->''"So... do you think we're working for the bad guy?"''
-->-- '''Bobo''', ''Film/TheMuppets2011''

Not all minions are evil. Some simply don't know better, either due to stupidity or just naïveté.

If the reveal results in a HeelFaceTurn, it leads to ConspiracyRedemption.

A subtrope of MinionWithAnFInEvil. Compare with DumbIsGood.

Compare PunchClockVillain. See also UnderlingWithAnFInPR.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', the entire staff of NERV, a MildlyMilitary multibillion international governmental organization, are, unwittingly, the minions of a MadScientist who plans TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt once they're done preventing others from doing it.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Slayers}} Slayers: The Motion Picture]]'', Naga momentarily ends up on the wrong side; unaware she's working for bandits until Lina spells it out for her. [[GoodIsNotNice Though Lina's hardly got room to talk.]]
-->'''Naga:''' (''surprised'') What? They're bad?\\
'''Linna:''' (''exasperated'') Naga, [[ObviouslyEvil LOOK at them!!]]\\
'''Naga:''' (''shrugs'') But, don't they say you're ''not'' supposed to judge a book [[FaceOfAThug by its cover?]]
* In ''Anime/StreetFighterIIV'', Cammy is sent to assassinate Chun-Li's father. However, she's not doing it out of malice. She is informed by Shadowloo agents that her target is [[BlatantLies actually a high-ranking criminal that needs to be dealt with]].
* Kyoko from ''Manga/BlackCat''. She's a ditz that doesn't even know what the Apostle of The Stars (the organization that plans to take over the world, by the way) is. Nevertheless, she ''still'' follows them. [[spoiler:She pulls a HeelFaceTurn after falling for [[TheHero Train]].]]
* Yui from ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'' counts as this with her being deceived by Nakago into thinking Miaka is the evil one.
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[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'':
** After his initial escape from his master, Dark was recruited by Kiria into Fairy Tale, who claimed he could be a hero to the world by joining them, quickly becoming their top agent. However, Dark was completely unaware of Fairy Tale's true motives until he discovered they planned to destroy Yokai Academy for teaching human/monster coexistence; outraged at being used, Dark erased all data related to Yokai Academy from Fairy Tale's computers and destroyed the base he was stationed at before taking his leave.
** Similarly, Akua and Kahlua only worked for Fairy Tale because they genuinely believed that the extent of Kiria's plan for the [[TimeTravel Chrono Displacement spell]] would simply be to use Tsukune's [[SuperpoweredEvilSide ghoul]], infected with [[PsychoSerum Blackheart]], to rewrite the [[GreatOffscreenWar Battle of Kahdaln]] in favor of the monsters, which would give their father a leading place in the new world rather than being confined to TheMasquerade. By the end of Act III, they have to be specifically told that Kiria's plan wasn't just to do that, but also to wipe out Issa Shuzen himself by infecting his daughters with Blackheart and sending them back to destroy his empire from within, as well as to wipe out the other Dark Lords and anyone else who could oppose him, thus rewriting history [[InTheirOwnImage entirely in Kiria's own image]]. Upon learning this, Akua and Kahlua are horrified and spend the entirety of Act IV trying to atone. Gin even lampshades this trope, telling Akua and Kahlua point-blank that they were "too stupid to realize they were being used."
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[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Kronk from ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' and its spin-offs.
* Zip from ''WesternAnimation/RockAndRule''. He needs a baby show to explain the difference between good and evil to him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/StreetFighter'', [[DumbMuscle Zangief]] doesn't become aware that [[BigBad Bison]] is evil, until [[PunchClockVillain Dee Jay]] tells him; which prompts Zangief to ask ''why'' Dee Jay was working for him, since he knew.
-->'''Dee Jay:''' [[OnlyInItForTheMoney Because he paid me a freakin' fortune, moron!]]\\
(''closes briefcase and leaves'')\\
'''Zangief:''' (''to himself, [[{{beat}} in realization]]'') ''You'' got PAID?
* Every human law enforcement officer in ''Film/TheMatrix'' is this, uncomfortably overlapping with WhatMeasureIsAMook.
* Becomes a ConversedTrope in ''Film/{{Clerks}}'', where the characters have a spirited debate about whether the contractors building the [[Franchise/StarWars Death Star]] were Ignorant Minions whom the Rebel Alliance murders or knowing parts of the villainous Empire.
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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Alias}}'': Most of the people working for SD-6 don't know it's a terrorist organization, they think they're working for the CIA.
* In ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'', Boomer didn't consciously know she was a Cylon at first, and was a sleeper agent within the fleet [[spoiler:(who was triggered to do a couple acts of sabotage by Cavil using a sort of hypnotic suggestion involving a carved trinket, then "re-sleepered", as revealed in the movie ''The Plan'')]]. After she was fully conscious of what she was, she ended up in a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor throughout the show, as her human experiences and Cylon nature conflicted.
* In the B movie and ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode ''Film/IAccuseMyParents'', young Jimmy starts working for local gangster Charlie Blake without realizing Charlie is a gangster. He thinks he's just delivering legitimate messages and packages. Considering the fact that Charlie looks, talks and acts like a gangster, this plot point is not too believable.
* For much of the fourth season of ''Series/BabylonFive'', Garibaldi, having gone through a MoreThanMindControl experience, is unaware that he is essentially working for [[spoiler:Bester, in an operation to infiltrate tycoon William Edgars' organization which is developing a biological weapon against telepaths.]] When he finds out in a JustBetweenYouAndMe speech by [[spoiler:Bester]], there's a BigNo, and from there he works for the day he can get revenge on him for using him, probably especially because it caused him to betray a good friend along the way.
