History Main / CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass

* In Lyle Kessler's ''Orphans'', Harold is introduced as a drunken buffoon singing and dancing at a bar as he leaves a briefcase full of money unattended. Treat, a young delinquent, thinks Harold will be an easy target for robbery and kidnapping, until Harold (who turns out to be a powerful mob boss) sobers up, unties the ropes used to restrain him, and proceeds to punch out and disarm Treat.

[[folder:Animation]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The Cast Members at [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disney World]]. They're a bunch of endlessly-smiling employees in funny outfits and costumes who talk about magic and being "on stage" at work, they're seemingly just hospitality and entertainment workers, and some of Ride/JungleCruise operators joke that they couldn't get into college. On 9/11, with barely 10 minutes' notice of the emergency, they safely evacuated every single theme park using a "human wall" and without causing a panic, ''and'' kept guests at the hotels relatively calm and occupied in the aftermath.
* Clowns are used to invoke this trope, when one realizes they are not simply comic reliefs, but are often actually quite capable acrobats. An egrogious and recent example is Henry Ayala, known as "the Prince of Clowns" who is extremely funny as a clown and extremely capable as tightrope walker, with he and his team of tightrope walkers and acrobats -the Troupe Ayala- winning the SecondPrize at the 44th Festival de Monte-Carlo for their stunts.
* UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga was nicknamed the "Fool of Owari" in his youth, due to his bizarre behavior and disregard for his rank in society. Then came the Battle of Okehazama, where Nobunaga led an army of a paltry 3,000 against the warlord Imagawa Yoshimoto and his 25,000 soldiers, ''[[CurbStompBattle and won]]'', placing him in a key position to unite all of Japan under his rule. After that, [[FromNobodyToNightmare no one dared call him a "fool"]].
* Xu Zhu was known as "Tiger Fool" or "Sleeping Tiger". Noted to be a kind, humble, and quiet man off the battlefield, in battle, he turned from gentle giant into terrifying figure, often compared to a tiger.
* Guy Chabot, more known as the "Baron of Jarnac" (despite being the second to hold that title) was a peaceful young noble with no battle experience nor martial education. Unfortunately, his sister-in-law being one of the lovers of François 1er, he became the target of nasty rumors spread by the Prince, future Henri II. [[HonorBeforeReason Honor demands it]], Jarnac seek a duel with whoever spread said rumors, but as the future king cannot be mingled to such things, Henri ask someone to take the blame in his stead. Who does he sent ? One of his three closest retainers, François de Vivonne, more known as "La Châtaigneraie", who is not only a [[BloodKnight blood knight war veteran]] and [[MultiMeleeMaster proeficient with all weapons]], but also the one considered the best swordmaster of France at the time. Basically, he's [[TheDragon The Dragon]] and [[FinalBoss Final Boss]] doing a [[FinalBossPreview preview]]. François 1er, being [[OnlySaneMan reasonnable]], refuse that the duel takes place, and stand his ground for the rest of his life... but Jarnac still obtained that fight from Henri II, once he became the new king of France. Everyone, God and probably Jarnac included, expected Châtaigneraie to win, but Jarnac, having been trained in the meantime by a [[RetiredBadass retired badass]], manage to win with a [[OneHitKill one-hit kill]].
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* Clowns are used to invoke this trope, when one realizes they are not simply comic reliefs, but are often actually quite capable acrobats. An egrogious and recent example is Henry Ayala, known as "the Prince of Clowns" who is extremely funny as a clown and extremely capable as tightrope walker, with he and his team of tightrope walkers and acrobats -the Troupe Ayala- winning the second prize at the 44th Festival de Monte-Carlo for their stunts.

'''Jack Fenton:''' Maybe so, but I'm the idiot who beat ''you''.
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', "The Million Dollar Ghost"

* ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'': Cort starts out this way, a somewhat awkward, hapless preacher who initially seems to be way in over his head when he's forcibly entered into the quick draw competition. He refuses to participate and repeats over and over again that he won't draw... until the clock strikes the hour and he's shot his opponent without even seeming to realise it.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'', the poster-boy for OvershadowedByAwesome, most famous for being the guy [[Film/TheAvengers2012 barely]] [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron in]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar four]] [[Film/AvengersEndgame movies]] and doing [[OutOfFocus next to nothing in them]], and since 2012, his comic appearances have accentuated his goofy, UnluckyEveryDude aspect, and ''before'' that he was best known for being a HotBlooded BookDumb former carnie who thinks he's the best marksmen in the world. The thing is, he ''is'' as good as he thinks he is, being both the [[WorldsBestWarrior World's Greatest Marksman]] and a WalkingArmory who [[ImprovisedWeapon can turn anything into a deadly weapon]]. Besides that, he's an athlete who spent years training with Captain America, and as a result is now physically on-par with the good captain, despite his lack of Super Soldier enhancement, regularly demonstrating feats of acrobatics few people could dream of performing, never mind the fact his bow has a draw weight of ''250 lbs'', which he regularly pulls back fast enough to loose arrows with machine gun fire speed. Then you ''also'' have how he picked up Cap's other qualities from training with him, namely his strategising and leadership skills, which he's demonstrated by leading the West Coast Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Secret Avengers, and more, in one case (Thunderbolts) he gained [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership leadership by schooling the existing team so badly they couldn't even land a hit on him]].

