History Main / SinisterSpyAgency

* ''Film/TheBourneSeries'': It seems the entire American intelligence apparatus is a NebulousCriminalConspiracy full of madmen who will [[MurderIsTheBestSolution order murders at the drop of a hat]], is extremely efficient at [[HeKnowsTooMuch silencing anybody]] who gets the tiniest inkling of their evil (and are equally good at preventing [[CantStopTheSignal information from being leaked]]), is virtually omniscient and [[WeAreEverywhere omnipresent]], funds a lot of SuperSoldier and ManchurianAgent programs, and ironically [[WhyWontYouDie can't kill one dude]] (even if everybody else he meets [[DoomMagnet unfortunately does not has the same luck]]).

* ''Film/TheBourneSeries'': It seems the entire American intelligence apparatus is a NebulousCriminalConspiracy full of madmen who will [[MurderIsTheBestSolution order murders at the drop of a hat]], is extremely efficient at [[HeKnowsTooMuch silencing anybody]] who gets the tiniest inkling of their evil (and are equally good at preventing [[CantStopTheSignal information from being leaked]]), is virtually omniscient and [[WeAreEveywhere omnipresent]], funds a lot of SuperSoldier and ManchurianAgent programs, and ironically [[WhyWontYouDie can't kill one dude]] (even if everybody else he meets [[DoomMagnet unfortunately does not has the same luck]]).

** DependingOnTheWriter, this is applicable to ''ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}''. In the best-case scenario, the agency is well-meaning but LawfulStupid and [[HanlonsRazor its moments of incompetence raise as much havoc as any criminal conspiracy]] and in the worst-case scenarios (such as in ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' and ''ComicBook/{{Outlawed}}'') they have absolutely no problem performing acts that are blatantly unconstitutional, [[PoliceBrutality brutal]] and [[ArtisticLicenseLaw only allowed by the law they are enforcing because the plot says so]].

** The Creator/DanielCraig films ''Film/{{Casino Royale|2006}}'' and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' introduce Quantum. Initially an SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute to SPECTRE with the stated goals of killing James Bond and destroying [=MI6=] for opposing their operations, they're [[HijackedByGanon later revealed to be a front organization for the actual Spectre]], introduced in the [[Film/{{Spectre}} film of the same name]], where they intend to TakeOverTheWorld through SinisterSurveillance in the form of the Nine-Eyes Program. Led by [[BigBad Franz Oberhauser]] a.k.a. [[spoiler:[[CanonCharacterAllAlong Ernst Stavro Blofeld]]]], they also have a personal vendetta against James Bond himself. Their leadership is ultimately wiped out in ''Film/NoTimeToDie'', where one of Safin's agents turns a {{Nanomachines}}-based virus against them, killing all but Blofeld himself.

** The Creator/DanielCraig films ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' introduce Quantum. Initially an SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute to SPECTRE with the stated goals of killing James Bond and destroying [=MI6=] for opposing their operations, they're [[HijackedByGanon later revealed to be a front organization for the actual Spectre]], introduced in the [[Film/{{Spectre}} film of the same name]], where they intend to TakeOverTheWorld through SinisterSurveillance in the form of the Nine-Eyes Program. Led by [[BigBad Franz Oberhauser]] a.k.a. [[spoiler:[[CanonCharacterAllAlong Ernst Stavro Blofeld]]]], they also have a personal vendetta against James Bond himself. Their leadership is ultimately wiped out in ''Film/NoTimeToDie'', where one of Safin's agents turns a {{Nanomachines}}-based virus against them, killing all but Blofeld himself.

Compare and contrast NebulousEvilOrganisation, SecretPolice and StateSec. Related to CIAEvilFBIGood. Often overlaps with GovernmentAgencyOfFiction. TheMenInBlack may be agents of one. If there's a GovernmentConspiracy, expect one of these agencies to play a role in it. One of the reasons why SpiesAreDespicable.

Compare and contrast NebulousEvilOrganisation, SecretPolice and StateSec. Related to CIAEvilFBIGood. Often overlaps with GovernmentAgencyOfFiction. TheMenInBlack may be agents of one. If there's a GovernmentConspiracy, expect one of these agencies to play a role in it.

** SMERSH, the Soviet espionage/terrorism/sabotage organization that Bond had to face off against in [[Literature.JamesBond the novels]] as well as in ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove''. SMERSH actually was a RealLife organization, though its lifespan and reach were much diminished from [[Creator/IanFleming Fleming]]'s description. (The real SMERSH existed only during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, officially disbanding in 1946, and was concerned with, according to Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}: "counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, preventing any other activity of foreign intelligence in the Red Army; fighting 'anti-Soviet elements' in the Red Army; protection of the front lines against penetration by spies and 'anti-Soviet elements'; investigating traitors, deserters, and self-inflicted wounds in the Red Army; and checking military and civil personnel returning from captivity.")

