Line #55 Main/ChronicVillainy


1	->''"You don't understand. ...I really didn't want to leave you any clues. I really planned never to go back to Arkham Asylum. But I left you a clue anyway. So I... I have to go back there. Because I might need help. I... I might actually be crazy."''
2	-->-- '''[[Characters/BatmanTheRiddler The Riddler]]''', ''[[ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures Batman: Gotham Adventures]]'' #11
3
4	Perhaps [[RousseauWasRight Rousseau was onto something]], and no human being is really happy being evil. Or at least some people are unfit for a life of villainy. Rather than being a construct of pure evil, a villain can be a surprisingly normal person despite the tragic flaws and obsessions driving him to hatred and madness. He may even manage to have admirable qualities, becoming a sympathetic AntiVillain. Along comes a chance at salvation: a skilled plastic surgeon, an influential psychiatrist, a doctor with a miracle cure, or maybe just an old friend. With that person's help, the villain manages to overcome his madness and look forward to some semblance of a happy and productive normal life.
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6	[[RuleOfDrama However, something eventually goes wrong]]. Maybe they start having blackouts, and can't remember what they've been doing. Maybe they get visited by an old comrade who forces them back into crime. The voices in their head may resume their chorus. Or maybe they see their old nemesis and just ''have'' to test them, for old times sake... Ultimately, their returning obsessions become too much, and they can't resist them any more. They give in, and they eventually fall back into their self-destructive, villainous lifestyle.
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8	If done right, it's {{Tragedy}}. If done wrong, it seems like an AssPull. The likelihood that the writer's attempt falls flat is greater when the real reason for villain's relapse is not the result of an honest artistic decision, but is merely catering to the demands of StatusQuoIsGod. A sadistic god indeed, who will [[YankTheDogsChain never, ever allow]] the [[HeelFaceDoorSlam villain redemption]], no matter how many times he tries during the series' long, long run and many spinoffs, it will forever remain a TragicDream. Chronic Villainy is perhaps the even uglier, viler twin to JokerImmunity.
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10	Compare ReformedButRejected, where the villain has repented and wants to go straight, but may find that the hero, or society in general, doesn't trust him enough to let him. Indeed, a particularly bad case of Reformed, but Rejected can easily fuel a case of Chronic Villainy. A SelfFulfillingProphecy, courtesy of WhatTheHellHero or AllOfTheOtherReindeer. Compare also RedemptionFailure, where the villain is pushed back to TheDarkSide not by internal residue compulsions, but by external circumstances. Compare ReformedButNotTamed, when the villain retains {{heel}} elements when doing a heel {{face}} turn, and may not return to being a villain. Also compare JustAGangster, where a criminal of some kind resists attempts to make them or their business legitimate.
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12	Contrast TheFarmerAndTheViper, where a villain is given this same opportunity... and twists that goodness into a torment for the one who offered them redemption. Often, villains who try (and fail) to reform have some {{Idiosyncrazy}}.
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14	Related to DickDastardlyStopsToCheat, ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder, and ShouldntYouStopStealing
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16	This is not a villain who only pretends to reform and settle down; see FalselyReformedVillain for that.
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18	Note that those with the opposite affliction, ChronicHeroSyndrome, rarely suffer as much angst over it.
19	[[noreallife]]
20	----
21	!!Examples:
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23	[[foldercontrol]]
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25	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
26	* Though the Saiyan race was described throughout ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' as AlwaysChaoticEvil, Shenron in ''Anime/DragonBallZBattleOfGods'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' reveals that a group of ancient Saiyans tired of their race's villainy, and defeated them with the first Super Saiyan God. Of course, it wasn't long before the race returned to their BloodKnight ways even before Frieza showed up.
27	* [[BigBad Yoshikage Kira]] from ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable''. Though he may be a [[TheSociopath sociopath]], he's still [[AffablyEvil affable]] as he genuinely [[IJustWantToBeNormal only wants to live a quiet life]]. The only reason why he's a SerialKiller at all is because his compulsions (and hand fetish) force him to. Normally, this isn't a problem for him, because his [[FightingSpirit Stand]] allows him to dispatch of both victims and evidence in a clean and non-violent way, letting him go about his business. However, when he finds himself having to lay low [[spoiler:under the disguise of [[KillAndReplace Kosaku Kawajiri]]]] to throw off the heroes, he suffers [[GoingColdTurkey abstinence]] and descends into a mental breakdown.
28	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' has Team Rocket. The trio are mostly {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, and there are many times that they start up their own legitimate business, getting far more success at that than harassing the heroes. But they're inevitably compelled to return to their usual job of stealing Pokémon, or something related to Pokémon, no matter how [[EvilIsPetty puny or mundane]] it may be.
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31	[[folder:Comic Books]]
32	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
33	** The Crown Prince of this is [[Characters/BatmanTheRiddler The Riddler]], who has reformed countless times, only to fall back into crime due to obsessing over beating the Bat. However, this trope still applies to a large portion of Batman's rogues gallery, most prominently, [[Characters/BatmanTwoFace Two-Face]] (who is probably a [[{{Pun}} close second]] to the Riddler), The Ventriloquist, Mr. Freeze, and Harley Quinn. The second version, of a character whose power makes them evil and slowly returns them to villainy, is present in Man Bat and certain incarnations of Clayface.
34	** One comic book for ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' animated series had The Riddler asking Batman for help, because the Joker had kidnapped his favorite staff member at Arkham. But The Riddler couldn't just ''ask'', he sent riddles, because he has a compulsion to do so, whether committing crimes or not.
35	** This compulsion goes all the way back to the Creator/AdamWest ''Series/Batman1966'' tv show. In one episode, Riddler's girlfriend asks him why he even bothers with riddles since Batman always figures them out. Riddler answers that the only reason he even ''became'' a criminal is so he could use riddles to stump Batman. Without riddles, he says, crime would be pointless.
