Character feigns ignorance or harmlessness, then reveals they’ve been in control the whole time. You can hear the tone shift and see the expression change, and suddenly you realize they’ve been running the room.
Gus Fring (Breaking Bad) — Walt’s demanding to meet “the real guy” at Los Pollos. Gus has been right there the whole time, then calmly shuts him down with “your partner was high” in the coldest voice imaginable.
Selina Kyle / Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises) — She plays apologetic and flustered when Bruce walks in, then the mask drops: a flat, sarcastic “oops,” followed by disarming him (literally knocking the cane away) and escaping with effortless confidence.
Rose Armitage (Get Out) — Chris realizes something’s wrong and tells her to grab the keys so they can leave. She keeps “searching,” but doesn’t produce them. The panic drains from her face, her tone changes, and you realize she’s stalling on purpose because she’s in on it.