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* HYPNOS in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' starts off as this. While not outright evil, the agency is rather sinister with its mass electronic surveillance, dissecting Digimon, and antagonism towards the show’s heroes. [[spoiler:When the guy running the agency decides to help the heroes and stop trying to destroy Digimon, HYPNOS loses much of its sinister image]].

* Black Hat from ''ComicBook/TheDepartmentOfTruth'' is an organized agency similar to the Department of Truth that seem to be actively encouraging the propagation of conspiracies in order to change the world for their own nefarious purposes, even employing manifestations like Reptilians and the Star-Faced Man.

* ''Film/JamesBond''
** SPECTRE in the Creator/SeanConnery and Creator/GeorgeLazenby films, otherwise known as the '''Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion'''. They're the main antagonists of every Bond film bar ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'', and are a secretive organization hoping for both the Western and Eastern blocs to start WorldWarIII, while benefitting from it themselves by TakingOverTheWorld. They're ultimately stopped for good by Bond in ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', when their latest plan is stopped by both Bond and the CIA, and Blofeld himself is either killed or severely crippled whilst trying to escape.
** The Creator/DanielCraig films ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' introduce Quantum. Initially an {{Expy}} of SPECTRE with the stated goals of killing James Bond and destroying MI6 for opposing their operations, they're later revealed to be a front organization for the actual Spectre, introduced in the [[Film/{{Spectre}} film of the same name]], where they intend to TakeOverTheWorld through SinisterSurveillance in the form of the Nine-Eyes Program. Led by [[BigBad Franz Oberhauser]] aka [[spoiler:[[CanonCharacterAllAlong Ernst Stavro Blofeld]]]], they also have a personal vendetta against James Bond himself. Their leadership is ultimately wiped out in ''Film/NoTimeToDie'', where one of Safin's agents turns a {{Nanomachines}}-based virus against them, killing all but Blofeld himself.

** [[Characters/{{MCUHYDRA}} HYDRA]] first made its public appearance as Nazi Germany's ArtifactCollectionAgency, using WeirdScience and esoteric properties to create weapons to help the Third Reich win the war. Eventually, its leader Johann Schmidt, AKA Red Skull, planned a coup, his goal being to use the Tesseract's power to conquer the world on his own behalf instead of the Nazis. While HYDRA fell after the Allies won WWII, many of its top minds were recruited into the SSR's successor SHIELD through Operation: Paperclip, leading to HYDRA taking control from within. [[spoiler: In ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', it's revealed that they had existed ''long'' before the Nazis as a Illuminati-esq cult, worshipping the Inhuman Hive as a god.]]
** The Red Room was an espionage agency commissioned by the KGB to create its own brand of super-soldiers and elite spies. While they were only able to make one super soldier -- the Red Guardian -- they created many deadly spies under the Black Widow program, eventually going rogue and seeking to take over the world under their leader Dreykov.

* Creator/JohnLeCarre's series of spy novels had British Intelligence encounter not only the legitimate [[UsefulNotes/MoscowCentre KGB]], but another NoSuchAgency called the Thirteenth Directorate, which conducted Acts of War such as sabotage, kidnapping, and assassination covertly in foreign nations. This shadow directorate was accountable only to the current Soviet premiere.

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Decima Technologies is a private intelligence agency that tried to help an artificial intelligence TakeOverTheWorld.

** HYDRA was originally the [[StupidJetpackHitler Nazis' deep-science division]] before [[RenegadeSplinterFaction secretly pursuing its own agendas]]. During World War II, they had deep cover agents as far as New York City, and had secret bases, factories, and facilities throughout Nazi-occupied Europe. [[spoiler:After the war, they continued these covert operations, using S.H.I.E.L.D. to infiltrate other areas of society in pursuit of their goals]].

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) is one of the most powerful aspects of the UNSC military, and the one with possibly the most abhorrent actions to its name. Chief among these is the kidnapping of young children who were forcibly conscripted into the [[SuperSoldier SPARTAN-II program]] and replaced with clones who would shortly after become ill and die, leaving no threads hanging for the families, and no where for the SPARTAN candidates to run back to if they escaped. Even among those who don't know about most of ONI's actions there is considerable distrust for the organization and its personnel.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'': UsefulNotes/{{GRU}} is depicted as made up of Soviet hardliners who want to overthrow UsefulNotes/NikitaKhrushchev and institute a harsher government.

