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1->'''Stewie:''' I've always been about world domination. The hell did you think I was talking about when I said "victory shall be mine?"\
2'''Brian:''' You have not said that in a very long time.\
3'''Stewie:''' Well, I'm back on it.
4-->-- ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS10E19MrAndMrsStewie Mr. and Mrs. Stewie]]"
5
6Character Rerailment is what happens when a [[CharacterDerailment derailed character]] returns to their previous characterization. Generally this signals the end of an AudienceAlienatingEra. This may also follow a [[RunningTheAsylum changing of the guard at the asylum]]. May also happen repeatedly if a character bounces [[DependingOnTheWriter between writers]]. Sometimes the time spent derailed turns out to be AllJustADream or ActuallyADoombot.
7
8Sometimes used as an AuthorsSavingThrow, SalvagedStory or ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat. A temporary reversion to prior characterization is a CharacterCheck. Can be an AdaptationPersonalityChange if this occurs in a new adaptation of a story that's been comprehensively derailed. See also, WeWantOurJerkBack, FlowersForAlgernonSyndrome.
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10!!Examples
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12[[foldercontrol]]
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14[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
15* While in the past two or three volumes, she was [[AxCrazy murderously insane]] in every single chapter, in volume 8 of ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', Chiri returns to her original characterization as very uptight, but still somewhat the StraightMan.
16* Orihime Inoue from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' is an odd case of rerailment due to CharacterDevelopment instead of undoing CharacterDerailment. She had gone back to being her humorous, perky self like how she was to begin with rather than the [[BrokenBird broken, emotional character]] she's been portrayed as throughout the Hueco Mundo arc as a result of a MASSIVE BreakTheCutie process that involved her being kidnapped, being mentally/physically/sexually (manga only) harrassed by the enemy, being forced to see her friends being hurt in several ways, and ultimately watching her LoveInterest being beaten to near death. This is because all her issues from said arc were wrapped up and she was free to be a content person once more, [[PluckyGirl with added life experiences and stronger determination]].
17* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Kaname Ohgi went through a lot of derailment, going from the Black Knights' VoiceOfReason and OnlySaneMan to an idiotic {{hypocrite}} who made increasingly rash and idiotic decisions, backstabbing Lelouch based on VillainsNeverLie and functionally surrendering the ''entire world'' to Britannia in an under-the-table deal to free Japan, becoming quite TheScrappy as a result. ''Anime/CodeGeassLelouchOfTheResurrection'' and its preceding movie trilogy make efforts to revert Ohgi back to his original characterization; in the last compilation film, he begs for Lelouch to tell the truth before Schneizel's men and Rolo interfere, and he also punched Diethard for working behind the Black Knights' backs. He may also feel guilty for reluctantly making a deal with Schneizel, having stepped down from his position as Japan's Prime Minister at the start of ''Re;surrection'' (which takes place a year after the Zero Requiem), and even briefly attempts to commit suicide during his talk with Lelouch at Zilkhstan before the latter casually snaps him out of it.
18* The [=DigiDestined=] in ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'' act more like selfish, angsty pricks who are prone to acting on self-interests rather than their original selves. ''Anime/DigimonAdventureLastEvolutionKizuna'' fixed this issue by making the characterization of the ones that are not OutOfFocus (Tai, Matt and Izzy) more in line with their ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''-era selves, but mellowed out because of their age.
19* Mamoru Chiba/Darian from ''Anime/SailorMoon'' was subjected to quite the CharacterDerailment in the R season, going from a polite young man who still [[BrutalHonesty didn't unnecessarily sugarcoat his words]] and ''did'' tell his (much-younger) girlfriend and her friends what he had in his mind, to a {{Angst}}y and broken mess who acted borderline abusive to her, badmouthing her to keep her away and safe, and caused her lots of turmoil (which once almost ''killed her'' since he would not tell her what he ''did'' have his reasons... when in fact said reasons ''did'' involve her and she had all the right to know). Fortunately, once he finally told her the truth and the arc reached its end, Mamoru's OutOfCharacter half-season was put in a shelf and he returned to be the Senshi's BigBrotherMentor and a kind yet sincere boyfriend to Usagi. [[NeverLiveItDown Too bad fandom won't let him live it down, though]].... him being put heavily OutOfFocus in the next few seasons didn't help matters either.
20* The [[LongRunnerCastTurnover few constants]] among the ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' cast seem to be re-hitting their stride in [[Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY the XY saga]].
21** [[TerribleTrio Jessie, James, and Meowth]] were first introduced as true members of the evil Team Rocket organization, constantly obeying their leader [[BigBad Giovanni]] all the time. But after their obsession with capturing Ash Ketchum's Pikachu began in the show's second episode, they started to ignore Giovanni and mainly went after Pikachu, which inevitably resulted in them constantly getting kicked around and "being blasted off again" every single time, even when Ash continued his journeys beyond Kanto. By Sinnoh, they had gone from their original intentions of {{Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain}}s to an outright GoldfishPoopGang with silly dances and Boss Fantasies being seen as outright detrimental to both the show in general and the Terrible [=TRio=] specifically. Notably, even original showrunner Creator/TakeshiShudo [[CreatorBacklash expressed disappointment]] at how far they'd fallen. However, opinions on this are a BrokenBase across both sides of the Pacific, for while Japanese audiences were more comfortable with their VillainDecay, [[AmericansHateTingle American audiences]] were not. The writers for the ''Best Wishes'' arc made them super competent and super important; which generated (yet another) BrokenBase and was ultimately seen as [[CerebusSyndrome swinging the pendulum too far the other way]] and flipping everyone's opinion on both sides. Now their voice actors Creator/MegumiHayashibara, Creator/ShinichiroMiki, and Inuko Inuyama were the ones criticizing the trio's more serious personalities, and while many Americans did warm up to their welcomed change, others sided with the Japanese in thinking they'd become too generic[[note]]Some episodes hint the trio's usual incompetency was not completely removed, just drowned in everything needed to make them ''appear'' serious[[/note]]. Early Kalos seems to have split the difference, wherein Team Rocket's plans are self-contained and usually doomed to failure, yet Pikachu is now an ''occasional'' target, giving way to the [[VictimOfTheWeek Pokémon of the Week]] [[note]]which sometimes is not a Pokémon[[/note]] and the trio sometimes still putting up a NotSoHarmless offence against Ash's team that led to intense two-way fights instead of one-sided beatings. This has struck fans early on as a "happy medium."
22** Ash ''[[IdiotHero himself]]'' seems to be undergoing this in Kalos as well. In Hoenn, he served as a BigBrotherMentor to Max and an equal to May. In Sinnoh, his {{Idiot|Hero}} traits are a bit more pronounced, but he still comes off as a capable Trainer. In Unova, he was [[IdiotBall completely rebooted into a full-fledged rookie]], [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe except when the plot required otherwise]], taking a backseat to his own sidekicks Iris and Cilan half the time. Kalos, however, is widely seen as a return to form; he's still a bit wide-eyed, but most of his faux pas early on have come from lack of knowledge of the new region's dynamics, as opposed to the outright virtual lobotomy in Unova. It helps that [[EstablishingCharacterMoment he started Kalos with a]] [[Awesome/{{Pokemon}} Moment of Awesome]] [[note]]climbing the Poké-equivalent of the Eiffel Tower to peacefully subdue a rampaging Garchomp[[/note]], is a quasi-BigBrotherMentor to Bonnie [[note]]her ''actual'' big brother Clemont notwithstanding[[/note]], and also has Serena to play off as she's [[TheWatson the novice of the group]].
23*** Kalos had its own lingering flaws by the end of it's run in terms of Ash's [[VanillaProtagonist somewhat vanilla and overly serious personality]], being a capable battler but lacking much else in terms of quirks besides being very upbeat and forever engrossed by Pokemon. Alola fills in this remaining hole, making Ash still competent and insightful, but much more emotive and childlike again, and even reemerging some of his awkward or ButtMonkey qualities without undermining his gained experience as a trainer too heavily, and sometimes even blending it into giving him some SuccessThroughInsanity in strategy and training. ''Journeys'' would further refine the rerailment by balancing Kalos and Alola's strengths into a portrayal of Ash with both strengths with the excesses trimmed off of either Kalos or Alola's portryals of him.
24* ''Franchise/DragonBall''
25** Frieza is also a stellar example. After his time as the ArcVillain and BigBad was up, the manga had Frieza [[AntiClimax anticlimactically]] [[TheWorfEffect worfed]] by future Trunks, whereafter he quit appearing, leaving him a memorable villain who simply got outstripped after his time in the limelight had ended, but nothing uncommonly undignified. The [[{{Filler}} anime]] and other extended media, however, kept bringing him back after this point and had him unceremonously subjected to [[VillainDecay more one-sided beatdowns]], and started characterizing him as a SmallNameBigEgo in the bigger scheme of things who CantCatchUp to the heroes. During ''Anime/DragonBallZResurrectionF'', however, not only are all of his previous defeats explicitly removed from continuity, it is revealed that Frieza is an insanely talented prodigy who simply had never trained. During his comeback, Frieza returns as an opponent with power and cruelty to be feared, and his [[spoiler:second return during the Universe Survival Arc drives the point home that, regardless of whatever more powerful or skilled opponents Goku may face, Frieza will always be his most hated and vicious foe]].
26** Broly in his debut in ''Anime/DragonBallZBrolyTheLegendarySuperSaiyan'' was a chillingly terrifying and seemingly unstoppable foe. Although extremely brutish and insane, he still displayed a keen sinister intellect with multiple Hannibal Lecter esque one-liners. His next appearance ''Broly: The Second Coming'' however greatly derailed Broly into hulking DumbMuscle that just screams “Kakarot” over and over as well as featuring him getting peed on by kid Trunks. ''Bio-Broly'' further derailed Broly even more with him getting cloned into a MuckMonster that is defeated by water. ''Anime/DragonBallSuperBroly'' effectively reboots his character, bringing back Broly’s original billing as TheJuggernaut who absolutely trashes the heroes while also ironically managing to give him more depth due to some AdaptationalHeroism.
27** ''Anime/DragonBallSuperSuperHero'' gloriously gives Gohan and Piccolo some much needed rehabilitation after decades of being OutOfFocus and being given BadassDecay compared to Goku and Vegeta. For Gohan since his father and Vegeta are firmly out of the plot, the film gives him the chance to restore his original role throughout Z as the prodigal son hero with bottomless potential, something that was cast aside in the finale of the Buu Saga and continually ignored in ''Super'' where lack of training had made Gohan a punching bag. The film highlights his dorky traits but regardless shows for all Gohan’s lame qualities he’s still a force of nature when push comes to shove with him killing the antagonist Cell Max with his new form, essentially for fulfilling his character arc in the Buu Saga that was aborted. For Piccolo, the film brings back his devastating GeniusBruiser characterisation from Z, that greatly discarded in the Buu Saga in favour of making him TheSmartGuy CombatCommentator whom was continually behind the Saiyans in ''Super'' as well. Here Piccolo is heavily involved in the action thanks to getting his own SuperMode, whilst also putting his TheChessmaster status to full use once again.
