Line #49 Main/VillainsOutShopping


1	[[quoteright:314:[[Franchise/StarWars https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vadershoppingresize_8027.JPG]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:314: "I find your lack of beef jerky disturbing."]]
3
4	->''When a felon's not engaged in his employment,\
5	Or maturing his felonious little plans,\
6	His capacity for innocent enjoyment\
7	Is quite as great as any honest man's.''
8	-->-- ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'', "When a Felon's Not Engaged in His Employment" [[note]](perhaps better known as "A Policeman's Lot Is Not a Happy One")[[/note]]
9
10	The heroes are on the ropes, the EvilOverlord has been [[SealedEvilInACan awakened from his ancient slumber]] and [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours his kung fu is stronger than theirs]]. While the heroes are licking their wounds, they wonder what unspeakable evil he's plotting, and the camera makes a cut to...''(DramaticPause!)''...the villain trying out some jeans and T-shirts at Hot Topic.
11
12	Similar to a GilliganCut with a villain as the Gilligan, Villains Out Shopping is a humorous cut to the villain doing or enjoying a perfectly mundane hobby unrelated to [[ToThePain torture]] or [[EvilFeelsGood being evil]] in general, sometimes in an [[MundaneMadeAwesome absurdly dramatic]] or [[StabTheSalad menacing manner]] for extra funny. Occasionally, the hero will join in and go GoKartingWithBowser, and they generally won't attack villains during such activities, if only due to the market being a TruceZone.
13
14	A similar situation is one where the hero has mistakenly concluded that one of the usual villains has committed a crime, [[NotMeThisTime when really, it was a different one.]] The hero will knock down the villain's door to discover... them trying on [[HellBentForLeather leather pants]]. Like we said, a crime.
15
16	Generally used to humanize the villain, who, more often than not, is AffablyEvil and/or a PunchClockVillain; as such, do not expect the CompleteMonster to engage in this, except perhaps to subvert it (however, even ''they'' can do this without subverting it, since they can also have harmless interests and know how to blend in).
17
18	If someone makes the argument that the villain's actions prove shopping is evil, they're committing the HitlerAteSugar fallacy.
19
20	See also WelcomeToEvilMart, which is an establishment that caters specifically to villains who have off-time. KingpinInHisGym and MobBossSuitFitting are subversions, as the villains may initially seem to be enjoying some downtime but are actually training for/planning further villainy. NotMeThisTime may occur if the heroes attack the villain because they didn't anticipate a shopping trip. A fanfic about the shopping trip is a CurtainFic.
21
22	Note that this is an OmnipresentTrope for many {{Villain Protagonist}}s, especially in interactive media where they are given options to shop around.
23
24	For the heroic version, see HeroesGoneFishing. See also VillainsLoveEntertainment, which overlaps significantly with this trope.
25
26
27	[[noreallife]]
28	----
29	!!Example Subpages:
30
31	[[index]]
32	* VillainsOutShopping/AnimeAndManga
33	* VillainsOutShopping/ComicBooks
34	* VillainsOutShopping/FanWorks
35	* [[VillainsOutShopping/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
36	* VillainsOutShopping/{{Literature}}
37	* VillainsOutShopping/LiveActionTV
38	* VillainsOutShopping/VideoGames
39	* VillainsOutShopping/{{Webcomics}}
40	* VillainsOutShopping/WesternAnimation
41	[[/index]]
42
43	!!Other Examples:
44
45	[[foldercontrol]]
46
47	[[folder:Advertising]]
48	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4_dZPVg8KI Darth Vader goes to Disneyland.]]
49	* It's unclear whether or not the two girls in [[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/18/suntory-ad_n_5599608.html?cps=gravity this Japanese commercial]] ever do anything [[ProfessionalKiller typical of the Ninja]] (because that's what they obviously are) but here they're just playing a friendly game of tag.
50	* [[http://creativity-online.com/work/spectrum-train/51537 This hilarious commercial]] from Spectrum features TheGrimReaper, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and a MadScientist commuting to work much like any commuters do, nonchalantly talking about their villainous ''and'' non-villainous plans. For instance, the Mummy talks about summoning the Apocalypse right after taking his twin sons to soccer, while the Reaper complains about his cable TV going out. In a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oCL6iZiUfU second commercial,]] they're playing cards.
51	* [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse Skeletor ]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqhLn76kCv0 saved with MoneySupermarket.com and now he feels... epic!]]
52	* In this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls3PBZgtG2o 2020 Super Bowl commercial]], Wal-Mart is visited by a number of aliens from different films and shows. Among them are the Martians from ''Film/MarsAttacks'', who take their shopping order, thank the Wal-Mart employees, and depart without any problem.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Comedy ]]
56	* Creator/EddieIzzard
57	** The most famous routine in her stand-up show ''Circle'' features [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] vainly attempting to get served with some lunch in the Death Star's canteen. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp69rg6Hdlo Watch it here.]]
