History Main / SmugSnake

** ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseAlanJonah Alan Jonah]] is implied to be this in the film, and the {{novelization}} outright confirms it. Not only does Jonah decide to ''let'' [[OmnicidalManiac King Ghidorah]] instigate an apocalypse which could wipe out all life on Earth as we know it (which in the film version could be construed as Jonah being willing to risk him and his men dying so that [[MisanthropeSupreme humanity will be no more]]); but in the novel, Jonah makes it clear that he's genuinely oblivious to just how much destruction Ghidorah will cause to the world and how much mortal peril it puts his own long-term survival in, when he insists he and his men will somehow weather out the whole apocalypse and "live like kings" in the aftermath.[[note]]Bear in mind, the [=MonsterVerse=] novelizations explicitly say that Ghidorah's destruction would mostly likely [[ApocalypseHow/Class5 wipe out ALL non-bacterial life on Earth]] -- not even the K-T mass extinction or the aptly-named Great Dying managed to be ''that'' destructive, nevermind that the novel also observes that Ghidorah will most likely root out and exterminate '''all''' human survivors hidden underground sooner or later if he wins.[[/note]] After Madison hears Jonah say this, she mentally compares him to "the miserable lice-eaten thugs in the Dark Ages who had started calling themselves 'kings'". Jonah also severely underestimates Madison in both versions of the story on account of her age, [[spoiler:and him not placing her under further scrutiny despite her ''clear'' disgust for his actions enables Madison to steal the ORCA out from under Jonah and his goons' noses and escape with it]].
** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'':
*** [[Characters/MonsterVerseWalterSimmons Walter Simmons]]. Underneath his initial charming if proud exterior is an egotist who's brimming with hubris. As the film progresses, he treats Team Godzilla with faux-polite haughty disdain and is quick to get abrasively demanding with Ren when hearing something he doesn't want to. He sees himself as the next visionary architect of humanity's entry into a bold new era, but he's possibly the single most TooDumbToLive major villain in the entire Franchise/MonsterVerse with how he [[spoiler:doesn't see anything wrong with using a known OmnicidalManiac Titan[='s=] ''incomprehensibly BizarreAlienBiology and still-telepathic remains'' as the direct ''nervous system of something he designed to be WorldsStrongestMan'']]. He has an OhCrap too right before meeting his HoistByHisOwnPetard doom. In the novelization, he gets extra points for seemingly unknowingly having a DragonWithAnAgenda. The fancy glass of alcohol that Simmons carries in several scenes accentuates his Smug Snaky-ness.
*** Simmons' [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[Characters/MonsterVerseRenSerizawa Ren Serizawa]] is also confirmed to be one in the {{novelization}}. Besides sharing the above spoiler-y point with Simmons, he considers himself and Godzilla to be CainAndAbel, and he's wholly confident that he will succeed in killing Godzilla where rival Titans and the Oxygen Destroyer have failed, but Word of God on ''Godzilla vs. Kong'' and the novelization itself have suggested that Mechagodzilla would've lost in a fair fight against Godzilla. The novel also shows when Ren is in [[spoiler:the Skull Room]] piloting Mechagodzilla that he outright believes his mind deserves to be in a PhysicalGod body rather than his human body (though it's also hinted this might be [[spoiler:MoreThanMindControl from the Ghidorah skull affecting him]]), but he's really no more nor less a Titan-ant than every other human around him and he's, again, ridiculously Too Dumb to Live.

The Smug Snake is a type of character (usually a {{villain}}) who tends to treat friends and enemies alike with equal disdain. They almost constantly [[DeadpanSnarker speak in a sarcastic tone]] and punctuate most of their sentences with a smirk. While they aspire to be a formidable and awe-inspiring adversary, they often just become a BigBadWannabe, failing in the face of [[MagnificentBastard more cunning villains]] or becoming their servants, in which case they'll generally be TheStarscream. Others that fall under this {{trope}} are [[CardCarryingVillain simply in it to bug the good guys]] and [[FlawExploitation take advantage]] of their [[SlaveToPR moral insecurity]].

