History Main / EvilLearnsOfOutsideContext

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': Numenor's existence is this for Sauron. When he arrives in Numenor with Galadriel he expresses he never thought it was possible for Men to build such an advanced civilization. Galadriel has to narrate the history of Numenor for him. It's not exactly clear if he really didn't know about Numenorians despite them fighting against his former master, Morgoth, or he knew but never expected them to be have such a flourishing advanced civilization.

** On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', [[TheAssimilator the Borg]] began their mission of absorbing all sentient life in the universe long ago, but are largely limited to the further reaches of space and thus billions of miles away from our heroes (their premiere episode revealed that the nearest starbase to their current location is 2.5 ''years'' away at maximum warp). It isn't until the RealityWarper Q puts Picard through a SecretTestOfCharacter in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E16QWho Q Who]]" that the Borg become aware of the existence of the United Federation of Planets, and specifically Earth--and they immediately start gunning for it. Somewhat [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] in that Picard realizes the Borg would have eventually learned about the Federation and humans regardless of Q's actions, although the sudden discovery does cause series-spanning problems for the heroes. (Presumably they'd have had more time to prepare if Q hadn't been [[TheGadfly such a jerk]].)

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': Numenor's existence is this for Sauron. When he arrives in Numenor with Galadriel he expresses he never thought it was possible for Men to build such an advanced civilization. Galadriel has to narrate the history of Numenor for him. Is not exactly clear if he really didn't know about Numenorians despite them fighting against his former master, Morgoth, or he knew but never expected them to be have such a flourishing advanced civilization.

* This gets Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' by the Light, who let the galaxy know about Earth and its metahuman population by [[spoiler:mind-controlling six members of the Justice League and sending them on a rampage on another planet]] This brings both the Kroloteans and the Reach to Earth, who want to exploit the super-powered potentials of humans.

** In ''SuperwomenOfEva2EmeraldCourage'', Gendo Ikari gets his hands on a Yellow Lantern ring early in the story, but has no clue of how to use it and that it's a weapon that can counteract the Green Lantern that is causing trouble to his operations until approximately a day or two before the events of ''End of Evangelion''.

-->-- '''Ultron''', ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021''

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TheJimmyTimmyPowerHour]]'', [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents Timmy Turner]] needs help with a science project and wishes to go to "the best laboratory in any universe." Cosmo and Wanda thus transport him to [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron's]] lab. Jimmy then accidentally crosses back over to Timmy's own universe while fiddling with his Auto-Poofer. There were three such specials, and each one dealt with a different villain (Mr. Crocker in the first, Professor Calamitous and the Anti-Fairies in the second, and a [[CreateYourOwnVillain monster Timmy and Jimmy create together]] in the third) discovering the existence of the other world and setting out to either conquer or destroy it.

* In a {{Crossover}} special of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', Timmy needs help with a science project and wishes to go to "the best laboratory in any universe." Cosmo and Wanda thus transport him to [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron's]] lab. Jimmy then crosses back over to Timmy's own universe to explore. There were three such specials, and each one dealt with a different villain (Mr. Crocker in the first, Professor Calamitous and the Anti-Fairies in the second, and a [[CreateYourOwnVillain monster Timmy and Jimmy create together]] in the third) discovering the existence of the other world and setting out to either conquer or destroy it.

->''"Wow. I see ''everything''. There are worlds beyond my own. Worlds that need... '''me'''."''