58	** ''Definite Article'' gives us a queue of murderers all trying to shop at a late-night petrol station.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
62	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatmanVsDracula:'' In the opening scene, Penguin is initially too focused on a bingo game to pay attention to another criminal offering to cut a deal with him.
63	* ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' has Gaston who does lots of things when he's not plotting evil such as decorating his place with antlers, taking part in spitting contests, drinking beer with his buddies, and trying to play chess. And no one does any of those things like he does!
64	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' had Lady Tremaine giving Drizella and Anastasia a music lesson.
65	* ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'' has Cruella de Vil, who likes shopping and visiting old schoolmates (i.e., Anita Radcliffe). There’s also the scene of Jasper and Horace watching TV in Hell Hall, deciding they’ll finish watching their programme “What’s My Crime?” before getting on with killing the puppies.
66	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'': After Rameses refuses to release the Hebrews, Moses finds him at the Nile and confronts him. Not only is Rameses just lounging in his boat, but the palace priests Hotep and Huy seem to be entertaining his son with magic tricks.
67	* ''WesternAnimation/RaggedyAnnAndAndyAMusicalAdventure'': The scene where King Koo Koo contacts his minion Gazooks starts out as a surprisingly casual phone call, complete with Koo Koo having trouble working the phone, and Gazooks saying he was hoping Koo Koo would call.
68	* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'':
69	** Zigzagged. The whole plot happens because all of the sinister monsters want to participate in an annual road rally and need a werewolf, but they shamelessly cheat and conspire to make Shaggy a monster against his will.
70	** One scene shows the monsters having a pre-race party and happily dancing. Eventually, the main characters stumble in and join in.
71	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'', after acquiring the Super Star, Bowser and his army throw a victory party full of RottenRockAndRoll but otherwise fairly normal festivities, aside from the occasional friendly(?) nibble.
72	* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'': Implied. After Buzz's RousingSpeech to the other toys, it cuts to Al's apartment, where he's asleep on the sofa, and a bowl of cheese puffs in his arm falls to the floor as his arm goes limp.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Music]]
76	* In "The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, the Purple People Eater explains that although he does like to eat people, his real reason for coming to Earth is to get a job in a rock-and-roll band. [[spoiler: There aren't that many purple people around to eat anyway.]]
77	* The first verse of Music/{{Eminem}}'s "3 a.m." is about a drug-addicted serial killer stalking and murdering a bunch of civilians. In the second verse we end up back in his house where he hangs around watching TV and masturbating.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Pinballs]]
81	* When the [[DemBones animated skeletons]] of ''Pinball/BoneBusters'' are not terrorizing humans, they're going jogging and riding bikes in the park.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Podcasts]]
85	* Episode 216 of ''Podcast/MissionToZyxx'' includes a visit to a strip mall, where the future evil Emperor is picking up a Blue Julius.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder: Poetry]]
89	* In Creator/ShelSilverstein's poem "Monsters I've Met", the narrator encounters various monsters-- a vampire, a ghost, and a devil-- none of whom mean him any harm, and only want his help with various everyday tasks.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
93	* This is essentially TheGimmick of Wrestling/ProWrestlingZero1[=/=]Wrestling/RingOfHonor wrestler/manager Wrestling/PrinceNana, an [[EvilPrince evil Ashanti prince]] who came to power in the nation of Ghana and over taxes the population to fund his embassies in foreign wrestling promotions.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Radio]]
97	* A Franchise/SherlockHolmes radio drama about Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee had [[AffablyEvil Professor Moriarty]] detailing to Holmes his exact plans for the day:
98	-->'''Moriarty:''' "At four PM, I shall return home for a nap and an early dinner... ...At seven, I shall go the gala at Buckingham Palace and blow the place to kingdom come!''
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Roleplay]]
102	* In ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', [[BigBad Danya]], when not kidnapping hundreds of high school students at a time and forcing them to fight to the death, is shown to enjoy spending quality time with his loving wife and adorable eight-year-old daughter.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
106	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' will inevitably have many examples.
107	** ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'''s foremost Necromancer Queen, [[http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=11874207=6 Erandis Vol, practices knitting]].
108	** ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'''s Vlad Drakov, the cruel Darklord of Falkovnia, practices falconry as a hobby. The incredible irony is, while Drakov is a tyrant with absolutely no respect for ''human'' life, he [[PetTheDog can't bear to see his birds hurt]].
109	* The Yozi of ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' are {{Eldritch Abomination}}s trapped in [[IronicHell personalized hells]], but universally share a deep and masterful appreciation of music. The King of Hell even leads regular city-wide song-and-dance numbers through the streets. This might have practical benefits given the nature of Hell, but still.
