History Main / WhyIsntItAttacking

* The Critic Burnt from [[Videogame/{{Off}} OFF]]; unlike all other enemies you've encountered, it doesn't attack you at all, instead screaming for help over and over. [[ButThouMust The Batter refuses to flee, no matter how many times you press the button, and you're forced to have him kill it.]] [[HeelRealization For many players, this is the moment where they start to realize that what they're doing might not be in the name of "purity" at all.]]

* The Critic Burnt from [[Videogame/{{Off}} OFF]], unlike all other Burnts, doesn't attack at all, instead screaming for help. [[ButThouMust We have no choice but to have the Batter kill it.]]

* ''Film/TheHost'' looked like it was going to do this when [[spoiler:it captured the protagonists' daughter]], but it was subverted.

* ''TheMatrixRevolutions'': A ZergRush of Sentinels is about to overrun Zion, only to stop at the last second. Morpheus soon realizes that Neo must be up to something.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' episode "Gamma World", Thor is fighting Absorbing Man, who has taken on the substance of Mjolnir. Absorbing Man seems to be beating Thor to a pulp, all the while shouting at the god to get up and fight. Moments later, Thor raises his hand and stops Absorbing Man in mid-swing. Thor then shows him [[HoistByHisOwnPetard why taking on Mjolnir's properties was a bad idea]], by controlling ''him'' just like he controls his hammer.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', light-sided Sith Warriors and Inquisitors tend to receive this reaction from various Republic troops, civilians and Jedi they encounter, especially if they'd just provided them with a VillainousRescue. The Jedi Knight encounters a similar situation with an honorable Sith on Tattoine who'd been raised to believe Jedi were genocidal lunatics.

Note that the "attacker" can be monster, animal or human.

** Also occurs on the Season 4 opener, where [[spoiler: Anders]] gets into a dogfight with a Raider. The Raider gets off a scan...and breaks off. It doesn't make the poor guy happy, [[TomatoInTheMirror as he had found out moments ago that he is a Cylon]] and could have probably lived without the stamp of approval from a Raider.

* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'': In ''Empire of the Skrall'', Tuma drops his weapon after being ambushed by a couple of baterra robots, which cause them to immediately stop attacking him. The baterra are programmed to only attack beings they perceive as threats, and since Tuma was now unarmed, [[LiteralMinded they no longer considered him a threat]]. They still just stood there though, until someone made them leave.

* Occurs in ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}'' when you [[spoiler:storm the Ura fortress]]. The kid sleeps while an enemy swordsman watches nearby. No matter how long you wait, they will not attack until the kid wakes up.
* In ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'', some Splicers do this to you. A few scripted sections have Splicers pop up right behind you and pointedly ''not'' attack. Depending on your paranoia, [[spoiler:Sander Cohen]] might count, since after you [[spoiler:kill his enemies, photograph their corpses, add them to Cohen's disturbing quadtych, and fight off his army of Splicers that he sends in a moment of paranoia]], he gives you another present and just stands there, true to his word about letting you leave. [[spoiler:Unless you attack him or his quadtych]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'', Rom the Vacuous Spider is one, as a vacuous BarrierMaiden, it has no intent to do harm, however, this is a ButThouMust moment, you have to kill her to uncover the secret of Mensis Ritual. Ebrietas is another one, despite being an EldritchAbomination, she'll willing to co-exist with humans, [[spoiler: however, if you want to resurrect Queen Annalise after sending Alfred to grind her, you have to kill Ebrietas.]]
* In ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'', Manscorpion Tark is one, despite having a threatening appearance, he is actually friendly. [[spoiler: Should you wear the Ring of Whisper, you can talk to him and hear his story, and in return he becomes your ChekhovsGunman]].

** The page quote comes from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'''s remake, ''Echoes: Shadows of Valentia''. If attacked by Alm, Rudolf will not counter or attack. This prompts Alm to ask just ''what'' Rudolf is planning. [[spoiler: Rudolf is committing SuicideByCop - he ''wants'' his son, Alm to kill him, and he cannot bring himself to even so much as defend himself against his own son.]]
* In ''VideoGame/GloryOfHeraclesIII'', [[spoiler:you have to provoke this after the Protagonist is turned into a monster and sent back in time to face his past self's party. By [[SheatheYourSword refusing to attack]], the party will become confused and eventually stop fighting.]]

* In the comic book interquel for ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', ''The Sacrifice'', a military doctor asks why the zombie horde isn't following them, but decides that it's a good thing. Louis responds that the zombies aren't attacking because [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity a Tank is approaching]], which is definitely not a good thing. [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration Similar scenarios]] also [[MediumAwareness happen frequently]] in [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall the game itself.]]
* A hint that all is not what it seems during [[spoiler:Oersted's story]] while fighting a demonic boss in ''VideoGame/{{Live A Live}}'', unfortunately winning is a ButThouMust situation.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', if the Geth and the Rachni are recruited for [[spoiler: the Crucible]], an email from some of the personnel mention their initial freakout when they showed up, asking for Shepard to maybe give a little warning the next time [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu they recruit Cthulhu]]?! In the former case, it lead to one of the soldiers having to awkwardly go and apologise to the Geth Prime whose headlights they shot out.
* Zombie pigmen in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''. Normal zombies, skeletons, spiders, creepers, just about anything else will attack you for no reason at all, but for some reason zombie pigmen are passive unless provoked. They [[ZergRush fight in droves]] and have [[DemonicSpiders powerful attacks]], so it's likely [[AntiFrustrationFeatures done to prevent]] [[RageQuit rage quits]].

