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* ''ForrestGump'': Come because of (or perhaps [[HypeAversion despite]]) [[WatchItForTheMeme its various quotes and memes]] getting pounded into you before you even had a chance to see it, stay for the classic rock soundtrack, the special effects, and [[TearJerker a remarkably poignant storyline]].
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* ''RaggedyAnnAndAndyAMusicalAdventure'': Come for the cute dolls and [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue camel]], stay for the DerangedAnimation.
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* ''{{Animaniacs}}'': Come for the puns and slapstick, stay for the suprisingly highbrow (and the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar surprisingly lowbrow]]) subject matter.
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* ''{{Animaniacs}}'': Come for the puns and slapstick, stay for the suprisingly surprisingly highbrow (and the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar surprisingly lowbrow]]) subject matter.
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* ''Videogame/The Warriors'': Come because you loved the movie, stay for the bonus games (including a ''DoubleDragon''-style arcade throwback) and for an even more awesome time capsule of [[TheSeventies '70s America]] than the 1979 original was!
to:
* ''Videogame/The Warriors'': ''TheWarriors'': Come because you loved the movie, stay for the bonus games (including a ''DoubleDragon''-style arcade throwback) and for an even more awesome time capsule of [[TheSeventies '70s America]] than the 1979 original was!
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* ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs'': Come for the puns and slapstick, stay for the suprisingly highbrow (and the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar surprisingly lowbrow]]) subject matter.
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* ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs'': ''{{Animaniacs}}'': Come for the puns and slapstick, stay for the suprisingly highbrow (and the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar surprisingly lowbrow]]) subject matter.
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* ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs'': Come for the puns and slapstick, stay for the suprisingly highbrow (and the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar surprisingly lowbrow]]) subject matter.
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* ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Come to see the inspiration for the most famous sci-fi/fantasy TV series of the past generation, stay to watch Paul Reubens play an [[AmbiguouslyGay Ambiguously]] HardGay vampire.
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* ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer: ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Come to see the inspiration for the most famous sci-fi/fantasy TV series of the past generation, stay to watch Paul Reubens play an [[AmbiguouslyGay Ambiguously]] HardGay vampire.
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* ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Come to see the inspiration for the most famous sci-fi/fantasy TV series of the past generation, stay to watch Paul Reubens play an [[AmbiguouslyGay Ambiguously]] HardGay vampire.
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* ''TheCrow'': Come to see where the Brandon Lee movie came from, stay because it's so much better than the movie.
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* ''Videogame/The Warriors'': Come because you loved the movie, stay for the bonus games (including a ''DoubleDragon''-style arcade throwback) and for an even more awesome time capsule of [[TheSeventies '70s America]] than the 1979 original was!
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* ''TheLastTemptationOfChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice}} Mary Magdalene]].
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* ''TheLastTemptationOfChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice}} the naked Mary Magdalene]].
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* ''TheLastTemptationofChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice}} Mary Magdalene]].
* ''FromDustTillDawn'': Come for the thieves, bikers and strippers. Stay for [[spoiler: the vampires]].
* ''FromDustTillDawn'': Come for the thieves, bikers and strippers. Stay for [[spoiler: the vampires]].
to:
* ''TheLastTemptationofChrist'': ''TheLastTemptationOfChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice}} Mary Magdalene]].
*''FromDustTillDawn'': ''FromDuskTillDawn'': Come for the thieves, bikers and strippers. Stay for [[spoiler: the vampires]].
*
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* ''TheLastTemptationofChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice Mary}} Magdalene]].
to:
* ''TheLastTemptationofChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice Mary}} Magdalene]].[[{{Fanservice}} Mary Magdalene]].
* ''FromDustTillDawn'': Come for the thieves, bikers and strippers. Stay for [[spoiler: the vampires]].
* ''FromDustTillDawn'': Come for the thieves, bikers and strippers. Stay for [[spoiler: the vampires]].
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* ''TheLastTemptationofChrist'': Come to see what all the controversy was about, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood laughably bad]], and for the naked [[{{Fanservice Mary}} Magdalene]].
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* ''8 Mile'': Come just to see if that dumb rapper {{Eminem}} can actually act (he can); stay for the Oscar-winning soundtrack and the pleasant surprise of [[EveryoneRemembersTheStripper the 48-year-old KimB asinger's still-beautiful bare ass]].
to:
* ''8 Mile'': Come just to see if that dumb rapper {{Eminem}} can actually act (he can); stay for the Oscar-winning soundtrack and the pleasant surprise of [[EveryoneRemembersTheStripper the 48-year-old KimB asinger's Kim Basinger's still-beautiful bare ass]].
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* ''8Mile'': Come just to see if that dumb rapper {{Eminem}} can actually act (he can); stay for the Oscar-winning soundtrack and the pleasant surprise of [[EveryoneRemembersTheStripper the 48-year-old KimBasinger's still-beautiful bare ass]].
to:
* ''8Mile'': ''8 Mile'': Come just to see if that dumb rapper {{Eminem}} can actually act (he can); stay for the Oscar-winning soundtrack and the pleasant surprise of [[EveryoneRemembersTheStripper the 48-year-old KimBasinger's KimB asinger's still-beautiful bare ass]].
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* ''8Mile'': Come just to see if that dumb rapper {{Eminem}} can actually act (he can); stay for the Oscar-winning soundtrack and the pleasant surprise of [[EveryoneRemembersTheStripper the 48-year-old KimBasinger's still-beautiful bare ass]].
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* The ''[[TheGodsMustBeCrazy Gods Must Be Crazy]]'' film series: Come for the jungle animals, stay for the DeliberateValuesDissonance and EnforcedMethodActing. And for [[ISeeLondon the white women winding up in their underwear]].
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* ''AnimalHouse'': Come for the food fight and the toga party, stay for some surprisingly sharp Swiftian satire and shockingly dark comedy. Oh, and John Belushi.
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* ''AnimalHouse'': Come for the food fight and the toga party, stay for some surprisingly sharp Swiftian satire and shockingly dark comedy. Oh, and John Belushi.[[FascinatingEyebrow John]] [[SilentSnarker Belushi]].
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** ''Film/BatmanReturns'': Come for the MichellePfeiffer, stay for the TimBurton. (Originally, of course, it was vice-versa.)
** ''Film/{{Batman}}'': Come for JackNicholson as TheJoker, stay for Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon.
** ''Film/{{Batman}}'': Come for JackNicholson as TheJoker, stay for Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon.
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* ''{{Hairspray}}'': Come for the lively music and plucky, sweet heroine, stay for [[strike:the uplifting social commentary]] JohnTravolta cross dressing in a fat suit.
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* ''{{Hairspray}}'': ''{{Hairspray}}'' (the remake): Come for the lively music and plucky, sweet heroine, stay for [[strike:the uplifting social commentary]] JohnTravolta cross dressing in a fat suit.
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* SuperBowl: Come for the football, stay for the commercials (sometimes the main reason people are watching the Superbowl, except maybe hopes for another WardrobeMalfunction).
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* Cycling: Come for the workout. Stay because it's saving you $100/wk in gas and meds.
* SuperBowl: Come for the football, stay for the commercials (sometimes the main reason people are watching the Superbowl, except maybe hopes for another WardrobeMalfunction).
* Swimming: Come for the sexy girls/guys in skimpy clothes. Stay for the exercise, competition, and [[StupidSexyFlanders even more hot people in little clothing.]]
* Tactical shooting: Come because it looks {{badass.]] Stay because you really are having a great time becoming a badass.
* SuperBowl: Come for the football, stay for the commercials (sometimes the main reason people are watching the Superbowl, except maybe hopes for another WardrobeMalfunction).
* Swimming: Come for the sexy girls/guys in skimpy clothes. Stay for the exercise, competition, and [[StupidSexyFlanders even more hot people in little clothing.]]
* Tactical shooting: Come because it looks {{badass.]] Stay because you really are having a great time becoming a badass.
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* CallOfDuty: Come for the multiplayer. Stay because the single player never ceases to amaze.
* DevilMayCry: Come for the epic action. Stay for the epic action, cheesy dialogue, and unforgiving challenge.
* DevilMayCry: Come for the epic action. Stay for the epic action, cheesy dialogue, and unforgiving challenge.
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* Left4Dead: Come because your friends said it was the best zombie game ever. Stay because it is the best zombie game ever.
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* ''Videogame/Metro2033'': Come because it's from the same team that did S.T.A.L.K.E.R., stay for the story, characters, and tough combat.
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* Firearms: Come because you think it looks cool. Stay because it's more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have and it teaches you vital defensive skills.
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* DwarfFortress: Come for insane architecture stay for the... is it really tracking where all of the teeth landed and... are those guts? Did they just get... wow, I didn't even know bones got bruised.
* TheBindingOfIsaac: Come for the odd plot and gross visuals, stay because you really want to find all the items now.
** Alternativly: Come for the modern "rougelike" qualities, stay because you REALLY want to get polythemes and technology 2 again.
* TheBindingOfIsaac: Come for the odd plot and gross visuals, stay because you really want to find all the items now.
** Alternativly: Come for the modern "rougelike" qualities, stay because you REALLY want to get polythemes and technology 2 again.
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*{{Friendship Is Witchcraft}}: Come for Gypsy Pinkie, Sweetie Bot or it's [[AwesomeMusic music]], stay for it's humor and it's surprisingly deep plot (for an {{Abridged Series}}, at least) and [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming moment]]s.
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* {{Percy Jackson}}: Come for the {{Harry Potter}} comparisons, stay for the humor, the wise-cracking protagonist and the awesome {{Greek Mythology}} allusions.
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* {{Percy Jackson}}: ''{{Percy Jackson}}'': Come for the {{Harry Potter}} comparisons, stay for the humor, the wise-cracking protagonist and the awesome {{Greek Mythology}} allusions.
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* {{Percy Jackson}}: Come for the {{Harry Potter}} comparisons, stay for the humor, the wise-cracking protagonist and the awesome {{Greek Mythology}} allusions.
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** Or come for the {{Bishounen}}, stay for the humor and {{Shoujo}} [[AffectionateParody parodying]].
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*** Admit it: ''Somebody'' came for the FoeYay and stayed because [[GambitIndex you had to.]] [[hottip:*: Or vice versa...]]
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*** Admit it: ''Somebody'' came for the FoeYay and stayed because [[GambitIndex you had to.]] [[hottip:*: [[note]] Or vice versa...]][[/note]]
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* ''GundamWing'': Come for the {{Bishounen}}, stay for the obligatory GiantMecha battles...and plenty of debate over war and peace.
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* ''GundamWing'': Come for the {{Bishounen}}, stay for the obligatory GiantMecha battles...and plenty of debate over war and peace.
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* ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn!'': Come for the {{Cast Full of Pretty Boys}}, Stay for the Interesting Plot.
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the {{Genre Shift}} and Plot
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the {{Genre Shift}} and Plot
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* ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn!'': Come for the {{Cast Full of Pretty Boys}}, CastFullOfPrettyBoys, Stay for the Interesting Plot.
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the{{Genre Shift}} GenreShift and Plot
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the
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** Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the world building and deep back-story.
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** Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the world building and deep back-story.
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* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': Come to see just how crappy it is (since you figure that it's gotta be since everyone is saying so), stay because you realize that for the first 15 years or so of it's run, the strip was actually funny.
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* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': Come to see just how crappy it is (since you figure that it's gotta be since everyone is saying so), stay because you realize that for the first 15 years or so of it's run, the strip was actually funny.
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* ''Batman Versus Barney'': Come for the novelty - and sheer perversity - of seeing [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' continuity, stay because it's a surprisingly well-written and dark tale with violence and horror you'll scarcely see on the actual show, plus a thoroughly bloodthirsty and oddly FoeYay [[TheJoker Joker]].
to:
* ''Batman Versus Barney'': Come for the novelty - and sheer perversity - of seeing [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' continuity, stay because it's a surprisingly well-written and dark tale with violence and horror you'll scarcely see on the actual show, plus a thoroughly bloodthirsty and oddly FoeYay [[TheJoker [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker Joker]].
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* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Come for the 2D animation and [[NightmareFuel nightmare fuel-erific]] villain, stay for the characters, the romance actually acted more realistic than the average DisneyPrincess one, the music, the story and [[spoiler: well, let's just say they were following [[WebVideo/ATopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] advice with this movie.]]
to:
* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Come for the 2D animation and [[NightmareFuel nightmare fuel-erific]] villain, stay for the characters, the romance actually acted more realistic than the average DisneyPrincess one, the music, the story and [[spoiler: well, let's just say they were following [[WebVideo/ATopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] Linkara]]'s advice with this movie.]]
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* ''{{Skins}}'': Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop for the music, hang around for the storyline, stay for the realization that it's the new ''AsIf''.
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* ''{{Skins}}'': ''Series/{{Skins}}'': Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop for the music, hang around for the storyline, stay for the realization that it's the new ''AsIf''.
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* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC I'm a Marvel and I'm a DC]]'': Come for the {{Crossover}} factor, stay for the characterization, witty dialogue, and many [[Funny/ImAMarvelAndImADC hilarious highlights]].
to:
* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC I'm a Marvel and I'm a DC]]'': ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'': Come for the {{Crossover}} factor, stay for the characterization, witty dialogue, and many [[Funny/ImAMarvelAndImADC hilarious highlights]].
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* ''WebVideo/IncognitoCinemaWarriorsXP'': Say for the {{MST3K}}-inspired riffing, stay for the surprisingly engaging plot.
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* ''WebVideo/IncognitoCinemaWarriorsXP'': Say for the {{MST3K}}-inspired MST3K-inspired riffing, stay for the surprisingly engaging plot.
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* ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn!'': Come for the {{Cast Full of Pretty Boys}}, Stay for the Interesting Plot.
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the {{Genre Shift}} and Plot
** Come for the Comedy, Stay for the {{Genre Shift}} and Plot
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* ''WebVideo/IncognitoCinemaWarriorsXP'': Say for the {{MST3K}}-inspired riffing, stay for the surprisingly engaging plot.
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* ''VideoGame/PuzzleQuest'': Come for the tricked-out "Bejeweled", stay to find your favorite mix of classes, items, spells and mounts.
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* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' uses this in some fake AdBumpers for local locations, like "'King of The Hill' has been sponsored by Heimlich County Junior College. Come for the visit, stay for the beauty school."
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You're browsing around, and you find out about something that looks neat. A new TV show, a new movie, a new book, maybe a video game. You don't know anything about it, but it looks neat. Something about it jumps out at you. Could be the humor, could be the action, could be the eye-candy. So you decide to try it out.
And it turns out the show is pretty good, too, and you like it. But over time, you start to like it for a completely different reason. This show with the cute lead character actually has an interesting side character with an in-depth story that you're really getting into. Or this movie might be very funny, but it also has some great undercurrents of drama that you weren't expecting, and that really jump out at you. Either way, you end up really liking the show/movie/book/game/etc for a reason completely different from why you started to check it out.
This is an example of Come For The X Stay For The Y. You originally start to get into something for reason X, but in the end, it's reason Y that causes you to get hooked and stick around.
See also HelloBoys, which is the sub-trope of this. WatchItForTheMeme may lead to this. Compare IReadItForTheArticles and contrast JustHereForGodzilla.
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'': Come for the historical references, stay for the quirky characters and the HoYay.
** Come for the HoYay, stay for [[MemeticMolester Russia]].
** Come for the HoYay, stay for the surprisingly in-depth (usually) {{Fandom}}.
* ''Anime/AgentAika'': Come for the fight scenes, stay for the {{panty shot}}s.
* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'': Come for the levels of gore on par with a Creator/QuentinTarantino movie, stay for [[SuperlativeDubbing the best English dub since]] ''Anime/CowboyBebop''.
** {{Fangirl}}s [[MrFanservice come for]] [[DecoyProtagonist Firo]] [[MrFanservice and stay for]] [[AxCrazy Vi]][[CrazyAwesome no]].
* ''Manga/{{Basilisk}}'': Come for the ninja fights, stay for the touching drama.
* ''[[Manga/{{Beck}} BECK Mongolian Chop Squad]]'': Come for the awesome [[{{Woolseyism}} dubbed music]], stay for the best SliceOfLife this side of ''TheWonderYears''.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Come for Guts being a {{Badass}}, stay for the compelling, human story and character development.
* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': Come for the over-the-top Tarantino action, stay for the surprisingly deep philosophizing. Seriously, name me one other action anime where they quote Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.
** ''Anime/ErgoProxy''?
*** Stay for the GeniusBonus ''and'' for the incredibly complicated darker take on SlapSlapKiss between Revy and Rock.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Come for the spinning leeks, stay for the sword fights.
** Come for the sword fights, stay for the characters.
* ''Anime/BrigadoonMarinAndMelan:'' Come for the robot battles, stay for the heart-wringing drama. Or, come for the SliceOfLife, stay for the epic science fiction adventure.
* ''Anime/CandyBoy'': Come for the hope of some TwinCest {{Yuri}}, stay for a surprisingly sweet show about sisters, with some real heartwarming moments.
* ''Chu-Bra'': Come for the FanService, stay for the character relationships and your brand new understanding of what middle-school girls go through.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Come for the mecha and WorldOfHam (and glorious Fanservice), stay for MORE ham and the resident MagnificentBastard's epic tactical {{plan}}s while observing the fairly realistic feudal and social politics. And for why this show has a BrokenBase nearly as epic.
* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'':
** Come for the space battles, stay for the HongKongBloodOpera.
** Come for the spaceships and gunfights, stay for [[{{Badass}} Spike]] (and [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Ed]]).