36	** The Joker underwent a Riddler Reform in "Going Sane", a StoryArc from the comic ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight''. The only times where he's ever been indicated to reform are when he thinks Batman's dead.
37	** As such, ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' had a couple of these. There was a noirish episode involving Two-Face in which this was the TwistEnding, and one involving The Riddler (aptly named "Riddler's Reform", the original suggested title for this trope) in which he gave up a fortune because he couldn't get past his obsessions.
38	** The live-action ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' has provided a new explanation on the Riddler's compulsion: while Edward Nygma has a fascination and fixation on puzzles and riddles and complex plans, he's able to turn it off when necessary. His real addiction is that he's an adrenaline junkie and realizes he gets a high off of ''nearly'' getting caught. Given his obvious genius, how better to ensure that people not as smart nearly catch him? Leave clues and hints behind.
39	** And in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', Mr. Freeze winds up as a particularly tragic example after spending most of the episode ReformedButRejected. (What's particularly tragic about that episode is that he gets a human body, and for no explicable reason, gets his ice powers back. However, Mr. Freeze has a history of tragedy in the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, and while his {{backstory}} gave him depth, his later appearances in the ''The New Batman Adventures'' made him a bit of a ButtMonkey.)
40	** In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndMisterFreezeSubZero'', his wife is revived and cured of her illness. What happens? It turns out his body is rapidly decaying, and soon, all that's left of him is his head.
41	** Harley Quinn got such an episode (appropriately called MadLove). Over the course of it, she gets better, and finally realizes that the Joker doesn't care about her (after being left for dead by him) but sees a card that says "Get well soon - J" and instantly snaps back. (If you know the character, it's ''not'' an AssPull.)
42	** The Cluemaster, a minor Batman villain compelled to leave clues at the scenes of his crimes, was one of Arkham's few success stories. Unfortunately, he was cured of the compulsion to leave clues behind, not of a desire to steal things. His main claim to fame is being the father of Stephanie Brown, aka Spoiler / Robin / [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Batgirl]] / [[ContinuityReboot Spoiler.]]
43	** The Chronic Villainy of Batman's RoguesGallery is justified by the common factor that almost all of them share: complete insanity. In their cases, villainy is almost their mental illness, one that seems impossible to remove. This is especially evident in ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', where both the Joker and Two-Face go through apparent, but non-permanent, reforms.
44	** But then, even [[Characters/BatmanThePenguin The Penguin]], often regarded as the OnlySaneMan among his enemies, had this once. In a two-part story (released as {{homage}} to the late Creator/BurgessMeredith) Cobblepot got restless and bored in his current role as TheDon, and despite having vowed to stop getting involved personally, undertook a series of crimes just to prove he was superior to Batman. He failed, but convinced Batman to let him go (as he'd likely be let OffOnATechnicality if arrested), and decided to go "back to my lounge booth - where I should have ''stayed''."
45	** A major theme of more modern Batman comics is that Bruce Wayne may not be much saner than his rogues' gallery, meaning that he has a heroic version of this that ''isn't'' ChronicHeroSyndrome (which is about righting every wrong you're presented with, rather than being unable to give up running about all night punching people). This is most notable in the "Going Sane" arc, in which the Joker disappeared from sight at about the same time that Batman did. Bruce, who has recovered in a small town and has been striking up a romance with the woman who nursed him back to health, returns to Gotham, hoping against hope that he won't find any trace of the Joker and can return there. Then he digs into local video rental store records and finds a lot of classic comedies being rented by a "[[PaperThinDisguise Joseph Kerr]]". He actually finds this rather upsetting.
46	--->''I've got you now, Joker. Heaven help me...I've got you.''
47	* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'':
48	** Many enemies who are genuinely insane have gone through this, most prominently, Wally West's ex-girlfriend, Magenta (another case of [[SuperPoweredEvilSide psychotic power]]). Pyromaniac recidivist Heat Wave went straight with a federal job...but he burnt down a bar he went to after leaving the office. (Frustratingly, this came after a pretty lengthy period of nonvillainy--the character has been straight for nearly as long as he's been a criminal.)
49	** One [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] story had Abra Kadabra brainwash the governor into pardoning him, and then attempting to form a legitimate career as a puppeteer. However, the show he did was a sort of (extremely amateurish) parody of the Flash, who had a really oversensitive reaction to how popular it was and so decided to get intense in his war on crime, making him popular enough that the inhabitants of Central City (who are apparently all simpletons) stopped coming to the puppet show, so Abra Kadabra [[PuppetPermutation turned the Flash into a puppet]] and used him in the show.
50	** It's been revealed that Barry Allen [[MindRape brainwashed]] one of his Rogues, the Top, into becoming a genuine hero. Unfortunately [[GoneHorriblyWrong the brainwashing went wrong]], and the Top performed a similar, subtler MindRape on a number of the Flash's other Rogues before he went insane. This was used to justify how Wally West was able to befriend people who'd been written as hardened criminals (well, by Silver Age standards) while Barry was alive. Eventually the Top invoked this trope himself by undoing the brainwashing.
51	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
52	** The Sandman, reformed somewhere in the '80s after going through BodyHorror, and became a reserve Avenger and joined Silver Sable's Wildpack for a while. Then John Byrne got his mitts on him again, and had the Wizard [[RetCon hypnotize him into his "proper" personality]], then he nearly turned good in an early 2000 Peter Parker: Spider-Man comic in which he split into four different Sandmen (and one Sandwoman), but at the end of the story, his evil side takes over his good side, and his good side, [[ItMakesSenseInContext outside of the main body collaboration]], dies.