Mostly, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a target for audience hate by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and come out [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made to be hated and the audience will [[LoveToHate often enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true Magnificent Bastard]] could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a MagnificentBastard when it comes to getting the power they crave, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once they finally have it that they ultimately are a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two {{tropes}} is thinner than it looks, after all, and the further someone overestimates themself and underestimates the others, the closer they lean to Smug Snake territory, even if they are normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence of the character, and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of themself will need to exaggerate their self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

The Smug Snake will rarely be a DracoInLeatherPants, because, as previously stated, [[HateSink they're often created intentionally to be loathed by the audience]]. (However, it is possible for this to happen, especially if the character is physically attractive — the TropeNamer [[Franchise/HarryPotter himself]] is an example.)

Mostly, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and come out [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's [[LoveToHate made to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true Magnificent Bastard]] could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a MagnificentBastard when it comes to getting the power they crave, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once they finally have it that they ultimately are a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two {{tropes}} is thinner than it looks, after all, and the further someone overestimates themself and underestimates the others, the closer they lean to Smug Snake territory, even if they are normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence of the character, and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of themself will need to exaggerate their self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

[[/index]]

[[index]]

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily ''entirely'' incompetent, stupid, or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter to the point that they teeter on InsufferableImbecile). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger. In fact, for all their self-proclaimed brilliance, this is a {{trope}} that's highly likely to overlap with StupidEvil and end with the SmugSnake proving themselves TooDumbToLive and even suffering a KarmicDeath.

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily ''entirely'' incompetent, stupid, or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger. In fact, for all their self-proclaimed brilliance, this is a {{trope}} that's highly likely to overlap with StupidEvil and end with the SmugSnake proving themselves TooDumbToLive.

[[caption-width-right:240:"[[WesternAnimation/WileECoyote Being a genius]] certainly [[TemptingFate has its advantages.]]"]]

** ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseHumans Alan Jonah]] is implied to be this in the film, and the {{novelization}} outright confirms it. Not only does Jonah decide to ''let'' [[OmnicidalManiac King Ghidorah]] instigate an apocalypse which could wipe out all life on Earth as we know it (which in the film version could be construed as Jonah being willing to risk him and his men dying so that [[MisanthropeSupreme humanity will be no more]]); but in the novel, Jonah makes it clear that he's genuinely oblivious to just how much destruction Ghidorah will cause to the world and how much mortal peril it puts his own long-term survival in, when he insists he and his men will somehow weather out the whole apocalypse and "live like kings" in the aftermath.[[note]]Bear in mind, the [=MonsterVerse=] novelizations explicitly say that Ghidorah's destruction would mostly likely [[ApocalypseHow/Class5 wipe out ALL non-bacterial life on Earth]] -- not even the K-T mass extinction or the aptly-named Great Dying managed to be ''that'' destructive, nevermind that the novel also observes that Ghidorah will most likely root out and exterminate '''all''' human survivors hidden underground sooner or later if he wins.[[/note]] After Madison hears Jonah say this, she mentally compares him to "the miserable lice-eaten thugs in the Dark Ages who had started calling themselves 'kings'". Jonah also severely underestimates Madison in both versions of the story on account of her age, [[spoiler:and him not placing her under further scrutiny despite her ''clear'' disgust for his actions enables Madison to steal the ORCA out from under Jonah and his goons' noses and escape with it]].