28** Pan, as she was introduced at the end of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', was portrayed as a bright-eyed, happy CheerfulChild. When an older preteen Pan was made into one of the main characters of the sequel anime ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', her characterization was now a more snarky BrattyHalfPint. When ''Super'' showcased Pan as an infant, it restored her characterization back to her upbeat CheerfulChild self from the end of ''Z'', something that made her [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap far more popular]] with viewers. ''Anime/DragonBallSuperSuperHero'' continues the trend of Pan being adorable and sweet, rather then just having her be a miniature of version of Videl during her high-school years like in ''GT''.
29* While most fans wouldn't say he was ever outright ruined, many felt that [[Characters/OnePieceSanji Sanji]] from ''Manga/OnePiece'' was hit with a lot of {{Flanderization}} over the years in regards to his weakness towards women. He always was very much a ChivalrousPervert, but his horny comedic side was usually balanced with things like his kindness or his coolness to stop him from feeling one-note. After the [[TimeSkip timeskip]], however, his pervy gags seemed to eclipse other aspects of his character, especially in the Fishman Island arc where his [[{{Nosebleed}} horny nosebleeds]] nearly getting him killed becomes a significant plot point. In the Wholecake Island arc, however, he's given an arc's worth of development as certain aspects of his past come to light and some [[HiddenDepths less shown aspects]] of his character such as his selflessness are explored in greater detail, causing him to come off as a far more serious character. By the time of the Wano arc he's still very much a [[LovableSexManiac horny goofball]] (It ''is'' One Piece after all), but his gags are balanced with more serious moments from him. In Egghead arc he’s ridiculously badass and full of killer one-liners like his pre Time Skip self.
30[[/folder]]
31
32[[folder:Comic Books]]
33* ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Season 8'' rerails several members of the cast after their derailment in Seasons 6 and 7, while at the same time continuing their character development. Some, however, still haven't really recovered (Giles, Amy, Buffy herself to a widly varying degree, etc.)
34** With Giles, they at least took his character derailment to its logical conclusion of [[spoiler:RedemptionEqualsDeath]].
35* A number of comic book characters have gone through this. Like Franchise/{{Batman}}, who swings between {{Jerkass}} behavior and being called out on it, typically going on a trip to rediscover himself.
36** ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} underwent a similar process after Devin Grayson's disastrous run on the series, which had him join Deathstroke as Renegade. The ResetButton on that one was pounded so hard it ''cracked''.
37** For Nightwing, it was a case of rerailment or death. Creator/DanDiDio has stated that it was originally planned to have Nightwing die at the end of ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis (if you've read it, you can probably figure out where), and he kind of implies that Devin Grayson's handling of the character is one of the reasons.
38** This seems to be a pattern with Batman characters, including the case of Cassandra Cain, the second ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2000}}... for a while, at least. After she was revealed to [[FaceHeelTurn have thrown out her heroic side and become evil]], later writers retconned this by saying that she was under the control of Deathstroke through a drug, only to have her swing ''back'' to killing people again. Poor girl can't catch a break. Later, she would go back to not killing, with the second turn to killing ignored.
39** ComicBook/TheJoker is a particularly poignant example; initially a murderous criminal who just ''happened'' to [[{{Idiosyncrazy}} look like a clown and sometimes use modified joke paraphenalia]] in his crimes, the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Joker went from a cold, grim and relatively rational but bad-tempered professional criminal to a harmless and super-wacky "robbing jester" during [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks the Silver Age stories]]. Finally, the Bronze Age brought the two takes of the character together for the first time in "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge", establishing the wacky-but-horrifically-evil personality that has become his defining characterization ever since. However, the pendulum swung too far in the ''other'' direction, with The Joker doing things like ''cutting off his own face'' and wearing it. ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' reconciled these different interpretations by explaining there are ''three'' Jokers.
40** ComicBook/{{Bane}} has had this a lot. He started out as a GeniusBruiser that used a drug called Venom to augment his already impressive strength, and managed to exhaust Batman enough that he easily won their first fight, and broke Batman's back. He basically became known for ''only'' breaking Batman's back and his use of venom, and became DumbMuscle subject to TheWorfEffect. Gail Simone's ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' run would revert him to GeniusBruiser and have him try to wean himself off Venom. ''However'', then the New 52 reboot hit and Bane was back to being DumbMuscle and constantly using Venom, though ''sometimes'' showed a GeniusBruiser side. Eventually, Tom King would revert him to GeniusBruiser in his ''Batman'' run, while having Bane's Venom use be a more mental thing, with it not only augmenting his considerable physical strength, but also removing his ability to feel fear, implied to be why Bane ''really'' used Venom.
41* Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan went through this after he [[FaceHeelTurn went insane]] and killed most of the other Lanterns. It was eventually revealed in ''Green Lantern: Rebirth'' that he'd been possessed by Parallax, the embodiment of fear, and he proceeded to regain his true heroic self; though at the time this seemed like an AssPull to some, both Parallax and the Sinestro Corps have gone on to become an integral part of the Green Lantern mythos. Oh, and several of the dead Lanterns turned out to be alive.
42* Writer Creator/PeterDavid, who wrote ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' for 12 years, disliked the changes made by subsequent writer Bruce Jones so much that when he came back to write the title, he had the entire previous storyline revealed to have been AllJustADream.
43* ComicBook/IronMan had been reduced to a TinTyrant Fascist who was really no better than ComicBook/DoctorDoom by ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'', despite what seemed to be attempts to portray him as [[DesignatedHero right]]. Nothing could make anyone feel any sort of sympathy towards this man who felt it necessary to trap his political opponents ''[[DisproportionateRetribution in a dimension of pure suffering]]''. Post-Civil War stories have done better at making him sympathetic without making him go back on his opinion about the SuperheroRegistrationAct, with one ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' comic showing him desperately plead with the (invisible but present) Avengers to be taken in to prevent further tragedy, and ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' has his BigBadassBattleSequence with the [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]] where he owns up to his role in causing the event in a broadcast to the entire world, and ends by saying that whatever he has done, is doing or will do was for the sake of the world.
44* At this point, there are at least three different characterizations of ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, with authors repeatedly [[ArmedWithCanon rerailing one by derailing the others]]. The original characterization was a generically evil BigBad. Creator/ChrisClaremont's tormented WellIntentionedExtremist is the most complex and long-running, considered his "true" self by most, but Creator/GrantMorrison's AxCrazy villain is closer to the character's roots. However, nobody complained about Magneto's return to the character he'd been from 1975 to 2003 immediately after by Claremont himself, with Morrison's Magneto revealed as an impostor. Morrison, however, wasn't the first to try and make him TheHeavy again, though they did make sure he had sufficient provocation for "Fatal Attractions" back in the 90s.
45* Alan Davis dismissed a later writer's run on ''ComicBook/ClanDestine'' as a dream. It was hilarious because it was just a single-line throwaway.
46* ComicBook/ThePunisher famously went through a 90s AudienceAlienatingEra where he was reimagined as a supernatural character who hunted demons at the behest of Angels from Heaven. Creator/GarthEnnis took over the character and brought him back to his gritty roots, with the Heaven stuff dismissed with a single (now iconic) HandWave line:
47-->'''Punisher''': Tried it. Didn't like it.
48* Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}} used the same tactic when he got ahold of ComicBook/TheCreeper during his ''ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}'' run. The Creeper had previously been heavily reimagined in the ComicBook/New52 as a DarkerAndEdgier Japanese {{Oni}}, much to the ire of his fans. Priest brought back the character's original appearance, and only mentioned the Oni stuff in passing with a line saying that the Creeper had been going through some changes recently, but was now feeling like his old self again.
49* ComicBook/{{Gambit}} started off as a RuleOfCool-based, MrFanservice ManipulativeBastard HandsomeLech [[DeathDealer Death Dealing]] BadassLongcoat who relished the challenge of getting his hands on the ForbiddenFruit Rogue, though stymied by his self-centered JerkAss qualities and the large number of people he pissed off in his thief career. Then, Rogue left him to die in Antarctica. After this, the result was a lot of {{Angst}} on Gambit's part, whose characterization was changed from the previously-described version to a [[{{Angst}} Self-loathing]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] desperate to punish himself for his (morally blameless) role in the Mutant Massacre. More recent adaptations, however, have reached back to the character's roots: ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' showed Gambit as competent, charming, handsome and relatively low-angst [[TheGambler card-shark]] who won a CoolPlane in a poker game, and ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' had Gambit as a mercenary, ruthless, charming, manipulative thief for hire (albeit in only two episodes). Whether or not this trend will continue is currently unknown, though his recent solo series, which compromises him by having him return to his thieving roots and ultimately becoming King of Thieves, while remaining a loose faculty member at the Jean Grey School (Wolverine explains that they don't actually expect him to turn up much... but they trust him to be there when it counts, when he's really needed), before joining X-Factor, but still remaining King of Thieves.
50* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
51** The entire purpose of ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' was to get Spider-Man single again and make him "young and fresh" again. In order to do this, he was made to [[CharacterDerailment make a deal with Mephisto to save his aunt from dying, at the cost of his wife and unborn child]], then was reset to being single, "young and fresh", and... living with his elderly aunt again. Safe to say, this [[ThisLoserIsYou didn't work out so well]], but later writers have done their best to salvage it. ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan2018'' is a better attempt at this as it restores some of the development and ethos the books had lost since OMD.
52** In ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan2013'' #20, following an encounter with the Superior Spider-Man that resulted in her going to jail, the Black Cat decided [[BigBadWannabe to reinvent herself as an up-and-coming mob boss in the New York crime scene]]. This change was controversial, to say the least, and following her roles in ''Venom Inc.'' and Brian Michael Bendis's ''Defenders'', Felicia pulled a HeelFaceTurn. Nick Spencer's run on ''[[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan2018 The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' also restored her knowledge of Spider-Man's identity, the loss of which some fans had felt regressed Felicia greatly; Spencer seems to agree with them, as he explicitly states in-story that the loss was messing with her head.
53* Shatterstar's an odd case in that the "rerailment" wasn't to his original characterization. ''ComicBook/XForce'' had him slowly lose his rage, but handled it believably, and didn't give him BadassDecay. Rob Liefeld's work on the series snapped him back to his old self, but didn't do much with the possibilities involved. ''ComicBook/XFactor'' toned him down again, and has had more of a positive reception.
54* Speedball's infamous transition from wacky comic relief to self-hating [[TheAtoner atoner]] in ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'' has been undone, redone, and partially undone again as different writers debate over the character. As of ''Heroic Age'', he's still haunted by his memories, but he's slowly recovering.
