History Main / MysteriousWatcher

* Happens in ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', with [[spoiler: the Atlanteans]] watching Milo and his Expedition traverse their way through the caverns.

* The Observer (AKA September) from ''{{Series/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. He and his fellow Observers are a group of men with advanced technology who observe key events in history for unknown reasons, but are [[AlienNonInterferenceClause bound to not interfere]].

* Season 3 of ''Series/VanHelsing2016'' reveals that since childhood, [[TheProtagonist Vanessa]] and [[PsychopathicManChild Sam]] have been observed by a strange woman in a black shroud. This is eventually revealed to be the vampiric Seer, who states that she does this to keep any eye on anyone with "potential"; the season finale clarifies that this means [[spoiler: those who can become [[MonsterLord Elders]].]]

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

* ComicBook/TheCloneSaga of ''SpiderMan'' has a wild number of different Mysterious Watchers, to the point where even The Life of Reilly mentions it.

** In chapter two, after Henry closes the ink flow and go through the recording room, Sammy and a Bendy cut-out can be seen watching him intently. Henry won't recognize the first as the [[WasOnceAMan formerly-human]] music director yet.

** In chapter two, after Henry closes the ink flow and go through the recording room, Sammy and a Bendy cut-out can be seen watching you intently. Henry won't recognize the first as the [[WasOnceAMan formerly-human]] music director yet.

* Gamov from the Xbox remake of ''VideoGame/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.
* Raven from ''[[VideoGame/{{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 he's actually working for.
* The G-Man from ''VideoGame/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 Stranger from ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' was first referred to as "The Voice on the Radio" because all that was known about him was that he was watching you and every now and then would send a vague message through a walkie-talkie. When he is finally met, he's [[spoiler:merely a HeroOfAnotherStory whose life was ruined by the heroes of ''your'' story.]]
* Throughout the ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon FEAR]]'' games, there will be moments where, if you're quick enough, you can spot some ''thing'' watching you from corners or the ceilings of rooms, before sprinting off in a barely-visible blur and disappearing into an air vent or behind a grating. Sometimes, these are ''just'' the Replica Assassins that have been quietly tailing you throughout the game and feeding your location to their comrades. Other times, they're something worse....
* King comments on events in ''Third VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ: Jigoku-hen'' with Queen. He holds a meeting with Cygus when he joins Chrono.

* Sigma in ''Anime/TweenyWitches'' is introduced this way. In episode 11, he watches Sheila fly on a broom to capture a sprite from afar. In episode 12, he watches Arusu and Eva celebrate Sheila's birthday from afar.

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', with [[spoiler: the Atlanteans]] watching Milo and his Expedition traverse their way through the caverns.

* [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] was first introduced as a mysterious figure only shown from the back who stepped out of the shadows after ComicBook/{{Batman}} stumbled away injured to the Batmobile at the end of an issue to reveal he'd been followng Batman and taking pictures of his fights.

* ''TowerPrep'' features one in its pilot.

* 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 [[spoiler:becomes the new Robin]].

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', with the Atlanteans watching Milo and his Expedition traverse their way through the caverns.

* This is how Angel first appeared on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', despite not being Buffy's actual Watcher.

* ''Franchise/StarWars: ComicBook/Legacy'' handled Azlyn Rae's introduction that way.

* 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 ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''.

The chapter/episode is coming to an end. The MonsterOfTheWeek has been defeated, the {{Anvilicious}} [[AnAesop Aesop]] has been duly absorbed, and the hero walks into the sunset with the GirlOfTheWeek.

...and the shot pans out to reveal a mysterious character, wearing a [[BadassLongcoat mysterious trenchcoat]], concealing his eyes behind [[SinisterShades mysterious shades]] and covering his face with a [[FaceFramedInShadow mysterious shadow]], watching. Just... watching. Clearly, he's been there for a while. Observing the hero fighting. Assessing. ''Judging''. And he's probably [[IHaveTheHighGround standing on top of a lamp-post]] while doing it.