| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16739871480.51167900 |
| 3 | %% Please don't add or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heel_face_thumbnail.png]] |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | |
| 8 | -> ''You can't believe all the things I've done wrong in my life.\ |
| 9 | Without even trying, I've lived on the edge of a knife.\ |
| 10 | When I play with fire,\ |
| 11 | I don't want to get myself burned.\ |
| 12 | To thine own self be true,\ |
| 13 | So I think that it's time for a turn....'' |
| 14 | -->-- '''Music/TwistedSister''', "Burn In Hell" |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Tropes about characters shifting on the morality axis, redemption and corruption. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | See SortingAlgorithmOfFaceHeelTurning for a sheet of factors figuring into the probability of a turn. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | This is a sub-index of BetrayalTropes. Spoilers abound. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | ---- |
| 23 | !!Tropes: |
| 24 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 25 | |
| 26 | [[folder:Good to Evil]] |
| 27 | [[index]] |
| 28 | * AbandonmentInducedAnimosity \ |
| 29 | Either by accident or on purpose, a character was left behind (possibly for dead) by their allies. They have hard feelings for those characters for a long time after. |
| 30 | * AdaptationalVillainy \ |
| 31 | An adaptation of a work makes a character more villainous than they were in the source material. |
| 32 | * BaitTheDog \ |
| 33 | A character set up to be the more 'charming' type of evil is revealed to be much nastier than their initial impression. |
| 34 | * BecameTheirOwnAntithesis \ |
| 35 | The character has changed so much that an alignment shift is the logical conclusion of his CharacterDevelopment. |
| 36 | * BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil \ |
| 37 | A character who undergoes prolonged torture [[DespairEventHorizon gives up on their ideals and morality]] and joins Team Evil. |
| 38 | * BewareTheNiceOnes (sometimes) \ |
| 39 | A gentle, sweet, or polite character shows a nasty side. |
| 40 | * BeyondRedemption \ |
| 41 | A hero tries to make a villain turn good, but eventually gives up. |
| 42 | * BigBadSlippage \ |
| 43 | A character didn't start the story as a villain, but slowly becomes the BigBad. |
| 44 | * BreakTheCutie (sometimes) \ |
| 45 | Destroying ThePollyanna's optimism just ''might'' turn them evil. |
| 46 | * CameBackWrong (sometimes)\ |
| 47 | An alignment change can be one of the ways in which the resurrected character is now "wrong". |
| 48 | * CantTakeCriticism (sometimes)\ |
| 49 | A character who resents those who point out his flaws may double down and become even worse. |
| 50 | * CharacterDerailment \ |
| 51 | Either, technically, but good to evil is more common because it's [[AssPull more of a surprise]]. |
| 52 | * ChronicVillainy \ |
| 53 | All attempts at a genuine HeelFaceTurn are unsuccessful. |
| 54 | * LesCollaborateurs\ |
| 55 | Opportunistic traitors who willingly betray their own country by serving an enemy nation, especially an occupying power. |
| 56 | * CreateYourOwnVillain \ |
| 57 | TheHero was liable for a character becoming evil. |
| 58 | * CorruptChurch \ |
| 59 | A once SaintlyChurch becomes bad. |
| 60 | * CorruptTheCutie\ |
| 61 | The gentle, sweet, and kind character begins a slow creep toward the dark side, losing what made them appealing in the process. |
| 62 | * DarkerAndEdgier \ |
| 63 | A "gritty" reboot turns a formerly strait-laced hero more grey and {{Anti Hero}}ish. |
| 64 | * DerailingLoveInterests (sometimes) \ |
| 65 | The author turns Bob evil in order to facilitate Alice's relationship with Charlie (see {{Demonization}}). |
| 66 | * DespairEventHorizon (sometimes) \ |
| 67 | A character abandons their ethics because they've lost all hope. |
| 68 | * DirtyCop \ |
| 69 | A cop turns against the people they swore to protect and serve. |
| 70 | * DrunkOnTheDarkSide \ |
| 71 | [[EvilFeelsGood Evil is just so orgasmic]] that a character can't get enough. |