55* In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersAllHailMegatron'', Prowl, the normally level-headed second in command, reveals a darker side, and shows him as a schemer doing what may be unethical but necessary to win the war (here having the mind of a respected soldier altered to serve his purposes). In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'' his personality does a 180 and he becomes a self-sacrificial maverick, tries to save a Decepticon, and acts like the kind of rule-breaker he previously hated, this carries over to Infestation, but not to the concurrent ''ComicBook/TheTransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers'' wherein he manipulated many events behind the story. ''ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise'' has Prowl revert to his scheming, being more irrational and hot-headed, but still bending the rules for what he feels is the greater good. He remarks that his actions in the previous series were irrational and brought on by too much trust. He's caught in an ArmedWithCanon tug-of-war and prone to repeatedly deciding that he was wrong during the previous writer's take on him and should have stayed like the writer before that had him.
56* ''ComicBook/XMen'': An issue of Chris Claremont's ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'' had the villain Arcade light a match on ComicBook/DoctorDoom's armour, with Doom just allowing it. Many felt this was CharacterDerailment, and as it turns out, so did John Byrne. During his run on the title, he retconned that the Doom who worked with Arcade was ActuallyADoombot, and when the real Doom questions it on how he killed Arcade for such an act, the Doombot says it did not, for it felt Doom may need Arcade. [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8100/8559598933_ed6cfbbdb0_b.jpg Doom then casually destroys the Doombot]], exclaiming, "Doom needs ''no one''." This actually became one of Doom's most memorable moments as a character.
57* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} was originally a short-tempered but optimistic, sweet girl. When she was reintroduced in 2004, editors thought the best way to bring the character up to date was characterizing her as a permanently angry, immature, edgy jerkass. Fans hated it and mass-dropped the book. The next creative team hurried to revert her to her kind-hearted self, and writer Sterling Gates dismissed her initial weird characterization as temporary Kryptonite-induced craziness. No one complained.
58* ComicBook/{{Carnage}} became increasingly megalomaniacal in the 2011 ''Carnage USA'' and 2014 ''Minimum Carnage'' story arcs, taking over the town of Doverton, Colorado in the former and seeking to conquer the Microverse in the latter. In ''Superior Carnage Annual'', however, Cletus remarks that he doesn't know what came over him and decides to go back to his roots as a chaos-obsessed mass-murderer.
59--> '''Cletus:''' Dreaming of [[TakeOverTheCity taking over cities]]... [[DimensionLord conquering tiny universes]]. Thought I was thinking big! But those kinds of ambitions... they're ''lies''. Now the cataracts have been peeled from my eyes! I can see clearly! Back to the basics! Simple... beautiful... ''random'' ...Carnage!
60* ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': ''Ultimates 3'' changed Hawkeye's suit and turned him into a DeathSeeker. He was reverted to the original design and characterization in ''Ultimate Hawkeye'', just in time for his debut in the MCU.
61* ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}'' introduced Inertia, Impulse's evil clone from the future. Despite being a villain, he was portrayed as a tragic character who [[IJustWantToBeLoved just wanted to be loved]]. However, later appearances portrayed Inertia as an AxCrazy [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who [[HeroKiller murders Impulse]] and several others before eventually being killed off. But when he returned from the dead in ''ComicBook/TheFlashRebirth'' #760, Inertia was again portrayed as a sympathetic character, with Barry Allen describing him as a "kid in pain".
62[[/folder]]
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64[[folder:Fanfiction]]
65* Fanfic [[{{MST}} Sporkings]] sometimes have the characters derailed in the fic comment on what the character would have actually done in whatever situation the fic describes.
66* By the end of ''Fanfic/NewTamaran'', all the main characters have become much closer to their original comic counterparts.
67* ''Fanfic/DeathBattleArena:''
68** Aang undergoes this in the form of his Fatalities. [[NonIndicativeName Despite the name]], neither of the ways Aang defeats his opponent is actually lethal: one of them consists of him [[DePower Energybending]] the opponent into submission, whereas the other one consists of him sending his opponent to the Spirit Realm like he did to Admiral Zhao (which technically is a FateWorseThanDeath, but the thought's what counts). Basically, [=DimensionDino=] is keeping Aang true to his nature as a MartialPacifist who will fight but [[ThouShaltNotKill refuses to kill]], which is pretty awesome when you take into account that he doesn't do the same for two other no-kill heroes, Batman and Spider-Man.
69** Queen Sindel also undergoes this in her ending. After defeating the mastermind behind Death Battle, Sindel is freed of Shao Kahn's brainwashing, and regains her memories of TheHighQueen and caring mother she used to be. She then leaves the world of Death Battle to reunite and reconcile with Kitana. [=DimensionDino=] has basically undone the fan-disliked {{retcon}} of Sindel in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' from being BrainwashedAndCrazy to being EvilAllAlong.
70* ''Fanfic/KingdomHeartsTheAntipode:'' After ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' {{retcon}}ned [[TheSoulless Xemnas]] from an AntiVillain to a more [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist straightforward]] [[EvilAllAlong baddie]], this fic builds upon his characterization in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII [[UpdatedRerelease Final Mix]]'' (notably [[spoiler:his connection to [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Terra]]]]), thereby restoring his status as a TragicVillain.
71* Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsAFairlyOddFriendship: The fic undoes the Flanderization that many Fairly Odd Parents characters suffered.
72** Timmy goes from being a total brat to a kid who makes mistakes but still loves and cares for his family and friends.
73** Cosmo goes from being a complete moron to his earlier depiction as a wacky but still loving and introspective godparent. [[spoiler: He has enough emotional intelligence to realize that Sunset isn't the evil villain Adagio made her out to be]].
74** Cosmo and Wanda's marriage is more loving again after season 5 played up their crumbling marriage for jokes.
75** Jorgen is back to being a powerful authority figure who enforces the rules and loves sadism.
76** Mr. Crocker is an actual threat again as opposed to the incompetent comic relief he became in season 7-10.
77** Vicky is closer to her earlier characterization of being a mean bully rather than an outright psychopath.
78** Trixie Tang returns to her characterization as a LovableAlphaBitch who shows a love for geek culture.
79** Mr. and Mrs. Turner goes from being outrageously mean-spirited parents to [[AwwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther being somewhat neglectful but still loving parental figures]].
80[[/folder]]
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82[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
83* With Stephen Hillenburg back at the helm of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'', the characters in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' franchise are closer in characterization to the first three seasons than when he stepped down.
84** After suffering from [[TookALevelInJerkass being an uncaring, money-worshipping sociopath]] for several seasons on the show, Mr. Krabs seems to be more like the JerkWithAHeartOfGold that he was in the first seasons, with the money-loving aspect toned down to what it was before {{Flanderization}} set in. He's still kind of a jerk, though nowhere near as bad as he is in his worst episodes.
85** [=SpongeBob=] himself especially seems to have been hit with this. Still a very naive and hopelessly optimistic {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, but here he is ''much'' less obnoxious than his Flanderized season 5+ self who took all his cheerful traits too far, and appears to be less of an IdiotHero showing a lot of craft and wits as he did in the earlier seasons. Not to mention that [[VocalEvolution his voice is lower - like in the old episodes]].
86** Similar to Mr. Krabs, it appears Patrick is now be back to his [[TheDitz old goofy self]], as opposed to the [[TookALevelInDumbass brain-dead]] [[TookALevelInJerkass sociopath]] he was from seasons 5-8. [[TookALevelinJerkass He's still part of the angry mob after Spongebob]], but he gets better.
87** After three seasons of being comically inept as a villain to the point he needed his computer wife to ''tell him to blink'', Plankton is back in this movie as a serious threat who actually comes really close to stealing the formula.
88** Squidward's ButtMonkey status is heavily minimized, and he even gets [[ThrowTheDogABone thrown a bone]].
89* Unlike with ''WesternAnimation/JetsonsTheMovie'', which made Mr. Spacely a CorruptCorporateExecutive, in ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsonsAndWWERoboWrestlemania'', he's back to being a MeanBoss who's a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. He's still pretty loud and abrasive, but does come to acknowledge that George can be a decent employee.
90* Despite being heavily panned by critics and fans alike, ''WesternAnimation/TheIceAgeAdventuresOfBuckWild'' has gotten some minor points of praise for reverting some of the characters closer to their original personalities, after the {{Flanderization}} they suffered in ''[[WesternAnimation/IceAgeContinentalDrift Continental Drift]]'' and especially ''[[WesternAnimation/IceAgeCollisionCourse Collision Course]]''.
91** With Peaches absent, Manny has shed his overprotective traits and is more like the JerkWithAHeartOfGold he was in the first two films.
92** Sid's [[TookALevelInDumbass airheaded cluelessness]] from the past two films is also notably toned down, bringing him closer to the KindheartedSimpleton he was introduced as.
93** Similarily, Buck has also gone back to his [[HandicappedBadass eccentric yet badass]] personality after spending ''Collision Course'' being nothing more than a practically insane exposition-spewer who also happened to be DemotedToComicRelief.
94[[/folder]]
95
96[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
97* Before ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSherlockHolmes'' (see below), the Literature/SherlockHolmes meets UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper film ''Film/MurderByDecree'' made a good-faith effort to rescue Watson from his post-Nigel Bruce image as a dundering blockhead. James Mason's Watson is an occasional DeadpanSnarker who makes one of the biggest contributions to solving the case, when he isn't taking out a much younger man in a fistfight.
98* ''Film/CurseOfChucky'' brought the titular KillerDoll back to his original characterization from [[Film/ChildsPlay1988 the original film]] as a foul-mouthed thug trapped in the body of a children's doll, and out of his {{Flanderiz|ation}}ed, more comical StupidEvil traits from the sequels.
99* In ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014'', Vernon's portrayal which sees him as friends with April who helps her and Raph rescue the others has him closer to how he originally was portrayed in the first season of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 the '87 cartoon]] before he TookALevelInJerkass and became April's cowardly rival.
100* After some criticism about how HotBlooded and impulsive the [[Film/StarTrek2009 previous]] [[Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness two]] films made him out to be, ''Film/StarTrekBeyond'' was well-received by fans of the original series by depicting James T. Kirk much closer to the Shatner version - brave, loyal, and assertive, for sure, but also distinctly level-headed and a born leader who's a better strategist than he is an action hero.
101* It's argued that ''Film/TheDarkKnight'''s Joker is a rerailment of the character as he appeared [[UnbuiltTrope way back in the Golden Age]]: he doesn't bother with giant jack-in-the-boxes or acid-squirting corsages, used public announcements to terrify Gotham, and despite ''having'' an evil laugh, he was far from a giggling loon (in fact, his expression was usually pretty dead).
102* Similarly, one of ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'''s ''many'' unforgivable sins was [[AdaptationalDumbass turning Bane]] into the very most boring and cartoonish type of DumbMuscle. ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' fixed that and then some by reintroducing Bane as the intimidating GeniusBruiser terrorist leader he was meant to be, who's both strong enough to [[CurbStompBattle break the Bat]] and smart enough to successfully ''separate Gotham City from the mainland.'' And he had a much better costume to boot.
