History PlayingWith / TheBigBadShuffle

* '''Exaggerated''': It turns out that [=OmniCorp=] was merely an UnwittingPawn of the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness, which had deliberately sabotaged the material shipments of [=ManuCom=] in a FalseFlagOperation to set into motion it's undercover war against [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love]], whose upper management is composed of people who cannot be easily disposed of but have access to deeply classified information and [[EmptyQuiver lost nuclear weapons]]. But then it turns out that ''these guys'' aren't the BigBad, as it's actually the GovernmentConspiracy, with [[WeAreEverywhere operatives everywhere]]- even DaChief is one of them-, tricking them into believing that Peace & Love was a threat, to create a [[CorporateWarfare war]] that would lead to the [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans mutual annihilation of the companies which the economy is dependent on]], and together with the constant terrorist attacks, would keep the populace too poor and afraid to care about the already existing problems created by this conspiracy. [[KudzuPlot But it turns out]] that even ''they'' aren't the true BigBad, and it is actually the [[GloriousLeader emperor of]] [[TheEmpire Evilus]], [[GodEmperor God-Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Evulz,]] behind everything and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] ''[[MagnificentBastard everyone]]'' [[KarmaHoudini without retribution]]. [[FromBadToWorse And then]] Evulz [[TheReveal reveals]] to Bob that [[LukeIAmYourFather he is his father]] and that he faked his death because of Bob were to ever to learn of his [[DealWithTheDevil dealings]] [[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere with]] {{Satan}}, who [[TheDevilIsALoser is really just a superpowered hobo]], he would come to hate him. Even though he [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes truly cared about him]], and sold his soul to [[HeroicSacrifice lift Bob from poverty]]. Cue [[HeelRealization dawning horror]] as Bob realizes that [[TomatoInTheMirror the true]] BigBad [[TomatoInTheMirror is]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror him]]''.

* '''Exaggerated''': It turns out that [=OmniCorp=] was merely an UnwittingPawn of the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness, which had deliberately sabotaged the material shipments of [=ManuCom=] in a FalseFlagOperation to set into motion it's undercover war against [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love]], whose upper management is composed of people who cannot be easily disposed of but have access to deeply classified information and [[EmptyQuiver lost nuclear weapons]]. But then it turns out that ''these guys'' aren't the BigBad, as it's actually the GovernmentConspiracy, with [[WeAreEverywhere operatives everywhere]]- even DaChief is one of them-, tricking them into believing that Peace & Love was a threat, to create a [[CorporateWarfare war]] that would lead to the [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans mutual annihilation of the companies which the economy is dependent on]], and together with the constant terrorist attacks, would keep the populace too poor and afraid to care about the already existing problems created by this conspiracy. [[KudzuPlot But it turns out]] that even ''they'' aren't the true BigBad, and it is actually [[GodEmperor God-Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Evulz]] behind everything and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] ''[[MagnificentBastard everyone]]'' [[KarmaHoudini without retribution]]. [[FromBadToWorse And then]] Evulz [[TheReveal reveals]] to Bob that [[LukeIAmYourFather he is his father]] and that he faked his death because of Bob were to ever to learn of his [[DealWithTheDevil dealings]] [[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere with]] {{Satan}}, who [[TheDevilIsALoser is really just a superpowered hobo]], he would come to hate him. Even though he [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes truly cared about him]], and sold his soul to [[HeroicSacrifice lift Bob from poverty]]. Cue [[HeelRealization dawning horror]] as Bob realizes that [[TomatoInTheMirror the true]] BigBad [[TomatoInTheMirror is]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror him]]''.

** Stable villainous organizations are bound to generate a [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil hierarchy]] of higher-ups passing out directives to people lower of the chain of authority.