** On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', [[TheAssimilator the Borg]] began their mission of absorbing all sentient life in the universe long ago, but are largely limited to the further reaches of space and thus billions of miles away from our heroes (their premiere episode revealed that the nearest starbase to their current location is 2.5 ''years'' away at maximum warp). It isn't until the RealityWarper Q puts Picard through a SecretTestOfCharacter in the episode "Q Who" that the Borg become aware of the existence of the United Federation of Planets, and specifically Earth--and they immediately start gunning for it. Somewhat [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] in that Picard realizes the Borg would have eventually learned about the Federation and humans regardless of Q's actions, although the sudden discovery does cause series-spanning problems for the heroes. (Presumably they'd have had more time to prepare if Q hadn't been [[TheGadfly such a jerk.]])
** In a more limited example, the episode "Elementary, Dear Data" sees Data, Geordi, and Dr. Pulaski using the holodeck to simulate immersive Literature/SherlockHolmes mysteries for fun. Data plays the detective, but since he has literally encyclopedic knowledge of the Holmes stories, he easily solves all the cases, much to Geordi's chagrin. He decides to make things more challenging by specifically asking the computer to write a program "capable of defeating Data." Unfortunately, the computer [[ExactWords interprets this literally]] and grants the simulation of [[ArchEnemy Professor Moriarty]] sentience and sapience, as only someone aware of Data's true identity could defeat him. Moriarty thus realizes two things: that he's a hologram and that there is a "real world" that he cannot access. He sets out to take control of the holodeck and, in the later episode "Ship In A Bottle", the entire ''Enterprise'' to keep himself alive.
** In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Bride of Chaotica!", the holodeck is invaded by [[EnergyBeings photonic lifeforms]], whom the holodeck villains interpret as ''invaders from the fifth dimension'' and go to war with, immobilizing Voyager in the process. [[HolodeckMalfunction Naturally]], the holodeck can't just be shut down to end this problem, so the crew have to act out roles in the program to vanquish Chaotica, and the Doctor has to negotiate with the aliens because they don't view matter-based lifeforms as being 'real'.

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' frequently sees groups of antagonists who were going about their business only learning of the main cast by chance, but there are a few notable examples.

* In ''Fanfic/ShatteredSkiesTheMorningLights'', [[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Joker]] learns of the existence of the magical girl [[TheMultiverse multiverse]] upon his arrival in the villainous afterlife. The knowledge of an infinite number of magical girls in infinite other timelines pushes him from HopeCrusher to full-on OmnicidalManiac.

->''"Wow, I see ''everything''. There are worlds beyond my own. Worlds that need … '''me'''."''

%% Image Pickin' thread did not produce an image: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1635182028096638600

* The [[TropeNamer Trope Namer]] for the entire 'Outside Context' trope, the Iain M. Banks novel [[Literature/TheCulture Excession]], has this occur when the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Affront]] learn about the titular entity and attempt to it exploit it for their own gain, with the help of a conspiracy within the Culture. They end up not only failing, but nearly dooming the galaxy in the process.

* ''Series/StrangerThings'': PlayedForHorror. It's chilling to watch as the Mind Flayer, an entirely alien entity with initially no understanding of Earth, slowly gains more and more knowledge of human behaviour and the larger situation, employing increasingly intelligent tactics as a result. It's especially frightening when the creature figures out that El and The Party are its primary opposition, learning to [[spoiler:single them out specifically and make the kids ''suffer'']].

** After being hatched in the far future, Cell spent time building his strength by absorbing humans, all the while searching for the two Androids that he would also need to absorb to reach his complete form. His search brings him to Capsule Corp., home of Trunks and Bulma, where he learns that Trunks has already destroyed both of those Androids. However, he then realizes that Trunks has a TimeMachine and that he can use this to go back in time to when the Androids were still active. In the original timeline, Trunks had no idea Cell existed and was killed by him; in the new timeline (ironically created when Cell ''did'' go back in time), Trunks is ready and easily overpowers him.

** On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', [[TheAssimilator the Borg]] began their mission of absorbing all sentient life in the universe long ago, but are largely limited to the further reaches of space and thus billions of miles away from our heroes (their premiere episode revealed that the nearest starbase to their current location is 2.5 ''years'' away at maximum warp). It isn't until the RealityWarper Q puts Picard through a SecretTestOfCharacter in the episode "Q Who" that the Borg become aware of the existence of the United Federation of Planets, and specifically Earth--and they immediately start gunning for it. Somewhat [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] in that Picard realizes the Borg would have eventually learned about the Federation and humans regardless of Q's actions, although the sudden discovery does cause series-spanning problems for the heroes (presumably they'd have had more time to prepare if Q hadn't been [[TheGadfly such a jerk.]])