** Come for the action, stay for the ''[[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]]''.
** Come for the [[YokoKanno soundtrack]], stay for the characters and the gorgeous art.
* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'': Come for the vicious subversion of everything that makes the superhero genre what it is, stay for the surprisingly sympathetic characters and YokoKanno [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]].
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Come for the [[MundaneMadeAwesome potato chips]], stay for the {{Magnificent Bastard}}s.
** For this one, it was Come for ThePlan, stay for the ''multiple'' {{Gambit Roulette}}s and the GambitPileup.
*** Admit it: ''Somebody'' came for the FoeYay and stayed because [[GambitIndex you had to.]] [[hottip:*: Or vice versa...]]
** Or, come for the Shinigami, stay for the {{Gambit Roulette}}s... [[AffablyEvil and]] [[SociopathicHero Kira]].
** Or come for the delicately unresolved social commentary and ethical debate, stay for the coffee-fetching ButtMonkey, for some fans.
* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': Come for the [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever giant fighting monsters,]] stay for the very compelling and [[CharacterDevelopment constantly evolving]] characters, well written plots and the awesome soundtrack.
** For most seasons Come for the plot, stay for digivolutions.
* ''Manga/ElfenLied'': Come for the {{Gorn}} and FanService, stay for the [[TheWoobie sympathetic]] and wonderfully human characters and ''[[TearJerker/ElfenLied heart-wrenchingly]]'' tragic story.
* ''Anime/EurekaSeven'': Come for the HumongousMecha on surfboards, stay for the awesome story line and catchy music.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Come for the Fanservice and Badass magic, stay for the Nakama and other Heartwarming moments.
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': Come for the {{Badass}} protagonist and his way of making foes [[YouAreAlreadyDead already dead]], stay for the ManlyTears.
* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'': Come for the Gainax MindScrew and [[FreudWasRight endless sexual symbolism]], stay for [[strike:the actually complex and interesting characters]] [[CrazyAwesome Haruko]].
* ''Manga/FrankenFran'': Come for the implied yuri and fanservice, stay for the over the top BodyHorror and black comedy.
* ''VisualNovel/GakuenHeaven'': come for the actual HoYay, stay for the well-rounded characters and the [[ChildhoodMarriagePromise overdose]] of cute. Also, the catchy theme-tune and the decent animation.
* ''Manga/GetBackers'': Come for [[strike:Juubei]] the HoYay and {{Fanservice}}, stay for the surprisingly intricate plot.
* ''GundamWing'': Come for the {{Bishounen}}, stay for the obligatory GiantMecha battles...and plenty of debate over war and peace.
* ''Anime/{{Grenadier}}'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and stay for the action and ImprobableAimingSkills.
* ''Anime/GunXSword'': Come for the mid-air [[HumongousMecha mecha swordfights]], stay for the characters, the quirky sense of humor, and the tight, fast-paced plotting of the last 15 episodes.
* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': Come for [[BadassAdorable little girls kicking ass]], stay for the touching and well-executed drama centered around the girls and the political subplots.
* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' - Come for the {{dancing|Theme}} and [[MemeticMutation smoked cheese]], stay for the engaging story and complex characters.
** Also, come for [[GenkiGirl Haruhi]], stay for [[DeadpanSnarker Kyon]], [[HoYay Koizumi]], [[{{Moe}} Mikuru]], and [[BadassBookworm Nagato]].
* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo:'' Come for the boxing, stay for the [[CharacterDevelopment personality growth]].
* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'': Come for the meta and fourth wall jokes, stay for the characters and the heartwarming moments.
* ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'': Come for the OTT violence, stay for the awesome plot.
** Alternatively: come for the violence, stay for the Alucard and the NorioWakamoto-voiced Alexander.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the "killer lolis" and horror, stay for the [[BadEnd depressing]] [[DownerEnding storyline]], TrueCompanions and [[HotBlooded willingness to stop]] the [[GroundhogDayLoop everlasting June]]... Also, the [[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship yuri]]-[[FanServiceWithASmile filled]] [[InnocentFanserviceGirl official art]].
** Also, the numerous {{Image Song}}s and ThePowerOfFriendship.
** The manga: Come for a better adaptation or just because you love the series, stay for everything you said took to eleven with sound novel stuff drizzled over it.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Come for the [[{{Kiai}} "Ora Ora"]] and [[CarFu steamrollers]], stay for the epic battles of wits.
* ''Manga/KOn'': Come for the guitar play, stay for the [[SliceOfLife slice-of-life]] {{Moe}}.
** Or the other way around.
* ''Manga/KamenNoMaidGuy'': Come for Naeka's boobs, stay for Kogarashi's {{Crazy Awesome}}ness... and ActionGirl {{meido}} Fubuki.
* ''LightNovel/{{Kanokon}}'': Come for the fanservice, stay to see if it'll accept it is softcore porn and show some nipple.
** Which it does, if only for a handful of frames.
* ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'': Come for the ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' tie-in, stay for the eye bleeding visual quality, deep character relations, and YukiKajiura [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]].
* ''Anime/KiddyGrade'': Come for the fanservice (and some hints of HoYay), stay for the philosophical thoughts and HeartwarmingMoments.
* ''Manga/LuckyStar''. Come for the Haruhi references, stay for the lovable characters.
** Alternatively, come for Konata, stay for Kagami, Akira, and Misao (as well as the rest).
* ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'': Come out of a misguided loyalty to Robotech, stay for the epic soundtrack and frenetic space battling robots.
* ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is based upon this: come for the TokenMiniMoe of ''VideoGame/TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever'' doing cute things (not to mention the {{fanservice}}), stay for the deep plot, the well-developed world and technology, and [[MixAndMatch a genre-blend]] you've never seen before. Look at the evolution of the logo, the music and the episodes; it starts like a typical MagicalGirl series, but when [[GrowingTheBeard things get further]], it resembles a HumongousMecha series progressively more and more. Of course, now the whole thing's been reversed... see Video Games below.
** In short, come for cute loli MagicalGirl, stay for the drama. And the fighting. And [[MemeticMutation befrien]][[DefeatMeansFriendship ding]].
** Come for [[BadassAdorable Badass]] '''[[BadassAdorable Adorable]]''', stay for '''{{BADASS}}''' [[BadassAdorable Adorable]].
** The vast amount of cute females, lack of males, and lesbian subtext can make you stay too.
* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' Come for the {{fanservice}} from ''Manga/LoveHina'' {{Expy}}s, stay for the humor and ([[RuleOfCool epic]]) {{shonen|Demographic}} action.
* ''Anime/{{Mai-Hime}}'': Come for the fanservice and [[FanPreferredCouple lesbians]] that the fanbase always seems to talk about, stay for the fanservice, humor, and characterization.
* ''Manga/MiraiNikki'': Come for [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]], stay for the developing relationship between her and Yukiteru.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'': Come for [[{{Bishonen}} the pretty boys]] (and the girls aren't too bad to look at either, though they receive far less attention), and stay for the GiantMecha -driven action and a debate on war and peace.
* ''Manga/MyBalls'': Come for the hentai, stay for the comedy.
* ''Manga/MyLovelyGhostKana'': Come for the hentai, stay for the heartwarming.
* ''Manga/NanaToKaoru'': Come for BDSM, stay for character development.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the FanDumb.
** Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the world building and deep back-story.
** Or just come to see what all the fuss is about, and stay for the interesting plot development.
** Or come to see what the fuss is about, and stay for your new favorite [[EnsembleDarkhorse side character]].
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Come for the [[InnocentFanserviceGirl naked]] {{Moe}} girl, stay for the {{Deconstruction}} of just about every previous anime genre. [[MisaimedFandom And to watch the director cry himself to sleep when you find Rei attractive.]]
** Or, come for the MindScrew GainaxEnding, stay just to watch what leads up to it.
** Better yet, come for the GiantMecha badassery, stay for the intense psychological drama. Or vice-versa.
* ''LightNovel/NyarkoSan'': Come for the {{moe}} [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Cthulhu]], stay for the [[ReferenceOverdosed references]].
* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'': Come for the humor, stay for the character development.
* ''Anime/{{Potemayo}}'': Come for the [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Chiyo-chan]]-level [[{{Kawaisa}} cute]], stay for the many varied styles of humour and high weirdness.
* ''Anime/PrincessTutu'': Come for the ridiculous premise and MagicalGirl, stay for the deep characters, original plot, and affecting story.
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Come for the [[PuniPlush ador]][[{{Moe}} able]] {{Magical Girl}}s, stay for the [[{{Deconstruction}} storyline]], the [[DesignStudentsOrgasm art direction]], and [[YukiKajiura the]] [[AwesomeMusic/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica music]].
* ''Anime/QueensBlade'': Come for the FanService [[PantyFighter concentrating on warrior women]], stay for the [[GrowingTheBeard interesting story line and intriguing characters]]. And of course more FanService.
* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': Come for the [[HoYay/RevolutionaryGirlUtena Les Yay]], stay for the complex character relationships and the MindScrew.
* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'': Come for the {{cute monster girl}}s, stay for the [[GrowingTheBeard awesome fights]].
* ''RozenMaiden'': Come for the [[MemeticMutation Desu]], stay for the well developed cast of endearingly quirky characters. And [[WatchItForTheMeme moar Desu]].
* ''Manga/{{Saikano}}'': Come for the lolicon, stay for the heartbreaking storyline, awesome fight scenes and gut-wrenching transformations.
* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': Come for the CastFullOfPrettyBoys and the HoYay, stay for the epic characters, the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome ridiculously far-fetched and fabulous plot]], the battles, the [[TearJerker surprisingly emotive moments]] and the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]] (amongst other things.)
* ''SeikonNoQwaser'': Come for the [[YoureDrinkingBreastMilk breast sucking]], stay for the interesting plot, and fight scenes.
* ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'': Come for the boobies, stay for the characters.
* ''Anime/{{Simoun}}''. Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop laughing for the music, stay for the war story and character drama.
* ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'': Come for the [[FanService naked]] [[PettingZooPeople wolf-girl]], stay for the character interaction and the [[IReadItForTheArticles economics lessons.]]
* ''Anime/StrikeWitches'' and ''Anime/SkyGirls'': Come for the fanservice, stay for the history jokes (StrikeWitches), character development (SkyGirls), and dogfighting (both).
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': Come for the {{Reconstruction}}. [[HotBlooded Stay for the manliness]]. [[RuleOfCool And stay for the manliness]]. [[MundaneMadeAwesome And stay for the manliness]]. [[WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy Destroy us all!]] [[RunningGag And stay for the manliness]].
** Or, come for Kamina (or Yoko), stay for, well, whatever is up there.
*** Come for Kamina, stay for Simon.
**** Come for Kamina, stay for Nia.
* ''Manga/VenusVersusVirus'': Come for the [[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship yuri subtext]], stay for the action and... more yuri subtext.
* ''Anime/WitchBlade'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and asskicking scenes, stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming moments]] and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny comedy]], topped with [[AnAesop aesops about the positive effects of the love between mother and children]]
* ''Manga/YamiNoMatsuei'': Come for the supernatural detectives, stay for the character development and handsome death gods.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'': Come for the crazy concept of card games on motorbikes, stay for the kickass plot and CastFullOfPrettyBoys.
** ''Anime/YuGiOh:'' Come for card games, stay for the card games.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comics]]
* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'': Come for the {{fanservice}} and comedy, stay for the intricately-weaved plot and well-written characters.
* ''Comicbook/ScottPilgrim'': Come for the simple premise and video game references, stay for the surprisingly deep story that comes from it.
* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'': Come for another nice Creator/AlanMoore comic book, stay for [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Watch]][[DeconstructorFleet men]]
* TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen: Come for strange pastiche of Victorian fiction, stay for the CrowningMomentOfAwesome, DeconstructorFleet, DarkerAndEdgier and much, much more.
** Come for the [[SarcasmMode amazing]] [[Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen movie]], stay for the real deal.
* ''Comicbook/TheSandman'': Come for the horror stories, stay for one of the best comic books that can be compared to a fantasy novel.
* ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'': Come for {{Deadpool}}, stay for the complex plots, [[HoYay/CableAndDeadpool Ho Yay]], and interesting character developments.
* Magazine/{{MAD}}: Come for the TV and Movie parodies, stay for Magazine/SpyVsSpy, [[AskAStupidQuestion Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions]], and so forth.
* [[Website/{{Cracked}} Cracked.com]]: Come for the gut-busting "top five" lists, stay for the even more gut-busting fan poster contests.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': Come to see just how crappy it is (since you figure that it's gotta be since everyone is saying so), stay because you realize that for the first 15 years or so of it's run, the strip was actually funny.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion A Glass of Wine]]'': Come for the sex, stay for the heartwarming.
* ''[[FanFic/NecaberintsPhalanx Phalanx]]'': Come for the unique concept, stay for the CharacterDevelopment.
* ''[[Manga/AhMyGoddess Scordatura]]'': Come for the LoveTriangle, stay for the humor and well, the LoveTriangle.
* ''[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Snowblind]]'': Come for the concept, stay for the epicness.
* ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'': Come because it's freakin' hilarious, stay for the awesome fight scenes and well-thought-out universe expansion. Alternatively, come for Terrifying!Rei, stay for Woobie!Asuka.
* ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'': Come for the trope references and being advertised as a TvTropes crossover, stay for the character interactions, the fighting scenes and the {{reconstruction}} of the harem plot.
* ''FanFic/MyImmortal'': Come to [[BileFascination see if it really is as terrible as you've heard]], stay because [[SoBadItsGood you can't]] [[Funny/MyImmortal stop laughing]].
* Red Witch's newest fanfic sums up her entire output in its title: ''Come For the Madness, Stay For the Insanity''.
* ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries'' Come for the insanely hilarious antics and touchingly realistic romance. Stay for the incredibly engaging plot.
* ''Batman Versus Barney'': Come for the novelty - and sheer perversity - of seeing [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' continuity, stay because it's a surprisingly well-written and dark tale with violence and horror you'll scarcely see on the actual show, plus a thoroughly bloodthirsty and oddly FoeYay [[TheJoker Joker]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'': Come for the two [[Creator/MrT memelious]] [[BruceCampbell actors]], or because you read the book as a kid, or for the 3D, stay for the plot, [[Funny/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs the humour]], and the hot nerds.
** Come for the comedy, stay for the SceneryPorn of giant food.
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Come for the funny moments, a HarmlessVillain and his adorable minions trying to conquer the world, stay for [[spoiler: [[Heartwarming/DespicableMe the story that leads to Gru's puppet book]]]].
* ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'': Come for the dancing hippos and MickeyMouse dressed as a wizard, stay for [[NightmareFuel/{{Fantasia}} Chernabog]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Come for the {{Deconstruction}}, stay for the action and plot.
** Or vice versa.
* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Come for the 2D animation and [[NightmareFuel nightmare fuel-erific]] villain, stay for the characters, the romance actually acted more realistic than the average DisneyPrincess one, the music, the story and [[spoiler: well, let's just say they were following [[WebVideo/ATopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] advice with this movie.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'': Come for the groundbreaking CGI, stay for the heartwarming and funny plot.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}}'': Come for the impossibly adorable robots, stay for the [[Heartwarming/{{Wall-E}} heartstring-pulling]] love story.
* ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'': Come for Music/TheBeatles music, stay for the trippy animation.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{Stargate}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the religious discussion.
* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'': Come for the FairyTale, stay for the quotables!
** ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' is more "Come for the witty quotes, stay for the pure FairyTale!" Especially now.
* ''Film/AHardDaysNight'': Come for Music/TheBeatles' music, stay for the witty dialogue and humorous characterizations.
** Similarly, ''Help!''. Come for the Beatles' music, stay for the fun spy movie spoof.
** Also ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse''. Come for the music, stay for the clever story, interesting directing, and solid acting.
* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'': Come for the name(s) you recognize, stay for the music.
** Or: come for the camp, stay for the [[FetishFuel Graverobber.]]
* ''Film/HotFuzz'': Come for the Brit-humor {{Deconstruction}} of every cop-movie trope ever, stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome awesome]] playing-straight of every cop-movie trope ever.
** That goes double for ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' with zombie-movie tropes.
* ''Film/ThreeHundred'': [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Come! For! The! YELLING!!!]], stay for the action and heroics.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'': Come for the action, stay for the mountain of symbolism.
* ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'': Come for the promised [[AcceptableTargets revenge on the]] [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]], stay for the rivetingly dialogue-based plot and copious amounts of FetishFuel.
* ''Film/{{Avatar}}'': Come for Creator/JamesCameron, stay for the special effects. There's not much of a plot to stay for anyway.
* ''{{Hairspray}}'': Come for the lively music and plucky, sweet heroine, stay for [[strike:the uplifting social commentary]] JohnTravolta cross dressing in a fat suit.
* ''EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind'': Come for the novelty of seeing JimCarrey in a ''serious'' role, stay for the novelty of KateWinslet in a ''free-spirited'' role as well as the brilliant plot and beautiful direction.
* ''TheLifeAquaticWithSteveZissou'': Come for the experience of seeing BillMurray do a riff on Jacques Cousteau, stay for the experience of seeing a fantasy for grownups.
* ''Film/AnnieHall'': Come for the WoodyAllen/Diane Keaton element, stay (if you're reluctant about Woody Allen films) for the bittersweet romantic elements.
* Any Russ Meyer film: Come for the Boobies, stay for the crazy-assed plot.
* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' movies. Come to see live action put into the plot... and stay for the actors.
* ''Film/{{Inception}}'': Come for the visual spectacle and the AllStarCast, stay for the MindScrew.
* The ''Film/LordOfTheRings'' films. Come because you read [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the books]] they were based on, stay because they're ''epic.''