*** [[Characters/MonsterVerseHumans Walter Simmons]]. Underneath his initial charming if proud exterior is an egotist who's brimming with hubris. As the film progresses, he treats Team Godzilla with faux-polite haughty disdain and is quick to get abrasively demanding with Ren when hearing something he doesn't want to. He sees himself as the next visionary architect of humanity's entry into a bold new era, but he's possibly the single most TooDumbToLive major villain in the entire Franchise/MonsterVerse with how he [[spoiler:doesn't see anything wrong with using a known OmnicidalManiac Titan[='s=] ''incomprehensibly BizarreAlienBiology and still-telepathic remains'' as the direct ''nervous system of something he designed to be WorldsStrongestMan'']]. He has an OhCrap too right before meeting his HoistByHisOwnPetard doom. In the novelization, he gets extra points for seemingly unknowingly having a DragonWithAnAgenda. The fancy glass of alcohol that Simmons carries in several scenes accentuates his Smug Snaky-ness.
*** Simmons' [[TheDragon Dragon]] Ren Serizawa is also confirmed to be one in the {{novelization}}. Besides sharing the above spoiler-y point with Simmons, he considers himself and Godzilla to be CainAndAbel, and he's wholly confident that he will succeed in killing Godzilla where rival Titans and the Oxygen Destroyer have failed, but Word of God on ''Godzilla vs. Kong'' and the novelization itself have suggested that Mechagodzilla would've lost in a fair fight against Godzilla. The novel also shows when Ren is in [[spoiler:the Skull Room]] piloting Mechagodzilla that he outright believes his mind deserves to be in a PhysicalGod body rather than his human body (though it's also hinted this might be [[spoiler:MoreThanMindControl from the Ghidorah skull affecting him]]), but he's really no more nor less a Titan-ant than every other human around him and he's, again, ridiculously Too Dumb to Live.

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger. In fact, for all their self-proclaimed brilliance, this is a {{trope}} that's highly likely to overlap with StupidEvil and end with the SmugSnake proving themselves TooDumbToLive.

Mostly, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and come out [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made [[LoveToHate to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true Magnificent Bastard]] could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a MagnificentBastard when it comes to getting the power they crave, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once they finally have it that they ultimately are a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two {{tropes}} is thinner than it looks after all and the further someone overestimates themself and underestimates the others the closer they lean to Smug Snake territory even if they are normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of themself will need to exaggerate their self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

The Smug Snake will rarely be a DracoInLeatherPants, because, as previously stated, [[HateSink they're often created intentionally to be loathed by the audience]]. (However, it is possible for this to happen, especially if the character is physically attractive -- the TropeNamer [[Franchise/HarryPotter himself]] is an example.)

Contrast WorthyOpponent, EvilIsCool and MagnificentBastard, who inspire respect and/or admiration from their opponents/the audience, and AwesomeEgo, whose brash cockiness is part of their charm (although any of these may be perceived as a Smug Snake by an audience via AlternativeCharacterInterpretation or simply poor writing). Compare and contrast SmugSuper, for when the person's arrogance and ego can actually be backed up with feats.

** ''Film/KongSkullIsland'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseSkullIslandExpedition Packard]] becomes increasingly AxCrazy and is fully confident that he can take out Kong. [[spoiler: Five seconds before having the chance to do so, Kong squashes him like a bug with no problem whatsoever]].

* The ancient Romans called this sort of character a "Ballio", after the villain of Creator/{{Plautus}}' ''Pseudolus''. Ballio the pimp is a raging egomaniac who threatens his courtesans with demotion to low-class whores—and floggings—if they fail to obtain rich birthday presents for him from their lovers; and he takes a nasty delight in telling Calidorus that his [Calidorus'] beloved is about to be sold. Ultimately, when he's been tricked out of the deal, he resolves to hang himself.

[[caption-width-right:240:"[[TemptingFate Being a genius certainly has its advantages.]]"]]

