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6[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sputnik.png]]]]
7
8->'''Zemo:''' Zhelaniye. Rzhavyy. Semnadtsat'. Rassvet. Pech'. Dyevyat'. Dobrokachestvenny. Vozvrashcheniye na rodinu. Odin. Gruzovoy vagon. Soldat? [[note]](Longing. Rusted. Seventeen. Daybreak. Furnace. Nine. Benign. Homecoming. One. Freight Car. Soldier?)[[/note]]\
9'''Winter Soldier:''' ''[in Russian]'' Ready to comply.
10-->-- ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''
11
12Hello, Troper. [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Would you like to know about the Trigger Phrase?]] Good. [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Then just sit back and relax.]]
13
14The Trigger Phrase is a post-hypnotic suggestion used primarily in SpeculativeFiction. The phrase can activate a DeepCoverAgent or ManchurianAgent, so hidden that the person may not even know they are an agent. The phrase can practically be anything, even a [[MusicalTrigger piece of music]]. It's like a BrownNote specifically programmed into an individual.
15
16Are you feeling okay, Troper? Do you wish me to continue? Good.
17
18The Trigger Phrase may also be used to activate latent physical prowess (or, to use the layman's terms, "asskicking"). A BerserkButton that not even the characters themselves know about, used when situations are about to get [[LetsGetDangerous dangerous]]. Sometimes, it will help them [[MemoryGambit remember something]].
19
20Is everything all right, Troper? There is no need to go on. There is only one thing left to say about the Trigger Phrase. And that's this:
21
22''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle In each shadowy corner there lurketh a ghost.]]''
23
24----
25!!Examples:
26[[foldercontrol]]
27
28[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
29* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Lelouch uses time-delay geass commands regularly, for various stimuli, including a speech he would later give, a series of motions in combat and a hand position.
30* In ''Manga/{{Doubt}}'', [[spoiler:Mitsuki's]] BrainwashedAndCrazy persona is activated when hearing the phrase, "For the one I love."
31* Ironically inverted in ''Manga/GunsmithCats''. Mafia boss [[PsychoLesbian Goldy]] brainwashes her assassins into blind devotion with a designer drug named "Special K" that renders users highly susceptible to suggestion, so no phrase is needed. However, while she's working over heroine Rally Vincent, the latter [[HeroicSpirit manages an escape attempt while still under the drug's influence]], during which she programs a trigger phrase into herself to ''counter'' Goldy's influence. The ironic part is that it's not a spoken phrase, but [[spoiler:the distinctive sound of the trigger on her highly-customized personal pistol being pulled. How's ''that'' for a literal interpretation?]]
32* A variation appears in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'': [[spoiler: DIO's diary describes a sequence of fourteen secret, nonsensical phrases [[labelnote:*]] Spiral staircase, rhinoceros beetle, ghost town, fig tart, rhinoceros beetle, Via Dolorosa, rhinoceros beetle, singularity point, Giotto, angels, hydrangea, rhinoceros beetle, singularity point, secret emperor[[/labelnote]] that, according to the diary, are necessary to "achieve heaven". Indeed, [[BigBad Enrico Pucci]] utters this sequence of words to Green Baby, which then fuses with his Stand Whitesnake to form C-Moon.]]
33* An important part of the plot in ''Anime/LastExile'' concerns the hunt for [[PlotCoupon four of these]], along with [[LivingMacguffin the girl they trigger]].
34* ''Anime/MacrossDelta'' has the words "Rudanjal Rom Mayan", Windermerian for "In the name of the true king", used by Roid to incapacitate Mikumo.
35* The [[LaserGuidedTykebomb Extended soldiers]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' each possess a "Block Word" which is supposed to rein them in. However, in practice the phrases simply seemed to drive the Extendeds into a terrified frenzy. Also crosses over into ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish, since the Alliance chose stupidly common words -- "[[spoiler:die/death]]" for Stella and "[[spoiler:mother]]" for Auel (we never learn what Sting's is).
36** WordOfGod indicates that Sting's Block Word is "[[spoiler:dream]]", continuing the program's very poorly-thought-out trend of using extremely common words to detonate their {{Tykebomb}}s.
37* Agents of the Schwarz organization from ''Manga/MyOtome'' are triggered when they receive a letter in a black envelope.
38* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' doesn't actually have this occur (yet), but when the cast are dealing with a ManchurianAgent in their midst, [[DiscussedTrope the team mercenary notes that they can't rule out the possibility of a Trigger Phrase]].
39* Done in chilling fashion in ''Anime/{{Noir}}'', in which Chloe deploys Kirika's "True Noir" personality by saying "receive the final guidance" -- ''and then shooting her.''
40* [[spoiler:Gwen Khan]] uses two on Melfina in ''Manga/OutlawStar''. "It was you who broke my Meissen plate" deactivates her, while "Breakfast is signaled with a silver spoon" undoes it. [[spoiler:Since Hazanko had Melfina created by Khan in the first place, he also knows the trigger phrases and later uses "It was you who broke my Meissen plate" to ensure she can't resist him.]]
41* Anime-exclusive Ijuinn Kotaro of ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' has the magical ability to make anybody fall in love with him and obey him by uttering "''Je t'aime''!" ("I love you!" in French).
42* One example forms the basis of the plot of Suehirogari's [[{{Hentai}} ero-manga]] ''TAG'' -- the main character, her friends, and a large number of other victims are all given a post hypnotic suggestion by a gypsy fortune teller they visit: Whenever they are kissed by a naked woman, they [[TheNudifier find themselves stripping nude and staying that way]] until they can kiss another woman who is also affected by the hypnotic suggestions and pass on the condition. In other words, it's a hypnotically enforced game of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin tag]] where "it" has to stay naked. Until they do pass it on, [[AndIMustScream their bodies won't let them even touch clothing]] despite themselves. This also means that the victim they kiss [[TheVirus has to stay naked next...]]
43* Sayer of ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' says "The entrance to the Underworld is on the witch's island" to Akiza, which unleashes the [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Black Rose Witch]].
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Comic Books]]
47* ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'': The military-industrial complex who built Seth, the hillbilly cyborg killing machine with [[SuperpowerLottery over 1,000 super powers]] naturally set up a four-word kill-switch phrase. [[spoiler:It's never actually used. Instead, the team's RealityWarper alters history so a less aggressive American administration came to power, and thus Seth was never created. "Welcome to the Oval Office, President Gore."]]
48* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
49** Batman set up an alternate "emergency personality" for himself that was triggered by the phrase "Zur En Arrh." This is taken from a story in ''Batman'' #133 (1958) where Batman encounters his crimefighting counterpart from the planet Zur-En-Arrh. In the context of the story, it is revealed that the phrase is [[spoiler:a bastardization of Thomas Wayne's last words, "Zorro in Arkham."]]
50** Batman had another self-administered version in a ''ComicBook/JLA1997'' storyline. [[spoiler:He was designing weapons to take out his own teammates if necessary. In order to keep the project hidden from Martian Manhunter's telepathy, he had the knowledge of his plans mentally "buried," and it could only be recalled when he heard a trigger phrase from his bat-computer. A different trigger phrase would "re-bury" the project in his subconscious if MM came within telepathy range of the Batcave.]]
51* In the ''Dethklok vs. ComicBook/TheGoon'' one-shot, General Krozier activates Dr. Rockso's programming to kill Dethklok with the nonsense phrase "peaches valentine." This just happens to be the name of a character in ComicBook/TheGoon. Hilarity (and murder) ensues.
52* In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'', the despotic ruler of Bialya, the Queen Bee, triggers Blue Beetle with the phrase "Bialya, my Bialya." Once the heroes have figured out what is going on, it's not very difficult to determine the responsible party.
53* In ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' storyline "ComicBook/TheUnknownLegionnaire", ComicBook/{{Superboy}} triggers Kara's memories back by saying her codename "ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}".