** And for the fangirls: Come for [[{{Bishonen}} Legolas,]] stay for [[TheWoobie Frodo.]]
* ''Film/SuckerPunch'': Come for the FetishFuel and epic special effects, stay for the deconstruction and epic fantasy plot.
* ''Film/BlackSwan'': Come for the lesbian sex scene, stay for the ABSOLUTE BATSHIT INSANITY!!!!!
* ''AnimalHouse'': Come for the food fight and the toga party, stay for some surprisingly sharp Swiftian satire and shockingly dark comedy. Oh, and John Belushi.
* ''Film/RealSteel'': Come for the giant robots fights (both in size of the fights and the fighters) stay for the story of Father and Son bonding.
* ''Film/StarshipTroopers'': Come to watch [[BugWar guy's shoot giant bugs]], stay for the hammy propaganda. "[[MemeticMutation Would you like to know more?]]"
* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'': Come to see if it's really the travesty for the Franchise/{{Batman}} franchise you've heard it was, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood so bad, it's hysterically funny]].
** ''Film/BatmanForever'': Come because you've heard bad things about the Schumacher Batman films, stay because JimCarrey in green, sparkly, question mark spandex [[LargeHam has to be seen]] [[SoBadItsGood to be believed]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheBible'': Come for the {{Jesus}}; stay for the sixty-two other Books.
** Or sixty-nine other books, depending on your denomination.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': Come for the [[{{Animorphism}} teens turning into animals,]] stay for the human drama.
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Come because you heard that all those fantasy books you love were inspired by it, stay because it's epic.
** I found it was "Come for the quotables, stay for the awesome."
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Come for the [[ChangelingFantasy wish-fulfillment fantasy,]] stay for the human drama and to find out [[TheVerse all the details]] of the deeply-plotted {{backstory}}.
* ''SixteenThirtyTwo'' by Eric Flint (and several other people): Come for the [[FishOutOfTemporalWater crazy premise]] -- the town of Grantville is suddenly teleported from West Virginia in 2000 to Germany in 1632, and decides to start the American Revolution a few years early; stay for cool characters and ''[[ShownTheirWork insanely]]'' [[ShownTheirWork detailed research]] on every imaginable subject, from "Where in the world can you mine zinc?" to "What did the Pope really think about Galileo?"
* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': Come for the BDSM porn, stay for the political subterfuge.
** And for the [[ShownTheirWork history geeking.]]
* ''CharlesAndEmma'' is promoted under the blurb "Come for the science, stay for the love story."
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Come for the [[CrowningMomentOfFunny funny]], stay for the world-building.
** ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld'': Come for the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}, stay for the [[CaptainObvious science]].
** Alternately, come for the funny, stay for the unexpected wisdom and badass.
** Or, come for the funny, stay for the characters.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Come for the urban fantasy, stay for the FirstPersonSmartass main character and [[SerialEscalation increasingly cool]] plotlines.
* Creator/TamoraPierce. Come for the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels female protagonists]], stay for the detailed world-building and non-killing-people storylines. And to find out who everyone marries.
* ''Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray'': Come for the HoYay, stay for the NightmareFuel.
* ''Literature/WutheringHeights'': Come for the romance and/or [[SayMyName name]] [[WatchItForTheMeme calling]], stay for the dark, absorbing story and interesting -- [[JerkAss if amoral]] -- protagonists.
* ''Literature/AnnaKarenina'': Come for the [[ItWasHisSled train]], stay for the well-drawn characters, history lesson and love story.
* ''The Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse EighthDoctorAdventures'': come for the HoYay, stay for the [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs crack]]![[hottip:* :''And'' the HoYay, too...]]
* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Come for the {{badass}} main character, stay for the {{badass}} side characters. ''[[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters All]]'' of them.
* In the DaleBrown novel ''Warrior Class'', new POTUS Thomas Thorn's appeal is described this way: "if they had come to see [[RetiredBadass the monster]], they had stayed to hear the message."
* ''LeftBehind'': Come for the homophobia, stay for the... [[HoYay homoeroticism]].
* ''HeraldsOfValdemar'': Come for the {{Cool Horse}}s, stay for - everything else. But especially the love stories. Or, y'know, the plot and stuff. Whatever.
* ''Literature/CodexAlera'': Come for the WorldOfBadass and CrazyAwesome GuileHero, stay for the deep and complex characters, well-plotted story, and the fact that you ''still'' {{underestimat|ingBadassery}}ed [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the amounts of badassery involved]].
* The ''OldKingdom'' trilogy: Come for the HighFantasy ZombieApocalypse, stay for [[CrypticBackgroundReference the world you can never see enough of]].
* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Come to see [[AdaptationOverdosed what all the fuss was about]], stay because, contrary to [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny your]] [[InkStainAdaptation expectations]], [[NightmareFuel you're too freaked out not to]].
* ''Literature/{{Abarat}}'': Come to see [[ShmuckBait if Clive Barker can pull off YA fiction]]. Stay because CliveBarker ''can'' pull off YA fiction!
** Come for the beautiful illustrations. Stay for the masterful poetry.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'': Come for the action, stay for [[AwesomeMusic/LiveActionTV Ron Wasserman]].
** For both ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''SuperSentai'' come for the rangers, stay for the CombiningMecha.
* ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': Come for [[MemeticMutation Buttery toast]], stay for feminist subtext.
* ''Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the humor!
* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the political drama.
** Or, indeed, come for the political drama, stay for the awesome spaceship battles.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Come for [[SitCom the humor]], stay for the LoveDodecahedron!
* ''Series/FridayNightLights'': Come for the football, stay for the human drama. Interestingly enough, TV execs realized this was what was happening and started targeting the female audience in commercials.
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': Come because it's Joss, stay because of the perfectly-balanced cast.
** Come for Creator/JossWhedon, stay for Nathan Fillion [[EstrogenBrigade in tight leather pants]], Morena Baccarin [[MsFanservice taking a sponge bath]] or Adam Baldwin's smutty dialogue, cunning hat and [[EstrogenBrigade occasional shirtlessness]].
*** Come for Joss, stay for Creator/SummerGlau as a kickass, psychic assassin is how it generally works it. For proof, scroll down to ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles''.
** Or, come for the hype, stay for everything else.
* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': Come for the superpowers, [[MostCommonSuperpower familiar or otherwise]]; stay for [[strike:Hiro Nakamura]] the {{Fanservice}}.
** Or: Come for the [[MrFanservice sweet, innocent, pretty-boy hero]], stay for the [[DracoInLeatherPants surprisingly sexy, brain-stealing serial killer]].
* ''Series/TheDailyShow'' and ''Series/TheColbertReport'': Come for the spot-on political satire, stay because [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/business/media/16pew.html?_r=1&oref=slogin it becomes your source for the news.]]
* In general, ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is: Come for the vampires and the hot chicks with superpowers, stay for the incredibly well-done dialogue and characterization.
** Stay for Giles and/or Spike became common reasons among the female audience.
** Or come for the horror tropes, stay for the humor and characterization.
** One feels compelled to throw in a quote from the show directly referencing the Trope title (though, of course, not the trope itself):
--->'''Xander:''' Sunnydale: Come for the food, stay for the dismemberment.\\
'''Nancy:''' There's food?
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Come for the sexy vampire and the generally sexy cast, but stay for the well-done and intriguing {{Story Arc}}s and some random humor sprinkled in.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. Come for Superman, stay because you just have to know how it goddamn ends already! Grah!
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Come for the [[MrFanservice pretty boys]], stay for the intelligence, the psychology and the seriously good acting.
** Or: Come for the hot female guest stars, stay for the awesome music, the comedy and the [[{{Gorn}} copious amounts of gore.]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the great jokes and [[FanService sexy companions.]] Or: come for the sexy Doctor, stay for the jokes and stories.
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': Come for the medical humour, stay for the endearing cast and [[AwesomeMusic/LiveActionTV brilliant music]].
* ''Series/MythBusters'': Come for the truth behind those many urban legends you may have heard, stay for the character dynamics, the humor, the crazy gadgets and experiments, and the [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill even crazier amount of overkill]].
** Alternatively: Come for the explosions/overkill, stay for the character dynamics, the humor, the crazy gadgets and experiments, and the truth behind those many urban legends you may have heard.
* ''TopGear'': Come for the cars, stay for the funny.
** Come for the funny... stay for the funny.
** Or even come for the funny, stay for the cars... and the funny.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': Come for a guy faking his way through amazing detective work, stay for the eighties references.
* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': Come for the one-liners and [[CatchPhrase catchphrases]], stay for the brilliantly constructed plots.
* ''VeronicaMars'': Come for Kristen Bell, stay for the surprisingly-dark-yet-still-compelling plot complications.
* ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles'': Come for Creator/SummerGlau, stay for the amazing character development and jaw-dropping plot twists.
* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'': Come for Eliza Dushku, stay for the intriguing sci-fi storyline and fascinating characters.
** And briefly for Creator/SummerGlau.
** Come to watch Joss's new work, leave because it isn't engaging you so far. Come back because of the [[ItGetsBetter fan buzz]], stay because they get to show that the concept changes ''everything''... and you've got a ringside seat.
** Come for the feminist perspective on human trafficking, stay for HarryLennix.
* ''{{Skins}}'': Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop for the music, hang around for the storyline, stay for the realization that it's the new ''AsIf''.
** Given the single-character emphasis some TV guides had for series 3, you could also easily say "come for Effy, stay for Naomily."
* ''[[Series/TheOfficeUK The]] [[Series/TheOfficeUS Office]]'': Come for the pranks and the quirky, awkward, and inappropriate humor, stay for the large buffet of genuinely sweet romantic subplots.
* ''{{QI}}''. Come for the trivia, stay for the jokes. Or vice versa. Either way.
* For many Americans, ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'', ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'', and ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie''. Come for pre-''Series/{{House}}'' HughLaurie, stay because they're ''amazing''.
* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': Come because it's SherlockHolmes [[SettingUpdate in the modern day]] written by Creator/StevenMoffat and MarkGatiss, stay for the ''blazing'' chemistry between BenedictCumberbatch and MartinFreeman. And the sheer cleverness of it all. And the HoYay. The buckets and buckets and ''buckets'' of [[HoYay/{{Sherlock}} Ho Yay]].
* ''Series/TrueBlood'': Come for the sexy vampires, stay for the character development and intriguing plot.
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Come for the actors you know, stay for the top-notch stories, character development, and acting (from ''everyone'').
* ''LifeOnMars'': Come for the [[FishOutOfTemporalWater time travel,]] stay for the Gene Hunt [[DeadpanSnarker snark.]]
* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': Come for the sexy Captain, stay for the sexier, repressed [[strike:and probably [[HoYay gay]]]] British weapons officer.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Come because it's a classic, stay for the world's [[TheNotLoveInterest greatest]] [[HoYay/StarTrek love]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners story]].
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Come for the Captain, stay for the android. And Worf. And Dr. Crusher.
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Come for the FieryRedhead, stay for the CharacterDevelopment and ongoing {{Story Arc}}s.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Come for the hot Captain, stay for the [[HilarityEnsues hijinx]]. And the heartwarming.
* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'': Come for the humor, stay because if you get up everyone will see you laughed so hard you wet yourself.
** Alternatively, come for the stars of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'', stay for the bald guy and the black dude (everybody really).
* ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'': Come because Maria Canals Barrera is [[ParentService smoking hot]], stay because the show is actually pretty funny.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': Come for MandyPatinkin, stay for Matthew Gray Gubler. And the plot and stuff.
* ''Series/TheATeam'': Come for [[MemeticBadass Mr. T]], stay for [[CrazyAwesome Murdock]].
* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': Come for RobinWilliams in his StarMakingRole as a [[AmusingAlien wacky alien]], stay for the heartwarming InterspeciesRomance of the title characters and the sly social satire of the late 70s/early 80s. Oh, and the GettingCrapPastTheRadar.
* ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'': Come for the memorable jokes and catchphrases, stay for the surprisingly complex characters.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Come for Joel [=McHale=] from ''TheSoup'', stay for the characters, meta humor and brilliant parodies.
* ''AroundTheWorldInEightyDays with Creator/MichaelPalin'': Come for one of the stars of ''Creator/MontyPython'', stay for the genuine sense of adventure.
* ''Series/MadMen'': Come for the fascinating look at an earlier era where everyone smoked, had three-martini lunches and were openly chauvinistic, stay for the complex characters and surprising plot turns.
* ''Series/BigTimeRush'': Come for the [[MrFanservice cute guys]], stay for the {{hila|rityEnsues}}[[CrowningMomentOfFunny rity]], HoYay, and [[BoyBand surprisingly]] [[EarWorm good]] [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome music.]]
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'': Come for Nathan Fillion, stay cause it's actually a good show. or for Stana Katic.
* ''[[KamenRiderDouble Kamen Rider W]]'': Come for the humor and superhero action, Stay for the [[HardboiledDetective detective premise]] and [[HoYay homosexual subtext]].
* ''Series/DirtyJobs'': Come for the premise of a SadistShow, [[MrFanservice stay]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim for]] [[ClassicallyTrainedExtra M]][[DeadpanSnarker i]][[EpicFail k]][[GettingCrapPastTheRadar e]].
* ''TwinPeaks'': Come for the murder mystery, stay for the wacky townspeople and MindScrew.
* ''PushingDaisies'': Come for the clever premise, stay for Lee Pace.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': come for Barney Stinson's antics, stay for the ContinuityPorn.
* ''Series/{{House}}'': Come for HughLaurie, stay for the enthralling character subplots. The medicine's okay, I guess…
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Music]]
* ''Music/WeirdAlYankovic'': Come for the song parodies, stay for the well-written and hilarious original songs.
** Or come for a parody or two and stay for his vast amounts of ingenious parodies.
* DeathMetal: At least one case of coming for the awesome, hard hitting metal, staying for the ability to piss off most passerby. And the jiggy juggas.
* Music/FrankZappa: Come for the [[RefugeInAudacity well-]][[RefugeInVulgarity written lyrics]], stay for the music.
* Music/TaylorSwift. Come for the sappy love music. Stay because she's cute.
* K-pop: Come for the cute guys, stay for the catchy tunes. Most would vouch for vice versa, though.
* Music/IronMaiden: Come for [[{{Mascot}} Eddie]], stay for the [[AwesomeMusic/IronMaiden a]][[FilkSong we]][[NumberOfTheBeast so]][[LuckySeven me]] music.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/user/bandarestart Restart]]: Come for the [[MrFanservice cute guys]] in colorful clothes, stay for the [[EarWorm catchy]] and sometimes [[SweetDreamsFuel heartwarming]] music. Or the other way around.
* Music/JonathanCoulton: Come for [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Still Alive]], stay for the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain mad scientist ballads]].
* Music/TheBeatles. Come for the Pop music, stay for the experimental stuff and drug trips.
** Or come to check out all of the hype and stay for the surprising amount of personality that the fab four manage to inject into their songs.
*** Come for Music/PaulMcCartney, stay for Music/JohnLennon (or vice versa of course).
* Music/{{KISS}}: Come for the makeup and spitting blood, stay for the riffs, some gleefully twisted humor, and the SurprisinglyGentleSong [[TearJerker "Beth."]]
* Music/OingoBoingo: Come because of Creator/DannyElfman, stay for an extravagant musical freak show that [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly defies categorization]].
* Music/EltonJohn: Come for the [[MakingASpectacleOfYourself goofy glasses]] and [[CostumePorn wacky costumes]] (at least until TheNineties), stay for the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome catchy, diverse and well-written music]].
* [[JohannSebastianBach Bach's]] Toccata and Fugue in D Minor: come for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbMw6X3T40 toccata]], stay for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbMw6X3T40#t=2m41s fugue]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* {{ECW}}: Come for the [[{{Gorn}} bloodshed]] and {{Garbage Wrestl|er}}ing, stay for the incredibly well-done matches, surprisingly deep characterization, brilliant promos, and awesome commentary from Wrestling/JoeyStyles. This is as opposed to the Wrestling/{{WWE}}-backed ECW {{Revival}}, where you come for the name, and stay for Matt Striker's awesome commentary.
* {{WCW}}: Come for the [[NewWorldOrder nWo]], stay for the cruiserweights.
* {{TNA}}: Come for Wrestling/KurtAngle and Wrestling/{{Sting}}, stay for the X-Division.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sports]]
* SuperBowl: Come for the football, stay for the commercials (sometimes the main reason people are watching the Superbowl, except maybe hopes for another WardrobeMalfunction).
* BeachVolleyball: Come for the FanService, stay because it's actually an exciting sport.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Come to see what the fuss is about, stay for the adventures you will have and the stories you will share.
** Or, come for the funny-shaped dice, stay for the funny faces your DM will make when he hears your character's latest in-game plan.
*** For the [[GameMaster Dungeon Master]] in you, come for the excuse to build your impassable dungeon to crush your friends, stay for the moments when you let the same friends win anyway, because their solution was just that [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome COOL!]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': Come because your D&D friend said it was worth a shot, stay for the ability to punch gods faces in.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Come to build an army of [[FantasyKitchenSink all different kinds of monsters and spells]], stay for the surprisingly in-depth and realistic color/alignment system.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Theater]]
* CirqueDuSoleil: Come for the surreal acrobatics, stay for the heartwarming characterizations, fantastic music, and some of the greatest [[NonIronicClown non-ironic clowns]] in the world.
* ''MissSaigon'': Come for the helicopter, stay for the love story set against the Vietnam War.
* ''Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular'': Come for the life-sized dinosaurs, stay for the CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming between the mother T-rex and her baby.
* ''Theatre/LesMiserables'': Come for the ginormous barricade and/or well-known songs, stay for the epic story.