53	** [[Characters/MarvelComicsEddieBrock Eddie Brock]], the former [[Characters/MarvelComicsVenom Venom]], even after being separated from the symbiote. While trying to be a hero as Anti-Venom, [[spoiler: he discovered that his benefactor, Mr. Li, was the {{supervillain}} Mr. Negative]]. He was so disillusioned that he now struggles with homicidal urges. Bets are open as to how long it will take for him to become Venom proper again. Plus all the times he went back and forth between being a villain and an AntiHero as the regular Venom. Brock lost his powers as Anti-Venom and tried to go AntiHero again... by murdering other symbiotes, who he views as inherently evil. Small wonder that he's back to being AxCrazy [[spoiler: now that he's bonded to [[Characters/MarvelComicsCarnage Carnage]]'s spawn, [[Characters/MarvelComicsToxin Toxin]]]].
54	** There was a period in the early 2000's where [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]] managed to bury his grudge against Spider-Man to focus on the larger picture; he didn't actually reform, but used PragmaticVillainy to successfully become a VillainWithGoodPublicity. However, nobody who actually knows him expected it to last, predicting that he'll eventually have a VillainousBreakdown and go back to the ForTheEvulz acts he's known for. This finally comes to pass in ''ComicBook/Siege'', where Norman launches a massive unprovoked attack on Asgard and subsequently going on a mad rant while wearing Green Goblin makeup, all seen on national TV.
55	** A {{filler}} issue of ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' [[ADayInTheLimelight focuses on]] the Looter, a second-rate scientist turned super-powered but still second-rate villain. The Looter's ego makes him constantly try to outmaneuver Spider-Man, and this culminates in his being brutally beaten by the "ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan". Later, at a [[TropaholicsAnonymous villain support group]] meeting, he acknowledges that he [[ReluctantPsycho may have a problem]], because even though he logically knows that he will be beaten even worse or killed if he encounters Spider-Man again, he can't stop himself because he "knows" he's superior to everyone else and has to show it by committing crimes.
56	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' story "ComicBook/LuthorUnleashed" has [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex]] suffer one painful defeat too many at Superman's hands, and decides to throw in the towel. He retires to the alien planet where he had once taken a wife (whom he had, till then, shamefully neglected) and tries to settle down to be a model citizen there. He even has a child. But despite his best efforts, he can't stop obsessing over the fact that Superman beat him. He finally builds a suit of PoweredArmor in anticipation of Superman tracking him down, but then uses it to relieve his tensions by using it to wreak havoc on his new home, becoming its first {{supervillain}}. Superman does indeed arrive, and in the ensuing fight, Lex accidentally detonates a powerful [[AppliedPhlebotinum gizmo]] and blows up the planet, killing his wife and infant son. He blames Superman and ends up more obsessed with his destruction than ever before. This is a pretty defining point about Lex Luthor and one of the best and most tragic examples. In many stories, Lex is a man who genuinely wants to do right by humanity and use his intellect for good. It's just that he can never get past his hatred of Superman. It also leads into the selfish spect of his personality: He wants to destroy Superman so the world will see him as the true savior of mankind.
57	* [[Characters/MarvelComicsLoki Loki]] never stops trying to usurp Asgard and defeat [[Characters/MarvelComicsThorOdinson Thor]] for many reasons. He is TheUnfavourite of Asgard, being a trickster magician instead of a warrior, [[FreudianExcuse and so he can never truly believe that Odin and Thor truly love him as family,]] despite the fact that every time Loki's schemes fail, Odin and Thor always eventually forgive him and give him another chance. It got so bad that Loki actually let himself die at the conclusion of ''ComicBook/{{Siege}}'' and be reborn as a relatively innocent child in an attempt to ''escape'' Chronic Villainy. As the last remnants of his past life explains to the new Loki, he had become predictable in his treachery and, as a god of chaos and trickery, he would rather die than be predictable. [[spoiler: And, predictably, all of that actually was a scheme to dupe others into thinking that Loki has truly changed (at the moment when everyone but Thor gave up any hope of redeeming him), by using Kid Loki's innocence and then overwriting his personality with the Old Loki memories. Proving once again that Loki cannot escape this trope. His younger self [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech calls him out on it]], though he tries to deny it.]] Loki still has a problem with being properly evil though. [[spoiler:They tried that in ''Comicbook/YoungAvengers'' but [[ConscienceMakesYouGoBack their conscience stopped them]] so they attempted a HeelFaceTurn again in ''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard''. They succeeded too... and may or may not have died in the process. Loki's a walking MindScrew.]]
58	* Creator/GregRucka's run on ''ComicBook/{{Elektra}}'' ended this way. After a whole run of issues in which she was forced to recognise just how much damage she'd done to innocent people, started seriously trying to reform, and came close to rejecting the conflict between the Chaste and the Hand altogether to just do good for its own sake, the Hand killed her new mentor and kidnapped the guy who first started her on the reform path. She killed all the Hand guys, but finally also killed the kidnapped guy because... well, presumably out of a momentary flash of despair that she'd been forced to kill a whole load of people, although it wasn't convincingly explained. There were stories that this was due to ExecutiveMeddling, because the writer of an imminent crossover event decided that he wanted [[StatusQuoIsGod "classic" Elektra]] to be involved in it.
59	* Any ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'' story about trying to redeem [[ArchEnemy the Dalton Brothers]] is doomed to end with them being back to villainy, due to them being {{Card Carrying Villain}}s to such a degree they genuinely think leading a honest life is horrifying. Most notably, ''Marcel Dalton'', which involves their uncle trying to reform them as employees in a bank he recently bought, has the entire book focused on them struggling to get accepted in the town and competing with a corrupt rival banker. They eventually succeed... only for the Dalton to turn on their uncle at the last minute and escape so they can go back to being criminals. After this event, Marcel Dalton recognizes his nephews cannot be redeemed, and allows Luke to arrest them.
