History Main / KnightOfCerebus

* Though Neal Shusterman's Everlost was never exactly light, it never got worse than darkly fascinating in the first book. Then [[spoiler:Mary Hightoer]] shows her true colors and in the space of one epilogue the series suddenly gets dead serious.

* [[BigBad Makuta]] from {{Bionicle}} started out [[EvilOverlord menacing enough]], but his constant defeats and failures gradually robbed him of his credibility. After the original head of the Story Team left, the character of Makuta underwent a serious retcon, which resulted in him turning into a [[TheChessmaster calculating]] mastermind who had [[TEvilPlan planned his victory]] from the start, turned out to be the BiggerBad behind a lot of former villains, and by the end of the story arc, ended up ''winning''.

* There's an amusing attempt to ''invoke'' this in FanFic/ANewOrder. Nephrite proves himself to be frighteningly competent very quickly, his first appearance resulting in the first innocent deaths of the story. When he first shows up he is accompanied by a three-headed wolf youma named Kerberos. WordOfGod is that this is because the author thought the trope was Kinght of ''Cerberus'', as in the 3-headed dog, and wanted to invoke it.

** The most notable thing about Amon is that he is the only major villain in either of the two series who is never once PlayedForLaughs or the butt of jokes from other characters.

* Sideshow Bob from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. While still rather slapstick prone and displaying humorous wit (being voiced by KelseyGrammer and all) most of his appearences he attempts to ''kill' Bart ( ''10-year old boy'') or Krusty The Clown and his intents are (mostly) played seriously with episodes becoming more intense and dark when he appears.

** The series had few villains who have no funny quirks and are played seriously. Examples include the winemakers from "The Crepes Of Wrath", who treated Bart like a slave and nearly killed him by giving him antfreeze-laced wine, the Babysitter Bandit from "Some Enchanted Evening" (who tied up the kids and tried to rob the house) and Bart's [[SadistTeacher kindergarten teacher]] from "Lisa's Sax" (whose treatment of Bart made him considered '''''suicide''''', when he was just a '''''five year old boy''''' and made Bart what he is today).
** Frank Grimes is an interesting case. Although he's not completely vile (only a {{Jerkass}}), the things turn very dark in his only episode where he appears, "Homer's Enemy". For many fans, it's one of the darkest episodes of the simpsons.

** [[spoiler:And when NormanOsborn becomes the Green Goblin,]] things ''really'' get dark.

** Katz himself should not be overlooked as well. Whereas the general series dealt with courage battling monsters and whatnot, at least they had some light-hearted tones in those episodes. Katz starkly contrasts these themes as he's essentially an AxCrazy SerialKiller played completely, horrifyingly, and competently straight. Courage usually struggles in the episodes he's in, nearly getting killed twice.
** Freaky Fred's episode, while still quite funny is a lot creepier than the average ''Courage'' episode. And that's saying something!

* Taurus Bulba from ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck''. While the other villains are [[LaughablyEvil comical]] and [[SmugSnake overly arrogant]], Taurus Bulba is a crime boss of the MagnificentBastard category who rarely acts comical or over-the-top. Not only did he kill Gosalyn's grandfather, but he also tried to kill her onscreen, just to blackmail Darkwing Duck for a passcode. And it wasn't anykind of BondVillainStupidity attempted murder with a slow-moving trap or anything, no, he straight out dropped her from the sky. The best part is that he's the very first villain to ever appear in the show. Then there's [[KnightTemplar Darkwarrior Duck]], who's an alternative futuristic version of Darkwing Duck who has gone insane and overzealous on crime, and appearently even killed Negaduck at some time just to prove to everyone who was in charge.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', while mostly focusing on campy stories in homage to TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, occasionally threw in villains with none of the show's usual camp. Ironically, the most serious character in the show wasn't a villain, but one of the guest heroes, Main/TheSpectre, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent essentially]] a walking RoaringRampageOfRevenge, or the apotheosis of InspectorJavert. With a CreepyMonotone and VoiceOfTheLegion provided by MarkHamill, he's scary even when he isn't seen displaying his powers.

