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4[[quoteright:167:[[Webcomic/PennyArcade https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/traitor_shot_4.png]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:167:[[SarcasmMode Hell of a friendly grin there...]]]]
6
7->''"I will employ some manner of surveillance so that when I leave a room and a traitorous comrade gives me the Malicious Scowl or Wicked Leer to my back, I will have ample warning of his impending betrayal."''
8-->-- [[ThingsIWillDoIfIAmEverTheHero The Things I Will Do If I Am Ever The Hero]]
9
10So, you've got this character, Alice. Seems like a nice enough person, interacts pleasantly with the heroes, maybe offers them some help or advice. And then the heroes leave the room, or just turn their backs. The camera however, hangs around watching Alice for a few seconds. And sure enough, as soon as no one's watching, Alice starts [[CheshireCatGrin looking shifty]], or even [[SlasherSmile downright evil]]. This is the Traitor Shot, a close-up on a character for no apparent reason, which is practically a guarantee that at some point, that person will betray the heroes in some way.
11
12The Traitor Shot is a way to let [[DramaticIrony the audience know]] that they should be suspicious of a particular character before that character has done anything to earn this suspicion. Depending on exactly how the character behaves during the few seconds that [[WhatYouAreInTheDark no one but the audience is watching them]], it can either be a subtle clue or a [[ObviouslyEvil giant, blinking "This Person is Evil" sign]].
13
14There are a few common ways to set up a Traitor Shot: [[RevealingHug changing from a side view of a hug to the front of one person's face]]. Changing from medium distance group shots to a close up of someone looking at the camera. The camera moving from a group of people in ensemble then moving across landscape and then settling on one person.
15
16This trope is so common that a director can set up a RedHerringMole just by giving them a few Traitor Shot moments, and then ''not'' making them evil. It also appears in [[Creator/RogerEbert Ebert's]] ''Bigger Little Movie Glossary'' under the heading "Unmotivated Close-up".
17
18RevealingHug is one way of employing this trope. Not to be confused with what happens when a character is RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. For another way to find the guilty party before TheReveal, see NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognize.
19
20!!As this is a {{Betrayal Trope|s}}, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers abound]]. [[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned Beware]].
21----
22!!Examples:
23[[foldercontrol]]
24[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' sprinkles the Golden Age arc with a lot of sinister images of Griffith, particularly whenever he successfully pulls off a successful Machiavellian scheme. While Griffith is shown to be a capable and at times even caring leader, these shots remind you that there's a darkness lurking within this guy that will lead to him joining the God Hand and becoming Guts' mortal enemy.
26* An extremely subtle one in an episode of ''Manga/BlackLagoon.'' A minor mob boss, out of his element in the pirate city of Roanapur, is spazzing out that he needs Florida to send him more men after he got all his own men killed by Lagoon Company and other Roanapur denizens. The local expert on Roanapur keeps trying to tell him that things just don't work the same here and that it's not their turf, but the minor boss won't listen to reason. The advisor leaves the room, sighs, and as he leans we see a concealed gun in his coat. Another character strongly implies later that the advisor is probably just going to [[YouHaveFailedMe shoot the minor boss]] to clean up the mess rather than let him create a bigger one.
27* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' anime episode #311: After [[spoiler:Michel]] defeats a hollow and makes Kon (Karakurizer) look weak, Kon walks away in dejection. As he does so, [[spoiler:Michel]] has a nasty smile, because it's all part of his nefarious plot!
28* [[spoiler:Tanya]] from the second season of ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' gets one of the [[RevealingHug hug variety]], though it's pretty predictable.
29* Light of ''Manga/DeathNote'' gets these a lot, even though it's kind of a given that he's a mass murderer who doesn't really care about anything except his own success. His most famous one is when his MemoryGambit succeeds "exactly as planned".
30* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
31** Gajeel has one during the [[Recap/FairyTailFightingFestivalArc Fighting Festival Arc]] when Raven Tail guild leader Ivan Dreyar contacts him through a shikigami, and thanks Gajeel for spying on Fairy Tail guild for him.
32** In the same arc Gajeel gives Makarov a letter detailing the location of his son Ivan, revealing him to be a DoubleAgent.
33* ''[[Literature/FullMetalPanic Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid]]'' has several with [[ObviouslyEvil Vincent Bruno]]. Not only does he look suspiciously menacing when he's first introduced without the protagonists present, he also offers up a self-satisfied smirk just after they do meet him.
34* In ''Manga/FushigiYugi'', just when it looks like all the Suzaku Senshi are gathered and all is right with the world, there is an ominous closeup of Chiriko playing his flute. It does not help that the SpoilerOpening shows the real Chiriko.
35* In the manga version of ''Literature/TheHeroLaughsWhileWalkingThePathOfVengeanceASecondTime'', Lucia gives a truly creepy one while [[WoundedGazelleGambit hiding behind Kyrell]] after selling out Minaris as a beast-man. Only Minaris sees it, of course.
36* In the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaAkiraHimekawa manga adaptation]] of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'', when Link goes into the Elemental Sanctuary, King Daltus chuckles to reveal that he’s the BigBad Vaati in disguise.
37* Minor case in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'' with Admiral Gil Graham. The close-up of his discomfited expression after a conversation with his protégé Chrono, who mentions investigating the Book of Darkness incident, is the first hint that he's up to something. Later on, it turns out that he is responsible for the actions of the [[MalevolentMaskedMan masked men]] who keep screwing things up for Team Nanoha.
38* In ''Anime/MyHime'', very little seems to be out of the ordinary in how Shiho reacts to news of [[spoiler:Takumi going missing from his hospital room]], but then Yuuichi mentions that Mai must be worried, and the last shot before the scene transitions is Shiho glaring angrily. [[spoiler:Shiho then goes out and destroys Akira's Child, killing Takumi, out of spite toward Mai]].
