History Main / PoisonousCaptive

* ComicBook/TheJoker on the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "MadLove", who was able to talk his psychiatrist Harlene Quinzel into becoming [[Characters/HarleyQuinnTheCharacter Harley Quinn]] while still in Arkham. It was implied early in the episode that he compromised the ones before her in a similar fashion. (Even scarier, the Joker had figured out how to escape from his cell weeks before he actually broke out of Arkham, but stuck around a little longer because he hadn't corrupted Harley yet.)
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E8And9InjusticeForAll Injustice for All]]", Batman is captured by Lex Luthor's villainous team, and his words completely tear them apart from the inside. [[spoiler:He bribes Ultra Humanite to betray the team to the League, seduces Cheetah into kissing him so they would assume she was his accomplice when they went back and reviewed the security footage to see why the plan failed, drives a wedge between team members and generally makes a nuisance of himself, all while restrained. Then, as the kicker, once everything is falling apart and the Joker uses the confusion to pay Batman a visit without supervision, Batman reveals in the climax that he could have escaped at any time but stuck around 'to keep an eye on' the Injustice Gang.]] The Joker, of all people, warned Luthor that Batman was still dangerous even as a captive.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': In the backstory, a [[HiveMind Flood Gravemind]] was actually kept prisoner by first the ancient humans, and later the Forerunners. It proceeded to corrupt and MindRape everyone who ever talked to it, paving the way for the Flood's ultimate victory. It even managed to corrupt and turn Mendicant Bias, the Forerunners' most advanced AI, whom it was believed would be immune to corruption due to its mechanical nature.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In season four, Spike was often this to the Scoobies, typically acting as TheGadfly to mess with them (primarily the core four) since, while he wasn't strictly a captive, he was forced to rely on them for survival since he couldn't hunt humans for food. This culminated in the penultimate (sort of) episode of the season called "The Yoko Factor," where he likened himself to be the group's Yoko Ono to [[BigBad Adam]], and like Ono was TheScapegoat for breaking up Music/TheBeatles, Spike would break the Scoobies up by noting Willow's burgeoning sexuality, Xander's lack of combat skill, Giles's listlessness in unemployment, and Buffy's supposed lack of respect for them all. It did break them up temporarily, but they quickly reconciled.

* ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}} is a consistent example. Any time anyone attempts to imprison him for long, he tends to come out on top. Examples include his driving [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Xavier]], who was keeping him in the X–Mansion in an attempt to reform him, into becoming ComicBook/{{Onslaught}}; using his time as a BoxedCrook on ComicBook/XFactor to cause the entire team to implode (before escaping and badly injuring all them); and his forced work for [[ComicBook/WeaponX2002 Weapon X]], his manipulation of whom brings him straight into MagnificentBastard territory.

[[folder:Comicbooks]]

* In ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'', Edward IV, who is a brilliant military commander and competent king, faces rebellion from his cousin Warwick and his brother George primarily because Edward favors his wife's family over them. He knows he can't win in battle against them, and he knows he can't escape. So, he lets Warwick capture him. While a prisoner, he reminds Warwick he is still the king and wins the adoration of local civilians, including Warwick's own servants. He also shows no remorse for marrying his wife and favoring her relatives. This tactic serves to confuse and anger Warwick.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In season four, Spike was often this to the Scoobies, typically acting as TheGadfly to mess with them (primarily the core four) since, while he wasn't strictly a captive, he was forced to rely on them for survival since he couldn't hunt humans for food. This culminated in the penultimate (sort of) episode of the season called "The Yoko Factor," where he likened himself to be the group's Yoko Ono to [[BigBad Adam]], and like Ono was TheScapegoat for breaking up Music/TheBeatles, Spike would break the Acoobies up by noting Willow's burgeoning sexuality, Xander's lack of combat skill, Giles's listlessness in unemployment, and Buffy's supposed lack of respect for them all. It did break them up temporarily, but they quickly reconciled.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In season four, Spike was often this to the Scoobies.

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* John Harrison [[spoiler:(Khan)]] from ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. After being locked in the ''Enterprise's'' brig, he almost immediately starts working on Kirk, needling him psychologically, feeding him information as it suited [[PapaWolf his]] [[RoaringRampageofRevenge purposes]], and eventually ending up in an {{Enemy Mine}} situation with the ''Enterprise'' crew, rather than just remaining a prisoner.

* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'', [=ThunderClan=] keeps [[DiscOneFinalBoss Brokenstar]] captive after his defeat. They have to keep this secret because they know the other Clans won't be happy when they find out he's alive, [[spoiler:and indeed when [=ShadowClan=] and [=WindClan=] find out they go to war with ThunderClan. Brokenstar also [[spoiler: helps [[BigBad Tigerstar]] take over [=ThunderClan=] and connects him with his rogue allies]] while he is a prisoner.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''
** Envy, when they were trapped in a flask, was able to play on May Chang's fear for her clan and talk her into going back instead of taking them to Xing, which allowed Envy to escape [[spoiler: and obtain a second Philosopher's Stone]].

