History EvilCannotComprehendGood / WesternAnimation

** The Ice Dancers retroactively try to justify their failure by claiming that the Surfers were too stupid to be manipulated, but the trope still applies.

** In "Stuck Up, Up, and Away", [[Tiny Tyrannical Girl Princess Morbucks]] questions why the Powerpuff Girls don't allow her to be a member. Blossom explains that her SpoiledBrat behavior prevents her from becoming a member; her [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered nature]] and desire to be better than the Powerpuff Girls [prevent her from achieving this goal.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' episode "The Devil to Pay", the heroes were conned by a demon named Dib Devlin into competing in [[DeadlyGame a game show with their souls on the line.]] Dib clearly had no faith in human nature, and set up the final round as a DeathTrap that could be escaped if one of them admitted to doing something bad. He was dead ''wrong'', as they ''all'' thought of something bad they had done and confessed to it. (Although it took Ray -- the intended one -- the longest to admit it, that he [[spoiler:had eaten a cookie that Slimer had gotten slime all over, but he eventually did, [[EvenEvilHasStandards grossing out even the demonic studio audience]].]])

** Amity's [[AbusiveParents mother]], Odalia, allows her to associate with people who make her stronger and improve her family's image. She doesn't understand why Amity's strength comes from protecting people who care about her as a person. In "Clouds on the Horizon", Odalia reveals that [[spoiler:she knew about Belos' plans for the [[FinalSolution Day of Unity]] but questions why her family cares about others over status or a royal title.

** After she's defeated at the end of "Stuck Up, Up, and Away," [[TinyTyrannicalGirl Princess Morbucks]] asks why the Powerpuff Girls won't let her be one, to which Blossom tells that it's her SpoiledBrat behavior that's preventing her from becoming such. Blossom continues by saying that it's not about flaunting her wealth or being powerful, [[YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood but about how Morbucks could use her wealth to genuinely help people.]]
*** On a bigger note, being that she's [[ItsAllAboutMe a self-centered and snobbish glory hog]] who [[DrivenByEnvy envies]] and [[TheResenter resents]] the Powerpuff Girls for being adored by everyone in Townsville, it never dawned on Morbucks' mind that she could strike out on her own and become good, instead of wasting her time and gadgetry on fighting the PPG. Her penchant for evil is entirely fueled by her desire to be better than the PPG. Or rather, that the girls won't let her be one, and with good reason. She's a glory hog, has no powers of her own, and almost got herself killed when she tried to make her debut. Morbucks even provides the trope image for DrivenByEnvy.
** This is the reason why Dick Hardly gets defeated at the end of "Knock It Off." While Utonium loves and treasures his three creations, Dick saw the Powerpuff Girls Xtreme as money-making objects. As lampshaded by Utonium himself: "Old Dick may have gotten the formula right, but the one ingredient he forgot was ''love''."

** Amity's [[AbusiveParents mother]], Odalia, only allows her to associate with people who will make her stronger and make the family look better. Once she realizes that, while none of them have any status, hanging out with Luz, Willow and Gus still make Amity stronger, she allows them to hang out, but it's made clear that she doesn't understand ''why'' Amity has grown stronger thanks to them. The idea that Amity's strength comes from a desire to protect people who care about her as a person and not as a status symbol goes over her head.
*** Odalia later has another moment in "Clouds On The Horizon". When Alador confronts her about Belos' true plans for the Day of Unity, namely, [[spoiler:that it's a FinalSolution intended to wipe out any branded Boiling Isles citizen]], she casually reveals that she already knew, before questioning why exactly Alador or her family cares, claiming that she's doing it for the family name, not realizing that her family might ''care'' about the other people that Odalia was willing to doom over things like higher status or a royal title.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': [[Characters/BeavisAndButtHeadTitularCharacters Beavis and Butt-Head]] are generally too stupid and amoral to recognize good deeds, feeling that something might be wrong. They mistake empathetic hugs for "scoring" and dismiss any genuine act of kindness as either mediocre or confusing.