** The first is Aizen Sousuke. In the Arrancar Arc, there's relatively little comic relief compared to the last two. And the man has no sense of humor himself. His reaction to SEEING comic relief unfold is to wonder whether or not it's a bad strategy to take him off of his guard. Even before outing himself as a villain, Aizen was completely humorless. During an extended flashback, Shinji comments on how uptight he is.
** Shukuro Tsukishima was this during the Xcution arc, though he did have a sense of humor.
** In the "Thousand Year Blood War arc", the Vandenreich are this. [[spoiler: The devastation they have brought to Soul Society within the span of only a few minutes was unprecedented in the story to that point and the leader is willing to sacrifice his own followers for even slight infractions.]] In a slight subversion, the guy's only shown interest in doing that if they are some of the Arrancar that he enslaved.

*** OnePiece usually has a strange SortingAlgorithmOfEvil with its BigBad bosses, ranging from dangerously competent to incompetent with each antagonist, with the occasional appearance of a serious threat like a Warlord like Kuma or Mihawk and the Three Admirals show up in which the situation drastically becomes more threatening. Then Akainu, the last of those three Admirals makes his debut and completely breaks the StatusQuo by [[spoiler: killing Ace]], and the story's gotten significantly more DarkerAndEdgier in both in story and its enemies, while still retaining its positive elements.

* OnePiece usually has a strange SortingAlgorithmOfEvil with its BigBad bosses, ranging from dangerously competent to incompetent with each antagonist, with the occasional appearance of a serious threat like a Warlord like Kuma or Mihawk and the Three Admirals show up in which the situation drastically becomes more threatening. Then Akainu, the last of those three Admirals makes his debut and completely breaks the StatusQuo by [[spoiler: killing Ace]], and the story's gotten significantly more DarkerAndEdgier in both in story and its enemies, while still retaining its positive elements.

** ''RebuildOfEvangelion 2.0'' is, for most of its running time, a much LighterAndSofter story than the episodes it's adapting. There's a good amount of comedy, we see the kids bonding, Asuka's less of a {{Jerkass}}, and the angel battles ("[[FanNickname Clockiel]]" and Sahaquiel) are focused more on [[Awesome/RebuildOfEvangelion awesomeness]]. Then Bardiel shows up and possesses Unit-03 [[spoiler:with Asuka inside]], and the movie goes straight into NightmareFuel territory.

* {{Toriko}} was a light hearted food hunting series with the occasional creepy [[NightmareFuel GT Robots]], and the arc after them is another finding secret recipe mission much like prior to their appearances. [[GutPunch then Tommyrod shows up]]. Unlike Starjun and Grinpatch, who were NobleDemon and AffablyEvil villains respectively, Tommyrod kept [[BodyHorror all kinds of hideous parasitic insects within his body]], who seriously tries to kill Toriko [[spoiler: and actually manages to win the fight, despite getting an awesome asskicking]], and from there the story gets much darker.

** Ninjette's pursuers, while having their moments of black humor, ventured firmly into this territory when [[spoiler: they hunted her down, and after suffering much pain, decided that the best way to bring her back without further incident was to ''chop off her arms and legs'', which she wouldn't need anyway to fulfill her destiny as a ''ninja baby-maker''. She was saved by her friends in the nick of time, but the [[NightmareFuel mental image]] of what they tried to do left her a bit unhinged for the whole next volume.]]

* The ''FanFic/PonyPOVSeries'' has [[spoiler: [[EnemyWithin Loneliness]]]]; up till she showed up, the Reharmonization series was much more light hearted than the Discorded Ponies series -- it had its dark moments, yes, but nowhere near the amount of NightmareFuel [[spoiler: Loneliness]] brought with her. Not only that, but only a couple of chapters later the Princess [[spoiler: Gaia]] arc started up.

* The BigBad of ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', Roth'h'ar Sarris, is actually pretty disturbing for a sci-fi comedy movie villain. He even [[spoiler: guns down most of the main characters but [[OffWithHisHead beheads]]]] his second-in-command, and he even has a NightmareFuel design.