| 72 | * DrunkWithPower \ |
| 73 | A normally level-headed character gets a taste of power and becomes a {{Jerkass}}. |
| 74 | * EtTuBrute \ |
| 75 | A hero's loved ones, particularly [[TrueCompanions their friends]], have all turned their backs on them. |
| 76 | * EvilFormerFriend\ |
| 77 | A hero's best friend is now his worst enemy. |
| 78 | * EvilWelcomesDefectors\ |
| 79 | If you turn to evil, other evil people will easily accept you into their ranks. |
| 80 | * FaceHeelTurn\ |
| 81 | The general trope for any morality switch from good to evil. |
| 82 | * FaceMonsterTurn\ |
| 83 | Being forced to turn evil by factors beyond one's own free will. |
| 84 | * FaithHeelTurn \ |
| 85 | A character crosses the DespairEventHorizon after learning that their religious beliefs are false or mistaken. |
| 86 | * FallenAngel \ |
| 87 | An angel rebels against Heaven, often becoming evil in the process, and is cast out. |
| 88 | * FallenHero \ |
| 89 | A once-respected hero turns evil, which often sets up a CryForTheDevil. |
| 90 | * ForcedIntoEvil \ |
| 91 | A character does evil deeds because someone or something else is giving them no other choice. |
| 92 | * GainingTheWillToKill\ |
| 93 | A pacifist becomes a killer. |
| 94 | * GoMadFromTheApocalypse\ |
| 95 | The trauma of the living in a post-apocalypse makes a person a danger to themselves and others. |
| 96 | * GoodGirlGoneBad\ |
| 97 | A female character goes from good to bad [[MoralEventHorizon going through]] [[BreakTheCutie some hard experiences]]. |
| 98 | * GoMadFromTheRevelation \ |
| 99 | A character driven insane because they saw something [[ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow humans were not meant to see]] often loses their morality in the process. |
| 100 | * HeWhoFightsMonsters \ |
| 101 | Mentally steeling yourself to fight evil might destroy your ethics. |
| 102 | * IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim \ |
| 103 | A character [[ThouShaltNotKill will not kill]] their enemies because that would make them a killer too. |
| 104 | * IfYouTauntHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim \ |
| 105 | A character refuses to get back at a bully or a {{Jerkass}} because that would make them no better than the bullies or jerkass. |
| 106 | * JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope \ |
| 107 | A character goes evil ''very'' quickly after doing some warned-against but otherwise innocuous thing. |
| 108 | * TheKillerInMe \ |
| 109 | One of the protagonists has been the villain the whole time -- which can be as much of a shock to them as to everyone else. |
| 110 | * KnightTemplar \ |
| 111 | An evil character is firmly convinced they're on the side of Good. |
| 112 | * LawmanGoneBad \ |
| 113 | A character whose job is to uphold the law goes lawless themselves. |
| 114 | * LoveMakesYouEvil\ |
| 115 | Nothing throws off a character's moral compass like the existence of another person for whom they would do ''anything''. (related tropes are LoveMakesYouCrazy and GreenEyedMonster). |
| 116 | * MoralEventHorizon \ |
| 117 | The moment when a character loses the audience's sympathy forever by doing something unforgivably evil. |
| 118 | * MoralPragmatist \ |
| 119 | A character does evil because they think it'll help a goal. They'll switch sides if you convince them otherwise. |
| 120 | * MoreThanMindControl \ |
| 121 | A character did something evil because of {{Brainwashing}} but they also did it willingly, if only slightly. |
| 122 | * NotBrainwashed \ |
| 123 | A character did something evil because of "{{Brainwashing}}", but then we find out they were acting on their own free will the entire time. |
| 124 | * NotSoHarmlessVillain \ |
| 125 | A comedic, laughable villain is revealed to be much more threatening than he originally seemed. |
| 126 | * TheParagonAlwaysRebels \ |
| 127 | Where even a savior figure can become evil, because of the drama inherent in that. |
| 128 | * PeerPressureMakesYouEvil \ |
| 129 | When a character's morally shady friends influence him to lower his own moral standards. |
| 130 | * ProtagonistJourneyToVillain \ |