** During the final battle in the Season 3 opener, [[spoiler:he openly cannot comprehend Kion forgiving him and showing empathy. His last words are only that the Roar is a curse, calling Kion out for his naivety]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': [[Characters/BeavisAndButtHeadTitularCharacters The titular characters]] are generally too stupid and amoral to recognize good deeds, feeling that something might be wrong. They mistake empathetic hugs for "scoring" and dismiss any genuine act of kindness as either mediocre or confusing.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': [[Characters/BeavisAndButtHeadTitularCharacters The titular characters]] are a {{downplayed}} example -- though not exactly 'evil', they are generally too stupid and amoral to recognize good deeds, feeling that something might be wrong. They mistake empathetic hugs for "scoring" and dismiss any genuine act of kindness as either mediocre or confusing.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' episode "ComicBook/ForTheManWhoHasEverything" (based on a story from the comics), Mongul imagines that Superman's greatest desire being shown to him by the [[LotusEaterMachine Black Mercy]] is of him ruling the galaxy. Instead, he's living peacefully on a farm on Krypton, married to a woman who resembles both Lana and Lois, and has a son.
--> '''Mongul''': I wonder where he thinks he is? Sitting on a throne, ruling the universe... All you human garbage fawning at his feet. More honest, don't you think, than this pretense of being a "selfless hero"? (''Diana proceeds to bash Mongul's head in'')
** This is actually a change from the original comic, where in addition to the world conquest idea, Mongul wonders if he's dreaming of "whatever blissful backwater he was raised in". He was still wrong, but it's a bit closer to Superman's motivations.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** In "Apokolips... Now!", Darkseid believed that after subduing [[WorldsStrongestMan Superman]], the people of Earth wouldn't have the will to face him and would readily surrender to avoid annihilation. So when the people of Metropolis, led by one [[BadassNormal Dan Turpin]], continue to fight back regardless, Darkseid is genuinely surprised and utterly baffled. Supes spells it out for him:
--->'''Superman:''' You hear that, Darkseid? The people of Earth aren't like your slaves on Apokolips. They don't take kindly to dictators.\\

** However, Darkseid is notable in that he ''learns from this trope''. In the series finale, he kidnaps Superman and brainwashes him into thinking he's his son, then "rewards" him by having him conquer Earth, deducing that even if Supes is freed from his control, the damage he'll cause will turn the people of Earth against him. And he's proven correct as his actions have lasting ramifications that continue to haunt Superman.
** Quickly subverted with Lobo. At first, Lobo doesn't understand why Superman tries to catch one of his rockets to prevent collateral damage instead of just avoiding it, but quickly realizes that Superman actually cares about humans.

* In the Christian-based cartoon ''WesternAnimation/GodRocks'' a robot keeps on trying to ruin the God Rocks' concert to raise money for a good cause, and he doesn't understand that even after he steals their instruments they still desire to play.

* In the Christian-based cartoon ''WesternAnimation/GodRocks'' a robot kept on trying to ruin the God Rocks concert to raise money for a good cause, and he didn't understand that even after he stole their instruments they still desired to play.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': The titular characters are a {{downplayed}} example -- though not exactly 'evil', they are generally too stupid and amoral to recognize good deeds, feeling that something might be wrong. They mistake empathetic hugs for "scoring" and dismiss any genuine act of kindness as either mediocre or confusing.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': The titular characters are a {{downplayed}} example -- though not exactly 'evil', they are generally too stupid and amoral to recognize good deeds, feeling that something might be wrong. They mistake empathetic hugs as "scoring" and dismiss any genuine act of kindness as either mediocre or confusing.

** In the ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' episode "Planet Doom", Doom's plan was to go back in time and stop the Avengers from forming by preventing the events that made each of them heroes, firmly believing that they only became heroes due to whatever fateful event that gave them their powers. However, while he rules the BadFuture with an iron fist, it also gave rise to new heroes who formed a team right under his nose with Thor's help. In other words, his inability to understand the fundamentally innate good and heroism within people [[JustForPun doomed]] his plan to failure before it even began.

