Line #62 PlayingWith/KarmaHoudini


1	'''Basic Trope''': A character (usually a villain) justly deserving punishment either ends the story without receiving any or receives punishment so minor as to be fairly negligible.
2	* '''Straight''': Emperor Evulz does many awful things in pursuit of his goal to TakeOverTheWorld, and even murders a hero in the climax. Though defeated, he [[VillainExitStageLeft escapes]] and gets away with it.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** Evulz gets [[EvilPaysBetter rewarded]] for his actions.
5	** Evulz blows up several galaxies, inflicts an AndIMustScream fate on an entire planet’s population, {{rape\|Is a special kind of evil}}s every woman he encounters and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking crosses the road on a red light]]. He somehow gets away with it.
6	** Evulz crosses the MoralEventHorizon, but ''somehow'' goes to Heaven instead of Hell for his crimes.
7	** Evulz's victim's/victims' family receives further punishment for trying to retaliate, and Evulz is rewarded directly for his actions on top of that.
8	** TheBadGuyWins.
9	* '''Downplayed''':
10	** Evulz gets a lifetime in prison, which is a life he is used to, but he still wishes he could go outside more.
11	** Evulz [[PokeThePoodle plays an annoying practical joke]] and gets away with it.
12	** Evulz is punished, just not as severely as he deserves.
13	** Evulz is punished, but doesn't care for whatever reason.
14	** Evulz does something bad, but no one [[YouMonster calls him out on it.]]
15	** Evulz gets away with it, but the things that happened to him ''[[TheChewToy during]]'' the act were punishment enough.
16	** Evulz gets away with it. He later becomes TheAtoner and, though he never receives an external punishment, he feels it necessary to atone for his sins.
17	** The story has MultipleEndings and one has Evulz succeed in his goals without being punished.
18	** Evulz gets away with it but [[PyrrhicVictory at a great cost.]] Most of his [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loved ones]] are now dead, his surviving friends and family [[IHaveNoSon disown him,]] his image is ruined, and he [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking got a paper cut.]]
19	** Evulz gets away without punishment, but it’s on level with his crimes, as he only did [[EvilIsPetty really small deeds]] like stealing from a donation box, starting a fight in a school cafeteria, MustacheVandalism, and eating a chocolate bar without paying for it.
20	** Bob is [[AntiHero the most ruthless of the heroes]], yet he is the only one to get a happy ending.
21	** Similar to the above example: Bob is a {{vigilante\|Man}} who gets away with [[PayEvilUntoEvil deliberately targeting criminals]] [[WhatTheHellHero despite it being illegal]].
22	** [[TheBully Alice]] gets away with being a petty {{jerkass}}.
23	** Evulz [[KarmicDeath dies]], but the people he wronged never find out he was responsible and remember him in a positive light.
24	** Evulz got away with something more minor, such as cheating on a exam.
25	* '''Justified''':
26	** Some higher power covered up Evulz’s heinous act, whether it be a [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] who still needs Evulz for an aspect of their scheme or a loved one in denial that [[MamaDidntRaiseNoCriminal their beloved Evulz could really do such a thing]].
27	** Evulz's "crime" was very minor, at worst leaving his victims a few dollars poorer and annoying the neighborhood. In other words, it's not a big enough deal for the others to seek revenge or press charges over.
28	** Evulz is clever enough to plan several contingency plans enabling her to escape punishment for her crimes.
29	** Evulz is the {{Evil\|Twin}}, {{Polar Opposite Twin\|s}} of a ButtMonkey.
30	** [[InvincibleVillain There is no one left who's strong enough to punish Evulz.]]
31	** Evulz does a HeelFaceTurn halfway or at the end of the story. There's no point in punishing him if he is a changed man and wishes to make up for his misdeeds.
32	** Evulz [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse completely vanishes from the storyline]] after his actions and the writers [[ShrugOfGod leave his fate ambiguous.]]
33	** The story is a cynical one.
34	** Nearly everyone is a villain and the hero Evulz murdered was a member of a rebellion.
35	** ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem
36	** Evulz is an integral part of the universe, in the way that ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac is.
37	** Evulz was BrainwashedAndCrazy and was therefore, brainwashed into killing.
38	** Evulz has been trained to or studied how to kill without leaving a trace and may be {{ninja}}.
39	** Evulz is a secret agent with a license to kill.
40	** Evulz has been hired by a [[GovernmentConspiracy secret organization that is in charge of all government decisions]] to kill the hero, because HeKnowsTooMuch. As such, they give Evulz preferential treatment.
41	** Evulz is a [[EnfantTerrible child.]]
42	** Evulz is based on a person in real life who never got punished.
43	** The hero is angry at Evulz for what he did, but decides to let it go because [[HeWhoFightsMonsters his obsession with revenge could poison him]] and because he is optimistic that Evulz will suffer the consequences of his actions eventually.
44	** No one ever found out about what Evulz did.
45	** [[VillainWithGoodPublicity People like Evulz enough]] not to ''want'' to punish him.
46	** Evulz cannot be tried in his own courts, and his subjects are either [[UniversallyBelovedLeader all too blindly loyal]] or too afraid to take him to task over it, which would make them rebels and traitors.
