Line #54 PlayingWith/AffablyEvil


1	'''Basic Trope''': A genuinely evil character is a genuinely NiceGuy.
2	* '''Straight''': [[TheEmperor Emperor Evulz]] is looking to [[TakeOverTheWorld dominate the world]], but he is actually a very nice, pleasant person to hang out with and may cut you in, as long as you don't get in his way.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** Emperor Evulz is a {{fr\|iendly enemy}}enemy who always [[GoKartingWithBowser wants to hang out]] with [[TheHero Captain Bob Justice]] after they're done fighting for the day.
5	** Emperor Evulz is so nice, that he donates blood, plays with young children, and hosts a birthday party for the hero, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick while preparing to conquer the entire universe]].
6	** NobleDemon
7	** Evulz does villainous acts [[ApologeticAttacker while politely apologizing for them]].
8	* '''Downplayed''':
9	** Harry is a regular bank robber, but he appears to be nice to a lot of people.
10	** Harry is a morally dubious LovableRogue.
11	** Harry is a reserved person who is polite to his enemies and people he doesn't know, but is more friendly and expressive when among his allies and people he likes.
12	** Emperor Evulz isn't necessarily a NiceGuy, but definitely isn't rude or a JerkAss
13	** Emperor Evulz is a JerkAss towards his enemies, but is affable to people he considers his allies.
14	* '''Justified''':
15	** Emperor Evulz is an AntiVillain, likely of the NobleDemon variety.
16	** Evulz genuinely believes himself the hero and wants to conquer the world [[WellIntentionedExtremist so he can solve all its problems as a benevolent dictator]], and so this is how he acts.
17	** Evulz is a SinisterMinister, EvilChancellor, or other person in a trusted position; even if his niceness ''is'' an act, he wouldn't be where he is without it.
18	** The villain is the EvilTwin of a hero that is [[GoodIsNotNice not nice]], but [[PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes known to be somewhat of a jerk]].
19	** Evulz is so nice that no one believes he's doing anything villainous, in spite of blatant evidence to the contrary. This was part of his plan all along.
20	** Evulz engages in PragmaticVillainy, as he thinks that being wantonly cruel and mean is StupidEvil.
21	** Evil is not mean. Mean is not evil.
22	** Evulz is a villain with a [[MellowFellow laid-back]] personality who doesn't do much to stop the heroes and even hands them a glass of Champagne when they enter his dungeon.
23	** Evulz wants to be/already is a VillainWithGoodPublicity. He decides that the only known way to do so is to be nice.
24	** Evulz believes that just because he is evil doesn't mean that can be used as an excuse to be mean or [[EvilIsPetty petty]] to show it.
25	** Evulz [[KnightTemplar believes he is a hero]] and [[WrongGenreSavvy behaves]] very much [[IdealHero accordingly]].
26	** Evulz has a [[VillainousCrush crush on Captain Bob Justice]] and [[DoggedNiceGuy acts polite to him in hopes Bob will fall for him]].
27	** Evulz happens to be a TokenGoodTeammate in a group of mean and vicious villains.
28	** Evulz is [[PunchClockVillain just doing a job]] and outside his job is a perfectly normal fellow.
29	* '''Inverted''':
30	** Evulz is an [[EvilIsPetty unscrupulous, revolting scumbag]].
31	** The {{Jerkass}} is, in fact, [[GoodIsNotNice firmly allied]] with TheHero and the cause of good.
32	** TheHero is a NiceGuy.
33	** Bob may be [[NiceGuy nice]] and [[TheHero heroic]], but [[GoodIsNotSoft he is not a coward, particularly towards evildoers]].
34	* '''Subverted''':
35	** FauxAffablyEvil
36	** Evulz is a complete {{Jerkass}} who happened to be in a good mood that day.
37	** The polite Harry is shown doing very suspicious things, but it turns out he was good after all. He was just caught at all the wrong moments.
38	** Evulz is not even evil in the first place, [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood just his intention is contrast to the heroes.]]
39	** Evulz TookALevelInJerkass and became more meaner as time went on...
40	** GoodAllAlong
41	** [[NonindicativeName Evulz]] has [[DarkIsNotEvil the aesthetic and mannerisms of a devilish yet well-mannered villain, but he's a straightforward good guy]].
42	* '''Double Subverted''':
43	** But the FauxAffablyEvil act was also an act to restore his cred as an evildoer. He's actually a pretty nice guy.
44	** Turns out Evulz's behavior when he isn't doing evil deeds and manipulating others isn't very different from his fake nice behavior.
45	** Evulz BecomesTheMask and starts being genuinely nice.
46	** Evulz decides that being nasty to everyone all the time is too much effort and leaves him lonely, so he starts being more friendly to his minions and foes. This terrifies them even more, as they're waiting for the other shoe to drop.