103* ''Film/RogueOne'' and ''Film/TheLastJedi'' take two of the original trilogy's most beloved characters back to their roots in magnificent fashion: In ''Rogue One'', [[spoiler:Darth Vader is shown as an unstoppable, terrifying, borderline-horror film-level '''[[TheDreaded MONSTER]]''' who wades through rebels like he's carving a cake]], and ''The Last Jedi'' undoes many years of {{Flanderization}} by returning [[spoiler:Yoda to the goofy, expressive, optimistic TricksterMentor he was in the first films, and keeps his famous speech pattern to an appropriate minimum. Plus, he's also portrayed by an actual ''puppet'' rather than CGI.]]
104** After his contentious portrayal in the previous film, ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' brings [[spoiler:Luke Skywalker, now [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence a Force Ghost]], closer to his roots as the noble IdealHero that we've always known him as, OlderAndWiser but with the same [[DeadpanSnarker witty and sarcastic]] sense of humor that he showed off in ''The Last Jedi''. Symbolically, his first scene in ''The Last Jedi'' saw him throw Anakin's lightsaber over a cliff on Ahch-To. The first thing he does in ''The Rise of Skywalker'' is [[BrickJoke catching it]] when an aggrieved Rey briefly throws it away on that same island]].
105* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
106** ''Film/{{Justice League|2017}}'': After being a ClassicalAntiHero with emotional hang-ups in the [[Film/ManOfSteel first]] [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice two]] movies, Superman is portrayed with his [[TheCape more traditional characterization]].
107** After the above theatrical cut turned Batman into a laughingstock with truly embarrassing lines who acted like a highschool girl with a childish crush smiling awkwardly upon Superman's return, ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' rerails Batman into a badass and dignified leader who proves himself capable on the field once more while retaining his newfound idealism from the concluding hour or so of ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''. Also from ''Zack Snyder's Justice League'', Barry Allen's awkward obsessions with "brunch" and ''Pet Sematary'' that needlessly amplified the [[DiagnosedByTheAudience perception of neurodivergence]] in the 2017 film are excised and he's not afraid to go fighting anymore. Superman meanwhile is much less of a SmugSuper upon his return here with no quipping in his fight against Steppenwolf bar [[NoSell "Not. Impressed."]], which is more in line with his HumbleHero portrayal in the previous two films without sacrificing his full transition into TheCape.
108* After the mockery that appeared in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'', ''Film/Deadpool2'' introduces a version of the Juggernaut who, while still somewhat weaker than in the comics canon, has the same appearance and (it seems) background.
109* King Ghidorah from the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' franchise had this happen twice to him on different movie series:
110** First in ''Film/RebirthOfMothra3'' he was once again a lone villain acting under his own will, as opposed to the Showa and Heisei Ghidorahs being made into the attack dogs of the humanoid villains of the film. He also gets back his status as a nigh-unstoppable juggernaut and being TheDreaded to the point that Belvera, the ''Rebirth of Mothra'' film series' central antagonist, doesn't even thinks about trying to control him despite trying to put the civilization-destroying Desghidorah and Dagahra under her control; it also restores his sadism which had been slowly written out in films after ''Film/GhidorahTheThreeHeadedMonster''.
111** In ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' returns the three-headed titan to his original role as a spacefaring planet-destroyer with his own agenda to wipe out all life on earth, a role he hadn't taken in the main ''Godzilla'' film series since his first appearance in the Showa films' ''Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster'' (he regained this characterization in spin-offs such as the ''Rebirth of Mothra'' film trilogy). Later films after his debut had always tended to portray him as a mind-controlled pawn or dependent on another antagonist to operate, either by [[Film/DestroyAllMonsters alien conquerors]], by [[Film/GodzillaVsKingGhidorah humans from the future]], or by [[Anime/GodzillaThePlanetEater religious space cultists]], depending on various timelines.
112* The titular heroine of ''{{Literature/Pollyanna}}'' is often Flanderized into a messiah determined to liven people's up through her Glad Game - spawning a [[ThePollyanna trope]] about such a character ignorantly denying the negatives in favor of vainly focusing on the positives. Eleanor Porter, author of the book, expressed dissatisfaction with people viewing the character this way - stating that Pollyanna never denied the negatives of the world but merely "greeted the unknown with a cheer". The [[Film/Pollyanna1960 1960 Disney film adaptation]] brings Pollyanna back in line with this interpretation; here her sunny attitude is entirely for herself, there's a scene where it's implied the Glad Game is a coping mechanism for the losses she's suffered and her defrosting of the town becomes more incidental. Director David Swift wanted to emphasise the girl's shyness, so the positive advice has to be coaxed out of her and her friendships are earned in quick succession.
113* ''Film/InspectorGadget2'' did this with Dr. Claw. In the [[Film/InspectorGadget1999 first film]], Claw, [[NamedByTheAdaptation real name Sanford Scolex]], was a CampStraight LargeHam whose face was fully visible at all times and had a metal pincer for a hand, as opposed to the gravelly-voiced, spiked-gauntlet-wearing menace [[TheFaceless whose face was never shown]] in the [[WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget original cartoon]]. In the second film, Claw, while retaining his pincer hand, spoke with a gravelly voice, kept his face hidden via a [[EyeObscuringHat wide-brimmed hat]], and was only ever called by his villainous moniker, making him [[TruerToTheText closer to his original depiction]].
114* After later ''[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' films made Freddy Krueger into a LargeHam jokester with a penchant for [[PreMortemOneLiner Pre-Mortem One-Liners]], ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' and ''Film/FreddyVsJason'' brought Freddy back to his depiction in [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 the original film]], the cold-blooded ghost of a SerialKiller whose jokes were few in number and mainly to taunt his victims. [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet2010 The remake]] went even further and used the original idea they had for Freddy, which was to have him be not just a child murderer but specifically a pedophile who raped them.
115* After most modern ''Sonic'' media portrayed Knuckles more and more as an [[DumbMuscle unintelligent musclehead]], reaching its nadir in ''VideoGame/SonicBoom'' where he's downright ''illiterate'', ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022'' brought Knuckles back to his roots as a no-nonsense ProudWarriorRaceGuy who's more naïve and trusting rather than plain stupid.
116[[/folder]]
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118[[folder:Live Action TV]]
119* ''Series/AvatarTheLastAirbender2024'': One of the ''many'' things [[Film/TheLastAirbender the 2010 film]] was criticized for was its lack of ([[{{Narm}} intentional]]) humor, with Sokka being [[AdaptationPersonalityChange portrayed as a Straight Man who was occasionally subjected to slapstick]], and Aang not showing moments of childlike energy, among other examples. In the second trailer, we get some moments of Sokka's signature snark, along with a moment where Aang accidentally runs into a pillar on an Air Scooter (much like from the original show's opening).
120* ''Series/Charmed1998'' had an unfortunate case of Phoebe [[TookALevelInJerkass taking a level in Jerkass]], becoming more selfish, abusing her powers more often and [[ReallyGetsAround dating a neverending series of men in vain hopes of finding 'the one']]. Season 8 sees her becoming much kinder, doing many selfless things and deconstructing her SerialRomeo habits by showing how hurt she's been by the endless string of failed relationships. Basically back to how she was in the earlier seasons - just with more CharacterDevelopment. By the end of the series, she prioritizes her Charmed One duties over finding love (which while it does happen, becomes more incidental).
121* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
122** The Doctor himself:
123*** The Third Doctor era had done a drastic ReTool into a SpyFiction-influenced series, with the Third Doctor being a radical departure from the first two Doctors in that his TARDIS was broken and, stranded on Earth, he'd taken a job with the military. While this era is well-liked, some regard the characterisation as ''Doctor Who'' InNameOnly, between the Doctor tending to throw his social class around a lot more and the fact that the setup seemed to play down the appealing points of the character. When he regenerated into the Fourth Doctor he reverted to a clownish characterisation quite similar to the Second Doctor (although this developed in a more [[CreepyGood nuanced]] and [[HiddenDepths rounded]] direction after his first serial) and cut most of his ties to Earth and UNIT, in favour of the wild space travel and battles with monsters upon which the first two had focused.
124*** The Seventh Doctor era attempted -- at first -- to make the Doctor a lot LighterAndSofter, making him a foolish CloudCuckooLander who didn't seem to have a clue what was going on and would break into vaudeville spoon-playing and clowning. In addition to this being a very shallow interpretation of the Doctor's characterisation, it caused severe whiplash coming as it did after an era with a particularly {{Jerkass}} Doctor who had featured in some very dark and violent stories. However, once the ExecutiveMeddling eased up, the script editor and Creator/SylvesterMcCoy teamed up to gradually rerail the Doctor back into being a mysterious, powerful and frightening figure, who just also happened to be a loveable figure of fun into the bargain as well, as he had always been before that and will likely always be after.
125** The Cybermen were originally an emotionless and monotone species of cyborgs. From ''[[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E6Earthshock Earthshock]]'' onwards they turned into generic gun-carrying evildoers. This was finally fixed in the ''New Series'' and ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio stories.
126** The Master was originally envisioned as a cunning arch-enemy of the Doctor, acting as the Moriarty to the Doctor's Sherlock Holmes. However, after his more ruthless portrayal in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin "The Deadly Assassin"]] influenced complaints from MoralGuardians that led to a LighterAndSofter {{retool}}, his appearances in the '80s ramped up his campier elements, resulting in him becoming increasingly ineffectual. For the Classic Series' final story, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS26E4Survival "Survival"]], Creator/AnthonyAinley was finally allowed to give him the cold, subdued portrayal he'd wanted since getting the role in 1981, bringing the Master back into a darker position that his appearances in the Revival Series would continue.
127** Since the late '70s, the Daleks' characterization as ScaryDogmaticAliens became increasingly downplayed as Davros took a bigger and bigger role as their figurehead. Even [[Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks "Remembrance of the Daleks"]], widely considered a return to form for the show after three poorly-received seasons, depicted the title creatures as {{mooks}} for Davros caught in a civil war. The Revival Series story [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E6Dalek "Dalek"]] thus took every criticism about the Daleks that'd developed over the years and turned them on their heads, amending their weaknesses and ramping up their uncompromising xenophobia. The results gave it a reputation as the story that made the Daleks scary again.
128* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSherlockHolmes'' (and its successors) went to great pains to avoid the image of [[TheWatson Watson]] as a fat, blundering old moron who couldn't see that the sun had risen until Holmes point it out to him, and turned him back into the young, fit, and incredibly accomplished surgeon with military background who, while still nowhere near as bright as Holmes, was still very intelligent in his own right.
129** On a related note, ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' accomplished this on more than one level. Not only is it one of the few screen adaptations to refrain from severely downplaying the title character's [[NoSocialSkills limited people skills]], but the SettingUpdate allowed the producers to carry out a ''Genre'' Rerailment from UnintentionalPeriodPiece to crime fiction.
130* Television did this for both ''Franchise/PerryMason'' and ''Series/ElleryQueen''. In different series of movies in the 30s and 40s, Mason was depicted as a hard-living playboy with lavish offices and expensive tastes, while Queen was a comic bungler who was TooDumbToLive. It took Raymond Burr (Mason) and Jim Hutton (Queen) to bring those characters back to the authors' original characterizations (which were far more serious and sensible).