47	** Evulz negotiates a deal where he gets no punishment, in exchange for information on everyone else in TheConspiracy. One man avoiding punishment is worth the good that'll come from the collapse of TheConspiracy.
48	** 'Evulz' is the RealLife kind of [[InsanityDefense Criminally Insane]].
49	** What Evulz did was an accident: he didn't intend on doing what he did and the rest understands.
50	** ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney[=/=]ScrewTheRulesImBeautiful[=/=]ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections
51	** Plain dumb luck. While Evulz was one of the most evil bastards, his comedically high luck was his savior each and every time.
52	** Evulz is a MagnificentBastard.
53	** IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim
54	** Evulz [[CartesianKarma wasn't in control of himself.]]
55	* '''Inverted''':
56	** CantGetAwayWithNuthin
57	** Alice saves a hero. She is [[DudeWheresMyReward never thanked or given recognition]].
58	** Alice saves a hero. She gets [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished punished for it]].
59	** Alice [[AccidentalMurder accidentally kills]] a hero. Though she feels very guilty, she is [[DisproportionateRetribution executed]] by being [[CruelAndUnusualDeath burned alive while nailed to a tree]].
60	** Alice's [[FatalFlaw arrogance]] ends up [[TragicHero causing her death]].
61	** Evulz receives a punishment far too excessive than what he actually deserves, as while he only really stole, his punishment is so horrific that even the person punishing him refuses to watch.
62	** Alice goes through a massive TraumaCongaLine and barely manages to [[EarnYourHappyEnding earn happy ending]].
63	** Bob is a HarmlessVillain who does something extremely petty. Let’s just say, he [[PokeThePoodle poked a poodle]] for example. Despite this, everyone refuses to let him walk away scott-free and punishes him [[DisproportionateRetribution severely]].
64	** Evulz is a VillainProtagonist.
65	* '''Subverted''':
66	** KarmaHoudiniWarranty
67	** Evulz avoids punishment for a crime he apparently committed ... only for a flashback to reveal that he really was innocent all along.
68	** Evulz avoids direct punishment. But his life and future goals are pretty much screwed due to the heroes' actions that even when he lives, he's still screwed. [[CruelMercy The heroes might have been doing this on purpose.]]
69	** Evulz ends up pulling a HeelFaceTurn in a later installment.
70	** While the story may have ended with Evulz getting away with his crimes and the fact that WordOfGod has confirmed that there are no sequels to the story, according to an interview from the creator, he said that Evulz got punished, but it was [[OffScreenKarma off-screen]].
71	* '''Double Subverted''':
72	** ...which Evulz still manages to escape.
73	** Evulz survives the fall.
74	** This was a ploy to hide his involvement within the crime.
75	** Evulz however then pulls a FaceHeelTurn later on and gets away with his crimes.
76	* '''Parodied''':
77	** [[VillainSong Evulz does a musical song-and-dance number celebrating about how he has managed to get away with it]], [[SubvertedTrope and he ends up getting caught while singing.]]
78	** Evulz just [[ComicallyMissingThePoint doesn't get]] why he manages to get away with every crime he has ever committed even when he talked to the police and the government about it.
79	** Evulz does a ''literal'' [[VillainExitStageLeft Houdini-style escape]] every time he's about to be caught.
80	* '''Zig-Zagged''':
81	** While Evulz can escape his misdeeds, he gets chased by the karma laser again and again until he finally gives in. And at that point karma gives him RestrainedRevenge so he feels he sort of got away with it, that is, until [[DoWithHimAsYouWill the people he wronged take matters into their own hands]], the first person slaps him, the second person tickles him with a feather, the third person hits him in the face with a pie, the fourth person shoots him.....
82	** Evulz seems to be escaping, but then slips on a wet floor and falls out of the building. Evulz unfortunately survives, but now is completely paralyzed. He is still delighted since he fears death, until he eventually realizes that he will be like this forever [[AndIMustScream and]] [[ICannotSelfTerminate cannot kill himself]] out misery.
83	** [[RashomonStyle Many people give different accounts]] of Evulz's crimes and punishment, making it not clear if it was far too little or [[DisproportionateRetribution far too severe]].
84	** Evulz is [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor constantly changing sides, to the point where the heroes see no reason to punish him]].
85	** Evulz gets away with some of his evil deeds, while at other times, he gets punished for his other ones.
86	* '''Averted''':
87	** Evulz receives [[LaserGuidedKarma fair punishment]] for his crimes.
88	** Evulz can [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin never get away with]] his deeds.
89	** PutOnAPrisonBus
90	* '''Enforced''':
91	** "[[CrapsackWorld The universe is unfair]], sometimes the guilty aren't punished, and I think [[HardTruthAesop this story should reflect that]]."
92	** "Wow! Evulz's [[EvilIsCool so awesome]] I can't bring myself to punish him!"
93	** The creators deliberately delay the villain's punishment until a later installment, reasoning that letting the villain get away with their crimes for now will make it all the more satisfying for the fans once the fiend [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty finally gets their comeuppance]].