47	** It turns out that the suspiciousness was {{Foreshadowing}} of his [[WellIntentionedExtremist sheer lack of concern for collateral damage when pursuing what's right]].
48	** ...but then Evulz TookALevelInKindness after his JerkassRealization and reverted back to his original self.
49	** Actually not good all along. He was faking it.
50	* '''Parodied''':
51	** Evulz is so friendly that [[HarmlessVillain he's hardly]] a [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain real threat]] at all.
52	** GoKartingWithBowser
53	** Evulz is politely asked to stop and leave the city alone by Hiro, he does.
54	* '''Zig Zagged''':
55	** Emperor Evulz looks like a polite person. It's an act. But it isn't. Wait, yes it is. Can he make up his mind already?
56	** Depending on who the villain is dealing with, the affability is either sincere or a [[FauxAffablyEvil cruel façade]].
57	** As long as you are not one of his enemies, [[DarkAndTroubledPast someone who had wronged him before]], or simply getting in his way, he is shown to be likable and friendly to everyone else.
58	* '''Averted''':
59	** Emperor Evulz is rude, plain and simple.
60	** Harry is a nice guy with strictly moral standing, [[LovableRogue despite being an outlaw]].
61	* '''Enforced''':
62	** The author is trying to deliver AnAesop that evil comes in all shapes and sizes.
63	** "Villains are often mean and nasty. Let's create one who's your average everyday NiceGuy."
64	** Emperor Evulz is made a Villanous {{Foil}} towards Captain Bob Justice by the creators.
65	** "Just because someone is evil and a villain doesn't mean they can't be polite."
66	** [[PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes Evulz is nice, but consistently evil, while Bob is mean, but consistently good.]]
67	* '''Lampshaded''':
68	** "For a villain, he acts a lot like a normal person."
69	** "I may be your enemy, but that doesn't excuse being uncivil."
70	* '''Invoked''': Evulz tries to become a nicer, more polite person, in order to improve people's opinions of him, even if they do see his goals as "evil".
71	* '''Exploited''': After his conversations with TheHero, Evulz realizes that he knows everything about him now and can use it against him.
72	* '''Defied''':
73	** "I will ''not'' serve dinner for my prisoners! [[CardCarryingVillain I'm]] ''[[CardCarryingVillain evil]]'', [[CardCarryingVillain damn it, and I'm going to be a dick]]!"
74	** Emperor Evulz ponders being nice for a change... and promptly rejects the idea, laughing evilly all the while, in favor of [[EvilOverlord scaring people into submission as usual]].
75	* '''Discussed''':
76	--> '''Alice:''' All right, time to go confront Emperor Evulz! Even though he's evil, I'm sure he won't mind if we drop by and have a chat.
77	--> '''Bob:''' Alice! He's not some friendly movie villain, he's ''evil.''
78	* '''Conversed''': "It's weird how, in some movies, the villain is a totally normal guy except for his evil plots. Kinda makes you paranoid, right? Anyone could be evil..."
79	* '''Implied''':
80	-->'''Alice''': You escaped! It wasn't too scary, was it?\
81	'''Bob''': I've definitely had worse captors.
82	* '''Deconstructed''':
83	** Emperor Evulz is so affable that he actually [[TheBadGuyWins wins several times]] thanks to his ability to get along with others, while the {{Jerkass}} AntiHero drives away any possible allies he may have had.
84	** [[DistaffCounterpart Empress Evulz]] is an outgoing, charismatic, friendly and socially adept person. This is the reason WHY she became evil; everyone likes her so much that they enable her evil actions. [[EasilyForgiven Her victims forgive her too easily]], [[KarmaHoudini the authorities let her off lightly]], none of her peers criticize or censure her, her minions never disobey her orders, any objective reporting of her evil actions gets ignored or dismissed as MaliciousSlander, and she is basically untouchable.
85	** Evulz's affable tendencies leads to him [[HarmlessVillain easily getting arrested or his plans foiled]].
86	** Even if Evulz retains a pleasant tone, people are still going to hate him for his crimes. His likability will soon vanish.
87	* '''Reconstructed''':
88	** Evulz is only temporarily immune to consequences, as their villainy comes to light before the PointOfNoReturn.
89	** Evulz has the option of obtaining [[HeelFaceTurn redemption]] due to being able to [[FriendlyEnemy get along]] with the heroes.
90	* '''Played For Laughs''': The villain's cheerful blabbing allows the heroes to make an escape, leaving him talking to himself.
91	* '''Played For Drama''': The villain really is a nice person, but he's [[TragicVillain not the villain because he wants to be]].
92	----
93	You're most welcome to head back to AffablyEvil any time you like. I even left cookies there for you. [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse But, just so we are clear, I won't take "no" for an answer.]]

Context PlayingWith / AffablyEvil