** Mr Endawi of [=EarthForce=] intelligence comes aboard B5 to ask questions about the siteing of a shadow vessel unaware that [=EarthGov=] has been suborned and that he is being used indirectly by the shadows to find out what their enemies know. None of the actions he takes or the questions he asks are unreasonable and he would have no possibility of knowing what he is being used for.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY An episode of]] ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' parodies this trope with two SS officers. One asks the other if they're the bad guys, and points out that their uniforms have skulls on them.
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[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Bobo and Uncle Deadly in ''Film/TheMuppets2011'', at least initially, as indicated by the page quote.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
%% * Knuckles in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3 Sonic 3]]'', [[IdiotBall as well as other times Robotnik/Eggman manages to trick him]].
* ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'': Bianca was led to believe that her boss, the Sorceress, was merely a WellIntentionedExtremist who only wanted the dragon hatchlings to replenish the dwindling magic in the Forgotten Realms. In actuality, the Sorceress was planning to kill all of them to use their wings in a spell so she could live forever. Once Bianca learns about this, she promptly turns on her boss.
* ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'': Nova's campaign has her carry out a few missions for the Defenders of Man, unaware they're actually using her for {{False Flag Operation}}s that will kick Arcturus' son Valerian from power, seeing him as an usurper. Fortunately she manages to find out the truth rather fast and overturn them.
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[[folder:Web Animation]]
* The Freelancers in ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' think for the longest time that they're fighting the good fight, their boss the Director is a good guy, and the Insurrection are the bad guys. Not quite. Some of the Freelancers do eventually experience a ConspiracyRedemption.
-->'''York:''' I felt it since Texas showed up. And when cops and military started shooting at us, yeah, I find I just keep coming back to the same question in my head over and over again.\\
'''North:''' And what question is that?\\
'''York:''' We're the good guys... right?\\
'''North:''' Yeah, of course we are.\\
'''York:''' You don't sound so sure of yourself.\\
'''North:''' No. No, I suppose I don't.
** Revelations in later seasons retroactively establish that the Insurrection themselves were also this. In fact, [[spoiler:their leader, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Malcolm Hargrove]], actually turns out to be far worse than [[WellIntentionedExtremist the Director]].]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* [[HypercompetentSidekick Clippy]] from ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' sincerely believes [[ThreeLawsCompliant he's acting in humanity's best interests.]] Unfortunately, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Mr. Kornada]] has manipulated him to believe that ''his'' best interests are the same as humanity's.
* The Monster in the Dark in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' talks like a naive child who has no idea what Xykon and Redcloak are up to.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Penny from ''WesternAnimation/TheMightyB'', whenever she's hanging out with Portia and Gwen instead of Bessie.
* Da Bears from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' were this in their first appearance when Scratch and Grounder tricked them into thinking that they were Sonic and Tails and that Sonic and Tails were Scratch and Grounder.
* Stegmutt from ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' was this to Dr. Fossil at first. He had no idea about his master's true intentions, until near the end of the episode.
* Valerie from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', who doesn't realise Vlad is a villain until season 3.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "You Only Move Twice", Homer takes a job with an [[AffablyEvil affable]] [[BenevolentBoss new boss]], completely unaware that he's a Bondian supervillain trying to TakeOverTheWorld (and partly succeeds), not even noticing when he quits in the middle of a firefight. The real clincher is arguably that Homer helps recapture a Film/JamesBond expy, is within earshot of him being [[MultipleGunshotDeath killed by automatic gunfire]], and he ''still'' doesn't realize what his boss is up to--Homer though that was just another employee getting chewed out for being lazy. He is even in the room when said boss was giving his evil speech, but is occupied with the candy machine.
-->'''Homer:''' Say, what's going on?\\
'''Hank:''' I'm having a little trouble with the government.\\
'''Homer:''' Oh, those jerks always walking over the small businessman.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'', Hun had no idea until "Exodus: Part 1" that the Shredder was [[spoiler:an Utrom.]] In fact, the only Foot member who knew this was Karai.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': It's eventually revealed that both Dogpound and Karai have been tricked by the Shredder. They were led to believe that Splinter was the one who betrayed Shredder, rather than the opposite.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': A lot of the Fire Nation people are arguably like this, as [[BigBad Fire Lord Ozai]] has a personality cult around him, apparently.
* This trope gets {{deconstructed|Trope}} hard in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland''. [[AlphaBitch Heather]], the main antagonist of the season, recruits [[BrainlessBeauty Lindsay]] and [[PluckyGirl Beth]] into an entirely self-serving "alliance" where they serve as Heather's [[YesMan toadies]] and do everything she says in exchange for protection from elimination. However, Heather bosses both of her minions around so harshly throughout the season that she alienates them, and both eventually (emphasis on ''eventually'', [[TheDitz in Lindsay's case]]) realize they're being used as pawns and [[TheDogBitesBack turn on her]]. Come [[WesternAnimation/TotalDramaAction the second season]], and Beth and Lindsay remain close friends. Meanwhile, now that everyone knows Heather is such a cutthroat ManipulativeBitch, [[HatedByAll nobody wants anything to do with her]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TronUprising'': Paige is Tesler's loyal [[TheDragon Dragon]] because she was tricked into believing the Isos slaughtered all her friends and patients at the medical center where she worked, blaming herself for the deaths because she treated their injuries instead of turning them in. The reality is that Quorra knocked Paige out when the Occupation troops arrived so she would be spared while ''Tesler's'' troops were the ones who marched through and killed everyone.
[[/folder]]
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