60	* ''ComicBook/ButtonMan'': After years of trying to get away from the Killing Game and living in peace, Harry finds himself drawn back when he runs out of funds, plus the simple fact that he enjoys these duels to the death and is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt damn good at it]].
61	* ''[[Characters/MarvelComicsSabretooth Sabretooth]]'' is a big example, when it comes to his predatory instincts. He was [[HeelFaceBrainwashing inverted]] during ''{{ComicBook/AXIS}}'' and tried to genuinely [[TheAtoner atone]] for all his evil. [[StatusQuoIsGod But, the inversion wasn't meant to last.]] He shows signs of slipping in ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen2016'' when he's hunting a dinosaur and tries to reign himself in, but can't. Chapter 17 has a lengthy inner monologue with him admitting that his inverted self is a lie, but confessing that he doesn't wanna let it go. He tries to hold on to it, but the old him is coming & fighting back -the Creed who cared about nothing but the kill. He also thinks about how he daydreams of slaughtering the X-Men while he fought alongside them, because that's what he was supposed to be doing. [[Characters/MarvelComicsMonetStCroix Monet St. Croix]] becomes his MoralityChain when he thinks about fighting for her -wanting to help cure her curse and stay true to his promise of keeping her secret. The two even ran off to be together at one point, only for Sabretooth to be living alone the next time he showed up, now struggling to keep all his re-emerging sadism & murderous tendencies focused on bad guys -as opposed to innocents. The ''ComicBook/WeaponX2017'' series ended with Sabretooth finally getting un-inverted, and by his next appearance he's once more a CardCarryingVillain.
62	* A downplayed case in ''ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio''; when Zantafio was first introduced in ''Spirou et les Héritiers'' as a crooked rival to Fantasio for their uncle's legacy, the book ended with him saving Spirou and Fantasio, reconciling with them and giving up on the legacy (despite Fantasio being willing to share it), deciding instead to make his own life in Palombia. When he came back in ''Le Dictateur et le Champignon'', it turned out he had become a ruthless dictator in Palombia and was now planning to make a WarForFunAndProfit, putting him in an antagonistic role once again. Every appearance after this has depicted him as possibly the vilest character in the series.
63	* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'': Sonic calls Dr. Eggman out on this in issue 23. [[spoiler: As he points out, even if Starline restored his memories, Eggman could have simply gone back to living peacefully as Mr. Tinker in Windmill Village, but instead, he chose to continue his villainous ways. While Eggman laughs off the idea, he does briefly reflect on his time as Mr. Tinker and admit those days were relaxing.]]
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66	[[folder:FanWorks]]
67	* In the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fic ''FanFic/ACureForLove'' Light is happy to remain as L's partner until Misa conspires to restore his Kira memories.
68	* This forms Bowser's backstory in ''Fanfic/YourAlicornIsInAnotherCastle''. He has the talent to perfectly kidnap princesses, but that came paired with a destiny that dictates that he ''must'' kidnap princesses. For a time, he tried to ScrewDestiny and live a normal life, but the pressure of fighting his destiny ended up completely destroying his life and marriage. Fortunately, by the time of the story he has discovered a loophole: his destiny requires that he kidnap princesses, but it does ''not'' require that the princesses actually be unwilling, or that he hang on to them once they've been kidnapped. And more than a few princesses across the multiverse are quite willing to be temporarily kidnapped, and will even pay handsomely for it, if it means they have an iron-clad excuse to take time off from their royal duties and for once truly ''relax''.
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71	[[folder:Films]]
72	* Cruella de Vil in ''Film/OneHundredAndTwoDalmatians''. Went to jail, got reformed, but an accident with the main puppy caused her to start seeing Dalmatian spots all over town. Kind of a disturbing scene. In a perversion of Pavlov's Dog, the researchers responsible for Cruella's behavioral modification into the saintly Ella accidentally discovered that the sound of a bell reverses the process. Needless to say, the minute Ella hears a bell ringing, she's back to being the sociopathic Cruella. This in a city that is famous for a gigantic clock tower by the nickname of Big Ben. There's also ''Film/{{Cruella}}''.
73	* ''Film/LordOfWar'' has Yuri Orlov, the greatest arms dealer in the world (described to have been on first-name basis with several dictators), tries to reform and run a lumber company when a Federal agent tells his wife what he does. But trying to live honestly is too hard (or not so much hard as [[GoodIsBoring boring]]), so he goes back to gun-running.
74	* Gollum in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' is a pretty solid example. After being subdued, taken captive, and his life subsequently spared by Frodo, he is slowly calmed and rehabilitated by Frodo's attempts at kindness until he ultimately breaks down in a "fight" between his two personalities, and defeats his Gollum side, reverting to a much more cheerful and helpful Sméagol persona. Then, an unfortunate run-in with Faramir has him beaten and seemingly betrayed by Frodo, making him break once and for all back into his murderous, deceptive self. A similar process occurs in the books, but is much more subtle.
75	* Michael Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'' Saga: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." [[EvilParentsWantGoodKids His father, Vito, wanted to avert this chronic loop]] and was truly brokenhearted when he failed.
76	%%Zero Context Example* Well done by Creator/MickeyRourke as the titular character of ''Film/JohnnyHandsome''.
77	* Frank Abagnale Jr in ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' eventually becomes addicted to the thrill of living like a playboy by conning money and eluding the authorities, while becoming tired from having to look over his shoulder all the time. He needs his father's support to stop, but Frank Sr. refuses for selfish reasons. Even when Frank tries to settle down, his past catches up with him and he goes further into the criminal lifestyle. When Hanratty finally tracks him down in France, Frank almost seems like a thrill-seeking junkie, and Hanratty has to save him from getting himself killed. [[spoiler:Subverted when he is released from prison to work for the FBI catching criminals like himself, and he almost goes back to his former life. He comes back into work on Monday and greets Carl as usual.]]