* In ''ComicBook/DarkEmpire'', Luke Skywalker tries a version of this on the Reborn Emperor. He does ''some'' good, [[spoiler: but is ultimately corrupted and his sister needed to talk him around.]]
* In ''ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise,'' deposed Fire Lord Ozai is visited in prison by his son and successor Zuko when the pressure of ruling begins to become too much for him. Ozai starts to advise Zuko on how a Fire Lord should rule. Zuko listening to him even the ''tiniest bit'' is a mistake he comes to regret.
* ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}} is a consistent example. Any time anyone attempts to imprison him for long, he tends to come out on top. Examples include his driving [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Xavier]], who was keeping him in the X–Mansion in an attempt to reform him, into becoming ComicBook/{{Onslaught}}; using his time as a BoxedCrook on ComicBook/XFactor to cause the entire team to implode (before escaping and badly injuring all them); and his forced work for [[ComicBook/WeaponX2002 Weapon X]], his manipulation of whom brings him straight into MagnificentBastard territory.

[[folder:Film]]
* John Harrison [[spoiler:(Khan)]] from ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. After being locked in the ''Enterprise's'' brig, he almost immediately starts working on Kirk, needling him psychologically, feeding him information as it suited [[PapaWolf his]] [[RoaringRampageofRevenge purposes]], and eventually ending up in an {{Enemy Mine}} situation with the ''Enterprise'' crew, rather than just remaining a prisoner.
* In ''Film/{{U571}}'', the German submarine prisoner continuously causes problems for the American crew, until he is killed.
* In ''Film/SuicideKings'', a bunch of amateurs kidnap retired mafia boss Charlie Barrett for somewhat convoluted reasons. Needless to say, Charlie turns them all against each other in record time.
* ''Film/TeachingMrsTingle'' essentially uses this as a plot framework.

* In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', [[spoiler:Loki is captured early on]], only to instigate chaos from inside his glass cell. He manipulates the Avengers [[spoiler:so that they start to doubt their allegiance to S.H.I.E.L.D., who are creating weapons of mass destruction. He also makes Black Widow provoke Banner, who promptly turns into the Hulk and smashes everything in his way. And then his forces arrive to attack the Helicarrier and release him...]] In the end, everyone agrees that the best decision is [[TheSpeechless to put a gag]] [[BoringButPractical on him]] and [[YouCanKeepHer send him back]] to [[spoiler:Asgard]].
* In ''Film/SilenceOfTheLambs'', Hannibal Lecter is a death row prisoner who manages to drive at least one other inmate to suicide, and whose understanding of the serial killer mind threatens to unhinge Clarice Starling.
* Following the vogue of recent movies, Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' gets captured as part of his plan to get revenge on M.

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the heroes captured no fewer than three Forsaken individually, and between them they covered just about all of the risks inherent to this trope. Asmodean was (sort of) on Rand's side, so the danger he posed was mostly just if word got out about who he really was, but you have to question the wisdom of keeping around a character like [[TortureTechnician Semirhage]], who was once captured by the forces of Light during the War of Power. By speech alone she terrified her guards so badly that they smuggled her out of captivity rather than face the tortures she threatened them with.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. Morgoth turns the Noldor against each other in Valinor once he was released from captivity. Later, Sauron ended up corrupting and destroying the Númenóreans after they captured him.
* In ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'', FemmeFatale Milady de Winter pulls this by seducing her jailer when captured in England, twisting the guy so much that he becomes an assassin, attacking The Duke of Buckingham (also a HistoricalInJoke, as this event really happened).

* In ''[[Literature/{{Tunnels}} Freefall]]'', [[TheDragon Rebecca One]] pretends to surrender to Will Burrows and his friends in order to pull this routine on them and try to see if they know a way out of the bottom of the Pore. She sweetens the deal with vials of [[ThePlague Dominion and its vaccine.]] She successfully sows suspicion between the group and [[CloudCuckooLander Martha]] before abandoning them to rejoin her sister.
* ''Literature/TheMachineriesOfEmpire'': The traitorous general Shuous Jedao was turned into a VirtualGhost after his execution so he could continue to serve the Hexarchate. Though he's personally helpless, he's a persuasive enough talker to [[spoiler:convince Kel Cheris, the protagonist of the first book, to turn against the Hexarchate, after she sees just how evil it can be.]]
-->'''Cheris:''' What defenses does the general have, sir?\\
'''Nirai Kujen:''' He can talk to you. No, don't laugh. He's very good at it. When he sounds sane and the rest of the world doesn't, you know it's time to pull the trigger.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. In "Soulless", Angel has to bring back his evil alter ego Angelus. He's locked in a cage, so does his best to raise conflicts that have been simmering in Team Angel over the past season.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' had Jaime Lannister held captive by Robb Stark's army, sparking quite a few disagreements between Robb, Catelyn, and the Starks' bannermen. Not so much through any conscious effort to sow discord on his part, but they all end up divided about what to do with him, particularly after he murders Lord Karstark's son during an escape attempt.