39* In ''Anime/MyOtome'', Tomoe is given one of these after everyone finds out about Erstin's snake-bite injury during their [[HorribleCampingTrip "survival exam" expedition]]. After expressing her concern, Tomoe turns around and gives an evil smirk...[[DevilInPlainSight while Chie is still looking in her direction, albeit not at her face]]. [[spoiler:Even though she actually confesses to (and brags about) doing it in a later episode, the [[ImprobableHairstyle hairstyle]] in the silhouette of the person that entered the tent the previous night to sabotage Erstin's emergency signal beacon only makes it more obvious that she was the perpetrator, even before the Traitor Shot.]]
40* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has a variation early on. It's aimed at [[EvilerThanThou another, smaller-time villain]] as a DeathGlare, but [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/4439/421317-kabuto_super.jpg this]] still clues us in that [[TheMole Kabuto]] is not the MauveShirt he sells himself as.
41* ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'':
42** In the episode "[[Recap/PokemonS4E29UnBEARable UnBEARable]]", the Teddiursa has five separate ones.
43** Iris's Emolga has a healthy supply of her own. Ash's Snivy is quick to catch on, though.
44** Another episode had an evil (or at least very mischievous) Togepi doing this.
45* Anthy Himemiya gets one in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8uSLrQDAfs first ending theme]] of ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' (around :46).
46* ''Literature/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'''s Myne gives us one as Naofumi is heading off to bed, a subtly devious little look that is the last one we see before she proceeds to steal all of Naofumi's stuff and turn most of everyone against him via a FalseRapeAccusation.
47* Sayaka from ''Manga/UltraManiac'' gets several of these in the manga. She usually gets these after striking up seemingly innocent conversations with other people, but especially with Nina and Ayu. [[spoiler:Sayaka was planning on scaring Nina back to the Magic Kingdom by sending her anonymous letters, and when that failed, Sayaka confronted Nina herself, but to no result, since she befriended Nina and her group later on anyway.]]
48[[/folder]]
49
50[[folder:Comic Books]]
51* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'':
52** In the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' tie-in storyline, Mayor Bullyani, the man in charge of the city, had a malicious Traitor Shot expression in literally every other panel in which he appeared (even when the main characters should have been able to see his villainous expression-not so much on the subtlety there, guy). [[SubvertedTrope Strangely]], nothing ever came of it and he betrayed no one.
53** Fiona gets one in Issue #160 after the cast fight off Bean and Bark when they attack Sonic's birthday, getting shifty eyed when she holds down Bean at one point when she demands they leave. The fact the duo suddenly retreats also throws in suspicion.
54* [[PsychoForHire Cheshire]] has one in the ''Villains United'' miniseries, while Deadshot and Catman discuss the possibility of a traitor in their team. [[PsychoPartyMember Given who we're talking about]], [[ObviousJudas it wasn't much of a surprise.]]
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Fan Works]]
58* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/MastermindRiseOfAnarchy'': After [[spoiler:Asui Tsuyu]] starts to suspect [[TheCorruptor Monoma's true nature]], they secretly observe him and note that whenever he gets Kendo to consider the points he's making about how damaging Hero Society has proven to be, he gets a tiny, triumphant little smirk while she's distracted.
59* During the Empress episode in ''WebVideo/VaguelyRecallingJoJo'', Nena is shown doing this, because she plans on killing Joseph.
60[[/folder]]
61
62[[folder:Films — Animation]]
63* In both ''WesternAnimation/{{Hoodwinked}}'' movies.
64** For a split second in the first movie, when Red falls from the cable car, watch closely when Boingo looks down - he's got an angry expression, not one of concern that you would expect in such a situation.
65** In the [[WesternAnimation/HoodwinkedTooHoodVersusEvil sequel]], [[spoiler:Gretel]] to Red as the elevator door closes.
66* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTimeVIITheStoneOfColdFire'', a group of three pterodactyls are after the titular stone, with the LargeHam Pterano in charge. As Pterano sings about how brilliant but misunderstood he is, his partners Rinkus and Sierra have a brief conversation about kicking him out once they have the stone. This culminates in a shot of them shaking hands behind Pterano's back and singing "the very important we" instead of "the very important me" (where me refers to Pterano).
67* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the only scene of the ''[[ShowWithinAShow Jade Palace Diaries]]'' that is seen is this.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
71* A subversion of this trope would be Bishop in ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. You get the traitor shot effect as he stares intently through the microscope at a facehugger. But it turns out later to be false alarm as he proves to be firmly on the heroes' side. Firstly [[spoiler:coming back with the second drop ship and secondly saving Newt [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe after getting halved]].]]
72* ''Film/{{Andersonville}}'': After Tobias [[SayingTooMuch lets slip about the tunnel]] in front of several other men, who are then sworn to secrecy, the camera lingers on their faces one by one, with the last man having a somewhat shifty look, and then being seen trying to tell the guards about the tunnel.
73* ''Film/{{Anthropoid}}:'' After Reinhard Heydrich has been assassinated in Prague, the Germans offer a large sum of money and immunity from prosecution to anyone with information. One of the Resistance cell is in the crowd looking at the poster, and the camera zooms in on their face. Guess who talks?
74* The first ''Film/CountYorga'' ends with Micheal warding off his former but now vamprizied friend Erica and her fellow vampire bride with a cross. As he forces them back downstairs with his girlfriend, Donna, behind him. The camera goes into a close up of Erica as she looks ominously on Donna. The camera then lingers on Donna who seems to have a blank expression. [[spoiler:Not long after Michael chases the two vampires off, Donna sprouts her fangs and attacks him.]]