* In ''Webcomic/DragonMango'', Agent Vinegar, sent after a murderer, finds his target overpowers him but doesn't kill him, which leaves him baffled.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'', Jane is captured by the leopard men. When she finds herself in their city, she asks why they brought her there if they weren't going to tear her apart. Turns out [[spoiler: they wanted to break the spell that Queen La had put on them so they could return to being regular leopards, but the spell could only be broken by their queen. So they kidnapped Jane so she could take the role as queen and break the spell.]]
* Sometimes you wish Valerie Grey would ask this about her "ArchEnemy" WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom- who actually ''isn't'' her ArchEnemy, but actually TheHero who never attacks, but she's too blind to see it.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' episode "Gamma World", Thor is fighting Absorbing Man, who has taken on the substance of Mjolnir. Absorbing Man seems to be beating Thor to a pulp, all the while shouting at the god to get up and fight. Moments later, Thor raises his hand and stops Absorbing Man in mid-swing. Thor then shows him why taking on Mjolnir's properties was a bad idea, by controlling ''him'' just like he controls his hammer.

** In ''VideoGame/NierAutomata'', you are told from the beginning that the machine robots you slaughter by the dozens are mindless robots, and their strange behavior (like becoming pacifistic, forming family units, opening a theme park, and [[BreadMilkEggsSquick simulating sexual acts with each other]]) simply mean they are following their programming by blindly mimicking human customs. The irony is that the people who tell you this, and in fact all the characters you play as, are androids built in the image of and fighting for the glory of their human creators. This forms the philosophical and existential question of identity and intelligence of the entire game. Think of it as ItCanThink meets GrewBeyondTheirProgramming.

** In ''VideoGame/NierAutomata'', you are told from the beginning that the machine robots you slaughter by the dozens are mindless robots, and their strange behavior (like becoming pacifistic, forming family units, opening a theme park, and [[BreadMilkEggsSquick simulating sexual acts with each other]]) simply mean they are following their programming by mimicking human customs. The irony of this is that the people who tell you this, and in fact all the characters you play, are androids fighting for their human masters. This forms the philosophical and existential question of identity and intelligence of the entire game. Basically, it's ItCanThink meets GrewBeyondTheirProgramming.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', light-sided Sith Warriors and Inquisitors tend to receive this reaction from various Republic troops, civilians and Jedi they encounter, especially if they'd just provided them with a VillainousRescue.

** In "The Witch's Familiar," this trope helps the Doctor to realize that the Dalek is actually an empty casing with his companion Clara stuffed inside as a BatmanGambit to trick him into accidentally killing her.

* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'', the mere fact that the D'regs are not attacking is enough to convince a veteran commander to surrender to [[TheAce Captain Carrot]] on the spot, having first insisted that these can't be D'regs because D'regs would be attacking.

* ''Film/WarmBodies'' is about a zombie who gets attracted to a normal human and saves her from the rest of the horde.

More dangerously, he may be a BossInMookClothing feigning the above as part of a dastardly plot to earn her trust so he can betray her later. Even if he genuinely does want to protect her, he can always go [[{{Yandere}} psychotically]] [[StalkerWithACrush possessive]] and only protect her to possess her. Or of course, there might be a [[AlwaysABiggerFish bigger monster behind her]]. [[WeWait Or just waiting for reinforcements.]] And there's always the off chance that she's TooSpicyForYogSothoth. If he simply flees past and ignores her, it may be an example of ForebodingFleeingFlock. Alternatively, what Bob is doing is JustAsPlanned, or she has other thing that are more important than him to worry about.

More dangerously, he may be a BossInMookClothing feigning the above as part of a dastardly plot to earn her trust so he can betray her later. Even if he genuinely does want to protect her, he can always go [[{{Yandere}} psychotically]] [[StalkerWithACrush possessive]] and only protect her to possess her. Or of course, there might be a [[AlwaysABiggerFish bigger monster behind her]]. [[WeWait Or just waiting for reinforcements.]] And there's always the off chance that she's TooSpicyForYogSothoth. If he simply flees past and ignores her, it may be an example of ForebodingFleeingFlock.

