History Main / MysteriousWatcher

* There was an episode of ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' where, after teaming up with a FemmeFatale to fight a supervillain, the episode ended with Ra's Al'Ghul watching from afar via a PalantirPloy, and saying something like "Most impressive, Detective" - and then later becoming the enemy in a two-parter. It's not Batman's fault that we all know Ra from his appearances in all the ''other'' series, movies, and comic-books. To be fair, this ''was'' the first appearance of Ra's outside the comics, and even after ''BatmanBegins'', most non-comics fans don't know who he is.

* Ruby on ''{{Supernatural}}'' spent some time mysteriously stalking Sam before revealing herself.

* Sela on ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.

* ''FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' has this for one side mission where you are the mysterious watcher. In the mission, your objective is to simply watch a level 99 Paladin and a level 99 Master Monk duke it out till one of them is victorious. You can only send out one unit to watch the fight and it is likely that your level won't match theirs if you decide to try and attack them.

* In ''CardCaptorSakura'', both Shaoran Li and Kaho Mizuki are introduced this way. Kaho is particularly noticeable for wearing shades during her enigmatic first appearance, and ''never again''.

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* The [=TicTocs=] (also called the ''thousand eyes'') from ''GunnerkriggCourt'' have been watching since the very first chapter. We still don't know who they work for, or what their goals are.

* The [[TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]] tends to do this. And then [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel he gets a bit more up close and personal]].

* There was an episode of ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' where, after teaming up with a FemmeFatale to fight a supervillain, the episode ended with Ra's Al'Ghul watching from afar via a PalantirPloy, and saying something like "Most impressive, Detective" - and then later becoming the enemy in a two-parter. It's not Batman's fault that we all know Ra from his appearances in all the ''other'' series, movies, and comic-books.
** To be fair, this ''was'' the first appearance of Ra's outside the comics, and even after ''BatmanBegins'', most non-comics fans don't know who he is.

* TowerPrep features one in its pilot.
* The aptly-named Watcher (now using the pseudonym [[strike:Will]] Joshua) from NoOrdinaryFamily

* The Observer from ''{{Fringe}}'' appears in every episode, sometimes only for a few seconds and usually without the characters noticing. The episode that revealed him was a subversion of this trope as he got punched in the face for his trouble.
** We do know a little bit about him. He really loves pepper and [[spoiler:is probably from the other universe]].

* This is how Angel first appeared on ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.

* Bakura in the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh}}'' anime spent some time lurking in the background before he actually started playing a role.

* The Watchers from ''{{Highlander}}: The Series''.

** [[spoiler: After Dwight Dixon dies]], the episode ''The Norweignians'' sets up another MysteriousWatcher... [[spoiler: Ned's father, who abandoned his son as a child]]. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Cue cancellation]]. [[TooGoodToLast Goddamit]]!

* TowerPrep features one in it's pilot.

* The Dread Pirate Roberts, in the original novel of ''ThePrincessBride'', is doing exactly this in his first appearance in the story.

MysteriousProtector is a particular subtype of this - specifically, a 'benevolent' version. This guy just as often turns out to be a foil, rival, or downright antagonist. This trope is sometimes also combined with ChekhovsGunman. The MysteriousEmployer is another subtype: instead of being "benevolent" per say, they direct the heroes in some way.

* The SlenderMan tends to do this. And then [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel he gets a bit more up close and personal]].

* The aptly-named Watcher (now using the pseudonym Will) from NoOrdinaryFamily

* This is how Raven was introduced to {{WCW}}: he'd show up during certain people's matches and take a front row seat, and just watch mysteriously.
* This is how Angel first appeared on ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
** Spike sometimes tries to do this, but has a tendency to get bored and try the IndyPloy instead.
* Ruby on ''{{Supernatural}}'' spent some time mysteriously stalking Sam before revealing herself.

