History Main / TheAnticipator

* Master Shifu from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' likely knew that the Furious Five would try to ambush him that day, but he couldn't know where or how. Nonetheless, Master Shifu easily thwarts all five forays against him, giving critique on their technique as he does so.

** ''Film/GoldenEye''. Bond discovers that the BigBad is actually Trevelyan, a fellow Double-0 agent from his Cold War days. Bond looks like he's going to shoot Trevelyan, only for the RogueAgent to reply that it's insulting for Bond to think that he hasn't anticipated Bond's every move.

** In ''Film/DrNo'', Bond and and his companions dive behind a dune at Crab Key as a boat crewed by Dr No's henchmen motors round the bay. One of the men shouts out via loudhailer, "Come on out! We know you're there. We've been expecting you!" though it's implied they only suspect Bond is there and are hoping to bluff him into revealing himself. Played with later when a [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine maid babbles cheerfully]] over the confusion caused by exactly when Bond was going to be captured.
--->'''Sister Lily:''' We simply didn't know when to expect you. First it was teatime yesterday, and then dinner, and it was only half an hour ago that we really knew you were on your way.
* ''Film/GoldenEye''. Bond discovers that the BigBad is actually Trevelyan, a fellow Double-0 agent from his Cold War days. Bond looks like he's going to shoot Trevelyan, only for the RogueAgent to reply that it's insulting for Bond to think that he hasn't anticipated Bond's every move.

* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', Dr Doofenshmirtz is rarely surprised whenever Perry the Platypus show up to thwart his latest scheme and usually has a trap ready.

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', Batman manages to successfully trail ComicBook/BlackMask and his thugs all the way out of Blackgate Penitentiary to their escape helicopters. Who is is that works out his presence? [[BeastMan Killer Croc]], whose [[TheNoseKnows unbelievably powerful nose]] enabled him to detect the Dark Knight, and who then orders the rest of the {{Mooks}} to LeaveHimToMe.

** In ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', Bond drops into Willard Whyte's penthouse suite and, having been observed by Blofeld, is greeted by Willard Whyte (actually Blofeld with a disguised voice) with the words, 'Howdy. Welcome, son. We've been expecting you'.

** In ''Film/DrNo'', Bond and company dive behind a dune at Crab Key as a boat crewed by Dr No's henchmen motors round the bay. One of the men shouts out via loudhailer, "Come on out. We know you're there. We've been expecting you," though it's implied they only suspect Bond is there and are hoping to bluff him into revealing himself. Played with later when a [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine maid babbles cheerfully]] over the confusion caused by exactly when Bond was going to be captured.
-->"We simply didn't know when to expect you. First it was teatime yesterday, and then dinner, and it was only half an hour ago that we really knew you were on your way."

** Happens several times in ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'' due to Dr. Kananga's organization being [[WeAreEverywhere so widespread]] he's able to track Bond at every stage. He also has an apparently genuine fortune teller in Solitaire. Then in their final confrontation Bond and Solitaire (who has defected to Bond's side) enter his underground base to find Kananga waiting for them. Turns out his guards found Bond's wetsuit where he hid it after swimming into the IslandBase.

* Master Splinter from ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' usually plays this role in the show, as he is very wise and skilled. And a ninja, of course.

** The soothsayer in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' (justified as she is a {{seer|s}}, after all).

* In the show ''Series/{{MASH}}'' Walter "Radar" O’Reilly got the nickname for his uncanny ability to appear at the side of his commander before he asks for him, as well as finish his sentences and provide paperwork to be signed before it is asked for.
** He could also hear incoming medical copters long before anyone else could.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' Batman does this quite a few times:
** In one episode, two mooks are sent to look for Batman in a house. Batman is waiting for the two mooks to enter the bedroom he is hiding in. When one of them looks inside, Batman gives him a daring look. The other mook asks if anyone is inside the room. [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere The mook says there's no one there.]]

* What makes a WebVideo/ContentCop so devastating is Ian's ability to know exactly how his subjects will respond. This is perhaps best shown in the Content Deputy videos, which is essentially Ian sitting back and enjoying Leafy and RiceGum [[IResembleThatRemark displaying the exact character flaws he criticized them for]] in their attempts to save face.

* ''Film/JamesBond'' is [[http://jamesbondmemes.blogspot.com/2012/02/ive-been-expecting-you-mr-bond.html famous]] for the "I've been expecting you" lines in many of the movies.

** Happens several times in ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'' due to Dr. Kananga's organization being [[WeAreEverywhere so widespread]] he's able to track Bond at every stage.
** In fact, as stated in multiple real life interviews, this one-liner has become one of the main reasons that the real life [=MI6=] would consider James Bond to be a terrible spy, because "no matter where he goes, he's expected".
** Lampshaded by Screen Junkies' WebVideo/HonestTrailers for ''Skyfall'': "Suit with 007, the super-secret [=MI6=] agent who everyone knows by his real name."

** In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', Bond goes to Atlantis to rescue Anya Amasova before Atlantis is blown up. Again, Bond's entrance is noticed by Stromberg, who says, "Good evening, Mr Bond. I've been expecting you."

** ''Film/{{Octopussy}}''. Octopussy observes Bond sneaking into her lair on her CCTV cameras, right up to the moment he opens the door to her boudoir. She later reveals [[YouKilledMyFather she has her own personal reasons for knowing who Bond is.]]

** In ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'', Bond introduces himself at the reception of an Indian hotel and is told, "We've been expecting you," albeit in a more positive context than the others.

* Parodied in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' by Sarge in the episode ''The Haystack'', much to Donut's confusion.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', when the party of new Grey Warden initiates comes to her house to retrieve some [[BindingAncientTreaty Binding Ancient Treaties]], the hermit witch Flemeth mentions that "she's been expecting them." [[SubvertedTrope The player character (a.k.a. Warden) can call her on it, however.]]
-->'''Warden:''' Are we really supposed to believe you were expecting us?

** Alex becomes the Anticipator later when a clue she leaves for Johnny leads him to a fancy restaurant. She cranks this trope UpToEleven: she has prepared for him a sports coat he likes, but pretends not to; she has ordered his favorite foods, and she begins rambling about what he'll think of the meal.