History Main / MysteriousWatcher

* ''Film/DrNo'. Film/JamesBond is under surveillance from the moment he arrives at the airport in Jamacia; a pretty girl tries to take his photograph while a man in SinisterShades observes him from a balcony. Bond later discovers that the girl is working for the BigBad while the man in shades is his future ally, CIA agent Felix Leiter. He didn't approach Bond at the time because he saw him get in a car [[NotMyDriver driven by one of Dr No's men]] and so wasn't sure which side Bond was on.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Throughout "Logopolis", the Doctor keeps catching sight of a mysterious white figure who is observing him. The Watcher (as he is called out in the credits) turns out to be [[spoiler:a presaging of the Doctor's forthcoming regeneration, who merges with the Doctor when he regenerates]].

* [[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 following Batman, knew he was Bruce Wayne and was taking pictures of his fights.

* Autor in ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' is usually just a ChekhovsGunman that "just happens" to be in the library the same time as Fakir, but in two episodes he's shown just...watching Fakir. His eyes are covered up by ScaryShinyGlasses until the episode that he gets a line outside of "[[CatchPhrase Will you please be quiet?!]]"

-->-- ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', "What's My Line"

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}} NEXT'' introduced [[{{troll}} Xellos]] as a shady, albeit cheerful, tag-along character whose job was to observe Lina to assess her abilities, on behalf of the Mozoku race. The reason being, he was to try to persuade her to join their clan, if he determined her power could be of use to them. Of course, if she refused, or if she was perceived to be a possible threat to them, Xellos' orders would be to kill her on the spot.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', Mirage's [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first scene]] has her spying on Bob and Lucius.

* Stage 3' (The Cemetery) of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'' has a silhouette in a wide hat and cape standing in the background. This has never been explained.
* In the ''Lonesome Road'' DLC of ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'', Ulysses can occasionally be spotted in certain parts far from your current location, observing you G-Man style.
* In ''Videogame/Fallout4'', prior to encountering the Railroad you might find a guy with sunglasses all around the Wasteland as a generic [=NPC=] such as a guard. Once you actually meet the Railroad however it's revealed that said person is actually an operative known as Deacon who's been keeping an eye on you and will back you up by spouting your in-game accomplishments.
* 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....

* 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 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.]]
* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'', Taskmaster has Spidey on his sights and he studies Spidey by testing Spidey's combat abilities, stealth capabilities and speed. He is doing this to learn his skills, and can be seen on the background rooftops watching Spidey through binoculars during these challenges.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Mirage from ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' was introduced doing exactly this.

...and [[StalkerShot the shot pans out to reveal a mysterious character]], 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.

* HRG, from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''. He later becomes a central character after he's [[TheReveal revealed]] as Claire's father, but for the length of the pilot all we saw was a mysterious [[FanNickname guy in horn-rimmed glasses]].

* The Mysterious Watchful Presence [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888431/watchful/ watches mysteriously]] at the end of Chapter 1 of ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''.

MysteriousStranger is the supertrope. 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 se, they direct the heroes in some way. StalkerShot are typically how they're revealed.

* At times, it seemed like Wrestling/{{Sting}} spent more time ominously watching other wrestlers' matches from a distance than participating in any himself.

* In ''VideoGame/SpidermanPS4'', Taskmaster has Spidey on his sights and he studies Spidey by testing Spidey's combat abilities, stealth capabilities and speed. He is doing this to learn his skills, and can be seen on the background rooftops watching Spidey through binoculars during these challenges.

* Madoka, Arisu, Kaede and Sai in ''Anime/AngelicLayer''. In the manga, they were even shown in silhouette. The English [=VAs=] for Tamayo and Koutarou lampshade the practice in an audio commentary, complaining that "soon, they'll have more lines than we do". Shuuko later takes up this role.

* Madoka, Arisu, Kaede and Sai in ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer''. In the manga, they were even shown in silhouette. The English [=VAs=] for Tamayo and Koutarou lampshade the practice in an audio commentary, complaining that "soon, they'll have more lines than we do". Shuuko later takes up this role.

* ''FanFic/BurningBlack'' has one show up at the end of Act 4. Whoever or whatever it is, it implies that it's been secretly aiding Timmy for some time, and seems to have it's own vendetta against Remy and [[spoiler: the Pixies]].
* The ''FanFic/PonyPOVSeries'' has the Interviewers. Originally just a plot device, they've since evolved to something much more integral to the story, not least of all because they know much more than they should, including things they ''couldn't'' know.

* The eleventh story of the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'' introduces one who goes by the name "G". He seems to be working for some organization that has ordered him to keep an eye on Danny. Fortunately, he seems to be an ally.

[[quoteright:250:[[Series/{{Fringe}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Binoculars153131copy8small_5303.jpg]]]]
[-[[caption-width-right:250:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Observer, living up to his name.]] ]]-]

...and the shot pans out to reveal a mysterious character, 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.

MysteriousStranger is the supertrope. 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 se, they direct the heroes in some way.