Compare and contrast NebulousEvilOrganisation, SecretPolice and StateSec. SuperTrope to CIAEvilFBIGood. Often overlaps with GovernmentAgencyOfFiction. TheMenInBlack may be agents of one. If there's a GovernmentConspiracy, expect one of these agencies to play a role in it.

-> ''"We are F.O.W.L. We have to be smarter than that. We're not trying to destroy the world, we're going to steal it. Out from underneath [=McDuck's=] nose."''
-->-- '''Bradford Buzzard''', ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "[[Recap/DuckTales2017S3E3DoubleODuckInYouOnlyCrashTwice Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!]]"

* HYPNOS in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' starts off as this. While not outright evil, the agency is rather sinister with its mass electronic surveillance, dissecting Digimon, and antagonism towards the show’s heroes. [[spoiler: When the guy running the agency decides to help the heroes and stop trying to destroy Digimon, HYPNOS loses much of it's sinister image.]]
* ''Anime/IzettaTheLastWitch'': The Germanian Army runs a massive spy network, which they use to gather any intelligence relating to their enemies. This spy network is so efficient that, despite Eylstadt's efforts to maintain the secrecy of Izetta's powers, they still manage to uncover more than enough intel to not only exploit her weaknesses once found out, [[spoiler:they even create their own version of the White Witch, thanks to documents uncovered from Germania and Eylstadt.]]
* The Hinagiku from the ''Manga/MissionYozakuraFamily'' are an inversion. It was founded by Rin Fudo specifically to handle threats beyond the scope of normal law enforcement and repeatedly work with other spies like the Yozakuras to stop terrorist attacks, arms and drug smuggling, among other threats. That said, they're also willing to perform unscrupulous things in the name of the greater good, such as trying to murder Nanao after he [[EatTheBomb eats a bioweapon]] in case his detoxifying ability fails.

** DependingOnTheWriter, this is applicable to ''ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}''. In the best-case scenario, the agency is well-meaning but LawfulStupid and [[HanlonsRazor its moments of incompetence raise as much havoc as any criminal conspiracy]] and in the worst-case scenarios (such as in ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' and ''ComicBook/{{Outlawed}}'') they have absolutely no problem performing acts that are blatantly inconstitutional, [[PoliceBrutality brutal]] and [[ArtisticLicenseLaw only allowed by the law they are enforcing because the plot says so]].
** ''ComicBook/{{HYDRA}}'' is SHIELD's EvilCounterpart, justified in its evil because it is a Neo-Nazi organization (or at least it is when ComicBook/RedSkull leads it).

* ''ComicStrip/SpyVsSpy'' was a staple in issues of MAD Magazine for many decades. It featured two cartoon spies, simply called Black and White, who were constantly trying to ambush each other or blow up things with their respective bombs. Sometimes a female Grey Spy interfered with both of them. All of the various spies were depicted as, at best, morally ambiguous.

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]
* ''Film/ConspiracyTheory'': Played with. Dr. Jonas claims to be a UsefulNotes/{{CIA}} operative. If he is, the organization's tactics throughout the movie (coercing MK-Ultra subjects with mind altering drugs, killing public officials, brainwashing people into assassins) paint them firmly as this trope. However, it's implied several times that Jonas is running a rogue operation, and an actual spy agency is trying to stop him.

* ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' has director of the National Security Agency personally waste a congressman who opposed an expansion of NSA powers. Much of the plot revolves around the incriminating video evidence of this crime falling into the possession of an innocent attorney, whereupon much of the agency's resources get focused on a manhunt for him.

* Creator/JohnLeCarre's series of spy novels had British Intelligence encounter not only the legitimate [=KGB=], but another NoSuchAgency called the Thirteenth Directorate, which conducted Acts of War such as sabotage, kidnapping, and assassination covertly in foreign nations. This shadow directorate was accountable only to the current Soviet premiere.

* In the Sixties espionage adventure series ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'', the sinister spy agency that opposed the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement was called Thrush, which employed ruthless agents determined to "subjugate humanity." Thrush also appears in many of the long series of original [[TieInNovel tie-in novels]]. Some plots involved MindControl and sinister weather devices.