131* After a bout of serious {{Flanderization}} and CharacterDerailment in the previous seasons, the characters in ''Series/{{Community}}'' are returned to their original personalities in the fifth season, particularly Chang and Dean Pelton, who had become obnoxious cartoon characters by the fourth season.
132* The last season of ''Series/TrueBlood'' rerailed Bill Compton. In the first two seasons he was brooding guy with a few secrets [[spoiler: like being a spy]] but was trying to make up for his vampire nature by being nice and helpful to people and only drinking synthetic blood. Then in season three through six he became increasingly manipulative and callous and eventually megalomaniac. In the last season Bill saw the error of his ways and started trying to get rid other evil vampires and started being nice to the main cast again, especially main character Sookie who he finally started conversing with regularly again.
133* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Jaime's current storyline in the books ends with him being fed up with Cersei's madness and abandoning her, as snow begins to fall in his area, indicating that winter has finally come. Season 6 finale teased it with a DeathGlare he gave Cersei in the end after she blew up the Sept of Baelor with wildfire, but then he spent all Season 7 firmly at her side. Then in the Season 7 finale, he finally does the same decision as in the books, just as the snow begins to fall. [[spoiler:Then, he got CharacterDerailment again once the White Walker threat is over in Season 8 by going back to Cersei. This is especially bizarre as the only 'interaction' they had that season was when Jaime met an assassin Cersei had sent to kill him, which isn't even mentioned when they meet]].
134* ''Series/PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'':
135** Minako in the 90s anime, she was introduced as a badass Sailor Guardian and the most powerful of them - before slowly undergoing {{Chickification}} until she'd become a ditz who was less competent than Usagi. The live action series restores her to the veteran Sailor Guardian persona, and gives her flaws that don't undermine her competency as a warrior (while still maintaining some of her playful side from the manga and anime).
136** Rei underwent a complete personality change in the anime to become hot tempered and boy crazy, as well as a needless rival to Usagi. The live action again brings back the SugarAndIcePersonality, giving her good reasons to clash with Usagi and also enough CharacterDevelopment to still be likable.
137** Naru was a divisive character over her treatment in the 90s anime - particularly the English dub that gave her a Brooklyn accent that many found annoying. The live action puts more emphasis on how supportive a friend she is to Usagi, and she became an EnsembleDarkhorse as a result.
138* The first few episodes of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' set Bolander up as a gruff, quirky mentor to his partner Munch and a veteran detective respected by the whole unit. However, for the rest of both the first and second seasons, Bolander's love life and insecurities were focused on in favor of his status as a mentor figure. As a consequence, he rapidly turned into a mopey and insecure sadsack, which likely wouldn't have been much of a problem had the writers not tried to turn Bolander (played by the overweight, elderly Creator/NedBeatty) into a KavorkaMan and had his personal life [[ArcFatigue not become a major storyline, which was often out of place in a gritty crime show]]. This quickly made him rather annoying; in the third season, he was rapidly reverted back to his previous characterization, and once again his experience and competence at the job became the primary focus of his character.
139* ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'': For the most part, Debra is a lot less cranky and irritable in season 8 than she was in seasons 6 and 7.
140[[/folder]]
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142[[folder:Multiple Media]]
143* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'':
144** Onua's personality was very inconsistent despite him being a StaticCharacter. Originally in the comics, novels and online content, he was an inquisitive GeniusBruiser who only spoke if it was really necessary, took time to examine every situation before acting and always came to others' rescue. The movie ''Mask of Light'' (and the non-canon tie-in game) portrayed him more as a tough but jolly muscle guy who rushes into battle without a thought, nearly kills his team and has to be saved. Later books and comics would return to his original persona of a reliable and intelligent thinker.
145** Lewa was originally an aloof and immature jerk who only tolerated others if he could outdo or insult them. He also hated teamwork. ''Mask of Light'' portrayed him, in the creators' words, as a cross between a hippie and a Native American, an emotional nature-lover who strongly advocated for unity and spoke heartfelt words of wisdom. As in the case of Onua, later comics and novels stuck closer to his established character as an immature DeadpanSnarker, though he [[CharacterDevelopment was more open to teamwork]].
146* Onua's [[Toys/Bionicle2015 Generation 2]] counterpart was also meant to be wise and smart, to which the 2015 online webisodes didn't quite do justice, mostly due to how dumb the voice work made him sound. He got re-railed in ''The Journey to One'' animated mini-series: a soft-spoken and mature heavyweight, equally capable physically and mentally.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
150* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering,'' the flavor text on counterspells is usually a snarky and condescending quote from a blue mage. When Jace Beleren became the most prominent blue-aligned character, he took on this role, but in the actual story, he never quite behaved that way. In more recent sets, this tendency has been dialed back significantly so that the cards match the original intent of the story.
151* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' this seems to be happening slightly to [[BloodKnight Khorne]]. In recent fluff, he has been going back to his older self, his hounds are stated to be sent to hunt down any of his Champions who kill an innocent (or at least offer them to [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Khorne]]). Not much, but hey. Progress.
152** Those hounds also sent to hunt down those who run away from battle and abandon their fellow warriors.
153** What makes it an odd example is the ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' version of him (it's intentionally vague if they're the actual same character or just identical) never lost those traits.
154[[/folder]]
155
156[[folder:Video Games]]
157* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', Cranky Kong is cranky again. (Yeah, how THAT CharacterDerailment ever managed to happen in the first place we'll never know...)
158* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
159** [[WordOfGod According to Yuji Naka]], this was the reason behind Sonic's redesign in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. He was originally intended to be a bit of a "bad boy", with early Japanese media portraying him with a somewhat aloof yet assertive personality. In spite of this, [[DubPersonalityChange western]] [[AdaptationPersonalityChange media]] tended to make him [[LargeHam more hammy and sassy]]. Adding to that, despite being the TropeCodifier of MascotWithAttitude, once he blew up in popularity, his image gradually morphed into something more cutesy, particularly in Japanese merchandising. To counter this, ''Sonic Adventure'' introduced a new take on the cast, with artist Yuji Uekawa updating them to a taller and more angular design. Sonic's new design was the most drastic, putting a much stronger emphasis on that "bad boy" image.
160*** Around the time of the series' AudienceAlienatingEra in the mid-2000s, a lot of Sonic's attitude was downplayed in favor of presenting him as more of a generic nice guy, mainly in localizations.[[note]]Whereas Junichi Kanemaru consistently played Sonic in an energetic way denoting of attitude, Jason Griffith would voice him in a much more deadpan or passive manner. Add to that the fact nuances like Sonic's original speech patterns and propensity for GratuitousEnglish were LostInTranslation.[[/note]] ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' tried to counter this by making him into a sassier and [[LargeHam hammier]] MotorMouth, but fans increasingly began to complain that it felt like Sonic was ''[[{{Flanderization}} too]]'' [[{{Flanderization}} sassy and arrogant]] now, making him more annoying than entertaining or likable. In addition, despite being a bit laidback and impulsive, he was originally a pretty sharp guy and knew when it was time for caution, even acting as a CloudcuckoolandersMinder [[VideoGame/SonicRushAdventure to Marine]]. ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' made him into the LeeroyJenkins to the point his [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness impulsiveness]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero almost results]] in Tails' roboticization and ''the destruction of the world''. Interestingly, the original Japanese script of ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' attempted to rerail him by toning down his hamminess... only for [[DubPersonalityChange the English dub to amp it back up]], resulting in his sass jarring horribly with the story's darker direction (including the dub-added "tortured for six months" thing).
161*** Oddly, it would be ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' that would first rein him in a bit; the ''World of Light'' trailer has him slow down and [[TakeMyhand stretch out his hand]] in an effort to save Pikachu, though both are eventually killed doing so.
162** Earlier in the series, Knuckles was a devoted guardian who nevertheless [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles would get smug and laugh at being able to outwit Sonic]], and was a bit gullible due to [[TheHermit his lack of interaction with people]]. ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' did away with his smugness, instead focusing on and exploring his devotion and seriousness. ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' attempted to bring back his smug side by making him into a [[TheLancer Lancer]] who is smug at getting one over Sonic, but it marked the point in which his HotBlooded nature and naivety started to get [[{{Flanderization}} exaggerated]] in a case of TookALevelInDumbass and BadassDecay, with later games following suit and culminating in his ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' self becoming a full-on DumbMuscle. Ironically, his original character profiles described him as being clever despite his gullibility. His role as the guardian of Angel Island also started to get frequently overlooked in favor of being another generic associate of Sonic. And then he returned to his ''Adventure'' persona again in ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'', even explicitly saying that he's concerned about what happens to his island when he's away. Similarly, ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' restored his more serious demeanor and a bit of his intellect, having him make the plans for [[LaResistance the Resistance]], albeit very straightforward ones. ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' takes this even further, giving Knuckles' more stoic nature, his [[VitriolicBestBuds spirited]] relationship with Sonic, his knowledge of Angel Island and its history, and his role as Guardian of the Master Emerald much more focus.
163** Amy Rose. Originally an [[GenkiGirl energetic and cheerful girl]] with a who had a crush on Sonic and chased after him. She got a PlotRelevantAgeUp from eight to twelve come ''Sonic Adventure'', in which she became an AllLovingHero and got more persistent about her attraction to Sonic without being entirely unreasonable, while also being a more active force for the good guys via helping in Gamma and Shadow's redemption arcs. Cue ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', where being a StalkerWithACrush had completely taken over her character in regards to her relationship with Sonic (though she still retained some agency in being Team Rose's leader). She derailed even further in ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'', becoming a SpoiledBrat, albeit one [[JerkassHasAPoint that had some good points about Sonic's actions at times]]. She was eventually rerailed in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', back to somewhere between ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'' and ''Sonic Adventure'' levels of crushing, though she'd have much less of a storyline role in the games onward. As of ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' and ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', her crush on Sonic is more nuanced and tolerable along the lines of ''CD'' and ''[=SA1=]-2'', with her enthusiasm towards him still being prevalent, but not to the degree that it would hinder her more caring or strong-willed traits.
164** [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] was originally introduced as an [[EvilIsHammy over-the-top]] yet [[BewareTheSillyOnes relentless and conniving villain]], with his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulations]] of events in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' and ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' being the best examples of such. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Later]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 games]] tried to make Eggman a more serious villain and downplay his comedic attributes as the games' plot became darker, only for the [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes next game]] to backpedal and revert him back to his comedy relief self, while at the same time eventually [[VillainDecay reducing him]] to the role of DiscOneFinalBoss in favor of newer threats usurping him. Starting from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' onward, however, his hamminess and comedic traits started to [[{{Flanderization}} get more focus]], likely to coincide with the now DenserAndWackier stories. On the other hand, he was able to keep the role of main villain in later games, and his comical traits were gradually de-emphasized through ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' and the DarkerAndEdgier ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', where his [[CrazyPrepared more conniving traits]] from the ''Adventure'' games were given increased focus instead. It remains to be seen whether or not it will stick this time.
