History Main / TheWatcher

* ''{{Medium}}'': Allison's dead father-in-law fits the trope. He also annoys Allison by not giving straight answers ''and'' inflating the danger of what will happen just to be on the safe side or teach a lesson.

* The mysterious narrator/[[spoiler: the Lord of the castle]] in ''KnightsInTheNightmare'' is one. He implies that the entire world [[spoiler: was created as an experiment into human nature]].

* Meta Knight acts as the Mentor for ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'' in the [[KirbyOfTheStars anime]] adaptation, and tends to act this way rather a lot of the time, often serving as MrExposition. Although he and his henchmen do take the odd opportunity to display how {{Badass}} they are on a regular basis, Meta Knight seems happy to leave the problem solving to Fumu and the ass kicking to Kirby.

* Cuber, the spinner of "graybles" in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' functions as a watcher, albeit from the future.

* Raiden in the first ''MortalKombat'' film is a watcher; he gives advice to the heroes, but the other Elder Gods will not allow him to directly interfere. In the second movie, ''MortalKombat: Annihilation'', he gives up his godhood so he can take a more direct hand.

** They both at least have ''something'' to do in the world, whearas their meddling is sometimes provoked by actions of Auditors, who are truly supposed to do nothing at all but observe and register.
* {{Terry Pratchett}}'s other work, ''{{Strata}}'' has people who stay in [[HumanPopsicle cryostasis]] on a orbiting satellite and are only woken to record big developments on a planet below. The job literally takes thousands of years.

** And both at least have ''something'' to do in the world. While their meddling was sometimes provoked by actions of Auditors. ''They'' are truly supposed to do nothing at all but observe and register.

** Actually, [[spoiler:there is no concrete proof that [=StarClan=] was responsible for the lightning strike. Some of the characters ''assume'' it was a message from [=StarClan=], but [=StarClan=] never takes responisbility it, and for all we know, it could have been a freak lightning strike]]. It's more likely that [=StarClan=] wasn't responsible because they've never done anything that drastic before.

A recurring character whose role is well [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin to Watch]] and nothing else. Yet strangely instead of remaining completely passive will probably give some advice to the hero and then disappear, or otherwise interfere in some small but important way to help the heroes triumph. Indeed given the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect various observer effects]] if they were really doing their job they shouldn't be detectable at all. Often explained by saying The Watcher has some rules which restrict them from taking action, and they will then regularly ignore this ObstructiveCodeOfConduct as much as they can.

Not to be confused with the MysteriousWatcher--who observes the characters from afar for their own purposes--though the two can certainly overlap. Also not to be confused with the person on the ''other'' side of the TV screen[=/=]FourthWall. Or the EvilOverlooker, which is a box art phenomenon.

A recurring character whose role is to give some advice to the hero and then disappear. Often, The Watcher has some rules which restrict them from taking action, although they will regularly ignore this ObstructiveCodeOfConduct.

Also see TheObiWan and the MysteriousInformant. Frequently an AllPowerfulBystander. Always a FantasticAnthropologist. Compare TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness.

** In ''Original Sin'' #0, new Nova Sam Alexander asks Iron Man and Captain America why Uatu watches everything. After a beat, Cap admits that they have no idea.

* Parodied heavily with the "Observers" of MST3K.
* The Ancients in ''{{Stargate}}''. And if we say they don't interfere, ''[[NeglectfulPrecursors we mean it]]''. The number of times Ancients interfered in the plot can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and every time, the individual who did so was genuinely punished by the rest.
** On two occasions an Ancient has evaded punishment by sacrificing all their powers and becoming human, then using just their superior ''knowledge'' to interfere.
* ''TheXFiles'' also has several people in Watcher-like roles (often emissaries of the PowersThatBe, or those within the PowersThatBe but secretly working against them, e.g., Deep Throat, Mr. X).

-->-- '''Uatu''', ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' #13 ...and many times after

Not to be confused with the MysteriousWatcher -- who observes the characters from afar for their own purposes -- though the two can certainly overlap.