** In another dimension, Lex Luthor [[PresidentEvil gets elected President of the United States]] and kills the Flash. This proves to be too much for Superman, and he finally breaks his [[ThouShallNotKill rule against killing]] to murder Luthor. He thus discovers that EvilFeelsGood and leads the heroes, known now as the Justice Lords, in conquering the planet with their power (and lobotomizing anyone who dares to cross them). Both the Justice League of "our" world and the Lords learn of each other's existence simultaneously, with the Lords deciding to conquer Earth while the League desperately works to stop them.

* In a {{Crossover}} special of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', Timmy needs help with a science project and wishes to go to "the best laboratory in any universe." Cosmo and Wanda thus transport him to [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Jimmy Neutron's]] lab. Jimmy then crosses back over to Timmy's own universe to explore. There were three such specials, and each one dealt with a different villain (Mr. Crocker in the first, Professor Calamitous and the Anti-Fairies in the second, and a [[CreateYourOwnVillain monster Timmy and Jimmy create together]] in the third) discovering the existence of the other world and setting out to either conquer or destroy it.

* ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'': Corrupt and sociopathic businessman Lex Luthor uses Kryptonian technology and General Zod's corpse to create a monstrous abomination whose sole purpose is to kill Superman; unfortunately (and made clearer in a deleted scene), he also inadvertently attracts Darkseid's attention to Earth, leading to the events of ''Film/JusticeLeague.''

* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'': In addition to the examples of Cell and Frieza playing out exactly like their original versions, Goku also comes to Cell investigating the destruction of South Galaxy, accidentally letting Cell know that there ''are'' other galaxies.

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Throughout the first four seasons, Hordak was attempting to create a portal to allow him to escape the planet and contact his master, intergalactic conqueror Horde Prime. This trope comes in because Horde Prime had previously believed Hordak dead (he'd sent the guy on a suicide mission) and Etheria was trapped in another dimension. While curious enough to investigate a signal seemingly coming from nowhere, Prime had no idea Etheria even existed but was quick to deploy his vastly superior forces to add the planet, and the super weapon it housed, to his empire.

** [[ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy Darth Krayt]] was in the process of planning a FalseFlagOperation against the Yuuzhan Vong to push the galaxy into another civil war when he suddenly senses a galaxy-wide disturbance in the Force originating from Remnant. While he doesn't know that Darth Nihilus is specifically responsible, he correctly deduces that the disturbance was caused by a darksider stronger than him. Paranoid of a possible rival, he takes an army of Sith with him to search the Unknown Regions for the source with the intention of forcing Nihilus to either bend to his will or be destroyed.

* In a {{Crossover}} special of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', Timmy needs help with a science project and wishes to go to "the best laboratory in any universe." Cosmo and Wanda thus transport him to [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutron Jimmy Neutron's]] lab. Jimmy then crosses back over to Timmy's own universe to explore. There were three such specials, and each one dealt with a different villain (Mr. Crocker in the first, Professor Calamitous and the Anti-Fairies in the second, and a [[CreateYourOwnVillain monster Timmy and Jimmy create together]] in the third) discovering the existence of the other world and setting out to either conquer or destroy it.

-->-- '''[[Characters/MCUUltron Ultron]]''', ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021''

* ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf'': In [[Recap/WhatIfS1E8WhatIfUltronWon "What If... Ultron Won?"]], ending life on Earth causes Ultron to expand his scope to the universe and, when he's done with that, he has an existential crisis until he becomes aware of the multiverse and yet again continues his omnicidal rampage.