* The Series/ICarly episode ''[=iPsycho=]'', we're inroduced to Nora, an AxCrazy FanGirl who trapped the gang in her basement to have them stay at her brithday party. Then we were introduced to ''her family'' in ''[=iStillPsycho=]'' and we saw the ''[[NightmareFuel most terrifying, adventurous situation Dan ever put the gang in!]]''

* ''SuburbanKnights'' has their BigBad, [[spoiler:Malachite]]. He scares the living crap out of the regular cast, and with [[NightmareFuel good reason]].

* Him of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', compared to the rest of the show's IneffectualSympatheticVillain cast, had a much creepier presence (even noted frequently by the cast ''and the narrator'') and frequently supplied MindRape or other much deadlier tactics of bringing the girls to an end. Granted he also often supplied in NightmareRetardant and did have the occasional bumbling role (he was CampGay after all) but he was still miles deadlier than most of the RoguesGallery. And then there's the episode "[[BadFuture Speed]] [[NightmareFuel Demon]]".

** Trip Larson from ''Pigmalion''. Not only does he try and transform Luanne into his ideal woman, he literally attempts to ''kill'' her [[NightmareFuel with a pork processing machine]]. Is it any wonder that he ended up getting KilledOffForReal in the same episode?

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', although the first major villain, Zabuza, had already been introduced we saw the kids handling on their own against him with the help from their teacher, Kakashi; when Orochimaru is introduced, he is shown to be a villain that even the most experienced jounin fear and ends up killing the Third Hokage. Much later, the reveal of Pain serves as this since shortly after his introduction he [[spoiler:kills Naruto's bumbling master, Jiraiya]].

* ScottPilgrim is a [[WidgetSeries Wickety]] comic, and starts out very happy until Gideon shown up and [[spoiler: stabbed and killed Scott and Ramona (well, Ramona almost gets killed)]].

* ''[[FanFic/StarWarsParanormalitiesTrilogy Star Wars: Paranormalities]]'': While Maesterus is one of Zolph Vaelor's most dreaded foes throughout Episode I (Zolph is defeated by him three times, and [[YouKilledMyFather he killed his father]]), he is a charismatic {{Anti Villain}} at best, as he prefers not to kill his enemies. The [[TheLegionsOfHell Forceless Collective]] and their generals, the [[SealedEvilInACan Archfiends]], are not so kind in comparison. They are perfectly willing to kill and [[DemonicPossession possess]] other beings without second thought (and for elaboration, [[AndIMustScream the victims are consciously aware of it]], and they don't get control of their bodies back unless they serve willingly). While they seem to have ambiguous morals in their debut appearances since they don't talk (usually) and are [[EldritchAbomination pretty bizarre to begin with]], [[spoiler: this gets jossed near the end of Episode I when they are revealed to be capable of sadism and are also willing to resort to [[{{DespairEventHorizon}} psychological warfare.]]]]

* The original ''StarWars'' Trilogy had one of the darkest villains of all time in Darth Vader but when Emperor Palpatine shows up in ''ReturnOfTheJedi'', suddenly Vader seems like a pretty nice guy.

* {{Subverted}} in {{Iron Man 3}} with The Mandarin, [[NeverTrustATrailer who appears to be this trope from the trailers]] and the first hour of the movie, but as it turns out instead of being a terrorist mastermind he [[spoiler: is actually an actor who was hired by the real {{Big Bad}} to be the front man in his plan to create a terrorist threat and generate artificial demand for his regenerative {{Super Soldiers}}. {{The Reveal}} of the Mandarin's true nature is a [[CrowningMomentofFunny rather hilarious moment]], even considering [[WorldOfSnark the franchise it belongs]]]]. Interestingly this seems to affect the movie itself, which even if it is indeed {{Darker and Edgier}} than it's prequels, never fully loses the comedy and never descends fully into [[SlidingScaleofSillinessvsSeriousness serious territory]].

