History Main / TheHandler

* Sidney is the title character's handler in ''Film/TheKiller1989'', acting as a {{Blood Brother|s}} to him.

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' is centered around the dynamics of the ''fratellos'', a pairing of a pre-teen female cyborg with an older male handler who is a police or military veteran. As each handler has total discretion over how they treat their cyborg and how much mental conditioning they receive, these dynamics vary greatly.

** Sandro ends up romancing his cyborg Petrushka, an older Second Generation model.

->''"I'm your Handler now. That makes me your mother, your father, your best friend, and your therapist."''

* Sidney is the title character's handler in ''Film/TheKiller'', acting as a {{Blood Brother|s}} to him.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Most of the Dark Side groups of Academy City have one of these who keeps them linked up on missions from the Board of Directors or the various scientists in the city. Most of them also do their business anonymously with their groups, since many Dark Side groups are not afraid to go hunting them down if they feel like they're being cheated or used as dupes.

* Michael fills this role for ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'', and there is definite UnresolvedSexualTension.

* ''Series/ThePretender'': Sydney was Jarod's handler at the Centre from the time Jarod was a child, giving Jarod the simulations to do and recorded the results.

* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' has the abrasive JerkWithAHeartOfGold Huang relaying orders to Hei, the AntiHero of the series
** Who in turn has another higher ranked Handler... who just so happens to be a Contractor. The Syndicate's cell structure is somewhat odd at times.

* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', the Organization employs a number of black-clad liaisons who deliver yoma extermination contracts to the eponymous warriors, then collect and deliver payments to the HQ. The handlers' job is quite delicate, since unlike the Claymores they chaperone, they are not superhumanly enhanced themselves and must therefore be very vigilant for any sign of the girls going rogue or Awakening. In the former case, it is the handler's job to [[UriahGambit send them on a]] SuicideMission; in the latter, they typically assign a group of loyal Claymores to execute their Awakened sister-in-arms.

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', Watari is considered L's handler -- the name "Watari" was chosen because it ''means'' handler.
* In ''Manga/MaidenRose'', Klaus has one in Taki's country, who supplies him with [[BottledHeroicResolve drugs]] among other things. When he tells Klaus he's getting out soon and Klaus should too before he dies there [[DoubleAgent Klaus]] mocks him for getting too attached to him.
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' has a rank-reversed version. Colonel Roy Mustang appoints his second-in-command, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, to be ''his'' handler. He has even ordered her, should he ever undergo a FaceHeelTurn, to kill him on the spot.
* Though never outright stated as such, ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' has the [[FutureMeScaresMe future Mikuru Asahina]] play this role, especially in the appropriately-named ''Intrigues'' light novel, where both Kyon and present-day Mikuru act essentially as cutouts, servicing dead drops and the like.[[note]]Although it's less for the purpose of contacting other agents, and more for StableTimeLoop shenanigans.[[/note]] The strict system of classification that her agency uses, not to mention her unconventional but effective way of [[PinkySwear securing Kyon's loyalty]], both point to the role for her.
* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' , Part 5's mafia gang, Passione, has handlers for their extremely paranoid boss. Polpo is one such example of a handler, and passes down information from the boss to the leaders of individual squads. Furthermore, many handlers are also in charge of recruitment and test the strength of new recruits.
* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Most of the Dark Side groups of Academy City have one of these who keeps them linked up on missions from the Board of Directors or the various scientists in the city. Most of them also do their business anonymously with their groups, since many Dark Side groups are not afraid to go hunting them down if they feel like they're being cheated or used as dupes.

* While continuity was rather fluid during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks when Franchise/WonderWoman was essentially an extremely unique asset/agent of the USAAF her "boss" was General Darnell, but her handler was ComicBook/SteveTrevor. This was an odd case as she worked with the military and was someone Darnell would direct Steve to deliver missions to but, as Wonder Woman, wasn't technically on their payroll. Instead she was on their payroll as Diana Prince, Darnell's secretary, but it was implied Darnell and Trevor didn't know or pretended not to know about her identity. This may have had to do with her unorthodox methods, which included refusing to kill enemy agents.

* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/38096386/chapters/95163517 Spirits of the Blitz]]'', Reggie Diceman is [[Literature/GoodOmens Crowley's]] handler during the Second World War. No-nonsense, strict, and a self-described termagant, Diceman was assigned Crowley not only because she could keep him under control, but because her superiors thought she was a lesbian and therefore would not fall for him.

* Sidney was the title character's handler in ''Film/TheKiller'', who acted as a [[BloodBrothers Blood Brother]] to him.
* Nicky Parsons of the [[Film/TheBourneSeries Bourne]] [[TheFilmOfTheBook movies]] fits this trope ''word for word.''

* Bob from the original version of ''{{Nikita}}''.

* ManchurianAgent Mike Howell in ''Film/AmericanUltra'' has one. [[spoiler: It's his girlfriend, Phoebe, though it turns out that she all but abandoned the CIA after falling in love with him.]]
* [[spoiler:Subverted]] in ''Film/TheRecruit''. James Clayton fails his CIA training and is dismissed, but then Burke reveals that it's all a cover for the agency to keep the dirty work that he'll be doing for them off the books, and that Burke has been assigned as his handler and only source of contact. [[spoiler:In truth, Burke is a double agent who is using Clayton as an UnwittingPawn.]]
* Lampshaded in ''Film/{{Kate}}'' when a flashback shows Varrick adopting Kate after the murder of her parents and training her as an assassin. [[spoiler:Although she regards him as a ParentalSubstitute and he claims to love her, she realises to late that he only cares about himself and was willing to kill her when she wanted to retire from being an assassin. It's even implied that Varrick killed Kate's parents in the first place.]]

* In the Literature/{{Quiller}} novels by Adam Hall each [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Bureau]] "shadow executive" has a director-in-the-field who organises safehouses, communication, transport, identity papers, liaison with government officials -- in short, anything the agent needs for the mission; especially since Bureau agents are never told what the mission is about, the idea being that the agent should not get distracted by any larger political implications. Agents have a right to refuse to work with a particular director, given that trust between the two is so important. Quiller's preferred director is Ferris, even though he's slightly creepy (he's rumored to strangle mice). A brief passage in one novel sizes up two other directors, Loman ("brilliant but desperate for personal kudos, talk you into a suicide bid if it'll get him a medal, it wasn't his fault I'd come out of Tunis alive") and Thornton ("totally dependable, pull you out of the gates of hell if he can get there in time, but short on Rusk-think patterns and mission sense....").
* Due to its small size, a common methodology of Special Circumstances from Literature/TheCulture novels is to employ or manipulate non-SC or even non-Culture agents to do the dirty work, with SC operatives acting as handlers. Examples include Diziet Sma in ''Literature/UseOfWeapons'' and Flere-Imsaho in ''Literature/ThePlayerOfGames''.
* Shen is this for Madeline and Grom during the events of [[{{Literature/Voidskipper}} In Pursuit of Bark's Finest]]; he's their direct superior, the one sending them out on assignments, and the one who takes them off duty if he determines that they're no longer in condition to serve. He's also a cybernetic spider who's had himself duplicated thousands of times to keep up with an insane workload.

** Andrew Osnard (played by Pierce Brosnan in {{the film|OfTheBook}}) of Creator/JohnLeCarre's ''The Tailor of Panama'' is a classic example, recruiting title character Harold Pendel (Geoffrey Rush) as a spy and [[spoiler:applying so much pressure to him that he makes up information that when acted on majorly destabilizes the region]]
** Ned, from Le Carré's ''Literature/TheRussiaHouse'' and ''The Secret Pilgrim.''
* Literature/VorkosiganSaga: From ''Literature/ACivilCampaign'' on, it is strongly hinted that [[spoiler:Lady Alys Vorpatril]] is the handler for the [=ImpSec=] domestic spy [[spoiler:Byerly Vorrutyer]].

