History Main / TookALevelInJerkass

* Wrestling/BobbyRoode became much more of a jerk ass following his first victory of the Wrestling/{{TNA}} World Heavyweight Championship following Wrestling/HulkHogan's claim that he wasn't ready to hold the belt.

* Wrestling/MercedesMartinez started taking several levels of jerkass in World Wonder Rings Stardom in 2011 after she vowed to take their championship to the United States and started resorting to underhanded tactics to try and fulfill that vow. Then it started to crop up in the USA while she was in Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}, where she was unusually rough with [[Wresting/{{Bayley}} Davina Rose]] and continued to attack Leva Bates after she had already won their match.

When a character grows into a {{jerkass}} over time (sometimes not much of it at all). Can be due to {{flanderization}}, a FaceHeelTurn, or just another regular albeit unfortunate case of CharacterDevelopment. While a JerkAss growing into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold is a common phenomenon, especially in dramas, a reversal, resulting in this trope, is also common, especially in comedies.

This can also cause tropes like WhatTheHellHero, though whether if the character changes for the better after that is well DependingOnTheWriter. If the transition is shown as a flashback regarding a known jerk/villain, it may be a StartOfDarkness.
See also TookALevelInBadass, TookALevelInDumbass, CynicismCatalyst and JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope. When a character has this temporary for the sake of the plot, the JerkassBall is present. The [[OppositeTropes Counter Trope]] to TookALevelInKindness. Contrast BitchInSheepsClothing, who was always a jerk. A character taking his/her level in jerkassitude was genuinely nice. When a character becomes more of a jerk in an adaptation, that's AdaptationalVillainy.

* [[Wrestling/TheWorldsGreatestTagTeam Charlie Haas]] on Friday Night Smackdown, following Dawn Marie spreading a rumor about the two of them having an affair and picking fights with his girlfriend Jackie Gayda. He decided he didn't want anything else to do with either of them and let them know it in the meanest way he could, leaving both crying.
* Takayuki Iizuka used to be a fairly unassuming tag team specialist but then he broke out on his own, attack wrestlers with a loaded glove and finding a new hobby in bullying Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's tv commentator Shinpei Nogami with already jerkass Toru Yano.

->''[[NiceGuy I opened doors for little old ladies. I helped the blind to see.]]''
->''I got no friends 'cause they read the papers. [[WhatTheHellHero They can't be seen]]''

* Wrestling/MercedesMartinez started taking several levels of jerkass in World Wonder Rings Stardom in 2011 after she vowed to take their championship to the United States and started resorting to underhanded tactics to try and fulfill that vow. Then after being unsuccessful it started to crop up in the USA while she was in Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}, where she was unusually rough with [[Wresting/{{Bayley}} Davina Rose]] and continued to attack Leva Bates after she had already won their match.

* Wrestling/AustinAries was already a jerkass but took it too new heights when the Wrestling/RingOfHonor fans started showing preference to [[Wrestling/SethRollins Tyler Black]] over him.

* [[Wrestling/TheWorldsGreatestTagTeam Charlie Haas]] on Friday Night Smackdown, following Dawn Marie spreading a rumor about the two of them having an affair and picking fights with his girlfriend Jackie Gayda.

* Takayuki Iizuka used to be a fairly unassuming tag team specialist but then he broke out on his own, attack wrestlers with a loaded glove and finding a new hobby in bullying Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's tv commentator.

->''I got no friends 'cause they read the papers. [[LonersAreFreaks They can't be seen]]''

* TookALevelInJerkass/{{Live-Action TV}}
[[folder: Professional wrestling]]
* [[Wrestling/BlackRose La Rosa Negra]] suddenly became a jerkass in the PWS after a couple shows in. It was eventually revealed this was because Vinny Fenucci had practically appointed her to become the next Bombshells champion in the event someone "not pretty enough" won the tournament.
[[/folder]]

[[/index]]

See also TookALevelInBadass, TookALevelInDumbass, CynicismCatalyst and JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope. When a character has this temporary for the sake of the plot, the JerkassBall is present. The [[OppositeTropes Counter Trope]] to TookALevelInKindness. Contrast BitchInSheepsClothing, who was always a jerk. A character taking his/her level in jerkassitude was genuinely nice.

This can also cause tropes like WhatTheHellHero, though whether if the character changes for the better after that is well DependingOnTheWriter.

See also TookALevelInBadass, TookALevelInDumbass, JadeColoredGlasses and JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope. When a character has this temporary for the sake of the plot, the JerkassBall is present. The [[OppositeTropes Counter Trope]] to TookALevelInKindness. Contrast BitchInSheepsClothing, who was always a jerk. A character taking his/her level in jerkassitude was genuinely nice.

When a character grows into a {{jerkass}} over time (sometimes not much of it at all). Can be due to {{flanderization}}, a FaceHeelTurn, or just another regular but unfortunate case of CharacterDevelopment. While a JerkAss growing into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold is a common phenomenon, especially in dramas, a reversal, resulting in this trope, is also common, especially in comedies.