** And when Lord Zedd started losing his edge we got the superficially goofy Master Vile... who had MUCH stronger monsters, which would routinely trash the rangers, and force them into a corner while he came closer than ever to ruling the earth. Even his monsters of the week were far more dangerous than Zedd's, having annoying special powers and almost never being defeated in a lame one hit kill zord battle (Despite the rangers having STRONGER zords at this point). And he's easily the most GenreSavvy villain that Power Rangers has ever had; after many failures at defeating the Rangers, what does he do? He ''goes back home,'' where as he puts it, the bad guys always win.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' initially gave us the Ferengi, an IneffectualSympatheticVillain race that was meant to be the new BigBad on the level of the Klingons and Romulans from the previous series. This didn't quite work out, due to them being comically short trolls with a lust for money and rampant misogyny. Then the Borg were introduced, and became the number one ultimate threat to the Federation for the entire series, despite only appearing in six episodes. In their first encounter with the Borg, the Enterprise was utterly defeated and on the verge of being dissected and assimilated before Q rescued them[[note]]After having exposed them to the Borg in the first place in order to give them a kick in their [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent smug complacency.]][[/note]].

* [[BigBad Makuta]] from {{Bionicle}} started out [[EvilOverlord menacing enough]], but his constant defeats and failures gradually robbed him of his credibility. After the original head of the Story Team left, the character of Makuta underwent a serious retcon, which resulted in him turning into a [[TheChessmaster calculating]] mastermind who had [[ThePlan planned his victory]] from the start, turned out to be the BiggerBad behind a lot of former villains, and by the end of the story arc, ended up ''winning''.

* The {{Lego Adaptation Game}}s are a barrel of laughs and fun to play, in ''Lego Star Wars'', the Emperor doesn't abide by this rule, he rarely has any funny scenes to show, minus one with [[spoiler: his alter ego]], he's more or less played seriously in comparison to the rest of the games. ''Lego Harry Potter'' has an odd aversion of this trope with Voldemort, who ends up more like an IneffectualSympatheticVillain.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' brought us Exdeath. While he did become a comedy goldmine in Duodecim and Dissidia, it's worth noting that the game's tone became incredibly serious whenever Exdeath showed up. In a game like Final Fantasy V; which is very lighthearted and at points silly compared to it's predecessors (and many successors), Exdeath's appearance always seemed to stop things flat and ram into the player the severity of their situation.

* A rare {{inversion}} of this trope in ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' with [[ActionGirl Molly]]. When she joins the group, the game becomes more light-hearted, like an action movie. [[spoiler:When she leaves at the end of Episode 4, things rapidly [[FromBadToWorse start going to shit]] as usual for this game, such as Lee getting bitten, Clementine getting kidnapped, the boat getting stolen, and the deaths of two other group members]].
** [[spoiler: Her backstory plays the idea rather straight though]]. Also seems more like DudeNotFunny considering the severity of things that still happen with her around.
* As if the ''ModernWarfare'' trilogy wasn't dark enough, things get real serious when Vladimir Makarov appears. He's also a HeroKiller.

** And then we get [[spoiler: Black Mage's "Almighty wizard of infinite evil"-form]], which, unlike all other "evils" up to that point, actually causes a major CerebusSyndrome and manages to kill off half of the cast in less than 10 comic strips before squaring off for THE FINAL BATTLE with the awesomest wizard ever. [[spoiler: Until Sarda comes in and reveals his {{plan}}, that is.]]

* ''SuburbanKnights'' had the BigBad, [[spoiler:Malachite]]. He scares the living shit out of the regular cast, and with [[NightmareFuel good reason]].

