History PlayingWith / PaperThinDisguise

** Bob puts on a very elaborate disguise, involving plastic surgery, [[WigDressAccent voice coaching, a wig and a whole new wardrobe]].

* '''Intended Audience Reaction''' The disguise only ''seems'' obvious to the audience. When Bob looks in the mirror, the audience gets to see how his disguise ''actually'' looks to himself and other characters.

* '''Played for Horror''': Bob is a Serial killer, and uses his simple looking disguise to kill Dan

** In addition to an obvious disguise, Bob uses an alias that clearly gives away his identity, e.g. Robert [=McNotBob=].

'''Basic Trope''': A character manages to hide his identity with a disguise that shouldn't have fooled anyone.
* '''Straight''': Bob wants to spy on Dan, the CorruptCorporateExecutive. Although they know each other, once Bob puts on a pair of sunglasses and a suit, Dan doesn't recognize him and tells Bob his plan.

* '''Downplayed''':
** Dan is suspicious of the disguise at first, but ultimately decides he's being paranoid.
** Bob is sometimes identified, sometimes not.
** Dan is blind, so it makes sense that Bob disguising his voice is enough.

** Bob puts on a very elaborate disguise, involving plastic surgery, [[WigDressAccent voice coaching, a wig and a whole new wardrobe]]. Dan still knows Bob immediately.

** Bob only thought he'd fooled Dan. Actually, Dan was [[FeedTheMole feeding him false information]] and laughing at him behind his back.
** The disguise, by coincidence or design, ''does'' resemble an [[IdenticalStranger actual other person]].
** It was never Bob. It was an IdenticalStranger who merely looks like Bob with a mustache. TheReveal happens when Bob passes by the stranger, proving they must be two different people.

** At first, Dan was sure it was Bob. But now he's not so sure.

** Bob puts on a T-shirt reading "[[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain I am]] [[BlatantLies not Bob]]." Dan takes the T-shirt at its word.

** Bob puts on a pair of sunglasses and a suit for his disguise. Dan recognizes him immediately.

* '''Played for Horror''': ???

** Bob puts on a T-shirt reading "[[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain I am not Bob]]." Dan takes the T-shirt at its word.

* '''Played for Drama''': Bob is working for an apathetic, incompetent investigative agency that won't or can't afford to supply him with convincing disguises. Consequently, whenever he's in the field, he an* gsts even more than the average secret agent about whether he'll make it back alive.
'''Played for Horror''': ???
'''Intended Audience Reaction''' The disguise only ''seems'' obvious to the audience. When Bob looks in the mirror, the audience gets to see how his disguise ''actually'' looks to himself and other characters.

** Bob puts on a T-shirt reading "[[AC:[[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain I am not Bob]]]]." Dan takes the T-shirt at its word.

* '''IntendedAudienceReaction'''/'''PaintingTheMedium''': The disguise only ''seems'' obvious to the audience. When Bob looks in the mirror, the audience gets to see how his disguise ''actually'' looks to himself and other characters.
* '''Played for Drama''': Bob is working for an apathetic, incompetent investigative agency that won't or can't afford to supply him with convincing disguises. Consequently, whenever he's in the field, he angsts even more than the average secret agent about whether he'll make it back alive.

** [[InUniverse]], Bob's disguise is very good. It just looks bad to the audience so that ''they'' can tell it's him.

** RealityEnsues: Dave isn't fooled for a second and has Bob ... [[DeadlyEuphemism taken care of.]]

** In addition to an obvious disguise, Bob uses than alias that clearly gives away his identity, e.g. Robert [=McNotBob=].

** Dan has only met Bob in person once.

** The disguise, by coincidence or design, ''does'' resemble an [[IdenticalStranger actual other person]] whom Bob hopes Dan will assume he is.
** It was never Bob. It was an IdenticalStranger who looks like Bob with a mustache. TheReveal happens when Bob passes by the stranger, proving they must be two different people.

** Bob is a public figure. His objective wasn't to fool Dan, but to obscure his identity just enough that casual viewers won't make the connection.

** In addition to an obvious disguise, Bob uses than alias that clearly gives away his identity, e.g. Robert [=McNot=] Bob.

** Dan is somewhat suspicious of the disguise, but ultimately decides he's being paranoid.

** Bob only thought he'd fooled Dan. Actually, Dan was feeding him false information and laughing at him behind his back.
** The disguise, by coincidence or design, actually ''does'' resemble an [[IdenticalStranger actual other person]].
** It was never Bob. It was an IdenticalStranger who looks like Bob with a mustache. The reveal happens when Bob passes by the stranger, so they must be two different people.

** Bob is a public figure. His objective wasn't to fool Dan, but to obscure his true identity just enough that casual viewers won't make the connection.

** At first, Dan felt sure it was Bob. But now he's not so sure.
** The disguise, by coincidence or design, actually ''does'' resemble an actual other person -- but Dan doesn't recognize Bob as that other person, either.

** Bob puts on a T-shirt reading "[[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain I am not Bob]]." Dan takes the T-shirt at its word.

** Bob [[IconicItem always wears]] a {{Hachimaki}}, but after he takes it off nobody recognizes him.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob constantly switches between a PaperThinDisguise and a convincing one.

* '''Discussed''': "Just because nobody recognized [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]] in glasses and a suit doesn't mean they won't recognize ''you'', Bob."

** RealityEnsues: Dave isn't fooled for a second and has Bob ...[[DeadlyEuphemism Taken care of.]]
* '''Reconstructed''': If someone were to figure out his identity, or Bob were to tell someone his identity, it will inspire a new wave of free thought and creativity.

* '''IntendedAudienceReaction / PaintingTheMedium''': The disguise only ''seems'' obvious to the audience. When Bob looks into the mirror, the audience gets a peek at how his disguise ''actually'' looks to himself and other characters.

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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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%%* '''Played for Drama''': ???

** Bob's disguise consists of nothing more than insisting that he isn't Bob.

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob comes from an extremely superficial society in which people recognize one another not by any fundamental traits but by surface physical appearance. The author uses the success of Bob's ridiculous "disguise" to comment on human superficiality.
** RealityEnsures: Dave isn't fooled for a second and has bob ...[[DeadlyEuphemism Taken care of.]]

** Bob putting on a fake mustache fools even himself.

* '''Lampshaded''': "I should have known! He looked just like Bob, only wearing a cowboy hat!"

* '''Straight''': Bob wants to spy on Dan, the CorruptCorporateExecutive. Although they know each other well, once Bob puts on a pair of sunglasses and a suit, Dan doesn't recognize him and tells Bob his plan.

** [[OnlySaneMan One person points out that he's Bob]] but no one listens.

* '''Played For Laughs''': Bob puts on a pair of bunny ears. Dan mistakes him for a rabbit and ignores him.

%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???