54* ''ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse'': In one comic, the trigger word is "time". The villain (a psychologist, who sought revenge on Mickey for putting his son in jail) deliberately chose a fairly common word, so the trigger would go off often enough. It made Mickey instantly fall asleep and have nightmares, causing him to be unable to tell reality from dream and eroding his confidence.
55* The titular secret agency in ''ComicBook/{{MINDMGMT}}'' uses these to reactivate "buried" agents. The most commonly seen one is the phrase "Mulligan Rock," which activates more than one agent over the course of the series. Sometimes, just saying the name "Mind Management" is enough to cause people to remember their former training.
56* "Kimota" functions as this in the first issue of ''ComicBook/{{Miracleman}}'', instantly restoring the hero's memories when he says it.
57* "Croatoa" from ''ComicBook/OneHundredBullets'' is something of a reverse: It ''turns off'' the FakeMemories that allowed the Minutemen to live peaceful, civilian lives, so they awaken as the fearsome hitmen they originally were.
58* ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion2008'': "He loves you."
59* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans Spotlight'' featured a superhuman psychiatrist who was brainwashing her clients into becoming secret assassins; she used the trigger words "Goldilocks", "Rumpelstiltkin", and possibly "Snow White" to activate and deactivate them.
60* During the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans[=/=]ComicBook/{{Outsiders|2003}}'' crossover "The Insiders", Superboy was brainwashed by Lex Luthor, who used the words "Vincere Aut Mori" ("Conquer or die" in Latin).
61* In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMegaseries'', Megatron programmed [[PersonOfMassDestruction Sixshot]] to shut down if he hears the command "Reset: Pi-Orion-Actual-Orbit. Engage." Starscream uses this command to disable Sixshot after the latter defects to the Reapers.
62* Occurs in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'': While digging around Decepticon Super Warrior Overlord's mind for information, Chromedome implants the phrase "Til all are One" on the off chance that if Overlord broke free (which he does) and if Rodimus says the phrase (''[[CatchPhrase which he will]]''), there would be some way to stop him. The phrase triggers Overlord's intense fear of failure, briefly rendering him helpless and unable to fight.
63* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'':
64** ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'''s Norman Osborn set up "Cellar Door" as an all-purpose trigger phrase for his son Harry.
65** ''ComicBook/UltimateWolverine'': "Mother is calling her children home" activates the Mothervine subjects.
66* In ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', the word "fatalitas" is used as a trigger to snap someone out of hypnosis.
67* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Hypnota places the trigger circumstance of Wonder Woman's schedule being spoken about in poor Serva's head, which causes Serva to pick the lock of the safehouse and return to her tormentor to give intel about Wonder Woman's location to Hypnota.
68* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
69** Former villainess ComicBook/EmmaFrost used her powers to shut down two armed guards' pain centers after a fight with Wolverine, which seems like a nice thing to do, but then she stuck something extra in:
70--->'''Emma Frost''': "And every time you hear the words 'parsley', 'intractable' or 'longitude' you will vomit uncontrollably for 48 hours."
71** Emma used this same trick in ''Avengers+X-Men #13'' while on a personal mission with Black Widow, with a slight twist to it. Rather than a trigger phrase, she used her telepathy to implant a pervert (by the name of Frank) who was blackmailing her with a supposed sex tape with a trigger ''sight''. Now, every time he sees a pair of bare breasts, he projectile vomits. ''Every time.'' Natasha finds it so amusing that she feigns having left something behind just to go back and flash the guy again.
72--->'''Black Widow:''' I ''forgot'' something, just be a second.\
73'''[[AssholeVictim Frank]]:''' ''[offscreen]'' BLOOORRRCHHHH!!!\
74'''Emma:''' What'd you forget?\
75'''Black Widow:''' I just ''[[ForTheLulz had]]'' [[ForTheLulz to see that again.]] Some things just ''never'' get old.
76* ''ComicBook/{{X 23}}'' used to have a trigger ''scent.'' DependingOnTheWriter, she's either learning to fight it or is instantly turned into an AxCrazy berserker who will kill the person marked with the scent (or sometimes anyone in the vicinity) without hesitation.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Comic Strips]]
80* In ''ComicStrip/LibertyMeadows'', Brandy demonstrates a trigger on Leslie. With a snap of her fingers, he puts the rehab-breaking Dean in a headlock. "SLEEPER HOLD! DAAAAAH!"
81* ''ComicStrip/ModestyBlaise'': The phrase 'Rip Van Winkle' is used to put a millionaire into a trance as part of TheCon in "The Girl from the Future".
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Fan Works]]
85* ''Fanfic/BackwardWithPurpose'': The [[EasyAmnesia Forget-For-Now]] potion works this way. Once the trigger phrase is uttered, all of the suppressed memories will return.
86** [[spoiler:Merlin]] repeatedly contacts Luna, leaving her with just enough memories to pass on important messages without realizing it. She takes the potion willingly after each time, deciding that her phrase should be "[[spoiler:I'm in love with a heliopath]]" so that she won't remember until they want her to.
87** After talking with Percy Weasley [[spoiler:in the past, Al]] uses the potion on him, using the trigger phrase "[[spoiler:I'm in Slytherin]]" specifically so that Percy's memories will return shortly after [[spoiler:Al starts attending Hogwarts]], securing him as a trustworthy ally.
88* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'': In ''Broly Abridged'', rather than seeing Goku being what sets him off like in the original movie, Broly's wrath is unleashed by him hearing the name "Kakarot" (Goku's Saiyan name): His father Paragus mentions that he destroyed South Galaxy after Paragus said it, and Vegeta saying it repeatedly is what triggers Broly's transformation into the Legendary Super Saiyan.
89* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'', Haruhi gives Kyon one of these [[spoiler:in case he ever needs to undo her MemoryGambit]].
90* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8429437/28/The-Perils-of-Innocence The Perils of Innocence]]'', a memory-charmed Dumbledore remembers that the Potters switched Secret Keepers when Sirius shouts "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country" during his much-delayed trial.
91* When Darrel is drugged in ''Fanfic/RWBYReckoning'', the phrase "[[ChessMotif Queen calls the knight]]" puts him under the control of [[spoiler:Cinder Fall]], while the counter phrase is "Time to wake up".
92* ''WebVideo/ScootertrixTheAbridged'' has a downplayed example in The Bird, who reacts to "Hello" (or "Hey," or anything that could be interpreted as a greeting) by saying "Hello" herself, as an almost Pavlovian reflex. In episode 5, it gets {{lampshade|hanging}}d by Gilda: "Is that like, your trigger word?" And in later episodes, Twilight realizes that The Bird doesn't always respond to her own name, so she just says "Hello" when she needs The Bird's attention. [[spoiler:It's revealed in ''Scootertrix the Abridged: The Movie'' that The Bird's a retired Wonderbolt, and "Hello" was her unit's call to attention.]]
93* ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'' has "The time has come for the nine to become one" implanted by Tobi using Kotoamatsukami. The first time, he sends Deidara and Kisame to use it on Yagura, so he willingly turns himself to Akatsuki. Later on, he himself uses it on Danzo Shimura, which he uses to get the Rinnegan eye before ordering him to kill himself with a Reverse Tetragram Sealing [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness once he's fulfilled his purpose]].
94* ComicBook/LexLuthor seems to like these in ''Teen Titans: Together for Tomorrow''. Similar to the source material, he installed one for ComicBook/{{Superboy}}: [[spoiler:He's compelled to obey any command if the speaker calls him "My Diogenes".]] Mercy Graves, Luthor's [[RobotGirl gynoid]] secretary, turns into a KillerRobot whenever he calls her "Ms. [[MeaningfulName Graves]]" instead of "Mercy".
95* ''Fanfic/TruthAndConsequences'': The phrase "[[spoiler:I insist]]"
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
99* In ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', speaking a trigger phrase will cause an android child to permanently and unconditionally love the speaker.