* WebVideo/DemoReel was a pretty sad show anyway, but it got sincerely depressing whenever Donnie's mom got mentioned. [[spoiler: For good reason too, as she was an aging actress who committed suicide, leaving her only child alone with nobody that gave a shit about him.]]
* RefletsDAcide started out as a LightHearted Heroic Fantasy parody with no villains beside monsters met by the heroes. [[MoodWhiplash Then]], we get:
** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Alia-Aenor]], who epicly double-subverts this trope; when first seen, she appears as an intelligent, humongous black dragon. A few minutes later, she turns out to be a female, whose human form, much to the narrator's dismay, is a beautiful girl with a sweet, girly attitude... [[BitchInSheepsClothing then she mercyless kills a bunch of thieves trying to rob her with a single spell]].
** [[DemonlordsAndArchDevils Belial]], who on the other hand play this trope straight

** Wuya deserves special mention. Like Rubilax, her snarking makes her strictly comedic for the most part... ''then she gets free'' and suddenly [[FromBadToWorse the]] [[DarkerAndEdgier laughing]] [[OhCrap stopped]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeResolute'', Cobra Commander himself has become a darker, edgier, EFFECTIVE villain, explaining away his old incompetence as a (failed) method to coerce his minions into being better soldiers (adaptability, resourcefulness, so on). This CC manages to be a credible threat to the world.

** After his return in the season 4 finale, he's still as frightening as ever. He appears in Finn's dream complete with a jump scare, is in possession of the Enchiridion, [[spoiler:currently [[BodySurf possessing Billy]], a famous hero of Ooo and then manages to trick Finn into giving what he wants]]. Even after being out of the spotlight for nearly two whole seasons, he still shows how DangerouslyGenreSavvy he is through manipulation of events without even a '''hint''' of humour or sarcasm.

* While still PlayedForLaughs for the most part, when Dennis makes his debut in ''The WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants Movie'', [[DarkerandEdgier the movie definitely went downhill from the usually light series]].
** Granny from the episode "Have You Seen This Snail?". She, unlike other recurring villains in the series (including Mr. Krabs, who is considered funny in his actions even more deplorable), she contrasts absolutely comical traits, and the episode itself made ​​things very serious. Later, ''she revels who killed all the snails to eat them!''

** And then [[spoiler:Malware not only kills some more members of his own species, he tops it off by ''[[WhereIWasBornAndRazed blows up his own homeplanet]]''.]]

* In the first season of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', we had [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds tragic villain]] [[FallenAngel Nightmare Moon]] combined with some bullies and jerks, but when [[GodOfEvil Discord]] turns up in Season 2, the show immediately gets darker with him [[MindRape psychologically abusing]] and [[BreakTheCutie breaking]] the mane cast and threatening to [[SugarApocalypse turn Equestria]] into a [[WorldGoneMad chaotic living Hell]].

** King Sombra, the villain of the third season's premiere "The Crystal Empire," is arguably the most evil antagonist yet seen on the show between the sheer scale of his atrocities and the fact that a selfish lust for power is apparently his only motivation for it all.[[note]]As mentioned, Nightmare Moon has a highly sympathetic backstory, while Discord and Chrysalis's crimes at least were, in part, a result of their very natures.[[/note]] Unlike earlier villains of his tier, his episode almost treats him less like a character than a disembodied force of hostility (hence his few lines of dialogue; he prefers monstrous roars instead), and in a first for this show, [[spoiler:he is seemingly KilledOffForReal in the end.]] Naturally, outside of some tension-lightening comedic moments, the overall events of the episode are presented quite seriously even when compared to past two-parters.
** Babs Seed, while not as dark as the other examples from the show is a much more realistic and scary portrayal of a bully than one would probably expect from the show [[spoiler: including her [[HeWhoFightsMonsters excuse]] for her actions]], especially jarring compared to the relatively harmless [[AlphaBitch Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon]].

* Although ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'' [[SurpriseCreepy is a dark film]], it starts getting much darker once the infamous MonsterClown makes his appearance. Alternatively, Elmo St. Peters could be considered a Knight of Cerebus as well.

* [[DomesticAbuser Jeff Fecalman]] in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. There is absolutely '''''nothing''''' funny about him in the episode he appears in.

** His brother Cecil Terwilliger as well. [[UpToEleven He is more evil and amoral than his brother Bob]], more particulary in his first episode.