75* In the beginning of ''Film/{{Cube}}'', Worth gets a fairly extreme and suspicion-raising closeup. About halfway through the movie, he confesses that he helped design the cube the characters are trapped in.
76* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Ramirez gets perhaps the shortest traitor shot in history. Only a small MeaningfulLook coupled with a camera push in as Harvey Dent is driven away after the Joker is captured, but she doesn't look as happy as you'd think she'd be, [[HopeSpot seeing as the good guys have apparently won]]. Many first-time viewers might not even have noticed it.
77* Creator/RogerEbert labeled this the Mistake of the Unmotivated Close-Up in his one-star review of the Fred Dryer thriller ''Death Before Dishonor'', [[https://books.google.com/books?id=4uCzo6NkpdsC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=%22mistake+of+the+unmotivated+close-up%22&source=bl&ots=OkCmvdhZsT&sig=ACfU3U0igPUKfxnxNWyWFd9SmguJmor_oA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxl4yWkoHjAhUImuAKHZjiAX8Q6AEwAHoECAMQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22mistake%20of%20the%20unmotivated%20close-up%22&f=false calling out]] a scene where a Perfectly Ordinary Day (family breakfast, banal plans discussed) is undercut by a close-up of a previously insignificant servant who is seen to be watching the family with narrowed eyes.
78* Crosses over with {{Foreshadowing}} in ''Film/FullMetalJacket:'' There are two scenes in which Sergeant Hartman talks about Marines being killers, and we get a close-up of Private Pyle's face. Pyle hates Hartman, and shooting seems to be the only thing that he's good at.
79* Used as a plot point in ''Film/FXMurderByIllusion''. Special effects man Rollie Tyler is hired by the FBI to fake the death of a mob boss going into witness protection. As they're getting ready, Rollie sees one of the FBI agents holding the gun he's going to use, and when Rollie tells him to leave it alone, he gives Rollie a sinister glare before doing so. When this same man tries to murder Rollie after the StagedShooting, Rollie remembers this incident and wonders if he'd switched the blanks for real bullets.
80* One of the most famous examples was in ''Film/TheGodfatherPartII''. Fredo comes back to Michael after a falling out. The two hug and for one brief moment it seems like they've reconciled...[[RevealingHug until Mike makes a gun sign behind his back to his hitman Al.]]
81* ''Film/HeavenlyCreatures'' is full of Pauline glaring psychotically at her mother, but it's really only this trope at the end, when [[spoiler:she and Juliet have decided to murder her, and are acting pleasant and friendly to her face]].
82* The close up on the cook, as they're taking the political officer's body from the wardroom in ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober''. This may be a bit of a subversion, as the cook was not in on the plot and was (depending upon your perspective) a hero who was only trying to serve his country by thwarting a plot by actual traitors.
83* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' features a rare example in favor of the hero; when Donovan notes that he isn't a historian and cannot tell the real Holy Grail from the numerous deadly fakes, Elsa says "Let me choose" with TechnicallyASmile on her lips. She then hands him a beautiful golden cup, but as Donovan walks off with it, looks at Franchise/IndianaJones and shakes her head, her smile immediately disappearing. When Donovan starts feeling the effects of the false Grail, the shot goes to Elsa as she allows herself a tight-lipped smile before he turns around.
84* Played with in ''Film/ItFollows''. When Jay and [[spoiler:Greg]] are having sex, Jay looks off to the side, toward the camera, with a sad look on her face, since she knows she's passing her impending doom on to her friend. Slightly subverted in that [[spoiler:Greg]] also knows and just doesn't think that it's real.
85* In ''Film/TheItalianJob2003'', Steve was the only member of the team who did not interact with the others face-to-face in the opening heist. And when the others were celebrating and talking about what they wanted to buy, the camera lingers on him staring at the others in silence. Is it any wonder that he betrays the gang later?
86* ''Film/JamesBond'':
87** In ''Film/DieAnotherDay'', after Bond leaves Miranda in bed to investigate, the camera lingers on her as she watches him leave while putting her earrings back on. Although her expression doesn't change much, it's little surprise when she's revealed to have been working with the villain all along and was in fact responsible for Bond's capture in North Korea.
88** ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' is a good example of this trope being set up as a RedHerring. Gareth Mallory is repeatedly shown lurking in shadows, or having the camera linger significantly on his face in scenes where he isn't otherwise important. In the end, he isn't a MoleInCharge, but [[spoiler:M's replacement after she's shot.]]
89* ''Film/TheKingOfKings'' establishes Judas Iscariot as the villain (if not necessarily a traitor) by showing him scowling ''all the time''.
90* In the Creator/IngmarBergman adaptation of ''Die Zauberflöte''/''Trollflöjten''/''Theatre/TheMagicFlute'', the Queen of the Night has one of these in her first aria. She's singing about the horrible abduction of her daughter, and in the midst of the supposed mourning throws the hero a glance to check if he's buying it.
91* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
92** ''Film/{{Thor}}'': When Loki visits Thor on Earth to inform him that [[spoiler:their father has died and that their mother forbids Thor to return home]], there is a lingering close-up on Loki's eyes after he turns away from Thor, clueing the viewer in that [[spoiler:Loki is lying.]]
93** ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': In a bar, [[Comicbook/SpiderMan Peter]] entrusts the E.D.I.T.H. glasses to [[Comicbook/{{Mysterio}} Quentin]], believing that he has a greater responsibility to control the late [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]]'s military drone fleet than him. As he leaves, the camera pans back to Beck and lingers for a moment, while the place dissolves to reveal that the entire bar was a hologram, as Beck gives a big SlasherSmile.