* Sela on ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.
* The Watchers in ''{{lonelygirl15}}'' and ''{{KateModern}}''.
** Subverted in ''lonelygirl15'' series 3: after the death of [[spoiler:Bill Porter]], his Shadow starts following the gang, appearing in the background of several videos, and leaving threatening messages. He then [[spoiler:runs out into the road and gets run over]], ending that plotline abruptly.
* There was an episode of ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' where, after teaming up with a FemmeFatale to fight a supervillain, the episode ended with Ra's Al'Ghul watching from afar via a PalantirPloy, and saying something like "Most impressive, Detective" - and then later becoming the enemy in a two-parter. It's not Batman's fault that we all know Ra from his appearances in all the ''other'' series, movies, and comic-books.
** To be fair, this ''was'' the first apperance of Ra's outside the comics, and even after BatmanBegins, most non-comics fans don't know who he is.
* The Watchers from ''{{Highlander}}: The Series''.
* In ''TheXFiles'', the Cigarette Smoking Man spent much of Season One standing in the background looking mysterious and occasionally filing away some vital piece of evidence that had gone missing from the crime scene.
* The Gatekeeper in ''Knowledge is Power''. So far, his intentions seem benevolent, but it's hard to tell when so far he's mostly just lurked in the background.

* Mirage from ''TheIncredibles'' was introduced doing exactly this.
* The [=TicTocs=] (also called the ''thousand eyes'') from ''GunnerkriggCourt'' have been watching since the very first chapter. We still don't know who they work for, or what their goals are.
* At the end of the second series of ''RobinOfSherwood'', after Robin has [[spoiler:been killed]], the outlaws see a hooded figure who looks like Robin (and at this point is presumably still played by Michael Praed). At the beginning of Series 3 he is revealed to be Robert of Huntingdon (Jason Connery), who of course [[spoiler:becomes the new Robin]].

* Dwight Dixon in ''PushingDaisies'' has a tendency to lurk in the background, watching, plotting, usually carrying some sort of firearm...
** [[spoiler: After Dwight Dixon dies]], the episode ''The Norweignians'' sets up another MysteriousWatcher... [[spoiler: Ned's father, who abandoned his son as a child]]. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Cue cancellation]]. [[TooGoodToLast Goddamit]]!
* Gamov from the Xbox remake of ''NinjaGaiden'', complete with coat, shades and high vantage point. He does introduce himself to Ryu quite early, but otherwise spends his time as one of these characters is meant to act.
* ''FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' has this for one side mission where you are the mysterious watcher. In the mission, your objective is to simply watch a level 99 Paladin and a level 99 Master Monk duke it out till one of them is victorious. You can only send out one unit to watch the fight and it is likely that your level won't match theirs if you decide to try and attack them.

* The Clone Saga of SpiderMan has a wild number of different Mysterious Watchers, to the point where even The Life of Reilly mentions it.

* Raven from ''[[{{Tekken}} Tekken 5]]'' is introduced as one of these in the opening animation. And he's still one by the end of the game, because even if you play as him you never find out who the heck he's actually working for.
* In DCComics's different titles in the months leading up to ''The CrisisOnInfiniteEarths,'' the Monitor was depicted this way. He was not clearly seen, and he was literally "monitoring" the activities of different super-powered beings?sometimes intervening in various roundabout ways to put them in jeopardy to "test" them. He was made to look very sinister.
* The Mysterious Watchful Presence [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=75670 watches mysteriously]] at the end of Chapter 1 of ''EverydayHeroes''.
* The G-Man from ''HalfLife'' is a textbook case. He even manages to keep up the schtick ''after'' meeting the hero face-to-face, since even then he says a lot but reveals exactly squat.

* The Observer from {{Fringe}} appears in every episode, sometimes only for a few seconds and usually without the characters noticing. The episode that revealed him was a subversion of this trope as he got punched in the face for his trouble.

* The G-Man from HalfLife is a textbook case. He even manages to keep up the schtick ''after'' meeting the hero face-to-face, since even then he says a lot but reveals exactly squat.
* [[{{Heroes}} HRG]], from ''{{Heroes}}''. He later becomes a central character after he's [[TheReveal revealed]] as Claire's father, but for a the length of the pilot all we saw was a mysterious [[FanNickname guy in horn-rimmed glasses]].

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