100* ''Film/AmericanUltra'': "Chariot progressive listen. Mandelbrot set is in motion. Echo Choir has been breached, we are fielding the ball." Subverted in that the target responds only with utter bafflement. [[spoiler: Double Subverted when, soon after, he effortlessly (and much to his surprise) kills two assassins sent after him.]]
101* ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' reveals that the Winter Soldier had a string of trigger words, used by HYDRA before missions as something of a reset code to see that he was still obedient to them and did not remember his previous identity. [[spoiler: It's revealed that they still work perfectly, ensuring Zemo successfully reverts Bucky to an obedient fighting machine for a short time. For the curious, the words are "Longing, rusted, seventeen, daybreak, furnace, nine, benign, homecoming, one, freight car," in Russian and in that order. The Soldier replies "Ready to comply," also in Russian.]] At the end of the film, the Winter Soldier [[spoiler:goes into hiding in [[Film/BlackPanther2018 Wakanda]] to be deprogrammed.]] (Creator/SebastianStan [[https://www.ign.com/articles/sebastian-stan-says-fans-try-to-activate-the-winter-soldier-in-public said]] that just about every time he's recognized people respond with the words, [[NeverHeardThatOneBefore leading to him reminding who said it that he won't become the Winter Soldier]])
102* The toggle for Hawkin’s fencing abilities in ''Film/TheCourtJester'' is a snap of the fingers. OK, not exactly a phrase, but if music counts...
103* "Constantinople" and "Madagascar" in ''Film/TheCurseOfTheJadeScorpion''.
104* In ''Film/GetOut2017'', the villain hypnotized TheHero one night [[OrWasItADream he thought he had a bad dream]] and implanted the command whereupon any time he heard the sound of a spoon clinking a teacup three times, [[AndIMustScream he would collapse onto the floor, paralyzed, while his consciousness fell into the "Sunken Place."]]
105* In ''Film/TheHotRock'', a bank guard is hypnotised into handing over the diamond upon hearing the phrase "Afghanistan banana stand''.
106* ''Film/TheIpcressFile'' (1964): "'''Now listen to me'''. Shoot the traitor [[spoiler:Ross]]." Fortunately Michael Caine's character was not in the brainwashing chamber long enough, so is able to 'distract' himself by striking his injured hand against the wall, then shooting the ''real'' DoubleAgent.
107* ''Literature/TheLatheOfHeaven'': George Orr is hypnotized so his "effective" ([[RealityWarper reality changing]]) dreams can be controlled. The Trigger Phrase is "Antwerp."
108* "Freeze!" and "Bullshit" in ''Film/NowYouSeeMe''.
109* ''Film/PrettyCool'' and [[Film/PrettyCoolToo its sequel]] love this:
110** "You two will have the most intense orgasm you've ever felt, when you hear the word 'now'."
111** "Whenever you talk about money, you will play with your boobs, and not even know you're doing it."
112** "The Big O will happen to you whenever you hear the word "in", and will stop whenever you hear the word "out"."
113* ''Film/Serenity2005'': River is activated by a subliminal message in a Fruity Oaty Bar commercial, but is [[spoiler:put to sleep]] by Simon saying "Eta kuram na smekh," Russian for "That's for hens to laugh at" (i.e., "That's ridiculous.").
114* ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': "Execute Order 66." And thousands of clone soldiers open fire on their Jedi generals. Worth noting is that, [[CanonMarchesOn as originally written]], Order 66 wasn't a trigger phrase but a legitimate contingency plan by the Grand Army of the Republic which was activated illegitimately; it wouldn't be until the sixth season of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' that it was retconned into essentially being posthypnotic suggestion to ''force'' the clones to execute the Jedi, reconciling how they would unquestioningly open fire on their Jedi commanders after they were developed into characters in their own right who knew, trusted, and even befriended the Jedi instead of just being a faceless RedShirtArmy.
115* ''Film/{{Telefon}}'' (1977):
116** KGB sleeper agents in the U.S. were brainwashed via drug-induced hypnosis to forget their true identities and live as Americans until they heard a line from Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", followed by their Russian names. When they heard it, they would destroy a pre-programmed target and then kill themselves. The Trigger Phrase was:
117--->"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. Remember [real Russian name], miles to go before you sleep."
118** The technique is demonstrated for Charles Bronson's KGB protagonist using the phrase "Cleopatra says there will be snow from the west." This is the scene being spoofed in the first ''Film/TheNakedGun'' movie (where the beeping of a watch was the trigger) when Vincent Ludwig's secretary tries to shoot Pahpshmir with an empty gun.
119* ''Film/{{Zoolander}}'': The title Derek Zoolander will kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia when he [[MusicalTrigger hears the song]] ''Relax''.
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Literature]]
123* In the YA novel ''Literature/TheAdorationOfJennaFox'', Jenna [[spoiler:was, after a nearly fatal car accident, placed into an artificial body with a reconstructed "brain" made of computer chips, which was programmed with a trigger phrase as a "suggestion" to use in case anything went wrong: "Go to your room, Jenna." If said, this phrase would [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin cause Jenna to automatically walk to her room]], whether she wanted to or not -- though she learns to resist it eventually.]]
124* In ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'', Dirk hypnotizes Richard, and implants the suggestion that whenever he hears the phrase "my maiden aunt from Winnipeg" he should immediately take off all his clothes and jump in the nearest canal. It's a roundabout way of making a point about ghostly possession and free will.
125* The eleventh book of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Turn Coat'', features one of the antagonists using the Trigger Phrase "The end is nigh." to take control of several [[spoiler:Wardens and members of the White Council of Wizards]].
126* The ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' franchise likes this trope:
127** In ''Literature/{{Dune}}'', the Atreides slave gladiator who fought Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen received a post-hypnotic suggestion to have his muscles go slack when he heard the word "scum". The Bene Gesserit also do this to people they consider dangerous: one Trigger Phrase they use is "Uroshnor".
128** [[Literature/DuneMessiah "She is gone."]] Upon hearing that, [[spoiler:Hayt is supposed to kill Paul. He refuses, awakening the memories of Duncan Idaho]].
129** [[Literature/ChildrenOfDune "Secher Nbiw."]] Spoken by Leto II it causes [[spoiler:Ghanima's self-induced mental 'dam' to break, restoring her correct memories and freeing her from the threat of possession]].
130* In Literature/EncryptionStraffe, the song Flowers On The Wall by Music/TheStatlerBrothers was used as an audio trigger for various occasions. Later characters also used various chants to facilitate hacking backdoor.
131* ''Literature/TheForeverWar'', a book that is sometimes called the TakeThat to ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'', has a hypnotic phrase that is used on the conscripts for their first battle, as the military command isn't confident that they will kill the enemy. It works ''too'' well, as the soldiers start blasting everything in sight.
132* Creator/RobertAHeinlein:
133** ''Literature/StarshipTroopers''. Mobile Infantry troopers are given a post-hypnotic suggestion to go to sleep upon hearing the Trigger Phrase "Prepare to sleep, one, two, three."
134** ''Literature/CitizenOfTheGalaxy''. Thorby Baslim is hypnotically conditioned to memorize several different messages, so he can repeat each one to a specific starship captain. The man who conditioned him tested Thorby's recall of each message using the Trigger Phrase of the name of each captain and ship.
135* Becomes very important late in the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series, though with Trigger conditions rather than phrases. The control affected by the nano-tech is so complete that it can convince the personal bodyguard of an Andermani Royal to kill the man he's guarding, to convince a Manticoran flag lieutenant to kill his flag officer, and convince a man to commit suicide by Mach 2 impact into a cliff-wall while in his air-car. Even worse, the victims are [[AndIMustScream aware of what they're doing and unable to stop themselves from acting]].
136* In the book ''Literature/TheHotRock'' by Donald Westlake, the gang hires a specialist (a hypnotist) to plant the phrase "Afghanistan banana stand" in the mind of a bank employee. Later, one of the gang enters the bank and says this, and the employee helps them to retrieve the [[MacGuffin eponymous gem]].