78	* ''Film/ShotCaller'': Jacob continues the Aryan Brotherhood's activities as soon as he's out of prison, as [[ResignationsNotAccepted the only acceptable retirement is death]]. Ultimately, [[spoiler:he gives up his freedom and usurps control over the entire organization as the sole method to reliably protect his family from reprisals]].
79	* Frollo from the [[Film/TheHunchback 1997 adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' has become a villain after a very bad case of LoveMakesYouEvil regarding his forbidden lust for Esmerelda, but after Quasimodo forces him to publicly confess to a murder he has framed her for, he apparently repents and is forgiven by Quasi, and the two reconcile. Unfortunately his reformation is short-lived, as a moment later, he encounters Esmerelda again, upon which he relapses into murderous insanity and tries to kill her.
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82	[[folder:Literature]]
83	* In ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible'', [[MadScientist Dr. Impossible]] ''knows'' that [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption no matter how perfectly he builds his machines, no matter how well he prepares his world domination plot, no matter what he does]], [[FlyingBrick the invincible superhero Corefire]] will just waltz through all his weapons and defenses, beat him up, and put him back in jail. [[HumiliationConga Probably on live television]]. But as of the book's start, he's on his thirteenth attempt. He also mentions that people at the extreme far end of the intelligence bell curve - like him - suffer from "Malign Hypercognition Disorder", which compels them to be evil {{supervillain}}s and try to TakeOverTheWorld. Even though he knows he'd be [[CutLexLuthorACheck better off using his genius in more legal ways]], he can't help trying to conquer the world.
84	* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Smeagol really strived between his two selves about his conflicting desires and his relationship to Frodo. It is made clear, that Sméagol (as he was originally completely sane) killed his friend in order to take hold of the Ring (Gollum references Sméagol being a murderer in both films he/they are featured in.) The Gollum personality came later, during his decades of isolation. Really, he's an example of a person who instantly fell into the power of the Ring, but was otherwise a relatively decent sort of person. A person very susceptible to temptation. Smeagol ends up representing in his mind who he used to be and what he lost, while Gollum was what he became and the safety that he had in staying the same, rather than remembering or regretting.
85	* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': Taylor spent only three months as the villain Skitter before turning herself in and becoming the hero Weaver. However, the learned behaviors of villainy never faded and she constantly chafed at the limitations placed on her. When [[spoiler:Scion]] began his rampage, she ended up falling back on her most self-destructive villainous tendency of forcing others to cooperate [[spoiler:by becoming Khepri]].
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88	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
89	* Harmony Kendall from ''Series/{{Angel}}''. During her appearances on the show, her Chronic Villainy seemed to alternate between tragedy and AssPull. Either way, it seemed like she genuinely wanted to do the right thing, even though it was against her vampiric nature. She even once said, ''"It's not like I have a soul! I have to try a lot harder!"''
90	** Spike from the Franchise/{{Buffyverse}} flickers like a moral strobe light. Dark: the punk vampire based on Sid Vicious, his original form. Light: helps Buffy SaveTheWorld from Angelus because he likes it here and because he loves Drusilla. Dark: has Angel tortured for a {{phlebotinum}} ring. Light: has [[RestrainingBolt a chip in his brain]] that stops him hurting people, but helps Buffy because he can still attack other demons. Dark: drives a wedge between Buffy and her friends ([[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E20TheYokoFactor The Yoko Factor]]) and kidnaps a doctor to get the chip removed. Light: falls in love with Buffy and goes back to fighting on her side, this time in earnest; cries when she dies. Dark: gets into a mutually toxic DestructiveRomance with the depressed risen Buffy; nearly rapes her after she dumps him due to the blurred boundaries established in said relationship. Light: nearly gets himself killed earning his soul back to seek redemption; commits himself to fighting on Buffy's side again; ends up sacrificing his life to save the world.
91	*** By and large, Buffyverse takes the stance that though Spike may have genuinely loved while soulless and made a pretty big effort to defy his nature, he never quite could properly navigate morality without his soul, which often lead to him falling back on this trope. To his credit, once he has his soul, he remains firmly on the side of good--albeit in a KnightInSourArmor and GoodIsNotNice sort of way, though he cranks the FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire shtick [[ExaggeratedTrope Up to Eleven]] in the comics.
92	* Arvin Sloane from ''Series/{{Alias}}'' appears to go straight a few times (though whether the attempts were genuine is debatable) but he inevitably has to get involved with the prophecies of Rambaldi that he has an obsession with. One particularly disturbing scene has a {{Mook\|s}} who states that Rambaldi's ultimate plan was to become immortal, causing Sloane to snap at his shallowness and beat him to death. (While that season showed that Rambaldi's plan was far more than immortality, the next season showed that a key part of it ''was'' immortality, which Sloane pursued with disturbing gusto.)
93	* The tragedy of Londo Molari in ''Series/BabylonFive''. He is a good man at heart and frequently tries to use his influence for good or turn his back on the constant schemes of his old allies. But he is addicted to power, and it takes only slight nudges from his former friends or personal tragedies to have him forget about his ideals and the previous times he set loose an avalanche of events he couldn't stop.
94	* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Former chemistry teacher and ruthless meth kingpin Walter White always goes back to his meth business, regardless to how much danger he puts himself and his family in. [[spoiler:In the last season, he eventually decides to leave the drug business and try and regain some semblance of normalcy in his life. Naturally, his crimes are discovered by his brother-in-law in the DEA less than 24 hours later, forcing him to go back to being Heisenberg again.]]
95	** When we explore Saul Goodman (or Jimmy [=McGill=])'s backstory in the prequel ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', we find out this trope also very much applies to him. [[spoiler:His brother Chuck]] believes that he is incapable of being anything more than a conman due to [[spoiler:him swapping their parents' money since he was 9]], and tries to block him from joining HHM. While some of his later behavior is indeed due to [[spoiler:Chuck's mistrust and sabotage]], Jimmy actively screws up several legitimate chances to go legit and happily participates in scams, [[spoiler:which Howard noted in their final meeting]].