* '''Inverted''': After [[TheDragon Lucius]] alerts [[VillainProtagonist Evulz]] to the existence of [[TheProphecy a prophecy]] that foretells of the birth of an intrepid [[BigGood hero]] who shall rise and topple his [[TheEmpire empire]], Evulz decides that, since PropheciesAreAlwaysRight, [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure consulting his]] [[CommandRoster advisors]] for [[RedundancyDepartmentOfRedundancy advise]] is the wisest course of action. Immediately, GeneralRipper suggests [[FinalSolution genocide]] to expunge this threat, to which the rest agree. Problem is, [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist the Science Director]] interjects, is they have [[ImpossibleTask millions of people to sort through to find this hero]]. It would be impossible in this situation for Evulz to just capture the child and raise him as his own successor, the only [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption option]] going forward is to [[ChildlessDystopia sterilize everyone]] (but not before storing away their genetic material in sperm/egg banks!), and anyone who rejects this offer can [[DoomedHometown burn in hell]]. Usually, burning down villages will [[SelfFulfillingProphecy make more heroes]] than necessary by giving them [[TheUnchosenOne reasons to hate the villain]], but [[GenreSavvy Evulz knows this]], and is actively [[ExploitedTrope exploiting this fact]]; ImprobableInfantSurvival applies, often with [[MosesInTheBulrushes babies floating downstream]] or otherwise being squirrelled away by [[MysteriousWaif mysterious waifs]], so finding these children possibly means finding hero candidates. But when Evulz ordered the glassing of the ignorant backwater town of Troperitania, the floating child- [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Hiro Goodall]]- that his army found ''wasn't'' the actual hero, but rather the young girl Alice who had found him, for [[HeroesFrontierStep that action]] would teach her how GoodFeelsGood and would inspire her that she ''does'' have the power to defeat TheEmpire if she would only try. But then it turns out that Alice saving the baby was contrived by HeroesRUs to inspire the hero inside who they suspected was TheChosenOne, to fight in their crusade against Evulz- they had [[WellIntentionedExtremist sabotaged the wagon train]] en route to a marketplace in TheCity, forcing them to stop off at an inn just outside of Troperitania. The town was bombed, and while they were frantically packing up their supplies to escape from the fray, Alice ran into Hiro, whose family escaped through a gate that HeroesRUs just 'happened' to leave open, and even if his parents didn't make it, he did. But then it's revealed that they were tricked into thinking Alice was TheChosenOne, when she was merely a conduit to retrieve the SwordOfPlotAdvancement and [[SealedGoodInACan unseal the]] GoddessOfGood [[GreaterScopeParagon Justitia]]. And then she [[TheReveal reveals]] to Evulz that, by setting off the chain of events that freed her from her prison, ''[[FaceRealization Evulz]]'' [[TomatoInTheMirror is the true]] BigGood.

* '''Straight''': In the PoliceProcedural ''Troperitania Central'', after being made to [[TurnInYourBadge turn in his badge]] for [[CowboyCop failing to abide by the law]] in his fanatical search for the man who [[YouKilledMyFather killed his father]], though on friendly terms, by DaChief David, PrivateDetective Bob, along with IntrepidReporter Alice and HardBoiledDetective [[FriendOnTheForce Charlie]], investigate the scene of a gruesome murder of the well known philanthropic senator Emily. The suspect was an minor, AxCrazy street criminal, but [[MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot since seemingly isolated incidents reveal massive plots]], it turns out that he armed with a gun and a license by the CorruptPolitician Frank as a [[PsychoForHire hitman]] with a target placed on [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Emily's]] head for her [[DirtyBusiness dirty dealings]] on the BlackMarket for information that could jeopardize Frank's career. But he ''is not'' the BigBad, just an ArcVillain who was bought up by TheSyndicate to have the government and law enforcement turn a blind eye to their actions, and Alice, while she ''was'' a rotten egg, supported the hated [[TheMafia Mafia]], and needed to be ridden of. [[SerialEscalation Yet even]] ''[[SerialEscalation they]]'' aren't the BigBad, as they are merely tools of [[MegaCorp Omni]][[EvilInc Corp]], tasked with [[CorporateWarfare sabotaging the industrial hubs, mines, and shipping companies]] associated with rival corporations, particularly [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love Incorporated]], such that [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident it would look like symptom of management incompetence and internal factors]], and in such a way that it doesn't effect [[ToxicInc ManuCom]], one of [[BigBad OmniCorp's]] allies.

* '''Subverted''': After uncovering [[BigBad Frank's]] criminal connections and watching him become the centerpiece of a major political scandal, [[ScandalGate preferably with the suffix 'gate' appended]], Bob is DrivenToMadness, not by anyone but himself- the ParanoiaFuel of ''[[TheyLookLikeEveryoneElse anyone]]'' you know, anyone you love [[EvilAllAlong conspiring against you]], being puppets of some mad [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] beyond all mankind will certainly erode at your trust, and your sanity. Bob hasn't slept in three days, and three nights, subsisting on coffee alone staring at his [[StringTheory obfuscating wall of connections]] while rambling to himself like a madman, [[ApopheniaPlot seeing connections where there are none]]. Alice is worried for her friends rapidly deteriorating mental well-being. Last she asked, he went on and on about [[CassandraTruth Omnicorp, an all-seeing council of lies, an ancient conspiracy, the devil, his father]]... Also doubles as a Deconstruction.
* '''Double Subverted''': Yet Bob is ProperlyParanoid; see Exaggeration.

