History Main / ForgotToGagHim

** Averted when the Order is dragged off to face trial in Azure City in chains: Miko has the sense to gag Vaarsuvius, the party's wizard, so [[AmbiguousGender s/he]] can't cast spells.

...what, GAG him? That's not necessary. It's not like he can [[WordsCanBreakMyBones cast spells]] or [[MakeMeWannaShout unleash destructive, supersonic yells]] or anything like that. All he can do is ''talk''. Heck, maybe listening to him ranting about your EvilPlan or begging for his life could be kinda' fun.

...what, GAG him? That's a touch too [[BoundAndGagged kinky]]. Wouldn't want people to get a FoeRomanceSubtext vibe here, would we? Besides, it's not like he can [[WordsCanBreakMyBones cast spells]] or [[MakeMeWannaShout unleash destructive, supersonic yells]] or anything like that. All he can do is ''talk''. Heck, maybe listening to him ranting about your EvilPlan or begging for his life could be kinda' fun.

* In a ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode, Lena was gagged when she was captured by herself, but after Webby takes that off and the whole group get caught, the Beagle Boys don't bother to put it back on or gag anyone else. This allows Lena to get the Beagle Boys to fight each other over taking credit, providing a distraction while they escape.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story ''ComicBook/TheHuntForReactron'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, Flamebird and Nightwing are captured by the Science Police, but they convince the squad leader that they were framed up for the Metropolis' water reservoir's destruction... and Reactron was foisted off on his squad because Sam Lane wanted the Kryptonian trio murdered and all witnesses eliminated.

* ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'': Subverted. Archelomon is captured by Neptunemon and fails to talk his way out of his predicament.

* Inverted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' when the heroes capture Pride, who doesn't make a sound besides slowly tapping on Al's detached [[AnimatedArmor head/helmet]]. They realize too late they'd allowed him to tap out his exact coordinates in Morse Code.
* Subverted in ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars''. Archelomon is captured by Neptunemon and fails to talk his way out of his predicament.

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 "The Hunt For Reactron"]], ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, Flamebird and Nightwing are captured by the Science Police, but they convince the squad leader that they were framed up for the Metropolis' water reservoir's destruction... and Reactron was foisted off on his squad because Sam Lane wanted the Kryptonian trio murdered and all witnesses eliminated.

...what, GAG him? That's a touch too [[BoundAndGagged kinky]]. Wouldn't want people to get a FoeYay vibe here, would we? Besides, it's not like he can [[WordsCanBreakMyBones cast spells]] or [[MakeMeWannaShout unleash destructive, supersonic yells]] or anything like that. All he can do is ''talk''. Heck, maybe listening to him ranting about your EvilPlan or begging for his life could be kinda' fun.

This is a situation where the hero's been captured and immobilized, but he's still got the use of his mouth, and proceeds to [[TalkingYourWayOut talk his way out of trouble]]. What, exactly, this involves varies. It could be a BatmanGambit; providing the villain or his minions with just the right information (fake or not) that you know will push them into doing what you want them to - or you could play on whatever fears and concerns they may have to bluff your way out. Alternately, you could appeal to their better nature, reminding them that EvenEvilHasStandards, perhaps prompting a HeelFaceTurn or MookFaceTurn. Whisper sweet, honeyed words to both the villain and his henchmen to provoke an EnemyCivilWar. Maybe you could [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribe]] TheDragon or some of the other {{Mooks}} into helping you out. In any case, a lot of trouble could've been avoided if the villain had thought to gag him.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': When Luthor tells Cheetah to watch Batman, she hisses and bears her claws, as if to suggest she'll tear him a new one if he gives her trouble. Next scene, he's talking to her gently as a therapist might, and she's clearly grateful for his concern.

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'': Our heroine finds herself in this position quite a lot, though she sometimes accidentally reminds the baddies to apply a gag. At one point, she tells her captor that he needs to get to a hospital, right away. [[SaveTheVillain She's NOT bluffing, and manages to save his life.]] She's seen in the waiting room later with his wife and daughter, no longer tied up. Sometimes, there's a ''reason'' to listen to the people you forgot to gag.

[[AC:Fan Fic]]
* ''FanFic/ADragonInShiningArmour'': When [=OuRyuumon=] is captured, he manages to convince the mayor who was being extorted by Dorbickmon to send for the Royal Knights, which ultimately leads to his rescue.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', after Jet is revealed to be a WellIntentionedExtremist, Katara freezes him to a tree to prevent him from blowing up an Earth Kingdom town. However, she doesn't gag him. Then Jet whistles the signal to set off the explosion, and Longshot shoots.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been known to use this approach whenever he's captured but can't directly escape ([[SelfRestraint or does not wish to initially]]). This includes that time in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon when he prevented Harley Quinn from killing him by playing on her insecurities and her affection for The Joker, and when [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19InjusticeForAll he was caught by the Injustice Gang]], he proceeds to (overtly) [[SexFaceTurn seduce one member of the crew]] while (covertly) [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribing another]]. In the latter case, Lex does threaten to have him gagged if he makes more trouble, but nothing comes of it.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been known to use this approach whenever he's captured but can't directly escape ([[SelfRestraint or does not wish to initially]]). This includes that time in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon when he prevented Harley Quinn from killing him by playing on her insecurities and her affection for The Joker, and when [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19InjusticeForAll he was caught by the Injustice Guild]], he proceeds to (overtly) [[SexFaceTurn seduce one member of the crew]] while (covertly) [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribing another]]. In the latter case, Lex does threaten to have him gagged if he makes more trouble, but nothing comes of it.