When a character grows into a JerkAss over time (sometimes not much of it at all). Can be due to {{flanderization}}, a FaceHeelTurn, or just another regular but unfortunate case of CharacterDevelopment. While a JerkAss growing into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold is a common phenomenon, especially in dramas, a reversal, resulting in this trope, is also common, especially in comedies.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Due to unexplained happenings during the TimeSkip, Hei of ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' has gone from a ruthless AntiHero, to a ''drunk'' ruthless AntiHero with an unwanted MoralityPet. [[spoiler:Hei had been nicknamed "Chinese Electric {{Franchise/Batman}}", but unfortunately, he's just "Chinese Batman" since he was BroughtDownToBadass.]]
* Guts from ''{{Manga/Berserk}}''. After the horrible events of the Eclipse that all but broke him, he spends two years as a ByronicHero who keeps everyone distant from him and is focused solely on vengeance and blood.
* Canute in ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' after [[spoiler:ascending to the throne]].
* Suzaku from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' gets a ''huge'' one during the timeskip, [[BreakTheCutie for obvious and rather justified reasons]]. He never really gets better, and his pain is very apparent, if expressed in the wrong way.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', this happens to Kaiser in a big way when he becomes Hell Kaiser, as you can tell from the name change.
* Amy Rose of ''Anime/SonicX'' was initially a kindly bubbly girl with occasional {{Tsundere}} [[BerserkButton mood swings]]. By the final episodes she more consistently acts as an obnoxious and occasionally outright violent StalkerWithACrush to Sonic, to the point half her allies, and even some foes, are outright terrified of her. The [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog video games' interpretation]] bordered a little into this trope as well, though it's usually much more toned down.
* Oh Lordy, Nakai from ''{{Manga/Bakuman}}''. When he's first introduced he was desperate to get a manga serialization despite not succeeding in ten years. Through much perseverance he proves himself to fellow manga artist Aoki and the two do manage to start up a serialization. However, once he gets a taste of success it goes right to his head and he starts acting like an arrogant, womanizing asshole, alienating most of his friends and colleagues, ultimately getting himself canceled and decides to quit manga and go back home. [[spoiler:Recently he's returned to the business, but not only is he working for Nanamine, the first unambiguously "evil" rival in the series, but both his appearance and personality have grown even more slovenly and repulsive during the interim.]]
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': This happened in the backstories of both Kyouko and Homura.
* Chiba and Maho from ''Manga/WanderingSon'' have taken this in recent chapters. In Maho's case, it might be because she hit puberty.
* ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'': Sakura in the fillers. While she started to genuinely warm up towards Naruto, the fillers seem to ignore the poor girl's CharacterDevelopment for the sake of [[PlayedForLaughs humor]]. This got to the point where she started taunting Naruto for his misery in the third movie.
** Let's not forget Sasuke. He did this twice.
*** When Sasuke recovered from [[MindRape Tsukiyomi]], he lashed out at Konoha in general for his being weaker than Itachi and Naruto in specific for his success in getting stronger. This led to him defecting and almost killing Naruto.
*** When Tobi told Sasuke the AwfulTruth, Sasuke went from sparing the lives of insane prisoners to casually murdering guards doing their jobs, not to mention [[spoiler:almost killing Karin because she was captured by the freaking ''Hokage'']].
* ''Manga/DragonBall'': This happens to [[{{Badass}} Vegeta]] [[spoiler: after his FaceHeelTurn]].
** Whenever Goten and Trunks [[FusionDance fuse into Gotenks]], their worst traits combine to make a SmugSuper child whose immature showboating is in stark contrast to the individual children, who at least realize when it's time to get serious.
* A JustifiedTrope in the case of [[spoiler: Tem Ray]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. He was already a borderline MadScientist in the beginning, but the biggest leap into jerkassery happened due to [[spoiler: brain damage from oxygen deprivation, which can really screw up your personality.]]
* Arguably, Medaka of ''Manga/MedakaBox''. Since [[BiggerBad Ajimu]] has introduced five "''normal''" people to her, Medaka no longer views Zenkichi as someone special to her since he couldn't pass the first trial of a test she gave the normals. Then she actively tries to turn him into her enemy by acting cold and offensive just so she can see value in him again. Kind of sad considering it's a combination of her abnormality and her personality that causes her change like this since she can't understand failure or things from a "weak" perspective. She even goes as far as [[spoiler:using an abnormality that makes her weaker than Zenkichi and goes all out in a fight against him. Since Zenkichi isn't really willing to fight her at this point she mops the floor with him. However the abnormality she used is a "perfected version" of Kumagawa's Bookmaker and isn't meant for fighting, but for allowing the person affected to feel the world from the opponents perspective.]]
* Takanashi from ''{{Manga/Working}}'' is suddenly a lot gruffer in the second season. {{Justified|Trope}} in that dealing with [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale Inami]] will do that to you. Then inverted in that he becomes super-nice to her with even less explanation.
* Chiaki Yoshino from ''Manga/SekaiichiHatsukoi'' went from [[InnocentlyInsensitive bratty but well meaning]] {{adult child}} to immature {{jerkass}}. This might be justified as he's dating his best friend Hatori who is a {{Yandere}} and given that [[spoiler: he was [[RapeasDrama brutally raped]] and then suddenly forced the two into a relationship based on [[LivingEmotionalCrutch co-dependency]]]] pretty much made him worse as shown when his relationship with his best friend [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Yanase]] is strained given that he fails to understand Yanase's feelings and not only turns him down multiple times in the worse way possible but constantly rubs salt on the wound. It gets to the point that Yanase does call him out on his attitude...unfortunately, it means nothing in the next episode where Chiaki pulls a huge {{jerkass}} moment that the fanbase [[NeverLiveitDown won't let him live down]] and generally through him into TheScrappy territory.
* Almost all the 3-A girls in the Sports Festival arc of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The title character of ''ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean'' was something of a pessimist as an adult, but still mostly a nice guy. After TimeSkip #2, he became a grumpy, avaricious JerkAss.
* [[Comicbook/{{Ant-Man}} Hank Pym]] in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, though this fluctuates DependingOnTheWriter.
* Although he was already kind of a jerk, Comicbook/IronMan during the Comicbook/CivilWar/SecretInvasion period was borderline approaching villain status. Thankfully, [[Film/IronMan the movie]] helped him to get the better of it.
* {{Franchise/Batman}} has an on-and-off again history of this. ''Comicbook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder'' probably takes the cake though.
* Nearly every incarnation of [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]] goes through periods where he goes from [[TheWoobie Woobie]] to JerkassWoobie to just plain {{Jerkass}}.
** Then again, it's The Hulk. His superpower is taking a level in both badass and jerkass.
* Most of the NewMutants in recent years, but especially [[Characters/NewMutants Cannonball]].
* [[{{Sub-Mariner}} Namor]] with his oxygen-processing problem.
* PowerGirl with her diet soda processing problem.
* ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} in ''{{Comicbook/X-Men}}'', getting more and more obnoxious since Utopia. And in {{Avengers vs X-Men}}, it all climaxed in [[spoiler:him manifesting into the Dark Phoenix.]]
* In his earlier appearances, Curt Connors of ''Comicbook/{{Spider-Man}}'' was a reasonably sympathetic character when he wasn't [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the Lizard]], and even as the Lizard retained some protective instincts towards his family. He was {{retcon}}ned into being EvilAllAlong, and as of ''The Gauntlet'' he [[spoiler: completely lost control of the Lizard persona and ''killed and ate his own son'']]. After that, his more sympathetic characterization likely won't be coming back any time soon.
* Natalie "Envy" Adams from [[Comicbook/ScottPilgrim Scott Pilgrim Volume 3]] took a several year course in jerk-assery and passed with an A+++.[[spoiler: In college, "Nat" used to be a nerd who had a lot of anime stuff in her dorm, didn't see the point of partying hard, and dated Scott for a long while. Her, Scott, Stephen Stills, and two insignificant others started a band called "Kid Chameleon" that ended up becoming pretty popular, eventually cornered by record labels. Having undergone some character development, she wanted to sign the band up to a label against Scott's (the band founder's) wishes, who just wanted to make a band to have fun and meet chicks. Being in a popular band apparently made her much less shy and she became more confident in herself. But in the bad way. She ended up becoming a huge bitch that virtually no other character liked that broke Scott's heart and started a band with Todd Ingram, her boyfriend and Ramona's third evil ex-boyfriend, and a drummer named Lynnette Guycott that Todd ended up cheating on Envy with.]] And for some reason or another, she started hating her real name, insisted everyone called her Envy, and started smoking, something Scott detests rather greatly (not that any of that stuff is super-relevant, just sayin').
* Batman to a ''huge'' extent in ''ComicBook/JLAActOfGod'', infamously.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Fic]]
* In Fanfic/KeepersOfTheElements, Courtney starts off as her usual bossy, {{Jerkass}} self, but then goes up OverNineThousand levels when she [[spoiler:[[DealWithTheDevil makes a deal]] with [[BigBad Radcliffe]] for powers of her own so she can get revenge on [[TheLeader Gwen]]]]
* In the ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' fanfic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6984913/1/Disgaea_Jewel_of_the_gods Disgaea: Jewel of the gods]] Laharl is a HUGE JerkAss to Adell, and Mao not even caring if they died, while in canon, he has a HiddenHeartOfGold for people.
** Well to be fair, [[MoralityChain Flonne]] isn't there most of the time, making him a complete asshole to most people.
** He also REALLY hates Adell and Mao for being main characters in the sequels to Disgaea.
* In ''Fanfic/HerdingCats'', Tavros of all people, after being successfully shipped, becomes a huge dick, particularly towards Equius, Sollux and ''especially'' Aradia [[spoiler:to the point where the two of them become kismeses]]. Though he gets [[WhatTheHellHero put through the wringer]] for it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* Anakin Skywalker from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels. [[StartOfDarkness Kind]] [[FromNobodyToNightmare of]] [[FaceHeelTurn the]] [[FallenHero point]].
* Harry Osborn in the ''Film/{{Spider-Man Trilogy}}'' . Lashing out at Peter in the second movie and acting like a douche bag for most of his scenes. In the third film he gets better via a little EasyAmnesia, but then reverts to full blown RivalTurnedEvil. Mary Jane also becomes increasingly self centered as the series progresses. She has NoSympathy for [[TheWoobie Peter despite all the problems he has]], refuses to hear his side of the story as to why he missed her play, and in the third movie she resents Spider-Man's popularity for ''saving people's lives''. Even Peter himself took a level in the third movie. He develops a little AcquiredSituationalNarcissism in the beginning and then he got the {{Comicbook/Venom}} symbiote. You know the rest.
* ''Film/TheWeddingSinger'': Glenn Guglia morphs from a normal, loving fiance to a caricature of a HandsomeLech.
* ''Film/{{Titanic}}'' has the obnoxious aristocrat Caledon "Cal" Hockley, who starts out as a pompous, misogynistic {{Jerkass}}. He soon graduates to smack his fiancee around, trying to frame Jack for burglary, and when things ''really'' start to go south, kidnapping and attempted murder.
* Ash of the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' series does this over time. In the first film he's basically a {{Final G|irl}}uy, by the second he's a BadAss, and in the third he's a full blown JerkAss.
** Justified too: After going through some horrific events, losing a limb, nearly losing his mind, and having everyone die on him, he gets sucked into a time period where its residents initially treat him like crap, make him a slave, and then try to kill him. I think it's safe to say it'd be more disturbing if he ''didn't'' have a huge chip on his shoulder by that point.
* Abigail Chase from the ''Film/NationalTreasure'' series seems to take one between the first and second movies. In the first movie, she starts out as a tad bitchy, but really not without reason given the crap she ends up in thanks to Ben. By the end of the movie, she's considerably nicer and has evolved into a proper {{Love Interest|s}}. When the second movie comes around, she's reverted to the beginning of the first movie and gone even further, being ''[[TookALevelInJerkass worse]]'' than she was then. She changed the alarm code in what is most likely ''Ben's'' house, and she's hostile around him even when he's trying to be nice. He also has to ''bribe'' her to get her to help him clear his family's name.
* Sarah Connor in ''Franchise/{{Terminator}} 2'' is barely recognizable as the sweet-natured waitress from the first movie. The way she treats people, including her own son, uncomfortably evokes shades of DrillSergeantNasty and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters She Who Fights Monsters]], to the point where she nearly [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope went off the slippery slope]]. Fortunately, she seems to get better by the end.
* Clopin from ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' is first introduced as the colorful narrator of the film, and the master of ceremonies at the Feast of Fools, where he was very kind to Quasimodo. However, near the end of the movie, he is now the bitter judge (his hand puppet serving as Quasi's defense) presiding over the Court of Miracles, and is now very mean to not only Quasimodo, but also Phoebus as well, and as a result he wanted the two both sentenced to death for being spies of Frollo (they were actually working against Frollo, not for him). Had Esmeralda not showed up at the Court of Miracles to stop Clopin and tell him that both Quasi and Phoebus are trying to help them, Clopin would had actually killed them both.