94	** Evulz's planned comeuppance was omitted from the work after creators felt it would break the pacing of the ending, detract from the intended tone; etc.
95	** The story is a prequel, so Evulz needs to survive to get his dues later.
96	** JokerImmunity
97	* '''Lampshaded''': "You're kidding me! After all we've been through, he got away scot-free?!"
98	* '''Invoked''':
99	** Evulz does everything he can do to avoid punishment. He kills every witness, leaves his hometown, changes his identity and starts a new life.
100	** Evulz is [[FourthWallObserver aware he is in a TV show]], and actively tries to get the show canceled.
101	** [[TurnTheOtherCheek The heroes refuse to punish Evulz]].
102	* '''Defied''':
103	** Figuring that Evulz will somehow weasel out of punishment, the heroes summarily execute him.
104	** Evulz chooses to [[TheAtoner make amends]] because, despite not getting punishment, he still feels guilty.
105	* '''Exploited''': Evulz murders a hero and gets away with it. Then he robs a bank and also gets away with it. He realizes that his actions don't seem to have consequences, so he runs around doing whatever he damn well pleases.
106	* '''Implied''': Evulz doesn't seem like he’s done anything bad, but there's hints that he did get away with it, but it's not for certain ''[[NoodleIncident what]]'' did he do.
107	* '''Discussed''': "It's a cruel world; sometimes, people do get away with murder."
108	* '''Conversed''':
109	** "You're ''kidding'' me! I read that whole thing and Evulz got away with it?!"
110	** "You know what? If you're gonna let him get away with all that malarky, this world ''deserves'' to burn!"
111	* '''Deconstructed''':
112	** [[TragicVillain Evulz]] has to [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone live with what he's done and the memories and guilt rotting at his soul]]. He also, like many real-life dictators, becomes paranoid by constantly worrying about justice catching up with him, assassination attempts, and such. So, although he got away with his crimes, he isn't truly happy.
113	** Evulz's karmic immunity allows him to avoid punishment for his evil deeds, but it also means he's never rewarded for the [[PetTheDog rare instances where he does something good]].
114	** Because of his karmic immunity, TheEmpire of Evulz ends up devolving into a dreadful CrapsackWorld brimming with corruption, violence, selfishness, depravity, and all other kinds of terrible things.
115	** Evulz was ''[[CantGetInTroubleForNuthin trying to get punished]]''.
116	** The friends of the hero are in despair that Evulz will never be punished for his evil deeds. It makes them question what they're fighting for if ultimately, evil is never punished.
117	** Due to the publicity he receives for escaping punishment, Evulz is shunned by everyone he knows and becomes a social pariah. In a fit of irony, Evulz ultimately lives out the rest of his days alone and hated.
118	** One of the people Evulz hurt [[FreakOut snaps]] upon realizing that he is going to walk off scot-free, and butchers everyone in his personal life ([[RevengeByProxy whether they had anything to do with the crime or not]]) in a vain attempt to see him face justice.
119	** Evulz gets hit with a VillainousBSOD and becomes [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone mortified]] by the crimes he got away with, and gives a KarmicNod to the authorities.
120	* '''Reconstructed''':
121	** Because he's a [[StrawNihilist nihilist]], living with the memories of his misdeeds doesn't bother him for that long.
122	** Evulz is a CardCarryingVillain who does not care about getting recognition for doing good things.
123	** In the long run, Evulz doesn't notice his punishment.
124	** Punishment never occurs in TheEmpire, so everyone is capable of being a Karma Houdini.
125	** Evulz learns to be grateful for his karmic immunity.
126	** The hero's friends accept that although it feels unfair that Evulz gets away, it's part of life. They recognize now that winning isn't everything and carry on the hero's mission to defeat Evulz, because although he has won the battle, he hasn't won the war.
127	** Now that everyone disregards him, Evulz can get away with anything for sure.
128	** Evulz is a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who doesn't care for anyone else in his life. Or, more {{iron\|y}}ically, the killer gets away with slaying those people.
129	* '''Played for Laughs''': It was revealed that Evulz only wanted to go to the grocery store and get cucumbers.
130	* '''Played for Drama''':
131	** [[ShootTheShaggyDog The hero's attempt to stop Evulz amounts to nothing]], [[DownerEnding resulting in the world descending into chaos it has no chance of waking from.]]
132	** The hero's attempt to stop Evulz amounts to nothing, resulting in dilemmas among the world and the characters, [[HereWeGoAgain leading to even stronger attempts to take him down]].
133	** [[RuleOfThree The hero's attempt to stop Evulz amounts to nothing, and the heroes decide that if Evulz can get away with his crimes,]] [[FaceHeelTurn so can they]].
134	* '''Played for Horror''': Evulz gets away with inflicting {{Cruel And Unusual Death}}s, ColdBloodedTorture, and other grotesque punishments on [[TheCutie the most]] [[TheIngenue innocent characters]].
135	----
136	Back to KarmaHoudini, unless you ''want'' me to get away. [''EvilLaugh'']
137	----
138	%%Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:

Context PlayingWith / KarmaHoudini