137* ''Literature/TheManchurianCandidate'' and its 1962 film adaptation has both a Trigger Phrase ("Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?") and a Trigger Card: the Queen of Diamonds. In the 2004 film adaptation, the [[ManchurianAgent agents]] get personalized triggers: [[spoiler:their names and old ranks, phrased in the form "Sergeant Shaw. Sergeant Raymond Shaw. Raymond Prentiss Shaw." And later... [[TomatoInTheMirror Major Marco. Major Bennett Marco. Bennett Ezekiel Marco]]]].
138* In Creator/CharlesSheffield's "[=McAndrew=] Chronicles", space travellers are hypnotically imprinted with the "Sturm Protocol" to send them into vacuum-survival mode when a special whistle is sounded. One effect is that instead of keeping their eyes open with occasional split-second blinks, someone with the protocol triggered keeps their eyes closed with occasional split-second peeks at their surroundings, protecting their vision from ultraviolet radiation and dessication. There are strict penalties for using the invocation for any circumstances other than imminent ExplosiveDecompression.
139* In ''Literature/MindGames'', Danielle can only assume her Magical Catgirl form with the help of a Mesmerist. Fortunately, one of the other characters is a Mesmerist, who implants her with a trigger phrase both for becoming a Magical Catgirl and for becoming human again. However, because the Mesmerist has a weird sense of humor, the phrases are, respectively, [[spoiler:"Here, kitty kitty" to transform to a catgirl and "byebye, kitty" to change back to a human.]] Danielle is ''not'' amused.
140* ''Literature/{{Mindwarp}}'' has a character, a time-traveler named Toni, whose powers first trigger when trying on a dress, looking at herself in a changing room mirror. She travels back in time eight years for a little while, then returns to the present outside the store, and gets busted for shoplifting. Later at home, she tries the dress on again and goes back in time eight years to when she was five and her mother was still alive. After speaking together, the mom calls in five-year-old Toni and implants a hypnotic command to come back to this day when seeing 13-year-old Toni in that dress. Later, she uses her mugshot from her shoplifting arrest to escape a jam, and rearm in the mall.
141* In ''Literature/MortalEngines: Infernal Devices'', a [[{{Cyborg}} Stalker]] is programmed to assassinate the leader of the Green Storm when it hears the phrase "The moment of the rose and the moment of the yew tree are of equal duration".
142* Creator/DeanKoontz:
143** In ''Literature/NightChills'', people implanted with conditioning through subliminal hypnosis are activated when they hear the Trigger Phrase "I am the key." They then reply, "I am the lock."
144** In ''Literature/FalseMemory'', the villain has different trigger phrases for each person under his control, in the form of haiku. He speaks a name, the subject replies "I'm listening", then he gives each line of a haiku, with the subject giving a programmed response to each line in turn.
145* In ''Literature/TheSouthernReachTrilogy'', the psychologist implanted the expedition members with post-hypnotic suggestions, which she can activate using trigger phrases woven into her speach.
146* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
147** A B-plot in ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Solo Command]]'' is the presence of several brainwashed assassins throughout the New Republic: each has their own trigger phrase, all somewhat bizarre. "Wedge Antilles hops on one transparisteel leg" means "Kill Wedge Antilles," for instance. "The Wookiees are dancing in the parlor" means "Kill everyone between you and Admiral Ackbar, then kill him." Apparently the triggers are different for everyone.
148** Later in ''Solo Command'', [[TheMole Kirney Slane]] uses a trigger phrase to load the backup memory of her astromech droid, Tonin, which she had wiped shortly before her infiltration. (The phrase is the full definition of Tonin's name.) This is part of an [[InvertedTrope inverse]] MemoryGambit, and one that Slane hadn't really liked doing to Tonin; it's implied that Tonin doesn't mind too much (and may have consented to this treatment to begin with).
149** A later book has a man sent to deliver a message simply by his presence -- he's been known to be in a secret prison for years -- with a device implanted that floods him with poison, killing him instantly. The device is triggered when someone recognizes the man and says his name.
150** Jedi healing trances often come with a variation where a trigger phrase is used to bring the Jedi out of the trance after they had been under for a sufficient time. Luke and Mara would use “I love you” when one was waking the other.
151* In the Emily Rodda novel ''[[Literature/RowanOfRin Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal]]'', it is revealed in the end that [[spoiler:Doss]] had been brainwashed by the Zebak years previously, the trigger phrase being the words that [[spoiler:officially made him Keeper of the Crystal. He got better.]]
152* In ''The Miserable Mill'', Book 4 of ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', the word "Lucky" is used as a trigger to the point of parody, since the good guys catch onto it and both sides flip [[spoiler:Klaus]] back and forth in obeying their commands. The word "Inordinate" deactivates the state.
153* Used in ''Literature/TheStand'', Glen telling Tom "it's time" as in 'time to go West', after hypnotizing him earlier.
154* In ''Literature/{{Twig}}'', almost all of the [[spoiler: [[KillAndReplicate Bad Seeds clones]] ]] have a "killing phrase", making them immune to pain and utterly dedicated to completing their task. The only exception is [[spoiler: Mary]], whom her creator grew fond of. All of these clones, however, do have lesser command phrases that "reset" their mind, should they grow rebellious.
155* In Creator/JamesSwallow's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' short story "The Returned", the Doom Eagles fear that Tarikus, even pure of taint in mind and body, might still have taint in his soul, which might be triggered by a phrase.
156* In ''[[Literature/WaysideSchool Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger]]'', the school has a hypnotist guidance counselor who cures people of whatever it is they've been sent to him for, but also implants an unrelated trigger phrase just ForTheEvulz. In the chapter "[[ContentWarnings A Story with a Disappointing Ending]]," Paul gets sent to him for pulling Leslie's pigtails and is hypnotized into thinking they're deadly rattlesnakes... and also that when she says the word "pencil" her ears will turn into delicious candy which he must try to eat. He's snapped out of it and sent back to class, and the hypnotism successfully prevents him from pulling Leslie's pigtails. Then she breaks her pencil. She two classmates have a whole discussion about it without using the word "pencil," even though Paul interjects twice asking what they're talking about. [[BrickJoke Several chapters later]], the class is dropping objects out the window to prove that everything falls at the same speed, including a pencil sharpener. Because everyone's been saying "pencil sharpener" throughout the chapter, you think nothing of it at the end when Leslie does...
157[[/folder]]
158
159[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
160* In ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', Whitehall's HYDRA brainwashing is activated by the phrase:
161-->'''HYDRA Agent:''' Take a deep breath. Calm your mind. You know what is best. What is best is you comply. Compliance will be rewarded.\
162'''Subject:''' I am happy to comply.
163* A telepathically delivered Trigger Phrase reveals [[spoiler:Talia Winters]] as a sleeper assassin in the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E19DividedLoyalties Divided Loyalties]]".
164* ''Series/BlakesSeven'':
165** The location of [[BlackSite Star One]] is revealed by saying the phrase "A fool knows everything and nothing" (the co-ordinates were [[NeuroVault implanted in the mind]] of the Charl's Fool).
166** When providing a spacecraft for renegade officer Travis, Servalan orders the cyborg crew be mind-wiped and programmed to respond to the orders of the man who gives the word [[RogueAgent "Outlaw"]].
167* In ''Series/BigWolfOnCampus'', Tommy is brainwashed by the Evil Werewolf Syndicate to obey any command preceded by two specific, secret words. Due to a minion's badly timed interruption, those words end up being "Pizza's here." (Yes, hilarity does ensue.)
168* In Season 7 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Spike's trigger is a song his mother used to sing when he was a child, the English folk song "Early One Morning".
169* Used in an episode of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', where it turns out that Frasier has implanted some in Lilith. "Tambourine" causes her to strip, and "tractor" makes her sing.