96	-->'''[[spoiler:Howard]]:''' Jimmy, you can't help yourself. [[spoiler:Chuck]] knew it. You were born that way.
97	* Sylar (a.k.a Gabriel Gray) from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' became quite familiar with this trope. The show tried to play around with [[TheAtoner the idea of redemption]] [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor somewhat inconsistently]] during Volume 3, but it didn't take, partially thanks to liberal amounts of [[WhatTheHellHero extreme]] [[ReformedButRejected rejected reform]], and soon enough he's back to his superpowered, sociopathic ways, only now with 90% more [[TallDarkAndSnarky snark]] [[spoiler: and a KidSidekick.]]
98	** After seeing his [[spoiler: biological father]] in a Volume 4 episode, however, this tendency might be part of a VillainousLineage. When Sylar displays his regenerative ability, [[spoiler: Daddy Gray, who is dying of lung cancer,]] tries to take it, even though he previously claimed to have gotten bored of killing and swore off it many years ago.
99	** His actions finally catch up with him by the end of the final season. His slew of trauma, murder, and issues all come to a head, and, as a last resort, he hunts down Parkman to have his mind wiped clean. Parkman isn't buying it and refuses until Sylar threatens his family.
100	-->'''Parkman''': The last time I was in your head, you turned my life into a living hell. What makes you think I'm gonna risk that?
101	-->'''Sylar''': Janice and the kid. I really do want to change. But I'm insane, remember? All I have to do is point.
102	* The killer in the ''Series/CriminalMinds'' episode "The Big Wheel" kills not because he wants to, but because he has a compulsive disorder forcing him to. The most he can do to stop himself is add the message "help me" to a video of one of his killings before sending it to the police. [[spoiler: It seems that, in the past, he'd been a genuinely heartless killer, but the son of one of his victims somehow sparked in him the last vestige of goodness and made him reform. Unfortunately, when the kid is about to move away, the stress of this causes murder compulsions to overwhelm him. Towards the end of the episode, he dies, but not before telling the kid "forgive me...".]] [[SympatheticMurderer Poor guy]].
103	* There was the guy from ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'', who he sent to jail. He comes back and asks Chris to help him complete high school. They succeed, but he goes back to robbing because it's more exciting than a real job.
104	* Happens both times the ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' team tries to use the [[HeelFaceBrainwashing retrovirus]] on Michael. The second time, they used it on a whole hive ship in addition to Michael. They just never learn.
105	* In later seasons, ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'''s recurring bad guy, Gul Dukat, was portrayed as being on a path of redemption or at least NobleDemon status, as he saved his mixed race daughter from slavery (despite cultural precepts which said he should have killed her) and fought against the newly antagonistic Klingons as they invaded his people (seemingly gaining an ounce of empathy after being the underdog for once). Unfortunately, he finds an opportunity to regain power on Cardassia, and reverts right back his tyrannical old self. When his plan is revealed and he betrays the good guys, he even lampshades how it never seemed quite right that they were on the same side. Later, after he has been defeated again and his daughter has been murdered in front of him, he has a HeelRealization and ''embraces'' it, going full CardCarryingVillain for the last part of the series.
106	* ''Series/GeneralHospital'': Manny Ruiz, an AxCrazy serial killer who terrorized Jason and Sam for months, is revealed to be suffering from a brain tumor that apparently caused his psychotic tendencies. When Patrick Drake removes said tumor, he's believed cured... but he soon returns to his villainous ways.
107	%%Zero Context Example* Played for drama in ''Series/TheSopranos'' with [[spoiler: Cousin Tony]].
108	* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' is a perfect example in the AssPull category of this trope. No matter how many times Sue Sylvester takes a liking to the club or helps them or shows some depth to her personality, it will be completely forgotten by her next appearance and she will always return to her scheming and villainy.
109	* ''Series/OnceUponATime'':
110	** Gold's arc is built over playing with this trope. He becomes too reliant on the power dark magic has to offer him, and eventually misses out on all the opportunities he had to become a good man and a hero, no matter what he had to sacrifice in order to get this opportunity (his wife, his child - twice, his second marriage...)
111	** Regina eventually subverts this trope, after spending most of seasons 1-2 being chronically evil.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Mythology & Religion]]
115	* UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} (particularly Orthodox) states that this is the main cause of people's suffering. As a consequence of the Fall of Man, people ''cannot help but sin'', unless they recognize this fault, repent, and overcome it with God's help.
116	* ''Literature/TheBible'': The Israelites, constantly. At the same time the Law is being given to Moses, they are busy violating several of its commands. Moses and Joshua are able to keep the nation orderly for some time, but when Joshua dies, it's straight to [[AnarchyIsChaos a lawless nightmare]] under the Judges. Eventually the monarchy is established, with David and Solomon as their good rulers, but during Solomon's later years the country reverts to tyranny, idolatry, and violence. You could probably count the number of good post-Solomon rulers on one hand. Eventually after the fall of the kingdom and their return to their land, Ezra and Nehemiah give speeches reminding the Israelites how many times they messed up.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Theater]]
120	* Theatre/{{Macbeth}} realizes several times, most prominently after the feast, the wrongness of what he's done and that he still has a chance to turn back. [[IgnoredEpiphany He doesn't.]]
121	* Similarly, Theatre/DoctorFaustus ''almost'' repents frequently throughout the play, but keeps convincing himself that he's too far gone, even when ''an angel'' tells him otherwise. Even as he's about to be sent to Hell for eternity, Faustus [[TooDumbToLive makes a speech begging to be given more time to live so he can repent, even though he could easily just repent then and there and save himself.]]
