Contrast BadBoss, who treats their minions like crap.

SubTrope to PetTheDog, BenevolentBoss, EvenEvilHasStandards, and EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily. Related to VillainousVirtues, and VillainousFriendship. Sometimes related to AntiVillain, AffablyEvil, or VillainousParentalInstinct and FoundFamily if the villain and their minions are particularly close. SisterTrope to EvenEvilHasLovedOnes and EvilCounterpart to AFatherToHisMen. Contrast BadBoss, who treats their minions like crap.

This trope is often used as {{Foreshadowing}} that the villain isn't as bad as their earlier appearances tell us, and that they might be headed for a HeelFaceTurn. Maybe their minions are the reason as LoveRedeems, or perhaps their lackeys help the villain realize that GoodFeelsGood. It is for this reason that this trope can be played for either [[PlayedForDrama drama]] or [[PlayedForComedy comedy]], as the conflict between doing evil and caring for people is inherently full of drama and the juxtaposition of a bad guy and them doing very kind things is quite humorous. It is common for users of this trope to imply that the villain and their minions are like a [[FoundFamily family]], with [[VillainousParentalInstinct the villain being the parent and the minions their children]]. Because this trope is about caring for others which is innately wholesome, this trope is sometimes used to justify DracoInLeatherPants in fanfiction. If the villain is shown [[NiceToTheWaiter caring for those beneath him]], he can't possibly be that bad of a guy, can't he?

* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'': Jail Scaglietti is a MadScientist extraordinaire with a knack for world domination, but his one redeeming trait is the genuine care he shows towards the Numbers -- a squad of hitwomen he had genetically engineered to act as his field agents. Side stories featuring them show that he treats all of them as daughters, even the ones whose genome contains none of his own DNA, [[spoiler:although this takes a darker twist in the finale, when it is revealed that [[{{Squick}} he had each Number implanted with an embryonic clone of himself]], so he could cheat death as long as at least one Number escaped capture and gave birth to his clone (who'd then inherit his memories)]].

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': [[TragicVillain Count Bleck]] treats his minions rather kindly despite his plan to destroy all worlds, his punishments not being harmful whatsoever when his minions are out of line or screw up, such as writing a 1,000 page report. This is reciprocated, which proves [[spoiler:pivotal in restoring the Pure Hearts and destroying [[FinalBoss Super Dimentio.]]]]

* ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': [[BigBadWannabe Giovanni]] constantly talks about how his minions are important, even to higher-ranked [[TheMafia Banzai Blaster]] authorities who think otherwise. Giovanni gives them emotional support and teaches them life lessons, and he's always got their backs. For example, when he learns how bad his new minion Molly has been treated by her family, he encourages her to stand up for herself and helps her work on her confidence.

* ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': [[BigBadWannabe Giovanni]] constantly talks about how his minions are important, even to higher-ranked [[TheMafia Balzai Blaster]] authorities who think otherwise. Giovanni gives them emotional support and teaches them life lessons, and he's always got their backs. For example, when he learns how bad his new minion Molly has been treated by her family, he encourages her to stand up for herself and helps her work on her confidence.

** Bowser, the King of the Koopas, treats his subordinates with respect and admiration. In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', he doesn't even mind that some of the members of his army have left him, he just wants them to have good lives now.

* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': Although he is ambiguously antagonistic, King Dedede is shown to care for his "minions," the Waddle Dees.
* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': Arlecchino may be a [[TheMafia Fatui]] [[BossBattle Harbinger]], but she definitely cares about those in her orphanage that she trains to later be operatives for Snezneya. She absolutely refused to let Lyney have a Delusion, as they can eventually cause the death of the user.

* ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'': Although he is ambiguously antagonistic, King Dedede is shown to care for his "minions," the Waddle Dees.

* ''VideoGame/LegendOfZeldaHyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity'': When Astor starts collecting Yiga Clan members? souls and turns the Malice warriors on Sooga and Master Kohga, Sooga tells Kohga to run away to save himself. Kohga, however, can?t bring himself to leave his top henchman behind and instead fights alongside him. He may be a coward at other times, but he cares deeply for his followers. And the feeling is mutual; Sooga will give his life to protect Master Kohga.
-->'''Sooga:''' Master Kohga! Quickly, make your escape! \
(''Kohga is about to make his escape, but then...'') \
'''Kohga:''' [[AFatherToHisMen I can't split - you're my best lackey!]] (''[[VillainousValor Gets into his fighting pose.]]'') \

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Bowser, the King of the Koopas, treats his subordinates with respect and admiration. In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', he doesn't even mind that some of the members of his army have left him, he just wants them to have good lives now.
* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': [[TragicVillain Count Bleck]] treats his minions rather kindly despite his plan to destroy all worlds, his punishments not being harmful whatsoever when his minions are out of line or screw up, such as writing a 1,000 page report. This is reciprocated, which proves [[spoiler:pivotal in restoring the Pure Hearts and destroying [[FinalBoss Super Dimentio.]]]]

* In ''WebComic/{{NIMONA}}'', Ballister shows a great deal of concern for Nimona, even when [[spoiler: part of her is destroying the city as a dragon-like monster]]. It's also implied he was this way to mercenaries he hired as minions in the past (until they were paid off to betray him), arranging board game nights. [[spoiler: This leads to the sweet part of a BittersweetEnding, when he angrily tells a doctor not to call her a monster, and realises she was Nimona in disguise (paying one last visit to let him know she survived, before disappearing for good).]]

-->'''Tsukiko:''' Hello, little one. I'm your Mommy.
-->'''Wight:''' I crave mortal flesh!
-->'''Tsukiko:''' Awww, Baby wants his num-num, doesn't he?

* ''WebVideo/HitlerRants'': Though it varies from video to video, WebVideo/HitlerRants features Dolfy often expressing [[VillainRespect rather genuine fondness and respect]] for his minions whenever they offer to help him or when he finds their services useful in whatever ridiculous plan he tries to implement.