** This seems to be more about HiddenDepths than becoming more of a jerk - Clopin's mostly rather genial on the outside, but he's ''also'' secretly the leader of an insurgence desperate to stop a madman's oppression of his people (so he's a bit of a StepfordSmiler). He was likely exercising caution to protect his people and simply acted hastily - though he ''could'' have at least waited for their side before passing immediate judgement, true, it's unlikely he would have believed them without Esmeralda vouching for them, and one must remember that Phoebus was the Captain of the Guard prior to this event (information which had likely not yet reached Clopin), so yeah...
* Janet from ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' if you consider ''Film/ShockTreatment'' to be a direct sequel.
* In ''Film/DeepRising'', [[spoiler:Simon Canton]]'s plan at first was to destroy the ship [[spoiler:as an insurance scam]], but to make it so all of the passengers live. Later though, [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope he uses the others as bait so he can escape himself]], and tries to kill Trillian and steal Finnegan's boat. [[spoiler:Fortunately though, he meets a KarmicDeath in the end]].
* Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'': TragicVillain and WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. Loki in ''Film/TheAvengers'': [[spoiler: omnicidal psychopath who enjoys torturing people and kills 80 people in two days ([[Funny/TheAvengers "He's adopted"]]). It's implied the trip through several dimensions to Earth [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow took a toll on his already fragile sanity]], but wow.]]
* Roger Moore's Film/JamesBond went from being charming and urbane in ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'' to a ''huge'' asshole in ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun''. [[EnforcedTrope This was mandated by the studio to counteract Roger Moore's "nice guy" image"]], as we see him threatening to break a woman's arm, threatening to blow off a guy's testicles, and later pushing a kid salesman ("''bloody tourist!''") into a rapid stream during a boat chase. Having sex with Anders while Goodnight, ''who he was just about to have sex with'', is hiding in the closet. [[WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack And then she still has sex with Bond at the end!]] Fortunately, Moore went back to his previous portrayal for the rest of his tenure.
* ''Film/HalloweenII2009'' had Loomis of all people go through this, having no problems with morality or ethics whatsoever when it came to writing a book that allowed him to profit off the tragedy of the previous film. Fans were not happy about this change.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Roger and Jack from ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies''.
* Percy Weasley and Cornelius Fudge from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' both start out fairly nice, then turn against Dumbledore. Of the two, Percy gets better [[spoiler: just in time for one of his brothers to get killed]].
* Nick Carraway from ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'' becomes more and more sarcastic toward the end of the novel, since [[spoiler:the girl people tried to hook him up with turned out to be a fraud and his friend Gatsby got killed by his cousin's abusive husband's lover's widower. [[DeusAngstMachina Kind of a lot to swallow]]]].
* Joni from ''Webcomic/BoyMeetsBoy'' is shown as a good, somewhat tomboyish straight girl and friend of gay teens Paul and Tony. But then she hooks up with dumb jock Chuck, who is really [[spoiler: most likely dating her out of spite for a previous girl who spurned his advances]], and things go downhill from there. Although her friends try to like Chuck, it's no good and then they ''don't'' try very hard to hide how much he annoys them. Even so, this doesn't excuse Joni for giving all of them (except Chuck) the silent treatment, not returning calls, or dropping completely out of their lives after about a decade of friendship. To her credit, [[spoiler: she probably goes back to making nice with Paul and Tony in the end]].
* Nathaniel in ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'' starts out as a kid you can sympathize with and becomes a complete {{Jerkass}} as he becomes more and more invested in the magicians' society.
* Rand al'Thor in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' gets harder and colder as the series goes on, a combination of the trials of his position and his traumatic experiences (he's pretty mad as of book 7 and spirals downward into insanity from then on). [[FromBadToWorse This gets really bad]] in The Gathering Storm, where he starts alienating even his closest friends and allies[[spoiler: to the point of nearly killing his own father out of misplaced rage and paranoia]], before finally having a breakthrough while [[spoiler: having a good old therapeutic StrawNihilist rant and conversation with the voice in his head upon the site of the death of his last incarnation 3000 years ago]]..
* Onestar from ''Literature/WarriorCats''. He's a NiceGuy early on, but after becoming the leader of [=WindClan=], he becomes more of a jerk as he attempts to prove his Clan's independence.
* ''Sisterhood'' series by Creator/FernMichaels: Oh, man! Many of the characters start out as relatively nice, and then become more and more like {{Jerkass}}es as the series goes on. Charles Martin notes in the book ''Vanishing Act'' that the Vigilantes are treating him with little respect, when they used to defer to his judgement before. Charles is hardly a saint himself in terms of behaviour. However, their attitudes come back to bite them hard in the book ''Deja Vu'', and they seem to have dropped the Jerkassitude (ha, ha!) by the book ''Home Free''.
* King Orrin in the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle''. He begins as a somewhat dissolute, but brave and intrepid young man and a vital component of the Varden (Orik even says that the Varden couldn't exist without his hard and dangerous work). However, stress, as well as feeling under-appreciated and overshadowed lead to a drinking problem in between ''Brisingr'' and ''Inheritance'', which leads to his taking a level in jerkass.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In ''{{Smallville}}'', Jimmy goes from Chloe's doting NiceGuy boyfriend with a slight inferiority complex to Clark to [[spoiler:a paranoid, obsessive drug abuser who divorced a heartbroken Chloe because he is jealous of her relationship with Davis]].
** Um, it wasn't merely unwarranted jealousy. Jimmy had evidence that Davis was [[spoiler: a psychotic serial killer]], and not only does Chloe refuse to give Jimmy the benefit of the doubt, but it becomes blatantly obvious that she indeed ''does'' harbor romantic/sexual feelings for Davis, despite having just married Jimmy. So from Jimmy's perspective, not only does his wife refuse to believe his warnings that this other guy is [[spoiler: a murderous psycho]], it becomes blatantly obvious that she's been (and continues to be) lusting after this other man. Jimmy was put in a nightmarish situation that broke his heart and left him isolated. His friends all treat him like he's gone crazy (even though it turns out that Jimmy ''was actually right about everything'') and Chloe isn't there for him (in fact, it's arguable that ''she'' took a level in jerkass in Season 8). His dumping Chloe was completely understandable and warranted.
* Carrie from ''Series/TheKingOfQueens'', to the point of "[[WhatDoesSheSeeInHim What Does He See In Her?]]".
* Ryan was one of the more likable and sympathetic characters in the first few seasons of ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', but his sudden rise to power at Dunder-Mifflin coincided with a massive increase in the size of his ego. His humiliating, highly public fall from grace only seemed to make things worse.
** This also seems to have happened with Pam, albeit to a lesser extent.
** Andy presents an inversion -- originally Jim's new foil (or "Dwight 2") when he transfers to the Stamford office, Andy has become the "all-around nice guy" in Scranton following anger management courses and (more likely) ExecutiveMeddling to avoid having two Dwights.
* Ross on ''{{Series/Friends}}'' arguably becomes more [[SmallNameBigEgo egotistical]] and obnoxious, if only to justify his ButtMonkey role.
** Phoebe, way more so. She becomes increasingly more shrill and mean-spirited as the seasons went on.
* And Malcolm from ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': Season 1 serial killer Karl Arnold is shown again in season 5 episode "Outfoxed". Sure he wasn't a nice guy when they caught him, but four years later, he's got even worse.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': In Season 6, Zoey Morrison gets Ted's entire class to do this when he tells of his wanting to tear down the Arcadian.
** Barney does one in season 5 after breaking up with Robin (which is saying something, as he already ''was'' a pretty big jerkass, albeit one with a HiddenHeartOfGold). He goes back down to his pre-Robin level of jerkery in season 6 though.
* ''Series/ICarly'': [[DesignatedHero Sam]] was a bully from episode 1, but she takes level after level. A couple of her points include the episode she bashed Freddie with a tennis racquet and chucked him out of a treehouse for a differing opinion, and then later starting a basement sweatshop using elementary school kids to mass produce their Penny Tee Shirts.
** Freddie takes a level in "iCan't Take It", while he is dating Sam, he edits Carly out of a webshow skit (something he never did even to Sam when they hated each other), and taunts her about being jealous of their relationship.
* Jade West of ''{{Series/Victorious}}'' in the second season. In the fourth episode, she sabotages Tori in an effort to steal a role in a musical by forcing her to repeatedly donate blood Robbie needs for surgery, and in the fifth episode, she attempts to wreck the prom Tori created because Tori unwittingly held it on the same night as the one-man show Jade was planning. Possibly {{justified|Trope}} by the fact that Beck, who usually calms her evil side, hasn't been around as much this season.
** To be fair, since the main cast are portrayed as being either sophomores or juniors in high school, what reason does Tori have for even wanting a prom when it wasn't her time? Not that it excuses Jade being Jade, but Tori more or less ruined Jade;s big night.
* Vanessa and Jenny in ''GossipGirl''. Jenny gains points for having gone from sweetheart-everyone-adores to being hated by pretty much all of the NJBC.
** Blair Waldorf was never a ''nice'' person per se but even many of her devoted fans had enough of her by season five. She treats her fiancé horribly yet somehow feels he is the bad guy for not putting up with all of her whims (including briefly running off with her ex-boyfriend Chuck and professing her eternal love for Chuck ''minutes before the wedding''). She claims to love Chuck but treats him like dirt under her shoe. She spends several episodes trying to help her best friend Serena win back Dan, then turns around and begins to date Dan herself (while still married), making out with him in Chuck's bedroom and right in front of Serena moments after Serena's grandmother died, even though she doesn't have romantic feelings for Dan. Then there's the fact that she treats Dan with little to no respect while they're supposedly friends or while they're dating. And let's not forget that she doesn't care that her own baby died but she's terribly depressed that when her two month old marriage to the prince ends she no longer gets to be a princess.
** Dan Humphrey is the prime example from ''GossipGirl''. He started out as the show's moral compass who always believed in doing the right thing. Flash forward to season three where he's dating his lifelong best friend Vanessa but cheats on her with Serena (who, at the time, was dating Dan's only male friend Nate) and doesn't seem to think he's done anything wrong. When Vanessa for some reason wants to get back together in season four he begins to sleep with her and lets her think they're back together, leaving her to take care of the son he has by Georgina Sparks while he runs after Serena. By season five he has fallen in love with Blair and could care less that she drove his sister Jenny out of town. He then publicly humiliates Blair at her wedding by sending in a video to Gossip Girl which he blames first Chuck and then Serena for. He then tells a newlywed Blair that unless she begins to date him (Dan) he will no longer be her friend. They do date for a while but then he cheats on her with Serena. When he finds out Blair is leaving him for Chuck he makes good on his promise to not be her friend unless he can be her ''boy''friend and sets out to write a book that will uncover all her secrets (and the secrets of the rest of the NJBC) because he feels wronged. So much for moral compass...
* Kengo from ''KamenRiderKiva'' disappears after a couple of tragic events, then returns several episodes later [[TookALevelInBadass with special training]] and a chip on his shoulder, especially regarding Wataru and Nago. Thankfully, [[UnexplainedRecovery he gets better]].
* Dr. Eric Foreman on ''Series/{{House}}'', who started off as a fairly self-possessed guy who didn't really appreciate House's shenanigans, and then progressed to the type of guy who screwed over a colleague and then stabbed her with a dirty needle (the latter under duress, but still). His jerkassery has calmed somewhat, but hasn't completely gone away. To be fair, the growing jerkassery did become a plotpoint after that -- Foreman was afraid that spending so much time around House was causing him to become more like him. He quit Princeton-Plainsboro to try to stop this... but then got fired from a job in New York after using very House-like tactics. Cuddy even once called him "House-Lite."
** House's own jerkassery grew out of control as the show went on.
* Phoebe of ''Series/{{Charmed}}'' seemed to take a level in jerkass at the end of her relationship with Cole.
* Admiral Adama drifts this way toward the end of the fourth season of ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}''; after the disappointment of the [[spoiler: scorched Earth arc]], he temporarily regresses from a respected leader into an angry, pathetic drunk.