110	* In ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', when not raining plagues and disease on the mortal realms, Father Nurgle enjoys tending his garden. It's a garden devoted entirely to ''disease'', but hey! It's just a garden by another name, right? [[AffablyEvil Nurgle is generally depicted as a kind and generous grandfatherly figure]] [[BlueAndOrangeMorality who likes spreading his presents.]]
111	* In the ''[[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness Classic]]'' and ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'':
112	** Fate magic in ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'' and ''[[TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening Awakening]]'' inverts this. Doing random errands and wandering around on impulse is how [[WindsOfDestinyChange entropy manipulation]] gets you to the person or item you're seeking.
113	** [[BazaarOfTheBizarre Goblin Markets]] in ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' are strictly enforced [[TruceZone Truce Zones]] chock-full of useful gear and contacts, so it's not uncommon for this trope to come into play, whether it's rival Freehold members buying Christmas presents, [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Hobgoblin]] mercenaries on their days off, or privateers auctioning off their slaves to the [[TheFairFolk True Fae]].
114	* One piece of Kickstarter material for ''TabletopGame/ChuubosMarvelousWishGrantingEngine'' had [[DirectLineToTheAuthor Jenna Moran]] meet [[TheGrimReaper the Headmaster of the Bleak Academy]] while he was doing his laundry in Fortitude. Apparently the students at the Bleak Academy can forge Abhorrent weapons, monsters and all varieties of dark magic, but can't build a washing machine or brew detergent.
115	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': The ''Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty'' set reveals that EldritchAbomination EvilutionaryBiologist Jin-Gitaxias enjoys wearing the native attire when he visits another plane.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Theatre]]
119	* ''Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical'' has Voldemort arguing with Quirrell about laundry in his first scene. Later in the show, they go out and get drunk, talk about watching ''Film/ShesAllThat'', and rollerskate.
120	-->'''Newsreader:''' Voldemort blogs about [his return to power] on his new [=FlooTube=] channel.\
121	'''Voldemort:''' I'M GONNA FIND HARRY POTTER AND I'M GONNA [''bleep''] IN HIS [''bleep'']!\
122	'''Newsreader:''' Also does a review of ''Film/SeventeenAgain2009''.\
123	'''Voldemort:''' Well, it was a little slow at the beginning, but come on: Creator/ZacEfron! Zefron! 'Nuff said.
124	* ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'': Discussed in "When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment". The police sergeant who sings it is deeply upset by the fact that when criminals are not actively committing crimes, they are regular people. It currently provides the page quote.
125	* In ''Theatre/VillainsTonight'', when not forming contracts or scheming to rule the seas, Ursula has a lounge act that she performs for Pain and Panic.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Web Animation]]
129	* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'':
130	** The cartoon ''Cheat Commandos: Shopping For Danger!'' revolves around this premise. The villainous Blue Lasers are at the supermarket, picking up their groceries, which the Commandos assume must be part of some sort of plan to "make it snow at the beach". It turns out that they're half-right; the Blue Laser Commander was convinced that the mildewy grout in his shower was the reason his organization couldn't crush the Cheat Commandos.
131	** Pretty much the idea for ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail''; when he isn't antagonizing Homestar, Strong Bad answers emails from his fans. Heck, Strong Bad in general is pretty much the epitome of this trope, if you still consider him a villain. He's been seen shopping at Bubs's Concession Stand, [[GoKartingWithBowser regularly invites the other characters over to his house]], goes fishing and a whole bunch of non-evil, non-villainous things.
132	* Legendary Frog's cartoon "The Return of Ganondorf" has Ganondorf come back after being defeated by Link, claiming to have reformed. Link doesn't believe him though, so he keeps trying to spy on Ganondorf to catch him being evil, but only succeeds in seeing him playing Saria's Song, getting a drawing from him after sneaking into his room, and watching him at Zelda's slumber party as everyone does the Chicken Dance.
133	** The drawing he made for Link (I'm sorry I made you sad) doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment\|s}}.
134	** Also from Legendary Frog, in the "One Ring to Rule Them All" series, Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, enjoys eating pizza, making shrink-e-dinks, and cooking.
135	* The GagDub series ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkUAZYgDSYg The Skeletor Show]]'' reveals what the villains from ''He-Man'' do in their off-hours. (Going on blind dates, yammering on about skincare products, singing to themselves, etc.)
136	* WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded: This is the entire point of the Villain Pub. A place where movie most iconic villains hang out, swap war stories and invent new ways to torture the heroes.
137	* The video ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdF1a7Qi9c Jason & Friends]]'', by Ian "Creator/{{Worthikids}}" Worthington, has [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] along with a few other notable horror antagonists (including [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]], [[Literature/TheRing Sadako Yamamura]], and [[VideoGame/ClockTower Bobby Barrows]]) casually shopping at a convenience store.
