History Main / CharacterRerailment

* ComicBook/{{Gambit}} started off as a RuleOfCool-based, MrFanservice ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer Death Dealing]] BadassLongcoat who relished the challenge of getting his hands on the ForbiddenFruit Rogue, though stymied by his self-centered JerkAss qualities and the large number of people he pissed off in his thief career. Then, Rogue left him to die in Antarctica. After this, the result was a lot of {{Angst}} on Gambit's part, whose characterization was changed from the previously-described version to a [[{{Angst}} Self-loathing]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] desperate to punish himself for his (morally blameless) role in the Mutant Massacre. More recent adaptations, however, have reached back to the character's roots: ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' showed Gambit as competent, charming, handsome and relatively low-angst [[TheGambler card-shark]] who won a CoolPlane in a poker game, and ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' had Gambit as a mercenary, ruthless, charming, manipulative thief for hire (albeit in only two episodes). Whether or not this trend will continue is currently unknown, though his recent solo series, which compromises him by having him return to his thieving roots and ultimately becoming King of Thieves, while remaining a loose faculty member at the Jean Grey School (Wolverine explains that they don't actually expect him to turn up much... but they trust him to be there when it counts, when he's really needed), before joining X-Factor, but still remaining King of Thieves.

* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' was praised by gamers and long-time comic fans alike for striking a nice balance of writing a non-teenage Peter who maintain the core of his characters. After the ComicBook/OneMoreDay retcon of the comics, the comics have been criticized for trying to artificially make Peter come off as younger to mixed results. Similarly, the [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries majority]] [[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 of the]] [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming new]] [[WesternAnimation/MarvelsSpiderMan adaptations]] prioritized making Peter a KidAppealCharacter again. So the [=PS4=] game coming out and allowing Peter to be in his 20s, having a mature relationship with Mary Jane, and once more paying more care to his struggles of his double life felt like a breathe of fresh air.

** ''Anime/DragonBallSuperSuperHero'' gloriously gives Gohan and Piccolo some much needed rehabilitation after decades of being OutOfFocus and being given BadassDecay compared to Goku and Vegeta. For Gohan since his father and Vegeta are firmly out of the plot, the film gives him the chance to restore his original role throughout Z as the prodigal son hero with bottomless potential, something that was cast aside in the finale of the Buu Saga and continually ignored in ''Super'' where lack of training had made Gohan a punching bag. The film highlights his dorky traits but regardless shows for all Gohan's lame qualities he's still a force of nature when push comes to shove with him killing the antagonist Cell Max with his new form, essentially for fulfilling his character arc in the Buu Saga that was aborted. For Piccolo, the film brings back his devastating GeniusBruiser characterisation from Z, that greatly discarded in the Buu Saga in favour of making him TheSmartGuy CombatCommentator whom was continually behind the Saiyans in ''Super'' as well. Here Piccolo is heavily involved in the action thanks to getting his own SuperMode, whilst also putting his TheChessmaster status to full use once again.

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen97'' did this for both Cyclops and Storm. Most X-Fans were more drawn to the franchise via the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'', where the two were made {{Adaptational Wimp}}s over other characters, especially Wolverine. The very first episode showed fans why Cyclops and Storm are so beloved in the comics, in particular with Storm's assault on the Sentinels.

* At this point, there are at least three different characterizations of ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, with authors repeatedly [[ArmedWithCanon rerailing one by derailing the others]]. The original characterization was a generically evil BigBad. Creator/ChrisClaremont's tormented WellIntentionedExtremist is the most complex and long-running, considered his "true" self by most, but Creator/GrantMorrison's AxCrazy villain is closer to the character's roots. However, nobody complained about Magneto's return to the character he'd been from 1975 to 2003 immediately after by Claremont himself, with Morrison's Magneto revealed as an impostor. Morrison, however, wasn't the first to try and make him TheHeavy again, though they did make sure he had sufficient provocation for "Fatal Attractions" back in the 90s.

* Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}} used the same tactic when he got ahold of ComicBook/TheCreeper during his ''ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}'' run. The Creeper had previously been heavily reimagined in the ComicBook/New52 as a DarkerAndEdgier Japanese {{Oni}}, much to the ire of his fans. Priest brought back the character's original appearance, and only mentioned the Oni stuff in passing with a line saying that the Creeper had been going through some changes recently, but was now feeling like his old self again.

* Played with regarding Samus Aran of the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''. Thanks to the lack of other characters to interact with, Samus is a HeroicMime, and when others ''are'' around, she tends to be [[TheSilentBob very laconic]] if she speaks at all, keeping most of her thoughts expressed in body language or internal monologue. As such, the character has come to be seen as unflappable, with the rare moments where she isn't [[{{Determinator}} usually being punctuated by a fight response]], rather than freeze or flight one. ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', as part of its attempt to portray Samus at a low point in her life, threw this characterization out entirely to portray her as someone who was very poor at coping with stress, to the point that [[NeverLiveItDown she froze up for a solid minute]] when faced with long-time nemesis Ridley, someone she had by that point in the series chronology fought roughly four times previously. Following releases would see her return to her previous characterization, with ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' going to great lengths to highlight her confidence in the face of danger and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' showcasing an explosive, rage-fueled HeroicSecondWind towards the end of the game.