** Actually, BSG seems to have tons of examples. Lt. Felix Gaeta, anyone?
** Also, Tom Zarek. Early in the series, he was a recurring political provocateur and alleged terrorist, but he actually managed to be somewhat nice towards the main characters, especially in the Kobol and New Caprica arcs. Flash forward to mid-season 4, and he's [[{{Flanderization}} perpetrating a mutiny among the fleet]] and [[MoralEventHorizon having the Quorum of Twelve gunned down]] in a petty power-grab while President [[IronLady Roslin]] is in the midst of a HeroicBSOD. [[spoiler: Fortunately, he doesn't [[KarmicDeath survive it]].]]
* Detective Quinn in season six of ''{{Series/Dexter}}''. He had already stolen from a crime scene earlier in the show, but he got worse. After screwing up at work he shows up to his ex-girlfriend/new boss Debra's housewarming party drunk off his ass with a girl he picked up from a bar, and proceeds to act like a douche to all present. It's quite telling that [[EvenEvilHasStandards even the girl leaves]] because he took her to his ex's party simply as a cheap insult, and his partner (Batista) straight-up slugs him when he takes it too far by harassing his sister. In the following episodes he goes out drinking on week nights, behaves like an obnoxious asshole at strip clubs, doesn't show up for work, gets his partner almost killed by getting drunk and sleeping in instead of going to work. When he's fired for it, he manages to stay by exploiting a loophole intended for helping alcoholics. (He is an alcoholic, but only because he's such a Jerkass, not because he actually needs help)
* Mike Stivic of ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' apparently turned into a jerkass after he, Gloria and Jr. moved to California. We never see exactly how it happened, but he started to ignore his once beloved wife and son, slept around with another woman, compared marriage to Hell and he [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking called Gloria fat.]]
** Well, to be fair he was already pretty much a jerk. And there were a few episodes dealing with him being a tad embarrassed of Gloria's lack of a higher education and in one episode Gloria worries that the above is exactly what would happen one day.
** Much to everyone's surprise it was Gloria who cheats on Michael, causing Archie to call her a whore. So it was [[OutofCharacterMoment Gloria who takes a level in jerkass]].
* Kellerman in the later seasons of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', for (arguably) understandable reasons in response to certain plot developments.
* Cody Martin has been known for most of ''Series/{{The Suite Life|OfZackAndCody}}'' franchise as socially-awkward but lovable nerd. One couldn't help but root for him in the first season of ''On Deck'' as he fought with painstaking care to win Bailey's heart. Then, in the second season, he suddenly became full of himself, constantly fought with Bailey for dominance in the relationship, and even assumed Bailey and former love-interest Jessica were jealous of one another, despite a complete lack of evidence thereto.
** When [[spoiler: he and Bailey broke up and Zack got a girlfriend,]] after which he starts making fun of Zack for [[spoiler: having a girlfriend]], and gains the sexist attitude that Zack recently got rid of.
* Similar to the above is the story of Justin Russo of ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace''. Justin was originally just a lovable nerd whose [[InsufferableGenius over-achieving sometimes got the better of him]], and later on a [[TookALevelInBadass badass]] who would fight to the death for his loved ones. Following the "Wizards vs. Werewolves" special, Justin became his sister Alex's bitter arch-rival.
* On ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'', Debra started out in the early seasons as a fairly reasonable everywoman who seemed to have a quite playful and loving relationship with Ray. Then, the character suddenly changed. It's hard to pinpoint exactly ''when'' the change occurred, but Debra eventually became a raging, [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale physically-abusive]] and {{smug|Snake}} KarmaHoudini who treated Ray like trash, [[DomesticAbuse beat him up]], forbade him from seeing his friends most of the time, and convinced Ray's own children to feel contempt for him. Oh, and the worst part? The show tried to act like ''she'' was the reasonable one, despite her abusive, {{Jerkass}} behavior. So basically, she went from being a well-rounded, likable character in the beginning to the writers' MarySue by the end.
* Series/{{Buffy|TheVampireSlayer}} had become increasingly arrogant over the last two seasons. It's partially justified in that being yanked out of Heaven and coming to BuriedAlive in her own grave had been very traumatic. However, by the last season she had practically declared herself dictator of the group and made sneering comments when one of the girls under her charge committed suicide.
** This is hardly the first time she does. First she is stressing over The Master, and her Jerkassness as he starts to affect her would impress [[PsychoForHire Faith.]] Later everyone took a level after she runs at the end of the second season. Justified in the fourth season as a demon was stealing her soul. And in season five a magical retcon gives her a sister, and Buffy struggles with this.
** Speaking of Faith, she does this to a frightening degree after she accidentally kills someone, to the point where Buffy is happy to kill her. She gets better following her first ''{{Series/Angel}}'' appearance, however, to the point that she's one of the ''nicer'' characters by the end of the television series.
** Speaking of Angel, Wesley inverted it before taking a higher level that went side by side when he [[TookALevelInBadass increased his badass levels]]. On Buffy he was a pompous, smug jerk that everybody found to be a pain in the ass, but after he was fired from the Watcher's council and moved over to ''Angel'' he'd taken a slice of humble pie and became far more sympathetic. Then season three came and put him through the emotional wringer. After that, the same generally nice guy from the first two seasons ruthlessly stabs a harmless junkie at one point in order to make her reveal what she knows about Angelus. And tying in with Faith cooling down from her own Jerkiness levels, she actually winds up being horrified at his actions.
* Seth Cohen from ''Series/TheOC'' becomes noticeably more self-absorbed in later episodes. Arguably this helped round out his character a bit more and explain his previously [[CoolLoser inexplicable]] unpopularity.
* Nate from ''Series/SixFeetUnder'', even though the personality changes are very gradual and subtle. His idealistic, free-spirited nature doesn't mesh well with his family responsibilities in season 5.
** Similarly, Rico
* Finn Hudson in ''{{Series/Glee}}'' recently [[TookALevelInJerkass cranked it up a notch]]. After whining about being cheated on by his last two girlfriends, [[spoiler: he eagerly began an affair with one of them while she was still in a relationship with [[CoolLoser Sam Evans]].]]
** Sebastian Smythe is another example. Sure, he was always a jerk, but mostly in the "lovable rogue" sort of way. Some people even shipped him with Blaine or Kurt or both. Fewer people do now thanks to [[spoiler: him tampering the slushy, causing Blaine to need surgery.]]
** Becky was a sweet kid in Season one but under Sue Sylvester's influence became ean and cruel
** Artie has shown signs of this in Season 3, especially when he's playing director.
* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Dr. Sheldon Cooper turned from a shy, socially awkward HollywoodNerd into a full on InsufferableGenius. Both [[LovableNerd Leonard]] and [[CasanovaWannabe Wolowitz]] became rather nasty {{Deadpan Snarker}}s themselves. [[TheChick Penny]] gradually adapted a policy of BrutalHonesty toward the guys, but developed a mutual respect for their nerdy tendencies as well.
** Priya and Raj in season four. For Priya, she basically forbade Leonard and Penny to hang out together due to jealousy, then [[spoiler: she lies to Leonard about not moving back to India. For no adequate reason]]. KarmaHoudini doesn't cover it. For Raj, he begun to have lust for Howard's fiance Bernadette (and when being told a rumor of them breaking up, wanted to date her even though Howard possibly wouldn't let that fly) and then after [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext Penny falling asleep before they could have drunken sex]] still acted like an ass that slept with her.]]
* [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]] after losing too many close friends too many times, to the point that he snapped, said "screw history!" and declared himself the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Time Lord Victorious]]. Then [[HeelRealization someone killed herself]] to save the future and brought him back to Earth.
* ''[[BeverlyHills90210 90210]]'': Adrianna in season 3. She even went as far as [[spoiler: swapping out Silver's medication for Bipolar Disorder with placebos.]]
* We've seen this happen a few times on ''Series/DeadliestCatch'' as various crewmembers' clout increase, especially in season 6:
** The ''Northwestern'''s resident [[TheWoobie Woobie]]/{{Determinator}}, Jake Anderson, wanted to go to the captain's chair after his climb up the crew ranks at the beginning of the season, prompting Captain Sig Hansen to swap him for a few weeks with Jake Harris of the ''Cornelia Marie'', who was reaching a boiling point with his elder brother Josh.
** However, in season 7, when Jake [[spoiler: is being taught how to be a captain by Sig, even allowed to run his own string of crap pots]], he shows surprising humility. [[spoiler: When his string comes up almost blank]], he blames himself more than anyone on the crew and resolves to work harder to make up for it. A distinct example of ''losing'' a level in Jerkass.
** {{Inverted|Trope}} on the ''Time Bandit'', where the other crew started treating Mike Fourtner badly when he was actually given a test run in the Captain's chair.
* Jack Hunter on ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'' in season 7. He started out basically a Nice Guy who was a little naive due to being new in town and occasionally exasperated with Eric's Cloud Cuckoo Landerness. In the season 5 premiere episode "Brothers," we are introduced to him as someone raised by an upper-class stepfather. His estranged brother Shawn assumes he's a rich brat because of this. However, in the following episode "Boy Meets Real World," while he and Shawn are arguing, Jack admits to working summer jobs in order to obtain the money he has, thus giving Shawn and the viewers a positive impression of him. But he seemed to transform into a Jerk Ass after his breakup with Rachel in the season 7 premiere episode "Show Me the Love." Throughout season 7, he degrades into a narcissistic, spoiled pretty-boy. This is especially lampshaded in the ante-penultimate episode "Angela's Ashes," when Jack is cut off from his father's funding. Rachel tells him he can't go to fancy restaurants, shop at name-brand stores, get expensive haircuts, and such. Jack whines throughout the episode about this, even as he's [[spoiler: saying goodbye to Angela who's leaving for Europe for a year with her Dad.]]
* In Season 5 of ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', Morgan, the title character's friend, turned into quite a self-entitled asshole, brushing off Chuck and the rest of his team, and even going as far as joining a rival spy firm. [[spoiler: However, Morgan himself isn't at fault for it, as the Intersect that he gained at the end of last season was "tainted", causing him to lose himself, so to speak. He eventually had it removed after four episodes or so.]]
* Walter White of ''Series/BreakingBad'' becomes less and less sympathetic as the show goes on. [[WordOfGod Vince Gilligan]] has confirmed this is deliberate.
* ''{{Series/Roseanne}}'''s titular character started out as a gruff, but otherwise friendly and wisecracking blue-collar woman who loved her husband and kids, and slowly transformed into a cruel, selfish, sniping, raging, shrieking bitch with severe misandrist tendencies. On top of that, she was often portrayed as being in the right and getting away with being an asshole to everyone. Her daughter, Darlene, seemed to follow her into this mold. Given that this dovetailed with the men of the show (particularly Leon, Mark and David) becoming more and more pathetic, useless, and stupid, and that the show was practically written and run by Roseanne herself, it's a pretty clarifying look into her mindset at the time.
* Pierce and Abed respectively went through this in the second and third seasons of ''Series/{{Community}}''. Pierce started out as a fairly harmless CloudCuckooLander who eventually, after feeling his friends will leave him eventually, turns into a total JerkAss who goes so far as to try and egg on a suicidal student. Abed wound up embracing his dark side over the course of the third season which saw him regularly insult his friends and often do whatever he wanted regardless of any of their feelings.
* Alex in ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' seems like a nice guy prior to being NotQuiteDead. When he appears later in the series, he's turned into a cold jerk who doesn't listen to anyone else. This could be due to his near death experience, possible changes in the timeline, an obsession with protecting said timeline, or any combination of the above.
* Alan in TwoAndAHalfMen started off as a down on his luck man whose wife threw him out and took him for everything he had, his brother and mother are [[JerkAss narcissistic assholes]] and his son became a moron over time. But in later seasons, Alan became a sleazy weasel who refuses to pay for anything and made his brother pay for everything until [[spoiler: he was pushed in front of a train in Paris.]] And yet he makes himself out to be a NiceGuy and the OnlySaneMan.
* Morgana on ''{{Series/Merlin}}''. She always was rebellious and butting heads with Uther, but it was because she didn't like his treatment of magic users and was upset with the rumors of him offing the man she thought was her father. But, after she found out Uther was really her father and had lied she went full on evil. Even when Arthur became king (after she had Uther killed), she didn't stop because she views Arthur as being just like Uther and believes only she can bring back magic. Still, she's more evil than anything else now.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Lazlow, a recurring [=DJ=] and radio host of ''GrandTheftAuto'', was frst introduced as the put-upon host of the call-in radio show ''Chatterbox''. Later games showcase the breadth of Lazlow's radio career (now spanning 25 years) and reveal him to be an alcoholic fame-seeker, rather than the OnlySaneMan he appeared to be in ''[=GTAIII=]''. By 2008, Lazlow is middle-aged, divorced, despised by his parents as well as his children, and now irks out a living as an on-the-street "journalist" in Liberty City, decrying the state of America and insulting passerby. As Lazlow's dialogue is written and voiced by real-life radio host Lazlow Jones, this is a form of AdamWesting.