94* ''Film/MissionImpossible'':
95** ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII'': Film critic [[http://www.davidbordwell.net/essays/anatomy.php David Bordwell describes the moment as follows:]]
96--->"The familiar double-bluff of spy films locks in. [[spoiler:Musgrave, not Brassel]], is the mole. You could argue that this twist was planted [...] when [[spoiler:Musgrave turned away from Brassel]] and stared gravely offscreen as the camera lingered on him—the classic shot of a Suspect."
97** The [[Film/MissionImpossibleFallout sixth movie]] also has several conspicuously ominous [[HitlerCam low-angle shots]] of [[spoiler: August Walker]] before we officially learn who TheMole is.
98* An example from Creator/AlfredHitchcock's film ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'' is actually one of the more complicated uses of this trope. It's true that Eve is working for the villain, [[spoiler:but she turns out to be a {{double agent}} who is actually working for the US government, and she tries to balance betraying Roger with keeping him safe]].
99* In ''Film/RoboCop1987'', there's an early one where we hear a klaxon blaring on the soundtrack as the camera pushes in on Dick Jones after the Old Man decides to back Bob Morton's proposed [=RoboCop=] project, following the disastrous ED-209 demonstration.
100* In ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow'', two of Joe's guides look at each other while standing under Joe's plane and sinister music plays.
101* In ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', Princess Vespa hears her father, King Roland, coming to take her back to her home planet. After she asks him, "Daddy! Is it really you?", he answers, "Yes, my dear. I guarantee it. Would I lie?" The camera lingers on long enough to show Roland making a suspicious glance to his right. Then, as Vespa runs into his arms, he reveals himself to actually be the evil Dark Helmet in disguise. (Although, this betrayal doesn't surprise many viewers, as the film shows Dark Helmet plotting a trap for Vespa right before this whole scene begins.)
102* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
103** ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'': During Qui-Gon's funeral, Mace Windu confirms that Darth Maul was a Sith. Yoda states that "Always two there are: a master and an apprentice," and Mace wonders which one Maul was. The camera then [[AnswerCut cuts and focuses]] directly on Chancellor Palpatine. Given that this was a ''prequel'' for one of the most popular and financially successful movies ''ever'' (and also that the actor playing Palpatine was the same actor who'd played him in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''), this was not so much "a reveal the hidden traitor" shot as a "fanservice for everyone on the planet, who already knows ''exactly'' who the traitor is" shot.
104** However, in the context of the movie the audience is technically ''not'' supposed to know who Palpatine really is. The original 1977-1983 had him referred to simply as "The Emperor" (or occasionally "My Master" by Darth Vader), never as Palpatine or even as his black-robed, Sith Lord alter ego, Darth Sidious. The original Kenner action figure also doesn't list his real name, although George Lucas's screenplay for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' and novelization (ghostwritten by Lucas) certainly do. And of course, younger viewers who watch the films on video in (in-universe) chronological order and have not been exposed to any of TheMerch or the ExpandedUniverse will not have a clue as to Palpatine's true identity until they see ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
105** Assuming, of course, that they didn't notice that Chancellor Palpatine and Darth Sidious are played by the same person. Even though Ian [=McDiarmid=] is not credited as Sidious, his hood does not cover the lower half of his face and they clearly have the same voice. Nevertheless, there actually ''were'' people who were shocked at the reveal that Palpatine was Sidious at the time of the movie's release in 2005.
106** We get a rare traitor shot from someone (ostensibly) on the side of the ''villains'' in ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''. When a furious Kylo Ren informs the First Order council that he knows one of them is a spy for the Resistance, we get a cut to [[spoiler:General Hux]] looking [[OhCrap very concerned.]]
107* In the Disney film ''Film/TheStrongestManInTheWorld'' there's a scene in a company boardroom where it is discovered there is a mole. The camera pans across the table of worried board members, past a not-worried Dick Van Patten, then backs up to center on Van Patten and then he gets a close-up.
108* Creator/AlfredHitchcock's ''Film/{{Suspicion}}'' has Creator/CaryGrant carrying a glass of milk up some stairs that's ''glowing'' to tip off the audience it was poisoned, in case the actor's expression was too subtle (It's not).
109* There are two examples in ''Film/SwitchbladeSisters''. The first one is when Maggie is saying "Dominic's dead because somebody tipped Crabs off about the roller rink and I'm gonna find out who,"[[note]]after [[spoiler:both Dagger Debs and Silver Daggers devised an ambush on Crabs's men at a local roller rink, but the effort proves disastrous when Crabs' men show up heavily armed and Dominic is killed,]][[/note]] watch [[spoiler:Patch's face]]. Another instant is when [[spoiler:Maggie, Lace and Patch have a defenseless Crabs cornered, Patch shoots Crabs [[KilledMidSentence before he has a chance to squeal]]]].
110* In ''Film/LesTontonsFlingueurs'', about any time the camera is on Theo (the BigBad {{Gayngster}} of the movie), he looks as shifty as possible.
111* In the horror movie ''Film/{{Vacancy}}'', the hotel manager (who turns out to be the main villain) gets a long, drawn out shot after the main characters check in, which he spends looking both evil and smug.
112* ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' has a subtle example. [[spoiler:You won't notice it the first time through, but Adrian Veidt looks impatiently at his watch right before his own [[BatmanGambit self-scheduled assassination attempt]], as though he's wondering what's keeping the gunman so long.]]
113[[/folder]]
114
115[[folder:Literature]]
116* In the end of ''Literature/TheGoodEarth'', a dying Wang Lung asks his sons to continue farming his land, and they seemingly agree, but the final sentence has them looking over his eyes and smiling at one another, indicating they are insincere.
117* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': ''Literature/{{Shatterpoint}}'', set during the Clone Wars, features a short scene at the very end where Mace Windu, Yoda, and Chancellor Palpatine are discussing the novel's events. Chief among them is the realization that [[WarIsHell the nature of galaxy-wide war]] is having a corrupting influence on the Jedi, causing some of them to fall to the Dark Side and the others to be uncertain and less able to see the future. Mace wonders aloud if anyone could have predicted that kind of reaction and Palpatine pauses for a second before saying "Yes... who indeed?"
118* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In the Literature/SpaceWolf novel ''Sons of Fenris'', as Ragnor is leaving him, Commander Cadmus whispers that the Space Wolf will serve their purpose.
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
122* In ''Series/TwentyFour'', season 7, FBI analyst Sean Hillinger is set up as a potential bad guy from the very first time the audience is introduced to him. A dozen Traitor Shots, a KickTheDog moment and a few episodes later, it is revealed that Hillinger is indeed TheMole.
123** Most episodes of Season 1 started with a recap of the season, including "and people that I work with may be involved in both." This is immediately followed by a shot of Nina. And yet it still comes as a shock when she's revealed to be TheMole in the penultimate episode.
124** ''24'' is ''made'' of this trope, to the extent that they would intentionally add shots of just about every character, mole or not, doing it to ratchet up suspicion.
125* In the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "The Illusion of Truth", a human journalist comes to the station - then in rebellion against Earth - to record a news segment that he ''swears'' won't be [[TwistingTheWords biased propaganda]] (hint: he's lying). Every time somebody says or does something that could look bad taken out of context, the reporter's camera gets a Traitor Shot.
126* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' season 3, Mayor Wilkins is almost killed by a vampire hiding in his office. When he asks how could a vampire get in there, the camera lingers on his Vice-Mayor.
127* ''Series/CobraKai'' has several episodes end on a lingering shot of Kreese, right after he's said or done something that seems innocuous in context but clearly has a more nefarious double meaning. A prime example is when he meekly walks away after Johnny kicks him out of the dojo, only to stop and smirk at the camera when Johnny relents and calls him back.
128* ''Series/CoronationStreet'' uses this so much with Tracy Barlow's smug smirks whenever no one is looking that it'll make you want to punch the writers.
129* ''Series/Daredevil2015''. Subverted in "World on Fire". [[TheMafiya Vladimir Ranskahov]] is offering a million dollars for the location of Wilson Fisk, having learned that Fisk killed his brother Anatoly. Fisk has bought out an entire restaurant for a date with Vanessa, and left his bodyguards elsewhere, so when there's a shot of the waiter phoning in Fisk's location, it looks like he'll be in trouble. Once assembled however, Vladimir's men are destroyed by a suicide bomber, and Fisk is then shown [[BatmanGambit paying the waiter for making the call]].
130* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E9TheSatanPit "The Satan Pit"]], the possessed Ood have almost cornered several people in the maintenance ducts, but Rose and Danny have made it out. Toby, who was possessed by the Beast earlier, is still down there with nowhere near enough time to escape... but then his eyes turn [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]] and he puts his finger to his lips, stopping the Ood and showing that the Beast never ''stopped'' controlling him.
131* A common staple in BBC soap series ''Series/EastEnders''. A kids' sketch show [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] it by having a third character show up and proclaim: "You're doing that thing where you say something you don't mean, and then you look awkward, and the theme music starts playing!", the three argue, and in a second take the music started playing again and the third character caught the first.
132** Taken to a sillier level still by the fact the guy of the scene gets upset that his girl was lying to him and asks the other woman to hug him and be sincere about it. She proceeds to do so... And the theme music starts playing and the woman looks awkwardly from side to side.
133* Subverted in the first episode of ''{{Series/Firefly}}'', where Simon is [[RedHerring lovingly showered]] with these in the first half of the episode, but TheMole turns out to be another passenger who came onto the ship at the same time, and spent the episode [[BeneathSuspicion being inconspicuous and sharing other peoples' shots]]...including right in front of Simon in his very first traitor shot.
134* ''Series/JonathanCreek'' does this for almost every RedHerring suspect.
135* Overlaps with ItWasHisSled in ''Series/{{Kaamelott}}'': Lancelot gets an unbelievable amount of smug-looking close-ups when he's talking about the queen and/or anything relating to her being kidnapped.
136* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': After Halbrand gives his SnarkingThanks to Galadriel in a quasi-romantic moment, he makes a dubious face and invades her private space while promising to her that everyone will know what she has done for him. Given her rising suspicions that [[spoiler:he's Sauron]], she barely can force a grateful smile.
137* From ''Series/{{Lost}}'' is the WholeEpisodeFlashback showing how the Tailies are doing on the island; one of them turns out to be an Other, and immediately after TheReveal (to the audience), the camera lingers on him being all shifty-eyed.
138* In the third season of ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' [[FaceHeelTurn newly evil]] [[FallenHero Morgana]] has at least five of these an episode, some of which will be [[RevealingHug revealing hugs]] with the characters [[TheMole she's planning]] [[DisproportionateRetribution on destroying.]] At first it seems absurd just how [[DevilInPlainSight obvious she's being]], but no-one notices her blatantly inappropriate reactions to good/bad news. [[spoiler:Until Gwen sees her [[PsychoticSmirk smiling]] about her being sentenced to [[KillItWithFire burn at the stake]].]]
139* ''Series/NoahsArc'': This is one of the clues that [[spoiler:Guy]]'s motivations aren't what they appear. Interestingly, he gets far more of these after he's revealed to be the bad guy.
