History Main / WasActuallyFriendly

* ''Series/TheOuterLimits''
** In a new series episode, a newly-inaugurated President is taken to a bunker after an object is detected on the way to Earth. It is eventually revealed that alien ships are about to enter Earth's orbit. They send a message in, apparently, their own language, which linguists are trying to translate. Meanwhile, several of their actions are perceived as hostile by the US and, especially, by Russia. Faced with the possibility of an AlienInvasion and the threat of a nuclear exchange with Russia (who claims that anyone who doesn't fight the aliens will be seen as a [[LesCollaborateurs collaborator]]), the President orders a strike on the aliens. It utterly fails due to the aliens' advanced technology. Furthermore, the aliens launch powerful missiles against Washington, D.C., and Moscow. Right before they hit, an advisor tells the President that the alien message was in English all along, just garbled due to their aquatic environment, offering friendship to humans.
** Another episode also has an alien race arrive to Earth. This time, they're openly asking to be allowed to live on Earth by possessing dead humans. Throughout the episode, several characters get increasingly paranoid about the aliens' agenda on Earth. It is revealed, though, that the aliens have no evil agenda and are merely building a museum to their race, as all their children are 100% human.

* ''Literature/TheHobbit''
** Wood Elves. They distrust the dwarves mutually ([[PoorCommunicationKills so the dwarves refuse to say why they're there, making the elves suspicious]] since they assumed the starving dwarves approaching their banquet to beg for food were attacking). They turn out to be a lot nicer later on, [[spoiler: with Bilbo giving them some treasure in payment for the food he stole while orchestrating the dwarves' breakout on his way back home]].
** Arguably the men of the lake as well [[spoiler:since they join the elves in laying siege to the old keep]]. Crosses with FireForgedFriends; everybody is about to kill each other until [[spoiler: Gandalf shows up to warn them that they're about to be attacked by goblins.]]

->''We are the angels and we live forever''\\
''We're waiting for you to share our life''\\
''We show you the world through our eyes''\\
''Come follow us into the night''
-->'''Music/{{Blutengel}}''', [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVa_bVb7OmA "Black Angels"]].

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''PreachingToThePerverted'' runs on this trope, with the protagonist being very surprised that the people at the club he's infiltrating turns out to be really nice people.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Wood Elves in ''Literature/TheHobbit''. They distrust the dwarves mutually ([[PoorCommunicationKills so the dwarves refuse to say why they're there, making the elves suspicious]] since they assumed the starving dwarves approaching their banquet to beg for food were attacking). They turn out to be a lot nicer later on, [[spoiler: with Bilbo giving them some treasure in payment for the food he stole while orchestrating the dwarves' breakout on his way back home]]. Arguably the men of the lake as well [[spoiler: since they join the elves in laying siege to the old keep]].
** Crosses with FireForgedFriends; everybody is about to kill each other until [[spoiler: Gandalf shows up to warn them that they're about to be attacked by goblins.]]

* Some of the suspicious-looking characters in ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'' turn out like this - because of the {{Cliffhanger}}s on most chapters, often when someone's introduced it's in a somewhat threatening way. Notable is the titular character of ''Ghost of the Jedi'', who could [[InvisibleToNormals only be perceived by Tash]], and not very well at first.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

* In one episode of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', the protagonists themselves do this to a civilization that is very powerful but also [[HumansAreCthulhu very afraid of them]]. [[spoiler: Well, this is Species 8472. First they pushed back the Borg that was invading their realm, but then the humans shows up, siding with the Borg and start exterminating them. Considering this background, it really didn't take much to win their confidence.]]
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Forsaken". The team runs into a group of humans with a downed spaceship harassed by evil-looking RubberForeheadAliens. They later found out that humans were convicted criminals on the way to PenalColony and said aliens were crew of the ship - Serrakins who once liberated criminals' homeworld of Goa'uld and settled there living in harmony with locals.