Back to TheBigBadShuffle

%% * '''Deconstructed''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': It turns out that [=OmniCorp=] was merely an UnwittingPawn of the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness, which had deliberately sabotaged the material shipments of [=ManuCom=] in a FalseFlagOperation to set into motion it's undercover war against [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love]], whose upper management is composed of people who cannot be easily disposed of but have access to deeply classified information and [[EmptyQuiver lost nuclear weapons]]. But then it turns out that ''these guys'' aren't the BigBad, as it's actually the GovernmentConspiracy, with [[WeAreEverywhere operatives everywhere]]- even DaChief is one of them-, tricking them into believing that Peace & Love was a threat, to create a [[CorporateWarfare war]] that would lead to the [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans mutual annihilation of the companies which the economy is dependent on]], and together with the constant terrorist attacks, would keep the populace too poor and afraid to care about the already existing problems created by this conspiracy. [[KudzuPlot But it turns out]] that even ''they'' aren't the true BigBad, and it is actually [[GodEmperor God-Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Evulz]] behind everything and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] ''[[MagnificentBastard everyone]]'' [[KarmaHoudini without retribution]]. [[FromBadToWorse And then]] Evulz [[TheReveal reveals]] to Bob that [[LukeIAmYourFather he is his father]] and that he faked his death because of Bob were to ever to learn of his [[DealWithTheDevil dealings]] [[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere with]] {{Satan}}, who [[TheDevilIsALoser is really just a superpowered hobo]], he would come to hate him. Even though he truly cared about him, and sold his soul to [[HeroicSacrifice lift Bob from poverty]]. Cue [[HeelRealization dawning horror]] as Bob realizes that [[TomatoInTheMirror the true]] BigBad [[TomatoInTheMirror is]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror him]]''.

* '''Subverted''': After uncovering Frank's criminal connections and watching him become the centerpiece of a major political scandal, [[ScandalGate preferably with the suffix 'gate' appended]], Bob is DrivenToMadness, not by anyone but himself- the ParanoiaFuel of ''[[TheyLookLikeEveryoneElse anyone]]'' you know, anyone you love [[EvilAllAlong conspiring against you]], being puppets of some mad [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] beyond all mankind will certainly erode at your trust, and your sanity. Bob hasn't slept in three days, and three nights, subsisting on coffee alone staring at his [[StringTheory obfuscating wall of connections]] while rambling to himself like a madman, [[ApopheniaPlot seeing connections where there are none]]. Alice is worried for her friends rapidly deteriorating mental well-being. Last she asked, he went on and on about [[CassandraTruth Omnicorp, an all-seeing council of lies, an ancient conspiracy, the devil, his father]]... Also doubles as a Deconstruction.