140* ''Series/OneTreeHill'': In "Don't Dream It's Over", At first, Nathan looks like he's in an AccidentalPervert moment when he stumbles upon his attractive nanny, Carrie, SkinnyDipping at the pool just as she's doing a SexySurfacingShot (The viewer only sees her [[ToplessnessFromTheBack bare back]] and ShouldersUpNudity). But when the camera moves to her face, we see her smiling knowingly, perfectly aware he's [[EatingTheEyeCandy staring]], meaning she set up for him to walk on her. This is the first hint the viewer gets about her [[StalkerWithACrush true character]].
141* In the penultimate episode of ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'', while Doggie is welcoming back the [[ThePsychoRangers A-Squad]], there's a closeup of Charlie looking to her side as if to signal the others. About a minute later, they hold Doggie at gunpoint and reveal that they were EvilAllAlong.
142* Used very often to highlight Emily's SignatureMove, the RevealingHug, in ''{{Series/Revenge}}''. Though since she IS the main character, calling her a "traitor" seems a little...
143* ''Series/SleepyHollow'': [[spoiler:Captain Irving]], who otherwise shows no signs of being involved in the larger conspiracy and treats FishOutOfTemporalWater Ichabod Crane as a madman for most of the pilot, gets one of these while looking over deceased Sheriff Corbin's office. [[spoiler:Seems to be {{Foreshadowing}} for a future [[TheReveal reveal]] about his complicity]].
144* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
145** Happens in "For The Cause", with Commander Eddington, just before he reveals that he's working for [[LaResistance the Maquis]].
146** After knowing about the betrayal and rewatching episodes where he appears, Commander Eddington was given quite a few of these, possibly the longest-running case of this trope.
147** "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" has Admiral Ross, who is, at the time, working with [[KnightTemplar Section 31]]. Both of these are fairly subtle, showing the characters looking slightly suspicious just after some event significant to their betrayal.
148* Many, ''many'' characters in ''Series/TheUntamed'', as putting on a polite face in public no matter how much they despise each other in private is customary. Jin Guangyao is especially good at it, and so is [[spoiler: Nie Huaisang]].
149* In ''Series/{{V 2009}}'', ''every single scene'' featuring Anna ends with this. It's been long since established that she's the villain, but just in case anyone forgot...
150[[/folder]]
151
152[[folder:Music]]
153* Music/BrunoMars describes one in song about a manipulative girlfriend in the song ''Grenade''.
154-->"Should've known you was trouble from the first kiss had your eyes wide open...why were they open?"
155* Music/MichaelJackson's music video of ''Thriller'' ends with such a shot of Michael himself.
156[[/folder]]
157
158[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
159* In ''Literature/TheBible'', there's the incident at the Last Supper where Jesus makes a special point of expressing affection and friendship for Judas Iscariot with a hug and a kiss. This is either a superb example of redemptive forgiveness, or else a subtle way of making Judas feel like an utter heel for what was, inevitably, to come next. There is also a classic Traitor Shot when St. Peter makes the SuspiciouslySpecificDenial that he would ''ever'' betray or deny Jesus.
160[[/folder]]
161
162[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
163* A huge close up of a Traitor Shot was shown on the August 2, 2013 edition of ''Smackdown'', when Wrestling/{{Layla}} gives a RevealingHug to Wrestling/{{Kaitlyn}} in a segment that took place before Kaitlyn's title opportunity against Wrestling/{{AJ Lee}}. Layla praised Kaitlyn as a worthy competitor, after which, she gave a somewhat sinister gleam while hugging Kaitlyn. As expected, the evil Layla betrayed Kaitlyn during the title contest, and left with the victorious AJ.
164[[/folder]]
165
166[[folder:Video Games]]
167* ''VideoGame/Castlevania64'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness Legacy of Darkness]]'' uses this in Reinhardt's [[MultipleEndings Bad Ending]]. [[spoiler:Malus' eyes [[RedEyesTakeWarning turn red]] after Reinhardt's ending internal monologue concludes. Get '''Carrie's''' Bad Ending for more details, or just get the Good Ending with either character by arriving in less than [[FourIsDeath four]] days to learn why.]]
168* In the very ''first'' cutscene of the ''VideoGame/RollingThunder''-[[SerialNumbersFiledOff esque]] game ''VideoGame/CodeNameViper'', your superior officer gets a bizarre sinister facial expression as he says "Good bye, Mister Smith." It turns out he's the BigBad.
169* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'': Isador gets these a lot, verging into ObviouslyEvil. Particularly blatant when he mutters "[[TemptingFate I will suffer no trespass]]", is visited by hallucinations of a Chaos Sorcerer, or tells a squad of Marines to follow him up a secret path. "Don't tell anyone. It's a surprise".
170* When Solas leads the Inquisitor to Skyhold in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', he is shown to be smiling gently as he watches the Inquisitor take in the sight of the fortress for the first time. However, as soon as the Inquisitor walks past him and can no longer see him, Solas's expression turns hard and calculating, foreshadowing the eventual reveal that he has been manipulating the Inquisition throughout the entire game.
171* Watch [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjo-Sl5swU0 this video]] of Wei [[TheStrategist strategist]] Sima Yi smiling while watching his royal couple leave the military parade in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors''.
172* ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' ends on one of these as a SequelHook. [[spoiler:After blowing up the missiles, Rex and Doctor Darling hold hands, with Darling looking at the camera, her eyes glowing a deep purple.]]
173* The last shot of [[spoiler:Alyssa]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' is one of these. Mog actually notices, but apparently doesn't know what to make of it, and doesn't warn the heroes.