!!Examples

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
** Redd White from the first ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' game is so overconfident in his {{blackmail}} network that he hits Phoenix just to show he can get away with it and then testifies in court to spitefully frame Phoenix for murder. All evidence so far has contradicted Phoenix being the killer, and White ''doesn't even try to match up his testimony with that from the previous day's trial''.
** Richard Wellington from the second game's first case is egotistical and nowhere as smart as he thinks he is. Also, his testimony is pulled apart by an ''amnesiac'' Phoenix.
** [[spoiler:Matt Engarde]] from the second game. [[spoiler:He hires someone to do the job for him and easily outsmarts the Magantama the first time, [[MasterActor can put a facade that fools most people]] and he nearly breaks Phoenix with a SadisticChoice. He even [[TheBadGuyWins wins]] in the bad ending]]. However, [[spoiler:he barely falls short of being a MagnificentBastard because he makes the fatal mistake of thinking to blackmail a hitman. That exposes him to Phoenix and makes the assassin turn on him. His breakdown also shows he is a ''really'' SoreLoser]].
** Juan Corrida, victim of the final case. He can be incredibly petty and even break the law just to stop being AlwaysSecondBest to Matt. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for him, Matt surpasses him even in scheming and villainy.]]
** [[spoiler:[[Characters/AceAttorneyDahliaHawthorne Dahlia Hawthorne]]]], the primary villain of ''Trials and Tribulations''. Though [[spoiler:she bears loads of [[BitchInSheepsClothing surface-level charm]] and she's been [[TeensAreMonsters masterminding crimes since she was fourteen]], she's consistently shown to be nowhere near as clever as she thinks. She's a BadLiar (she falls for the INeverSaidItWasPoison trick ''twice'' in the same case), she gets OutGambitted regularly, and her crimes are consistently sloppy. Really, she only gets as far as she does by playing on her looks and Phoenix and Terry's trust in her. In a later TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, Mia simply points out that, for all her boasting, ''none'' of her schemes were actually [[TheBadGuyWins successful]]]].
** Subverted with [[spoiler:Luke Atmey]] in ''Trials and Tribulations'', who acts condescending to Phoenix for the entire first day (investigation and trial) until he's caught. And then you find out [[spoiler:[[BatmanGambit he manipulated you into coming to that particular conclusion]] so he could ''play the justice system''. In fact, the ''entire first day'' was a major case of ObfuscatingStupidity on his part. He still suffers the sin of {{Pride}} (which ultimately leads to his downfall), but aside from that, [[BewareTheSillyOnes he's an extremely capable and dangerous criminal]] whose claims of superior intelligence may be [[InsufferableGenius more than just hot air]]. Had he not made ''one'' (easily missed) mistake at the end, he would have gotten away with murder.]]
** [[spoiler:{{A|ssInAmbassador}}mbassador [[BigBad Quercus Alba]]]] in ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'' acts like a condescending asshole every minute after TheReveal, flaunting his DiplomaticImpunity in Edgeworth's face [[spoiler:until it's revoked. And he '''still''' acts like a smug asshat, [[ThatOneBoss stubbornly repeating that none of your evidence proves he committed the crime.]]]]
** [[spoiler:Alita Tiala]] from ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' originally acts as the [[spoiler:defendant's eager fiancée, until she reveals she's an arrogant GoldDigger who only hired Apollo because she was under the impression that the office he's employed under is a third-rate and questionable law firm that will get the defendant convicted for sure]]. [[SpringtimeForHitler That backfired]].
** From ''Apollo Justice'', [[spoiler:Daryan Crescend]] laughs disdainfully at almost every accusation Apollo throws at him, convinced it isn't enough.
** Florent L'Belle from ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]'' is an obnoxious jerk who takes every opportunity to laugh disdainfully at Apollo. But while his scheme ''is'' clever, it's also [[ComplexityAddiction ludicrously complicated]], to the point where [[spoiler:[[SpannerInTheWorks a bumbling thief who decides to steal the treasure L'Belle is after for a lark]]]] ultimately tears it apart.
** Nearly every prosecutor in the entire series that you go up against is a smug prick in one way or another and they become it even more when the tide turns in their favor. They'll present every counterargument dipped in snark and contempt for the player character while making them feel dumb for not seeing the flaws in their own logic. The moment things start turning in your favor, the prosecution will either come up with flimsy logic or shout some variant of ThisCannotBe. The only prosecutors that avoid the trope are Miles Edgeworth (who ''was'' a smug bastard before he went through CharacterDevelopment), Klavier Gavin (who just teases Apollo Justice rather than putting him down) and [[spoiler:Simon Blackquill, who also just teases and intimidates, but he only pretends to be a bad guy.]]. Winston Payne is the most notable example, aa he really can't back up his ego and this trope is the worst thing that can be said about him.
*** [[spoiler:Manfred von Karma]] is a very good schemer, and he is also a prosecutor who can intimidate the Judge. He comes close to becoming a MagnificentBastard, as he puts up an incredibly good fight and has a record of fourty years of victory, but he is too arrogant and some of his taunts backfire on him (though he IS prepared for such a thing), is also incredibly petty and [[spoiler:he makes the fatal mistake of committing murder because of a penalty he got, plus framing the victim's son for it. Also, he is such a SoreLoser it becomes the final nail in his coffin, as his scream of defeat is what gives him away to Edgeworth]].
*** Nahyuta acts like a HolierThanThou jackass constantly. [[spoiler:He subverts this trope, as he was forced by actual [[TitleDrop Smug Snake]] Queen Ga'Ran to act like that. The queen herself puts up a good fight, but only because she abuses authority. [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin She still loses]]]].
* Dennis from ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'' thinks he's superior to everyone, and it shows in his voice. He has supreme confidence in his ability to manipulate others. However, he ultimately loses his battle of wits with Dr. Mosely/[[spoiler:Zeta, and she has him taken away for execution]].
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
** Shinji Matou. In all three routes (''Fate'', ''Unlimited Blade Works'', and ''Heaven's Feel'') he's shown to be overconfident, unintelligent, and tries to win through manipulating more powerful characters (e.g. his servant Rider, [[spoiler:Gilgamesh, and Sakura]]). However, it ''always'' [[EvilerThanThou turns out badly (and sometimes bloodily) for him]]. Actually, ''he's'' being manipulated, by his grandfather Zouken. This is most obvious in ''Heaven's Feel'' (where his actions form most of the impetus for [[spoiler:Sakura's]] gradual SanitySlippage, culminating in [[spoiler:his eventual death and her FreakOut]]), but is also true in the other two routes.
** Gilgamesh. Oh, sure, with his enormous strength and power he could easily have become a much more successful villain, but he's just so damn egotistical that it winds up costing him dearly in each route he appears in, particularly in the UBW route, where he foolishly underestimates the power of [[spoiler:Shirou]] ultimately.
* ''VisualNovel/MinotaurHotel'': Argos is a literal example, being an actual serpent and smug as all hell.
* Eva-Beatrice of ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' is incredibly arrogant as she treats her allies poorly whenever they fail to entertain her and acts jerkish any time that she feels safe. She's also reduced to a screaming mess when things don't go her way.
[[/folder]]