138	* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', as part of their infiltration of Beacon, [[TheHeavy Cinder]], [[SmugSnake Mercury]], and [[DarkActionGirl Emerald]] wind up participating in a few recreational activities with the rest of the students who are unaware of their true goals. While some of them factor into their plan, such as Emerald and Mercury attending the school dance to make sure no one leaves who can potentially catch Cinder while she infiltrates the CCTS, others seem to just be them enjoying themselves, like watching some of [[TournamentArc Vytal Tournament]] fights, complete with Mercury having a big bowl of popcorn for the occasion.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Web Original]]
142	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'':
143	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1295 SCP-1295]] features [[spoiler:the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]. Due to a screwup on the part of [[spoiler:War, who mistook the detonation of an atomic bomb as the beginning of Armageddon]] the four old men are stranded on Earth. In the present day, they spend their days patronizing a diner and only manifest dangerous powers if anything or anyone tries to keep them away from it. The four enjoy the diner's food, coffee, and atmosphere while counting down the days [[spoiler:until the world truly ends.]]
144	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-100 SCP-100 ("Jamaican Joe's Junkyard Jubilee")]] is a scrapyard and storefront in South Carolina. It is staffed and run by SCP-100-1, a humanoid made out of metallic objects. The store sells MechanicalLifeforms that [[HonestJohnsDealership always break down as soon as they leave the premises]]. Outside work hours, SCP-100-1 spends its leisure time like a normal human being, and even treats the property's guardian robots like pets.
145	* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Has happened a number of times, most notably in "Saks and Violence" (in which Jadis and co. run into [[MadScientist Dr Venus]] at a clothing boutique, who decided that it was an ideal chance grab the lot of them for her experiments) and "The Book of Darwin, Part 2" (where [[WellIntentionedExtremist Dr. Diabolik]] was in Darwin looking for Christmas gifts for Jadis and Mal when [[OmnicidalManiac Professor Reaper]]'s attack occurred).
146	[[/folder]]
147
148	[[folder:Web Videos]]
149	* ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' is this trope like red is a color. When he isn't building freeze rays (Stops time. Tell your friends.), Billy (AKA the titular Doctor) is doing laundry, checking mail, and trying to work up the courage to confess his feelings toward an ordinary girl named Penny.
150	* ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'':
151	** The Luthor/Green Goblin debates in the pastiches on Website/YouTube.
152	** Later installments of the series feature Villains ''and'' Heroes Out Shopping (or drinking, anyway), as they focus on both sides relaxing, unwinding, and shooting the breeze at their local drinking holes. In typical fashion, the hero bar is a rather calm, sedate place where water costs $4.99 because most superheroes don't drink booze ([[NeverLiveItDown/ComicBooks except, notably]], Comicbook/IronMan), whereas the villain's hangout is generally a bit more raucous.
153	** Taken even further by the "Goblin Bloggin'" segments by the same author, in which Green Goblin hosts a Website/YouTube vid-blog, and generally furthers the impression, gained over the previous 'Marvel / DC' installments, of being quite an AffablyEvil AntiVillain with a deluded crush on Comicbook/HarleyQuinn in this universe (albeit one with a psychopathic hair-trigger temper, an almighty grudge against [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]], and a slightly uncomfortable obsession with [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Willem Dafoe]]).
154	* Many parodies of the ''WebVideo/HitlerRants'' phenomenon show some of the most infamous people in history, namely Adolf Hitler and several other Nazis, doing mundane things, like cooking, playing videogames and literally shopping. Most of the time, these things utterly fail due to the machinations of Hitler's arch-enemy Hermann Fegelein or because Hitler himself messes up because of his lack of patience.
155	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E5iUry5EjQ This delightful gem]] from Kajet begins with Castlevania BigBad Dracula enjoying some delicious pot roast... when he is informed of a Belmont in the castle (PFFFT). (Caution, lots of cursing)
156	* ''WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment'' features a MadScientist villain named Dr. Insano, who plots to take over the world [[ForScience ''with science'']]. Despite claiming to have killed thousands with his army of robotic suicide squirrels, and winning the 2008 presidential election, what we mostly see him doing is sitting around Spoony's house, helping with reviews (and occasionally doing his own), and fixing an Atari Jaguar CD.
157	* For most of ''WebVideo/VaguelyRecallingJoJo'', DIO is out having a vacation with Giorno, and frequently runs into Jotaro and the others, as a result.
158	* In LetsPlay/TheDarkId's LP of ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'', one cutaway to the Gazel Ministry shows them all goofing off and playing ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution''.
159	[[/folder]]

Context Main / VillainsOutShopping