* Series/{{Alias}}: Michael Vaughn served as the Case Officer for Sydney Bristow.
* ''Series/TheAmericans'' features a number of KGB handlers working (for) Soviet illegals in 80s USA, most notably "Claudia" (Creator/MargoMartindale), who is ruthless and curt and "Gabriel" (Creator/FrankLangella) who has more of a fatherly approach.
* Mr. Morden in ''Series/BabylonFive'', to Centauri Ambassador [[TragicHero Londo Molario]] and [[AristocratsAreEvil Lord Refa.]]
** Sheridan was shown to have one or two of these in the show's second and third seasons, due to his association with various Earth Force officers who had... doubts... about the circumstances between President Santiago's [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident tragic death]] and the subsequent rise to power of [[PresidentEvil President Clark.]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In theory, the Watcher plays this role for the Slayer. Whether Buffy or Faith chose to follow the Watchers Council's orders is another matter.
** In spinoff series ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Doyle (who gets visions from the mystical Powers That Be) attempts to be this in the first episode, giving Angel the relevant information from his visions and just stepping back to let him do the grunt work (arguing that he's just the messenger), but Angel isn't; having it, and drags him along to fight evil, which Doyle comes to like.
* Carla in ''Series/BurnNotice'' when Michael is briefly stuck working for the bad guys.
** Her subordinate Victor is specifically called this.
* Bosley of ''Series/CharliesAngels'' in both the TV show and films.
* Auggie is Annie's handler on ''Series/CovertAffairs''.
* In ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', Sarah and Casey serve as Handlers (and at times fellow field agents) for the title character.
** The reason why Chuck has two handlers is because they represent two different agencies collaborating on the Intersect project: CIA (Sarah) and NSA (Casey).
* Boyd, then later [[spoiler:Paul]], is Echo's handler in ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}''.

* Michael (or Bob in the movie) filled the same role for ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'', and in the case of the former, there was definite UST.
* ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' TV series had Claire the "Keeper"
* ''Series/NowAndAgain'': Dr. Morris was Michael Wiseman's handler and keeper, tasked with both setting up Michael's missions and preventing him from interacting with the outside world (especially his [[BackFromTheDead widow]]).
* ''Series/ThePretender'': Sydney was Jarod's handler at the Centre from the time Jarod was a child, who gave Jarod the simulations to do and recorded the results.

* ''Series/SheSpies''. The title characters had two Agent Handlers in the course of the show.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine: Sloan acts as Dr. Bashir's handler for [[NoSuchAgency Section 31]], very much against Bashir's will as he never consented to join the agency. Bashir is using his unwilling membership to try and expose Section 31 so it can be dismantled. [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow Sloan knows this, and knows that Bashir knows, but is confident he can control Bashir anyway]].
* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': Narissa is Narek's handler; she's the one who approved (and has the authority to unapprove) his plan to seduce Soji for information. He must report his observations about their target directly to her. Unfortunately she's also Narek's sister, and their sibling squabbles tend to get in the way of a professional relationship.
* Benjamin Tallmadge is Abraham Woodhulls handler in ''{{Series/Turn}}''.
* FBI agent Peter to BoxedCrook Neal in ''Series/WhiteCollar''
* ''Series/{{Wiseguy}}''. Frank [=McPike=], Vinnie Terranova's DeadpanSnarker boss in the Organised Crime Bureau.

* So common in ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen'' that its version of "YouAllMeetInAnInn" is "You are all called into the briefing by the Handler". As well that Intelligence Case Officer (the official name fors a handler) is one of the possible professions for the [=PCs=], in other words, you are the Handler of someone else, a resource you can exploit in your investigations for Delta Green.
** In the standalone edition, the "Handler" is the name for the GameMaster.