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Video Games]]
125	* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'''s [[spoiler: Kirei Kotomine]], so, so very much. He perfectly understands right and wrong, just the 'switch' inside humans where we [[GoodFeelsGood feel good for doing good]] is stuck [[EvilFeelsGood the other way]]. Did some evil, felt happy, realised he was doing evil, tried to do good, became a priest specialising in healing magic, and settled down with a family. His wife died, and he realised that all he felt was disappointment that he hadn't been able to kill her. He then realises that he is utterly unable to get any pleasure from life unless he's causing pain and suffering. From there, it just took a small push ([[SarcasmMode thank you]], [[Literature/FateZero Gilgamesh]]) for him to try to unleash every evil known to mankind on the world. When TheHero asks him why he's doing it, he replies with a speech that can be summed up as: [[ForTheEvulz "Just as some people find music or art entertaining, I can only find amusement in watching other people suffer."]]
126	* Michael in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. A former bank robber who {{retired\|Outlaw}} and went into WitnessProtection, he finds himself bored by civilian life and cannot come to terms with it, and therefore embellishing the financial troubles that his wife Amanda's spending gives him an excuse to easily justify his wish to return to a life of crime.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Webcomics]]
130	* As mentioned under ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder, this is a recurring problem for reforming mad scientists in ''Webcomic/AMiracleOfScience''; the medication makes their heads fuzzy so they can't think clearly, and they tend to abandon it and relapse. In the words of one, "When you're a [[MadScientist recovering mad scientist]], you're always afraid you'll lose control and wake up some morning with a half-built [[TimeTravel time machine]] and [[ThePlan a plan to go back in time]] and [[HitlersTimeTravelExemptionAct pants Hitler]]..."
131	* Oasis suffers from this in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''. Even when she resists her [[{{Yandere}} insane obsession with Torg]] and fights crime, she's still a particularly brutal [[VigilanteMan Vigilante Woman]] who's a little too callous about slaughtering dozens of people. Her assassin instincts even kick in during mundane tasks, such as when she makes pancakes and "doesn't stir the batter so much as stab it lots."
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Web Original]]
135	* ''Literature/{{Defection}}'': Keanan's mother, one of the higher ups on the list of big bads, tells him that she isn't a villain because she wants to be, but because she is insane.
136	* To be fair to the woman, WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick ''has'' tried to be a good person before, and she ''does'' still have PetTheDog moments. She's just so miserable in life and willing to crawl back into a bottle because she's lonely that it just never really lasts.
137	* ''WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses'': Invoked by the title character.
138	-->'''Ask That Guy''': [[PetTheDog Every now and then I get these little slips of humanity]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk but I make sure to crush them as soon as possible.]]
139	* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'': Flippy manages to get rid of his SuperpoweredEvilSide in "Autopsy Turvy", but "On My Mind" showed that Evil Flippy's destruction was undone by SnapBack just like all the other deaths on the show.
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Western Animation]]
143	* {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', where the Trickster returns to his obsessions and is talked down from it by Franchise/TheFlash.
144	-->'''The Flash:''' ''(admonishingly) James''... You're off your meds, aren't you?\
145	'''The Trickster:''' [[NoMedicationForMe Better off without 'em!]] Take 'em if I start feeling down.\
146	'''The Flash:''' You know that's not how the medicine works. You're not well!\
147	'''The Trickster:''' I'm ''fine''! ''(brightening up)'' You wanna throw some darts?\
148	'''The Flash:''' No. ''({{beat}})'' Listen, James, you're wearing the suit again!\
149	'''The Trickster:''' I ''am''? ''(looking down at his costume)'' Well, what do you know...
150	* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', we have Jet, a character with [[FreudianExcuse justified obsessions]] with taking down the Fire Nation, and [[WellIntentionedExtremist incredibly unjustified actions]] towards that aim. Eventually, he decides to stop and [[IJustWantToBeNormal try to live a normal life]] as a refugee. However, [[spoiler:upon discovering that Zuko and Iroh are Fire Nation (they were technically lying about being escaped Earth Kingdom POW's, but were still harmless nonetheless), [[CassandraTruth his attempts to convince others of this fall on deaf ears]], and his obsessions get the better of him, eventually resulting in him openly attacking them in a crowded shop, getting arrested, Brainwashed, [[BrainwashedandCrazy sent to kill the Avatar]], and eventually KilledOffForReal]]. Ouch.
151	* In ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'', Wrath-Amon's [[TheDragon Dragon]], Windfang, discovered a spell that would restore him to his human form. Soon after, he returned to his homeland, accompanied by Conan and his companions, to reclaim the throne. Unfortunately, two hundred years had passed since he became Windfang, and the entire kingdom, including the woman he loved, was long since gone. After Wrath-Amon found him and demanded that he return with him, the poor guy surrendered without a fight, now knowing that he had nothing to go back to.
152	* In the ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'' episode "Tobey Goes Good", Tobey [=McCallister=] III finally realizes that, to win [=WordGirl=]'s affections, he must convert to the side of truth and justice. However, this is completely wiped away once his completely superior, humongous robot loses "The Young Inventors Challenge and Friendly Competition" to a combined apple and egg slicer because the judge liked the free food.
153	--> '''Tobey''': I have to hand it to you, Word Girl, you were right about me. I hadn't changed into a ''no-good do-gooder!'' Quickly wipes a tear away It doesn't pay to be nice! After all, try to be nice -- not destroy things -- and look at what happens! You end up losing to an ''egg-slicer!''
154	* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' had an episode where the villain Jack Spicer realizes that BeingEvilSucks, and offers to study with the heroes at the temple and become a Xiaolin monk himself. His greed and ambition eventually get the better of him when he's presented with an opportunity to steal their ''Shen Gong Wu''. The rules of a subsequent Xiaolin Showdown force him to talk to Omi about his betrayal and admit that he really was trying to reform. In an even straighter example of the trope, the only reason he ran away was because he was afraid that he was not good at being good, and [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption failure was the only option]]. Maybe Spicer's a bit smarter than we'd guess.