* In the ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsSparksOfHope'' DLC campaign ''[[VideoGame/{{Rayman}} in the Phantom Show,'' Rayman's personality is much closer to how he appeared in ''VideoGame/Rayman2'' and ''[[VideoGame/Rayman3 3]]''; a friendly and laidback, if somewhat cocky and egotistical, individual, compared to excitable and manic persona he had in ''[[VideoGame/RaymanOrigins Origins]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/RaymanLegends Legends]]''.

* Samus Aran of the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' has historically been a HeroicMime, thanks to the lack of other characters to interact with, and even in games where she ''does'' have other characters to react to, she tends to be [[TheSilentBob very laconic]] if she speaks at all. The most she tends to say are short mission summaries like in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' or equally short private monologues like in ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion''. This has, for most of the series, allowed Samus' body language to do most of the talking for her, and her general manner within cutscenes and during gameplay implied a stoic and badass persona to most players when combined with her sparse dialogue and monologues. Then came ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', which portrayed her as someone who was very poor at coping with life's problems, to the point that she froze up for a solid minute when faced with Ridley, someone she had by that point fought roughly four times previously and once more in a later game in the series with nothing even close to the same terrified reaction - indeed, in several games her only reaction to his appearance was anger or determination. Her relationship with Adam Malkovich, which was evidently going for him being a stern but caring father figure to her, was instead read as intensely abusive. In short, most of the fanbase who had grown to know Samus through the previous games in the series felt her portrayal in ''Other M'' contradicted nearly everything that had been established about her previously. Seven years later, Nintendo released ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', which appeared to totally ignore the ''Other M'' characterization to return Samus to a silent, stoic {{Determinator}}. As if to underscore the point, she had absolutely no problems throwing down with Ridley at the end of the game. ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' continued this trend, with Samus appearing nearly unflappable by all the giant snarling monsters on planet ZDR. The only brief exception is near the end of the game, [[spoiler: when Raven Beak nearly kills her. And even then, it's counterbalanced by an explosive HeroicSecondWind that underscores that Samus' power and determination is second to none in the ''Metroid'' universe, which further contrasts how ineffective she was in ''Other M''.]]
* In the ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsSparksOfHope DLC Rayman in the Phantom Show,'' Rayman's personality here is much closer to how he appeared in Rayman 2 and 3, being a friendly, if somewhat cocky and egotistical, individual, compared to how manic he was in Origins and Legends.

** Pan, as she was introduced at the end of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', was portrayed as a bright-eyed, happy CheerfulChild. When an older preteen Pan was made into one of the main characters of the sequel anime ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', her characterization was now a more snarky BrattyHalfPint. When ''Super'' showcased Pan as an infant, it restored her characterization back to her upbeat CheerfulChild self from the end of ''Z'', something that made her [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap far more popular]] with viewers.
* While most fans wouldn't say he was ever outright ruined, many felt that [[Characters/OnePieceSanji Sanji]] from ''Manga/OnePiece'' was hit with a lot of {{Flanderization}} over the years in regards to his weakness towards women. He always was very much a ChivalrousPervert, but his horny comedic side was usually balanced with things like his kindness or his coolness to stop him from feeling one-note. After the [[TimeSkip timeskip]], however, his pervy gags seemed to eclipse other aspects of his character, especially in the Fishman Island arc where his [[{{Nosebleed}} horny nosebleeds]] nearly getting him killed becomes a significant plot point. In the Wholecake Island arc, however, he's given an arc's worth of development as certain aspects of his past come to light and some [[HiddenDepths less shown aspects]] of his character such as his selflessness are explored in greater detail, causing him to come off as a far more serious character. By the time of the Wano arc he's still very much a [[LovableSexManiac horny goofball]] (It ''is'' One Piece after all), but his gags are balanced with more serious moments from him.

* An issue of Chris Claremont's ''Franchise/XMen'' had the villain Arcade light a match on ComicBook/DoctorDoom's armour, with Doom just allowing it. Many felt this was CharacterDerailment, and as it turns out, so did John Byrne. During his run on the title, he retconned that the Doom who worked with Arcade was ActuallyADoombot, and when the real Doom questions it on how he killed Arcade for such an act, the Doombot says it did not, for it felt Doom may need Arcade. [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8100/8559598933_ed6cfbbdb0_b.jpg Doom then casually destroys the Doombot]], exclaiming, "Doom needs ''no one''." This actually became one of Doom's most memorable moments as a character.

* The [=DigiDestined=] in ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'' act more like selfish, angsty pricks who are prone to acting on self-interests rather than their original selves. ''Anime/DigimonLastEvolutionKizuna'' fixed this issue by making the characterization of the ones that are not OutOfFocus (Tai, Matt and Izzy) more in line with their ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''-era selves, but mellowed out because of their age.