* Inverted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' when the heroes have Pride captured, but unwittingly allow him to tap out his exact coordinates in Morse Code using Al's head.

Compare TalkingYourWayOut, the supertrope describing all means of getting out of trouble with words. Also Compare HannibalLecture, a fellow subtrope, which is when someone is taken captive with the intention of being broken through interrogation, only to break their captor instead.

Although... what he's saying sorta' makes sense... and your [[TheStarscream most faithful retainer]] seems to be spending a lot of time listening to him, for some reason... well, [[TemptingFate what's the worst that could happen]], really?

* Comicbook/{{Empowered}}: Our heroine finds herself in this position quite a lot, though she sometimes accidentally reminds the baddies to apply a gag. At one point, she tells her captor that he needs to get to a hospital, right away. [[SaveTheVillain She's NOT bluffing, and manages to save his life.]] She's seen in the waiting room later with his wife and daughter, no longer tied up. Sometimes, there's a ''reason'' to listen to the people you forgot to gag.

* Both averted and played straight in ''Literature/{{Dune}}''. When Lady Jessica and Paul are captured by the Harkonnens she is gagged so she can't use her Bene Gesserit [[CompellingVoice Voice]] ability on them. Unfortunately for the Harkonnens guarding them, Paul also knows how to use Voice.

* Dr. Mark Sloan in ''Series/DiagnosisMurder'' - when kidnapped by the insane children of a MadBomber he got sent to the electric chair, he manages to play them against each other, while secretly sending clues to his partners-in-crimesolving, leading to his inevitable rescue. One of the agents on the case even comments that they really should've [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim shot him right away]]...

** A truly shining example from Season 4: Sawyer finally wisens up and tries to just shoot Ben on the spot while he is beaten, bloodied and with his hands bound. Linus talks himself out of it on the spot, but is still locked in a solitary room in a basement. Then he talks himself out of it too and is allowed to eat with everybody in the kitchen while still being closely watched. Skip one episode and he is left totally by himself, playing a piano with a shotgun hidden inside it, just in case. And by this point he has already lied to, manipulated and even ordered to kill main characters multiple times, so they '''REALLY''' should have known what to expect.

** A version of this occurs in a later episode when Omashu has been invaded by the Fire Nation. They encase King Bumi in a metal box and suspend him in mid-air, thinking that if he can't move or touch the ground, he can't Earthbend. However, as Bumi himself points out, "they didn't cover my face!". Cue Bumi Earthbending himself, still in the box, out of the suspension and along the delivery tunnels by jutting his chin in different directions!

[[IThoughtItMeant Not a subtrope of]] BoundAndGagged.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been known to use this approach whenever he turns out to be not QUITE CrazyPrepared enough. This includes that time in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon when he prevented Harley Quinn from killing him by playing on her insecurities and her affection for The Joker, and when [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19InjusticeForAll he was caught by the Injustice Guild]], he proceeds to (overtly) [[SexFaceTurn seduce one member of the crew]] while (covertly) [[EveryManHasHisPrice bribing another]]. In the latter case, Lex does threaten to have him gag if he makes more trouble, but nothing comes of it.

* Comicbook/{{Empowered}}: Our heroine finds herself in this position quite a lot, though she sometimes accidentally reminds the baddies to apply a gag. At one point, she tells her captor that he needs to get to a hospital, right away. [[SaveTheVillain She's NOT bluffing, and manages to save his life.]] She's later seen in the waiting room later with his wife and daughter, no longer tied up. Sometimes, there's a ''reason'' to listen to the people you forgot to gag.

* ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'', [[Recap/DigimonXrosWarsE6X4TheCrisisBreakthrough "X4 The Crisis Breakthrough"]]: Archelomon, though it doesn't cause any problems for Neptunemon.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been known to use this approach whenever he turns out to be not QUITE CrazyPrepared enough. This includes that time in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon when he prevented Harley Quinn from killing him by playing on her insecurities and her affection for The Joker, and when [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19InjusticeForAll he was caught by the Injustice Guild]], he proceeds to (overtly) [[SexFaceTurn seduce one member of the crew]] while (covertly) [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribing another]]. In the latter case, Lex does threaten to have him gag if he makes more trouble, but nothing comes of it.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been known to use this approach whenever he turns out to be not QUITE CrazyPrepared enough. This includes that time in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' cartoon when he prevented Harley Quinn from killing him by playing on her insecurities and her affection for The Joker, and when he was caught by the Injustice Guild, and proceeds to (overtly) [[SexFaceTurn seduce one member of the crew]] while (covertly) [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribing another]].
** [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19InjusticeForAll "Injustice For All"]]: Batman is restrained, but free to talk to his guards to get out. Lex does threaten to have him gag if he makes more trouble, but nothing comes of it.