155	* A ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode had him befriending [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSheldonPlankton Sheldon Plankton]]. Everything seemed fine until Plankton steals a krabby patty.
156	* TheMovie of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' portrayed this trope tragically with the Delightful Children. The brainwashing Father put them under is so incredibly powerful and rooted deep into them that any attempts to undo it would be temporary at best, and they'll morph back into their evil selves. They cannot be good because they are forever under Father's influence.
157	* Remy Buxaplenty on ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' makes a truce with Timmy at the end of one episode. In his next appearance, he uses Timmy's new-found trust to trick him into his latest scheme.
158	* Yuck, Yin and Yang's EvilTwin from ''WesternAnimation/YinYangYo'', ends up succumbing to this due to a particularly vicious case of ReformedButRejected from the two, culminating in beating him senseless at his unveiling of a statue dedicated to their new friendship, destroying the statue in the process.
159	* In one ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'' episode, Snaptrap falls in love with Dudley's mom and quits D.O.O.M. and joins T.U.F.F. for her. However, he has trouble with the whole "good guys don't steal" thing, and he keeps letting all the bad guys get away.
160	* [[Characters/PhineasAndFerbHeinzDoofenshmirtz Dr. Doofenshmirtz]] of ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' has twice attempted to quit villainy. The first attempt involved becoming a cheese maker, but that went south when Perry the Platypus, in a moment of weakness, ate the world's tastiest cheese Doof prepared while the doc's back was turned. This led Doof to use his cheese-aging 'inator for evil in response. The second attempt was in 'Agent Doof'; There, Doof joined the OWCA, but became a HeroWithAnFInGood, and subsequently fired. This time, however, he's elated to hear Major Monogram state that Doof was more of a threat inside the organization than outside it and went back to villainy thinking he still had it. [[spoiler:He turns good for real in the SeriesFinale.]]
161	* ''Franchise/{{Ben10}}'':
162	** This [[WhatCouldHaveBeen was intended to happen]] to [[TheAtoner Kevin]] in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'': the writers originally intended to have him starting to use his energy absorption powers in season 3, which would have [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity caused him to gradually turn evil again]], and, despite trying to resist the urge, eventually turn back into [[EvilCounterpart Kevin 11]]. This plot was however rejected by Cartoon Network in favour of bringing back [[ArchEnemy Vilgax]]. Eventually, the idea was accepted for season 1 of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', but with several changes, including [[spoiler:Kevin reforming again at the end]].
163	** In ''Ultimate Alien'', the Vreedle Brothers were last seen having reformed from their life of crime and became [[SpacePolice Plumbers]], even ending up opposing their mother when she tried taking them back in crime. Comes ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'', we learn they ended up blowing up the Plumber Academy for fun, left and became thugs again.
164	* A particularly sadistic example in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'', where Dr. Hugo Strange eventually succeeds in curing the Ventriloquist from his insanity. The guy immediately tries to go back to a normal life... but Strange, [[PsychoPsychologist being who he is]], immediately works to ruin his life and turn him insane again for the sole sake of seeing how it'll turn out. By the end of the episode, he is back to being a criminal.
165	* [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]] in ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'' is cured from his mutation into the Goblin at the end of "Venom's Bomb". As he is trying to get back to a normal life, he genuinely attempts to make up for his crimes, tries to be a better father to Harry, and even becomes a super-hero as Iron Patriot. Sadly, a few episodes later, Dr Octopus, still trying to get revenge on him, kidnaps him and turns him back into the Goblin.
166	* In ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Princess Quasar Caterpillar and the Magic Bell", Ludo is trying to give up his evil ways, particularly the part where he tries to steal a magical artifact from a princess. It becomes an uphill battle when his well-meaning brother Dennis begins rebuilding his castle from Season 1 ''and'' hires some of Ludo's old minions to help.
167	* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': After the [[{{Jerkass}} Spiteful Brake Van]] torments Douglas by deliberately making his trains late, [[BigBrotherInstinct Donald]] confronts him on it. The Spiteful Brake Van stops his ways for a while, but then he tries to do his same shtick ''again'' when Douglas is trying to assist James on Gordon's hill. Needless to say, the Spiteful Brake Van [[AssholeVictim ends up getting crushed by Douglas for his troubles]].
168	* ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019'':
169	** Psycho has a severe empathy deficiency that makes it difficult for him to tell when he's crossing the line from socially-acceptable evil to the [[EvenEvilHasStandards unacceptable kind]]. As such, he tends to treat the crew as his prosthetic conscience. Come season 2, he begins to feel that his time with the crew has caused him to become progressively less villainous, leading him to try to return to villainy by attempting to convince Harley to TakeOverTheWorld. [[spoiler:He then splits from the crew after Harley gets cold feet and turns on them to attempt to rule the world himself.]]
170	** The amnesiac Joker quickly showed potential hints of the start of this, as his normal laugh grows crazier and longer as time goes on. [[spoiler: Whether he'd have actually relapsed is rendered moot when Harley shoves him into the same chemical vat that birthed him in the first place so he'll regain his memories.]]
171	* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': Chip Whistler, [[spoiler:after surviving his seeming death,]] attempts to go straight when he learns the Greens have moved out of Big City. He adopts the new identity of [[PunnyName Norm Alguy]], gets a day job, and even gets a girlfriend too. As his new life continues though, he finds it’s becoming incredibly routine and unsatisfying, and after a chance encounter with a family who reminds him of the Greens and a [[TalkingtoThemself little chat]] with his own dark reflection, he renews his vow of vengeance on the Green Family and their friends and continues to conspire against them from the shadows.
172	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ChronicVillainy