174* Mawile’s sprites in Gen III and Gen IV have definite shades of this (fitting, because it’s the “Deceiver VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}”). When faced in battle, its sprite has a cute little smile on its face, but when it’s on the player’s team, the smile is gone. It faces the screen, quietly looking over its shoulder, and can be seen giving its foe some pretty sinister side-eye…
175* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', after a hearing on whether to accept Doman refugees into Ul'dah, [[spoiler:Teledji Adeledji, who vouched for the refugees, is seen alone in the dimly lit meeting hall for the Syndicate with an underling, grinning deviously as he speaks of "revolution"]].
176* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'':
177** During the story mission in Chapter 9, as Jeralt fights alongside the PlayerCharacter against the Demonic Beasts, [[spoiler:Monica]] has a single line of dialogue that consists of a "...". In the aftermath of the battle, [[spoiler:Monica stabs Jeralt InTheBack, killing him and revealing that she's a spy for Those Who Sither In The Dark]].
178** In Chapter 14 of non-Crimson Flower routes, Byleth and their allies make plans to meet reinforcements in Ailell. After the meeting, a soldier mutters Ailell's name. During the mission, it is revealed that a spy leaked the location of the rendezvous, resulting in enemies attacking.
179* [[spoiler:Kor]] from ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' is given a handful of these some time before his status as a villain - and the game's BigBad -- is revealed.
180* Used in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' in its "[[MultipleEndings bad end]]". If you don't collect every piece of the game's MacGuffin, the fairy Queen will smirk evilly and have her [[ScaryShinyGlasses glasses flash]] as she turns to Ribbon while the rest of her subjects wave Kirby and friends off. She's possessed by Dark Matter; grabbing all the pieces of the aforementioned MacGuffin will exorcise her instead and open up the TrueFinalBoss.
181* Muppy from ''VideoGame/ManaKhemiaAlchemistsOfAlRevis''.
182* In the ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' DLC "Lair of the Shadow Broker," [[spoiler:Tela Vasir]] gets this look before it's revealed that [[spoiler:she was the one who tried to kill Liara, and Liara is still alive.]]
183* In the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' fangame ''VideoGame/MarioTheMusicBox'', look for anything out of the ordinary to spot the traitor, including GlamourFailure, hidden eyes, {{psychotic smirk}}s and/or slasher smiles, and ScaryShinyGlasses.
184* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', after the game informs the player there's someone who sold them out in [[HowWeGotHere the flashbacks]], it's revealed who it is after Sae Niijima leaves the interrogation room. [[spoiler:Goro Akechi says he's down there to question the Protagonist, but as Sae walks past, he chuckles and says "Foolish woman," with his in-game portrait looking very menacing.]]
185* In the first chapter of ''VideoGame/{{Quintessence}} - The Blighted Venom'', after Reivier supposedly 'saves' his wife Serai from the Aerian soldiers and everyone eats their dinner happily, a Traitor Shot of Serai with HiddenEyes and a PsychoticSmirk was shown.
186* [[spoiler:Jenny]] at the end of the ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}}'' remake.
187* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile2Silmeria'' has quite a few. [[spoiler:Leone and Lezard]], once they join the party, seem to get at least one lingering close-up in each cutscene when the topic turns to something related to their ''real'' goals. It also plays with their facial expressions: [[spoiler:Leone's expression]] shows growing regret as it goes on, while [[spoiler:Lezard]]'s is just quiet satisfaction that things are going as planned.
188[[/folder]]
189
190[[folder:Visual Novels]]
191* An odd retroactive version happens in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''. During the "Closing Argument", a comic book scene narrating how the crime happened, for the third trial, toward the end, Hajime Hinata notes that the culprit (who has been conclusively identified at this point in the trial, but is presented as a gray figure) acted shocked upon finding the bodies, but was actually relieved that the plan had gone well; you can see the culprit with a shocked expression in the panel showing the bodies, but hiding a grin in the next panel.
192* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' uses this very effectively early on.
193** Mion and Rena in the ''Spirited Away by the Demon'' Chapter, with HiddenEyes combined with dangerous smiles to tip off the audience before Keiichi has any reason to suspect them. [[spoiler:This turns out to be a subversion, as Mion and Rena really were harmless, and every Traitor Shot they were given was a product of [[UnreliableNarrator Keiichi]]'s [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness escalating paranoia]], which wasn't explicitly revealed until episode 25, a full 24 episodes after the series started treating the two girls suspiciously.]]
194** In the ''Cotton Drifting'' Chapter, closeups are used in the first episode to make identical twins [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Mion and Shion]] ''[[CreepyTwins both]]'' look suspicious to the audience, although one of them is completely innocent.
195* Partway through ''VisualNovel/LastWindow'', [[spoiler:Dylan]] gets one of these while Kyle is busy looking at something else.
196[[/folder]]
197
198[[folder:Web Comics]]
199* Lampshaded in ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'', in [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/14p22 this comic]].
200* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': Tiktoffen is playing all sides while really being on his own and intending to betray everyone. This [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090403 shot of him in the shadows with skulls behind him rather foreshadows his betrayal of Gil]].
201* In ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'', [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=50 Richard III]] pulls a textbook Traitor Shot while preparing for party times. ([[DontExplainTheJoke And by "Party Times"]], [[{{Metaphorgotten}} he means "stabbing his nephews"]]).
202* Done in [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/03/05 this]] ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' comic.
203* The ''Webcomic/TeamFortress2'' comic originally sets it up so that it looks like the Medic is a traitor, by making the last thing that a dying Sniper sees be the Medic grinning psychotically down at him. Turns out, however, the Medic was simply happy to see him again; his default "happy" smile ''is'' a SlasherSmile.