| 131 | Surprise! That innocent fellow you were following from the start is now a villain. |
| 132 | * PullTheTriggerProvocation \ |
| 133 | A character is wavering over an irrevocable act such as killing when they are suddenly pushed over the edge. Often the beginning or ending of a journey to becoming a villain. |
| 134 | * APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil \ |
| 135 | The lament of a mentor figure who had a student who used to be good, but no longer. |
| 136 | * ReforgedIntoAMinion \ |
| 137 | Forced to abandon your friend? Now the BigBad has twisted them into his [[TheDragon Dragon]]. |
| 138 | * RevengeThroughCorruption \ |
| 139 | Where a villain gets revenge on a character by making their loved ones evil, insane, and/or under the villain's control. |
| 140 | * RivalTurnedEvil \ |
| 141 | A once-respectable, if persistent, opponent gradually becomes more evil, turning their existing antagonism/competition into something more serious. |
| 142 | ** RivalFinalBoss \ |
| 143 | And apart of above, the rival becomes the final obstacle to defeat. |
| 144 | * RonTheDeathEater \ |
| 145 | {{Demonization}} renders a heroic character evil in order to suit the author's purposes. |
| 146 | * TheSmartOneTurnsTraitor \ |
| 147 | When even the smartest or wisest member of a group can become evil, because of the drama inherent in the change of alignment. |
| 148 | * SuddenSequelHeelSyndrome \ |
| 149 | A heroic character becomes an outright villain in a sequel to a work. |
| 150 | ** RogueProtagonist \ |
| 151 | The heroic protagonist of another story is now the antagonist in this one. |
| 152 | * StartOfDarkness \ |
| 153 | The tale of a character's slow but inevitable plunge into black villainy. Often this is the backstory of someone we already know as a villain, making his alignment change a ForegoneConclusion. |
| 154 | ** AmbiguousStartOfDarkness \ |
| 155 | The tale leaves it ambiguous whether the character 'turned' evil at all (they may have simply been bad from the start). |
| 156 | * ThenLetMeBeEvil \ |
| 157 | Treat a character like a villain long enough and they'll decide they might as well become one. |
| 158 | * TookALevelInJerkass \ |
| 159 | A once-[[NiceGuy gentle and kind-hearted character]] turns into a rude and callous {{Jerkass}}. |
| 160 | * TrappedByGamblingDebts \ |
| 161 | A character is forced into serving the one who holds their debt, often a criminal organization who makes them do their dirty work. |
| 162 | * UsedToBeASweetKid \ |
| 163 | A character started out as a happy and fun-loving child when they were little, but were corrupted and driven to the dark side as they got older (sometimes being the result of a {{Freudian Excuse}}). |
| 164 | * VillainCorner \ |
| 165 | A character, not quite a Heel yet, is rapidly being pushed in that direction. |
| 166 | * WeUsedToBeFriends \ |
| 167 | Two friends become enemies after one of them turns into a Heel. |
| 168 | * WhatTheHellHero \ |
| 169 | The story calls the [[TheHero heroic protagonist]] out for doing something morally shady. Unless they heeds the warning and immediately takes steps to correct their behavior, this is often the first step towards a full FaceHeelTurn. |
| 170 | * WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity \ |
| 171 | A character gains enormous power at the cost of their sanity, which usually means the loss of their morality too. |
| 172 | * WellIntentionedExtremist \ |
| 173 | A character has noble goals but takes ignoble actions to accomplish them. |
| 174 | * WhosLaughingNow \ |
| 175 | A ButtMonkey or TheWoobie turns evil in order to get respect or take revenge on his tormentors. |
| 176 | [[/folder]] |
| 177 | |
| 178 | [[folder:Neutral to Aligned]] |
| 179 | * AdoptTheDog\ |
| 180 | A character with no real stake in the fight takes an interest in Team Good. |
| 181 | * NeutralNoLonger\ |
| 182 | The general trope for any morality switch from neutral to good or neutral to evil. |
| 183 | ** AwakeningTheSleepingGiant\ |
| 184 | The heroes or villains do something to arouse the enmity of a powerful but neutral faction. |