* In a new ''[[Series/TheOuterLimits Outer Limits]]'' episode, a newly-inaugurated President is taken to a bunker after an object is detected on the way to Earth. It is eventually revealed that alien ships are about to enter Earth's orbit. They send a message in, apparently, their own language, which linguists are trying to translate. Meanwhile, several of their actions are perceived as hostile by the US and, especially, by Russia. Faced with the possibility of an AlienInvasion and the threat of a nuclear exchange with Russia (who claims that anyone who doesn't fight the aliens will be seen as a [[LesCollaborateurs collaborator]]), the President orders a strike on the aliens. It utterly fails due to the aliens' advanced technology. Furthermore, the aliens launch powerful missiles against Washington, D.C., and Moscow. Right before they hit, an advisor tells the President that the alien message was in English all along, just garbled due to their aquatic environment, offering friendship to humans.

[[AC:{{Music}}]]

[[AC:RealLife]]
* In religious cults, this trope is often TurnedUpToEleven, a manipulation technique known as "love bombing". It tend to be extra effective on people who expected the cultists to be HollywoodSatanism (or even TheDarkSide straight out of StarWars).

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''LegendOfTheGuardians'', the pure ones seem really scary at first. (And it's also [[ANaziByAnyOtherName clear from the narrative]] that they actually ''are'' evil.) However, as the queen shows Kludd some kindness, he quickly "realizes" that they are the good guys.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'': Woody is initially afraid of the toys Sid operated on, but realizes they're friendly when they repair Buzz's arm.
** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': The toys at Sunnyside at first seem friendly, then turn nasty, and then end up nice again. This is especially true of Big Baby, who initially seems very creepy, but in actuality is really just a... well, baby.

* ''Series/{{Stargate SG-1}}'' episode "Forsaken". The team runs into a group of humans with a downed spaceship harassed by evil-looking RubberForeheadAliens. They later found out that humans were convicted criminals on the way to PenalColony and said aliens were crew of the ship - Serrakins who once liberated criminals' homeworld of Goa'uld and settled there living in harmony with locals.

There's this group that Bob believes/suspects to be [[TheDarkSide totally evil]]. Maybe the group has been subjected to {{Demonization}}, or maybe it simply looks really scary/suspicious to Bob. However, a little friendliness can go a long way. Maybe it doesn't take more then an outstretched hand for Bob to change his mind?

* In ''Film/EasyA'', Marianne really hated Olive. But when Olive showed her a bit of kindness and support, she quickly changed her attitude and wanted to be friends instead. It didn't last long, but that's for entirely different reasons. [[spoiler: Marianne's boyfriend cheated on her and got a venereal disease, then lied and pretended he got it from Olive.]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Dark Templar, from some character's points of view, in ''{{Starcraft}}''.

* The Sewer people in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''

** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': The toys at Sunnyside at first seem friendly, then turn nasty, and then end up nice again. This is especially true of Big Baby, who initially seems very creepy, but in actuality is really just a...well, baby.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', all of Ponyville is ''terrified'' so terrified of Zecora that they all hide indoors when she comes to town, because she lives in [[EldritchLocation the Everfree Forest]] and 'paints herself with stripes' (They don't realize she's a zebra). Obviously, she's actually quite nice and helpful.
** The same goes for Fancy Pants and Filthy Rich, who are both made out to be rich snobs but are surprisingly down to earth and friendly, and even [[spoiler:Discord after his HeelFaceTurn]].

** The toys at Sunnyside at first seem friendly, then turn nasty, and then end up nice again. This is especially true of Big Baby, who initially seems very creepy, but in actuality is really just a...well, baby.

* Wood Elves in ''TheHobbit''. They distrust the dwarves mutually ([[PoorCommunicationKills so the dwarves refuse to say why they're there, making the elves suspicious]] since they assumed the starving dwarves approaching their banquet to beg for food were attacking). They turn out to be a lot nicer later on, [[spoiler: with Bilbo giving them some treasure in payment for the food he stole while orchestrating the dwarves' breakout on his way back home]]. Arguably the men of the lake as well [[spoiler: since they join the elves in laying siege to the old keep]].

* ''StargateSG1'' episode "Forsaken". The team runs into a group of humans with a downed spaceship harassed by evil-looking RubberForeheadAliens. They later found out that humans were convicted criminals on the way to PenalColony and said aliens were crew of the ship - Serrakins who once liberated criminals' homeworld of Goa'uld and settled there living in harmony with locals.

