History FaceHeelTurn / LiveActionTV

* Happens all the time on ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', it being a spy show (and part of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse).
** A mass face heel turn occurs in the second half of the first season: [[spoiler: turns out about half of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually Hydra sleeper agents, a massive infiltration dating back decades.]] Thus, this is one of the cases where always-been-heels characters are outed as such. Notable examples include:
*** [[spoiler: Grant Ward, a notable member of Coulson's team (and the main cast).]]
*** [[spoiler: John Garrett, Coulson's friend and colleague and a command-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, who turns out to be a mid-ranking Hydra mastermind.]]
*** In related events happening at the same time in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', [[spoiler: World Security Council Secretary Alexander Pierce, the ultimate boss above Nick Fury and all of S.H.I.E.L.D., turns out to be the mastermind of a Hydra plot to take over the world, and recurring S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell is revealed as a Hydra agent as well.]]
** Super soldier Mike Peterson winds up working for Hydra in Season 1 after they kidnap his son and put a bomb in his head. They turn him into the MCU version of Deathlok.
** Skye's mother Jaiying becomes the final villain of Season 2 when her desire for revenge against SHIELD and Hydra overpowers her desire to be a good leader to the Inhuman community.
** Season 3's BigBad Hive has the ability to induce this in Inhumans, enslaving them with his parasites.
*** Also in Season 3, Agent Blake, once a high ranking member of SHIELD, is revealed as the founder of the [[FantasticRacism Inhuman-hating]] group, the Watchdogs.
** In Season 4...
*** Doctor Radcliffe reads the magic book the ''Darkhold'', then turns on SHIELD once it becomes clear that they will not support his research into [=LMDs=] and virtual reality.
*** Later, the [=LMD=] "Aida" desires to become a real person and so exploits loop holes in her programming to betray Radcliffe. He even compliments her "genius". It's implied that her desire arose after she, too, read the ''Darkhold''. She eventually becomes a real human with Inhuman powers, as well as the MCU version of Madame Hydra.
*** As a result of Aida's machinations within the virtual reality "Framework", several characters switch factions inside. Leopold Fitz becomes the sadistic ''Doctor'', and the most threatening figure within the Framework. Melinda May willingly becomes one of Hydra's top operatives. Most surprisingly, the virtual version of Grant Ward turns out to be a '''''good guy''''', having been recruited by SHIELD agent Victoria Hand instead of John Garrett in the virtual timeline.
** At the end of Season 5, Brigadier-General Glenn Talbott [[spoiler:becomes the MCU version of Graviton and]] turns against SHIELD. Well-Intentioned Extremist variant.
*** Earlier in the season, Fitz tragically suffers a psychotic break that causes him to hallucinate the ''Doctor'' version of himself torturing his friends, albeit in service of SHIELD's larger goals. Then Fitz discovers that it was [[BreakTheCutie him all along...]]

* [[spoiler:Slade Wilson]] starts out as a hero in ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', but after he learns of [[spoiler:Ivo pulling a SadisticChoice on Oliver that results in Shado's death]], combined with the Mirakuru's effect on his mind, he turns on Oliver, blaming him for what happened more than he does Ivo.

* Gul Dukat of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' starts off as a recurring annoyance, but [[HeelFaceTurn gradually warms up to the crew]], then he realizes GoodIsDumb and stabs everyone in the back.

*** Except for the fact.... that it's actually not out of character at all. Daenerys had already been showing signs of tyranny since the end of Season 1 (it's made even more clear in the books). She shows pride when her husband Khal Drogo gives his speech on wanting to rape, murder, and enslave the innocent people of Westeros so that she could have her throne. She burns Mirri Maaz Duur, a woman whose people were just raped and murdered by Drogo's Khalasar, alive at the end of Season 1. Mirri Maaz Duur had every right to have him killed, and she was forced by Daenerys to save him. And all throughout Seasons 2-7, Daenerys had done nothing but threaten to burn people alive for not bowing down to her cause, execute people, accuse people of being slave owners without a trial or even finding out if they were even slave owners or not, and burn many Essosi cities to the ground with innocent people living in them without caring while she moved on to the next. Sure, she acted as if she cared about the lives of slaves, but after "freeing" them and serving their purpose for her, she discarded them without a care as well. Everything she did in Season 8 was exactly in line with what she always was. But too many TV fans were too blindsided because of how she was given the POV trap to make people believe that she would always be good. If people were paying attention to her characterization from the start, her "turn" in Season 8 should have been no surprise.