204[[/folder]]
205
206[[folder:Web Original]]
207* ''WebOriginal/DubbedByTaco: Anime/Danganronpa3'' lampshades each of the many, many times [[spoiler:Chisa]] has one.
208-->"Hm, interesting time to have her look anxiously back at the camera. ''[[SarcasmMode I wonder who the traitor will end up being.]]''"
209* ''Website/SCPFoundation'', [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1620 SCP-1620 ("Reflection Infection").]] During Infection Stage 2, the MirrorMonster SCP-1620-1 will act friendly when it is being viewed by other people. However, it will stare at its host in a hostile manner and make threatening gestures when it thinks it isn't under observation.
210[[/folder]]
211
212[[folder:Western Animation]]
213* ''[[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin1991 The Adventures of Tintin]]'': By the time the Ellipse-Nelvana adaptation of ''[[Recap/TintinCigarsOfThePharaoh Cigars of the Pharaoh]]'' was made, [[LateArrivalSpoiler everybody knew]] [[spoiler:Rastapopoulos was the recurring BigBad]], so after "helping" Tintin, he makes a frowny face as Tintin departs and proceeds to send a letter ordering his death.
214* A partly villainous version of this occurs in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. [[spoiler:When Azula interrupts Mai and Zuko's date, effectively dismissing the former, Mai is shown giving Azula a brief glare as soon as she's in a position where it won't be seen. Sure enough, before the season's end, Mai betrays Azula for Zuko's sake]].
215* ''WesternAnimation/TheHollow'': [[spoiler:The second team makes these very often, looking at the main group menacingly and exchanging knowing and smug looks while interacting with the main characters]].
216* A villainous version appears in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' when Cheetah fires one at the audience during the revelation that the Injustice Gang is going to blow up the Watchtower and kill the Justice League (she appears to have gotten smitten with Batman). It is further compounded by the Justice League receiving an anonymous tip shortly after that saves them. [[spoiler:It turns out to be a red herring -- there ''was'' a traitor in the Injustice Gang, but it was the Ultra-Humanite.]]
217* Kuvira and Bataar Jr. share a hug in ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra'' that ends up focusing on her face. However, [[spoiler:her attempting to kill Bataar was a question of circumstance rather than premeditated malice, as she had one shot at taking out all Republic City's defense in a single shot in exchange for his life, and she must force herself to relax after committing the act. It planted the seeds for whether or not she always intended to kill him to become FanficFuel.]]
218* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': The audience (and the heroes) already know that [[AlphaBitch Chloe Bourgeois]] and [[TheSociopath Lila Rossi]] lie their asses off [[ManipulativeBitch to manipulate people]], but if anybody made a drinking game out of the times in an episode that they do a victorious smirk when someone falls for it (especially if that someone [[FailedASpotCheck should have noticed them smiling but don't]]) it would be a serious health hazard.
219* Lampshaded on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode wherein Homer suggests changes to Creator/MelGibson's upcoming movie. Courtesy of [[http://www.simpsonsarchive.com/episodes/AABF23 The Simpsons Archive:]]
220-->'''Gibson''': You want me to replace the villain with a dog? I mean nobody will know what's going on.\
221'''Homer''': They will if you set up that the dog is evil. All you do is have to show him doing this. [lowers eyelids and glances around in shifty-eyed fashion] ''[[TheDogWasTheMastermind The people will suspect the dog]].''
222** And then at the end of the episode [[InvokedTrope they have an evil dog show up]]. [[BrickJoke You know it's evil, because of its shifty eyes]].
223** Played straighter in both parts of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" In the first, Burns crashes a town meeting where the citizens have gathered to complain about him. As they all make death threats, Burns fires back: "Oh, you all ''talk'' big...[[WhoWillBellTheCat but who here has the guts to stop me?"]] The next shot shows everyone begrudgingly looking away--[[spoiler: everyone except for Maggie, who keeps her eyes locked on Mr. Burns the whole time.]] At the conclusion of the second episode, [[spoiler: Marge expresses relief that the shooting was a big misunderstanding, as Maggie obviously didn't mean to hurt anyone--but then the camera zooms in on Maggie's face as she silently sucks her pacifier (with the sound of gunshots echoing behind her), suggesting that it ''wasn't'' an accident after all...]]
224* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': Palpatine, as both the BigBad and the MoleInCharge, gets these from time to time, as the audience is aware of this, but the heroes [[DramaticIrony aren't]].
225* Parodied in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/StrokerAndHoop'', where the EvilTwin who has taken Hoop's place slips into this mode for a second.. but does it where the other protagonists can easily see him, and they immediately call him out on it and turn around back to the prison just to be sure.
226* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'': Cassandra does this in the penultimate episode of Season 2, while Eugene is worrying about there being a possible traitor among them. Just as it seems to have been a RedHerring, the ''last'' episode of Season 2 sees Cassandra grab the moonstone and get promoted to BigBad of Season 3.
227* ''WesternAnimation/ToadPatrol'': After supposedly giving directions to the Toad Patrol, Orpheus does this, complete with an EvilLaugh.
228* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
229** At the end of "Basic Straining", Courtney gets unexpectedly thrown off the island despite not having done anything to earn getting voted out. The scene then cuts to Harold toasting a marshmallow, and flashes back to him opening the voting box with a screwdriver, removing the votes, and putting in a unanimous vote for Courtney.
230** In "Meet the Victims", Caleb gets voted out with little foreshadowing. As he gets flown off the island, a smirking Bowie emerges from the bushes. Cut to the confessional, where Bowie explains how he convinced the rest of the team that Caleb looked too strong, and they should vote him out as soon as possible.
231[[/folder]]

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