* ''Franchise/JamesBond'': [=SMERSH=], the Soviet espionage/terrorism/sabotage organization that Bond had to face off against in the novels as well as in Film/FromRussiaWithLove. [=SMERSH=] actually was a RealLife organization, though its lifespan and reach were much diminished from Fleming's description (the real [=SMERSH=] existed only during World War Two, officially disbanding in 1946, and was concerned with, according to Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}: "counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, preventing any other activity of foreign intelligence in the Red Army; fighting "anti-Soviet elements" in the Red Army; protection of the front lines against penetration by spies and "anti-Soviet elements"; investigating traitors, deserters, and self-inflicted wounds in the Red Army; and checking military and civil personnel returning from captivity.")

** S.H.I.E.L.D. zig-zags the trope as, while they are generally on the side of the good guys and working toward beneficial ends, they also have employed some very questionable means to reach those ends. [[spoiler: Then it winds up being played completely straight as it turns out HYDRA, the Nazi splinter group that [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger fought against during World War II]], had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier almost from its creation]].]]
** HYDRA was originally the Nazi Deep Science Division before [[RenegadeSplinterFaction secretly pursuing it's own agendas]]. During World War II, they had deep cover agents as far as New York City, and had secret bases, factories, and facilities throughout Nazi-occupied Europe. [[spoiler:After the war, they continued these covert operations, using S.H.I.E.L.D. to infiltrate other areas of society in pursuit of their goals]].

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'': GRU, specifically the Spetsnaz troops under Dragovich, are depicted in a sinister manner. Among other things they do include sponsoring foreign communist regimes such as Castro's Cuba and North Vietnam's war against the American-backed South, building secret bases of operations in or near these locations (either to test their SecretWeapon or to supply future offensives), and planting sleeper agents and [=WMD=]s into the United States.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) is one of the most powerful aspects of the UNSC military, and the one with possibly the most abhorrent actions to its name. Chief among these is the kidnapping of young children who were forcibly conscripted into the SPARTAN-II program and replaced with clones who would shortly after become ill and die, leaving no threads hanging for the families, and no where for the SPARTAN candidates to run back to if they escaped. Even among those who don't know about most of ONI's actions there is considerable distrust for the organization and its personnel.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkle'' has the nation of Pottsylvania be composed of spies. Two notable Pottsylvanians are Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, who conduct peculiar yet nefarious operations in the United States. One of these involves introducing the NighInvulnerable Pottsylvania Creeper into the American ecosystem.
* ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'': F.O.W.L., the Fiendish Organization of World Larceny, plots against the Duck Family from the shadows. [[spoiler:Their ultimate goal being to end Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s life of adventuring as a means of eliminating a source of infinite chaos from the world, or so their leader says.]]

* HYPNOS in ‘’Anime/DigimonTamers’’ starts off as this. While not outright evil, the agency is rather sinister with its mass electronic surveillance, dissecting Digimon, and antagonism towards the show’s heroes. [[spoiler: When the guy running the agency decides to help the heroes and stop trying to destroy Digimon, HYPNOS loses much of it’s sinister image.]]

Compare and contrast NebulousEvilOrganization, SecretPolice and StateSec. SuperTrope to CIAEvilFBIGood. Often overlaps with GovernmentAgencyOfFiction. TheMenInBlack may be agents of one. If there's a GovernmentConspiracy, expect one of these agencies to play a role in it.

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[[AC:Film - Live Action]]

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[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Multiple Media]]

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* ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'': F.O.W.L., the Fiendish Organization of World Larceny, plots against the Duck Family from the shadows. [[spoiler:Their ultimate goal being to end Scrooge [=McDuck=]'s life of adventuring as a means of eliminating a source of infinite chaos from the world, or so their leader says.]]

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'': GRU, specifically the Spetsnaz troops under Dragovich, are depicted in a sinister manner. Among other things they do include sponsoring foreign communist regimes such as Castro's Cuba and the North Vietnam's war against the American-backed South, building secret bases of operations in or near these locations (either to test their SecretWeapon or to supply future offensives), and planting sleeper agents and [=WMD=]s into the United States.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkle'' has the nation of Pottsylvania be composed of spies. Two notable Pottsylvanians are Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, who conduct peculiar yet nefarious operations in the United States. One of these involves introducing the NighInvulnerable Pottsylvania Creeper in to the American ecosystem.

* ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'' is a series about Dick Grayson's second career as a secret agent after his identity Nightwing is believed dead. Batman asks Grayson to infiltrate a sinister organization that is focused on discovering the real identitirs of the DC univese's superheroes.

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/AgentsOfShield https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c0a73d4b6e749470c1ab9b7b732b3ee9.jpeg]]]]

!!Note: This draft is the result of a TRS decision regarding CIAEvilFBIGood