The TVTropes Trope Finder is where you can come to ask questions like "Do we have this one?" and "What's the trope about...?" Trying to rediscover a long lost show or other medium but need a little help? Head to Media Finder and try your luck there. Want to propose a new trope? You should be over at You Know, That Thing Where.
4tell0life4
Since: Mar, 2018
1st Jan, 2020 07:22:44 AM
This is several tropes at once...
We can never truly eradicate the coronavirus, but we can suppress its threat like influenza
Unsung
Since: Jun, 2016
Florestan
Since: May, 2015
1st Jan, 2020 10:37:34 AM
If the criminals (etc.) really don't know what they're dealing with, they may be an Unwitting Pawn in the Big Bad's plans. If they do know they're dealing with powerful evil forces, but believe they can still stay in control, it's a case of Evil Is Not a Toy.
When criminals (or corrupt officials) work with some shady person, providing this person with resources, money, or other help in exchange for anything they need, only to realise when it's already too late that this person is actually some suprevillain/omnicidal maniac/whatever, and now bad guys' greed has backfired on them.