** [[spoiler:[[Characters/AceAttorneyDahliaHawthorne Dahlia Hawthorne]]]], the primary villain of ''Trials and Tribulations''. Though [[spoiler:she bears loads of [[BitchInSheepsClothing surface-level charm]] and she's been [[TeensAreMonsters masterminding crimes since she was fourteen]], she's consistently shown to be nowhere near as clever as she thinks. She's a BadLiar (she falls for the INeverSaidItWasPoison trick ''twice'' in the same case), she gets OutGambitted regularly, and her crimes are consistently sloppy. In a later TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, Mia simply points out that, for all her boasting, ''none'' of her schemes were actually [[TheBadGuyWins successful]]]].

The Smug Snake is a type of character (usually a villain) who tends to treat friends and enemies alike with equal disdain. They almost constantly [[DeadpanSnarker speak in a sarcastic tone]] and punctuate most of their sentences with a smirk. While they aspire to be a formidable and awe-inspiring adversary, they often just become a BigBadWannabe, failing in the face of [[MagnificentBastard more cunning villains]] or becoming their servants, in which case they'll generally be TheStarscream. Others that fall under this trope are [[CardCarryingVillain simply in it to bug the good guys]] and [[FlawExploitation take advantage]] of their [[SlaveToPR moral insecurity]].

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger. In fact, for all their self-proclaimed brilliance, this is a trope that's highly likely to overlap with StupidEvil and end with the SmugSnake proving themselves TooDumbToLive.

Mostly, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and come out [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made [[LoveToHate to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true Magnificent Bastard]] could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a MagnificentBastard when it comes to getting the power they crave, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once they finally have it that they ultimately are a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two tropes is thinner than it looks after all and the further someone overestimates themself and underestimates the others the closer they lean to Smug Snake territory even if they are normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of themself will need to exaggerate their self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is overconfidence. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[{{Pun}} rattled]]. Oftentimes, they will view themselves as a MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard coercion]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole]] in that plan [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often ultimately are TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll too, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers themself a MagnificentBastard, then they're a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal themself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

The [[TitleDrop Smug Snake]] is a type of character (usually a villain) who tends to treat friends and enemies alike with equal disdain. They almost constantly [[DeadpanSnarker speak in a sarcastic tone]] and punctuate most of their sentences with a smirk. While they aspire to be a formidable and awe-inspiring adversary, they often just become a BigBadWannabe, failing in the face of [[MagnificentBastard more cunning villains]] or becoming their servants, in which case they'll generally be TheStarscream. Others that fall under this trope are [[CardCarryingVillain simply in it to bug the good guys]] and [[FlawExploitation take advantage]] of their [[SlaveToPR moral insecurity]].