| 185 | ** HeroicNeutral\ |
| 186 | A hero who would just as soon be ''left alone'' becomes involved in the plot. |
| 187 | ** DefaultToGood\ |
| 188 | If the plot comes down to whether an unaligned loner will choose Team Good or Team Evil, they will almost always choose Team Good. |
| 189 | * LonerTurnedFriend \ |
| 190 | A solitary character becomes a member of a group of friends/allies. |
| 191 | [[/folder]] |
| 192 | |
| 193 | [[folder:Evil to Good]] |
| 194 | * AdaptationalHeroism\ |
| 195 | A nasty character is changed to a good guy in an adaptation. |
| 196 | * AmnesiacVillainJoinsTheHeroes\ |
| 197 | A villain working for the heroes and is in the good side only because they forgot their own identity and their past. |
| 198 | * AscendedDemon\ |
| 199 | A demon becomes a heroic, angelic/holy being. |
| 200 | * TheAtoner\ |
| 201 | A villainous character turns good in an attempt to make up for the pain they caused while evil. |
| 202 | * BecauseYouWereNiceToMe\ |
| 203 | Because a hero stopped to save a {{Mook}} or even [[SaveTheVillain the villain]], they pay them back and possibly even switch sides. |
| 204 | * BefriendingTheEnemy\ |
| 205 | A good character tries to become an evil or antagonistic character's friend to act as an emotional crutch for them and turn them good. |
| 206 | * BeingEvilSucks\ |
| 207 | An evil character realizes that being evil is making them miserable. |
| 208 | * BreakTheHaughty\ |
| 209 | A proud character gets some much-deserved comeuppance and learns humility, becoming a kinder person. |
| 210 | * BullyTurnedBuddy \ |
| 211 | A character who was once a bully turns over a new leaf, and becomes friends with their former victim. |
| 212 | * CopiedTheMoralsToo\ |
| 213 | Some type of EvilKnockoff of the hero is made for sinister purposes, but it turns out to have the hero's morality as well and doesn't go through with ThePlan. |
| 214 | * ConspiracyRedemption \ |
| 215 | When a {{Knight Templar}}ish (or just plain assholish) organization as a whole goes from evil to good, or at least to ALighterShadeOfGray. |
| 216 | * ContagiousHeroism\ |
| 217 | When the hero's morality rubs off on his less scrupulous co-worker (contrast PeerPressureMakesYouEvil). |
| 218 | * CreateYourOwnHero\ |
| 219 | The villain's is responsible for someone deciding to do good. |
| 220 | * CuriosityCausesConversion\ |
| 221 | "What's the good guy got that makes them so special? I must find out." |
| 222 | * DefeatMeansFriendship\ |
| 223 | The defeat of a villain causes them to change their evil ways, often to take up the heroes' way instead. |
| 224 | * DefeatMeansRespect\ |
| 225 | The defeat of a villain causes them to develop a healthy respect for the hero, even if they don't change their ways. |
| 226 | * DefectorFromDecadence\ |
| 227 | When a character defects from Team Evil because they no longer find it satisfying. |
| 228 | * DefendsAgainstTheirOwnKind\ |
| 229 | When a character from usually villainous, powered group X protects members of neutral or good group Y from evil members of group X. |
| 230 | * DefusingTheTykeBomb\ |
| 231 | A character sympathizes with [[TykeBomb a messed-up kid who's used as a weapon]]and tries to turn them to the side of good. |
| 232 | * DeliverUsFromEvil\ |
| 233 | A villain switches to Team Good because she's pregnant and does ''not'' want her child to end up like her. |
| 234 | ** BadassDecay \ |
| 235 | Which can result in an IneffectualSympatheticVillain. |
| 236 | * DracoInLeatherPants\ |
| 237 | A portion of the fanbase or an in-universe crowd sees the character as a hero, but it's all in their minds. |
| 238 | * EasilyForgiven\ |
| 239 | Other characters don't hold the villain's misdeeds against them. |
| 240 | * EvenMooksHaveLovedOnes\ |
| 241 | A villainous underling defects to protect the people they care about. |
| 242 | * EvenEvilHasStandards \ |
| 243 | There are lines even a villain won't cross. |
| 244 | * EvilRedeemedInACan\ |
| 245 | That SealedEvilInACan? It's reformed itself. |
| 246 | * FaceRealization\ |
| 247 | A supposed villain realizes they're actually a good person. |