165** For most of his history, Sonic's KidSidekick Tails was a HumbleHero and a former bullied ShrinkingViolet that began to break out of his shell after meeting Sonic and receiving his encouragement. As a result he started [[BigBrotherWorship looking up to Sonic]] and striving to become [[IJustWantToBeBadass as cool and capable as him]]. Come ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and his personality and relationship with Sonic are significantly altered. Suddenly he started acting more sardonic, even snarking and making jabs at his very hero. Sonic was given his fair share of snark as well, basically calling Tails useless at one point even though he had aided him [[GadgeteerGenius with his inventions in said game]] -- a far cry from the supportive CoolBigBro he (Sonic) used to be. ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' continued the derailment, making Tails more petty and jealous to the point of holding a grudge against Sonic and accusing him of not believing in him for daring to [[EnemyMine accept Eggman's help]] when a new foe was threatening the fate of their world with a machine stolen from him (Eggman). Years later the official Sonic social media started releasing a series of videos with Tails as a VirtualYouTuber, and one of the things the first episode did was rerail his character and re-establish his old relationship with Sonic. In ''Frontiers'', Tails even [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall acknowledges]] that he is "widely inconsistent" when it comes to his previous traits throughout the past games and has decided to find his own path that doesn't involve him relying on Sonic all of the time bringing back this trait of him that hasn't been seen since the ''Adventure'' games.
166* Axel from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' underwent massive characterization changes and BadassDecay in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'', set between the two games, attempts to explain how this happened; he had been friends and co-conspirators with Saïx (which is also shown via their [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep prior friendship as Lea and Isa]]), but gradually ended up bonding with Roxas and Xion instead, and using manipulative and underhanded means for what [[PsychoSupporter he at least claims is their own good]], leading Roxas to leave the Organization [[spoiler:and Xion to die fighting Roxas and be erased from everyone's memory]].
167* In ''[[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime The Sands of Time]]'', the Franchise/PrinceOfPersia was a snarky, slightly naive teenager ([[VagueAge possibly]]) fresh from his first battle. In the RatedMForMoney ''[[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin Warrior Within]]'', he became dark, brooding, and occasionally yelled obscenities at his enemies. ''[[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones The Two Thrones]]'' backpedaled to the characterization from ''Sands'', but [[AuthorsSavingThrow justified]] his attitude in ''Warrior Within'' as the Prince's darker side -- who manifests in ''The Two Thrones'' as the Prince's SuperpoweredEvilSide.
168* In ''VideoGame/BackyardSports: Sandlot Sluggers'', every character from the original games (except Pablo) went back to their original characterization (though not their look), winning huge applause in the process.
169* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
170** The original ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' had portrayed Terra as a fearful, {{Wangst}}-ridden DamselScrappy who gets [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty tormented in a vaguely sexualised manner]] by the villains and saved a lot by various boys, a radical and [[{{Chickification}} borderline offensive]] departure from her original personality. This came under much criticism from fans in both the West and Japan. The expanded rerelease, ''Dissidia 012'', fixed as much as it could by rewriting her non-voiced dialogue to be braver and more optimistic, willing to do her best to fight but unhappy with the need to fight in the first place, but she's still wimpy in the cutscenes. The developers of ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy2015 Dissidia (2015)]]'' stated that they redid Terra's voice and moves for their version because they wanted her to be "optimistic" this time.
171** After his first trip down the angst mines for ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts|I}}'' in 2002 where he was given dialogue [[TheOtherMarty written for Vincent]], Cloud is gradually being readjusted to be closer to his original game personality in newer material. His bio in ''VideoGame/{{Theatrhythm|FinalFantasy}}'' describes him as an arrogant showoff, the trait that was originally the core of his character but had been [[DeadUnicornTrope since forgotten]]. ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy2015'' had the developers hyping up that Cloud would have "a positive personality" in the game, with trailers showing him [[GrinOfAudacity smiling while fighting]], despite him having been a PerpetualFrowner ever since his original appearance. ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' goes back to his classic power-set and gives him quotes and poses emphasising his InferioritySuperiorityComplex, and his design in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' is more heavily based on his old design and less idealised.
172** Even the aforementioned ''Dirge of Cerberus'' undid some of the damage for Cloud, showing that, with all of the emotional baggage he was still carrying from the original game ''finally'' out of the way along with the cure of his Geostigma (which further contributed to his feelings of guilt, depression, and isolation), Cloud was capable of dryly cracking a few jokes with his friends, even lightly ribbing on Vincent once or twice. (And he gets to [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} talk to his motorbike like it's a person]].) ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' gave a brief glimpse of Cloud's original personality as well, as seen with the [[SnarkToSnarkCombat banter]] between him and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Leon]] during TheWarSequence, though this was greatly overshadowed by Cloud's plot arc with Sephiroth and Tifa, which was essentially a retread of ''Advent Children'' with Tifa taking on Aerith's role.
173** Cloud's plotline in ''VideoGame/MobiusFinalFantasy'' is there to serve as a (re)introduction to the character for fans who don't remember the original, and writes him extremely close to his original game characterisation. When his memory problems begin to make him doubt his own existence, he reacts with snark and determination rather than angst, at one point [[AsideGlance eyeing the camera]] to say "I got sick of moping." His arrogant streak is back, with his backhanded compliments to Wol and rudeness to Echo driving a lot of the storyline's humour. He's still aloof, but not so unreasonably that he isn't able to express open gratitude when Wol and Echo try to give him emotional support.
174** The rerailment trend continues in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake''. Cloud regains his 'cocky hotshot' personality, although it's toned down and PlayedForDrama in this version, and, for the first time since the original, is presented as not being as cool as he wants people to think he is. The developers were even worried about how uncool Cloud is in ''Remake'' compared to ''Compilation'', saying his face and acting was redesigned to emphasise his 'dorky' side and warning his fans that he'd be showing a different side of his personality this time - probably not expecting the positive reaction to saying this that they got. Aerith gets the most extreme overhaul, losing the IncorruptiblePurePureness and passivity and instead being presented as a [[ManicPixieDreamGirl silly, exuberant eccentric]] who is confident about her ability to fight and [[PluckyComicRelief rattles off funny lines]]. Oh, and she also swears.
175* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' does this with some of its recurring characters.
176** [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike's]] appearances and mentions in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'' played up his WorldsStrongestMan reputation [[{{Flanderization}} above all his other traits.]] While it's still a factor here, his Emblem self also plays him as TheEveryman, a HumbleHero and DeadpanSnarker, aspects of his character that haven't been seen much since his original games.
177** Despite being a child, Engage's version of Anna is dialed-back compared to her other modern incarnations. While still a shrewd businesswoman [[WiseBeyondTheirYears for her age]], it's not exaggerated to the point of a MoneyFetish like the ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'' and especially ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Heroes]]'' Annas.
178* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
179** ''Cataclysm'' turned Sylvanas back into her old bitchy, vengeful, bitter, snide, condescending, determined, manipulative self that had been gone since ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', now motivated by self-preservation rather than revenge.
180** ''Mists of Pandaria'' tried this with Tyrande. It didn't work and most people instead saw her as impulsive and stupid, failing basic military tactics and requiring someone several thousand years her junior to set her straight.
181** ''Burning Crusade'' turned Illidan, a ''very'' complex character that threaded the line between AntiHero and AntiVillain, into a generic EvilOverlord just for the sake of giving the players a raid boss. Naturally fan outcry ensued, and many years later, in the ''Legion'' expansion, Illidan was brought BackFromTheDead and was restored to his previous personality of a morally ambiguous character [[WellIntentionedExtremist willing to do]] [[PayEvilUntoEvil anything]] to fight the Burning Legion.
182** After ''Mists of Pandaria'' turned Jaina Proudmoore from a staunch believer in faction peace into a vengeful Horde hater, which was quite a divisive move, ''Battle for Azeroth'', while initially sticking with that characterization, eventually returned her to her old ''Warcraft III'' ways, which proved just as divisive: some welcomed it, others condemned it for making little sense in an expansion where post-Theramore Jaina's misgivings about the Horde were completely vindicated.
183** Sylvanas derailed again starting with ''Battle for Azeroth'', starting with the shockingly pointless destruction of Teldrassil and a majority of the Night Elf race before segueing into seeming omnicidal territory. ''Shadowlands'' and her tie-in novel attempt to tie together all the characterizations by giving context and her motivations, as well as revealing that her mind had been warped to some degree by the Jailer. The reception is decidedly mixed, in no small part due to many players only getting secondhand information about the very important novel.
184* ''Franchise/MortalKombat''
185** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' does this to most of its cast. Johnny Cage is shown as being a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Hollywood douchebag with a heroic spirit]], instead of the ButtMonkey who serves no purpose aside from being killed off as a gag. Likewise, Jax goes from being a stereotypical {{Blaxploitation}} hero back to his role as the badass StraightMan of the cast. And [[BigBad Shao Kahn]] finally stops being a regular playable character, and returns to his spot as the overpowered FinalBoss.
186** Back in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'', Sindel was [[{{Retcon}} retconned]] from [[DarkIsNotEvil a dark, spooky yet benevolent queen]] who just happened to be a victim of brainwashing into an EvilAllAlong GoldDigger power hungry queen, which was not received well by the fandom. ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' takes note of this because it's yet another ContinuityReboot, and thus Sindel is rerailed back to her benevolent queen/empress self while keeping her more brutal fighting style and dark powers, to the joy of the fans.
187* ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland'' rerailed most of the Monkey Island characters, especially [[spoiler:[=LeChuck=], who was truly evil and threatening again after his disappointing apparent subservience to Ozzie in ''VideoGame/EscapeFromMonkeyIsland''.]]
188* ''VideoGame/StreetFighter6'' when it comes to Chun-Li manages to undo the BadassDecay and severe {{Chickification}} she got in ''[=SFIV=]'' and ''[=V=]''. The former having Chun-Li be carried around by Guile like a damsel princess in the endings with the tie-in anime adaptation having Chunners job to make her foil Juri look cool. The latter was even worse having Chun-Li’s role boil down to looking after Li-Fen while losing every fight in the story mode except right at the very end. The sixth instalment however portrays Chun-Li closer to Ryu with her being a WarriorTherapist who effortlessly outclasses the vast majority of the characters, she’s also portrayed as more than a match for Juri (who’s hell bent on crushing her) making Chun-Li’s “World’s Strongest Woman” boost tenable, rather than empty air.
189* This was one of the selling points of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies''. After the loss of his badge and his subsequent [[CharacterDerailment derailment]] into a ManipulativeBastard in ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', a lot of people wanted the old awkward NiceGuy Phoenix back. So in ''Dual Destinies'', he's back to being a lawyer again, and he's not half as much of a jerk -- though he's kept a few of the ''Apollo Justice''-era mannerisms, and he acts a little more like a TeamDad TricksterMentor, so his character in ''Dual Destinies'' is closer to a combination of this and CharacterDevelopment.