* '''Inverted''': After [[TheDragon Lucius]] alerts [[VillainProtagonist Evulz]] to the existence of [[TheProphecy a prophecy]] that foretells of the birth of an intrepid [[BigGood hero]] who shall rise and topple his [[TheEmpire empire]], Evulz decides that, since PropheciesAreAlwaysRight, [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure consulting his]] [[CommandRoster advisors]] for [[RedundancyDepartmentOfRedundancy advise]] is the wisest course of action. Immediately, GeneralRipper suggests [[FinalSolution genocide]] to expunge this threat, to which the rest agree. Problem is, [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist the Science Director]] interjects, is they have [[ImpossibleTask millions of people to sort through to find this hero]]. It would be impossible in this situation for Evulz to just capture the child and raise him as his own successor, the only [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption option]] going forward is to [[ChildlessDystopia sterilize everyone]] (but not before storing away their genetic material in sperm/egg banks!), and anyone who rejects this offer can [[DoomedHometown burn in hell]]. Usually, burning down villages will [[SelfFulfillingProphecy make more heroes]] than necessary by giving them [[TheUnchosenOne reasons to hate the villain]], but [[GenreSavvy Evulz knows this]], and is actively [[ExploitedTrope exploiting this fact]]; ImprobableInfantSurvival applies, often with [[MosesInTheBulrushes babies floating downstream]] being squirrelled away by [[MysteriousWaif mysterious waifs]], so finding these children possibly means finding hero candidates. But when Evulz ordered the glassing of the ignorant backwater town of Troperitania, the floating child- [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Hiro Goodall]]- that his army found ''wasn't'' the actual hero, but rather the young girl Alice who had found him, for [[HeroesFrontierStep that action]] would teach her how GoodFeelsGood and would inspire her that she ''does'' have the power to defeat TheEmpire if she would only try. But then it turns out that Alice saving the baby was contrived by HeroesRUs to inspire the hero inside who they suspected was TheChosenOne, to fight in their crusade against Evulz- they had [[WellIntentionedExtremist sabotaged the wagon train]] en route to a marketplace in TheCity, forcing them to stop off at an inn just outside of Troperitania. The town was bombed, and while they were frantically packing up their supplies to escape from the fray, Alice ran into Hiro, whose family escaped through a gate that HeroesRUs just 'happened' to leave open, and even if his parents didn't make it, he did. But then it's revealed that they were tricked into thinking Alice was TheChosenOne, when she was merely a conduit to retrieve the SwordOfPlotAdvancement and [[SealedGoodInACan unseal the]] GoddessOfGood [[GreaterScopeParagon Justitia]]. And then she [[TheReveal reveals]] to Evulz that, by setting off the chain of events that freed her from her prison, ''[[FaceRealization Evulz]]'' [[TomatoInTheMirror is the true]] BigGood.

* '''Inverted''': After [[TheDragon Lucius]] alerts [[VillainProtagonist Evulz]] to the existence of [[TheProphecy a prophecy]] that foretells of the birth of an intrepid [[BigGood hero]] who shall rise and topple his [[TheEmpire empire]], Evulz decides that, since PropheciesAreAlwaysRight, [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure consulting his]] [[CommandRoster advisors]] for [[RedundancyDepartmentOfRedundancy advise]] is the wisest course of action. Immediately, General Ripper suggests [[FinalSolution genocide]] to expunge this threat, to which the rest agree. Problem is, [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist the Science Director]] interjects, is they have [[ImpossibleTask millions of people to sort through to find this hero]]. It would be impossible in this situation for Evulz to just capture the child and raise him as his own successor, the only [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption option]] going forward is to [[ChildlessDystopia sterilize everyone]] (but not before storing away their genetic material in sperm/egg banks!), and anyone who rejects this offer can [[DoomedHometown burn in hell]]. Usually, burning down villages will [[SelfFulfillingProphecy make more heroes]] than necessary by giving them [[TheUnchosenOne reasons to hate the villain]], but [[GenreSavvy Evulz knows this]], and is actively [[ExploitedTrope exploiting this fact]]; ImprobableInfantSurvival applies, often with [[MosesInTheBulrushes babies floating downstream]] being squirrelled away by [[MysteriousWaif mysterious waifs]], so finding these children possibly means finding hero candidates. But when Evulz ordered the glassing of the ignorant backwater town of Troperitania, the floating child- [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Hiro Goodall]]- that his army found ''wasn't'' the actual hero, but rather the young girl Alice who had found him, for [[HeroesFrontierStep that action]] would teach her how GoodFeelsGood and would inspire her that she ''does'' have the power to defeat TheEmpire if she would only try. But then it turns out that Alice saving the baby was contrived by HeroesRUs to inspire the hero inside who they suspected was TheChosenOne, to fight in their crusade against Evulz- they had [[WellIntentionedExtremist sabotaged the wagon train]] en route to a marketplace in TheCity, forcing them to stop off at an inn just outside of Troperitania. The town was bombed, and while they were frantically packing up their supplies to escape from the fray, Alice ran into Hiro, whose family escaped through a gate that HeroesRUs just 'happened' to leave open, and even if his parents didn't make it, he did. But then it's revealed that they were tricked into thinking Alice was TheChosenOne, when she was merely a conduit to retrieve the SwordOfPlotAdvancement and [[SealedGoodInACan unseal the]] GoddessOfGood [[GreaterScopeParagon Justitia]]. And then she [[TheReveal reveals]] to Evulz that, by setting off the chain of events that freed her from her prison, ''[[FaceRealization Evulz]]'' [[TomatoInTheMirror is the true]] BigGood.