* The BBC's Hollow Crown series, particularly ''HenryIVPart1'', ''HenryIVPart2'' and ''HenryV'': Come for the TomHiddleston {{fanservice}} stay for the Shakespeare.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''Videogame/GhostTrick'': Come because it's the SpiritualSuccessor of ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', stay for the plot twists, smooth animation, plot twists, deep mysteries, plot twists, and [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment plot twists]].
* ''Videogame/GearsOfWar'': Come for [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon the rifle with a chainsaw for a bayonet]], stay for the tactical combat.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Come for the tactical combat, stay for the plot and [[AwesomeMusic/{{Halo}} the soundtrack.]]
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Come for the [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter cute critters]] -- and possibly [[HypeAversion to see what all the fuss is about]] -- stay for the deep, strategic {{RPG}}, and possibly [[GottaCatchThemAll pure obsessive-compulsion]].
** Or come for the monsters, stay for the sheer ''imagination'' of the games' worlds.
* ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Unlimited Blade Works]]'': Come for [[MemeticMutation GARcher]], stay for GAR Lancer.
* ''Videogame/{{Touhou}}'': Come for the [[MemeticMutation precious things]], stay for the hope that you'll finally 1cc Lunatic this time.
** You stay because you can't leave, since [[MemeticMutation there are no buses in Gensokyo]].
** Or, come for the BulletHell, stay for the [[Memes/{{Touhou}} meme]] [[FountainOfMemes overdose]].
** Or, come for the [[EarWorm/VideoGames music]], ''stay'' for the BulletHell
* ''Videogame/MetalGearSolid'': Come for the Stealth Action, stay for [[strike:[[StupidSexyFlanders Snake's sweet, sweet ass]]]] the complex story.
** [[ParrotExposition Complex story, huh?]]
** ''[[RuleOfThree Complex Story!?]]''
* ''Videogame/{{Silent Hill|1}}'': Come for the [[NightmareFuel/SilentHill1 High Octane Nightmare Fuel]], stay because you just have to know [[MindScrew what in]] [[JigsawPuzzlePlot the hell]] [[GainaxEnding just happened]].
** ''Videogame/SilentHill2'': Come for [[MemeticMolester Pyramid Head]], stay for the epically tragic characters.
* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Come for the horrifying final boss, stay for the cute and funny rest of the game!
** Or, alternatively, come for the cute and funny characters and [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]] of [[{{Eagleland}} American life]] and various RPG cliches, stay for the increasingly weird and [[MoodWhiplash unsettling]] plot twists leading up to the epic NightmareFuel of the last dungeon and boss.
* ''VideoGame/TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever'', and possibly the whole ''Triangle Heart'' franchise: Come for the fandom prestige of actually knowing what ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' was spun off from, stay for the characters and the FantasyKitchenSink.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Come for the Disney characters, stay for the character interaction and addictive gameplay. And [[DracoInLeatherPants Organization]] [[EvilIsSexy XIII]].
** Alternatively: Come to see what the fuss was about, stay to see what insane plot twist the writers pull next.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'': come for the John-Woo bullet-time gun play, stay for the metaphors and Noir.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'': Come for the humor, stay because you're addicted.
* ''UrbanDead'': Come for the Zombies, stay to survive.
* ''Videogame/SuperRobotWars OriginalGeneration'' exists as a result of this trope occurring in the main series. People came for the ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Gundam]]'' (or whatever your favorite series is) and stayed for the entirely new characters.
** Come for Gundam, stay for Huckebein.
* ''Videogame/DynastyWarriors'': Come for the {{foe tossing|Charge}}, stay for the WorldOfHam.
* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': Come for the LevelGrinding, stay for the FetishFuel.
** Or, come for the over the top attacks and story, stay for the intricate battle system.
* ''Videogame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'': Come for Gig, stay for the surprisingly addictive gameplay. And the CrowningMusicOfAwesome. And Gig.
* ''Videogame/GuiltyGear'': Come for the 2D fighting revival, stay for the insanely whacked out characters.
** Or, come for the insanely whacked out characters, stay for the incredible background music.
** ''Videogame/BlazBlue'': Come for ''Guilty Gear'' [[SpiritualSuccessor in HD]], stay for BANG INSTALL.
*** Come for probably the closest thing you'll ever get to another 2D ''Videogame/GuiltyGear'', stay to find out [[NightmareFuel why the bug guy can't talk]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': Come for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, stay for '''Midna.'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDIGames'': Come for [[MemeticMutation MAH BOI,]] stay for the OverNineThousand[[FountainOfMemes other Memes.]]
*** And before they ''were'' memes, the people who ''made'' them memes stayed because the lines were all hilarious in their own right.
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'': Come for the brilliant puzzles, stay for the dark humor and [[MemeticMutation the cake.]]
** Or come for [[BlatantLies the cake]] and stay for [[MagnificentBastard GLaDOS]].
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Come for the madcap FPS action, stay for the gorgeous animation and wacky characterization.
** Or vice versa -- come for the unique art style and humor exhibited in the "Meet the Team" videos; stay for the well-balanced and refreshingly lighthearted multiplayer combat. People who were not "gamers" by any stretch, but got sucked into ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' and/or ''Portal'', wound up loving the whole ''Orange Box'' set, and eventually settled into the world of video games.
** Come for the madcap FPS action, stay for the hats.
* Steam: Come for Valve's amazing games, stay for the wealth of other games you never would have heard of otherwise.
** Come because [[CopyProtection your new game requires it]], stay because ''holy crap did you see those sale prices?''
* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'': Come for the character creator, stay because you're a superhero.
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'': Come for the DarkFantasy HackAndSlash, [[MemeticMutation stay a while and listen]].
** Come for the action, stay for two weeks without a break.
* ''VideoGame/NetHack'': Come to see what the fuss is about, stay because "this shit won't beat me."
* ''Videogame/{{Fallout}}'': Come for the ludicrously gleeful amount of gore, stay for the equally gleeful deconstruction of every 50's future-tech optimisms ever.
** ''Videogame/{{Fallout 3}}'': Come for the [[NukeEm Fatman]], [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill MIRV]], and [[RayGun Alien]] [[DisintegratorRay Blaster]], stay for the [[GottaCatchEmAll weapon schematics, unique weapons, sidequests, Bobbleheads]], and [[SceneryPorn drop dead gorgeous landscapes.]]
** ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'': [[MagnificentBastard Come]] [[CrazyAwesome for]] [[BadassGrandpa the]] [[MemeticBadass people,]] [[SceneryPorn stay]] [[SceneryGorn for]] [[WideOpenSandbox the]] [[MemeticMutation sunshine.]]
* ''Mushihime-sama Futari'': Come for the TrueFinalBoss, stay for [[ExpansionPack Black Label]].
* ''ThunderForce'': Come because it's an awesome ShootEmUp series, stay for the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]].
* ''Jewelry Master Twinkle'': Come for its resemblance to a DatingSim, stay for hours.
* ''Videogame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'': Come because you're bored of mainstream ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', stay for the hope of one day getting Grand Master rank.
* ''DJMAX Technika'': Come for the interesting gameplay, stay for Platinum Crew (or to painfully wait for the day your arcade gets it).
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Come for the lack of monthly fees, stay for the lack of grind (and the SceneryPorn).
* ''VideoGame/LastScenario'': Come to see if the storyline [[ItGetsBetter gets better]] than it [[ClicheStorm begins]], stay for the tactical and balanced battle system, [[PlayingThePlayer get hit in the face by some plot twists]] and finish the game for the improbably gorgeous story.
* ''Videogame/TheForceUnleashed'': Come for the gratuitous Force usage, stay for the plot.
** For others... Come for the plot, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill stay for the insane amount of ways to SLAUGHTER your enemies.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': come for the dating sim elements, stay for the fun battle system, deep character development and awesome J-pop music.
* ''Videogame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'': Come for the awesome slow-mo action, stay for the surreal atmosphere and the NightmareFuel.
* ''Videogame/CommandAndConquer'': Somewhat subverted in the "General's Challenge" mode in the ''Zero Hour'' expansion pack -- one of Dr. Thrax's taunts is "You'll come for the toxins, but stay... ''because you're dead!''"
** Come for the invention of the RTS genre's gameplay style, stay for the awesome story. As Kane puts it in ''Tiberian Sun'', "Come for the sunshine but [[DarkMessiah stay for the people]]!"
* ''Videogame/{{Pac-Man}} Championship Edition DX'': Come because, well, it's ''Pac-Man'', stay until you S-rank all the stages.
* ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'': Came for Creator/MarkHamill as Joker, stay for the awesome gameplay and atmosphere.
* ''SummonNight Swordcraft Story'': Come for the [[HoYay/VideoGames lesbian subtext]], stay for the likable characters and fast paced battle system.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': Come because [[MarthDebutedInSmashBros of that blue-haired sword-dude in that fighting game]] and stay for the mentally stimulating strategy, lovable characters, and intricate stories.
* The NintendoEntertainmentSystem did this intentionally because TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 made consoles very hard to sell on their own: Come for R.O.B., stay for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros''.
** Some gamers' reasons for owning a Nintendo console: "Come for [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]], stay for all the other Nintendo all-stars.
* ''VideoGame/MegaMan'': Come for the goofy/cool [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robot Masters]] that you can fight in any order, stay for the [[NintendoHard challenging]] gameplay and [[AwesomeMusic/MegaMan addicting music]].
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Come for the simplistic yet fun gameplay, stay for the [[AwesomeMusic/SonicTheHedgehog kickass music]] and [[SceneryPorn gorgeous stages]]... ''and'' the simplistic yet fun gameplay.
* ''[[Videogame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'': Come for [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]], stay for the refined fighting gameplay.
** Alternatively come for the awesome fighting, stay for the guest star characters.
* ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'': Come for the fighting, stay for the [[FetishFuel girls]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'': Come for [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters the 108 characters from your party]], stay for the amazing political plots, fun gameplay and likable characters amongst the 108s.
* Playing ''Franchise/MassEffect'' as a female Shepard: come for the [[HoYay lesbian alien sexual tension]], stay for JenniferHale's voice acting.
** Either Shepard: Come for the alien sexual tension, stay because Bioware [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming got]] you [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome right]] in the [[TearJerker feelings]].
* ''Videogame/WarCraft III'' come for the awesome gameplay and storyline, stay for [[VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients DOTA]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' come to win the games in different endings, stay for the leaders.
** Come to take over the world, stay because [[JustOneMoreTurn you're addicted.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'': Come for the [[MundaneMadeAwesome ridiculous premise]], stay for the addictive mysteries, quirky characters, and WorldOfHam.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Come for the swords, stay for the CharacterDevelopment and [[{{Determinator}} unbreakable]] main characters.
* ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'': Come for the [[WidgetSeries utterly bizarre premise]], stay for the surprisingly well-written plot and compelling characters.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the scenes left out from the [[AllThereInTheManual anime]] and [[AllThereInTheManual TIPS]], stay for the same reasons you stayed for the anime and ''more''.
* ''VisualNovel/KanaLittleSister'': Come for one kind of [[ADateWithRosiePalms jerker]], stay for the [[TearJerker other]].
* ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'': Come for hot cripple sex, stay for the well written and lovable characters, the witty dialogues, and the fantastic soundtrack, not to mention the intelligent and mature observations of some very difficult themes.
* ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'': Come for the many endings and adorable wooable characters, stay for the many {{Bad End}}s.
** For some people, it's the other way around!
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the magic, stay for the mystery.
** Alternatively, come for the {{memetic|Mutation}} {{troll}}ling and [[{{Gorn}} bloody deaths]], stay for the romance.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Enjuhneer'' Come for the geek-college, stay for the increasingly in-depth characters.
** Also, come for the geeky-ness, stay for the geeky-ness
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': [[XXXenophile Come for the hope that it is similar to the author's past work]], stay for the well-drawn [[MadScientist MAD SCIENCE]]!
** Come for the Steampunk, stay for the Jagers.
** Also, the Heterodyne museum advertised: "Come for the crushing, stay for the snow cones".
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Come for the [[TabletopGames role-playing]] parody, stay for the well-done CerebusSyndrome.
* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': Come for the robots, stay for the well-developed interpersonal relationships, the constant introductions to new indie-rock bands, and the fact that it never forgets to be funny. Oh, and don't forget [[TheMerch to buy a T-shirt]].
* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'': Come for the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' geekery, stay for the wicked {{Deconstruction}} of just about every RPG trope ever invented.
* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'': Come because you're the only person on the planet who hasn't read it, stay for the sick humor and the less-sick vocabulary lessons.
* ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal''. Come for hilarious subversions on beloved tropes, stay for shirtless Zach.
* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': Come for [[DistractedByTheSexy the hot girls/guys]], stay for the zany characters and story.
* ''Webcomic/GoodbyeChains'': [[IncrediblyLamePun Come]] for the [[YaoiFangirl gay]], stay 'cause it's ''hilarious''.
* ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'': Come for the FanService and/or FetishFuel, stay for the emotional story, funny jokes, and well-done {{Deconstruction}} of the entire GenderBender genre.
* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'': Come for the crazy, stay for the drama. And the surrealism.
** And the Rent-A-Zilla.
** Or, come for the cute girls, stay for the story.
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamer'': Come for the time travel drama/romance and American history, stay for the [[EstrogenBrigade hot guys]] (or vice versa).
* ''Webcomic/{{Fanboys}}'': Come for the video game humor, stay for the [[TastesLikeDiabetes sickeningly cute romance]].
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': Come for the [[CrazyAwesome Chainsaw Nunchucks]], stay for the hilarious writing.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Come because you just finished ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'', stay for the intricate characterization, intense action, [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome sick beats]], and the sheer amount of both [[TropeOverdosed tropes]] and [[WMG/{{Homestuck}} theories]]. [[ArchivePanic It's not like you'd be able to leave]] [[WebcomicsLongRunners any time soon!]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Come for the GenderBending stay for the CharacterDevelopment.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': come for the gag-a-day SciFi starring a talking pile of crap, stay for the deep, serious, intricately plotted SpaceOpera epic starring [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Guns]] you never saw coming.
* ''Webcomic/{{Insecticomics}}'' has a storyline with a title like this: ''Come For the Wedding, Stay For the Open Bar!''
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'': Come for the ''Franchise/StarWars'' and TabletopRPG jokes, stay for the CharacterDevelopment as the players and GM become TrueCompanions.
** ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'': Come for the insanely overpowered fireballs, stay for [[TheRant the often insightful comments and literal rants]]. Doubly so now that the comic itself is essentially finished but the rants keep getting updates.
* ''Webcomic/{{Shiniez}}'': Come for the well-drawn fetish artwork, stay for the characterisation, story-telling and sense of humor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''TVTropes'': Come for the laughs, stay for the [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife crippling addiction!]]
** ''{{TV Tropes}} Wiki'': Come to look something up. Stay for the witty remarks.
*** ''TVTropes'': Come for the interesting, [[ImpossibleMission stay awhile... STAY FOREVER!]]
**** ''TVTropes'': Come to find out what the hell everyone else is talking about, stay because [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife you have no choice.]]
***** ''TVTropes'': Come for the fun, stay because it is a better place to look up media than [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] is.
****** ''TVTropes'': Come because of ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', stay because of WikiWalk.
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': Come for the humor and wacky characters, stay for the surprisingly deep storyline that [[CerebusSyndrome eventually emerges]].
* A running joke on AH.com was incorporated into ''Script/AHDotComTheSeries'': "I came for the AlternateHistory, I stayed for the Homosexual Innuendo." (Sometimes inverted for humor.)
* ''DarthWiki'': Come for the fun, stay for the cries of agony!
** SugarWiki: Come because of [[PotHole one of these]], stay because GoodFeelsGood!
* ''Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses'': Come for the reviews, stay for the [[DeadpanSnarker Snark]].
** WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic[=/=]WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick: Come for your nostalgic movie getting bashed [[hottip:*: or to think dirty thoughts about the PrettyBoy/[[MsFanservice hot girl]]]], stay for their [[HiddenDepths genuinely]] [[JerkassWoobie interesting]] [[{{backstory}} characters]].
* Fandom: Come for the porn, stay for the people (and the porn).
* Furries: Come for the people, stay for the porn and the drama.
* JournalRoleplay: Come for the character interaction, stay for the drama.
* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd: Come for the nostalgia, stay for the catharsis.
* TheJokerBlogs: Come for the acting, stay for the suspenseful story.
* [[http://www.thehillywoodshow.com/ The Hillywood Show]] Come for the Creator/JohnnyDepp impressions and ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' parodies, stay for the stellar musical numbers and professional production values.
* The Escapist: Come for the [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation Yahtzee]], stay for ''WebVideo/{{Unskippable}}'' and ''DoomsdayArcade''.
* NASA Edge and Space Vidcast: Come for the humor, stay for the quotability and the spaceflight.
* Website/{{Facebook}}: Come to communicate with your friends, stay for the games.
* ''Cat Tales'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and/or the FoeYay, stay because it's better written and better characterized than anything DC Comics has done in years.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Come for the [[GenderBender TG wish fulfillment]] stories, stay for the superhero battles and the humor.
* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC I'm a Marvel and I'm a DC]]'': Come for the {{Crossover}} factor, stay for the characterization, witty dialogue, and many [[Funny/ImAMarvelAndImADC hilarious highlights]].
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'': Come for the parody of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' (let's face it, it's a pretty easy target), stay for the parody of absolutely everything.
* WebAnimation/HomestarRunner: Come for Homestar, stay for [[EnsembleDarkhorse Strong Bad]]!