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The Smug Snake is a type of character (usually a villain) who tends to treat friends and enemies alike with equal disdain. They almost constantly [[DeadpanSnarker speak in a sarcastic tone]] and punctuate most of their sentences with a smirk. While they aspire to be a formidable and awe-inspiring adversary, they often end up just being a BigBadWannabe, failing in the face of [[MagnificentBastard more cunning villains]] or ending up as their servants, in which case they'll generally be TheStarscream. Others that fall under this trope are [[CardCarryingVillain simply in it to bug the good guys]] and [[FlawExploitation take advantage]] of their [[SlaveToPR moral insecurity]].

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is [[{{Pride}} overconfidence]]. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[JustForPun rattled]]. Most often, they will think themselves to be the MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard coercion]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole in that plan]] [[DidntThinkThisThrough that they failed to consider]]. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. They may even [[BullyingADragon taunt someone or something even when common sense dictates that doing so is a good way to get themselves killed]]. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often end up being TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll as well, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers himself a MagnificentBastard, then he is a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal himself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

Most of the time, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and [[DirtyCoward come out]] [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made [[LoveToHate to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true Magnificent Bastard]] could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a MagnificentBastard when it comes to getting the power he craves, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once he finally has it that he ends up as a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two tropes is thinner than it looks after all and the further a character overestimates himself and underestimates the others the closer he leans to Smug Snake territory even if he is normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of himself will need to exaggerate his self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

The Smug Snake will rarely be a DracoInLeatherPants, because, as previously stated, [[HateSink he tends to be created intentionally to be loathed by the audience]]. (However, it is possible for this to happen, especially if the character is physically attractive -- the TropeNamer [[Franchise/HarryPotter himself]] is an example.)

Contrast WorthyOpponent, EvilIsCool and MagnificentBastard, who inspire respect and/or admiration from their opponents/the audience, and AwesomeEgo, whose brash cockiness is part of his or her charm (although any of these may be perceived as a Smug Snake by an audience via AlternativeCharacterInterpretation or simply poor writing). Compare and contrast SmugSuper, for when the person's arrogance and ego can actually be backed up with feats.

Subtrope of the [[SevenDeadlySins Sin]] of {{Pride}}.

* The ancient Romans called this sort of character a "Ballio", after the villain of Creator/{{Plautus}}' ''Pseudolus''. Ballio the pimp is a raging egomaniac who threatens his courtesans with demotion to low-class whores—as well as floggings—if they fail to obtain rich birthday presents for him from their lovers; and he takes a nasty delight in telling Calidorus that his [Calidorus'] beloved is about to be sold. In the end, when he's been tricked out of the deal, he resolves to hang himself.

->''"I'll give you a description [of Mister Daniel Lumis]. A forked tongue, little beady eyes, and he slithers on his belly. You'll find him easy. Just look under rocks."''
-->-- '''Mrs. Kandell''', [[Franchise/{{Dragnet}} "Mister"]]

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is [[{{Pride}} overconfidence]]. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[JustForPun rattled]]. Most often, they will think themselves to be the MagnificentBastard. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard coercion]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole in that plan]] that they failed to consider. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often end up being TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll as well, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers himself a MagnificentBastard, then he is a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal himself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

[[caption-width-right:240:"[[TemptingFate Being a genius certainly has its advantages]]."]]