** Frank Grimes is an interesting case. Although he is not a completely vile (only a [[{{Jerkass}} jerkass]]), the things turn very dark in his only episode where he appears, "Homer's Enemy". For many fans, is one of the darkest episodes of the simpsons.

* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' gives us [[BastardBoyfriend Mad Dog]]. He abuses Bunny to the point where he buries her up to her neck in dirt when she tried to escape, he tried to drive her and Courage down with his car, and most importantly, he somehow caused Kitty to be convinced that all dogs were evil. And that, like Katz, he's played dead seriously, and that he almost resembles a real life abuser.
** Katz himself should not be overlooked as well. Whereas the general series dealt with courage battling monsters and whatnot, at least they had some light-hearted tones in those episodes. Katz starkly contrasts these themes as he's essentially AxCrazy SerialKiller played completely, horrifyingly, and competently straight. Courage usually struggles in the episodes he's in, nearly getting killed twice.

** Trip Larson from ''Pigmalion''. Not only does he try and transform Luanne into his ideal woman, he literally attempts to '''kill''' her [[NightmareFuel with a pork processing machine]].

* Toadborg from ''BuckyOHare''. The Air Marshal as ineffectual. Toad troops were ineffectual. Toadborg was powerful, cold, calculating and competent.
* ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', while mostly focusing on campy stories in homage to TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, occasionally threw in villains with none of the show's usual camp. Ironically, the most serious character in the show wasn't a villain, but one of the guest heroes, Main/TheSpectre, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent essentially]] a walking RoaringRampageOfRevenge, or the apotheosis of InspectorJavert. With a CreepyMonotone and VoiceOfTheLegion provided by MarkHamill, he's scary even when he isn't seen displaying his powers.

* ''PowerRangers''' BigBad is always either this or a LargeHam. It's rather rare for them to be both, though. Some examples:
** In the original ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Lord Zedd fits the trope perfectly. In a series known for [[MonsterOfTheWeek ineffectual series of monsters]] and goofball villains, Lord Zedd almost singlehandedly reversed that in his [[FiveEpisodePilot debut]] by [[SealedEvilInACan locking Rita Repulsa back in her trash can]], restoring Goldar's wings, and causing the destruction of the rangers' old Dinozords. Though the old pattern eventually [[StatusQuoIsGod reasserted itself]], Zedd himself was such a serious villain for the show that his character was eventually watered down to avoid scaring the kiddies.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' initially gave us the Ferengi, an IneffectualSympatheticVillain race that was meant to be the new BigBad on the level of the Klingons and Romulans from the previous series. This didn't quite work out, due to them being comically short trolls with a lust for money and rampant mysoginy. Then the Borg were introduced, and became the number one ultimate threat to the Federation for the entire series, despite only appearing in six episodes. In their first encounter with the Borg, the Enterprise was utterly defeated and on the verge of being dissected and assimilated before Q rescued them[[note]]After having exposed them to the Borg in the first place in order to give them a kick in their [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent smug complacency.]][[/note]].

* ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', while mostly focusing on campy stories in homage to TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, occasionally threw in villains with none of the show's usual camp. Ironically, the most serious character in the show wasn't a villain, but one of the guest heroes, Main/TheSpectre, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent essentially]] a walking RoaringRampageOfRevenge, or the apotheosis of InspectorJavert. With a CreepyMonotone and VoiceOfTheLegion provided by MarkHammil, he's scary even when he isn't seen displaying his powers.

* ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', while mostly focusing on campy stories in homage to the ''SilverAgeOfComicBooks'', obsessionally threw villains with none of the show's usual camp. Ironically, the most serious character in the show wasn't a villain, but on of the guest heroes, TheSpecter. Presented as a PowersThatBe character, he views can summoned that justice "simply a slap on the wrist and simply an invitation for evil to continue, unabated'', along with a CreepyMontone and VoiceOfLegion provided by MarkHammil, he is pure NightmareFuel even when he isn't seen displaying his powers.