* '''Exaggerated''': It turns out that OmniCorp was merely an UnwittingPawn of the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness, which had deliberately sabotaged the material shipments of [=ManuCom=] in a FalseFlagOperation to set into motion it's undercover war against [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love]], whose upper management is composed of people who cannot be easily disposed of but have access to deeply classified information and [[EmptyQuiver lost nuclear weapons]]. But then it turns out that ''these guys'' aren't the BigBad, as it's actually the GovernmentConspiracy, with [[WeAreEverywhere operatives everywhere]]- even DaChief is one of them-, tricking them into believing that Peace & Love was a threat, to create a [[CorporateWarfare war]] that would lead to the [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans mutual annihilation of the companies which the economy is dependent on]], and together with the constant terrorist attacks, would keep the populace too poor and afraid to care about the already existing problems created by this conspiracy. [[KudzuPlot But it turns out]] that even ''they'' aren't the true BigBad, and it is actually [[GodEmperor God-Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Evulz]] behind everything and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] ''[[MagnificentBastard everyone]]'' [[KarmaHoudini without retribution]]. [[FromBadToWorse And then]] Evulz [[TheReveal reveals]] to Bob that [[LukeIAmYourFather he is his father]] and that he faked his death because of Bob were to ever to learn of his [[DealWithTheDevil dealings]] [[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere with]] {{Satan}}, who [[TheDevilIsALoser is really just a superpowered hobo]], he would come to hate him. Even though he truly cared about him, and sold his soul to [[HeroicSacrifice lift Bob from poverty]]. Cue [[HeelRealization dawning horror]] as Bob realizes that [[TomatoInTheMirror the true]] BigBad [[TomatoInTheMirror is]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror him]]''.

* '''Exaggerated''': It turns out that Omnicorp was merely an UnwittingPawn of the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness, which had deliberately sabotaged the material shipments of [=ManuCom=] in a FalseFlagOperation to set into motion it's undercover war against [[PeaceAndLoveIncorporated Peace & Love]], whose upper management is composed of people who cannot be easily disposed of but have access to deeply classified information and [[EmptyQuiver lost nuclear weapons]]. But then it turns out that ''these guys'' aren't the BigBad, as it's actually the GovernmentConspiracy, with [[WeAreEverywhere operatives everywhere]]- even DaChief is one of them-, tricking them into believing that Peace & Love was a threat, to create a [[CorporateWarfare war]] that would lead to the [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans mutual annihilation of the companies which the economy is dependent on]], and together with the constant terrorist attacks, would keep the populace too poor and afraid to care about the already existing problems created by this conspiracy. [[KudzuPlot But it turns out]] that even ''they'' aren't the true BigBad, and it is actually [[GodEmperor God-Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Evulz]] behind everything and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] ''[[MagnificentBastard everyone]]'' [[KarmaHoudini without retribution]]. [[FromBadToWorse And then]] Evulz [[TheReveal reveals]] to Bob that [[LukeIAmYourFather he is his father]] and that he faked his death because of Bob were to ever to learn of his [[DealWithTheDevil dealings]] [[GiantSpaceFleaOutOfNowhere with]] {{Satan}}, who [[TheDevilIsALoser is really just a superpowered hobo]], he would come to hate him. Even though he truly cared about him, and sold his soul to [[HeroicSacrifice lift Bob from poverty]]. Cue [[HeelRealization dawning horror]] as Bob realizes that [[TomatoInTheMirror the true]] BigBad [[TomatoInTheMirror is]] ''[[TomatoInTheMirror him]]''.

* '''Subverted''': After uncovering Frank's criminal connections and watching him become the centerpiece of a major political scandal, preferably [[ScandalGate preferably with the suffix 'gate' appended]], Bob is DrivenToMadness, not by anyone but himself- the ParanoiaFuel of ''[[TheyLookLikeEveryoneElse anyone]]'' you know, anyone you love [[EvilAllAlong conspiring against you]], being puppets of some mad [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] beyond all mankind will certainly erode at your trust, and your sanity. Bob hasn't slept in three days, and three nights, subsisting on coffee alone staring at his [[StringTheory obfuscating wall of connections]] while rambling to himself like a madman, [[ApopheniaPlot seeing connections where there are none]]. Alice is worried for her friends rapidly deteriorating mental well-being. Last she asked, he went on and on about [[CassandraTruth Omnicorp, an all-seeing council of lies, an ancient conspiracy, the devil, his father]]... Also doubles as a Deconstruction.