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia'''s Sands of Time trilogy. The Prince was originally a charming, likable GuileHero, but in the sequel, he became the very embodiment of a JerkAss. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks Needless to say, the fans were NOT pleased.]]
** In the third game his level in Jerkass manifests itself as a ''SuperpoweredEvilSide''. At this point the Prince realizes how bad he's gotten and CharacterDevelopment ensues.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Condemned}}'', Ethan Thomas is a nice enough guy, a gifted investigator, but personality-wise, he was never too impolite, despite clearly being under some MAJOR stress. Come the sequel, Ethan's undergone about a year of alcoholism as well as some JerkAss power leveling. He curses all the time and is routinely impolite and distrustful towards everyone who tries to help him. This is in fact underlined by the change in his voice actor and character design (he went from an AmbiguouslyBrown SCU agent wearing a nondescript police uniform, to a rather less ambiguously Caucasian bum in grunge clothes). The personality change is possibly justified by the year of vagrancy and the events of the first game.
** It should be noted that in the intro to the sequel, he mercilessly pummels a guy for bumping into him and spilling his drink [[spoiler: Granted said man was intentionally trying to goad him into a fight, but still]].
* Hubert Ozwell from ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' is regarded to be the king of this trope, and one of the biggest in-series trolls, in the ''Franchise/TalesSeries'' fandom. For those not in the know, he starts off as a weak, and easily-terrified little boy, but seven years down the line [[TookALevelInBadass he takes about a million levels in badass]] due to [[spoiler:being adopted into the military-based Ozwell family]]. When he reunites with his older brother, Hubert reveals that [[spoiler:part of the alliance his new nation has with Windol is that they get Lhant, the brothers' homeland, and then Hubert proceeds to [[LimitBreak Blast Caliber]] Asbel into next week, exile him from Lhant, blow their mother off when she tries to intervene, and then sets himself up as the one running the shots]]. Yeah... Hubert becomes kind of a douche.
* Saïx from ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'' goes from being the emotionless bastard we all know and love to smack around in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' to having his behavior borderline monster proportions in regards to Xion. Many were happy to learn that you get to fight him again near the end of the game. His beat down was much deserved. That's what happens when you talk smack about Xion like that. That's right, Roxas kicks your ass. This is especially true because Isa was a pretty decent guy in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth By Sleep]]''. The rest of the Org. doesn't really suffer any drastic personality changes beyond losing the ability to truly care about others, yet Isa goes from a stoic but reasonably friendly boy to the cold-blooded Jerkass Saïx.
** Some fans have suggested from certain changes in Saix's appearance (the pointed ears, lightened hair color, and perhaps most ominously, yellow eyes) that Isa may have been corrupted by darkness ''before'' he turned into a Nobody, which would certainly explain a lot...
*** [[spoiler: Turns out, this is because Saix is slowly turning into a Xehanort clone.]]
* Sora (briefly) gains a level in jerkass in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories Chain of Memories]]'' thanks to [[spoiler: Namine screwing around with his memories.]]
* Eric Sparrow from ''VideoGame/TonyHawksUnderground'' went from the Player's friend to the game's antagonist who was taking credit for everything you did.
** Ironically, between ''THUG'' and ''THUG 2'' he TookALevelInDumbass and is treated as an incompetent loser in the latter.
* Peter Venkman in ''VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame'' is a huge jerk compared to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold his occasional niceness]] in [[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} the movies]].
** WordOfGod is that this was partly intentional: he and Dana were having relationship difficulties and were apart at the moment, causing him to be a little... grumpy.
* ''{{VideoGame/Warcraft}}'': Garrosh Hellscream went from being an obscure emo kid trying to find his purpose in life to being a disrespectful, belligerent, loudmouthed JerkAss.
** He suffers it again in Cataclysm, and randomly becomes racist. Despite not discriminating and even being friendly with the player in Nagrand. In short he's a walking ConflictBall.
** At the same time, he also seems to get rid of a few Jerkass elements too, ironically. For instance, while he is one of the major reasons as to why the war between the Alliance and Horde has reemerged, there are things he simply won't stand for. First off, he specifically does ''not'' approve of Sylvanas raising the newly dead on the battlefield to replenish the ranks of the Forsaken. He also gets really pissed off when he finds out that one of his commanders has been attacking night elf settlements to kill civilians. He is also the one who drives the Grimtotems out of the Horde when he finds out that they were responsible for]] [[spoiler: Cairne's death.]]
*** Cairne's son Baine did that last part. No all Garrosh did was send Magatha Grimtotem a letter that amounted to "I hope you burn in hell". What Garrosh ''did'' do to elevate his Jerkass status was whine to Baine about the honor he lost [[spoiler: after he killed Baine's father in less-than-honorable combat.]]
** Garrosh will be taking this trope to its logical conclusion in ''Mists of Pandaria''. [[spoiler:The final raid dungeon is going to be a siege on Orgrimmar itself by both Alliance and Horde, because apparently at some point in the expansion Garrosh does something [[MoralEventHorizon ''so horrible'' that it disgusts ''everybody'']].]]
* Palom was an overeager, boastful, and sort of annoying character in the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', but that was probably excusable on account of him being five years old. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'', though, he's kind of a dick for no readily apparent reason before softening up some.
* Before the [[FullMotionVideo FMV]] games, Admiral Tolwyn, from the ''Videogame/WingCommander'' games and novels, was a gruff but overall fair person. Starting with [=WC3=], though, he became Admiral Asshole (possibly due to {{typecasting}} of MalcolmMcDowell, the actor that played him), and continued on to [[RecycledInSpace Space]] [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]] in [=WC4=]. William Forstchen's {{novelization}}s of those two games tried to lessen that a bit, but was limited by the game scripts he was writing from.
* Nathan Spencer in the 2009 ''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' sequel.
* [[VideoGame/SoulSeries Taki]] takes one between ''Soul Calibur III'' and ''IV''. She goes from hunting demons and fighting those like Cervantes who want the power of Soul Edge to hunting demons and fighting those affiliated with Soul Edge, fighting ex-villains and people affiliated with Soul Calibur, and fighting good guys or neutral parties who ''might'' become affiliated with one of the swords. Nearly every character's story path involves Taki trying to kill them at one point. It's certainly not helped that while she does this she accuses ''everyone'' but herself of being evil and delusional and makes some verbal [[KickTheDog low blows]] against [[TheAtoner Siegfried and Ivy]].
** Within ''Soul Calibur III'''s [[UnexpectedGameplayChange Chronicles of the Sword]] mode, Abelia, your friendly rival at the start of the story and, slightly later, useful ally, turns full tilt into a KnightTemplar halfway through, complete with a costume change and deeper, more aggressive voice bank.
* Liara acts cold and distant in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', even if you were lovers by the end of the first game. She also has developed a ruthless streak, and both threatens people with violence and casually has her enemies murdered. If you persist, help her out, and make effort to get her come out of her shell, [[JerkassFacade she eventually reveals that most of her current behavior is a mask,]] [[SurvivorGuilt resulting from losing Shepard in the beginning of the game.]]
** As well, whichever of your human comrades (Ashley or Kaidan) survived the first game will become Jerkasses in their cameo in ''2'', probably because they're just in shock that you're working for [[WellIntentionedExtremist Cerberus]].
*** Though if it's your love interest that does the WhatTheHellHero speech, they'll send you an apology letter, telling you to be careful because they can't lose you a second time.
** The third game sees the Asari and Salarian Councilors take a few levels in Jerkass (contrast to [[TookALevelInKindness the Turian Councilor]]). They, however, are beaten out by Quarian Admiral Han'Gerrel, who ''power-levels'' in Jerkass to the point of [[GeneralRipper doing positively insane things]] in his attempt to wipe out the Geth, including firing on a Geth Dreadnaught ''while Shepard and Tali are still inside it''. If you fail to broker peace between the Quarians and Geth, [[spoiler: he [[LeeroyJenkins has his ships bullrush the geth fleet]]]]. Depending on what choices you made, [[spoiler: they either get massacred or complete wipe out the geth.]] He is also positively furious if you manage to get the two species to make peace.
** Renegade Shepard was always a jerk, and [[TookALevelInJerkass took a level]] in ''2'', but in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' it's taken to a ''[[UpToEleven whole new level]].'' While his/her behavior was usually rude, condescending, racist, insulting, and did kill a number of people, it managed to have some funny moments in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' and ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. In ''3'' Renegade Shepard is downright ''evil'', causes cold-blooded murder of teammates without remorse, and lacks the humor that he/her had in previous games. You can even tell from the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-eRfupYbA "Commander Shepard]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PjTuSQNLI4&feature=fvwrel is a Jerk]][[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1CV86SnSPM&feature=related " videos.]]
* Maggie's father in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker''. When you first meet him, he's a pitiable pauper who is distraught over his daughter being kidnapped. But when Maggie comes back with a massive fortune in Skull Necklaces, he turns into a selfishly greedy bastard who won't even let Maggie get letters from her (sort of) love interest.
** May actually be a bit of a subversion--the first time you talk to him about Maggie, he mentions that having her missing "makes it hard to earn a single rupee," suggesting that he only cared about the money from the beginning. Once he got wealthy, he just didn't have to pretend to be nice anymore.
** There's also Ingo from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''. While he was never the friendliest person in the game, he was nothing more than a disgruntled employee who complained about Talon's laziness when Link was a kid. After Ganondorf comes to power, he uses the Evil King's "good" graces to take the ranch for himself, exile Talon to Kakariko Village, and proceeds to generally make life miserable for Malon until Link returns and intervenes.
* Yukari in ''{{VideoGame/Persona 3}}''. She was genuinely {{the cutie}} until FES' "The Answer", where she seems to have gained a [[KnightInSourArmor sour coating]] over her usual sugary sweet self.
** She doesn't become a jerk ass so much as go through a brief FaceHeelTurn
* Zoey in The Passing in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2''. Compared to her nicer and more open nature in [[VideoGame/Left4Dead the first game]], she becomes outright annoyed and angry with some of the survivors in both teams. [[spoiler: The reason for her change of attitude is her trying to cope with the recent death of Bill.]]
** [[JerkAss Not that he needed them,]] but Nick also took a few levels in Jerkass for the Passing. He's just jealous.
* ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'' has RabidCop Carter Blake and his boss, Captain Perry, becoming this due to their hatred toward ByTheBookCop Norman Jayden.
* Anders takes several levels before and during ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Being [[HumanoidAbomination possessed]] by an increasingly pissed off spirit that had no idea of being nice to begin with and gradually succumbing to it does not help a bit.
** What happens to him in-game, ([[FightingFromTheInside even outside the possession]]), [[BreakTheCutie isn't]] [[KillTheOnesYouLove all that]] [[TraumaCongaLine pleasant either.]]
** It's actually trackable through the game's timeline. In Act I, [[BreakTheCutie he's a bit grimmer than before]], but still kindhearted, [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]], and occasionally goofy. In Act II, he eventually [[spoiler:attacks (and kills, unless you stop him) an innocent mage he just saved from templars]] during a bout of UnstoppableRage, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone panics]], and retreats into a HeroicBSOD. In Act III, he's become [[WithUsOrAgainstUs completely paranoid of]] [[HeadbuttingHeroes the rest of]] [[EnemyMine the party]] (except for [[TheHero Hawke]] and [[TeamMom Varric]]), [[MoodSwinger quick to swing between manic determination and deep melancholy]], is completely [[TheUnfettered obsessed with]] [[TheFundamentalist his cause]], and some of the party banter implies he might be hallucinating. SanitySlippage at its finest folks...
** The Spirit of Justice itself took a few levels in jerkass when it possessed Anders - it's explicitly stated ingame that it was overwhelmed and corrupted by Anders's anger at what was going on, and back in ''VideoGame/DragonAge: Origins'', it was actually much more reasonable and willing to listen than it is in the sequel. On top of that, it's hard to tell how much of Anders's behavior is this trope and how much is him just plain hugging the IdiotBall, given the increasingly horrible and poorly thought out choices he makes as time goes on.
*** It's not even a Spirit of Justice anymore (though it likes to claim otherwise). It's a ''Demon of Vengeance.'' That's how badly it was corrupted.
*** Although it's implied that Justice's corruption (and his becoming a KnightTemplar that resulted in him JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope) may not actually be Anders' fault, or at least not entirely; [[spoiler:Kirkwall is basically a city built right next to [[SealedEvilInACan the prison that holds]] [[EldritchAbomination ''the origin of the darkspawn'']]. The prisoner in question can drive people insane without even being conscious and from miles away]].
* Franchise/CrashBandicoot briefly fell into this trope in ''CrashTagTeamRacing''; numerous bonus cutscenes focus on his ScrewySquirrel antics inside Von Clutch's Motorworld, ranging from feeding Park Drones mouldy apples to disintegrating them in rocket engines. Granted this reversed back in the following game, where he goes back to being a KindheartedSimpleton.
