History PlayingWith / TheFaceless

** "NothingIsScarier than what our viewers imagination can cook up."

* '''Enforced''': We can't show who TheMole is yet, so we have to have something covering his face.

'''Basic Trope''': Bob's face is always hidden, either by a mask, shadows or camera angels.

** Bob's face is seen, but it is often either very rarely seen or always partially obscured.

** At first, it seems like Bob is wearing a mask that he never takes off. However, as it turns out, Bob never kept his face hidden at all. In fact, we’ve been staring at his real face all along…because his “mask” isn’t really a mask. It’s his [[NotAMask actual face]]. Bob either isn’t actually human or is some kind of mutant, and his face looks like a mask, so everyone assumes that this trope is in play when it actually isn’t.

** At first, it seems like Bob is wearing a mask that he never takes off. However, as it turns out, Bob never kept his face hidden at all. In fact, we’ve been staring at his real face all this time…because his “mask” isn’t really a mask. It’s his [[NotAMask actual face]]. Bob either isn’t actually human or is some kind of mutant, and his face looks like a mask, so everyone assumes that this trope is in play when it actually isn’t.

** At first, it seems like Bob is wearing a mask that he never takes off. However, as it turns out, Bob never kept his face hidden at all. In fact, we’ve been staring at his real face all this time…because his “mask” isn’t really a mask. It’s his [[NotAMask ''actual face'']]. Bob either isn’t actually human or is some kind of mutant, and his face looks like a mask, so everyone assumes that this trope is in play when it actually isn’t.

* '''Subverted''': Bob starts in the shadows, but [[EmergingFromTheShadows later steps into the light]] [[RuleOfDrama for a dramatic face reveal.]]

** Bob removes a mask, only to show [[RecursiveReality he wears yet another mask underneath.]]

* '''Inverted''': Despite being a secret agent, Bob has no issue showing his face.

'''Basic Trope''': Bob's face is always hidden, either by mask or shadow.
* '''Straight''': Alice meets up with Bob, who hides his face by shadow or mask.

** Bob's face is seen, but it is often either very rarely seen or partially obscured.

* '''Downplayed''': Bob's face is seen, but it is often either very rarely seen or partially obscured.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob [[TheBlank doesn't have a face]] or is TheGhost.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob [[TheBlank doesn't have a face]] or is [TheGhost].

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob [[TheBlank doesn't have a face]].

* '''Invoked''': Bob is attempting to BecomeTheMask.

* '''Zig Zagged''': ???
* '''Averted''': ???
* '''Enforced''': ???

* '''Invoked''': ???
* '''Exploited''': ???
* '''Defied''': ???
* '''Discussed''': ???
* '''Conversed''': ???

** Bob, being self conscious, uses shadows [[ThePhantomOfTheOpera or masks]] to hide facial damage.

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Subverted''':
** Bob starts in the shadows, but [[EmergingFromTheShadows later steps into the light]] [[RuleOfDrama for a dramatic face reveal.]]
** '''Double Subverted''': ...only to show [[TheBlank he has no face to reveal.]]

* '''Lampshaded''': "Is Bob self conscious about his face or something?"
* '''Justified''': Bob is TheMole, and needs to hide his identity.

* '''Subverted''': Bob starts in the shadows, but [[EmergingFromTheShadows later steps into the light]] [[RuleOfDrama for a dramatic face reveal.]]

* '''Parodied''': Bob removes a mask, only to show [[RecursiveReality he wears yet another mask underneath.]]

* '''Inverted''': Despite being a secret agent, Bob has no issue showing his face.

* '''Subverted''': Bob starts in the shadows, but steps into the light [[RuleOfDrama for a dramatic entrance.]]

* '''Parodied''': Bob removes a mask, only to show he wears yet another mask underneath.

'''Basic Trope''': A character's face is not shown to the audience.
* '''Straight''': Helen runs into Billy, whose face is either hidden in shadow or concealed by a mask.
* '''Exaggerated''': Billy is TheBlank.
* '''Justified''': Billy doesn't like showing his face to other people.

* '''Straight''': Helen gets chocolate spilled on her by Billy, whose face is in shadow.
* '''Exaggerated''': Billy is an EnergyBeing.
* '''Justified''': Billy's face is hidden in the dark.
** Billy is said to be (either in-universe or WordOfGod) so ugly or evil that to gaze upon his face is to go mad.
** Helen was a kid when this happened and the viewer is seeing life through her eyes, which includes some gaps in her memory, such as what people who were taller than her looked like.

* '''Justified''': Billy's face is hidden in the dark.

* '''Straight''': Elaine gets chocolate spilled on her by Billy, whose face is in shadow.