* In ''BeavisAndButtheadDoAmerica'', anytime Muddy and Dallas Grimes show up, things get more serious.
** The Crazy Old Farmer from the episode "Cow Tipping". While probably have been played for laughs, the series definitely takes a much darker tone by the normal standards.

* [[spoiler: Gilda]]'s initial appearance in ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'' ends with her breaking Medley's wings and causing a HeroicBSOD to Rainbow Dash.

* ''PrincessTutu'' starts off as a fairly light, straight-up GottaCatchEmAll MagicalGirl series for the first few episodes. Then [[DarkMagicalGirl Princess Kraehe]] steps in and '''''BAM!''''' -- here comes the GenreShift.

** And when Lord Zedd started losing his edge we got the superficially goofy Master Vile... who had MUCH stronger monsters, which would routinely trash the rangers, and force them into a corner while he came closer than ever to ruling the earth. Even his monsters of the week were far more dangerous than Zedd's, having annoying special powers and almost never being defeated in a lame one hit kill zord battle (Despite the rangers having STRONGER zords at this point).

** In the original''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Lord Zedd fits the trope perfectly. In a series known for [[MonsterOfTheWeek ineffectual series of monsters]] and goofball villains, Lord Zedd almost singlehandedly reversed that in his [[FiveEpisodePilot debut]] by [[SealedEvilInACan locking Rita Repulsa back in her trash can]], restoring Goldar's wings, and causing the destruction of the rangers' old Dinozords. Though the old pattern eventually [[StatusQuoIsGod reasserted itself]], Zedd himself was such a serious villain for the show that his character was eventually watered down to avoid scaring the kiddies.

* In ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Lord Zedd fits the trope perfectly. In a series known for [[MonsterOfTheWeek ineffectual series of monsters]] and goofball villains, Lord Zedd almost singlehandedly reversed that in his [[FiveEpisodePilot debut]] by [[SealedEvilInACan locking Rita Repulsa back in her trash can]], restoring Goldar's wings, and causing the destruction of the rangers' old Dinozords. Though the old pattern eventually [[StatusQuoIsGod reasserted itself]], Zedd himself was such a serious villain for the show that his character was eventually watered down to avoid scaring the kiddies.
** Obviously, the fact that Lord Zedd was meant to be a VILLAIN [[MoralGuardians was lost on them]].
*** And ironically, it's probably this lasting influence that reduced further villains back to ineffectual or comically inept in subsequent series, horrible as their goals might be.
**** Ineffectual? In the third season of the series, the villains actually had the upper hand for most of the season. So this trope still kicks in.
** And when Lord Zedd started losing he edge we got the superficially goofy Master Vile... who had MUCH stronger monsters, which would routinely trash the rangers, and force them into a corner while he came closer than ever to ruling the earth. Even his monsters of the week were far more dangerous than Zedd's, having annoying special powers and almost never being defeated in a lame one hit kill zord battle (Despite the rangers having STRONGER zords at this point).
** What about the guy who [[Series/PowerRangersRPM actually won]]? Also, Trakeena from ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' actually started out as DaddysLittleVillain and ''grew into'' a Knight of Cerebus. Of course, a lot of the events were touched off by Deviot, so maybe he's the real one responsible.

** Divatox is a weird example. In the movie, she was supremely goofy and whiny, played 100% for laughs, and the evil demon-thing Maligore served this role. In the TV series, at least for the first half of the season, she got a new actress and was a bit more serious. Ironically, when the old actress returned and went right back to being ridiculous, she [[spoiler: destroyed the Rangers' base and powers successfully, leading to the season's [[SuddenDownerEnding Cerebus Ending]]]]. [[CatchPhrase Viva la Diva]]!

** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' had Mesogog. In comparison to just about every other Power Rangers series, nothing about Mesogog was played for laughs, and he never cracks jokes or engages in comedy antics. He also looks pretty damn menacing.
*** Not to mention that voice. Smooth, even, and Slade-esque. Compared to the usual growly voice (the default bad guy voice, to the point that they run together by now) his was this always-in-control, regal, menacing tone.