* The trope is referenced in an Easter Egg featuring the [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Teen Girl Squad]] in the sbemail "death metal":
-->'''What's-Her-Face:''' Cheerleader! Are you here to see Brainkrieg?\\
'''Cheerleader:''' I come for the wuggas, but stay for the jiggy juggas.\\
'''Death metal band on the stage:''' ''(offscreen)'' Jugga jigga wugga!
* {{Valenth}}: Come for the pretty adoptable artwork, stay for the surprisingly complex storyline.
* Personality Cafe: Come for the personality typing, stay for the community.
** Or come because Typology Central banned you, stay for the community.
* [[FanfictionDotNet Fanfiction.net]]: Come because you like the work, stay for awesome expansion upon {{canon}}.
** Or you come for more of your favorite works and stay to find truly great fics hidden underneath piles of [[MarySue Sues]] and {{yaoi}}.
** Alternatively, come to make crappy fanfics, stay to gradually improve and make something fairly interesting! (It takes some time though!)
* ''WebVideo/DragonBallAbridged'': Come to watch Nappa slowly drive Vegata insane, [[spoiler: ''stay'' to watch Ghost Nappa slowly drive Vegeta insane]].
* Franchise/{{Neopets}}: Come for the cute creatures, stay for the games.
** Or alternatively, come for the games, stay for the plots and possibly the community.
* ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'': come for [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]], stay because [[NightmareFuel you're too afraid to move]].
* [[http://www.patheos.com/community/slacktivist The Slacktivist's blog]]: Come for ''LeftBehind'' getting [[{{MST}} ripped a new one]], stay for the political and philosophical posts. And ''LeftBehind'' [[SnarkBait getting ripped a new one]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Come for the bending hijinks, stay for the sincere and unexpectedly wise writing.
** This troper found it to be "come for the bending hijinks, stay for the all-around awesomeness."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Come for the adventure parody, stay for surprisingly deep characters and strong {{continuity}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse'': Come for the [[BileFascination terribly crude art]], stay for the complex story, well-defined characters, and awesome soundtrack.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Come to watch Franchise/{{Batman}} [[Awesome/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries be awesome]], stay to see just how very very wrong the AnimationAgeGhetto is.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': Come for the MagicalGirlfriend [[GirlInABox in a Box]], stay for either the UnresolvedSexualTension or the [[AbortedArc abandoned government conspiracy plot]]. (Or for [[{{Keet}} Odd]].)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': come for [[MagnificentBastard Bender]] and the {{Nerdgasm}} of science fiction combined with ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''' humor. Stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]] but bittersweet romance, the devastatingly [[TearJerker tragic]] time-displacement story; the complex, carefully constructed characters; and the scattering of episodes that reach the level of truly sublime television.
* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Come because it's by the same creator as ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', stay because it's better at character and story.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'': Come for [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the Batman]], stay for [[CrazyAwesome the]] [[TheQuestion Question]].
* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': Come for [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter GIR]], stay for the social satire.
** Or come because it's JhonenVasquez, stay because it's the best "kid's" show ever.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': Come for Demona's sexiness, stay for the story.
** Come for all the hype, stay because you've started {{Shipping}} Elisa/Goliath.
* ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'': Come for the parody of MoralGuardians and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches Fundamentalist Christianity]], stay for the dark characterization.
* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': Come for the humor, stay for the amazing stop-motion animation.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': Come for Batman, stay for the hilarious stories and {{Mythology Gag}}s.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'': Come for the outright [=LOLs=] and brutal soundtrack, stay for the surprisingly deep plot and fantastic characters. And the buckets of HoYay.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Come because your little brother has it on the television, stay because... oh my god, they can't really be doing '''the''' Terra storyline in a kids show?!
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Come because you're bored, stayed for the writing, the music, the entertaining cast, the subtext and the humor
** [[LaymansTerms So... come because you're bored,]] [[FridgeBrilliance stay for the entire show?]] [[hottip:* : "I for one am starting to get bored, and boredom is something up with which I will not put!"]]
* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'': Come because you watched it as a child, stayed because of the complex character relationships.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'': Come for the [[FetishFuel girls in spandex]], stay for the [[GambitPileup awesome plot]].
** The same goes for ''WinxClub''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland'': Come for the making fun of reality tv, stay for the awesome characters.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'': [[RuleOfThree Came for Batman]]. Stay for the new spin on the villains.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Come for the stylish art style, stay for the clever writing, memorable characters, and humor. Or as it was put so eloquently [[ImageBoards "somewhere on the internets"]], "come for the trolling, stay for the ponies."
** Come for the [[WatchItForTheMeme Memes]], stay for the good animation, characters, and writing.
* ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'': Come because you read Garfield as a kid, stay for the hilarious jokes and fourth wall breaking.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Real Life]]
* College: Come for the additional education, stay for the shenanigans.
** For some, it's the other way around.
** And for yet others, it's Come because you can't get a job without a degree, stay because... you can't get a job without a degree.
** Come for your parents, stay because you're getting your $30,000's worth.
** Surely it's come to avoiding getting a real job and laze around for a few years, stay for the realisation of how much money you have spent on it.
** Come for the food, stay for the wireless and free movies. (Honestly, a school that shows movies every week on a 232 inch screen between the time when they leave the theatre and the DVD release? Awesome.)
** Come to get away from your family, stay because your friends there have ''become'' your new family.
* The Gym: Come to lose weight, stay for the endorphin addiction.
** or stay for the girls.
*** Or guys.
* Your Career: Come for the chance to work in your specialist field, stay for the paychecks that allow you to have a roof over your head, food in your belly, a place to rest your head, and clothes to cover your body.
* The Internet: Come for the vast stores of news and information, stay for teh joeks! (Or [[TheInternetIsForPorn teh pr0n]], depending on your libido.) (Or the "innovative" spelling, if you've been online for any given length of time.)
** Applies for tvtropes. A huge number of people found tvtropes searching for lolita and incest. The picture of someone coming to their stuff and then get sidetracked for hours just seems inherently funny.
* Caffeine: Come for the quick pick-me-up it gives you, stay for the ability to ward off the waiting crash and burn.
* Acetaminophen: Come for its ability to treat a cold's aches and pains, stay for its ability to lower your fever.
* Life: Come because you've been kind of forced into it, stay because...well there aren't any real alternatives.
* [[TheOnion Our Dumb World]] on Malawi: "Come for the food shortages, stay because you've died."
* [[TearJerker Sad example:]] [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny North Korea]] (if you're Japanese or South Korean): Come because they invited you, stay because they won't let you leave.
* Whatcom County, WA -- come on vacation, stay on probation...
* Dark chocolate. Come because it's delicious, stay because it's a natural source of antioxidants. And delicious.
* Movie posters and advertisements run on this trope. See CoversAlwaysLie for more.
* Food: Come for the deliciousness, stay because your newly-gained fat won't let you do otherwise.
* Sarcasm: Come to subtly vent about your life, stay because you've corrupted your innocence.
* Ballet: Come for the dancing and story, stay for the {{panty shot}}s.
** Or vice versa (also applies to figure skating).
* Getting a pet: Come for the RidiculouslyCuteCritter (or UglyCute depending on the species), stay for the bonding and unconditional love.
[[/folder]]
----
And it turns out the show is pretty good, too, and you like it. But over time, you start to like it for a completely different reason. This show with the cute lead character actually has an interesting side character with an in-depth story that you're really getting into. Or this movie might be very funny, but it also has some great undercurrents of drama that you weren't expecting, and that really jump out at you. Either way, you end up really liking the show/movie/book/game/etc for a reason completely different from why you started to check it out.
This is an example of Come For The X Stay For The Y. You originally start to get into something for reason X, but in the end, it's reason Y that causes you to get hooked and stick around.
See also HelloBoys, which is the sub-trope of this. WatchItForTheMeme may lead to this. Compare IReadItForTheArticles and contrast JustHereForGodzilla.
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'': Come for the historical references, stay for the quirky characters and the HoYay.
** Come for the HoYay, stay for [[MemeticMolester Russia]].
** Come for the HoYay, stay for the surprisingly in-depth (usually) {{Fandom}}.
* ''Anime/AgentAika'': Come for the fight scenes, stay for the {{panty shot}}s.
* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'': Come for the levels of gore on par with a Creator/QuentinTarantino movie, stay for [[SuperlativeDubbing the best English dub since]] ''Anime/CowboyBebop''.
** {{Fangirl}}s [[MrFanservice come for]] [[DecoyProtagonist Firo]] [[MrFanservice and stay for]] [[AxCrazy Vi]][[CrazyAwesome no]].
* ''Manga/{{Basilisk}}'': Come for the ninja fights, stay for the touching drama.
* ''[[Manga/{{Beck}} BECK Mongolian Chop Squad]]'': Come for the awesome [[{{Woolseyism}} dubbed music]], stay for the best SliceOfLife this side of ''TheWonderYears''.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Come for Guts being a {{Badass}}, stay for the compelling, human story and character development.
* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': Come for the over-the-top Tarantino action, stay for the surprisingly deep philosophizing. Seriously, name me one other action anime where they quote Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.
** ''Anime/ErgoProxy''?
*** Stay for the GeniusBonus ''and'' for the incredibly complicated darker take on SlapSlapKiss between Revy and Rock.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Come for the spinning leeks, stay for the sword fights.
** Come for the sword fights, stay for the characters.
* ''Anime/BrigadoonMarinAndMelan:'' Come for the robot battles, stay for the heart-wringing drama. Or, come for the SliceOfLife, stay for the epic science fiction adventure.
* ''Anime/CandyBoy'': Come for the hope of some TwinCest {{Yuri}}, stay for a surprisingly sweet show about sisters, with some real heartwarming moments.
* ''Chu-Bra'': Come for the FanService, stay for the character relationships and your brand new understanding of what middle-school girls go through.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Come for the mecha and WorldOfHam (and glorious Fanservice), stay for MORE ham and the resident MagnificentBastard's epic tactical {{plan}}s while observing the fairly realistic feudal and social politics. And for why this show has a BrokenBase nearly as epic.
* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'':
** Come for the space battles, stay for the HongKongBloodOpera.
** Come for the spaceships and gunfights, stay for [[{{Badass}} Spike]] (and [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Ed]]).
** Come for the action, stay for the ''[[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]]''.
** Come for the [[YokoKanno soundtrack]], stay for the characters and the gorgeous art.
* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'': Come for the vicious subversion of everything that makes the superhero genre what it is, stay for the surprisingly sympathetic characters and YokoKanno [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]].
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Come for the [[MundaneMadeAwesome potato chips]], stay for the {{Magnificent Bastard}}s.
** For this one, it was Come for ThePlan, stay for the ''multiple'' {{Gambit Roulette}}s and the GambitPileup.
*** Admit it: ''Somebody'' came for the FoeYay and stayed because [[GambitIndex you had to.]] [[hottip:*: Or vice versa...]]
** Or, come for the Shinigami, stay for the {{Gambit Roulette}}s... [[AffablyEvil and]] [[SociopathicHero Kira]].
** Or come for the delicately unresolved social commentary and ethical debate, stay for the coffee-fetching ButtMonkey, for some fans.
* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': Come for the [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever giant fighting monsters,]] stay for the very compelling and [[CharacterDevelopment constantly evolving]] characters, well written plots and the awesome soundtrack.
** For most seasons Come for the plot, stay for digivolutions.
* ''Manga/ElfenLied'': Come for the {{Gorn}} and FanService, stay for the [[TheWoobie sympathetic]] and wonderfully human characters and ''[[TearJerker/ElfenLied heart-wrenchingly]]'' tragic story.
* ''Anime/EurekaSeven'': Come for the HumongousMecha on surfboards, stay for the awesome story line and catchy music.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Come for the Fanservice and Badass magic, stay for the Nakama and other Heartwarming moments.
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': Come for the {{Badass}} protagonist and his way of making foes [[YouAreAlreadyDead already dead]], stay for the ManlyTears.
* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'': Come for the Gainax MindScrew and [[FreudWasRight endless sexual symbolism]], stay for [[strike:the actually complex and interesting characters]] [[CrazyAwesome Haruko]].
* ''Manga/FrankenFran'': Come for the implied yuri and fanservice, stay for the over the top BodyHorror and black comedy.
* ''VisualNovel/GakuenHeaven'': come for the actual HoYay, stay for the well-rounded characters and the [[ChildhoodMarriagePromise overdose]] of cute. Also, the catchy theme-tune and the decent animation.
* ''Manga/GetBackers'': Come for [[strike:Juubei]] the HoYay and {{Fanservice}}, stay for the surprisingly intricate plot.
* ''GundamWing'': Come for the {{Bishounen}}, stay for the obligatory GiantMecha battles...and plenty of debate over war and peace.
* ''Anime/{{Grenadier}}'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and stay for the action and ImprobableAimingSkills.
* ''Anime/GunXSword'': Come for the mid-air [[HumongousMecha mecha swordfights]], stay for the characters, the quirky sense of humor, and the tight, fast-paced plotting of the last 15 episodes.
* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': Come for [[BadassAdorable little girls kicking ass]], stay for the touching and well-executed drama centered around the girls and the political subplots.
* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' - Come for the {{dancing|Theme}} and [[MemeticMutation smoked cheese]], stay for the engaging story and complex characters.
** Also, come for [[GenkiGirl Haruhi]], stay for [[DeadpanSnarker Kyon]], [[HoYay Koizumi]], [[{{Moe}} Mikuru]], and [[BadassBookworm Nagato]].
* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo:'' Come for the boxing, stay for the [[CharacterDevelopment personality growth]].
* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'': Come for the meta and fourth wall jokes, stay for the characters and the heartwarming moments.
* ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'': Come for the OTT violence, stay for the awesome plot.
** Alternatively: come for the violence, stay for the Alucard and the NorioWakamoto-voiced Alexander.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the "killer lolis" and horror, stay for the [[BadEnd depressing]] [[DownerEnding storyline]], TrueCompanions and [[HotBlooded willingness to stop]] the [[GroundhogDayLoop everlasting June]]... Also, the [[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship yuri]]-[[FanServiceWithASmile filled]] [[InnocentFanserviceGirl official art]].
** Also, the numerous {{Image Song}}s and ThePowerOfFriendship.
** The manga: Come for a better adaptation or just because you love the series, stay for everything you said took to eleven with sound novel stuff drizzled over it.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Come for the [[{{Kiai}} "Ora Ora"]] and [[CarFu steamrollers]], stay for the epic battles of wits.
* ''Manga/KOn'': Come for the guitar play, stay for the [[SliceOfLife slice-of-life]] {{Moe}}.
** Or the other way around.
* ''Manga/KamenNoMaidGuy'': Come for Naeka's boobs, stay for Kogarashi's {{Crazy Awesome}}ness... and ActionGirl {{meido}} Fubuki.
* ''LightNovel/{{Kanokon}}'': Come for the fanservice, stay to see if it'll accept it is softcore porn and show some nipple.
** Which it does, if only for a handful of frames.
* ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'': Come for the ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' tie-in, stay for the eye bleeding visual quality, deep character relations, and YukiKajiura [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome soundtrack]].
* ''Anime/KiddyGrade'': Come for the fanservice (and some hints of HoYay), stay for the philosophical thoughts and HeartwarmingMoments.
* ''Manga/LuckyStar''. Come for the Haruhi references, stay for the lovable characters.
** Alternatively, come for Konata, stay for Kagami, Akira, and Misao (as well as the rest).
* ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'': Come out of a misguided loyalty to Robotech, stay for the epic soundtrack and frenetic space battling robots.
* ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is based upon this: come for the TokenMiniMoe of ''VideoGame/TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever'' doing cute things (not to mention the {{fanservice}}), stay for the deep plot, the well-developed world and technology, and [[MixAndMatch a genre-blend]] you've never seen before. Look at the evolution of the logo, the music and the episodes; it starts like a typical MagicalGirl series, but when [[GrowingTheBeard things get further]], it resembles a HumongousMecha series progressively more and more. Of course, now the whole thing's been reversed... see Video Games below.
** In short, come for cute loli MagicalGirl, stay for the drama. And the fighting. And [[MemeticMutation befrien]][[DefeatMeansFriendship ding]].
** Come for [[BadassAdorable Badass]] '''[[BadassAdorable Adorable]]''', stay for '''{{BADASS}}''' [[BadassAdorable Adorable]].
** The vast amount of cute females, lack of males, and lesbian subtext can make you stay too.
* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' Come for the {{fanservice}} from ''Manga/LoveHina'' {{Expy}}s, stay for the humor and ([[RuleOfCool epic]]) {{shonen|Demographic}} action.
* ''Anime/{{Mai-Hime}}'': Come for the fanservice and [[FanPreferredCouple lesbians]] that the fanbase always seems to talk about, stay for the fanservice, humor, and characterization.
* ''Manga/MiraiNikki'': Come for [[{{Yandere}} Yuno]], stay for the developing relationship between her and Yukiteru.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'': Come for [[{{Bishonen}} the pretty boys]] (and the girls aren't too bad to look at either, though they receive far less attention), and stay for the GiantMecha -driven action and a debate on war and peace.
* ''Manga/MyBalls'': Come for the hentai, stay for the comedy.
* ''Manga/MyLovelyGhostKana'': Come for the hentai, stay for the heartwarming.
* ''Manga/NanaToKaoru'': Come for BDSM, stay for character development.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the FanDumb.
** Come for the {{ninja}}s, stay for the world building and deep back-story.
** Or just come to see what all the fuss is about, and stay for the interesting plot development.
** Or come to see what the fuss is about, and stay for your new favorite [[EnsembleDarkhorse side character]].
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Come for the [[InnocentFanserviceGirl naked]] {{Moe}} girl, stay for the {{Deconstruction}} of just about every previous anime genre. [[MisaimedFandom And to watch the director cry himself to sleep when you find Rei attractive.]]