* In a new ''OuterLimits'' episode, a newly-inaugurated President is taken to a bunker after an object is detected on the way to Earth. It is eventually revealed that alien ships are about to enter Earth's orbit. They send a message in, apparently, their own language, which linguists are trying to translate. Meanwhile, several of their actions are perceived as hostile by the US and, especially, by Russia. Faced with the possibility of an AlienInvasion and the threat of a nuclear exchange with Russia (who claims that anyone who doesn't fight the aliens will be seen as a [[LesCollaborateurs collaborator]]), the President orders a strike on the aliens. It utterly fails due to the aliens' advanced technology. Furthermore, the aliens launch powerful missiles against Washington, D.C., and Moscow. Right before they hit, an advisor tells the President that the alien message was in English all along, just garbled due to their aquatic environment, offering friendship to humans.

* In religious cults, this trope is often TurnedUpToEleven, a manipulation technique known as "love bombing". It tend to be extra effective on people who expected the cultists to be HollywoodSatanism (or even TheDarkSide straight out of StarWars).

* In ''LegendOfTheGuardians'', the pure ones seem really scary at first. (And it's also [[ANaziByAnyOtherName clear from the narrative]] that they actually ''are'' evil.) However, as the queen shows Kludd some kindness, he quickly "realizes" that they are the good guys.
* The Sewer people in ''{{Futurama}}''
* ''ToyStory'': Woody is initially afraid of the toys Sid operated on, but realizes they're friendly when they repair Buzz's arm.

* TruthInTelevision far more often than not. Men or women, blacks or whites, liberals or conservatives, believers or nonbelievers; whoever the group may be that you don't belong to, once you leave your comfort zone and get to know them, you'll find that they're actually pretty decent people.
** Unless the group's official policy says something like "We want Group X dead, and we plan to make that happen through direct action," most members are probably pretty decent people.
* Among DarkerAndEdgier subcultures, such as Goths and [[CasualKink kinky people]], nervous newcomers are sometimes greeted with a reassuring "Welcome to the dark side, we have cookies".

** Even without this technique, the trope easily comes into effect, especially on people with such minsconceptions: In reality, members of religious cults are usually quite ordinary people with unusual beliefs and an unusual social context. When a cult becomes destructive, it's because of the leaders and/or a clash between reality and the beliefs of the cult - not because the individual cult members are "bad people".

* In one episode of ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', a Star Fleet officer is tasked with infiltrating the Maquis, a group of outlaw Federation citizens fighting the evil Cardassian empire in clear violation of a peace treaty between TheFederation and TheEmpire. This gets harder and harder for her as the local leader insists on being really nice to her and talking about various sentimental stuff. [[spoiler:After he is killed by the Cardassians, she betrays Star Fleet and defects to join the Maquis.]]
* In one episode of ''StarTrekVoyager'', the protagonists themselves do this to a civilization that is very powerful but also [[HumansAreCthulhu very afraid of them]]. [[spoiler: Well, this is Species 8472. First they pushed back the Borg that was invading their realm, but then the humans shows up, siding with the Borg and start exterminating them. Considering this background, it really didn't take much to win their confidence.]]

* In ''EasyA'', Marianne really hated Olive. But when Olive showed her a bit of kindness and support, she quickly changed her attitude and wanted to be friends instead. It didn't last long, but that's for entirely different reasons. [[spoiler: Marianne's boyfriend cheated on her and got a venereal disease, then lied and pretended he got it from Olive.]]

''Come follow us into the night''\\
->'''{{Blutengel}}''', ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVa_bVb7OmA Black Angels]]''.

* Several {{Blutengel}} songs run on this theme, with the cool vampires inviting the humans to hang out with them and maybe becoming immortal themselves.

* In one episode of ''StarTrekTNG'', a Star Fleet officer is tasked with infiltrating the Maquis, a group of outlaw Federation citizens fighting the evil Cardassian empire in clear violation of a peace treaty between TheFederation and TheEmpire. This gets harder and harder for her as the local leader insists on being really nice to her and talking about various sentimental stuff. [[spoiler:After he is killed by the Cardassians, she betrays Star Fleet and defects to join the Maquis.]]