170* ''Series/{{Columbo}}'': In "How to Dial a Murder", the murderer phones the VictimOfTheWeek and tricks him into saying "Rosebud" loudly, which is the trigger phrase to cause the {{Right Hand Attack Dog}}s to maul him to death.
171* Played with in the mini-series ''Confessional'' (based on the thriller by Jack Higgins). A KGB assassin whose cover identity is a god-fearing Catholic has his conditioning activated when he says the Lord's Prayer. Unlike other examples it's not a hidden personality, but a means of psychological reinforcement which breaks down after TheHandler is ordered to kill his protégé -- he discovers that it's difficult to tell an assassin to say his prayers when he's drowning you in the river.
172* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
173** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E3VictoryOfTheDaleks "Victory of the Daleks"]] has the phrase "I am the Doctor and you are the Daleks!" for a group of Dalek deep-cover {{Manchurian Agent}}s.
174** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS38E5FugitiveOfTheJudoon "Fugitive of the Judoon"]]: [[spoiler:Ruth Clayton]] receives the text message "Follow the light, break the glass", and upon reading it, [[spoiler:she suddenly develops the combat skills to defeat several Judoon single-handed and steal herself a gun.]] The Doctor theorizes that it must be a trigger, and it is, [[spoiler:containing directions to lead Ruth back to her [[HumanityEnsues Chameleon Arch]] and activate it to restore her true self.]]
175** [[Recap/DoctorWho60thASTheStarBeast "The Star Beast"]] has one for Donna: "Westerly, pelican, dreams, tornado, clifftops, andante, grief, fingerprint, susurration, sparrow, dance, Mexico, binary."
176* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'':
177** Activates: [[spoiler:"There are three flowers in a vase. The third flower is green."]] Deactivates: [[spoiler:"There are three flowers in a vase. The third flower is yellow."]]
178** Dollhouse has a few of these. Most used is simply "would you like to go for your treatment?" or "it's time for your treatment" which is said to an engaged Active by their handler. This immediately makes the Active stop what they are doing and go with their handler back to the Dollhouse to be mind-wiped. PlayedForLaughs in a DeletedScene where Ballard tries using the phrase to stop November, who's been programmed as a tough BountyHunter.
179--->'''Ballard:''' You need therapy.\
180''[November slugs him in the face]''\
181'''Boyd:''' Treatment. You need a "treatment".\
182'''Ballard:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint No, I'm fine]]. ''[collapses]''
183** Also often used are the trust passwords between handler and Active. "Do you trust me?" "With my life." "Everything's going to be alright." "Now that you're here."
184** This exchange could count, though it's initiated by the triggeree -- used whenever an Active is reset to "tabula rasa":
185--->'''Active:''' Did I fall asleep?\
186'''Handler:''' For a little while.\
187'''Active:''' Shall I go now?\
188'''Handler:''' If you like.
189* In the ''Series/DueSouth'' episode "Seeing Is Believing", Fraser hypnotizes most of the other main characters in order to [[RashomonStyle reconcile their accounts of a murder]]. He takes the opportunity to give trigger phrases to both Ray and Inspector Thatcher, making Ray apologize when he says "cauliflower" and Thatcher agree with him when he says "eggplant".
190* ''Series/FatherBrown'': In "Sins of the Father", the murderer hypnotizes one of his patients into going into a trance whenever he hears a particular piece of music and killing whoever is playing it, and then sends the sheet music to the man's son to practice for a music competition. He did not foresee his patsy later coming on someone else playing the same piece of music.
191* ''Series/FrankHerbertsChildrenOfDune'': The Emperor Muad'dib is presented with two people as gifts -- a resurrected Duncan Idaho and the dwarf spy [[RhymesOnADime Bijaz]]. However Duncan later discovers he's actually a ManchurianAgent under the control of Bijaz.
192-->'''Duncan:''' You are Tleilaxu.\
193'''Bijaz:''' [[DesignerBabies Born and bred]] in the [[PeopleJars same tank]].\
194Just we two in the same tank. First me, then you.\
195'''Duncan:''' You're trying to [[BerserkerRage bring out the violence in me!]]\
196'''Bijaz:''' Oh, no. Not yet.\
197The script is written, [[TheChessmaster but the stage is not set.]]\
198But one day soon, the Emperor will come to you,\
199[[HeroicBSOD A mask of grief obscuring his face.]]\
200And he'll say,\
201''She is gone''.\
202And then you will finally know [[ManchurianAgent what you're expected to do]].\
203Now it's time to forget what you remember when day becomes night.\
204[[LaserGuidedAmnesia Forgetting is not having]] till the words are right...
205* ''Series/GetSmart'':
206** One episode where the agent is Max and the trigger is "Checkmate". Max is meant to challenge his target, The Chief, to a chess game and then shoot him when he loses (given that Max is too incompetent to win). Unfortunately Max dithers so much during the game, that when he finally does lose an exasperated KAOS DoubleAgent in the room shouts "Checkmate!" in delight, and gets shot instead.
207** The follow up joke in the epilogue is that even after Smart realizes this manipulation at the end of the story, The Chief finds out the hard way that Smart is ''still'' reflexively shooting at anyone saying "Checkmate", and Smart has to sheepishly explain that a bad habit is hard to break.
208** In another episode, Hymie is reprogramed to shoot Max when he asks for the check. But Max asks for it in Spanish, and when Hymie translates for the girl with them (saying "check" in English), he promptly shoots himself.
209* In the ''Series/{{Hyperdrive}}'' episode "Convoy", the trigger word that puts Henderson under the control of the Scrane is "horrage", defined by them as the [[{{Portmanteau}} combination of hope and courage]].
210* ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' eventually reveals that the [[DiscOneFinalBoss Freeze Roidmude]] (posing as the Minister of Defense) implanted the higher-ups of the police department with a mental suggestion that used "Roidmude" as a trigger word; whenever they heard it, they would become skeptical and mistrusting, [[PoliceAreUseless not taking the Roidmude threat seriously]]. Lt. Ohta was also subject to the brainwashing, but for some reason it caused him to constantly mispronounce the word as things like "Pork Roast" or "Hemmoroid" -- [[CerebusRetcon one of the show's longest]] {{Running Gag}}s, but also the reason he was able to remain competent[[note]]He was part of the top cops, but got demoted to the "reject squad" precisely because he recognized the Roidmudes as a threat and wouldn't just drop it when ordered by his bosses[[/note]]. Rinna develops a cure which not only ends Ohta's RunningGag but allows the police to actually give Drive the support he's needed all along.
211* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kids_From_C.A.P.E.R./ The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.]]'' (1976): When anyone says the word "bananas" around Bugs, he instantly goes into an insane rage. Fortunately, the effect doesn't last long.
212* In one episode of ''Series/MacGyver1985'', Pete is brainwashed into shooting whoever utters the trigger phrase "From the bottom of my heart, I salute you". The BigBad wanted to use him to kill a visiting dignitary (who was scheduled to give a speech containing that phrase at a dinner Pete would be attending).
213* ''Series/MyLifeIsMurder'': In "Call of the Wild", a psychiatrist hypnotizes a patient into being his ManchurianAgent. Her trigger phrase is a particular piece of music he programs into her phone as the ringtone for the number he will call her from when he knows she is in sight of the intended target.
214* In one episode of ''Series/TheNewAdventuresOfBeansBaxter'', Beans is given the task of babysitting a robot, which becomes an unstoppable killing machine when it hears its trigger phrase. The phrase was designed to be the least likely thing for a person to say ("M. I. N. D. Mood"), but Beans had a dental appointment earlier and his mouth was numbed-up. When his girlfriend asked him if he was in the mood to make out, his slurred answer just happened to match the robot's trigger phrase.
215* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/NightCourt'': Bull Shannon is due to appear on a game show but is nervous, so his friends hypnotise him so he will remain calm when he hears a Trigger Phrase which is...unfortunately the lecherous DA Dan Fielding choses that moment to say "I want to be your love slave!" to an attractive prison officer. Ironically Bull handles the game show quite well but Dan, not realising this, rushes onto the stage and shouts "Bull, I want to be your love slave!" on live television. At a press conference Dan excuses his actions by saying he was kidnapped and brainwashed by Soviet agents.
216* In the ''Series/NinjaTurtlesTheNextMutation'' episode "Sewer Crash", Donatello was hypnotized by Silver to make him do crimes for him. However, Silver had a trigger word set for Donatello so he can snap in and out of the hypnosis as he made banana as the word.
217* ''Series/NowhereMan'': The episode 'Marathon' used "Just thought I'd see what you are doing on such a rainy day" spoken over the telephone to activate a ManchurianAgent killer. At the climax of the episode, the protagonist has an OhCrap moment when he hears the phrase being spoken on the carphone of the DamselInDistress he's been protecting the entire episode.
218* ''Series/TheOddCouple1970'': "The fault lies not with the stars but with ourselves" made Oscar neat, and a finger-snap made him back to normal.
219* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Regina has to do whatever Mr. Gold asks her to, as long as he says "please." Unusual in that she's perfectly aware of this, but she was hoping that [[LaserGuidedAmnesia he wasn't]]. [[spoiler:Though it doesn't work anymore in Season 2.]]
220** "Emma" was one for Mr. Gold. According to WordOfGod, hearing it brought back his memories as Rumplestiltskin.
221* In ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', the trigger phrase for a certain ManchurianAgent is an ancient Klingon prayer, [[spoiler:except it fails to work on Tyler/Voq, much to L'Rell's surprise, as the Tyler personality has developed feelings for Burnham]].
222-->'''Handler:''' Whom do we seek?\
223'''Agent:''' Kahless.\
224'''Handler:''' How do we find him?\
225'''Agent:''' Together.\
226'''Handler:''' Give us light to see.\
227'''Agent:''' Forever.\
228'''Handler:''' Will he hide from us always?\
229'''Agent:''' Never.
230* In one ''Series/ThatsSoRaven'' episode, Victor is accidentally hypnotized by a friend of Corey's to fall into a coma-like state when he hears 'San Francisco' and wake up only when he hears 'Okeechobee'.
231* ''Series/{{Treadstone}}'':
232** The nursery rhyme ''Are you sleeping?'' is used to activate the [[ManchurianAgent cicadas]], and a photograph and/or address ringed by a red circle with three horizontal red lines below gives them their instructions. The cicadas' subconscious sees it as a problem to be solved, and the only way to do that is by completing the mission.
233** A CIA agent meets a former Treadstone doctor in a bar, and when they first sit down the doctor tells the bartender "Did I forget to tell you? It's my birthday" whereupon he gets a drink on the house. When the agent asks if that TriggerPhrase stuff actually works, the doctor again says "Did I forget to tell you? It's my birthday" and gets another free drink, the bartender unaware that he's already poured him one.
234* In ''Series/{{Westworld}}'', "a deep and dreamless slumber" is used to put a Host into Sleep Mode. Dr. Ford, the founder of Westworld, controls the Hosts using triggers too subtle to be seen, apparently based on a combination of words and his body language.
235[[/folder]]
236
237[[folder:Music]]
238* In Music/{{Queensryche}}'s ConceptAlbum ''Music/OperationMindcrime'', the main character is a brainwashed assassin activated by the word "mindcrime" [[TitleDrop (fittingly enough)]].
239* Noodle from {{Music/Gorillaz}} apparently has one which the book Rise of the Ogre reveals is "Ocean Bacon".
240[[/folder]]
241
242[[folder:Podcasts]]
243* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'': In ''The Eleventh Hour'' arc, [[spoiler: Roswell]] has one: [[spoiler: "Junebug"]].
244* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'' does an {{exaggerated|Trope}} version. In [[Recap/WelcomeToNightValeEp61BrinyDepths Episode 61]], a [[NebulousEvilOrganization "vague yet menacing government agency"]] manipulates Cecil into saying "Briny Depths" over [[DoNotAdjustYourSet all possible radio frequencies]]. Doing so initiates a large commotion outside of the studio, and when Cecil returns from his usual weather report break, he learns that the phrase "Briny Depths" was a code word for the government's [[DeepCoverAgent secret agents]] to enact their evil plans... or more specifically, for ''all'' of the agents to enact ''every evil plan'' they had ever learned. Said government agents include [[FlockOfWolves every citizen of Night Vale]].
245[[/folder]]
246
247[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
248* A Mind Cleansed character in ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'' has the innate weakness of a trigger phrase. Notably, this isn't ''just'' a phrase -- there's too much risk of outside forces learning it and using it against the Inquisition. The phrase must be delivered either telepathically or at a specific frequency to activate the latent programming.
249* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', the Witch Hunters faction possesses a unit called an "Arco-Flagellant". These are convicted heretics who undergo severe cyber-reconstruction and psycho-conditioning to make them insane killing machines. However, they are also equipped with pacifier helms that project soothing images and hymns into their brains... at least until the trigger word is spoken. Then they kill everything in sight.
250[[/folder]]
251
252[[folder:Theatre]]
253* In ''Theatre/TheMarioOpera'', Luigi is brainwashed into being a killing machine, but when he hears "Your Princess is in another castle" he'll become docile.
254[[/folder]]
255
256[[folder:Video Games]]
257* ''VideoGame/BioShock1'': "[[spoiler:Would you kindly?]]", used to compel [[spoiler:the PlayerCharacter to do ''anything''.]] One of the antagonists, Andrew Ryan, uses it to [[PlayingWithPuppets chilling effect]] in one cutscene. After you make it past his final defences he reveals [[spoiler:that Fontaine has been controlling your actions all along. He demonstrates by controlling you like a dog, telling you to sit, stand, so on. Then, he hands you his golf club and commands you to kill him, wanting to 'choose' the terms of his own death rather than "obey" Fontaine.]] Also "[[spoiler:Code Yellow]]", which is meant to [[spoiler:stop your heart]].
258* A variation of this shows up in ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'', in which the notes CAGE summon the Songbird.
259* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' has a variant: The mechanically enhanced UNATCO agents have verbally activated {{Involuntary Suicide Mechanism}}s. The phrases 'trigger' something, but it's a bomb.
260-->'''JC:''' I know your UNATCO kill phrase. 'Laputan Machine'.\
261'''Gunther Hermann:''' I am not a [[KilledMidsentence mach]]-- ''(boom)''
262* In ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', one quest features an escaped android who can be rebooted with a trigger phrase.
263** And then there's [[spoiler:President Eden]]. Saying "Priority Override, Authorization code 420-03-20-9" will reset him to factory defaults (same happens if you trick him into realizing [[LogicBomb he's in a logical loop]]) and activates his self-destruct sequence.
264** Also, according to a computer log in Vault 92, the phrase [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour "Sanity is not statistical"]] was used to [[spoiler:pacify the people driven mad by the Vault's white noise experiments.]] The problems start when [[spoiler:the "crazies" start resisting the command.]]
265** In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', the robot ED-E [[spoiler:has two hidden recordings from the scientist who built him]], which are activated when it hears people talking about the Enclave or the Brotherhood of Steel.
266*** In the ''Dead Money'' DLC, you use holotapes to get the schizophrenic Super Mutant Dog/God to switch personalities. A recording of God saying "Dog, back in the cage" is used to summon God while a recording of Elijah's voice is used to summon Dog.
267** Similar to the above example, ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' shows that all of the Institute's androids, or synths, have a trigger phrase to reboot them. If the player gives Mama Murphy drugs, she tells them the code to deactivate a synth they have to kill as part of the main story. In addition, if the player sides with the Institute in the Battle of Bunker Hill, they are given the trigger phrases for a group of escaped synths in order to recapture them.