* The third season of ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'' revolves entirely around Manny and Sean turning {{heel}}, then slowly turning back to {{face}}.

** Olly is Jon Snow's trusted steward until he [[spoiler:helps Alliser Thorne murder Jon]] as revenge for the latter saving and forming an alliance with the Wildlings.

** It's only referenced obliquely, but Mance Rayder went from being one of the best rangers in the Night's Watch to King Beyond the Wall.
** Never the most heroic bunch in the first place, House Bolton betray the Starks and turn fully villainous in "The Rains of Castamere".
** Despite their reputation as a "famously loyal" house, House Umber betray House Stark and change allegiances to House Bolton in Season 6.

** Daenerys herself declines into villainy in what is one of the series most controversial moves. Her actions in Essos involved standing up to and ending the atrocities in Essos: fighting against the Dothraki's misogyny and single handily ending slavery in the western continent were good acts and even her most morally ambigous decisions. When she set her sights on the Iron throne she begins her descent into insanity burning alive soldiers who refused to bend the knee or allow themselves to be sent to the walls. She justifies this because she is fighting against Cersei Lannister, one of the worst tyrants in the History of Westeros. However over the course of the final three episodes Daenerys snaps for essentially no reason culminating in her burning down Kings Landing because the ringing of the Bells annoyed her. Whiles Daenerys was slowly descending into villainy the show skipped over all the context that would explain the descent, making her evil actions seem rushed and out of character
*** Except for the fact.... that it's actually not out of character at all. Daenerys had already been showing signs of tyranny since the end of season 1 (it's made even more clear in the books). She shows pride when her husband Khal Drogo gives his speech on wanting to rape, murder and enslave the innocent people of Westeros, just so she could have her throne. She burns Mirri Maaz Duur alive at the end of the season, a woman whose people were just raped and murdered by Drogo's Khalasar. She had every right to have him killed, and she was forced by Daenerys to save him. And all throughout seasons 2-7 she had done nothing but threaten to burn people alive for not bowing down to her cause, execute people, accusing people of being slave owners without a trial or even finding out if they were even slave owners or not, burned many Essosi cities to the ground with innocent people living in them without caring while she moved on to the next. Sure she acted like she cared about the lives of slaves, but after "freeing" them and serving their purpose for her, she discarded them without a care as well. Everything she did in season 8 was exactly in line with what she always was. But too many tv fans were too blindsided because of how she was given the POV trap to make people believe that she would always be good. If people were paying attention to her characterization from the start, her "turn" in season 8 should have been no surprise.

* ''Series/HeroesReborn'': In the years that have passed since ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' originally aired, it's revealed that [[spoiler:Matt Parkman]] has converted to the side of evil, working for Erica Kravid and Renautas Corporation as the Director of Sunstone Manor, a secluded property where specials are held prisoner and brainwashed by [[spoiler:Matt]] into staying.

%%* Shane Vandrell in ''Series/TheShield'', more than once.

** [[spoiler: Gets briefly flipped halfway through the fifth season when Walt, having reached the top of his empire, having taken his operation global realizes that he has made more money than he could ever hope to spend and far more than he even set out for initially. This leads him to decide he is out of the game, make amends with his former business partner by giving him the money he's owed and try to start over fresh with his family. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished And then his DEA agent brother-in-law finally figures out he's a drug dealer,]] causing him to slip back into his criminal ways and his moral degradation resumes. Even if he won't physically harm them, he's perfectly willing to throw his family under the bus to save his own skin like making a false confession tape implicating Hank.]]

** [[spoiler: Gets briefly flipped halfway through the fifth season when Walt, having reached the top of his empire, having taken his operation global realizes that he has made more money than he could ever hope to spend and far more than he even set out for initially. This leads him to decide he is out of the game, make amends with his former business partner by giving him the money he's owed and try to start over fresh with his family. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished And then his DEA agent brother-in-law finally figures out he's a drug dealer]], causing him to slip back into his criminal ways and his moral degradation resumes. Even if he won't physically kill them, he's perfectly willing to throw his family under the bus to save his own skin like making a false confession tape implicating Hank.]]

** [[spoiler: Gets briefly flipped halfway through the fifth season when Walt, having reached the top of his empire, having taken his operation global realizes that he has made more money than he could ever hope to spend and far more than he even set out for initially. This leads him to decide he is out of the game, make amends with his former business partner by giving him the money he's owed and try to start over fresh with his family. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished And then his DEA agent brother-in-law finally figures out he's a drug dealer,]]causing him to slip back into his criminal ways and his moral degradation resumes. Even if he won't physically kill them, he's perfectly willing to throw his family under the bus to save his own skin like making a false confession tape implicating Hank.]]