* To a lesser extent then Deadpool, Wade's frequent [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]], [[Characters/MarvelComicsTaskmaster Taskmaster]] often falls into this DependingOnTheWriter (depending on if he's getting TheWorfEffect or not; if so, he'll be treated as TheDreaded). Quite often, heroes and other types will assume Taskmaster is a JokeCharacter, by virtue of his overly gimmicky costume that's built on RuleOfCool to the point of AwesomeButImpractical, and the fact he's often a DirtyCoward who'd rather duck out of a fight he knows he'll lose than see it through. But he's a WalkingArmory of weapons that replicate some of the most famous BadassNormal heroes in the Marvel Universe, while his photographic reflexes make him an expert with virtually every fighting style, weapon, or skill. He regularly researches fighting techniques to mimic, and as he's learnt from so many heroes who punch above their weight, so can he, often fighting heroes who are significantly more powerful than him but still putting up a real threat.

* Po from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''. While not inept, he's a bumbler and a daydreamer. After some focus and hardcore training, however, he not only managed to take down the BigBad, but [[spoiler: his idols are so impressed, they kneel before him]]. In the sequel, he is more consistently badass, having become a very skilled martial artist who can at least keep up with the Furious Five in battle and [[AcroFatic is quite good at using his weight and bulk to his advantage]], but he is still a [[BigEater big-eating]] goofball, his [[AscendedFanboy fanboyishness]] is still showing a lot, and he ''still'' can't handle stairs.

* The CGI movie ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicRoundabout'', in which the affable stoner rabbit, Dylan, suddenly snaps and opens up a can of Whup Ass as demonstrated when he takes out the skeletons in the temple.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Jack-Jack (not a moron, but a baby) demonstrates a startling array of powers (which, by most reckonings, are probably more badass than those of the rest of the cast) when threatened by the BigBad, Syndrome.
** Or the babysitter. In the fairly amusing short packaged with the DVD, ''Jack Jack Attack'', Jack-Jack reduces the babysitter to a [[BadlyBatteredBabysitter stress-overloaded wreck]] by spontaneously generating anti-gravity powers, teleportation, the ability to shoot EyeBeams, and Human-Torch-esque flame powers. Since the whole film seems to be a {{Homage}} to the Comicbook/FantasticFour, he might be a sly reference to the fifth Fantastic: [[GooGooGodlike Franklin]]. The writers, for their part, note that the reason they gave him so many powers he flips through like he's channel surfing is because he's a baby: he hasn't defined himself yet. What this means for the world of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' as far as power development goes...

** And played straight with [[TheHero Shirou]], for that matter, whose AmbiguousDisorder makes him eccentric, helpful, and self-sacrificing. And also means that he has enough HeroicWillpower to [[PersonalityPowers break reality.]]

->'''Vlad Plasmius:''' This can't be happening! You're an idiot! ''An idiot!''\\
'''Jack Fenton:''' That may be, but I'm the idiot who beat ''you''.

* ''Film/LesVisiteurs'': 12th century squire Jacquouille (Creator/ChristianClavier) might be a MedievalMoron from TheDungAges by all accounts, [[FishOutOfTemporalWater especially in the 20th century]], but he seemingly knows how to survive in the wilderness, as he holds his own against a pack of wolves without a trace of fear and "smells the tracks very well" according to his master Godefroy. He also knocks one of the ransacking Burgundian knights down with a mallet during their raid on Godefroy's lands, and doesn't hesitate to chase a [[TheDreaded dreaded]] inquisitor with a hot red iron as the lives of his master and his descendant are on the line.

* ''Film/JuanOfTheDead'': TheSlacker Juan becomes a zombie-killing machine, using his fishing oar as a weapon. It is revealed that [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_intervention_in_Angola he participated in the Cuban intervention in Angola]].

* [[http://shipoffools.wikia.com/wiki/Majestic_T._Decaden Majestic T. Decaden]] from Wiki/TheShipOfFools plays this trope '''very''' straight. Most of the time he is a DirtyCoward of a RoyalBrat with a talent for throwing all of his share of the pirating onto his fellow [[http://shipoffools.wikia.com/wiki/Pop_Band_Pirates Pop Bands]]. However, endanger his livelihood and you're quickly find out why it's a bad idea to bother TheStrategist who change all of you into PeoplePuppets within the blink of an eye.

