History Main / SheepInSheepsClothing

** ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' introduces Klavier Gavin as the new prosecutor. Given that every single previous prosecutor in this series has started out as an arrogant AmoralAttorney at best and turned out to be murderous at worst, you'll naturally expect him to be hiding something rotten underneath his charming and friendly exterior, ''especially'' considering that you've just seen his older brother be exposed as a murderous BitchInSheepsClothing. This appears to be confirmed when you learn that he [[spoiler:had a hand in stripping Phoenix of his badge]]. However, it turns out that [[spoiler:Klavier really is a genuinely kind and decent person who initially didn't know his brother's true nature, suffered from massive guilt about his role in Phoenix's disbarment, and is willing to turn against his own bandmates and brother to see justice done]].

* Asami Sato in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' seems too good to be true in her first appearance, as after a CrashIntoHello MeetCute with one of the male protagonists, she immediately offers to sponsor him and his brother with her father's vast wealth. Many fans immediately suspected she would turn out to be a RichBitch, and it was also quickly theorized that she was really an [[TheMole Equalist spy]]. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen While this was how her character was]] [[http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/105916338157/korrasami-is-canon-you-can-celebrate-it-embrace originally envisioned]], for the actual show the writers followed Iroh's example, with Asami being a RedHerringMole NiceGirl who genuinely wants to help Team Korra, mo matter how much she gets put through the wringer for it. [[spoiler: Her dad is a ''real'' Equalist spy, but Asami wasn't in on it and is devastated when she finds out.]] There's also a RedHerring in her appearance, as she looks like a FemmeFatale with [[MakeupIsEvil heavy makeup]] and wears [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red and black]], but she's really just a case of RavenHairIvorySkin wearing [[CultureEqualsCostume the favored colors of her father's culture]].

* Winston Deaver from ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2''. At first glance, a businessman with a childlike admiration for superheroes and an adult plan to get superheroism made legal again. When we get a deeper look at his character, we find that he's an ActionSurvivor willing to throw away guaranteed safety in order to protect the politicians signing his initiative. [[spoiler: The real BitchInSheepsClothing is his sister Evelyn, who tried to kill everyone on Winston's ship for the signing ceremony in order to permanently kill any chance that supers would be legal again.]]
* Queen Watevera Wa'Nabi from ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie2TheSecondPart''. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial She constantly states that]] [[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain she's the least evil person you'll ever meet]] but Wyldstyle is convinced she's got something nefarious planned. [[spoiler:Turns out she was telling the truth but both she and the other residents of the Sistar system are [[PoorCommunicationKills bad at communicating]].]]

* ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'': Throughout the first arc, both Cerberus and Xiaolang are distrustful of Kaho Mizuki, the magical newcomer to the neighborhood. Sakura, of course, doesn't understand their suspicion and proceeds to befriend her. Both boys then engage in a certain amount of investigating on Mizuki--Cerberus most noticeably--and for a while, it looks like Mizuki is going to end up being the BigBad. But in the end, it turns out she's on Sakura's side and it's really [[spoiler: Yukito Tsukishiro]] they should have been watching out for.

* In ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'', after Naofumi and his group are framed for the (fake) kidnapping of Princess Melty, they arrive at the lands of a noble named Van Reichnott, who offers them to stay in his mansion so they can eat and rest. While Melty trusts him, Naofumi is initially suspicious because he [[StealthHiBye suddenly appeared before them without making a noise]] and his overall appearance (white clothing, glasses, perpetual smile, and EyesAlwaysShut) does seem to yell out loud that he's up to something. However, after he's taken hostage by the neighboring noble [[FatBastard Idol Rabiett]], he readily defends Naofumi when they call him the "Shield Demon", referring to him as a hero and refrains from ratting him out. The fact that the residents of his lands quickly get into an uprising and demand that they let him go speaks volumes of how much he's loved by them.

It often delivers a lesson about how EvilCannotComprehendGood when the villain tries a BreakingSpeech and thinks that he has found something evil in the hero, but there isn't anything evil to find and the hero proves them wrong. Sometimes used as an {{Aesop}} to the AudienceSurrogate against believing certain stereotypes, causing shared audience guilt. In children's shows, it's usually followed with the Aesop that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

This trope happens when you meet ''her''. In any kind of fiction, she is likely to be your rival ([[ToBeAMaster professional]] or [[BettyAndVeronica otherwise]]). In family pictures, she's most often a would-be stepmother. In thrillers, she's the key witness in a murder case... or the main suspect. But she's the same no matter what hat she wears. From the moment you meet, you'll start feeling [[UncannyValley something is off]]. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy She's not jealous of you, even if you try to take the attention from her]]. [[TurnTheOtherCheek She's never angry, even when you try setting her perfect hair on fire]]. She's always kind to you and she [[PerpetualSmiler never takes off that radiant smile]], but you're GenreSavvy enough to know where this is going. When all comes to light, you'll prove that she's ''really'' a FemmeFatale GoldDigger StarfishAlien who wants to {{take over the world}}, take your job and dad and friends away from you and humiliate you at prom, AndYourLittleDogToo, because... reasons.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]] is presented in the early seasons as a sort of Dumbledore-{{Expy}}, EcentricMentor and CoolOldGuy. However, it's made clear from the beginning that he keeps a lot of information secret; combined with the hints of his MysteriousPast and connections with the BigBad, a lot of fans began to strongly suspect that he wasn't as benevolent as he seemed, or that he was a ManipulativeBastard with secret schemes, all of which was echoed in-universe by characters who questioned his sincerity and encouraged the heroes not to fully trust him. This finally culminates in Volume 6 when Ozpin's history is forcibly revealed... and [[spoiler: he turns out to have been largely innocent; rather, he was hiding information that he feared would drive his allies over the DespairEventHorizon -- which it very nearly ''does'']]. It's played with in that he really ''did'' keep secrets that he shouldn't have which wound up causing more harm than good, and he gets called out on this.

