History Main / BaddieFlattery

->''"And by the way... I like your dress."''

Subtrope of VillainRespect. Contrast to AffablyEvil, where the villain is not necessarily trying to annoy or flatter the hero, but rather that's genuinely what they're like to most people. See also YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame when the flattery actually manages to rile up the hero. It may be used in a ArsonMurderAndAdmiration kind of way, though true examples of that are between villains.

* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': Vlad Plasmius often used this tactic in conjunction with NotSoDifferent.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':[[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0809.html Tarquin, to Roy]] after the latter caused major structural damage to the gladiator games arena. Roy is somewhat bewildered.

Subtrope of VillainRespect. Contrast to AffablyEvil, where the villain is not necessarily trying to annoy or flatter the hero, but rather that's genuinely what they're like to most people. See also YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame. It may be used in a ArsonMurderAndAdmiration kind of way, though true examples of that are between villains.

[[quoteright:195:[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2dd7dc446d90061aa2fe27eb640f417e.png]]]]

Contrast to AffablyEvil, where the villain is not necessarily trying to annoy or flatter the hero, but rather that's genuinely what they're like to most people. See also YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame. It may be used in a ArsonMurderAndAdmiration kind of way, though true examples of that are between villains.

--> '''Aqualad''': You sound more like a fanboy than a nemesis.

--> '''Jade''': Nice catch.
--> '''Ratso''': Thanks. Hey-!
--> '''Jade''' (jumps off tree and runs): Nyah-nyah.

--->'''Darkseid:''' I'm glad growing up with Highfather hasn't made you soft or weak. You make an old man proud. But I won't let you or ''anyone'' else stand in my way.

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': As the embodiment of [[TheStarscream Starscream]]'s [[ProfessionalButtKisser sycophantic tendencies]], Sunstorm is always complimenting people, be it his enemies or allies. Sometimes it get's him into trouble, like spending too long admiring Omega Supreme and getting bashed out of the way. After watching Prowl's use of Stasis Cuffs, he later ambushes and takes him down with a similar move, thanking him for the brilliant idea. In "Five Servos of Doom" he tries to compliment Sentinel Prime's [[spoiler:use of a bounty hunter to stop him]], but has a mouth piece slapped on.

* From ''Disney/RobinHood'' there's a bit of this in the style of ArsonMurderAndAdmiration, after Prince John learns of the latest hit that his subjects have come up with against him and that both the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Hiss have somehow managed to learn the lyrics (and that the former had been singing it on his tax collecting sprees as of late): "They'll be singing a different tune! Double the taxes! ''Triple'' the taxes! ''SQUEEZE EVERY LAST DROP'' out of those insolent... ''musical'' peasants." Note that he sounded slightly amused when he got to the word "musical".

* In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Darth Vader admires Luke's new lightsaber and compliments his Jedi skills. Then again, Luke ''is'' his son.
-->"Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well."

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'', Dio Brando (pictured above) applauds Polnareff for avenging his sister and for surviving up to that point.

* Played with by Kilgrave in ''Series/JessicaJones.'' He thinks he's in love with her, and compliments her fairly consistently... when he isn't trying (usually successfully) to control her mind and make her hurt herself or others, control everyone around her just to get under her skin and make her take him back, or just generally be ''horrifically'' creepy.

-->'''Batman''': [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Don't touch anything.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Sunstorm is always complimenting people, be it his enemies or allies. Sometimes it get's him into trouble, like spending too long admiring Omega Supreme and getting bashed out of the way. After watching Prowl's use of Stasis Cuffs, he later ambushes and takes him down with a similar move, thanking him for the brilliant idea. In "Five Servos of Doom" he tries to compliment Sentinal Prime's [[spoiler:use of a Bounty Hunter to stop him]], but has a mouth piece slapped on.

[[/folder]]

"Hiding from my seeker using the ''bones of another super''?! I can't believe it, man, I'm ''still'' geekin' out! Ahhh."

** Also, "Nice outfit!" (before he became The Joker.

--> '''Joker:''' I see one of our stars approaching the red carpet! And he's in black, always chic. But here come the fashion disasters. (The rest of the Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}} arrives) I'm surprised their mummies let them out of the house looking like that.

** This was one of the most memorable traits of the [[Film/{{Batman}} Jack Nicholson Joker]].

Contrast to AffablyEvil, wheree the villain is not necessarily trying to annoy or flatter the hero, but rather that's genuinely what they're like to most people. See also YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame. It may be used in a ArsonMurderAndAdmiration kind of way, though true examples of that are between villains.

* In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Darth Vader admires Luke's new lightsaber and compliments his Jedi skills.

* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins 3-2-1 Penguins!]]'' episode "Hogs and Kisses", Cavitus compliments Jason [[spoiler:in order to gain access to all of the money in the Pig-O Bank Cruiser]].

This creepy politeness is usually just a tactic to throw off the hero and/or show off how the villain is a looney. TermsOfEndangerment are often involved. Occasionally the villain is [[VillainousCrush genuinely attracted to the hero]] ([[DatingCatwoman which could be especially prevalent if the hero and the villain are of opposite genders]]), or [[SympathyForTheHero has some other reason to relate to them]]. Villains who believe EnemiesEqualGreatness often feel the need to talk their opponents up, as in their mind it only raises their own credibility to ''have'' such a foe.

This creepy politeness is usually just a tactic to throw off the hero and/or show off how the villain is a looney. TermsOfEndangerment are often involved. Occasionally the villain is [[VillainousCrush genuinely attracted to the hero]] ([[DatingCatwoman which could be especially prevalent if the hero and the villain are of opposite genders]]), or [[SympathyForTheHero has some other reason to relate to them]].