The RichIdiotWithNoDayJob counts on people not thinking of this trope.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'', the poster-boy for OvershadowedByAwesome, most famous for being the guy [[Film/TheAvengers2012 barely]] [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron in]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar four]] [[Film/AvengersEndgame movies]] and doing [[OutOfFocus next to nothing in them]], and since 2012, his comic appearances have accentuated his goofy, UnluckyEveryDude aspect, and ''before'' that he was best known for being a HotBlooded BookDumb former carnie who thinks he's the best marksmen in the world. The thing is, he ''is'' as good as he thinks he is, being both the [[WorldsBestWarrior World's Greatest Marksman]] and a WalkingArmory who [[ImprovisedWeapon can turn anything into a deadly weapon]]. Besides that, he's an athlete who spent years training with Captain America, and as a result is now physically on-par with the good captain, despite his lack of Super Soldier enhancement, regularly demonstrating feats of acrobatics few people could dream of performing, never mind the fact his bow has a draw weight of ''250 lbs'', which he regularly pulls back fast enough to loose arrows with machine gun fire speed. Then you ''also'' have how he picked up Cap's other qualities from training with him, namely his strategising and leadership skills, which he's demonstrated by leading the West Coast Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Secret Avengers, and more, in one case (Thunderbolts) he gained [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority leadership by schooling the existing team so badly they couldn't even land a hit on him]].

* LetsPlay/SimonLane and LetsPlay/LewisBrindley of the LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}} usually play quirky [[IdiotHero Idiot Heroes]]. And then you hurt someone they like, and they ''will kick your ass''. Not to mention that despite their usual stupidity they both have studied advanced sciences in RealLife.

At first glance, they're TheFool. TheDitz. [[TheKlutz The sort of person you wouldn't trust to screw in a lightbulb without hurting themselves]] or [[StrawLoser someone who continually makes a fool of themselves]] around others who find them a total embarrassment. And no, it's not the act of just ObfuscatingStupidity — they're really like that.

Similarly, the reasons for this deceptive outward appearance vary. They may be [[DumbIsGood a genuinely good-natured moron]] or [[KindheartedSimpleton a kind-hearted idiot]] who only fights [[MartialPacifist when they have no other choice]]. They might be a RetiredBadass who's gone a bit senile. They may be handicapping themselves in some way that reduces their overall abilities — for instance, the IneptMage may fumble with FunctionalMagic because their ''true'' strength and skill lies in dangerously uncontrollable WildMagic. Occasionally the character even has a PowerLimiter that [[SealedBadassInACan seals away from their full strength until needed]] — they might not ''know'' they have the power, let alone [[HowDoIShotWeb how to control it]].

The main point is not the powers, but the personality shift that comes with them. No matter what their exact situation is when these characters find themselves in a situation where a badass is needed and they are the only ones available, the guy who's been written off as harmlessly incompetent grits their teeth and becomes a OneManArmy.

In other cases, things will go bad. The badass powers are required too often, and they gradually take their toll on a previously cheerful individual. It might even turn out that the individual was once like their badass side all the time, but somehow 'sealed' that part of themselves away — or it was sealed away by someone else — to keep them under control. Usually results in a KnightInSourArmor or, in the case of females, an EmotionlessGirl or BrokenBird, and their friends wondering if SavingTheWorld was really worth the price. In the worst cases, this can end up as a full-blown SuperpoweredEvilSide or JekyllAndHyde scenario. The Japanese term for this is "dame elite" ("dame" meaning ''no good'').

* Radagast from the film adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit''. Though eccentric (he lets birds nest in his hair, and Saruman is convinced that eating so many mushrooms has affected his brain), he is able to bring recently deceased animals to life, outrun wargs on his sled, and even [[spoiler: defeat the Witch King in hand-to-hand combat without breaking a sweat]]!

* ''Film/AManCalledHorse'': John's guides Ed and Bent are lazy, disrespectful drunks, but they grow more alert when they see signs that the Sioux are about to attack. When the attack happens, one of them manages to stab a Sioux to death before dying while the more competent Joe fails to accomplish the same thing.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':

* In ''Machinima/SmashKing'', [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Dedede]] is the definition of this. Wario also applies as he only fights when he has to, and because of his split personality disorder, Meta Knight fits this trope like a glove. During Act II however, the "badass" side becomes much more prominent.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* As Fred points out in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendOfThePhantosaur'', hypnosis can't make a person do something they wouldn't (or couldn't) do without it. Which means Shaggy really is fully capable of wiping the floor with that biker gang (as seen in the video example). He's just too frightened and peace-loving to fight back normally.
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* The ComicBook/XMen's ComicBook/{{Jubilee|MarvelComics}}. On the surface she's a somewhat ditzy, ''very'' [[TheNineties 90s]] [[TotallyRadical mallrat]], and ''especially'' for those who only know her from the animated ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' her ''pafs'' [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway come across as a joke]]. And it certainly helps that Jubilee never really learned to develop her powers to their full potential. But then you read ''why'' she didn't: Jubilee is capable of manipulating and ''detonating'' matter at the ''sub-atomic'' level, and once ''leveled The Mandarin's castle'' when she cut loose because she thought ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} had been hurt. And that ''still'' wasn't the full extent of her powers. ComicBook/EmmaFrost more or less likened her to ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction a walking fusion bomb]]''. Keep in mind she manipulates plasma. As in ''the'' most pervasive state of matter ''in the universe''. The sun is a ''big ball of plasma''. It's what ''outer space'' is made of. And Jubilee can potentially control ''any of it''.