History YMMV / GONE

** ''Hero'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Robert "Bob" Markovic]] was a predatory businessman before being mutated into [[TheWormThatWalks a sapient swarm]] of [[{{Plaguemaster}} plague-bearing]] bugs. Using his new abilities, Markovic attempts to take over New York City by infecting all of New York City Hall and Police Plaza with every deadly disease to exist, leaving everyone there in a state of [[AndIMustScream twisted agony]] begging for death. Taking control of Grand Central Station, Markovic infected one man there as an example of what he can do. Markovic then hijacks a train, taking its passengers hostage as he heads to Washington to take over the government and attempts to kill the heroes--[[OffingTheOffspring including his own daughter Simone]]--as they try to stop him.

** Did [[BigBad Caine]] genuinely love [[DarkChick Diana]] or was he just a [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative dick ]] who used her for sex? Who knows, as it's constantly being contradicted in [[UnreliableNarrator Caine's POVS.]] one minute he's thinking about nothing but how beautiful and smart she is and how he wants to marry her, etc, etc, and the next he's dismissing her as a object or pawn, so to speak, with no interest in her emotions or well-being. Either way, it's riled many heated fan debates, especially after the elusiveness of ''Plague''... ''Light'' answers this question quite overtly. [[spoiler: It would seem, yes, he sincerely did care for and love Diana.]]

* NoYay: A lot of the things [[CompleteMonster Drake]] says, particularly to [[DarkChick Diana]], fall under this. And then there's the [[EldritchAbomination Gaiaphage]] and Little Pete. Actually, the Gaiaphage and ''everyone.''

** [[AxCrazy Drake Merwin]] is a [[TeensAreMonsters monstrous fourteen-year-old]] who managed to earn [[TheDreaded the hatred and fear]] of everyone in the FAYZ. A psychopath even before the series began, he was sent to Coates Academy for shooting a boy with an air rifle, and was diagnosed by staff as a sadist. A few days after all the adults disappeared, Drake essentially became a PsychoForHire, first serving [[BigBad Caine Soren]] in his efforts to take over Perdido Beach, then switching his allegiance over to [[EldritchAbomination the Gaiaphage]] after it helped regrow his amputated arm into a whip-like weapon. Drake's many crimes include preparing to [[WouldHurtAChild feed a daycare full of little kids and infants]] to mutant coyotes if they resisted him; threatening to cause a nuclear meltdown if Sam didn't allow Drake to torture him; commanding an army of mutant bugs to massacre Perdido Beach; and whipping and slave-driving a pregnant girl across a desert. Drake was also a [[StrawMisogynist virulent misogynist]], who victim-blamed his mother for her abuse at his stepfather's hands, insults every girl who crosses his path, and expresses an intent to torture, rape and murder Astrid, Diana, and even [[spoiler:the Gaiaphage after it stole a female body as its host]]. Drake's goal wasn't power, it was pain. He admitted that he tortured and murdered his fellow children [[ForTheEvulz because he enjoyed it]], because it made him feel powerful, and he believed that despite all the diagnoses psychiatrists had tried to give him, the word that best summed him up was "evil".

** [[AxCrazy Drake Merwin]] is a [[TeensAreMonsters monstrous fourteen-year-old]] who managed to earn [[TheDreaded the hatred and fear]] of everyone in the FAYZ. A psychopath even before the series began, he was sent to Coates Academy for shooting a boy with an air rifle, and was diagnosed by staff as a sadist. A few days after all the adults disappeared, Drake essentially became a PsychoForHire, first serving [[BigBad Caine Soren]] in his efforts to take over Perdido Beach, then switching his allegiance over to [[EldritchAbomination the Gaiaphage]] after it helped regrow his amputated arm into a [[WhipItGood whip-like weapon]]. Drake's many crimes include preparing to [[WouldHurtAChild feed a daycare full of little kids and infants]] to mutant coyotes if they resisted him; threatening to cause a nuclear meltdown if Sam didn't allow Drake to torture him; commanding an army of mutant bugs to massacre Perdido Beach; and whipping and slave-driving a pregnant girl across a desert. Drake was also a [[StrawMisogynist virulent misogynist]], who victim-blamed his mother for her abuse at his stepfather's hands, insults every girl who crosses his path, and expresses an intent to torture, rape and murder Astrid, Diana, and even [[spoiler:the Gaiaphage after it stole a female body as its host]]. Drake's goal wasn't power, it was pain. He admitted that he tortured and murdered his fellow children [[ForTheEvulz because he enjoyed it]], because it made him feel powerful, and he believed that despite all the diagnoses psychiatrists had tried to give him, the word that best summed him up was "evil".

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* GrowingTheBeard: ''PLAGUE'', where the story began to have heavier consequences beyond the ever-decreasing quality of life.

* TheUntwist: One of the biggest criticisms of the series is that the cause of the FAYZ ([[spoiler: Little Pete feeling like he was in danger]]) was too predictable, which is a shame that it came in the first book, given all the other, far more engaging reveals that came later.