190** Ema Skye's characterization from ''Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney'' also ruffled some feathers because she was no longer cheerful and enthusiastic but bored and disinterested because she hated her current job. She sat out a game (Bobby Fulbright taking her place in ''Dual Destinies'') but has returned to the cast in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', having successfully achieved her dream of becoming a forensic investigator and sporting a better outlook on life, more reminiscent of her teenage years.
191** The Judge was a bit of a scatterbrain in the first game, but was more or less quite fair and had sound judgement. Later games would [[{{Flanderization}} exaggerate the Judge's quirky traits]] until it became his defining feature. By ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', his characterization is back to how he was in the first game. Later games would mix his old and new personalities to give him a balance of serious and quirky.
192* Played with regarding Samus Aran of the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''. Thanks to the lack of other characters to interact with, Samus is a HeroicMime, and when others ''are'' around, she tends to be [[TheSilentBob very laconic]] if she speaks at all, keeping most of her thoughts expressed in body language or internal monologue. As such, the character has come to be seen as unflappable, with the rare moments where she isn't [[{{Determinator}} usually being punctuated by a fight response]], rather than freeze or flight one. ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', as part of its attempt to portray Samus at a low point in her life, threw this characterization out entirely to portray her as someone who was very poor at coping with stress, to the point that [[NeverLiveItDown she froze up for a solid minute]] when faced with long-time nemesis Ridley, someone she had by that point in the series chronology fought roughly four times previously. Following releases would see her return to her previous characterization, with ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' going to great lengths to highlight her confidence in the face of danger and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' showcasing an explosive, rage-fueled HeroicSecondWind towards the end of the game.
193* In the ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsSparksOfHope'' DLC campaign ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}} in the Phantom Show,'' Rayman's personality is much closer to how he appeared in ''VideoGame/Rayman2'' and ''[[VideoGame/Rayman3 3]]''; a friendly and laidback, if somewhat cocky and egotistical, individual, compared to excitable and manic persona he had in ''[[VideoGame/RaymanOrigins Origins]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/RaymanLegends Legends]]''.
194* Raiden took the role of the Cyborg Ninja in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' and, while it [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap made him a lot more popular]], his characterisation as a deeply depressed, hollow shell of a BloodKnight NinetiesAntiHero who thought of himself as a monster was very different from the rather comical ThisLoserIsYou character he'd been in his initial appearance. Once fans had warmed up to him and no longer viewed him as a ReplacementScrappy, ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' shifted his personality substantially closer to how it had been in ''2'', showing a much more humorous, earnest and slightly geeky side while still retaining the Ninja's coolness and protectiveness.
195* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' by WordOfGod renders the events of ''VideoGame/StarFoxCommand'' [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]]. The move scraps Krystal's reviled shift into a ([[FoxFolk literal]]) [[WomanScorned vixen of a jilted-lover]] and returns Krystal to her caring and courageous if prideful TeamMom personality as shown by her EasterEgg cameos within ''Brawl''.
196* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' was praised by gamers and long-time comic fans alike for striking a nice balance of writing a non-teenage Peter who maintain the core of his characters. After the ComicBook/OneMoreDay retcon of the comics, the comics have been criticized for trying to artificially make Peter come off as younger to mixed results. Similarly, the [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries majority]] [[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 of the]] [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming new]] [[WesternAnimation/MarvelsSpiderMan adaptations]] prioritized making Peter a KidAppealCharacter again. So the [=PS4=] game coming out and allowing Peter to be in his 20s, having a mature relationship with Mary Jane, and once more paying more care to his struggles of his double life felt like a breathe of fresh air.
197** Those fans who had a problem with Peter's actions in ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' also appreciated [[spoiler: how here he's able to accept Aunt May's death rather than abandoning his principles and making a deal with the devil to keep her alive.]]
198* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions'', [[AdaptationalVillainy/UltimateMarvel Ultimate Deadpool]] came BackFromTheDead as the wise-cracking Merc With A Mouth we all know and love as opposed to the AxCrazy PsychoForHire he was previously.
199* In ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'', the Templar Order makes a triumphant return to form in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' after being heavily {{Flanderized}} during the Ezio trilogy. In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'', the Templars were a dark mirror to the Assassins working secretly to create a peaceful future for the Holy Land and all of it's citizens through brutal means. Then a few hundred years later, in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed2'', ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', and ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', the Templars (primarily the Borgias and their affiliates) are cartoonishly evil supervillains only seeking to empower themselves and generally just being pointlessly cruel. Three starts off with Haytham Kenway giving us a look at a Templar agent with morals and principals who truly believes in his cause and can articulate the thought process that leads him to do what he does. All Haytham's affiliates can do the same and justify their horrid deeds by revealing that they simply adhere to the Order's ideology and want to help the people around them. A far cry from Cesare and Rodrigo ranting about power and their destiny to rule the world.
200* Jin Kazama in ''VideoGame/Tekken8''. The eighth game makes it its mission statement to restore Jin to TheHero role that he once had in ''Tekken 3'' before the severe CharacterDerailment hit him in his ''Tekken 5'' ending — of which ''Tekken 6'' would further and horribly expand. In those games, rather than having Jin reject the path of tyranny like in the previous games, Jin willingly follows in his grandfather Heihachi and father Kazuya’s footsteps and instigate {{WW3}} as head of the Mishima Zaibatsu. While it is rather clumsily revealed Jin had well intentioned reasons for doing so (stopping Azazel) he still admits to Lars he really doesn’t give a shit about saving such a “twisted world” conveniently ignoring the bonds he’s created with decent people in the world like Xiaoyu and Hwoarang, making Jin just look like a misanthropic asshole. ''Tekken 8'' thankfully has Jin be TheAtoner on a RedemptionQuest who deeply hates himself for what he’s done but comes to learn and fully appreciate real strength comes from loving those closest to you and wanting to protect them, rather than MightMakesRight which was Heihachi and Kazuya’s philosophy. [[spoiler:This allows Jin to ultimately defeat his father, whom he spares, rather than throwing him to his death off anything. Cementing the fact Jin is ''not'' continuing the Mishima VillainousLegacy.]]
201[[/folder]]
202
203[[folder:Webcomics]]
204* ''{{Webcomic/Roommates}}'': The Dark Jareth arc {{Invoke|dTrope}}s this in-universe mixed with a liberal dose of [[YouCantFightFate You Can't Fight Your Canon]]. After trying to be the hero (and failing) for 150 or so pages [[spoiler: Jareth]] snaps and reverts back to his original characterization and this SuperpoweredEvilSide of his tries to force the others back too. It's heartbreaking and asks the highly meta question: "Is it even possible for a fictional character to change or redeem themselves? Or does the story define everything they can ever be?"
205[[/folder]]
206
207[[folder:Western Animation]]
208* The Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse team has admitted that Superman got [[TheWorfEffect derailed into a punching bag]] during the first season of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' and [[NoMoreHoldingBackSpeech took steps in the subsequent seasons to remind viewers]] why he's, well, ''{{Franchise/Superman}}''.
209** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': After two seasons of CharacterDerailment into an unpleasable harpy, Dana Tan is finally restored to her original sweet and supportive characterization... in the {{Fully Absorbed|Finale}} DistantFinale.
210* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
211** One of the main points to the first season of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' is to '''finally''' mend Kevin's abrupt, unexplained shift in characterization and powers that occurred in ''Alien Force'', ultimately culminating in [[spoiler: using his old, sanity-warping powers as a means to save the world, and becoming evil again as a side-effect.]]
212** Mileages vary as to how well this worked out in the end though, as some feel that this effort to connect his original series characterization with his new one only succeeded in derailing ''both'' of them, with [[spoiler: his old one being retconned from truly sociopathic to a result of alien heritage, and his new one treated so seriously that his sudden change back to comic relief after the first season finale, with no more mention of what transpired before, was not taken well.]]
213** Kevin's rerailment was tried ''again'' in ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse Omniverse]]'', with [[TookALevelInJerkass even]] ''[[TookALevelInDumbass more]]'' [[ArtShift mixed]] results. It reached its most [[BrokenBase base-breaking]] level when it was {{retcon}}ned that [[spoiler: almost EVERYTHING about Kevin's backstory and personality from the sequels was a mental fabrication by an evil faction of the Plumbers and that his HeelFaceTurn was all part of their master plan. Granted, Kevin redeems himself for real after learning this instead of following through with his intended mission, but many fans of him from the previous sequel shows felt cheated all the same at having invested themselves in a total phony.]]
214** The is zig-zagged with Ben himself in ''Omniverse''. His personality owes to the exaggerated moron from Season 3 of ''Alien Force'', much to the irritation of the fans who liked him as a more competent and heroic character, but some episodes like "Malefactor" or "Max's Monster" do showcase him as smarter and more competent. Unfortunately, by the next episode he usually tends to get back to be a moron, and the writers hadn't settled on either portrayal by the series' end.
215** Vilgax's characterization and vocals[[note]]Though rather than Creator/SteveBlum, he's voiced by Creator/JohnDiMaggio.[[/note]] in one of the ''Alien Force'' video games, ''Vilgax Attacks!'', was much closer to how he was portrayed in the Original Series. He also regained his original series personality in the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', what with [[spoiler: [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu outsmarting an]] EldritchAbomination '''God''']] and what not.
216** Zombozo, in the original series, was an undead, supernatural MonsterClown who was rather dangerous. ''Ultimate Alien'' seemed to remove the supernatural aspects in favor of a much more [[PracticallyJoker Joker-like]] character. ''Omniverse'' reworks the character to showcase him as more of a walking corpse who can stretch his arms, bringing the supernatural aspect of the character back. [[VillainDecay He's a little less effective]] and [[DenserAndWackier a little more comical]], though.
217** Charmcaster had an accumulative derailment process in both ''Alien Force'' and ''Ultimate Alien'', with a totally new look and personality, and eventually practically crossing the MoralEventHorizon even though she'd never been that heinous a villain before and had in fact previously seemed to have a HeelFaceTurn. ''Omniverse'' restored her to her design from the original series, gave her a [[DenserAndWackier zanier version]] of her old immature personality, and an arc about going back to her old power-seeking ways as a means to heal from a mental breakdown: essentially a metaphor for her undergoing this trope. She's also left in a far better place for her to both mentally and morally improve at the end of the series; Gwen even {{lampshade|Hanging}}s the fact.
218** Despite being a reboot (and one more [[DenserAndWackier focused on comedy]]), ''WesternAnimation/Ben102016'' does this for both TheHero and BigBad. Ben is back to being a JerkWithAHeartOfGold with a big case of ChronicHeroSyndrome after ''Omniverse'' made him much more selfish and unheroic. Vilgax is again portrayed as a KnightOfCerebus and OneManArmy capable of mopping the floor with several bounty hunters and Ben's aliens, while previous series focused more on his manipulation skills at the cost of his fighting abilities. His line [[spoiler:after he reunites his two halves]] seems almost a meta commentary about this trope.