* Ema Skye of the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' series is introduced as an aspiring forensic investigator, full of useful investigation techniques and eager to meet people in the business. However, eight years later she finds herself in a job she didn't want (detective work) after doing poorly on her forensic investigation exam and her derailed dream definitely takes its toll on her personality. The Ema of ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' is a sour and jaded woman who doesn't offer much help (unless she can use some of her forensic investigation techniques, at which point some of her original personality leaks out).
* Cloud does this between ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', in which he's a shy, brave, and supportive person with really bad self-esteem (with some backstory about him picking fights with the people who bullied him in his hometown), and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', in which he's a rude, cocky, reckless and obsessive person who deliberately antagonises his friends Barret and Wedge and does things like taking salary from a slum-dwelling little girl's school money. He's nicer to the girls, but also pretty sexist and won't trust them with anything on their own. He gets a lot nicer after a few hours of play, but he remains vengeance-obsessed and arrogant until his [[HeroicBSOD entire persona implodes]] halfway through the next disk.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Avalon}}'' has Alison grow noticeably more full of herself and frustrated at the antics of her friends as the years progressed.
* [[Webcomic/{{Sinfest}} Seymore]] has become more and more of an asshole around 2010, culminating with the Bad Behavior series.
* Due to sleep deprivation, Jade Harley of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has gotten a lot grumpier - although it should be noted that she's only like that to the trolls, who have been picking on her for her entire life (with the exception of [[DoggedNiceGuy Tavros]]). She got better later on, though.
** Something similar happened to John in Act 6 due to CabinFever.
** According to Aranea, Cronus wasn't always as big a {{Jerkass}} as he later became, but he was never exactly a nice guy, either. Apparently, the revelation that magic didn't exist - something he'd based a good deal of his life around - caused a HeroicBSOD leading to this trope.
* ''WebComic/BittersweetCandyBowl'' sees Mike go from a NiceGuy to a bitter {{Jerkass}} as part of its {{Deconstruction}} of the {{Tsundere}} archetype. Turns out all those years of [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale getting punched around]] while his friends laughed have taken their toll. To make matters worse, by the time he finally snaps, Lucy has actually ''[[CharacterDevelopment improved]]'', and his newfound nastiness and need to vent all that pent-up frustration leave her [[BreakTheCutie more of a mess]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* From the ''Blog/{{Bronyism}}'' blog, Trollvorlord's [[ButtMonkey little brother]] claims that he turned into the "donkey dick" he is today after meeting his HeterosexualLifePartner Noah (Troll King).
* In a way, ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick''. Back when she started, she was really just Lindsay with pigtails and a bowtie. She had a few moments of NotSoAboveItAll but was still pretty quiet, nice and sane. Now, however, she fakes being nice and is willing to kill to get [[WebVideo/{{Kickassia}} power]], has a SexSlave robot who she abuses, and treats her best friend like shit. [[TropesAreNotBad She's much more fun this way, though.]]
* Foamy The Squirrel of ''WebAnimation/NeuroticallyYours'' has become much more of a completely bitter ass over the course of the series. This contrasts with his [[CharacterizationMarchesOn earlier portrayal as a hyper-active squirrel who makes sarcastic quips about things]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Bloo from ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' is shown as the perfect ImaginaryFriend in the pilot/TV movie, but just one episode later he has become a self-absorbed jerk who verbally and physically abuses Mac OncePerEpisode.
** Living in an OrphanageOfLove might ironically have something to do with it. He wasn't used to having so much freedom before moving into Foster's, so it probably inflated his ego.
* Eddy from ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' goes from a JerkWithAHeartOfGold to a greedy bastard due to {{flanderization}}.
** Finally reversed in TheMovie, where we find out that Eddy was just acting that way because [[spoiler: he idolized his older brother, who we find out is a far bigger bastard]].
* A large amount of the cast of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' have evolved this way as the show has leaned into zanier, more satirical, territory. The most infamous case of this occurred with Homer Simpson: While he was always selfish and moronic, he initially had some level of goofiness and kindness to offset this. When Mike Scully took over (in season 9) and shifted the show into more of an overt comedy, his selfishness and sociopathy went to [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Q-esque levels]], to the point where he almost became a full-blown VillainProtagonist. When Al Jean took over, he toned down the character, so now he floats between his early era goofiness and his infamous Scully-Era persona.
** This is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] in TheSimpsonsMovie when Homer's impulsive behavior puts the town in danger and Marge leaves him. He does learn his lesson and sets things right at the end though.
** [[HatesTheJobLovesTheLimelight Krusty the Clown]] went from being a slightly weary and cynical old showbiz figure, to a greedy, shameless sellout who doesn't care the slightest if his licensing products are crappy, or even downright dangerous.
** Even normally sane characters, such as Marge and Lisa, act rather mean spirited or outright unstable at times.
* Geoff from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaIsland'' undergoes this in season two when, as the host of the aftermath show, he let fame go to his head, to the point where he tried to drop an anvil on his former friend DJ and feed Gwen to a {{piranha|Problem}}.
** The case can also be made for Courtney after her return to the show in season two. She went from being a slightly stuck-up and haughty girl who was still civil enough to be the TeamMom, to a scheming, spoiled princess who uses her lawyers to cheat her way to numerous advantages on the show. She basically transformed from a significantly better version of [[RichBitch Heather]] to a straight up {{Expy}}.
*** In ''World Tour'', both Geoff and Courtney (the latter at least in the first half of the season) are back to form, only for Cody, Gwen, and Duncan to get jerkier.
* It's safe to say that {{Flanderization}} has engulfed the cast of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' so intensely that it's easier to list characters who haven't taken a level in jerkass. The best instance of an inversion is Stewie, who TookALevelInKindness to the point where he's now the most likable character on the show. (Relatively speaking, of course; he used to be ''evil'', and nowadays he's just an asshole.)
** Peter Griffin, after his show was UnCanceled, goes from being a basically-good JerkWithAHeartOfGold to more of a full-on, often malevolent JerkAss.
** His son, Chris Griffin, seems to be [[TookALevelInJerkass taking a level in jerkass]] as of late.
** Cleveland has had some Jerkass moments since he got [[WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow his own show]].
** Connie went from being the standard AlphaBitch to a downright bitch, which was best demonstrated when she made fun of Meg shortly after the latter returned to school from being in prison for three months (to compensate [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown she pays for this]], and a lot of her Jerkass moments, to dire extremes).
** Lois, originally a MamaBear and arguably the most CloserToEarth character in the show has gradually became what is basically a female variant of Peter. Made worse by the fact the cast still [[JerkSue often treats her as the same character she was before]].
** Even Brian followed this route to the point where he got [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech told off]] by ''Quagmire'', of all people.
*** Brian reached a high level of jerkness in the episode "Brian Writes A Bestseller". After Stewie helps Brian write a crappy novel for the sake of popularity and sales, Brain's ego becomes so inflated that every minor thing that goes wrong or bothers him (being seated next to an Asian person on a plane, being seated in the back of a restaurant, etc) causes him to get pissed off and blame Stewie for it. Brian angrily tries to justify his behavior by saying he deserves the best of everything because he wrote a bestseller. After Brian took a huge crash and burn on live television when it was revealed he is a sham, Brian, during his apology, ''still'' blamed Stewie for his failures. Stewie just gives up pointing out the contradiction and says "This is as good as it's going to get, isn't it?"
*** On a more consistent basis, Brian has become increasingly [[StrawHypocrite shallow]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self centered]] and [[AttentionWhore attention obsessed]] since Season Eight, likely to deconstruct his AuthorAvatar status. When it reaches a point it seems he is being unfairly abusive to ''[[EnfantTerrible Stewie]]'' of all people, you know he's [[EvilerThanThou a pretty exaggerated slimeball]].
** Joe Swanson took several levels of jerkassery once he regained the ability to walk in the episode "Believe it or Not, Joe's Walking on Air". Joe gained confidence in himself once he could walk again, but it got to the point where he demanded his not-so-physically-fit friends to keep up with him in his extreme physical activities and insulted them for not being as good as he is. It got to the point where Joe ditched his friends for new ones and dumped Bonnie while she was still pregnant. Joe had to be recrippled in order to get him back down to humbleness.
* Roger of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' was a pretty plausible Jerkass to begin with, though (DependingOnTheWriter at least) could occasionally show compassion and restraint in his antics. In later episodes the callousness of his actions and schemes border outright FauxAffablyEvil territory. For example, in "Virtual In-stanity", he [[DisproportionateRetribution/WesternAnimation hunted down five frat boys who stiffed him $20]], then killed some more random people just because he's "got the blood lust".
** In contrast, Stan's own Jerkass tendencies have become more toned down or at least more [[WellIntentionedExtremist well intentioned]] as the show has progressed.
** Principal Lewis has become quite the jerkass in recent episodes; he constantly harasses the students and uses them for his own selfish wants.
* Cosmo from ''{{WesternAnimation/The Fairly OddParents}}'' after the first three seasons.
** Icky Vicky: Originally just a mean, bossy babysitter. Now a sadistic, maniacal human monster not above threatening her own parents to keep her [[BeneathTheMask true colors]] a secret.
** Timmy's dad surely began showing signs of this as the series went on.
** Timmy himself has become more of a heartless asswipe each season. But thankfully not as awful as Norm the Genie's clone Timmy, whose extreme jerkiness causes his fairy god parents to quit their jobs.
* Johnny Canmore from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' is the youngest and most innocent of the Canmore siblings, and the least inclined to take up his family's ancient feud against the Demon and her kind. As the events of "Hunter's Moon" transpire, he becomes a Jerkass and decides to take up the hunt even as his older brother and sister decide to give up on it.
* Sentinel Prime of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' was always a jerk, but in the third season it seemed that it was all there was to him. "Predacons Rising" has him take it to villainous levels, being ready to ''kill'' his former love interest because she's now [[FantasticRacism part organic]]. Keep in mind that believing she was dead and being angry with Optimus for leaving her behind was ''the reason for his {{Jerkass}}itude'' when it came to Optimus and his team. He ''started'' at merely GoodIsNotNice, but that's fully gone by season three.