* The page quote comes from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'''s remake, ''Echoes of Valentia''. If attacked by Alm, Rudolf will not counter or attack. This prompts Alm to ask just ''what'' Rudolf is planning. [[spoiler: Rudolf is committing SuicideByCop - he ''wants'' his son, Alm to kill him, and he cannot bring himself to even so much as defend himself against his own son.]]
* During ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', a cheeky player might notice that on a few maps, it's possible for some characters to actually confront their former allies or even family members. (Notably Brom and Meg, who are father and daughter.) Sure enough, [[DevelopersForesight they won't attack each other]].

* The page quote comes from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'''s remake, ''Echoes of Valentia''. If attacked by Alm, Rudolf will not counter or attack. This prompts Alm to ask just ''what'' Rudolf is planning. [[spoiler: Rudolf is committing SuicideByCop - he ''wants'' his son, Alm to kill him, and he cannot bring himself to even so much as defend himself against his own son.]]
** During ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', a cheeky player might notice that on a few maps, it's possible for some characters to actually confront their former allies or even family members. (Notably Brom and Meg, who are father and daughter.) Sure enough, [[DevelopersForesight they won't attack each other]].
* Zombie pigmen in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''. Normal zombies, skeletons, spiders, creepers, just about anything else will attack you for no reason at all, but for some reason zombie pigmen are passive unless provoked. They [[ZergRush fight in droves]] and have [[DemonicSpiders powerful attacks]], so it's likely [[AntiFrustrationFeatures done to prevent]] [[RageQuit rage quits]].
* Shining Blade in ''VideoGame/GuildWars''.
* Done by the ''player'' in ''VideoGame/BioShock2'' if you choose to spare a certain character (who up until that point considered you a mindless monster) she'll undergo a HeelFaceTurn of sorts (she won't outright betray the BigBad, because she still believes in her and thinks she was just wrong about you, but she'll send you supplies every so often).
** Some Splicers do the same to you. A few scripted sections have Splicers pop up right behind you and pointedly ''not'' attack. Depending on your paranoia, [[spoiler:Sander Cohen]] might count, since after you [[spoiler:kill his enemies, photograph their corpses, add them to Cohen's disturbing quadtych, and fight off his army of Splicers that he sends in a moment of paranoia]], he gives you another present and just stands there, true to his word about letting you leave. [[spoiler:Unless you attack him or his quadtych]].

* Happens with [[spoiler:a geth]] in VideoGame/MassEffect2, who [[StabTheScorpion takes out some enemies for you]], and can later potentially join your party.
** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', if the Geth and the Rachni are recruited for [[spoiler: the Crucible]], an email from some of the personnel mention their initial freakout when they showed up, asking for Shepard to maybe give a little warning the next time [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu they recruit Cthulhu]]?! In the former case, it lead to one of the soldiers having to awkwardly go and apologise to the Geth Prime whose headlights they shot out.
* In the comic book interquel for VideoGame/Left4Dead, ''The Sacrifice'', a military doctor asks why the zombie horde isn't following them, but decides that it's a good thing. Louis responds that the zombies aren't attacking because [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity a Tank is approaching]], which is definitely not a good thing. [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration Similar scenarios]] also [[MediumAwareness happen frequently]] in [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall the game itself.]]
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', light-sided Sith Warriors and Inquisitors tend to receive this reaction from various Republic troops, civilians and Jedi they encounter, especially if they'd just provided them with a VillainousRescue.
* The player can [[InvokedTrope invoke]] this in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', during the Shivering Isles ExpansionPack, by taking a tame Gnarl and quintupling its size in front of a party of adventurers attempting to force their way into the Isles. This ends up driving the rogue insane.
* A hint that all is not what it seems during [[spoiler:Oersted's story]] while fighting a demonic boss in ''VideoGame/{{Live A Live}}'', unfortunately winning is a ButThouMust situation.
* In ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'', Manscorpion Tark is one, despite having a threatening appearance, he is actually friendly. [[spoiler: Should you wear the Ring of Whisper, you can talk to him and hear his story, and in return he becomes your ChekhovsGunman]].

* May happen between players in nearly any [[PlayerVersusPlayer PVP]] multiplayer game. Spotting an opponent who is clearly aware of you, but is deliberately choosing not to attack you or return fire can be pretty jarring, usually leading the player to pause and ask "Why isn't he attacking?"

** During ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', a cheeky player might notice that on a few maps, it's possible for some characters to actually confront their former allies or even family members. (Notably Brom and Meg, who are father and daughter) Sure enough, [[DevelopersForesight they won't attack each other]].

** During ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', a cheeky player might notice that on a few maps, it's possible for some characters to actually confront their former allies or even family members. (Notably Brom and Meg, who are father and daughter) Sure enough, [[DevleopersForesight they won't attack each other]].

** In "Victory of the Daleks," the Daleks seem to be working for none other than Winston Churchill and are just WWII robots, completely uninterested in exterminating the Doctor.

* In ''LifeOfPi'', the title character ends up on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, and an injured zebra. He wonders why the hyena hasn't attacked him or either of the other animals yet. When the hyena makes its move, Pi learns that [[spoiler: the hyena didn't attack because a ''tiger'' was hiding under the tarp]].