** Or, come for the MindScrew GainaxEnding, stay just to watch what leads up to it.
** Better yet, come for the GiantMecha badassery, stay for the intense psychological drama. Or vice-versa.
* ''LightNovel/NyarkoSan'': Come for the {{moe}} [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Cthulhu]], stay for the [[ReferenceOverdosed references]].
* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'': Come for the humor, stay for the character development.
* ''Anime/{{Potemayo}}'': Come for the [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Chiyo-chan]]-level [[{{Kawaisa}} cute]], stay for the many varied styles of humour and high weirdness.
* ''Anime/PrincessTutu'': Come for the ridiculous premise and MagicalGirl, stay for the deep characters, original plot, and affecting story.
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Come for the [[PuniPlush ador]][[{{Moe}} able]] {{Magical Girl}}s, stay for the [[{{Deconstruction}} storyline]], the [[DesignStudentsOrgasm art direction]], and [[YukiKajiura the]] [[AwesomeMusic/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica music]].
* ''Anime/QueensBlade'': Come for the FanService [[PantyFighter concentrating on warrior women]], stay for the [[GrowingTheBeard interesting story line and intriguing characters]]. And of course more FanService.
* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': Come for the [[HoYay/RevolutionaryGirlUtena Les Yay]], stay for the complex character relationships and the MindScrew.
* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'': Come for the {{cute monster girl}}s, stay for the [[GrowingTheBeard awesome fights]].
* ''RozenMaiden'': Come for the [[MemeticMutation Desu]], stay for the well developed cast of endearingly quirky characters. And [[WatchItForTheMeme moar Desu]].
* ''Manga/{{Saikano}}'': Come for the lolicon, stay for the heartbreaking storyline, awesome fight scenes and gut-wrenching transformations.
* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': Come for the CastFullOfPrettyBoys and the HoYay, stay for the epic characters, the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome ridiculously far-fetched and fabulous plot]], the battles, the [[TearJerker surprisingly emotive moments]] and the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]] (amongst other things.)
* ''SeikonNoQwaser'': Come for the [[YoureDrinkingBreastMilk breast sucking]], stay for the interesting plot, and fight scenes.
* ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'': Come for the boobies, stay for the characters.
* ''Anime/{{Simoun}}''. Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop laughing for the music, stay for the war story and character drama.
* ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'': Come for the [[FanService naked]] [[PettingZooPeople wolf-girl]], stay for the character interaction and the [[IReadItForTheArticles economics lessons.]]
* ''Anime/StrikeWitches'' and ''Anime/SkyGirls'': Come for the fanservice, stay for the history jokes (StrikeWitches), character development (SkyGirls), and dogfighting (both).
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': Come for the {{Reconstruction}}. [[HotBlooded Stay for the manliness]]. [[RuleOfCool And stay for the manliness]]. [[MundaneMadeAwesome And stay for the manliness]]. [[WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy Destroy us all!]] [[RunningGag And stay for the manliness]].
** Or, come for Kamina (or Yoko), stay for, well, whatever is up there.
*** Come for Kamina, stay for Simon.
**** Come for Kamina, stay for Nia.
* ''Manga/VenusVersusVirus'': Come for the [[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship yuri subtext]], stay for the action and... more yuri subtext.
* ''Anime/WitchBlade'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and asskicking scenes, stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming moments]] and [[CrowningMomentOfFunny comedy]], topped with [[AnAesop aesops about the positive effects of the love between mother and children]]
* ''Manga/YamiNoMatsuei'': Come for the supernatural detectives, stay for the character development and handsome death gods.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'': Come for the crazy concept of card games on motorbikes, stay for the kickass plot and CastFullOfPrettyBoys.
** ''Anime/YuGiOh:'' Come for card games, stay for the card games.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comics]]
* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'': Come for the {{fanservice}} and comedy, stay for the intricately-weaved plot and well-written characters.
* ''Comicbook/ScottPilgrim'': Come for the simple premise and video game references, stay for the surprisingly deep story that comes from it.
* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'': Come for another nice Creator/AlanMoore comic book, stay for [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Watch]][[DeconstructorFleet men]]
* TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen: Come for strange pastiche of Victorian fiction, stay for the CrowningMomentOfAwesome, DeconstructorFleet, DarkerAndEdgier and much, much more.
** Come for the [[SarcasmMode amazing]] [[Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen movie]], stay for the real deal.
* ''Comicbook/TheSandman'': Come for the horror stories, stay for one of the best comic books that can be compared to a fantasy novel.
* ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'': Come for {{Deadpool}}, stay for the complex plots, [[HoYay/CableAndDeadpool Ho Yay]], and interesting character developments.
* Magazine/{{MAD}}: Come for the TV and Movie parodies, stay for Magazine/SpyVsSpy, [[AskAStupidQuestion Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions]], and so forth.
* [[Website/{{Cracked}} Cracked.com]]: Come for the gut-busting "top five" lists, stay for the even more gut-busting fan poster contests.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': Come to see just how crappy it is (since you figure that it's gotta be since everyone is saying so), stay because you realize that for the first 15 years or so of it's run, the strip was actually funny.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion A Glass of Wine]]'': Come for the sex, stay for the heartwarming.
* ''[[FanFic/NecaberintsPhalanx Phalanx]]'': Come for the unique concept, stay for the CharacterDevelopment.
* ''[[Manga/AhMyGoddess Scordatura]]'': Come for the LoveTriangle, stay for the humor and well, the LoveTriangle.
* ''[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Snowblind]]'': Come for the concept, stay for the epicness.
* ''Fanfic/NobodyDies'': Come because it's freakin' hilarious, stay for the awesome fight scenes and well-thought-out universe expansion. Alternatively, come for Terrifying!Rei, stay for Woobie!Asuka.
* ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'': Come for the trope references and being advertised as a TvTropes crossover, stay for the character interactions, the fighting scenes and the {{reconstruction}} of the harem plot.
* ''FanFic/MyImmortal'': Come to [[BileFascination see if it really is as terrible as you've heard]], stay because [[SoBadItsGood you can't]] [[Funny/MyImmortal stop laughing]].
* Red Witch's newest fanfic sums up her entire output in its title: ''Come For the Madness, Stay For the Insanity''.
* ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries'' Come for the insanely hilarious antics and touchingly realistic romance. Stay for the incredibly engaging plot.
* ''Batman Versus Barney'': Come for the novelty - and sheer perversity - of seeing [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' continuity, stay because it's a surprisingly well-written and dark tale with violence and horror you'll scarcely see on the actual show, plus a thoroughly bloodthirsty and oddly FoeYay [[TheJoker Joker]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'': Come for the two [[Creator/MrT memelious]] [[BruceCampbell actors]], or because you read the book as a kid, or for the 3D, stay for the plot, [[Funny/CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs the humour]], and the hot nerds.
** Come for the comedy, stay for the SceneryPorn of giant food.
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Come for the funny moments, a HarmlessVillain and his adorable minions trying to conquer the world, stay for [[spoiler: [[Heartwarming/DespicableMe the story that leads to Gru's puppet book]]]].
* ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'': Come for the dancing hippos and MickeyMouse dressed as a wizard, stay for [[NightmareFuel/{{Fantasia}} Chernabog]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Come for the {{Deconstruction}}, stay for the action and plot.
** Or vice versa.
* ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Come for the 2D animation and [[NightmareFuel nightmare fuel-erific]] villain, stay for the characters, the romance actually acted more realistic than the average DisneyPrincess one, the music, the story and [[spoiler: well, let's just say they were following [[WebVideo/ATopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] advice with this movie.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'': Come for the groundbreaking CGI, stay for the heartwarming and funny plot.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}}'': Come for the impossibly adorable robots, stay for the [[Heartwarming/{{Wall-E}} heartstring-pulling]] love story.
* ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'': Come for Music/TheBeatles music, stay for the trippy animation.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{Stargate}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the religious discussion.
* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'': Come for the FairyTale, stay for the quotables!
** ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' is more "Come for the witty quotes, stay for the pure FairyTale!" Especially now.
* ''Film/AHardDaysNight'': Come for Music/TheBeatles' music, stay for the witty dialogue and humorous characterizations.
** Similarly, ''Help!''. Come for the Beatles' music, stay for the fun spy movie spoof.
** Also ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse''. Come for the music, stay for the clever story, interesting directing, and solid acting.
* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'': Come for the name(s) you recognize, stay for the music.
** Or: come for the camp, stay for the [[FetishFuel Graverobber.]]
* ''Film/HotFuzz'': Come for the Brit-humor {{Deconstruction}} of every cop-movie trope ever, stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome awesome]] playing-straight of every cop-movie trope ever.
** That goes double for ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' with zombie-movie tropes.
* ''Film/ThreeHundred'': [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Come! For! The! YELLING!!!]], stay for the action and heroics.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'': Come for the action, stay for the mountain of symbolism.
* ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'': Come for the promised [[AcceptableTargets revenge on the]] [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]], stay for the rivetingly dialogue-based plot and copious amounts of FetishFuel.
* ''Film/{{Avatar}}'': Come for Creator/JamesCameron, stay for the special effects. There's not much of a plot to stay for anyway.
* ''{{Hairspray}}'': Come for the lively music and plucky, sweet heroine, stay for [[strike:the uplifting social commentary]] JohnTravolta cross dressing in a fat suit.
* ''EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind'': Come for the novelty of seeing JimCarrey in a ''serious'' role, stay for the novelty of KateWinslet in a ''free-spirited'' role as well as the brilliant plot and beautiful direction.
* ''TheLifeAquaticWithSteveZissou'': Come for the experience of seeing BillMurray do a riff on Jacques Cousteau, stay for the experience of seeing a fantasy for grownups.
* ''Film/AnnieHall'': Come for the WoodyAllen/Diane Keaton element, stay (if you're reluctant about Woody Allen films) for the bittersweet romantic elements.
* Any Russ Meyer film: Come for the Boobies, stay for the crazy-assed plot.
* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' movies. Come to see live action put into the plot... and stay for the actors.
* ''Film/{{Inception}}'': Come for the visual spectacle and the AllStarCast, stay for the MindScrew.
* The ''Film/LordOfTheRings'' films. Come because you read [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the books]] they were based on, stay because they're ''epic.''
** And for the fangirls: Come for [[{{Bishonen}} Legolas,]] stay for [[TheWoobie Frodo.]]
* ''Film/SuckerPunch'': Come for the FetishFuel and epic special effects, stay for the deconstruction and epic fantasy plot.
* ''Film/BlackSwan'': Come for the lesbian sex scene, stay for the ABSOLUTE BATSHIT INSANITY!!!!!
* ''AnimalHouse'': Come for the food fight and the toga party, stay for some surprisingly sharp Swiftian satire and shockingly dark comedy. Oh, and John Belushi.
* ''Film/RealSteel'': Come for the giant robots fights (both in size of the fights and the fighters) stay for the story of Father and Son bonding.
* ''Film/StarshipTroopers'': Come to watch [[BugWar guy's shoot giant bugs]], stay for the hammy propaganda. "[[MemeticMutation Would you like to know more?]]"
* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'': Come to see if it's really the travesty for the Franchise/{{Batman}} franchise you've heard it was, stay because it's [[SoBadItsGood so bad, it's hysterically funny]].
** ''Film/BatmanForever'': Come because you've heard bad things about the Schumacher Batman films, stay because JimCarrey in green, sparkly, question mark spandex [[LargeHam has to be seen]] [[SoBadItsGood to be believed]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheBible'': Come for the {{Jesus}}; stay for the sixty-two other Books.
** Or sixty-nine other books, depending on your denomination.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': Come for the [[{{Animorphism}} teens turning into animals,]] stay for the human drama.
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Come because you heard that all those fantasy books you love were inspired by it, stay because it's epic.
** I found it was "Come for the quotables, stay for the awesome."
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Come for the [[ChangelingFantasy wish-fulfillment fantasy,]] stay for the human drama and to find out [[TheVerse all the details]] of the deeply-plotted {{backstory}}.
* ''SixteenThirtyTwo'' by Eric Flint (and several other people): Come for the [[FishOutOfTemporalWater crazy premise]] -- the town of Grantville is suddenly teleported from West Virginia in 2000 to Germany in 1632, and decides to start the American Revolution a few years early; stay for cool characters and ''[[ShownTheirWork insanely]]'' [[ShownTheirWork detailed research]] on every imaginable subject, from "Where in the world can you mine zinc?" to "What did the Pope really think about Galileo?"
* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': Come for the BDSM porn, stay for the political subterfuge.
** And for the [[ShownTheirWork history geeking.]]
* ''CharlesAndEmma'' is promoted under the blurb "Come for the science, stay for the love story."
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Come for the [[CrowningMomentOfFunny funny]], stay for the world-building.
** ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld'': Come for the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}, stay for the [[CaptainObvious science]].
** Alternately, come for the funny, stay for the unexpected wisdom and badass.
** Or, come for the funny, stay for the characters.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Come for the urban fantasy, stay for the FirstPersonSmartass main character and [[SerialEscalation increasingly cool]] plotlines.
* Creator/TamoraPierce. Come for the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels female protagonists]], stay for the detailed world-building and non-killing-people storylines. And to find out who everyone marries.
* ''Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray'': Come for the HoYay, stay for the NightmareFuel.
* ''Literature/WutheringHeights'': Come for the romance and/or [[SayMyName name]] [[WatchItForTheMeme calling]], stay for the dark, absorbing story and interesting -- [[JerkAss if amoral]] -- protagonists.
* ''Literature/AnnaKarenina'': Come for the [[ItWasHisSled train]], stay for the well-drawn characters, history lesson and love story.
* ''The Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse EighthDoctorAdventures'': come for the HoYay, stay for the [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs crack]]![[hottip:* :''And'' the HoYay, too...]]
* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Come for the {{badass}} main character, stay for the {{badass}} side characters. ''[[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters All]]'' of them.
* In the DaleBrown novel ''Warrior Class'', new POTUS Thomas Thorn's appeal is described this way: "if they had come to see [[RetiredBadass the monster]], they had stayed to hear the message."
* ''LeftBehind'': Come for the homophobia, stay for the... [[HoYay homoeroticism]].
* ''HeraldsOfValdemar'': Come for the {{Cool Horse}}s, stay for - everything else. But especially the love stories. Or, y'know, the plot and stuff. Whatever.
* ''Literature/CodexAlera'': Come for the WorldOfBadass and CrazyAwesome GuileHero, stay for the deep and complex characters, well-plotted story, and the fact that you ''still'' {{underestimat|ingBadassery}}ed [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the amounts of badassery involved]].
* The ''OldKingdom'' trilogy: Come for the HighFantasy ZombieApocalypse, stay for [[CrypticBackgroundReference the world you can never see enough of]].
* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Come to see [[AdaptationOverdosed what all the fuss was about]], stay because, contrary to [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny your]] [[InkStainAdaptation expectations]], [[NightmareFuel you're too freaked out not to]].
* ''Literature/{{Abarat}}'': Come to see [[ShmuckBait if Clive Barker can pull off YA fiction]]. Stay because CliveBarker ''can'' pull off YA fiction!
** Come for the beautiful illustrations. Stay for the masterful poetry.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'': Come for the action, stay for [[AwesomeMusic/LiveActionTV Ron Wasserman]].
** For both ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''SuperSentai'' come for the rangers, stay for the CombiningMecha.
* ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': Come for [[MemeticMutation Buttery toast]], stay for feminist subtext.
* ''Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the humor!
* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the political drama.
** Or, indeed, come for the political drama, stay for the awesome spaceship battles.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Come for [[SitCom the humor]], stay for the LoveDodecahedron!
* ''Series/FridayNightLights'': Come for the football, stay for the human drama. Interestingly enough, TV execs realized this was what was happening and started targeting the female audience in commercials.
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': Come because it's Joss, stay because of the perfectly-balanced cast.
** Come for Creator/JossWhedon, stay for Nathan Fillion [[EstrogenBrigade in tight leather pants]], Morena Baccarin [[MsFanservice taking a sponge bath]] or Adam Baldwin's smutty dialogue, cunning hat and [[EstrogenBrigade occasional shirtlessness]].
*** Come for Joss, stay for Creator/SummerGlau as a kickass, psychic assassin is how it generally works it. For proof, scroll down to ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles''.
** Or, come for the hype, stay for everything else.
* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': Come for the superpowers, [[MostCommonSuperpower familiar or otherwise]]; stay for [[strike:Hiro Nakamura]] the {{Fanservice}}.
** Or: Come for the [[MrFanservice sweet, innocent, pretty-boy hero]], stay for the [[DracoInLeatherPants surprisingly sexy, brain-stealing serial killer]].
* ''Series/TheDailyShow'' and ''Series/TheColbertReport'': Come for the spot-on political satire, stay because [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/business/media/16pew.html?_r=1&oref=slogin it becomes your source for the news.]]
* In general, ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is: Come for the vampires and the hot chicks with superpowers, stay for the incredibly well-done dialogue and characterization.
** Stay for Giles and/or Spike became common reasons among the female audience.
** Or come for the horror tropes, stay for the humor and characterization.
** One feels compelled to throw in a quote from the show directly referencing the Trope title (though, of course, not the trope itself):
--->'''Xander:''' Sunnydale: Come for the food, stay for the dismemberment.\\
'''Nancy:''' There's food?
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Come for the sexy vampire and the generally sexy cast, but stay for the well-done and intriguing {{Story Arc}}s and some random humor sprinkled in.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. Come for Superman, stay because you just have to know how it goddamn ends already! Grah!