*** Being the resident [[ManipulativeBastard "people person"]], and [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]], she finds herself [[VillainousBreakdown completely bewildered]] when [[spoiler:her {{sidekick}} Mai risks her life to help the TurnCoat Zuko escape TheAlcatraz]].

** In another episode, Sadira (who isn't quite evil, but doesn't understand the first thing about healthy relationships) uses a magic sand to make everyone in the kingdom believe she's the princess and Jasmine is just a commoner (including Jasmine herself). She believes this will make Aladdin love her. She's thrown when Aladdin is somehow able to recognize Jasmine and break the spell, not understanding that Aladdin loves Jasmine for herself, not for her royal title.

** Hakon's plan to drain Goliath's life force so he and the Captain could live again fails because of this. Hakon knew that Goliath and the Captain were once friends and that the Captain's plan to betray Castle Wyvern was designed to help the gargoyles. Still, it never occurred to Hakon that the two friends could reconcile.

** Belos, or rather, [[spoiler:Philp Wittebane was raised during the 17th century and so believes that any and all magic is evil, leading to his plan to wipe out everyone on the Boiling Isles simply because they have magic. The idea that another human could actually like these people is alien to him, as shown by him believing both his brother as well as Luz to have been corrupted by the people of the Boiling Isles, instead of both seeing what he couldn't-that, much like humanity, the natives of the Boiling Isles can be good ''or'' evil, regardless of their magic.]]

*** Odalia later has another moment in "Clouds On The Horizon". When Alador confronts her about Belos' true plans for the Day of Unity, namely, [[spoiler:that it's a FinalSolution intended to wipe out any branded Boiling Isles citizen]], she casually reveals that she already knew, before questioning why exactly Alador or her family cares, claiming that she's doing it for the family name, not realizing that her family might ''care'' about the other people that Odalia was willing to doom.

** Belos, or rather, [[spoiler:Philp Wittebane was raised during the 17th century and so believes that any and all magic is evil, leading to his plan to wipe out everyone on the Boiling Isles simply because they have magic. The idea that another human could actually like these people is alien to him, as shown by him believing both his brother as well as Luz to have been corrupted by the people of the Boiling Isles, instead of both seeing what he couldn't-that, [[NotSoDifferent much like humanity]], the natives of the Boiling Isles can be good ''or'' evil, regardless of their magic.]]

** During the final battle in the Season 3 opener, [[spoiler:Scar is utterly astonished that Kion forgives him, and openly cannot comprehend Kion showing empathy. His last words are only that the Roar is a curse, calling Kion out for his naivety.]]

*** When they overcome [[YourWorstNightmare the fears he tortures them with in "Power-noia"]]: "You're supposed to be afraid!"

*** When Jerbo tells him the current political system is flawed and needs change, Hunter -- who has been fed pro-Emperor's Coven propaganda his entire life -- is shocked and appalled at the mere ''idea''.
*** In a charity livestream, he expects his Palisman Flapjack to fly into a violent rage and start attacking him if he feeds it a berry Palismen find disgusting, and even though Flapjack is a just a little bird, he decks himself out in full armor just in case. When Flapjack instead splits the berry in half and shares it with him, Hunter is ''completely'' taken aback, and sounds like he's suppressing tears when he ends the recording.

*** He genuinely doesn't get why the Flyer Derby team is upset with him when he ''abducts them'' to force them to join the Emperor's Coven, just continues listing off the benefits and ignores Gus's attempts to tell him they don't ''want'' to leave their friends and family behind forever. When Gus tells him that friends don't stab eachother in the back, Hunter's response is a chipper "Sure they do!"