** [[spoiler: Gets surprisingly flipped halfway through the fifth season when Walt, having reached the top of his empire, having taken his operation global realizes that he has made more money than he could ever hope to spend and far more than he even set out for initially. This leads him to decide he is out of the game, make amends with his former business partner by giving him the money he's owed and try to start over fresh with his family. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished And then his DEA agent brother-in-law finally figures out he's a drug dealer.]]]]

* In the final arc of ''Series/KamenRider555'', [[{{Deuteragonist}} Yuji Kiba]] loses his best friend thanks to the actions of humanity and gives up on his dream of coexistence between humans and [[{{Mutants}} Orphnochs]], instead helping to awaken the [[DarkMessiah Arch Orphnoch]] and bring about the destruction of humanity.
* ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' has a very tragic example in Mitsuzane Kureshima. He starts off the best friend of TheHero Kouta, but after learning [[CosmicHorrorStory the truth]] about Helheim Forest he slowly becomes more villainous, determined to whatever it takes to protect his friends. Eventually though, his more selfish desires overtake him, and he ultimately betrays almost all of his friends in favor of keeping [[DamselInDistress Mai]] to himself.
* Subverted in ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne''. After [[RobotBuddy Izu]] was destroyed by Horobi, Aruto Hiden, the titular Rider himself, took up the Ark One Driver to become Kamen Rider Ark-One and avenge her, going from an AllLovingHero to a cynical AntiHero. He stops himself before he can descend into villainy however.
* Played straighter in ''Series/KamenRiderRevice''. After seeing everything he fought for torn down and losing one of his closest friends, Daiji Igarashi [[DespairEventHorizon loses all hope that Giff can be stopped]] and concludes that the best way to prevent further casualties is for humanity to submit themselves to it, taking Giff and Akaishi's side and becoming their new [[TheDragon enforcer]].

* Gul Dukat of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' starts off as a recurring annoyance, but [[HeelFaceTurn gradually warms up to the crew]] and looks like he's on the road to BadassDecay... then he realizes GoodIsDumb and stabs everyone in the back.

* On ''Series/{{CSI NY}}'' Marty Pino, who went from recurring coroner to drug dealer processing body parts from victims for the drugs they contained.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

** Super soldier Mike Peterson winds up working for Hydra in season 1 after they kidnap his son and put a bomb in his head. They turn him into the MCU version of Deathlok.
** Skye's mother Jaiying becomes the final villain of season 2 when her desire for revenge against SHIELD and Hydra overpowers her desire to be a good leader to the Inhuman community.

*** Also in season 3, Agent Blake, once a high ranking member of SHIELD, is revealed as the founder of the [[FantasticRacism Inhuman-hating]] group, the Watchdogs.
** In season 4...

** At the end of season 5, Brigadier-General Glenn Talbott [[spoiler:becomes the MCU version of Graviton and]] turns against SHIELD. Well-Intentioned Extremist variant.

*** [[spoiler:Vaughn]] appeared to do this at the end of season 4, but then it's pretty gray as to what's happening. The show has so much of this trope that the audience expected it (or at least was hardly surprised), and then the turn was subverted because he didn't really turn evil.
* Tyr on ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' - though we all knew it would happen sooner or later, as Tyr was always [[MagnificentBastard playing his own game]].

* ''Series/AshesToAshes2008'' Season 3 kicks off with [[spoiler: the introduction of new DCI Jim Keats. He seems like an upright, intelligent guy who even Gene Hunt begrudgingly respects - mainly because Keats is allowing Hunt to operate the way he wants to operate and isn't interfering the way other [[InternalAffairs IAB officers]] would. He repeatedly tells Alex that he wants to help her, and he knows she has a larger purpose in this world. He makes overtures to the rest of the CID gang - Chris in particular - even bringing over a bottle of champagne to celebrate their closing a case. And then, about five minutes before the end of the episode, he walks into Gene's office, closes the door, and delivers one of the most [[BreakThemByTalking scathing denouncements of Hunt and his people]] we've ever heard, and [[InspectorJavert vows to bring Hunt down]], no matter what.]]

** [[spoiler:...and Garibaldi in season 4, ]]due to a bad case of MoreThanMindControl.

*** Willow's is far more this trope than Angel as she was always the same person (albeit far, far more angry). She even says later that she remembers exactly how it felt and why she was doing it - and that it felt pretty good. Dark Willow is Normal Willow on the ultimate despairing rage power trip.