268* In ''VideoGame/Halo4''[='s=] ''Spartan Ops'', [[spoiler:Halsey takes over the ''Infinity''[='s=] AI, Roland, by uttering the words "''Undid Iridium''". She wrote the base code for most, if not all, of the UNSC's Smart [=AIs=], and she put these in just in case.]]
269* ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelSuperheroes2:'' As in the comics, Roberta Mendez, the Captain America of 2099, is controlled by one. "Avengers assemble" brings forth Captain America, and "dismissed" causes her to go back to being Roberta. Unfortunately, some HYDRA goons have discovered this, and use it to their advantage.
270* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Manhunt}} Manhunt 2]]'', [[spoiler:the main character is rendered unconscious by a quote from ''Theatre/TheTempest'': "What seest thou else in the dark backward and abysm of time?"]]
271* In ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'', Painwheel can supposedly be placated and controlled by the phrase 'Access Code 36E-25-40'. However, the closer she gets to the Skullgirl, the more capable she becomes of resistance until in the Cathedral where she outright refuses.
272* A variation in the InteractiveFiction story ''VideoGame/SpiderAndWeb'': the trigger words "tango" (on) and "waltz" (off) are used to activate a special device the protagonist holds. When [[spoiler:you realise that you previously attached an acid capsule to the chair you are now bound in. When the BigBad, who is interrogating you, asks you if you have any last words, you casually reply: "Tango." The acid dissolves your bonds, releasing you, and you then proceed to deck him, rob him blind, and escape.]]
273* [[spoiler:The Imperial Agent player character]] in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' is subjected to "Castellan restraints", a form of mind control that is applied well ahead of time, only kicking in when they hear a specific code word. [[spoiler:Yours is "onomatophobia", since you asked.]] When the code is used, the subject is compelled to carry out any commands given to the best of their ability. [[spoiler:You are eventually able to recover by subjecting yourself to the Castellan process ''again'', only this time with a code word of your own choosing; you then [[LogicBomb order yourself to ignore the previous trigger]].]]
274** In ''Knights Of The Eternal Throne'', [[spoiler:Vaylin]] has a PowerLimiter that is activated by the key phrase: "Kneel Before the Dragon of Zakuul!". [[spoiler:She eventually gets it removed, though it returns in the FinalBoss Fight where you are able to use it against Valkorion due to the battle [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind taking place in your mind]].]] And yes, while every class has a conversation option to call [[spoiler:Valkorion]] out on it when you first learn of this, the [[spoiler:Agent]] makes it ''personal''.
275* It's heavily implied in the background information scattered throughout ''VideoGame/{{Superhot}}'' that the repetition of the words "SUPER. HOT." at the end of each level [[spoiler:strengthens the System's mind control]].
276* Used in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'': "When I give you the order, you will [[spoiler:open every fon slot in your body and unleash a hyperresonance]]. The Trigger Phrase will be '[[spoiler:Foolish replica Luke]]'."
277* In ''VideoGame/TombRaiderUnderworld'':
278** [[spoiler:Natla]] can control [[spoiler:the Thralls & the Doppelganger of Lara]] with the phrase [[spoiler:"Okh Eshivar"]].
279** In the "Lara's Shadow" DLC when [[spoiler:Natla orders the Doppelganger to kill itself after killing Lara, the Doppelganger is visibly displeased but has no choice but to obey]]. Fortunately, Lara learns [[spoiler:the Okh Eshivar phrase in time to stop the Doppelganger just as its about to kill her]].
280** Upon questioning it and realising that [[spoiler:the Doppelganger [[ThatsWhatIWouldDo would act just like her if it was free to do so]], Lara orders it to ignore all commands from that moment on]]. Upon returning to and destroying the machine that was [[spoiler:reviving Natla, the trapped Natla attempts to use the phrase to get the Doppelganger to save her but Lara's Order has made her immune. The Doppelganger just watches as the increasingly frantic and desperate Natla drowns in the leaking fluid from the machine.]]
281* ''VideoGame/WingCommander III'': [[TitleDrop "Heart of the Tiger"]] is both the enemy's nickname for you and the trigger-phrase for their sleeper agent.
282[[/folder]]
283
284[[folder:Webcomics]]
285* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Grace [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1835 voluntarily gets triggers planted in her subconscious]] within a dream to help her to remember upon waking a message she receives within the dream.
286* There is a universal trigger phrase for artificial intelligences in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}''. Any orders prefaced by the words "direct order" must be obeyed by any artificial intelligences that hear it. They must also continue to obey the order until they are given a direct order to stop obeying the previous order. There are exceptions to the Direct Order system though: Florence can [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1400/fc01361.htm disobey direct orders]] given by someone without the authority to give them, and direct orders can also be ignored by AIs who are working to protect humanity, like Blunt believes he is.
287** Also, Bowman Wolves are designed with a few auditory and scent-based triggers which allow tinkering with their minds without requiring physical access to their brain. After one such trigger is abused on Florence, Dr Bowman [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2600/fc02560.htm uses another]] to adjust her security settings.
288** Florence had several extra phrases programmed in as debug features. The one we see onscreen is that if she's given a direct order to identify a banana, she'll claim it's "[[Series/RedDwarf a small off-duty Czechoslovakian traffic warden]]". She'll also do... ''something'' if ordered to [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2700/fc02613.htm identify a female aardvark]], but [[NoodleIncident all we know is that Henri Mer doesn't want to be in the same room if it happens]].
289* ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'': Breakfast food trigger words are a signature for one scientist since they tend to work all-nighters and get hungry:
290** Unity has the trigger phrase [[https://skin-horse.com/comic/and-mostly-in-his/ "blueberry waffles"]] to make her ''stop'' fighting, because that tends to be rather more difficult than [[AxCrazy getting her to start]].
291** Nick's turns off his brain and makes him follow orders [[SnarkKnight without complaining]].
292* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', Oasis seems to be triggered by an image instead of a phrase. When she sees the [=HeretiCorp=] logo, she immediately goes into "Override B-1" and kills all [=HeretiCorp=] employees in the area. (One wonders why, after several years of this, the company hasn't just picked a different logo.)
293* ''Webcomic/{{Starslip}}'': Seeing the artwork known as "Spine of the Cosmos" while being provided with its context will render almost any intelligent being a compliant zombie as they realize their utter insignificance in the face of the universe. (The Cirbozoids are immune due to their complete inability to understand art; also, [[spoiler:sufficiently trained art critics like Vanderbeam can resist indirect exposure, as an image of the Spine is a different form of context]].) It is ultimately neutralized when [[spoiler: Vanderbeam makes Mr Jinx wear it as a hat, irrepairably altering its basic context]].
294[[/folder]]
295
296[[folder:Web Videos]]
297* ''Creator/BaratsAndBereta'' once hypnotized each other into doing crazy things when a specific trigger phrase was used. The only way to be un-hypnotized was to utter a trigger phrase that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UfZNbLOkRA no one would ever say]], "[[spoiler:That last [[Music/JustinBieber Bieber]] song [[TakeThat wasn't half bad]]]]".
298* PlayedForLaughs in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQr0HCIN2w Mexican Standoff]]'', when a character is revealed to be a sleeper agent, triggered only when someone utters the phrase "blueberry pie."
