History Main / SurroundedByIdiots

* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' Robotnik reaffirmed the lack of intelligence possessed by [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Scratch and Grounder]] in pretty much every episode. However they're typically his first choice to send after Sonic, and he often trusts them with important inventions he created. This was lampshaded in the episode "Spaceman Sonic" in which Sonic states that Robotnik will figure it cheaper to put Scratch and Grounder back together than to build new robots.

---> ''(about the [[PsychoForHire Cho]] [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Brothers]])'' Enthusiastic, but not very bright.

** In the [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony third game]], [[TheJester Kokichi Oma]] believes his classmates are too focused on turning on each other than defeating the killing game. He's not wrong either, and [[spoiler:only succeeds in uniting everyone when they're united against ''[[GenghisGambit him]]'']].

* Dracula in ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2016'' certainly feels this about his court. Most of them are actually highly competent, but they don't get along at all and spend most of their time bickering or [[TheStarscream planning to backstab him]].

->''"Henchmen. Evil, obedient, bright -- pick any two."''
-->-- '''Dr. No''', ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1502.html #1502]]

** Luna has this reaction with Usagi, as the latter often fails to take things seriously. Artemis also has this in regards to Minako, but is usually more rational with her than Luna is towards Usagi.
** As much as he loves his sister, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Shingo]] can't help but feel annoyed by how lazy and ditzy Usagi is.

* In ''Anime/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', Chisame and Yue frequently think this about the rest of their class. As the series marches on and the two get to know their classmates better, the latter stops thinking this way, but the former doesn't.

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': General Cantankerus once described his troops as "They're all quite thick, and I'm their leader! [sobs]"

** Queen Katrika, in ''Trial of a Time Lord'' uses this one almost by name while wandering round lost in the underground.
** Harrison Chase from "The Seeds of Doom" declares this twice in one episode.

* In Hellsing, Integra says, "I'm surrounded by Idiots" in one scene.

* ''Film/RogueOne'' Imperial science officer Orson Krennic winds up on Scarif for the climax of the film. Given that Scarif is essentially a beach planet (at least the parts we see of it), it might be the Imperial equivalent of a cushy beach assignment. So, when Rebels attack the data vault there, Krennic is understandably frustrated.

** ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'': Downplayed. General Xaviax complained about this several times through the story, but his underlings are not actually stupid. They are normal people with their own motivations, goals, and ConflictBall he didn't do much against, so it's only logical that things don't always go the intended way. Unfortunately, he can be an efficient villain even under such conditions.
--->'''Xaviax:''' What moron gave humans free will?!
** ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': Protagonist Sento Kiryu, being something of an InsufferableGenius, has this expression quite often. [[spoiler:He has it even moreso late in the series when he reverts to his original, more abrasive Takumi Katsuragi personality.]] Subverted in one episode where he and his allies confront the BigBad, and even when confronted by a monstrously evil and powerful villain they still engage in their usual comedic antics; Sento remarks "I'm surrounded by idiots..." but then grins and adds "...And I couldn't be happier!"

* [[https://www.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/comments/ktcm0h/the_winning_sculpture_at_a_sand_sculpting_contest/ The winning submission of a sand-sculpting contest]] is parody of the Lincoln Memorial, looking weathered and cracked while {{Facepalm}}ing. And it's titled "Morons".

-->'''Kayaba''': I ''tried'', you know. ''Lord knows'' I've tried. But there's just no helping you people! It's like you crave death, but not just ''any'' death, nooooo! You fuckers seem to have some sort of pool going to see who can end their existence in the dumbest, most avoidable way possible! ''[[SerialEscalation And you just keep one-upping each other!]]'' Do you know how many of you have died screaming "LeeroyJenkins"? ''More than zero!''

-->'''Sam Boga''': You killed three, and injured five. And you lost four. Why do I have to work with AMATEURS?!

-->'''Melissa''': "I'm surrounded by retards!"

-->'''Mainwaring''': ''You know, [[NumberTwo Wilson]], over the years that I've come to know the members of the platoon, [[AFatherToHisMen I've grown quite fond of them.]] But I can't help feeling sometimes that I'm in charge of a bunch of idiots.''

* In the original Disney ''Series/{{Zorro}}'' TV series, the evil commandant of the pueblo at one point actually said, verbatim, "I'm surrounded by incompetents!"

* ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'': Downplayed. General Xaviax complained about this several times through the story, but his underlings are not actually stupid. They are normal people with their own motivations, goals, and ConflictBall he didn't do much against, so it's only logical that things don't always go the intended way. Unfortunately, he can be an efficient villain even under such conditions.
--> '''Xaviax''': What moron gave humans free will?!

-->'''Horus''': Strange is it not, that so many I wish beside me stand against me, while at my back are only the flawed and damaged. I am a master of broken monsters.

[[folder:Theater]]

--> '''High Warlord Cromush''': "These [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent worgen]] take us for fools! One would think that only an idiot would mistake one of their druids in bear form as a real bear. Unfortunately, there are many idiots here at the Forsaken Front. We've already lost a few battalions to organized worgen bear attacks. Yes, it's even more idiotic than it sounds."

-->'''[[spoiler:[[TokenEvilTeammate Crow]]]]''': I am surrounded by absolute fools...

* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 3}}'': While Tyreen Calypso's entire power base relies on the fact that bandits are stupid enough to ''pay her'' for the right to ''die at her whim'', she still grumbles about how stupid they are more than once. One ECHO log is about her trying (and failing) to explain to a bandit about how they allied with Maliwan and they can't kill them. In another, she orders a bandit to "cut off your favorite leg" to demonstrate how loyal her followers are; he promptly cuts off ''both'' of his legs, and she facepalms.

-->'''Vincenzo Cilli''': I'll tell you what I know tough guy. Some of our boys have screwed up a simple, no brain, fucking job. Lousy bastards can't even pull off a simple raid. Marron! Why am I surrounded by so many fucking idiots?\\
'''Toni Cipriani''': I don't know... 'birds of a feather?\\
'''Vincenzo Cilli''': Oh, you're a fucking comedian! Well, laugh this off wise-guy. You're the one who's gonna clear this shit up for me! Now get over there and drag those morons back here!

-->''(After meeting [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Avery Carrington]] for the first time at [[AmoralAttorney Ken]] [[NervousWreck Rosenburg's]] office)'': Who are these pricks anyway? Lawyer pricks, rug-wearing pricks! I'm surrounded by pricks!\\

---> '''Hei "Junior" Xiong''': Torchwick hired my boys, and I guess he wasn't happy with them - ''[Raises his voice so his gangsters can hear him]'' - which is something I can relate to!

'''Cobra Commander''': I shall be waiting to reward your genius, or to have you beheaded for terminal stupidity! I have spoken.

* Dib from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''.
--> '''Dib''': "Okay, am I the only one who sees the [[PaperThinDisguise alien]] sitting in class?"

--> '''Dib:''' Don't you care that ZIM is trying to destroy all mankind? Huh?
--> '''Gaz:''' But he's ''so'' '''''bad''''' at it.

** Sheriff: IMBECILES! BUFFOONS! COWARDS! I'm surrounded by cowards! I asked you to guard twoooo prisoners! Just - TWOOOOO! PRISONERS! I EVEN PUT THEM 10 FEET UNDERGROUND IN A STEEL VAULT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU! (Then, he calms down somewhat) And, what happens?

---> '''Twilight Sparkle''': All the ponies in this town are ''crazy!''
** In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E13TheMean6 The Mean 6]]" the evil clone of Twilight feels this way about the other clones created alongside her, calling them "fools" and "imbeciles". She's not wrong; while she makes a fairly competent grab for power and comes close to success, the others set off the Tree of Harmony's defenses and get her ''and'' themselves killed.

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': General Cantankerus once described his troops as "They're all quite thick, and I'm their leader! [sobs]" In the French version, he says "They all are stupid and I'm their leader".

* Done interestingly in ''ComicBook/{{Wayward}}'' where the BigBad, a VisionaryVillain intent on bridging the gap between the past and the future, not only finds himself frustrated by his conservative team mates' idiotic insistence to much rather fight to the last man instead of accepting the changing times and embracing the future and its technological wonders but finds himself equally frustrated by the heroes' idiotic lack of respect for the introspective virtues of the past and stubborn teenage mentality to just follow the whims of their flailing emotions.

* ''Literature/RubberGirl'': Melissa Robinson recognizes her classmate Katie Elaz in a news photo of Rubber Girl. But everyone else in her class do not see it even though Rubber Girl was [[ClarkKenting obviously just Katie in a mask]] and Rubber Girl only showed up in town after Katie was [[SuperHeroOrigin hospitalized from an accident at her parents' factory.]] She {{Facepalm}}ed and groaned:

* Not quite a direct example, but [[Manga/AliceAcademy Hotaru's]] various idiot-bashing tools, anyone?

* In chapter 3 of ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10317264/3/A-Necromancer-s-Wild-Card A Necromancer's Wild Card]]'', a ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''LightNovel/IsThisAZombie'' [[CrossOver crossover]], [[TheStoic Minato]] [[TheHero Ari]][[OurZombiesAreDifferent sato]] provides a heroic example as he quotes this trope verbatim after witnessing [[{{Muggles}} the students]] of [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Ayumu]] [[TheLancer Aikawa]]'s school paying more attention to [[WholesomeCrossdresser Ayumu crossdressing]] instead of a '''[[UnusuallyUninterestingSight giant crawfish monster]]''' that [[ChainsawGood Ayumu recently killed]].

-->'''Garlic:''' Oh God, your father's Goku... ''Oh my God you morons stole Goku's kid?!'' How? How did you steal Goku's kid?!\\

Sometimes, it seems like the lead antagonist has deliberately chosen the most incompetent, craven, cowardly, or just plain unreliable underlings around... the trope often culminates in a [[TheDragon second-in-command]] that, instead of being the best of what the lower ranks has to offer, [[NumberTwoForBrains seems to be the living distillation of everything that makes the incompetent underlings what they are]]. This version is often punctuated by having the right-hand man actually [[ReverseMole secretly trying to undermine]] and/or [[TheStarscream replace]] the EvilOverlord, but just too incompetent to be a real threat.

** In the [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 third game]], [[TheJester Kokichi Oma]] believes his classmates are too focused on turning on each other than defeating the killing game. He's not wrong either, and [[spoiler:only succeeds in uniting everyone when they're united against ''[[GenghisGambit him]]'']].