** And [[WhatCouldHaveBeen if the show had gotten a fourth season]], he apparently would've gotten even ''worse'': [[spoiler: taking over after Ultra Magnus dies, becoming a KnightTemplar with an authoritarian regime...]] Sheesh!
*** While Megatron from TransformersGenerationOne was never the nicest being in the world (what with being the BigBad and all), he became far ''worse'' when he was upgraded to Galvatron.
*** Much of Galvatron's JerkAss traits come from being left in a plasma bath that affected his neural circuitry, following [[TransformersTheMovie his defeat at the hands of]] [[TheChosenOne Rodimus Prime]]. He spends more of his time being a BadBoss, beating up on his own troops, than he does blasting Autobots, to the point where in "Webworld" Cyclonus - his most loyal lieutenant - gets tired enough of the abuse that he tries to have Galvatron "cured" of his insanity. [[{{Understatement}} It doesn't work.]]
*** In the same cartoon, Cliffjumper in "Traitor" spontaneously accused [[NiceGuy Mirage]] of treachery without proof.
*** The normally affable Brawn belittles Perceptor at every turn in "Microbots", until Perceptor saves their hides. It seems being a JerkAss at some point is a prerequisite for first-year Autobot mini-vehicles (Gears and Huffer are normally pretty dour), unless you're [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee]] or the underutilized Windcharger.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' does this with Mister Krabs, going from a decent, if money-obsessed, businessman, into a horrendous boss who has a money Fetish. Squidward has also been affected to a lesser extent, changing from a {{Deadpan Snark|er}}ing [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jerk with a Heart of Gold]] into a {{Jerkass}}.
** While not as much as Mr. Krabs, Spongebob can also shift into JerkAss territory at times. A good example of [=SpongeBob=] being more of a jerk comes in "A Pal for Gary". He gets some freakish pet, which constantly ruins Gary's life. And [=SpongeBob=] constantly punishes the poor snail. Even after said snail saved him from the pet's horrific attempt to eat them. Even by the later season's standards, that's moronic of Spongebob, not to mention quite dickish.
** Patrick even more so. The prime example? The episode "Rule Of Dumb".
*** There's an episode "Yours, Mine, and Mine", where Patrick 'borrows' money from [=SpongeBob=] to 'share' a Krabby-meal together. He of course eats the whole thing himself. Mr. Krabs then makes Sponge pay ''extra'' for the toy (which is really just a Krabby Patty that Krabs dressed up as a doll. ''[[TookALevelInJerkass Score one Jerkass point for Mr. K!]]'') Patrick then claims that since he and Spongebob are still 'sharing' that he gets to play with it. Long story short, Pat eventually never lets [=SpongeBob=] play with the 'toy' (that he paid for!) and Pat inevitably ''eats it'' just so he can't have it. ...After the two eventually make-up, Pat offers to pay for some new toys, '''by using [=SpongeBob=]'s wallet!.'''
*** "The Card", revolves around [=SpongeBob=] getting a rare Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy card, and lending it to Patrick for a while. However, Patrick abuses the card in so many ways (using it as a lockpick, grilling it and eating it in a Krabby Patty, scratching his back with it) you'd think he's actually doing this all just to torture [=SpongeBob=], who gets increasingly stressed and worried about the card. [[SarcasmMode Surprisingly enough]], after doing much more dangerous things with it (such as potentially smashing it or setting it on fire), when [=SpongeBob=] warns him, Patrick just says, "[[TookALevelInJerkass You can't expect my usual brand of stupidity, [=SpongeBob=]. I like to mix it up. Keep you on your toes]]." And Patrick flimsily makes it up to the TooDumbToLive [=SpongeBob=] by just giving him new cards. Most people would have ''at least'' demanded forgiveness for how he freaked out his friend.
* While still a rather sympathetic character, Baloo's ''{{WesternAnimation/TaleSpin}}'' counterpart is often shown to act more selfish and egotistical than his original ''Disney/TheJungleBook'' interpretation (albeit DependingOnTheWriter). In contrast Louie and Shere Khan are slightly less antagonistic.
* While DaffyDuck of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' fame was hardly an angel to begin with, he arguably was merely a [[ScrewySquirrel prankster]] and an attention freak [[CloudCuckooLander too warped]] to understand the extent of his antics early on. As time passed Daffy became more stable and ambitious, as well as more embittered and obnoxious in personality, often acting as an [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain antagonist]] for BugsBunny. His cruelty was taken to extremes with his pairings against SpeedyGonzales in the De Patie Freleng era.
* It's very easy to forget that [[WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill Peggy Hill]] was actually nice at the beginning of the show. She didn't start showing her egotism until season 3 and wasn't even a jerk about it until season 4.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{KaBlam}}'': June started out as a prankster with an enormous heart, but season three-ish, she became more of a JerkAss. Season four ended this.
* Velma on ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' has been noted to have taken on Jerk Ass traits, but only because she can't get time with Shaggy to herself due to Scooby Doo himself. She'll be JerkAss to start then sadly wistful (to her mom: "Am I radioactive?"). In the heat of the "love triangle", Scooby had taken on the JerkAss label as well, being as pushy as Velma in forcing him to "choose". Currently, now that Shaggy chose him, Scooby's remorseful at how sad Velma is over it and is trying to make up, but conversely, Velma's JerkAss level has risen with the rejection, making a reconciliation difficult.
** Episode 15 shows that she might be getting over herself a little; she resents Scooby but she draws the line at his getting hurt.
** Daphne had one temporarily in Episode 6, becoming a Hex Girl and stating that her new name was Crush. She reverts back to normal at the end.
** [[spoiler: Also, it's speculated that she might go into this against Velma, due to Velma having not told them a ''very'' important secret that was partially the reason why the gang split up.]]
*** [[spoiler: As it turns out, she doesn't.]]
* Pietro Maximoff on ''{{WesternAnimation/X-Men Evolution}}'' started as a minor antagonist/rival with some JerkAss traits; when season two hit, he was the only one who doesn't become sympathetic & by the end of the series he takes a level in Jerkass by revealing that Mystique had been impersonating the Professor so she could blow up the mansion, something Pietro and the other Brotherhood members not only knew, but likely helped. Then he fucks EVERYONE over by joining the Acolytes, Magneto's new team, since he had been TheMole the whole time. Then when Magneto lets the Brotherhood join him he puts Pietro in charge, who has Toad work as a ''TV antenna'', and Blob make him sandwiches, throwing them back in his face for the tiniest detail until Blob ''cries''.
** Next season, Pietro taunts his sister [[ScarletWitch Wanda]] until she accidentally derails a train, which unintentionally ends up painting them as heroes to the public & rewarded with cash; he then stages several accidents so they can cash in, ultimately framing the X-Men when they catch on of misusing their powers on a rampage, before deciding to derail another train to send it all home. When he finds out that this time many more people are in danger, he decides to leave quickly out of fear and selfishness, knowing full well that ''many people are going to die'' because of his own selfishness. And this is ''after'' he was an accomplice in his own sister's MindRape and persuaded Toad not to reveal the truth to her.
** Irony is he's a [[DracoInLeatherPants/WesternAnimation Draco in Leather Pants]], so the fangirls who actually build up the ''X-Men Evolution'''s FanDumb, interprets ''him'' as the only good member of the Brotherhood, despite the fact that, arguably, he's the most self-centred character the series. Apocalypse is a KnightTemplar who wishes for the world to become a Mutant utopia, SelfDemonstrating/{{Magneto}} is a WellIntentionedExtremist who wants to avoid another Holocaust, every other Brotherhood member has redeeming qualities (especially Avalanche), Colossus is an AntiVillain under {{Blackmail}}, Gambit is a hired Merc/thief who had some PetTheDog Moments, Sabertooth and Pyro are just plain crazy... but Pietro is a calculating, selfish dick who serves only himself (and his father isn't a sufficient excuse for some of the shit he pulls).
* On ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', Dr. Scientist was more-or-less neutral in the first season. However, in "Heads Will Roll" he becomes a full blown villain, tormenting Heloise. This could just be the result of not having a major role before then.
** [[TheWoobie Samy Garvin]] did this twice in season 2. The first time was giving a trophy to Lucius and stating the Jimmy dances like there a lobster in his pants. The second time was [[KickTheDog intruding on a chat]] that Jimmy had with Lucius's dad to read a scroll.
* Charmcaster in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' used to treat her golems (or whatever they were) like they were pets. In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'', she can't go a few minutes without insulting the giant ones she has now for everything they do. Also, in the original series, while a troublemaking bitch, she wasn't murderous or out to take over the world. In ''Alien Force'', she does try to conquer the world, and expresses a gleeful desire to kill Gwen.
** Ben himself takes a massive level in Jerkass in the third season of ''Alien Force''.
* Out of all the people in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', it's the usually calm and understanding Mr. Mackey who has done this recently, case in point, "Royal Pudding". All he does is scream and cuss at ''[[DudeNotFunny kindergarten students]]'' and later, resident DesignatedMonkey Kyle, for screwing up his play on tooth decay, even though the kids didn't mean to do it.
** Throughout most of his Season Fifteen appearances for that matter, Mr. Mackey has started to reveal more and more darker personal issues, albeit ones he frequently vents out on the school's students. His hoarding problem led him to be violently protective of his belongings, while he and the school faculty became so obsessed with avoiding controversy over school deaths they decided to [[RefugeInAudacity kill Eric Cartman by]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext throwing in under a bus]].
** There's also Gerald Broflovski, Kyle's father. For 9 seasons, he's a decent parent, even though A) he's an AmoralAttorney, and B) he's as clueless as every other adult in town. And then there's the episodes "Smug Alert" and "Major Boobage". In the former, he doesn't care what anybody says or thinks after buying a Hybrid, his own family included. In the latter, he becomes almost as bad as his wife Sheila in TheMovie, bans cats due to their urine being a drug for "cheesing", and accuses Kyle of being a drug hoarder, which he clearly isn't.
** Randy Marsh started off as a somewhat incompetent but well meaning parent, and to an extent one of the more rational adult residents. As his role elevated, he slowly evolved into a sociopathic AdultChild whose selfish antics his family often have to face the brunt of (especially his son Stan).
* Mr.Whiskers has his fair share of JerkAss moments in ''WesternAnimation/BrandyAndMrWhiskers'' but the one where he really crosses the line is making Ed cry in the episode Monster Of My Skin after Ed tries to cure his acne:
-->'''Mr.Whiskers:''' I don't want any more of your stupid food! I don't want any more of your worthless cures! If you can't help me, I don't ever wanna see your ugly face ever again. I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!
-->'''Ed:''' [[TheWoobie Gee, if that's the way you *sniff* I mean if uh, all right then....]]
* Both WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry seemed to have done this when Creator/ChuckJones started directing the shorts. Jerry would sometimes start their {{Escalating War}} without provocation--in "The Year of the Mouse" he and another mouse took on a role similar to [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Hubie and Bertie]], driving Tom insane purely for kicks. On the other hand, Tom's torture of Jerry was severely stepped up, particularly in "Of Feline Bondage", where the sadistic glee he took in tormenting him was rather... unsettling.
* This is the major problem [[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] undergoes in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Putting Your Hoof Down." [[StatusQuoIsGod She got better]] after realizing, with a little help from Pinkie Pie and Rarity, that there are other ways of being assertive WITHOUT being nasty and mean.
** In the same episode, Angel the Bunny, always a little bit of a brat, has become violently abusive and borderline sociopathic, making unreasonable demands regarding his breakfast, and then throwing Fluttershy's best effort away for being short one cherry and kicking her out of the house. The closest he comes to any kind of apology is an expression of gratitude after he realises [[IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam he enjoys Fluttershy's cucumber slices]], but then, it was only because of [[DeathGlare the Stare]] that he was willing to try them in the first place.
*** Angel TookALevelInKindness in a later episode, so it kind of evens out.
** Something like half the town TookALevelInJerkass in that episode. Some viewers have claimed [[BitchInSheepsClothing Gilda]] had crossed the MoralEventHorizon when she made Fluttershy cry. She arguably did ''less'' to abuse Fluttershy than what most of the background characters did in that episode.
** This tendency is common with most of the characters in the show, due to its tendency to deconstruct the character's flaws as part of the episode's Aesop. Usually one of the characters will become highly egotistical, neurotic or vindictive (or in some exaggerated cases, [[SanitySlippage borderline insane]]) for a brief point OncePerEpisode before learning their lesson and reverting back. Rainbow Dash may be a slightly more consistent example, if only because she has gotten the lion's share of Aesops in recent episodes and thus required more frequently to act up.
** The second season finale, "A Canterlot Wedding", actually plays with this trope. When "Princess Cadence" shows up, she is apparently an in-universe example, since although Twilight knew her as the best filly-sitter ever, she treats all the wedding preparations and other characters like dirt. [[spoiler:However, it turns out to be a subversion. Twilight only later finds out that the real Princess Cadence, who remains one of the nicest alicorns around, has been imprisoned in the mines beneath Canterlot - and that JerkAss!Cadence is actually an imposter.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', when Ratchet [[spoiler: takes some PsychoSerum]], it impairs his judgement, causing him to become increasingly obnoxious and aggressive, even to his own team. Not to mention becoming overconfident to take on ''Megatron'' and the Decepticons on his own (which would cost him). He not only ''[[DirtyOldMan flirts]]'' with Arcee but he also directly [[WhatTheHellHero calls out]] Optimus for being too soft for what had happened to [[spoiler: Cliffjumper]] and also passing several chances to finish Megatron off. While his judgement was impaired, it's implied that he's saying what he would have normally held back. Fortunately, by the end of the episode, he returns back to normal.
* In ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}} 2: Legends of Metru Nui'', Matau's just into the whole hero deal for sheer excitement, meanwhile Onewa seems to take every opportunity to belittle his companions, especially their leader Vakama. In the following movie, ''Web of Shadows'', Onewa's demoted to an even more minor extra, and Matau takes over his role of a JerkAss, putting such a stress on Vakama with his constant complaining that it leads him to do a FaceHeelTurn. Matau makes up for it in the end by realizing how mean he was and bringing Vakama back to their side.
* Cecil Turtle in ''TheLooneyTunesShow'' episode, "Customer Service". Originally, he never antagonized Bugs and was instead antagonized by the latter, which led to the turtle winning. Here he takes away Bugs's cable and keeps trolling him when the rabbit asks for his cable to be restored, all while taking pleasure in it. [[spoiler:As a result, he gets outsmarted by Bugs in the end.]]
[[/folder]]