| 248 | * ForgivenButNotForgotten \ |
| 249 | The villain is forgiven ''this'' time, but they're reminded they ''won't'' be if it happens again. |
| 250 | * GetOutOfJailFreeCard\ |
| 251 | A villain who has reformed is spared the punishment they rightfully deserve for former misdeeds. |
| 252 | * GoAndSinNoMore\ |
| 253 | A villain realizes the error of their ways and prepares for punishment from the hero. Instead, the hero lets them go and tells them to atone for what they've done. |
| 254 | * GoodFeelsGood\ |
| 255 | A villain learns that being good leads to greater happiness. |
| 256 | * HeelFaceBrainwashing\ |
| 257 | The heroes use mind control or similar devices to turn an evil character good. |
| 258 | * HeelFaceReincarnation\ |
| 259 | A villain is reincarnated as a good person. |
| 260 | * HeelFaceReturn\ |
| 261 | A character who left the story as a villain returns as a hero. |
| 262 | * HeelFaceTown\ |
| 263 | The WretchedHive becomes the ShiningCity. |
| 264 | * HeelFaceTurn\ |
| 265 | The general trope for any morality switch from evil to good. |
| 266 | * HeelFaithTurn\ |
| 267 | Religion or a religious experience turns a character from evil to good. |
| 268 | * HeelRaceTurn \ |
| 269 | An entire race of people goes from evil to good. |
| 270 | * HeelRealization\ |
| 271 | An evil character admits (if only to oneself) that their actions are evil. |
| 272 | * HighHeelFaceTurn\ |
| 273 | If the villain has only one female associate, she will betray them. |
| 274 | * IgnorantMinion \ |
| 275 | A minion who is clueless about his employer's true villainous nature, and who may jump ship at once when the truth is out. |
| 276 | * InLoveWithTheMark\ |
| 277 | "I was sent to destroy you, but I just couldn't do it." |
| 278 | * KarmaHoudini (sometimes)\ |
| 279 | A villain who escapes the consequences of his villainy might step back and reevaluate his life. |
| 280 | * KarmicNod (sometimes)\ |
| 281 | Whenever RedemptionEqualsAffliction and the villain gets struck by LaserGuidedKarma, they accept it as a fair punishment and they become more humble for it. |
| 282 | * KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand\ |
| 283 | The hero offers their antagonist a chance to kill them, knowing the other person isn't so far gone as to commit murder. |
| 284 | * LittleBrotherIsWatching\ |
| 285 | A villain converts because they don't want someone who looks up to them to also become a villain. |
| 286 | * LoveRedeems\ |
| 287 | The hero's unconditional love for another makes them change their evil ways. |
| 288 | ** DefectingForLove\ |
| 289 | A (usually female) character who's on the evil side falls in love with the hero and joins his side. |
| 290 | * MinionWithAnFInEvil \ |
| 291 | A {{Mook|s}} who simply doesn't know ''how'' to be evil, even if they want to be. |
| 292 | * MookFaceTurn\ |
| 293 | The villain's loyal followers become the hero's loyal allies. |
| 294 | ** MistreatmentInducedBetrayal\ |
| 295 | The villain's loyal followers defect to the hero after the villain makes it clear they don't care ''what'' happens to them. |
| 296 | * MonsterAdventurers\ |
| 297 | Creatures who are generally disposable {{Mooks}} decide they want the PlotArmor that comes with being a hero. |
| 298 | * MustMakeAmends\ |
| 299 | A character who has done an evil act seeks to make it right. |
| 300 | * MyGodWhatHaveIDone\ |
| 301 | A character's HeelRealization delivers a weight of remorse, which may drive them toward the path of atonement. |
| 302 | * ThePardon \ |
| 303 | A character's past misdeeds have all been forgiven and forgotten. Will they decide now is the time to leave their old life and start over as a good person? |
| 304 | * PositiveFriendInfluence\ |
| 305 | A character helps their friends to overcome issues and grow as people. |
| 306 | * PowerOfTrust\ |
| 307 | After seeing that the hero trust them, the villain decides they want to live up to that faith. |
| 308 | * PredatorTurnedProtector \ |
| 309 | A character normally preying on something now chooses to protect them. |
| 310 | * RapePortrayedAsRedemption\ |
| 311 | Characters who are raped automatically have a change in their behavior. |