* Diana fills this role for Agent 47 in the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}} series'' for all but a few missions over the 20 years the game franchise has been out, but others have also joined in the fun too:
** In ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', it's revealed she specifically chose 47 when they became partners, and the ''ComicBook/Agent47BirthOfTheHitman'' comic reveals the reason why (47 systematically shot five ICA agents to kill a target he was also chasing, and Diana finds him in a bar afterwards to ask him to join the ICA).
** Agent Smith contracts and helps 47 infiltrate the whitehouse in ''Blood Money''.
** Benjamin Travis, an ex-army [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer]] replaces Diana when she goes rogue protecting Victoria. After the events of that game, she returns to the ICA and resumes her duties.
** From ''Hitman 2'' onward, Lucas Grey oftentimes helps you, particularly in Whittleton Creek and on the Isle of Sgail.
** Olivia is your handler for a single mission in ''Hitman 3''. Said mission has you [[spoiler:wiping the ICA's database of you and Diana's contracts, and publishing the rest to dissolve the ICA]].
* Any shadowy government types who serve as quest-givers in a [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto GTA]] game, notably Mike Toreno in ''San Andreas'', and "United Liberty Paper" in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV Grand Theft Auto 4]]''.
* ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'': There are ''eight'' handlers used throughout the various missions. And yes, Mike and his primary (female) handler Mina have UnresolvedSexualTension.
** Mike can have UST with all four of the potential female handlers, if you play your cards right with the dialogue options.
* [[TheVoice Admiral Steven Hackett]] in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' serves as the face and voice of the [[TheAlliance Alliance]] [[StandardSciFiFleet Navy]] for the audience and is Shepard's primary contact in the Alliance command. In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', [[FemmeFatale Miranda]] arguably takes on this role, though [[WarriorTherapist Shepard]] spends rather more time tending to her emotional well-being than she does to Shepard's. In the case of a male Shepard, there is also way more sexual tension in the second case than in the first.
** Admiral Hackett picks up additional shades of this when he contacts Shepard to retrieve an Alliance researcher who claimed to have found evidence of an impending Reaper invasion while operating covertly in Batarian Space - at the time, Shepard was on the outs with the Alliance due to his/her involvement with Cerberus, and Hackett needed someone both skilled enough to succeed and in a position to be disavowed easily if s/he failed.
* It's never stated but it is apparent that Leone J.B. is Yuuya's handler in ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend''. They're the only two Dove agents at the school, and Leone is the senior one who gives younger, actually-goes-out-and-does-stuff Yuuya advice, orders, and sometimes gadgets.
* As the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition's]] spymaster Leliana operates in this role for her various agents, including you should you take up doing spy missions for her. Otherwise she acts as TheCreon with Cassandra, technically perfectly capable of leading but helping you do so instead.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Weiss in ''Anime/WeissKreuz'' go through several of these: Manx, Birman, Botan, and Rex. Their [[HighTurnoverRate mortality rate]] isn't much better than that of anyone else who comes into contact with [[DoomMagnet Weiss]].

* Mr. Kim in the anime ''Anime/RODTheTV'', to the Paper Sisters when they do contract work for Dokusensha. He's described exactly as a handler several times.
* Watari is considered L's handler from Manga/DeathNote - the name "Watari" was chosen because it ''means'' handler.

* In ''Spy x Family'', Twilight's handler, Sylvia Sherwood, is routinely simply referred to as Handler. She fulfills the classic outlines of the trope, as well as some others.

** Jose Croce makes Henrietta a ReplacementGoldfish for his dead little sister, doting on her constantly to the bemusement of the other handlers. This initially presents him as the most decent of the handlers, but he starts to tire of her constant need for affection and doesn't object to Henrietta being reprogrammed into an EmotionlessGirl whom he treats mostly with indifference.

->"I'm your Handler now. That makes me your mother, your father, your best friend, and your therapist."