** [[GoodIsBadAndBadIsGood Despite her claims of Aku's benevolence]], it's painfully obvious that, much like her god, the leader of the Cult of Aku has no actual understanding of what real love, kindness, and justice are like. Therefore, she never considers that [[spoiler: Jack would show Ashi love and kindness and break through her brainwashing; when the Priestess tries to blame Jack for the deaths of Ashi's sisters, Ashi rightly backfires that the Priestess got them killed by brainwashing them with hateful lies and sending them on a suicide mission.]]

** In "Strange Days", Nightmare forces everyone on Earth to be trapped in a permanent dream facing their worst fears. In the end, Spider-Man is the last to be forced to face his deepest fear, by making him face disappointment from his Uncle Ben over his death. Instead, the dream-version of his uncle greets him with a smile. Spidey then talks back at the confused Nightmare, saying he lives with what happened everyday and instead of letting it get to him, he lets it encourage him to be Spider-Man everyday. This in turn is what starts Nightmare's plan to fall apart because it never occurred to him someone has the will to overcome or accept their fears.
** In "Nightmare on Christmas", a twisted parody of ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' and ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Nightmare tries to trick Spider-Man into giving up being a hero by showing him how people never appreciate his heroic acts, and sending him to a future where he could be as happy and famous as Tony Stark, firmly believing the unappreciated Spidey would gladly hang up his mask. However, in that future, Spidey's absence allowed the Green Goblin to take over New York, causing Spider-Man to reject his offer, saying he became a hero to do the right thing, not for fame. At the end of the episode, Nightmare remains baffled that Spider-Man would so freely pass up a chance for a new life.

** The biggest weakness of [[AntiVillain Discord]] is his inability to truly understand how strong the bond between the mane cast truly is. He's taken completely off-guard when he discovers that they've reforged their friendship after he seemingly broke it apart [[spoiler:leading to his defeat]]. He also gets ''very'' frustrated when Fluttershy proves too kind and accepting of her own faults to fall for his [[MoreThanMindControl attempt to convince her her friends think she's weak and helpless and thus she should be mad at them.]] This makes sense when one considers he's the [[EvilCounterpart polar opposite]] of the Elements of Harmony, which run on the PowerOfFriendship.
*** In Discord's second appearance, he seems to recognize the idea of friendship by the end of it, [[spoiler: in that doing whatever he wants doesn't actually make him any happier because he actually cared about Fluttershy thought about him.]] However, Season 4 makes it pretty clear that Discord ''still'' didn't understand friendship, seeing it as something that made him happy. He did enjoy the company of others, but he still didn't understand camaraderie, and as far as he was concerned, it was [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. This makes him easy prey for Lord Tirek in the Season 4 finale, who plays on the same idea that friendship is all about what you get out of it. Discord shows some signs of loyalty to Fluttershy (and Fluttershy alone) but still doesn't understand friendship [[spoiler:until, after Discord betrays his friends, allowing Lord Tirek to steal their magic, Lord Tirek proves himself to be EvilerThanThou and drains Discord's magic as well. Only when Twilight Sparkle frees him despite all the things he did does he really understand friendship, giving Twilight the final key to unlock the chest and the full, unmitigated power of ThePowerOfFriendship.]]
** Queen Chrysalis, the BigBad of the second SeasonFinale, is a sadistic, {{shapeshifting}}, [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus-like]] HiveQueen who stole Princess Cadance's identity to feed off the [[ThePowerOfLove love]] her husband to be had for her. In the end, she doesn't once think that this same power could be turned against her. To her, it was just food and she never fully understood its true power.

** There's the villain of Season 8, Cozy Glow, who takes ThePowerOfFriendship literally, seeing it as nothing but a weapon that you gain by convincing anyone you're their friend. Even after she is defeated and exposed, she doesn't show any repentance, and utterly believes that if she just had more "friends" she would become powerful.

** During the final battle in the Season 3 opener, [[spoiler:he is utterly astonished that Kion forgives him, and openly cannot comprehend that Kion showing empathy. His last words is that the Roar is a curse, calling him out for his naivety.]]