| 312 | * TheRedeemer \ |
| 313 | A character who is capable of getting many people to make a HeelFaceTurn. |
| 314 | * RedemptionDemotion \ |
| 315 | A character who is overwhelmingly powerful as a villain becomes merely average as a hero. |
| 316 | * RedemptionEarnsLife\ |
| 317 | Convert and live. |
| 318 | * RedemptionEqualsAffliction\ |
| 319 | Convert and suffer crippling injury or a huge loss. |
| 320 | * RedemptionEqualsDeath\ |
| 321 | Convert and die, but at least you won't die evil. |
| 322 | ** DeathEqualsRedemption\ |
| 323 | The inversion of this trope where a villain dies and is redeemed posthumously. |
| 324 | * RedemptionEqualsSex\ |
| 325 | Convert and you'll get some. |
| 326 | * RedemptionInTheRain\ |
| 327 | Convert and let the rain metaphorically wash you clean. |
| 328 | * RedemptionPromotion \ |
| 329 | A comedic, ineffectual villain becomes a badass once they start fighting for good. |
| 330 | * RedemptionQuest\ |
| 331 | A former villain accepts an ImpossibleTask or other difficult quest in hope of earning forgiveness. |
| 332 | * ReformationAcknowledgement\ |
| 333 | Someone acknowledges that a character has been reformed. |
| 334 | * ReformedBully\ |
| 335 | A former bully has become a nicer person. |
| 336 | * ReformedButNotTamed\ |
| 337 | A character joins the side of good while retaining his villainous qualities. |
| 338 | * ReformedButRejected\ |
| 339 | A villain seeking redemption finds that no one trusts them. |
| 340 | * ReformedCriminal\ |
| 341 | A former expert in law-breaking now spends his time catching lawbreakers. |
| 342 | * RegretfulTraitor\ |
| 343 | The betrayer has second thoughts and tries to make amends to those they betrayed. |
| 344 | * RestoredMyFaithInHumanity\ |
| 345 | A character who believes that HumansAreBastards soon comes to the realization that [[RousseauWasRight they aren't.]] |
| 346 | * ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight\ |
| 347 | A heroic character listens to what their heart tells them as the morally right decision in order to defect bureaucratic laws. |
| 348 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere\ |
| 349 | A villain's less-evil forces decide the master's evil cause isn't worth dying for. |
| 350 | * SexFaceTurn\ |
| 351 | Sex with the hero converts the villain to the side of good. |
| 352 | * SidingWithTheSuffering\ |
| 353 | A villain's sidekick becomes good after they realize how much pain their boss is causing. |
| 354 | * SymbioticPossession \ |
| 355 | A {{demon|icPossession}} (or any other sentient force) takes control of a person's body, but the host manages to befriend them, turning them into an ally. |
| 356 | * TearsOfRemorse\ |
| 357 | An evil character's potential for redemption shows when they shed tears over an evil action. |
| 358 | * TookALevelInKindness\ |
| 359 | A once [[{{Jerkass}} cruel and unfriendly character]] becomes a NiceGuy. |
| 360 | * VillainousBSOD\ |
| 361 | A villain overcome with the weight of their evil deeds may become a hero to atone for them. |
| 362 | * WelcomeBackTraitor\ |
| 363 | A character who betrayed the team is EasilyForgiven. |
| 364 | * WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove\ |
| 365 | A villain feels love for the first time and is shaken out of their evil ways. |
| 366 | * WhiteSheep\ |
| 367 | A good character has difficulty fitting in with his evil family, and often turns against them. |
| 368 | * WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility\ |
| 369 | A character gains vast power and then develops a correspondingly large sense of obligation to use it for good. |
| 370 | * WorthyOpponent\ |
| 371 | When the hero and the villain begin to operate more-or-less from the same side, while remaining rivals. |
| 372 | [[/folder]] |
| 373 | |
| 374 | [[folder:Either]] |
| 375 | * AmbiguouslyEvil\ |
| 376 | A character appears to be a villain, but has yet to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| 377 | * AwakeningTheSleepingGiant\ |
| 378 | The villains (or heroes) turn a powerful but neutral third party against them. |