* ''Series/EastEnders'' - James Wilmott-Brown started out as the friendly face of the brewery, then bought his own bar, got obsessed with barmaid Kathy, and eventually raped her.

** Daenerys herself declines into villainy in what is one of the series most controversial moves. Her actions in Essos involved standing up to and ending the atrocities in Essos: fighting against the Dothraki's misogyny and single handily ending slavery in the western continent were good acts and even her most morally ambigous decisions. When she set her sights on the Iron throne she begins her descent into insanity burning alive soldiers who refused to bend the knee or allow themselves to be sent to the walls. She justifies this because she is fighting against Cersie Lannister, one of the worst tyrants in the History of Westeros. However over the course of the final three episodes Daenerys snaps for essentially no reason culminating in her burning down Kings Landing because the ringing of the Bells annoyed her. Whiles Daenerys was slowly descending into villainy the show skipped over all the context that would explain the descent, making her evil actions seem rushed and out of character

** Mr. Sweet, who left Victor's team in season 2 to focus on being a good principal and father, turned evil again in season 3 in order to try and awaken Ammut. He went about this by [[AbusiveParents manipulating and betraying Eddie at every opportunity]].

* As of the finale of season 3 of the BBC's ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'', [[spoiler:Morgana has finally completely turned against Arthur, Merlin and the rest of Camelot, and, with the possible death of Morgause, is in a prime position to take over as the BigBad of the next season. Technically she was an enemy right from the beginning of season 3, it's just that now ''everyone'' knows about her Face Heel Turn instead of just Merlin and Gaius (and Gwen later on)]].

* [[spoiler: Allan]] in season 2 of the new ''Series/RobinHood'', at least until [[spoiler: his HeelFaceTurn]] later on in the season.

** A straighter example occurs with [[spoiler: Hamza Alp]]. He was one of Ertugrul’s most prized soldiers back in season 1, then goes along with [[spoiler: Abdurrahman Alp]] to gain information from the Mongols by pretending to side with them during the following season. [[spoiler: Unlike Abdurrahman though, Hamza is genuinely corrupted by the promise of riches and betrays the Kayis out of such a vice. Even when he tries to repent later, his attempts are cut short after Noyan kills him off, leaving him without the Kayis' blessings]].
** Secretly enacted by [[spoiler: Afsin Bey after he murders Halime’s father]]. While Ertugrul does become suspicious of him, he never finds out explicitly if [[spoiler: Afsin]] truly betrayed the Kayis by being the one to commit such a sin before he leaves at the end of season 1.

** The Big Bad of Season 6, to whom both [[spoiler: Crowley and Eve]] played DiscOneFinalBoss, is revealed to be [[spoiler: Castiel, who has decided that to defeat ArchangelRaphael and put Heaven on the right track, anything is acceptable - in this case, taking on a million souls. The Winchester boys do their best to stop Castiel throughout the final episodes of the season, while he continues to plead for them to accept him and his reasons for evil]].

** Debbie Pelt performs a HeelFaceTurn offscreen after season 3 and then this trope (onscreen) in season 4.

* Stefan Salvatore from ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'' at the end of season two and for most of season three. Klaus reverted Stefan into his darker alter ego, the Ripper.

* ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'' has a shocking example where, when [[RobotBuddy Izu]] was destroyed by Horobi, Aruto Hiden, the titular Rider himself, pulled this, becoming the evil Kamen Rider Ark-One. Overlaps with BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, as Ark-One's finisher's involve extremely negative emotions, where early on Aruto's main desire was to make people laugh.

** Riley appears to be doing this by working with the Twilight Group in the comics, [[spoiler: but it turns out he's a ReverseMole]].

** Daenerys herself declines into villainy in what is one of the series most controversial moves. Her actions in Essos involved standing up to and ending the atrocities in Essos: fighting against the Dothraki's misogyny and single handily ending slavery in the western continent were good acts and even her most morally ambigous decisions . Whiles she made mistakes in her attempts to. When she set her sights on the Iron throne she begins her descent into insanity burning alive soldiers who refused to bend the knee or allow themselves to be sent to the walls. She justifies this because she is fighting against cersie lannister one of the worst tyrants in the History of Westeros. However over the course of the final three episodes Daenerys snaps for essentially no reason cumilating in her burning down Kings landing because the ringing of the Bells annoyed her. Whiles Daenerys was slowly descenting into villainy the show skipped over all the context that would explain her descent into villainy making her evil actions seem rushed and out of character

** Riley in the comics.
*** Except not really. He was spying for Buffy.