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Come for the [[MrFanservice pretty boys]], stay for the intelligence, the psychology and the seriously good acting.
** Or: Come for the hot female guest stars, stay for the awesome music, the comedy and the [[{{Gorn}} copious amounts of gore.]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Come for the {{sci-fi}}, stay for the great jokes and [[FanService sexy companions.]] Or: come for the sexy Doctor, stay for the jokes and stories.
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': Come for the medical humour, stay for the endearing cast and [[AwesomeMusic/LiveActionTV brilliant music]].
* ''Series/MythBusters'': Come for the truth behind those many urban legends you may have heard, stay for the character dynamics, the humor, the crazy gadgets and experiments, and the [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill even crazier amount of overkill]].
** Alternatively: Come for the explosions/overkill, stay for the character dynamics, the humor, the crazy gadgets and experiments, and the truth behind those many urban legends you may have heard.
* ''TopGear'': Come for the cars, stay for the funny.
** Come for the funny... stay for the funny.
** Or even come for the funny, stay for the cars... and the funny.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': Come for a guy faking his way through amazing detective work, stay for the eighties references.
* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': Come for the one-liners and [[CatchPhrase catchphrases]], stay for the brilliantly constructed plots.
* ''VeronicaMars'': Come for Kristen Bell, stay for the surprisingly-dark-yet-still-compelling plot complications.
* ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles'': Come for Creator/SummerGlau, stay for the amazing character development and jaw-dropping plot twists.
* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'': Come for Eliza Dushku, stay for the intriguing sci-fi storyline and fascinating characters.
** And briefly for Creator/SummerGlau.
** Come to watch Joss's new work, leave because it isn't engaging you so far. Come back because of the [[ItGetsBetter fan buzz]], stay because they get to show that the concept changes ''everything''... and you've got a ringside seat.
** Come for the feminist perspective on human trafficking, stay for HarryLennix.
* ''{{Skins}}'': Come for the SchoolgirlLesbians, stop for the music, hang around for the storyline, stay for the realization that it's the new ''AsIf''.
** Given the single-character emphasis some TV guides had for series 3, you could also easily say "come for Effy, stay for Naomily."
* ''[[Series/TheOfficeUK The]] [[Series/TheOfficeUS Office]]'': Come for the pranks and the quirky, awkward, and inappropriate humor, stay for the large buffet of genuinely sweet romantic subplots.
* ''{{QI}}''. Come for the trivia, stay for the jokes. Or vice versa. Either way.
* For many Americans, ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'', ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'', and ''ABitOfFryAndLaurie''. Come for pre-''Series/{{House}}'' HughLaurie, stay because they're ''amazing''.
* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': Come because it's SherlockHolmes [[SettingUpdate in the modern day]] written by Creator/StevenMoffat and MarkGatiss, stay for the ''blazing'' chemistry between BenedictCumberbatch and MartinFreeman. And the sheer cleverness of it all. And the HoYay. The buckets and buckets and ''buckets'' of [[HoYay/{{Sherlock}} Ho Yay]].
* ''Series/TrueBlood'': Come for the sexy vampires, stay for the character development and intriguing plot.
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Come for the actors you know, stay for the top-notch stories, character development, and acting (from ''everyone'').
* ''LifeOnMars'': Come for the [[FishOutOfTemporalWater time travel,]] stay for the Gene Hunt [[DeadpanSnarker snark.]]
* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': Come for the sexy Captain, stay for the sexier, repressed [[strike:and probably [[HoYay gay]]]] British weapons officer.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Come because it's a classic, stay for the world's [[TheNotLoveInterest greatest]] [[HoYay/StarTrek love]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners story]].
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Come for the Captain, stay for the android. And Worf. And Dr. Crusher.
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Come for the FieryRedhead, stay for the CharacterDevelopment and ongoing {{Story Arc}}s.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Come for the hot Captain, stay for the [[HilarityEnsues hijinx]]. And the heartwarming.
* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'': Come for the humor, stay because if you get up everyone will see you laughed so hard you wet yourself.
** Alternatively, come for the stars of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'', stay for the bald guy and the black dude (everybody really).
* ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'': Come because Maria Canals Barrera is [[ParentService smoking hot]], stay because the show is actually pretty funny.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': Come for MandyPatinkin, stay for Matthew Gray Gubler. And the plot and stuff.
* ''Series/TheATeam'': Come for [[MemeticBadass Mr. T]], stay for [[CrazyAwesome Murdock]].
* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': Come for RobinWilliams in his StarMakingRole as a [[AmusingAlien wacky alien]], stay for the heartwarming InterspeciesRomance of the title characters and the sly social satire of the late 70s/early 80s. Oh, and the GettingCrapPastTheRadar.
* ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'': Come for the memorable jokes and catchphrases, stay for the surprisingly complex characters.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Come for Joel [=McHale=] from ''TheSoup'', stay for the characters, meta humor and brilliant parodies.
* ''AroundTheWorldInEightyDays with Creator/MichaelPalin'': Come for one of the stars of ''Creator/MontyPython'', stay for the genuine sense of adventure.
* ''Series/MadMen'': Come for the fascinating look at an earlier era where everyone smoked, had three-martini lunches and were openly chauvinistic, stay for the complex characters and surprising plot turns.
* ''Series/BigTimeRush'': Come for the [[MrFanservice cute guys]], stay for the {{hila|rityEnsues}}[[CrowningMomentOfFunny rity]], HoYay, and [[BoyBand surprisingly]] [[EarWorm good]] [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome music.]]
* ''Series/{{Castle}}'': Come for Nathan Fillion, stay cause it's actually a good show. or for Stana Katic.
* ''[[KamenRiderDouble Kamen Rider W]]'': Come for the humor and superhero action, Stay for the [[HardboiledDetective detective premise]] and [[HoYay homosexual subtext]].
* ''Series/DirtyJobs'': Come for the premise of a SadistShow, [[MrFanservice stay]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim for]] [[ClassicallyTrainedExtra M]][[DeadpanSnarker i]][[EpicFail k]][[GettingCrapPastTheRadar e]].
* ''TwinPeaks'': Come for the murder mystery, stay for the wacky townspeople and MindScrew.
* ''PushingDaisies'': Come for the clever premise, stay for Lee Pace.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': come for Barney Stinson's antics, stay for the ContinuityPorn.
* ''Series/{{House}}'': Come for HughLaurie, stay for the enthralling character subplots. The medicine's okay, I guess…
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Music]]
* ''Music/WeirdAlYankovic'': Come for the song parodies, stay for the well-written and hilarious original songs.
** Or come for a parody or two and stay for his vast amounts of ingenious parodies.
* DeathMetal: At least one case of coming for the awesome, hard hitting metal, staying for the ability to piss off most passerby. And the jiggy juggas.
* Music/FrankZappa: Come for the [[RefugeInAudacity well-]][[RefugeInVulgarity written lyrics]], stay for the music.
* Music/TaylorSwift. Come for the sappy love music. Stay because she's cute.
* K-pop: Come for the cute guys, stay for the catchy tunes. Most would vouch for vice versa, though.
* Music/IronMaiden: Come for [[{{Mascot}} Eddie]], stay for the [[AwesomeMusic/IronMaiden a]][[FilkSong we]][[NumberOfTheBeast so]][[LuckySeven me]] music.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/user/bandarestart Restart]]: Come for the [[MrFanservice cute guys]] in colorful clothes, stay for the [[EarWorm catchy]] and sometimes [[SweetDreamsFuel heartwarming]] music. Or the other way around.
* Music/JonathanCoulton: Come for [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Still Alive]], stay for the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain mad scientist ballads]].
* Music/TheBeatles. Come for the Pop music, stay for the experimental stuff and drug trips.
** Or come to check out all of the hype and stay for the surprising amount of personality that the fab four manage to inject into their songs.
*** Come for Music/PaulMcCartney, stay for Music/JohnLennon (or vice versa of course).
* Music/{{KISS}}: Come for the makeup and spitting blood, stay for the riffs, some gleefully twisted humor, and the SurprisinglyGentleSong [[TearJerker "Beth."]]
* Music/OingoBoingo: Come because of Creator/DannyElfman, stay for an extravagant musical freak show that [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly defies categorization]].
* Music/EltonJohn: Come for the [[MakingASpectacleOfYourself goofy glasses]] and [[CostumePorn wacky costumes]] (at least until TheNineties), stay for the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome catchy, diverse and well-written music]].
* [[JohannSebastianBach Bach's]] Toccata and Fugue in D Minor: come for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbMw6X3T40 toccata]], stay for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATbMw6X3T40#t=2m41s fugue]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* {{ECW}}: Come for the [[{{Gorn}} bloodshed]] and {{Garbage Wrestl|er}}ing, stay for the incredibly well-done matches, surprisingly deep characterization, brilliant promos, and awesome commentary from Wrestling/JoeyStyles. This is as opposed to the Wrestling/{{WWE}}-backed ECW {{Revival}}, where you come for the name, and stay for Matt Striker's awesome commentary.
* {{WCW}}: Come for the [[NewWorldOrder nWo]], stay for the cruiserweights.
* {{TNA}}: Come for Wrestling/KurtAngle and Wrestling/{{Sting}}, stay for the X-Division.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sports]]
* SuperBowl: Come for the football, stay for the commercials (sometimes the main reason people are watching the Superbowl, except maybe hopes for another WardrobeMalfunction).
* BeachVolleyball: Come for the FanService, stay because it's actually an exciting sport.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Come to see what the fuss is about, stay for the adventures you will have and the stories you will share.
** Or, come for the funny-shaped dice, stay for the funny faces your DM will make when he hears your character's latest in-game plan.
*** For the [[GameMaster Dungeon Master]] in you, come for the excuse to build your impassable dungeon to crush your friends, stay for the moments when you let the same friends win anyway, because their solution was just that [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome COOL!]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': Come because your D&D friend said it was worth a shot, stay for the ability to punch gods faces in.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Come to build an army of [[FantasyKitchenSink all different kinds of monsters and spells]], stay for the surprisingly in-depth and realistic color/alignment system.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Theater]]
* CirqueDuSoleil: Come for the surreal acrobatics, stay for the heartwarming characterizations, fantastic music, and some of the greatest [[NonIronicClown non-ironic clowns]] in the world.
* ''MissSaigon'': Come for the helicopter, stay for the love story set against the Vietnam War.
* ''Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular'': Come for the life-sized dinosaurs, stay for the CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming between the mother T-rex and her baby.
* ''Theatre/LesMiserables'': Come for the ginormous barricade and/or well-known songs, stay for the epic story.
* The BBC's Hollow Crown series, particularly ''HenryIVPart1'', ''HenryIVPart2'' and ''HenryV'': Come for the TomHiddleston {{fanservice}} stay for the Shakespeare.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''Videogame/GhostTrick'': Come because it's the SpiritualSuccessor of ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', stay for the plot twists, smooth animation, plot twists, deep mysteries, plot twists, and [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment plot twists]].
* ''Videogame/GearsOfWar'': Come for [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon the rifle with a chainsaw for a bayonet]], stay for the tactical combat.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Come for the tactical combat, stay for the plot and [[AwesomeMusic/{{Halo}} the soundtrack.]]
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Come for the [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter cute critters]] -- and possibly [[HypeAversion to see what all the fuss is about]] -- stay for the deep, strategic {{RPG}}, and possibly [[GottaCatchThemAll pure obsessive-compulsion]].
** Or come for the monsters, stay for the sheer ''imagination'' of the games' worlds.
* ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Unlimited Blade Works]]'': Come for [[MemeticMutation GARcher]], stay for GAR Lancer.
* ''Videogame/{{Touhou}}'': Come for the [[MemeticMutation precious things]], stay for the hope that you'll finally 1cc Lunatic this time.
** You stay because you can't leave, since [[MemeticMutation there are no buses in Gensokyo]].
** Or, come for the BulletHell, stay for the [[Memes/{{Touhou}} meme]] [[FountainOfMemes overdose]].
** Or, come for the [[EarWorm/VideoGames music]], ''stay'' for the BulletHell
* ''Videogame/MetalGearSolid'': Come for the Stealth Action, stay for [[strike:[[StupidSexyFlanders Snake's sweet, sweet ass]]]] the complex story.
** [[ParrotExposition Complex story, huh?]]
** ''[[RuleOfThree Complex Story!?]]''
* ''Videogame/{{Silent Hill|1}}'': Come for the [[NightmareFuel/SilentHill1 High Octane Nightmare Fuel]], stay because you just have to know [[MindScrew what in]] [[JigsawPuzzlePlot the hell]] [[GainaxEnding just happened]].
** ''Videogame/SilentHill2'': Come for [[MemeticMolester Pyramid Head]], stay for the epically tragic characters.
* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Come for the horrifying final boss, stay for the cute and funny rest of the game!
** Or, alternatively, come for the cute and funny characters and [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]] of [[{{Eagleland}} American life]] and various RPG cliches, stay for the increasingly weird and [[MoodWhiplash unsettling]] plot twists leading up to the epic NightmareFuel of the last dungeon and boss.
* ''VideoGame/TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever'', and possibly the whole ''Triangle Heart'' franchise: Come for the fandom prestige of actually knowing what ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' was spun off from, stay for the characters and the FantasyKitchenSink.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Come for the Disney characters, stay for the character interaction and addictive gameplay. And [[DracoInLeatherPants Organization]] [[EvilIsSexy XIII]].
** Alternatively: Come to see what the fuss was about, stay to see what insane plot twist the writers pull next.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'': come for the John-Woo bullet-time gun play, stay for the metaphors and Noir.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'': Come for the humor, stay because you're addicted.
* ''UrbanDead'': Come for the Zombies, stay to survive.
* ''Videogame/SuperRobotWars OriginalGeneration'' exists as a result of this trope occurring in the main series. People came for the ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Gundam]]'' (or whatever your favorite series is) and stayed for the entirely new characters.
** Come for Gundam, stay for Huckebein.
* ''Videogame/DynastyWarriors'': Come for the {{foe tossing|Charge}}, stay for the WorldOfHam.
* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': Come for the LevelGrinding, stay for the FetishFuel.
** Or, come for the over the top attacks and story, stay for the intricate battle system.
* ''Videogame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'': Come for Gig, stay for the surprisingly addictive gameplay. And the CrowningMusicOfAwesome. And Gig.
* ''Videogame/GuiltyGear'': Come for the 2D fighting revival, stay for the insanely whacked out characters.
** Or, come for the insanely whacked out characters, stay for the incredible background music.
** ''Videogame/BlazBlue'': Come for ''Guilty Gear'' [[SpiritualSuccessor in HD]], stay for BANG INSTALL.
*** Come for probably the closest thing you'll ever get to another 2D ''Videogame/GuiltyGear'', stay to find out [[NightmareFuel why the bug guy can't talk]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': Come for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, stay for '''Midna.'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDIGames'': Come for [[MemeticMutation MAH BOI,]] stay for the OverNineThousand[[FountainOfMemes other Memes.]]
*** And before they ''were'' memes, the people who ''made'' them memes stayed because the lines were all hilarious in their own right.
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'': Come for the brilliant puzzles, stay for the dark humor and [[MemeticMutation the cake.]]
** Or come for [[BlatantLies the cake]] and stay for [[MagnificentBastard GLaDOS]].
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Come for the madcap FPS action, stay for the gorgeous animation and wacky characterization.
** Or vice versa -- come for the unique art style and humor exhibited in the "Meet the Team" videos; stay for the well-balanced and refreshingly lighthearted multiplayer combat. People who were not "gamers" by any stretch, but got sucked into ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' and/or ''Portal'', wound up loving the whole ''Orange Box'' set, and eventually settled into the world of video games.
** Come for the madcap FPS action, stay for the hats.
* Steam: Come for Valve's amazing games, stay for the wealth of other games you never would have heard of otherwise.
** Come because [[CopyProtection your new game requires it]], stay because ''holy crap did you see those sale prices?''
* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'': Come for the character creator, stay because you're a superhero.
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'': Come for the DarkFantasy HackAndSlash, [[MemeticMutation stay a while and listen]].
** Come for the action, stay for two weeks without a break.
* ''VideoGame/NetHack'': Come to see what the fuss is about, stay because "this shit won't beat me."
* ''Videogame/{{Fallout}}'': Come for the ludicrously gleeful amount of gore, stay for the equally gleeful deconstruction of every 50's future-tech optimisms ever.
** ''Videogame/{{Fallout 3}}'': Come for the [[NukeEm Fatman]], [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill MIRV]], and [[RayGun Alien]] [[DisintegratorRay Blaster]], stay for the [[GottaCatchEmAll weapon schematics, unique weapons, sidequests, Bobbleheads]], and [[SceneryPorn drop dead gorgeous landscapes.]]
** ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'': [[MagnificentBastard Come]] [[CrazyAwesome for]] [[BadassGrandpa the]] [[MemeticBadass people,]] [[SceneryPorn stay]] [[SceneryGorn for]] [[WideOpenSandbox the]] [[MemeticMutation sunshine.]]
* ''Mushihime-sama Futari'': Come for the TrueFinalBoss, stay for [[ExpansionPack Black Label]].
* ''ThunderForce'': Come because it's an awesome ShootEmUp series, stay for the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]].
* ''Jewelry Master Twinkle'': Come for its resemblance to a DatingSim, stay for hours.
* ''Videogame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'': Come because you're bored of mainstream ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', stay for the hope of one day getting Grand Master rank.
* ''DJMAX Technika'': Come for the interesting gameplay, stay for Platinum Crew (or to painfully wait for the day your arcade gets it).
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Come for the lack of monthly fees, stay for the lack of grind (and the SceneryPorn).