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' the player can capture Zadornov and keep him in a cell in an attempt to convince him to join your cause. Ultimately, he breaks out numerous times and goes into hiding, forcing Big Boss to waste time locating and recapturing him each time. [[spoiler: Each time he escapes, he's been released by Paz, who's using him to divert attention while she makes modifications to Metal Gear ZEKE.]]

* This is why the Brotherhood is trying to control The Darkness instead of destroying it in ''VideoGame/TheDarkness 2''. [[spoiler: The Brotherhood captured The Darkness and guarded it for decades. And it kept talking to them until they eventually decided that destroying the world was the only way to save it.]]

* Cyndi from ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'' [[spoiler:manipulated her mentally unstable captor into attempting suicide.]]

--> ''"We could have some really intense interrogation scenes while I try to subtly manipulate you from inside my cell! What d'ya say?"''

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E8And9InjusticeForAll Injustice for All]]", Batman is captured by Lex Luthor's villainous team, and his words completely tear them apart from the inside. [[spoiler: He bribes Ultra Humanite to betray the team to the League, seduces Cheetah into kissing him so they would assume she was his accomplice when they went back and reviewed the security footage to see why the plan failed, drives a wedge between team members and generally makes a nuisance of himself, all while restrained. Then, as the kicker, once everything is falling apart and the Joker uses the confusion to pay Batman a visit without supervision, Batman reveals in the climax that he could have escaped at any time but stuck around 'to keep an eye on' the Injustice Gang.]] The Joker, of all people, warned Luthor that Batman was still dangerous even as a captive.

* ComicBook/TheJoker on the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "MadLove", who was able to talk his psychiatrist Harlene Quinzel into becoming [[Characters/BatmanHarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]] while still in Arkham. It was implied early in the episode that he compromised the ones before her in a similar fashion. (Even scarier, the Joker had figured out how to escape from his cell weeks before he actually broke out of Arkham, but stuck around a little longer because he hadn't corrupted Harley yet.)

[[folder:Videogames]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In "Injustice for All", Batman is captured by Lex Luthor's villainous team, and his words completely tear them apart from the inside. [[spoiler: He bribes Ultra Humanite to betray the team to the League, seduces Cheetah into kissing him so they would assume she was his accomplice when they went back and reviewed the security footage to see why the plan failed, drives a wedge between team members and generally makes a nuisance of himself, all while restrained. Then, as the kicker, once everything is falling apart and the Joker uses the confusion to pay Batman a visit without supervision, Batman reveals in the climax that he could have escaped at any time but stuck around 'to keep an eye on' the Injustice Gang.]] The Joker, of all people, warned Luthor that Batman was still dangerous even as a captive.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In "Injustice for All", Batman is captured by Lex Luthor's villainous team, and his words completely tear them apart from the inside. [[spoiler: He bribes Ultra Humanite to betray the team to the League, seduces Cheetah into kissing him so they would assume she was his accomplice when they went back and reviewed the security footage to see why the plan failed, drives a wedge between team members and generally makes a nuisance of himself, all while restrained. Then, as the kicker, once everything is falling apart and the Joker uses the confusion to pay Batman a visit without supervision, Batman reveals in the climax that he could have escaped at any time but stuck around 'to keep an eye on' the Injustice Gang.]]

* ComicBook/TheJoker on the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "MadLove", who was able to talk his psychiatrist Harlene Quinzel into becoming [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGalleryPart1 Harley Quinn]] while still in Arkham. It was implied early in the episode that he compromised the ones before her in a similar fashion. (Even scarier, the Joker had figured out how to escape from his cell weeks before he actually broke out of Arkham, but stuck around a little longer because he hadn't corrupted Harley yet.)

The prisoner is usually a villain, but on occasion a particular GuileHero (usually of the AntiHero type) can break up a LegionOfDoom this way by exploiting the villainous team's individually selfish objectives.

A villain held prisoner by the heroes continues to undermine their objectives through their toxic influence.

* In the ''Literature/SecondApocalypse'' series, Anasûrimbor Moënghus during the time he was a prisoner of Cnaiür urs Skiötha's tribe. He seduced Cnaiür's mother, convinced Cnaiür to kill his father, and talked Cnaiür into setting him free.