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is [[{{Pride}} overconfidence]]. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[JustForPun rattled]]. Most often, they will think themselves to be a [[EvilIsCool brilliant mastermind]]. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard coercion]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole in that plan]] that they failed to consider. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that the MagnificentBastard possesses, and even the clever ones all too often end up being TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll as well, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers himself a Magni, then he is a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal himself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

Most of the time, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and [[DirtyCoward come out]] [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made [[LoveToHate to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as a MagnificentBastard when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true case of]] EvilIsCool could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a [[EvilIsCool Magnificent Bastard]] when it comes to getting the power he craves, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once he finally has it that he ends up as a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two tropes is thinner than it looks after all and the further a character overestimates himself and underestimates the others the closer he leans to Smug Snake territory even if he is normally a MagnificentBastard. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of himself will need to exaggerate his self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.

The Smug Snake is a type of character (usually a villain) who tends to treat friends and enemies alike with equal disdain. They almost constantly [[DeadpanSnarker speak in a sarcastic tone]] and punctuate most of their sentences with a smirk. While they aspire to be a formidable and awe-inspiring adversary, they often end up just being a BigBadWannabe, failing in the face of [[EvilIsCool more cunning villains]] or ending up as their servants, in which case they'll generally be TheStarscream. Others that fall under this trope are [[CardCarryingVillain simply in it to bug the good guys]] and [[FlawExploitation take advantage]] of their [[SlaveToPR moral insecurity]].

A key character trait common to Smug Snakes is [[{{Pride}} overconfidence]]. The Smug Snake is usually too arrogant to be [[JustForPun rattled]]. Most often, they will think themselves to be a [[EvilIsCool brilliant mastermind]]. While they may believe that they have [[EvilPlan the situation]] under control (whether they do so through {{blackmail}}, [[ManipulativeBastard coercion]], or simply [[EvilChancellor being in a position of authority]]), there will usually be a [[SpannerInTheWorks hole in that plan]] that they failed to consider. Perhaps they [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimated their opponents' abilities]] and [[NothingCanStopUsNow claimed themselves unbeatable]], or maybe they made a really stupid mistake along the way. Once that realization hits, expect the Snake to [[VillainousBreakdown lose their cool]] right before [[HumiliationConga everything starts falling apart]] for them. They are not necessarily entirely incompetent, stupid or ineffectual, however, and may succeed with at least part of their goals, but they are still lacking that charm and grace that a [[EvilIsCool cooler or more competant villain]] possesses, and even the clever ones all too often end up being TooCleverByHalf. Often a KnowNothingKnowItAll as well, to inspire added bile, though still enough to take the 'sympathetic' out of IneffectualSympatheticVillain (the ''best'' of them are {{Insufferable Genius}}es heavy on the former and light on the latter). If a Smug Snake considers himself a [[EvilIsCool brilliant mastermind]], then he is a villainous SmallNameBigEgo. When things go badly, the Smug Snake may reveal himself to be a DirtyCoward and pathetically grovel when a former victim asks WhosLaughingNow or beg the victim to save them in the event of outside danger.

Most of the time, a writer will purposely introduce a Smug Snake as a [[HateSink target for audience hate]] by making them KickTheDog or [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bend the rules to get their way]] and [[DirtyCoward come out]] [[KarmaHoudini smelling like a rose]]. Basically, this is a villain that's made [[LoveToHate to be hated and the audience will enjoy hating]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This, like all other tropes, can backfire if misused]]. If the writer still tries to foist the character as EvilIsCool when their previous actions have proven otherwise, the audience will likely stop enjoying hating the character, and instead genuinely ''hate'' them as much as they would TheScrappy or the CreatorsPet. [[CharacterDevelopment Evolving a Smug Snake into a true case of]] EvilIsCool could be doable, in theory, but shouldn't be attempted lightly, and has only been pulled off successfully in fiction a few times. Ever. Of course, the author might be deliberately doing this, playing a villain up as a [[EvilIsCool brilliant mastermind]] when it comes to getting the power he craves, but proving to be so inept at ''wielding'' that power once he finally has it that he ends up as a Smug Snake instead. The line between those two tropes is thinner than it looks after all and the further a character overestimates himself and underestimates the others the closer he leans to Smug Snake territory even if he is normally a case of EvilIsCool. So it is a state of mind directly proportional to the overconfidence and a character who has a good reason to have a high idea of himself will need to exaggerate his self-worth more to reach it than someone who hasn't.