Sensing Weaknesses and Opportunities

To be a good hunter, you have to follow your prey's tracks, get inside its head, and exploit its weaknesses before going in for the kill.

That's exactly the case in many a story, when the villain senses the hero or someone's weaknesses so he/she can exploit them and use them against his/her opponent.

He/she can also discover a way to: This especially comes about when: While the villain can sense weaknesses and opportunities by him/herself, he/she can sometimes rely on his/her minions and/or stool pigeon to do so. In these cases, the villain's henchman lurks in the shadows, spying on the hero and/or someone so he/she can report back to his/her master, leading the villain to gain the opportunity to carry out his/her evil schemes.
 * Get inside a kingdom or an empire so he/she can invade it
 * Carry out his/her evil plans
 * Wage a war on someone
 * Cheat in a game
 * The villain notices the hero failing, going down the wrong path and/or making a reckless decision
 * The villain is running out of time
 * The villain realizes something, like what the hero's weakness is
 * The hero/heroine mistakingly gives away his/her hiding place

Noteworthy Examples

 * Diablo, sent by Maleficent to find Aurora, discovers her hiding place after the Good Fairies mistakingly give it away, leading him to report back to his mistress.
 * After hearing that the Powhatans captured John Smith, Governor Ratcliffe senses the perfect opportunity to wage war on them.
 * Jenner senses an opportunity to kill Nicodemus by dropping the Brisby home on him.
 * After hearing that Prince Naveen is coming to the Masquerade Ball, Dr. Facilier senses an opportunity to get his money - by capturing the prince.
 * Shan Yu examines a doll and senses an opportunity to venture into the Tung-Shao Pass to bring down the Imperial Army and get to the Emperor to take over China.
 * After Chef Skinner realizes that Remy is making the recipes, he senses Linguini's weakness.
 * Ruber senses the perfect opportunity to find Excalibur after Bladebeak reports that Kayley and Garrett are following Ayden, who knows where the sword is.
 * Morgana attempts to bring down Alex, Kaye, Bedders, and Lance by exploiting their weaknesses.
 * After Captain Hook notices Jane trying to fly and failing, he sees her wanting to return home as an opportunity to use her in his plot to capture Peter Pan.
 * After his act goes down the drain, Krudsky discovers the Goblin Scepter as the perfect opportunity to get back in business.
 * Ursula sees Ariel's disobedience as a perfect opportunity to bring down King Triton and rule over the ocean.
 * Morgana sees Melody's locket, disobedience, and mermaid heritage as an opportunity to avenge her sister and take over Atlantica.
 * Honest John sees Pinocchio as a perfect opportunity to get his money.
 * Marina Del Rey spies on Ariel, her sisters, and Sebastian in the Catfish Club, then rats them out in a bid to obtain Sebastian's job as chief of staff.
 * Randall Weems overhears TJ and the Recess gang about to break into the school to save Principal Prickly, giving him an opportunity to report them to Ms. Finster.
 * After noticing Wreck-It Ralph's argument with Vanellope, Arthur senses Ralph's insecurities and discovers an opportunity to take over the Internet.
 * After Maurice tries to explain to the tavern staff about Belle being captured by the Beast, Gaston sees an opportunity to force Belle to become his wife, hatching a plan that involves trapping her father.
 * After hearing about an audition with L.B. Mammoth, Darla Dimple senses an opportunity to get Danny and the other animals kicked out of Hollywood.

Quotes
"Yes, hurry home, Princess. We wouldn't want to miss old Daddy's celebration, now, would we? Huh! Celebration indeed. Oh, bah! In MY day, we had fantastical feasts when I lived in the palace. And now, look at me--wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving, while he and his flimsy fish-folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton's undoing..."

- Ursula sees Ariel's disobedience as a perfect opportunity to bring down King Triton and rule over the ocean. "Manoeuvers of this nature are dangerous. Accidents could happen... (Sullivan: Accidents?) (Head of Council: Jenner!) I'll explain later."

- Jenner implying sensing the perfect opportunity to stay in the rose bush. "So, the girl can't fly, yet she wants to go home. Smee, do you know what this means? (Smee: Six more weeks of winter?) (Hook tosses Smee aside.) No, you imbecile. (chuckles evilly) We'll get me treasure...AND the boy."

- Captain Hook sensing a golden opportunity to use Jane in his plot to capture Peter Pan.

"(Happy Chapman has his arms outstretched as he's getting a new jacket tailored on him) I can't go on like this anymore, Wendell. I've got to get a dog. (Wendell: I think that's a lovely idea. I know you've been sad and lonely since the divorce and I've tried to be a friend--) Not for me, you imbecile! For the act! If I could get my hands on a really talented dog, wouldn't Walter J. just choke on his Emmy? (Wendell: Like Odie?) Yeah, now he was good! Oh, yeah. (As Chapman speaks Wendell moves closer to the window.) Y'know, he was kinda dopey-looking and spry and--(Wendell: [sees a lost poster depicting Odie] Lost!) Huh? (Chapman comes over to the window to see the lost poster; his eyes widen upon recognizing the dog.)"

- Happy Chapman sensing an opportunity to overshadow hlonging for a dog to star in his show so he can overshadow his news anchor brother Walter in fame. Chapman's assistant Wendell notices a LOST poster of Odie right outside the window, which Chapman decides to take advantage of. "At Strasser's estate in Africa, he are watching a news report on Joe, recently moved to a conservatory in California] My God! Pindi was right! (Strasser's henchman Garth enters the room) He's beautiful. The most beautiful animal I ever seen. (Garth: And the most valuable, that's for sure.) (Garth sits down, watches as Jill appears on screen) (Garth: Isn't that the--) Wait! Be quiet! (Both men's expressions are of recognition as Jill is identified as the daughter of the primatologist they had killed twelve years earlier.) (Garth, pointing at the screen: Bloody hell! That's him! That's him, that's the little feller who bit your finger off!) (Strasser glances down at his mangled right hand, missing the thumb and index finger) I'm always amazed how, if you wait long enough, the opportunity for justice finally comes. Garth, book us two tickets to America. We are going to pay a visit to this incredible animal. (smirking, Strasser puts a half-glove on his right hand) I think I know how to convince his current owners to part with him."

- Andrei Strasser seeing Joe on the TV and recognizing the ape for biting off his fingers. Then he sees his chance to get revenge on the ape and decides to go to America to pay Joe a visit.