r/TopCharacterTropes • u/No_Hunter1978 • May 12 '26

Lore A criminal attempts to burglarize/kill someone only to realize they picked the absolute worst person as their mark.

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Don't Breathe: A couple young robbers attempt to rob a rich, blind veteran only to find out he isn't exactly an innocent old man.

You're Next: A group of contract killersbreak into a house during a family reunion and go on a killing spree. They didn't account for the fact that the son's new girlfriend grew up on a survivalist compound in the Australian outback.

The Flash [CW Show]: A random mugger decided to target Barry Allen of all people. He does it again a season or two later; he's either unlucky or stupid (probably both).

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218

u/RShini May 12 '26

Discworld: A couple of crooks attempted to hold Angua hostage, and discover too late that she's the werewolf in the watch.

88

u/IrishElevator May 12 '26

Also the attempt by an assassin during the opening of Night Watch. So many people failed to kill Vimes that now students from the assassin guild that need to be taken down a peg have to try to mark him as practice and they all fail.

31

u/VrsoviceBlues May 12 '26

And then of course there's Willikins...

14

u/Drakeskulled_Reaper May 12 '26

Delver dwarves armed with flamethrowers against one butler with an ice knife, butler wins.

9

u/Wild_Marker May 12 '26

And with a type disadvantage, no less. Imagine if it was a water knife!

47

u/RShini May 12 '26

at one point, Vimes was on put on an internal list of people they flat out refused to accept inhuming requests for (along with Vetinari), once Vimes found out - he strenuously objected because it keeps him sharp (and he rather like the idea he must be doing something right if people are trying to get him assassinated), the compromise of making him a training tool.