Also not to be confused with the person on the ''other'' side of the TV screen[=/=]FourthWall. Or EvilOverlooker which is a box art phenomenon.

Also see TheObiWan and the MysteriousInformant. Frequently an AllPowerfulBystander. Alway a FantasticAnthropologist. Compare TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness.

* Gubaru from the web fiction serial ''DimensionHeroes'' often watches the progress of the Dimensional Guardians via his base tucked away in a pocket dimension, occasionally contacting them via their Guardian Bands to offer advice.

* Uatu the Watcher, a MarvelComics character (introduced in ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' #13) who lives on the moon, watches everything in every comic, and occasionally pontificates to the readership about it. He always loudly proclaimed "Yes, it is I the Watcher, who is always watching, but must not interfere", roughly every other sentence as if people were going to forget it. Which, to be fair, is probably a valid concern because, quite notably, in spite of this expression, he almost always ended up interfering ''anyway''. A hilarious example of him actually not interfering comes when the RedHulk, who punched Uatu while on his VillainSue trip, appears about to die. Uatu shows up and tells him "[[SarcasmMode Sadly]] I am forbidden to intervene" and stands there so he can watch him get sucked into a black hole. This character is the TropeNamer.

* Uatu the Watcher, a MarvelComics character (introduced in ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' #13) who lives on the moon, watches everything in every comic, and occasionally pontificates to the readership about it. He always loudly proclaimed "Yes, it is I the Watcher, who is always watching, but must not interfere", roughly every other sentence as if people were going to forget it. Notably, in spite of this expression, he almost always ended up interfering ''anyway''. A hilarious example of him actually not interfering comes when the RedHulk, who punched Uatu while on his VillainSue trip, appears about to die. Uatu shows up and tells him "[[SarcasmMode Sadly]] I am forbidden to intervene" and stands there so he can watch him get sucked into a black hole. This character is the TropeNamer.

* From the TheDCU, ThePhantomStranger, is a little more proactive than most Watchers (in fact, he is, as he points out in the ''[[{{JLA-Avengers}} JLA/Avengers]]'' crossover, a sometimes member of the league), but still fits the bill. [[ComicBook/TheSandman Destiny of the Endless]] is perhaps TheDCU's purest example, although there are others as well.
* TheSpectre in ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' acts like this. His job is to witness the coming (possible) apocalypse, not to interfere with it (only to punish the wicked should anyone be left after said apocalypse). Pastor Norman [=McKay=] who accompanies him fulfills the same role (having been chosen by The Spectre to accompany him in his observations). Norman however refuses inaction; telling The Spectre that this would be as evil as those who brought the whole situation to happen, and steps in to stop {{Superman}}'s UnstoppableRage.

* In the ''{{Thief}}'' series, the Keepers act like this for the most part, although they will get involved if the situation demands it. Since they are undisputed masters of stealth, even when they do get involved nobody realizes it, and very few outside their organization are aware that they even exist. Deconstructed in the third game, when the Keepers -- more specifically, their Glyphs -- are the problem. A rogue Keeper who became a twisted immortal monster through her abuse of Glyphs is the BigBad, and the leader of the Keepers spends the entire game hampering Garret's progress before finally accepting that the Keepers have become too attached to the power of the Glyphs. [[spoiler:Right before the Hag kills him]], he tells Garret to activate the Final Glyph [[spoiler:which ends the power of the Glyphs and with it the Keeper organization. At the very end of the game Garrett is the last true Keeper. Which is rather ironic since he spent most of his life rejecting that calling.]]

* In the ''{{Thief}}'' series, the Keepers act like this for the most part, although they will get involved if the situation demands it. Since they are undisputed masters of stealth, even when they do get involved nobody realizes it, and very few outside their organization are aware that they even exist.

* The G-Man from the ''HalfLife'' series. Although he might also be considered the SufficientlyAdvancedAlien as well. Then again, as time goes on, it appears that he's becoming less and less of a Watcher, especially [[spoiler: after the death of Eli. "Prepare for unforeseen consequences", indeed.]]