* Shows up in the crossover fanfic ''FanFic/{{Stardust|Arad}}'', where a great deal of the plot focuses on [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Twilight Sparkle]] earning the trust of the [[VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown XCOM]] staff, and proving that she's not spying on or manipulating them -- she just wants to make friends and get home, and is every bit as nice as she seems.
* ''Fanfic/EakinsHardReset'': In one of the early [[GroundhogDayLoop Loops]] that Twilight Sparkle finds herself in, she heads down to the Vaults at the urging of Princess Celestia and a contingent of Royal Guards to get The Elements of Harmony and find a way to stop the Changeling Invasion that is happening outside. [[SpottingTheThread Twilight manages to slowly unravel that "Celestia" before her is actually Queen Chrysalis]] and accuses her. Rightfully so, all but one of the Royal Guards following them transform into Changelings; with the single unfortunate Pegasus Guard getting torn to pieces.

* ''Literature/JediApprentice'': During the New Apsolon trilogy, local business magnate Manex is always unfailingly polite and helpful to the Jedi, even while displaying various acts of Hedonism and EnlightenedSelfInterest, and indirectly profiting from a series of political assassinations that take place. The Jedi are naturally suspicious of him, but it ultimately turns out that he's innocent and all of the help or information he provided was genuine.

* Princess Marie from Season 15 of ''Webcomic/SurvivorFanCharacters''. Many characters and readers suspected her of being another [[BitchInSheepsClothing Bonnie]], especially after some comments from her that seemed just a bit too shady to fit with her seeming sweet girl nature, but her dubious explanation that she's just under a curse that causes her statements to sound more passive-aggressive than they should be turns out to be completely true.

** [[spoiler:Colias Paeleno]] from the final case of ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'' cooperates in nearly every way that they can with your investigation of crime scenes, a behavior which the franchise generally uses for guilty parties. Additionally, they have animations that lend themselves really well to a VillainousBreakdown. In the end, it turns out that it was a RedHerring: the developers were using expectations from the player, and the person really is just that helpful, which may be a first for the franchise.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]] is presented in the early seasons as a sort of Dumbledore-{{Expy}}, EcentricMentor and CoolOldGuy. However, it's made clear from the beginning that he keeps a lot of information secret; combined with the hints of his MysteriousPast and connections with the BigBad, a lot of fans began to strongly suspect that he wasn't as benevolent as he seemed, or that he was a ManipulativeBastard with secret schemes, all of which was echoed in-universe by characters who questioned his sincerity and encouraged the heroes not to fully trust him. This finally culminates in Volume 6 when Ozpin's history is forcibly revealed... and [[spoiler: he turns out to have been largely innocent; rather, he was hiding information that he feared would drive his allies over the DespairEventHorizon -- which it very nearly ''does'']]. It's played with in that he really ''did'' keep secrets that he shouldn't have which wound up causing more harm than good, and he gets called out on this, but his motives weren't nearly as malevolent as fans and characters alike suspected.

* Taken UpToEleven by [[spoiler:Mr. Dinkleberg]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'', who is not only a sheep in sheep's clothing, but will ''actually pretend to be a wolf'' just to satisfy his neighbor's rampant paranoia.

Related to TheUntwist. Compare GoodAllAlong, for when the character who looks evil and/or does bad things is revealed to have good intentions. Compare/contrast JerkWithAHeartOfJerk when suspicions of kindness about a usually {{Jerkass}}-like character are wrong. Also contrast SubvertedSuspicionAesop, where suspicions seem unfounded, but turn out to be right.

* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', Princess Trini suspects that Jerin Whistler (guest at the palace as reward for saving the life of her sister), is a jerk in disguise, as her late husband Keifer, who, too, was very handsome, was a jerk. She thinks Jerin is merely putting on an act, patiently playing with the children, and so on, in the hopes to be considered as potential husband. At that point, the reader knows that Jerin really is a FriendToAllChildren, has no evil intentions whatsoever, and saved Odelia while mistaking her for a common soldier.

* Hugo Strange in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight'' has a creepy vibe about him and is obviously a version of a notorious Batman villain who hides behind a mask of respectability. However, he's just what he appears to be, a doctor trying to treat the insane as best he can given the knowledge and methods of his time.