* RelationshipWritingFumble: If it weren't for the fact that Dekka was a lesbian, she and Sam would have been a good couple. This was even Lampshaded at one point.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Considering the series' [[LoadsAndLoadsofCharacters amount of characters,]] it shouldn't be surprising.

** Diana Ladris has this trope down in ''LIES'' ,''FEAR'' and Debatably the end of ''PLAGUE''.

** Drake. In ''Gone'' and ''Hunger'', it was mostly just a couple lines he says to/about Diana, but by ''Plague'', he's talking about Brianna enjoying nonspecific torture [[spoiler: he's pretending]] she recieved from him, winking at Astrid while threatening to "come up and play" with her, and fantasizing about what a long time he'll take with Diana when he gets to her. In short, downright creepy.

** Caine and Drake. Also strays into FoeYay.

** Cake for [[FoeYay Caine/Drake]]. Don't ask how the fangirls find that hot. (Seriously guys, don't. We'd need a whole '''subpage''' to explain.)

** In both the fandom and the series, one of the most controversial questions is whether [[InsufferableGenius Astrid]] is a troubled but well meaning [[AntiHero heroine]] who tried desperately hard to be the good guy or a manipulative, sanctimonious {{Icequeen}} who thinks only of herself, as Sinder put it. [[spoiler: Like when she pushed her little brother out a window]] was she trying to save 200 children and bring back 200 more, or was it a selfish act when she should of been there for her defenceless little brother? Or did she genuinely love and care about Sam or was she just using him as protection? Did she think telling the whole town about Mary's bulimia was so she could get her some support and help and keep the littles safe, or did she do it because she saw Mary as a threat and wanted to distract from her own faults? Debatable stuff. Expect things to get nasty whichever side you come down on.

** ''Villain'': [[BigBad Dillon Poe]] is a FAYZ survivor and a would-be comedian who grew envious of the fact that he never got powers. He sees an opportunity when he buys a sample of the meteorite the Gaiaphage came from off the black market and gives himself the power of a CompellingVoice. After ending up in a drunk tank, he uses his power to make an inmate he got into a fight with bite his own tongue off and then makes the guards escort him out of jail. He later goes to a casino and uses a microphone to make the patrons attack each other to [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor entertain]] both [[ForTheEvulz himself]] and the [[GreaterScopeVillain Dark Watchers]]. After seeing the potential for conquest his power gives him, his opening act is starting a violent riot in Las Vegas, which he starts by controlling the attendees of a basketball game, gathers a few more after posting a [=YouTube=] video, and attempts to use national television when all social media is cut off. He takes a group of cheerleaders to be his personal bodyguards and harem, the latter of which disgusts one of his slaves enough to nearly break control. With Las Vegas now a war zone under his control, the military intervenes, but he manages to control the commanding officer to order a missile assault on the city. [[DirtyCoward To ensure his own safety]], he drenches the streets of Vegas in gasoline and has a sparky windup toy active to set his slaves on fire if anybody attacks him, which works after Peaks intervenes. His actions lead to the confirmed deaths of 409 people and thousands more left unaccounted for, all just so he can get a good laugh.

* RootingForTheEmpire: Given how occasionally bland, boring, and UnintentionallyUnsympathetic the main protagonists can be, a lot of fans are actively rooting for the much [[EvilIsCool cooler]] and interesting [[BigBad Caine]], [[ManipulativeBitch Diana]], and [[AxCrazy Drake]] instead.

* EvilIsCool: Caine, Diane, and Drake are all seen as this by the fanbase. They're especially more interesting to read about then [[VanillaProtagonist Sam]].

* EvilIsCool: Caine, due to being a [[CardCarryingVillain card-carrying]] ManipulativeBastard and his [[CryForTheDevil occasional sympathetic moments.]]

* EvilIsCool: Caine, due to being a [[CardCarryingVillain card-carrying]] ManipulativeBastard and his [[CryForTheDevil occasional sympathetic moments.]]

!!The 2012 Film
* CompleteMonster: Jim [=LaPointe=] is a SerialKiller who kidnaps women and keeps them in a pit hidden deep in the forest, photographing their struggles before murdering them. Enraged when Jill Conway wounds him and escapes, Jim kidnaps her sister, Molly, one year later, leaving her restrained to starve to death [[spoiler:under her own home]]. After Jim lures Jill to his campsite, she finds photos of his victims, including her and Molly, in his tent, before Jim tricks her into approaching his pit and tries to kill her again to avenge his embarrassment at her injuring him.

* RootingForTheEmpire: Given how occasionally bland, boring, and UnintentionallyUnsympathetic the main protagonists can be, a lot of fans are actively rooting for the much [[EvilIsCool cooler]] and interesting [[BigBad Caine]], [[ManipulativeBitch Diana]], and [[Ax-Crazy Drake]] instead.