219--->"'''I'M VILGAX ONCE MORE!'''"
220* ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'': In the first season, Johnny was arrogant and socially inept, but he still had common sense. Seasons 2 and 3 cranked up his stupidity to the point where his solution to the [[https://www.tutorialspoint.com/prolog/prolog_monkey_and_banana_problem.htm monkey and banana problem]] was to use the stools as wings to fly to the bananas. When Van Partible returned for season 4, Johnny went back to his Season 1 characterization.
221* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
222** Homer goes from his flanderized {{Jerkass}} self to his original personality sometimes at will.
223** Ned Flanders, the namesake of {{Flanderization}}, returned to his earlier personality (a devout but accepting NiceGuy) in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie''.
224* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Joe was originally a HandicappedBadass cop who became an excuse to make cripple jokes after the show got UnCanceled. The previous characterization is somewhat more apparent in recent episodes such as "Joe's Revenge".
225* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Many of the characters have undergone {{Flanderization}} after the movie. [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick TookALevelInDumbass, though the most notable change is Mr. Krabs' greed [[TookALevelInJerkass stooping to horrible levels]]. During Season 9, many of these changes were decreased and the characters began to act somewhat like their former selves, and even more in episodes aired after the second movie, which can be attributed to creator Stephen Hillenberg returning to the series.
226* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'', Geoff was rerailed back into the AllLovingHero he was in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Island'' and losing the last bits of the AcquiredSituationalNarcissism and SmallNameBigEgo traits from ''Action'' that he hadn't quite lost in ''World Tour''.
227* Although set in an AlternateUniverse, ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaRama'' restores many of the original 22 contestants back to something closer to their original characterization. Courtney, for instance, is widely seen as an improvement over the last time we saw her, having lost the extreme cutthroat CompetitionFreak and {{jerkass}} qualities she acquired in later seasons and returned more to the more civil and moral character she was in ''Island'' while still retaining the uptightness she's known for.
228* Recent characterizations of WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck have attempted, with varying levels of success, to get him back to his [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} daffier]] roots.
229* After Mudsy from ''WesternAnimation/TheFunkyPhantom'' was given AdaptationalVillainy in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' (as part of a dream sequence, but still), his appearance in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndGuessWho'' returned him to his usual friendly self.
230* After suffering BadassDecay throughout most of ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'', Agent Phil Coulson reminds us that he is a [[BadassNormal SHIELD agent]] by fighting off a trio of Asgardians mounted on fire breathing wolves using a pair of {{BFG}}s that are almost as big as him.
231--> '''Coulson''': No running in the halls.
232** Not to mention holding his own against the Beetle (who in this version [[AdaptationalBadass has nearly Iron Man-grade]] PoweredArmor and previously was a difficult enemy for Spidey, Iron Fist, Power Man, Nova and White Tiger as a team) using nothing but a steel pipe he found lying around.
233* Rufus and Amberley of ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' started off as {{Badass Normal}}s with distinctive personalities in the pilot, before quickly downgrading into [[TheGenericGuy generic]] incompetent {{Hero Antagonist}}s afterwards. Season 3 onward gradually reverts back to their original personalities and level of competence ([[TookALevelInBadass if not higher]]). Their UnscrupulousHero tendencies were also dialed back by the start of season 4, making them look more sympathetic and provoked against the Urpneys.
234* Many of the engines' slowly waxed and waned in the long run of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'', some becoming almost polar opposites of their former selves. From Season 17 onward however, a new writing team was brought on board, reverting back many of the engines to their original personalities and refreshing its roots to ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries''. Some traits introduced in the TV show remain, albeit more as HiddenDepths.
235* ''WesternAnimation/WabbitALooneyTunesProduction'':
236** After being a StepfordSnarker on ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'', WesternAnimation/BugsBunny is back to his KarmicTrickster personality he is better known for.
237** Adding onto the above example, when WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck is reintroduced in the second season, his persona harks back completely to the initial screwball incarnation, perhaps more so than any appearance of him since the 1930s.
238** [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety Bird]] has been reverted back to the more aggressive personality that Creator/BobClampett originally gave him.
239** WesternAnimation/LolaBunny has regained some of her competency, as well as [[TheOriginalDarrin her original]] [[Creator/KathSoucie voice actress]] from ''Film/SpaceJam'', but has retained the design and some of the craziness of her ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow Looney Tunes Show]]'' portrayal to remain palatable with the main cast, making her more of a CompositeCharacter.
240* Many fans disliked the Mayor of Townsville from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' after he devolved into a moronic and insensitive manchild in the show's later seasons, but his older characterization of being a NiceGuy who is only slightly ditzy turns up in the 2014 special ''Dance Pantsed''. When Professor Utonium enters the DespairEventHorizon after Mojo Jojo controls the Powerpuff Girls' minds, the Mayor encourages the Professor not to give up on the girls. In addition, the Mayor feels remorse for insulting Ms. Bellum when she refused to open his jar of pickles and later apologizes to her for it.
241* After all four of them suffered from CharacterDerailment in the previous season, the third season of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' rerails [[TheHero Korra]], [[GirlyBruiser Asami]], [[PluckyComicRelief Bolin]] and [[IronLady Lin Beifong]]. Within the first few episodes of that season, Korra's HotBlooded nature reaches a reasonable level again, after previously being amped up to a full blown HairTriggerTemper; Asami's [[ActionGirl back in action]], after inexplicably suffering {{Chickification}} and sitting on the sidelines for most of season two; Bolin's ditched his AcquiredSituationalNarcissism, and shed his [[IdiotHero downright moronic]] persona, returning to his previous characterization of [[NiceGuy well-meaning]] [[ManChild but somewhat immature]] supporter; and Lin is no longer relegated to [[DaChief playing the stereotypical police chief]] and [[IdiotBall inexplicably ignoring evidence for the sake of the plot]], instead getting a subplot of her own, multiple chances to show off her badassery and a showcase for her detective skills.
242* This affects ''Literature/{{Franklin}}'' himself in ''Franklin and Friends'' at the start of an episode, right after one that contains a SnapBack or an AesopAmnesia that affected him.
243* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'':
244** In the last two seasons, Arnold, who was originally just a kind, average kid, was [[{{Flanderization}} flanderized]] into an omnibenevolent, advice giving savior who was never wrong and could do pretty much anything. He also became very [[FlatCharacter flat]] and OutOfFocus, to the point where the much more developed Helga almost [[SpotlightStealingSquad completely overshadowed him as the protagonist]]. Perhaps in response to this, "April Fool's Day" and "The Journal", the final two episodes (though the latter was a two-parter), returned the focus to Arnold and he more or less retained his previous characterization. But since this happened so late in the series, and the episodes aired OutOfOrder, it seems like a waste.
245** Sid returns to his pre-Season 3 characterization (where he was much less of a {{Jerkass}}) in ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheJungleMovie'' and he spends the film being kind and courteous to his friends.
246** To some degree, Harold and Stinky get some as well after [[TookALevelInJerkass taking some levels in the later seasons along with Sid]]. Stinky seems back to his confused but friendly southern demeanor and Harold doesn't bully anyone or boast about himself throughout the course of the movie. Harold is even seen beating a junky replica of Arnold when they are first imprisoned by Lasombra, only to be snuggling the same dummy later that night crying about how he misses Arnold.
247* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'': In Season 5, Pam developed a cocaine addiction, and her ''whole character'' suddenly revolved around this. Not only this made her incredibly unfunny, but also turned her into TheMillstone. After noticing how much [[TheScrappy fans hated this]], in Season 6 her character was returned to her [[EnsembleDarkhorse much beloved]] persona from Seasons 3 and 4.
248* In the ''Film/JurassicWorld'' films, Rexy, the ''Tyrannosaurus Rex'' from the original ''Film/JurassicPark'' movie, was portrayed in a much more heroic light than she was in her first appearance, never really being a threat to the heroes while actively fighting the various villains. In ''WesternAnimation/JurassicWorldCampCretaceous'', however, she seemingly reverts to her original portrayal, being portrayed as a serious threat to the protagonists.
249* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
250** Season 6 undoes most of the {{Flanderization}} done to the main cast in Seasons 4 and 5. Timmy is [[TookALevelInKindness less of a jerk]], his parents aren't as neglectful of their son, Cosmo is less stupid, and Wanda is less of a nag, which were all rerailments well-received by the fanbase. It wouldn't last long though, as the final few seasons would re-flanderize the characters even harder than before.
251** While its live-action reboot ''[[Series/TheFairlyOddParentsFairlyOdder Fairly Odder]]'' is widely agreed to be bad and outright inferior to the original series, one of the few positives the fans will give to the show is its attempts to undo most of Cosmo and Wanda's flanderization from the final few seasons of the show, with both becoming more level-headed.
252* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'':
253** Original episodes of the series would portray Patrick as a LethallyStupid idiot who's basically just a pain to everyone around him. Starting with "The Patterfly Effect", Patrick's characterization is brought a lot closer to how he is in the original seasons of ''[=SpongeBob=]''. He never comes off as a {{Jerkass}} and, while still stupid, does it in a way that's much funnier and more understandable. His obliviousness from his {{Flanderization}} is cranked down, with him being genuinely helpful to the plot in episodes like "Home ECCH!". Even when he's unknowingly destructive in "The Star Games", the family gets rightfully get angry at him, and he apologizes once he realizes how much trouble he's caused. Patrick also has moments of being [[SmartBall surprisingly competent]], and episodes like "The Patrick Show Sells Out" and "Bubble Bass Reviews" have him get the upper hand in the end. Overall, it makes him a much more engaging and likeable character.
254** Krabs and Plankton get this in "The Patrick Show Sells Out". While seasons 10-13 of ''[=SpongeBob=]'' demoted Krabs to a ButtMonkey whose jokes mostly involved him getting injured, or him being unlikeably greedy, and Plankton suffered MotiveDecay and wound up becoming a [[GenericDoomsdayVillain generic, catch-all "evil" character]], this episode brings them back to their original portrayals. It solely focuses on their personal rivalry and has them repeatedly advertising their restaurants to get more customers than the other, complete with plenty of funny VolleyingInsults.
255** [=SpongeBob=] is definitely a case of BewareTheNiceOnes, with some of the most epic moments of the series coming from him finally snapping and getting angry (like in "Can You Spare a Dime?" or "Krusty Love"). However, as he TookALevelInDumbass over the series, it's rare to see him have any negative reactions beyond brief jokes. In "Big Baby Patrick", [=SpongeBob=] actually disapproves of Patrick's immature behavior and comes up with a plan to put a stop to it. When it goes OffTheRails, he [[RageBreakingPoint yells at Patrick]] in a way he hasn't for ''seasons'', and it's as shocking as it is awesome:
256--->'''[=SpongeBob=]''': ''NO!'' YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WATCH ''ME'' EAT THE ICE CREAM AND WANT YOUR OWN SO BAD THAT YOU GROW UP AND ''STOP BEING A BABY!''
257[[/folder]]

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