* Asami Sato in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' seems too good to be true in her first appearance, as after a CrashIntoHello MeetCute with one of the male protagonists, she immediately offers to sponsor him and his brother with her father's vast wealth. Many fans immediately suspected she would turn out to be a RichBitch, and it was also quickly theorized that she was really an [[TheMole Equalist spy]]. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen While this was how her character was]] [[http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/105916338157/korrasami-is-canon-you-can-celebrate-it-embrace originally envisioned]], for the actual show the writers followed Iroh's example, with Asami being a RedHerringMole NiceGirl who genuinely wants to help Team Korra. There's also a RedHerring in her appearance, as she looks like a FemmeFatale with [[MakeupIsEvil heavy makeup]] and wears [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red and black]], but she's really just a case of RavenHairIvorySkin wearing [[CultureEqualsCostume the favored colors of her father's culture]].

* Usami/Monomi from ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' acts very kindhearted and gentle and appears to just want everyone to get along. It turns out that this wasn't an act, though the characters spend most of the game being openly suspicious of her to the point where they don't give her the time of day since they're so sure that she's going to betray them and is working with Monokuma. Many players most likely shared this feeling.

* ''Series/{{Hawkeye}}'': Jacques Duquesne, the fiancee of Kate Bishop's mother Eleanor, who Kate thinks is shady and suspects him for killing her uncle, with it later appearing that he's one of [[spoiler:Kingpin]]'s cohorts. Turns out, Kate's a bit biased, and he's a decent person who was framed. [[spoiler: By Eleanor.]]

This trope happens when you meet ''her''. In any kind of fiction, she is likely to be your rival ([[ToBeAMaster professional]] or [[BettyAndVeronica otherwise]]). In family pictures, she's most often a would-be stepmother. In thrillers, she's the key witness in a murder case... or the main suspect. But she's the same no matter what hat she wears. From the moment you meet, you'll start feeling [[UncannyValley something is off]]. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy She's not jealous of you, even if you try to take the attention from her]]. [[TurnTheOtherCheek She's never angry, even when you try setting her perfect hair on fire]]. She's always kind to you and she [[PerpetualSmiler never takes off that radiant smile]], but you've read enough TV Tropes to know where this is going. When all comes to light, you'll prove that she's ''really'' a FemmeFatale GoldDigger StarfishAlien who wants to {{take over the world}}, take your job and dad and friends away from you and humiliate you at prom... AndYourLittleDogToo... because... reasons...

[[WellThisIsNotThatTrope Except]] no. As everyone could have told you, and as you should have known, she really ''is'' that nice, and you, dear ConspiracyTheorist KnowNothingKnowItAll, should take a deep breath and a step back right now. Otherwise, you're being a ClingyJealousGirl or this is your AmbitionIsEvil StartOfDarkness story.

This trope happens when the story sets up a BitchInSheepsClothing and subverts it, either by making the character the nice person they appeared to be, or by revealing that they played another kind of nice than the usual one, but are ultimately just as decent as they appeared if they weren't better.

It often delivers a lesson about how EvilCannotComprehendGood when the villain tries a BreakingSpeech and thinks that he has found something evil in the hero, but there isn't anything evil to find and the hero proves them wrong. Sometimes used as an {{Aesop}} to the AudienceSurrogate against believing certain stereotypes, causing shared audience guilt, as in children's films nowadays, in which this happens to stepparents to the extent that they can do no wrong.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]] is presented in the early seasons as a sort of Dumbledore-{{Expy}}, BadassMentor and CoolOldGuy. However, it's made clear from the beginning that he keeps a lot of information secret; combined with the hints of his MysteriousPast and connections with the BigBad, a lot of fans began to strongly suspect that he wasn't as benevolent as he seemed, or that he was a ManipulativeBastard with secret schemes, all of which was echoed in-universe by characters who questioned his trustworthiness and encouraged the heroes not to fully trust him. This finally culminates in Volume 6 when Ozpin's history is forcibly revealed... and [[spoiler: he turns out to have been largely innocent; rather, he was hiding information that he feared would drive his allies over the DespairEventHorizon -- which it very nearly ''does'']]. It's played with in that he really ''did'' keep secrets that he shouldn't have which wound up causing more harm than good, and he gets called out on this, but his motives weren't nearly as malevolent as fans and characters alike suspected.

* In The ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', the {{TabletopGame/vampire|TheMasquerade}} clan Salubri are generally considered the "good" vampires. [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire And they are]]. Their disciplines center on healing, they embrace few progeny, and their clan weakness limits them to [[VegetarianVampire feeding only from willing hosts]]. They were so openly virtuous that in the past, it was very easy for the up-in-coming clan [[EvilSorceror Tremere]] to paint them as soul-stealing monsters in need of systematic extermination; most vampires were already suspicious of them to begin with. Surely no vampires could [[SlidingScaleOfVampireFriendliness really be that good]], right? Ironically, this ended up creating ''exactly'' the sort of vampires the Tremere painted them as, in the form of the Salubri ''antitribu'' - a group of violent extremists led by Adonai, one of the survivors, their clan weakness warped so they can only feed on the ''un''willing.