* PreachingToThePerverted runs on this trope, with the protagonist being very surprised that the people at the club he's infiltrating turns out to be really nice people.
* In EasyA, Marianne really hated Olive. But when Olive showed her a bit of kindness and support, she quickly changed her attitude and wanted to be friends instead. It didn't last long, but that's for entirely different reasons. [[spoiler: Marianne's boyfriend cheated on her and got a venereal disease, then lied and pretended he got it from Olive.]]

* Wood Elves in TheHobbit. They distrust the dwarves mutually ([[PoorCommunicationKills so the dwarves refuse to say why they're there, making the elves suspicious]] since they assumed the starving dwarves approaching their banquet to beg for food were attacking). They turn out to be a lot nicer later on, [[spoiler: with Bilbo giving them some treasure in payment for the food he stole while orchestrating the dwarves' breakout on his way back home]]. Arguably the men of the lake as well [[spoiler: since they join the elves in laying siege to the old keep]].

* Dark Templar, from some character's points of view, in {{Starcraft}}.

* In LegendOfTheGuardians, the pure ones seem really scary at first. (And it's also [[ANaziByAnyOtherName clear from the narrative]] that they actually ''are'' evil.) However, as the queen shows Kludd some kindness, he quickly "realizes" that they are the good guys.
* The Sewer people in {{Futurama}}

* TruthInTelevision far more often than not. Men or women, blacks or whites, liberals or conservatives, straights or gays, believers or nonbelievers; whoever the group may be that you don't belong to, once you leave your comfort zone and get to know them, you'll find that they're actually pretty decent people.[[hottip:*:Whatever you're thinking of adding, trust us; [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment it isn't funny]]. Any {{Take That}}s will be terminated with extreme prejudice.]]

** Unless the group's official policy says something like "We want Group X dead, and we plan to make that happen through direct action," most member are probably pretty decent people.

* A lot of old old ''DoctorWho'' monsters are like this. [[spoiler:The Optera in "the Web Planet", the Didoans in "The Rescue", whatever's going on in "Galaxy Four", plus some newer(= 1970s) examples like the Martians in "The Ambassadors of Death", the Ice Warriors in "The Curse of Peladon" ONLY, and the Foamasi in "The Leisure Hive."]]

* A lot of old old Dr. Who monsters are like this. [[spoiler:The Optera in "the Web Planet", the Didoans in "The Rescue", whatever's going on in "Galaxy Four", plus some newer(= 1970s) examples like the Martians in "The Ambassadors of Death", the Ice Warriors in "The Curse of Peladon" ONLY, and the Foamasi in "The Leisure Hive."]]

* In one episode of StarTrekVoyager, the protagonists themselves do this to a civilization that is very powerful but also [[HumansAreCthulhu very afraid of them]]. [[spoiler: Well, this is Species 8472. First they pushed back the Borg that was invading their realm, but then the humans shows up, siding with the borg and start exterminating them. Considering this background, it really didn't take much to win their confidence.]]
* StargateSG1 episode "Forsaken": Team run into group of humans with downed spaceship harassed by evil-looking RubberForeheadAliens. They later found out that humans were convicted criminals on the way to PenalColony and said aliens were crew of the ship - Serrakins who once liberated criminals' homeworld of Goa'uld and settled there living in harmony with locals.

* In one episode of StarTrekTNG, a Star Fleet Officer is tasked with infiltrating the Maquis, a group of outlaw federation Citizens fighting the evil Cardassian empire in clear violation of a peace treaty between TheFederation and TheEmpire. This gets harder and harder for her as the local leader insists on being really nice to her and talk about various sentimental stuff. [[spoiler:After he is killed by the Cardassians, she betray Star fleet and defect to join the Maquis.]]

If DarkIsNotEvil, then this might be how Bob makes a HeelFaceTurn as he stops being a PrinciplesZealot or WindmillCrusader or whatever his problem was. [[SubvertedTrope However]], if the group really ''is'' TheDarkSide (rather then merely DarkerAndEdgier), it might instead be how he makes a FaceHeelTurn. This subversion is closly related to AffablyEvil. If [[GoodVersusGood BOTH sides are good]] (at least in Bob's eyes), then this may be how Bob becomes a peacemaker betweeen them... or get stuck in the FaceHeelRevolvingDoor.

* Inverted in Film/{{Avatar}}, as the protagonist has to work really hard to earn a minimum of trust, respect & kindness.