* ''VideoGame/LastScenario'': Come to see if the storyline [[ItGetsBetter gets better]] than it [[ClicheStorm begins]], stay for the tactical and balanced battle system, [[PlayingThePlayer get hit in the face by some plot twists]] and finish the game for the improbably gorgeous story.
* ''Videogame/TheForceUnleashed'': Come for the gratuitous Force usage, stay for the plot.
** For others... Come for the plot, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill stay for the insane amount of ways to SLAUGHTER your enemies.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': come for the dating sim elements, stay for the fun battle system, deep character development and awesome J-pop music.
* ''Videogame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'': Come for the awesome slow-mo action, stay for the surreal atmosphere and the NightmareFuel.
* ''Videogame/CommandAndConquer'': Somewhat subverted in the "General's Challenge" mode in the ''Zero Hour'' expansion pack -- one of Dr. Thrax's taunts is "You'll come for the toxins, but stay... ''because you're dead!''"
** Come for the invention of the RTS genre's gameplay style, stay for the awesome story. As Kane puts it in ''Tiberian Sun'', "Come for the sunshine but [[DarkMessiah stay for the people]]!"
* ''Videogame/{{Pac-Man}} Championship Edition DX'': Come because, well, it's ''Pac-Man'', stay until you S-rank all the stages.
* ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'': Came for Creator/MarkHamill as Joker, stay for the awesome gameplay and atmosphere.
* ''SummonNight Swordcraft Story'': Come for the [[HoYay/VideoGames lesbian subtext]], stay for the likable characters and fast paced battle system.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': Come because [[MarthDebutedInSmashBros of that blue-haired sword-dude in that fighting game]] and stay for the mentally stimulating strategy, lovable characters, and intricate stories.
* The NintendoEntertainmentSystem did this intentionally because TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 made consoles very hard to sell on their own: Come for R.O.B., stay for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros''.
** Some gamers' reasons for owning a Nintendo console: "Come for [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]], stay for all the other Nintendo all-stars.
* ''VideoGame/MegaMan'': Come for the goofy/cool [[MonsterOfTheWeek Robot Masters]] that you can fight in any order, stay for the [[NintendoHard challenging]] gameplay and [[AwesomeMusic/MegaMan addicting music]].
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Come for the simplistic yet fun gameplay, stay for the [[AwesomeMusic/SonicTheHedgehog kickass music]] and [[SceneryPorn gorgeous stages]]... ''and'' the simplistic yet fun gameplay.
* ''[[Videogame/SoulSeries SoulCalibur]]'': Come for [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]], stay for the refined fighting gameplay.
** Alternatively come for the awesome fighting, stay for the guest star characters.
* ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'': Come for the fighting, stay for the [[FetishFuel girls]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'': Come for [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters the 108 characters from your party]], stay for the amazing political plots, fun gameplay and likable characters amongst the 108s.
* Playing ''Franchise/MassEffect'' as a female Shepard: come for the [[HoYay lesbian alien sexual tension]], stay for JenniferHale's voice acting.
** Either Shepard: Come for the alien sexual tension, stay because Bioware [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming got]] you [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome right]] in the [[TearJerker feelings]].
* ''Videogame/WarCraft III'' come for the awesome gameplay and storyline, stay for [[VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients DOTA]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' come to win the games in different endings, stay for the leaders.
** Come to take over the world, stay because [[JustOneMoreTurn you're addicted.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'': Come for the [[MundaneMadeAwesome ridiculous premise]], stay for the addictive mysteries, quirky characters, and WorldOfHam.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Come for the swords, stay for the CharacterDevelopment and [[{{Determinator}} unbreakable]] main characters.
* ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'': Come for the [[WidgetSeries utterly bizarre premise]], stay for the surprisingly well-written plot and compelling characters.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the scenes left out from the [[AllThereInTheManual anime]] and [[AllThereInTheManual TIPS]], stay for the same reasons you stayed for the anime and ''more''.
* ''VisualNovel/KanaLittleSister'': Come for one kind of [[ADateWithRosiePalms jerker]], stay for the [[TearJerker other]].
* ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'': Come for hot cripple sex, stay for the well written and lovable characters, the witty dialogues, and the fantastic soundtrack, not to mention the intelligent and mature observations of some very difficult themes.
* ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'': Come for the many endings and adorable wooable characters, stay for the many {{Bad End}}s.
** For some people, it's the other way around!
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'': Come for the magic, stay for the mystery.
** Alternatively, come for the {{memetic|Mutation}} {{troll}}ling and [[{{Gorn}} bloody deaths]], stay for the romance.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Enjuhneer'' Come for the geek-college, stay for the increasingly in-depth characters.
** Also, come for the geeky-ness, stay for the geeky-ness
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': [[XXXenophile Come for the hope that it is similar to the author's past work]], stay for the well-drawn [[MadScientist MAD SCIENCE]]!
** Come for the Steampunk, stay for the Jagers.
** Also, the Heterodyne museum advertised: "Come for the crushing, stay for the snow cones".
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Come for the [[TabletopGames role-playing]] parody, stay for the well-done CerebusSyndrome.
* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': Come for the robots, stay for the well-developed interpersonal relationships, the constant introductions to new indie-rock bands, and the fact that it never forgets to be funny. Oh, and don't forget [[TheMerch to buy a T-shirt]].
* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'': Come for the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' geekery, stay for the wicked {{Deconstruction}} of just about every RPG trope ever invented.
* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'': Come because you're the only person on the planet who hasn't read it, stay for the sick humor and the less-sick vocabulary lessons.
* ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal''. Come for hilarious subversions on beloved tropes, stay for shirtless Zach.
* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': Come for [[DistractedByTheSexy the hot girls/guys]], stay for the zany characters and story.
* ''Webcomic/GoodbyeChains'': [[IncrediblyLamePun Come]] for the [[YaoiFangirl gay]], stay 'cause it's ''hilarious''.
* ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'': Come for the FanService and/or FetishFuel, stay for the emotional story, funny jokes, and well-done {{Deconstruction}} of the entire GenderBender genre.
* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'': Come for the crazy, stay for the drama. And the surrealism.
** And the Rent-A-Zilla.
** Or, come for the cute girls, stay for the story.
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamer'': Come for the time travel drama/romance and American history, stay for the [[EstrogenBrigade hot guys]] (or vice versa).
* ''Webcomic/{{Fanboys}}'': Come for the video game humor, stay for the [[TastesLikeDiabetes sickeningly cute romance]].
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': Come for the [[CrazyAwesome Chainsaw Nunchucks]], stay for the hilarious writing.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Come because you just finished ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'', stay for the intricate characterization, intense action, [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome sick beats]], and the sheer amount of both [[TropeOverdosed tropes]] and [[WMG/{{Homestuck}} theories]]. [[ArchivePanic It's not like you'd be able to leave]] [[WebcomicsLongRunners any time soon!]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Come for the GenderBending stay for the CharacterDevelopment.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': come for the gag-a-day SciFi starring a talking pile of crap, stay for the deep, serious, intricately plotted SpaceOpera epic starring [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Guns]] you never saw coming.
* ''Webcomic/{{Insecticomics}}'' has a storyline with a title like this: ''Come For the Wedding, Stay For the Open Bar!''
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'': Come for the ''Franchise/StarWars'' and TabletopRPG jokes, stay for the CharacterDevelopment as the players and GM become TrueCompanions.
** ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'': Come for the insanely overpowered fireballs, stay for [[TheRant the often insightful comments and literal rants]]. Doubly so now that the comic itself is essentially finished but the rants keep getting updates.
* ''Webcomic/{{Shiniez}}'': Come for the well-drawn fetish artwork, stay for the characterisation, story-telling and sense of humor.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''TVTropes'': Come for the laughs, stay for the [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife crippling addiction!]]
** ''{{TV Tropes}} Wiki'': Come to look something up. Stay for the witty remarks.
*** ''TVTropes'': Come for the interesting, [[ImpossibleMission stay awhile... STAY FOREVER!]]
**** ''TVTropes'': Come to find out what the hell everyone else is talking about, stay because [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife you have no choice.]]
***** ''TVTropes'': Come for the fun, stay because it is a better place to look up media than [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] is.
****** ''TVTropes'': Come because of ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', stay because of WikiWalk.
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': Come for the humor and wacky characters, stay for the surprisingly deep storyline that [[CerebusSyndrome eventually emerges]].
* A running joke on AH.com was incorporated into ''Script/AHDotComTheSeries'': "I came for the AlternateHistory, I stayed for the Homosexual Innuendo." (Sometimes inverted for humor.)
* ''DarthWiki'': Come for the fun, stay for the cries of agony!
** SugarWiki: Come because of [[PotHole one of these]], stay because GoodFeelsGood!
* ''Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses'': Come for the reviews, stay for the [[DeadpanSnarker Snark]].
** WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic[=/=]WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick: Come for your nostalgic movie getting bashed [[hottip:*: or to think dirty thoughts about the PrettyBoy/[[MsFanservice hot girl]]]], stay for their [[HiddenDepths genuinely]] [[JerkassWoobie interesting]] [[{{backstory}} characters]].
* Fandom: Come for the porn, stay for the people (and the porn).
* Furries: Come for the people, stay for the porn and the drama.
* JournalRoleplay: Come for the character interaction, stay for the drama.
* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd: Come for the nostalgia, stay for the catharsis.
* TheJokerBlogs: Come for the acting, stay for the suspenseful story.
* [[http://www.thehillywoodshow.com/ The Hillywood Show]] Come for the Creator/JohnnyDepp impressions and ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' parodies, stay for the stellar musical numbers and professional production values.
* The Escapist: Come for the [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation Yahtzee]], stay for ''WebVideo/{{Unskippable}}'' and ''DoomsdayArcade''.
* NASA Edge and Space Vidcast: Come for the humor, stay for the quotability and the spaceflight.
* Website/{{Facebook}}: Come to communicate with your friends, stay for the games.
* ''Cat Tales'': Come for the {{Fanservice}} and/or the FoeYay, stay because it's better written and better characterized than anything DC Comics has done in years.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Come for the [[GenderBender TG wish fulfillment]] stories, stay for the superhero battles and the humor.
* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC I'm a Marvel and I'm a DC]]'': Come for the {{Crossover}} factor, stay for the characterization, witty dialogue, and many [[Funny/ImAMarvelAndImADC hilarious highlights]].
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'': Come for the parody of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' (let's face it, it's a pretty easy target), stay for the parody of absolutely everything.
* WebAnimation/HomestarRunner: Come for Homestar, stay for [[EnsembleDarkhorse Strong Bad]]!
* The trope is referenced in an Easter Egg featuring the [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Teen Girl Squad]] in the sbemail "death metal":
-->'''What's-Her-Face:''' Cheerleader! Are you here to see Brainkrieg?\\
'''Cheerleader:''' I come for the wuggas, but stay for the jiggy juggas.\\
'''Death metal band on the stage:''' ''(offscreen)'' Jugga jigga wugga!
* {{Valenth}}: Come for the pretty adoptable artwork, stay for the surprisingly complex storyline.
* Personality Cafe: Come for the personality typing, stay for the community.
** Or come because Typology Central banned you, stay for the community.
* [[FanfictionDotNet Fanfiction.net]]: Come because you like the work, stay for awesome expansion upon {{canon}}.
** Or you come for more of your favorite works and stay to find truly great fics hidden underneath piles of [[MarySue Sues]] and {{yaoi}}.
** Alternatively, come to make crappy fanfics, stay to gradually improve and make something fairly interesting! (It takes some time though!)
* ''WebVideo/DragonBallAbridged'': Come to watch Nappa slowly drive Vegata insane, [[spoiler: ''stay'' to watch Ghost Nappa slowly drive Vegeta insane]].
* Franchise/{{Neopets}}: Come for the cute creatures, stay for the games.
** Or alternatively, come for the games, stay for the plots and possibly the community.
* ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'': come for [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]], stay because [[NightmareFuel you're too afraid to move]].
* [[http://www.patheos.com/community/slacktivist The Slacktivist's blog]]: Come for ''LeftBehind'' getting [[{{MST}} ripped a new one]], stay for the political and philosophical posts. And ''LeftBehind'' [[SnarkBait getting ripped a new one]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Come for the bending hijinks, stay for the sincere and unexpectedly wise writing.
** This troper found it to be "come for the bending hijinks, stay for the all-around awesomeness."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Come for the adventure parody, stay for surprisingly deep characters and strong {{continuity}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse'': Come for the [[BileFascination terribly crude art]], stay for the complex story, well-defined characters, and awesome soundtrack.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Come to watch Franchise/{{Batman}} [[Awesome/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries be awesome]], stay to see just how very very wrong the AnimationAgeGhetto is.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': Come for the MagicalGirlfriend [[GirlInABox in a Box]], stay for either the UnresolvedSexualTension or the [[AbortedArc abandoned government conspiracy plot]]. (Or for [[{{Keet}} Odd]].)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': come for [[MagnificentBastard Bender]] and the {{Nerdgasm}} of science fiction combined with ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''' humor. Stay for the [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]] but bittersweet romance, the devastatingly [[TearJerker tragic]] time-displacement story; the complex, carefully constructed characters; and the scattering of episodes that reach the level of truly sublime television.
* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Come because it's by the same creator as ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', stay because it's better at character and story.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'': Come for [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the Batman]], stay for [[CrazyAwesome the]] [[TheQuestion Question]].
* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': Come for [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter GIR]], stay for the social satire.
** Or come because it's JhonenVasquez, stay because it's the best "kid's" show ever.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': Come for Demona's sexiness, stay for the story.
** Come for all the hype, stay because you've started {{Shipping}} Elisa/Goliath.
* ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'': Come for the parody of MoralGuardians and [[UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches Fundamentalist Christianity]], stay for the dark characterization.
* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': Come for the humor, stay for the amazing stop-motion animation.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': Come for Batman, stay for the hilarious stories and {{Mythology Gag}}s.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'': Come for the outright [=LOLs=] and brutal soundtrack, stay for the surprisingly deep plot and fantastic characters. And the buckets of HoYay.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Come because your little brother has it on the television, stay because... oh my god, they can't really be doing '''the''' Terra storyline in a kids show?!
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Come because you're bored, stayed for the writing, the music, the entertaining cast, the subtext and the humor
** [[LaymansTerms So... come because you're bored,]] [[FridgeBrilliance stay for the entire show?]] [[hottip:* : "I for one am starting to get bored, and boredom is something up with which I will not put!"]]
* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'': Come because you watched it as a child, stayed because of the complex character relationships.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'': Come for the [[FetishFuel girls in spandex]], stay for the [[GambitPileup awesome plot]].
** The same goes for ''WinxClub''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland'': Come for the making fun of reality tv, stay for the awesome characters.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'': [[RuleOfThree Came for Batman]]. Stay for the new spin on the villains.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Come for the stylish art style, stay for the clever writing, memorable characters, and humor. Or as it was put so eloquently [[ImageBoards "somewhere on the internets"]], "come for the trolling, stay for the ponies."
** Come for the [[WatchItForTheMeme Memes]], stay for the good animation, characters, and writing.
* ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'': Come because you read Garfield as a kid, stay for the hilarious jokes and fourth wall breaking.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Real Life]]
* College: Come for the additional education, stay for the shenanigans.
** For some, it's the other way around.
** And for yet others, it's Come because you can't get a job without a degree, stay because... you can't get a job without a degree.
** Come for your parents, stay because you're getting your $30,000's worth.
** Surely it's come to avoiding getting a real job and laze around for a few years, stay for the realisation of how much money you have spent on it.
** Come for the food, stay for the wireless and free movies. (Honestly, a school that shows movies every week on a 232 inch screen between the time when they leave the theatre and the DVD release? Awesome.)
** Come to get away from your family, stay because your friends there have ''become'' your new family.
* The Gym: Come to lose weight, stay for the endorphin addiction.
** or stay for the girls.
*** Or guys.
* Your Career: Come for the chance to work in your specialist field, stay for the paychecks that allow you to have a roof over your head, food in your belly, a place to rest your head, and clothes to cover your body.
* The Internet: Come for the vast stores of news and information, stay for teh joeks! (Or [[TheInternetIsForPorn teh pr0n]], depending on your libido.) (Or the "innovative" spelling, if you've been online for any given length of time.)
** Applies for tvtropes. A huge number of people found tvtropes searching for lolita and incest. The picture of someone coming to their stuff and then get sidetracked for hours just seems inherently funny.
* Caffeine: Come for the quick pick-me-up it gives you, stay for the ability to ward off the waiting crash and burn.
* Acetaminophen: Come for its ability to treat a cold's aches and pains, stay for its ability to lower your fever.
* Life: Come because you've been kind of forced into it, stay because...well there aren't any real alternatives.
* [[TheOnion Our Dumb World]] on Malawi: "Come for the food shortages, stay because you've died."
* [[TearJerker Sad example:]] [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny North Korea]] (if you're Japanese or South Korean): Come because they invited you, stay because they won't let you leave.
* Whatcom County, WA -- come on vacation, stay on probation...
* Dark chocolate. Come because it's delicious, stay because it's a natural source of antioxidants. And delicious.
* Movie posters and advertisements run on this trope. See CoversAlwaysLie for more.
* Food: Come for the deliciousness, stay because your newly-gained fat won't let you do otherwise.
* Sarcasm: Come to subtly vent about your life, stay because you've corrupted your innocence.
* Ballet: Come for the dancing and story, stay for the {{panty shot}}s.
** Or vice versa (also applies to figure skating).
* Getting a pet: Come for the RidiculouslyCuteCritter (or UglyCute depending on the species), stay for the bonding and unconditional love.
[[/folder]]
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