299* The streamers from ''Offline TV and Friends'' decided to treat the word "babushka" as this for a while in their ''VideoGame/AmongUs'' games with Proximity Chat. [[https://youtu.be/WzIygALa6a0?t=58 It began]] when LetsPlay/{{Valkyrae}} hadn't gotten to be the Impostor in a while, and a sympathetic Creator/{{Sykkuno}} revealed that he was an Impostor that round and offered to kill on her behalf whenever she liked, so the two decided to use "babushka" as the code word to order Sykkuno to kill on Rae's behalf. It really took off in popularity, however, [[https://youtu.be/WzIygALa6a0?t=663 after another round later that day]] when Valkyrae was explaining the arrangement the two of them had used while Sykkuno was away from his keyboard on a bathroom break. Sykkuno returned at the exact moment Rae used the word 'babushka' and, mistaking it for a legitimate use of the code word, immediately killed the nearest player, [[OverzealousUnderling despite being surrounded by five different witnesses to the deed]], unleashing a round of chaos and slaughter. (Dramatized slightly in the animated ''WebAnimation/BabushkaTheMovie'', which you can see [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JmGQTMvO-U here]].) For some time afterwards, "babushka" was treated as a trigger word between Impostors, or Impostors and [[TheQuisling crewmates cooperating with the Impostors]], as a signal to kill, and it was sometimes treated as a trigger that couldn't be refused, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkZ0quY9F-w could force Impostors to kill even when it would be suicidal to do so]].
300[[/folder]]
301
302[[folder:Western Animation]]
303* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' special "My Big Fat Spy Wedding", Beautiful Gorgeous hypnotised Jet Fusion so he would kill whoever said the phrase "I have the ring", her target being Jimmy who was the ring bearer. Libby, who was playing the church organ, broke the hypnotic trance by [[LogicBomb having everyone say the phrase]] in a CrowdSong.
304* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': The trigger phrase that Stan Smith used to make his daughter into a {{Tykebomb}} was specifically selected to be something that no-one would ever say accidentally: [[spoiler:[[RefugeInAudacity "I'm getting fed up with this orgasm!"]]]]
305** It backfires, though. Stan's boss reveals that every subject [[spoiler:turned on his or her handler. And, if the phrase isn't uttered again within a week, they stay in that state, until they kill said handler.]]
306** This was actually a CallBack to another episode, when Stan tried to use the word "rhubarb" to hypnotize Hayley, but to his confusion it didn't work. ''Steve,'' however, had suddenly turned into a zombie.
307* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Joo Dee, [[spoiler:all the other Joo Dees]], and [[spoiler:Jet]] would obey anyone who said "The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai," without question, their compliant state signalled by falling limp and responding "I am honored to accept his invitation."
308* In a variant from ''WesternAnimation/BackAtTheBarnyard'', Otis is ''accidentally'' hypnotized to try and kill the Farmer every time he hears a bell ring. (Some context: He's watching a boxing movie where the protagonist’s opponent is named "the Farmer", and the bell refers to the ring bell.) His friends break the trance by setting up a effigy of the Farmer, and he comes to when he destroys it.
309* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', a doctor specializing in robotic prosthetics was forced by a gang to give them weaponized versions. He secretly put a trigger phrase in the limb's coding, which would make them fall apart. Batman figured it out at the end battle ("April Moon", after the favorite song of the doctor's wife), and defeats the gang.
310* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' also has a trigger phrase that was selected because it's something nobody would ever say accidentally: [[spoiler:[[RambunctiousItalian "Gosh, that Italian family at the next table sure is quiet."]]]] It works on both Creator/AdamWest and [[spoiler:Meg, but whoever Meg calls to check in with [[ButtMonkey just tells her to shut up.]]]] Another example is a complete accident, since it's a ring tone that overrides the trigger phrase being programmed, it being [[spoiler:"EXTRA! EXTRA!"]], and having [[{{Squick}} extremely disasterous results]].
311* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode ''War Is the H-Word'', Bender is fitted with a bomb that will explode when he says the word "ass," which in a reversal from the norm is specifically selected as the word he says most often. At the end Dr. Farnsworth tries to defuse the bomb [[spoiler:but can't and instead resets it so it will be detonated by the word Bender is least likely to say -- which Bender [[TemptingFate immediately tries]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom to guess.]]]]
312** [[spoiler:It takes at least three tries.]]
313*** [[spoiler: The word is "antiquing".]]
314* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'': In "There's No Place Like Springfield", "Frogs in winter" made Shipwreck recite the formula for a chemical compound that turns water into an explosive.
315* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'': In the pilot "Meet The Reaper", the phrase "kiss kiss" makes Billy's pet hamster Mr. Snuggles go into uncontrollable spasms and bite people on the nose, even though it's apparently about to breathe its last. Mandy [[ChekhovsGun uses this]] to defeat the Grim Reaper in a limbo contest and thus set up the premise of the series.
316* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'': "Quiz Master" featured a MAD plot to hypnotize contestants on a game show (including Gadget himself at one point) to do Dr. Claw's bidding with the phrase "Going my way?"
317* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', a LawyerFriendlyCameo of then-head of Warner Brothers Television Jamie Kellner had one of these given to him as a hypnotic anesthetic. The word "repugnant" worked as an on-off switch; shame it was Brain's CatchPhrase after becoming a stand-up comedian...
318* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', Stacy hypnotizes Candace into controlling her obsession with busting her brothers, using the phrase "Holy guacamole!" to calm her down, while the phrase "Leaping lizards!" puts her back into busting mode.
319* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Sideshow Bob hypnotizes Bart to kill Krusty during Krusty's live retirement special. His trigger is a line in Krusty's speech, "I've never had such a great audience."
320* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': In "Deep Dive", Janna gets called in to help Star with her interdimensional sleep-walking via hypnotherapy. When Marco expresses skepticism as to whether Janna knows anything about hypnosis, she has two words for him: "Chicken butt". This phrase [[MoreHypnotizableThanHeThinks immediately causes Marco to fall asleep]], and [[TheGadfly Janna]] proceeds to troll Marco by [[RunningGag using it repeatedly]].
321* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' revealed that Palpatine's command in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' to "Execute Order 66" is in fact a trigger phrase that activates the clone troopers' biological chips and forces them to kill the Jedi. [[spoiler:The Order is finally delivered in the penultimate episode of the series.]]
322* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'': In ''Cowabunga Shredhead'', Shredder was hypnotized by Splinter into going between his and Michelangelo personalities whenever he hears their names, due to an accident caused by Bebop. However, the hypnosis was canceled out, after the same accident occurred.
323* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' has two trigger phrases.
324** First is "Red Sun", used by [[TheChessmaster Lex Luthor]] as an immediate fail-safe to stop Superboy from acting belligerent during a shady dealing between the two. Should he choose to attack his manipulator... Luthor can leave him catatonic for hours on end. It's the result of mental brainwashing by CADMUS while being grown as a LivingMacGuffin clone of Superman as insurance in case he suffered from insanity. However, it also raises suspicion he might be a ManchurianAgent. [[spoiler:Eventually, this is proved wrong, and Miss Martian uses her own mental prowess to [[{{Deprogramming}} wipe out the subliminal trigger]].]]
325** The second phrase is [[WhamEpisode much more unexpected]]. [[spoiler:Red Arrow discovers he isn't the actual protégé of Green Arrow, but a [[TomatoInTheMirror clone of Roy Harper, A.K.A. Speedy]], with directives to [[TheMole infiltrate the Justice League]] [[ManchurianAgent without the actual knowledge he was doing so]], cleverly disguised as valid human intentions not to be treated as a sidekick anymore. He also came pre-programmed with the phrase "Broken Arrow", used by Sportsmaster to make him a vegetable while he and his cohorts extract information from him, or if the villains simply want him out of their hair.]] It had actually been spoken once much earlier in the series; it seemed to be just a quip at the time.
326[[/folder]]
327
328[[folder:Real Life]]
329* Creator/StephenFry has written/told about how he [[DreadfulMusician had to be hypnotized for a show that required him to sing on stage]]. Unfortunately, the line he had to ask for as his Trigger Phrase was Creator/HughLaurie saying "Hit it, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]."
330* Trigger words (of sorts) are used in business. These ones tend to be simple one-word phrases that typically increase interest rather than any sort of hypnotism, [[https://blog.kajabi.com/what-are-trigger-words-50-examples-to-increase-conversions-in-2018 simply certain words that appeal to the consumer more]].
331[[/folder]]
332----
333->''We are all of us--all of us mad.''\
334There, Troper. You may go now.

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