*** Although it's implied that Justice's corruption (and his becoming a KnightTemplar that JumpsOffTheSlipperySlope) may not actually be Anders' fault, or at least not entirely; [[spoiler:Kirkwall is basically a city built right next to [[SealedEvilInACan the prison that holds]] [[EldritchAbomination ''the origin of the darkspawn'']]. The prisoner in question can drive people insane without even being conscious and from miles away]].

** Um, it wasn't merely unwarranted jealousy. Jimmy had evidence that Davis was [[spoiler: a psychotic serial killer]], and not only does Chloe refuse to give Jimmy the benefit of the doubt, but it becomes blatantly obvious that she indeed ''does'' harbor romantic/sexual feelings for Davis, despite having just married Jimmy. So from Jimmy's perspective, not only does his wife refuse to believe his warnings that this other guy is [[spoiler: a murderous psycho]], it becomes blatantly obvious that she's been (and continues to be) lusting after this other man. Jimmy was put in a nightmarish situation that broke his heart and left him isolated. His friends all treat him like he's gone crazy (even though it turns out that Jimmy ''was actually right about everything'') and Chloe isn't there for him. His dumping Chloe was completely understandable and warranted.

** Considering Raymond's ManChild nature, his need to always be liked by everyone and his devotion to his own mother instead of her and add in Marie's overbearing and insulting nature regarding everything they clash over, it's not exactly unreasonable for Deborah to snap in an effort to make Raymond grow up some through the tough love approach.

* In ''Film/DeepRising'', [[spoiler:Simon Canton]]'s plan at first was to destroy the ship [[spoiler:as an insurance scam]], but to make it so all of the passengers live. Later though, [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope he uses the others as bait so he can escape himself]], and tries to kill Trillian and steal Finnegan's boat. [[spoiler:Fortunately though, he meets a Karmic Death in the end]].
* Loki in ''Film/{{Thor}}'': TragicVillain and [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Woobie Destroyer Of Worlds]]. Loki in ''Film/TheAvengers'': [[spoiler: omnicidal psychopath who enjoys torturing people and kills 80 people in two days ([[Funny/TheAvengers "He's adopted"]]). It's implied the trip through several dimensions to Earth [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow took a toll on his already fragile sanity]], but wow.]]