| 379 | * BecomingTheMask\ |
| 380 | A character pretending to be a {{Face}} or {{Heel}} is no longer pretending. |
| 381 | * BreakupBreakout\ |
| 382 | Characters who used to be partners split up as one becomes more popular. |
| 383 | * ChoosingNeutrality\ |
| 384 | A good or evil character aligns to the neutral side. |
| 385 | * EasyEvangelism\ |
| 386 | A character easily converts to a different side. |
| 387 | * NobleDemon\ |
| 388 | A villain who isn't 'good' but who never goes all that far into evil. |
| 389 | * TemporarilyAVillain\ |
| 390 | Going from hero to villain and back. |
| 391 | \ |
| 392 | The alignment change of an individual character may be caused by (or have repercussions on) their relationship with others. |
| 393 | * BringThemAround\ |
| 394 | A hero or villain switching sides needs to convince his underlings to join them. |
| 395 | * DefectorFromDecadence\ |
| 396 | A former member of a villainous (or heroic) group switches sides because they no longer enjoy being a member. |
| 397 | * EpiphanyTherapy\ |
| 398 | Allies help a character overcome a personal/psychological issue which is affecting his moral development. |
| 399 | * EvilIsEasy \ |
| 400 | Will you take the easy and fast way to the top, or the long, hard, and more rewarding way? Evil people will choose the former. |
| 401 | * FaceHeelDoubleTurn\ |
| 402 | A hero turns evil at the same time as a villain turns good. |
| 403 | * FakeDefector \ |
| 404 | ''Appearing'' to go evil (or good) without a real morality change. |
| 405 | * FreakOut\ |
| 406 | Suffering a permanent alignment change due to unbearable mental/physical/psychological stress. |
| 407 | * FreudianExcuse \ |
| 408 | Where the turn is caused by a traumatic childhood incident. Letting it go unchecked tends to leads to a FaceHeelTurn, treating it tends to lead to a HeelFaceTurn. |
| 409 | * GoingNative\ |
| 410 | A character adopts the customs and morality of a group which they were originally sent to infiltrate. |
| 411 | * HazyFeelTurn \ |
| 412 | Switching sides in a situation where neither side is particularly good or evil. |
| 413 | * HeelFaceRevolvingDoor \ |
| 414 | Unable to decide whether you're good or evil. |
| 415 | * HeritageFaceTurn \ |
| 416 | Switching sides in a situation where one realizes they are related to the opposing side through birth or heritage. |
| 417 | * IdentityBreakdown \ |
| 418 | Depending on the identity the character settles on, can lead to any sort of character realignment. |
| 419 | * KarmaMeter\ |
| 420 | "By kicking that dog, you earned 20 Villain Points!" |
| 421 | * LiteralChangeOfHeart\ |
| 422 | Effecting morality change by removing a bad heart and replacing it with a good one (or vice versa). |
| 423 | * MirrorMoralityMachine\ |
| 424 | AppliedPhlebotinum changes a character to the opposite of what they were before. |
| 425 | * MoralityAdjustment\ |
| 426 | Becoming more or less of a hero/villain without making an alignment change. |
| 427 | * MotiveDecay \ |
| 428 | A villain gradually discards the reasons why they became evil in the first place, either losing their sympathy if they keep at it or give up their villainy after no longer caring about their FreudianExcuse |
| 429 | * MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch\ |
| 430 | If Bob the Spikey comes from a race of ChaoticEvil beast-men, expect Bob to be a pacifist who rescues kittens from trees. |
| 431 | * ResignInProtest\ |
| 432 | Someone leaves their side, whichever one it was, because of an order, development, or decision by their superiors which went too far against their morals. |
| 433 | * RivalsTeamUp\ |
| 434 | Two opponents (neither of which may be truly evil) join forces against a more villainous threat. |
| 435 | * SuddenHumility\ |
| 436 | A character suddenly finds themselves in a difficult position another is routinely in and realizes the hardships it involves. |
| 437 | * SuddenPrincipledStand\ |
| 438 | A character watches his associates and superiors slip further into evil and darkness until finally, decides he's had enough. |
| 439 | * TheyStillBelongToUsLecture\ |
| 440 | Villains attempt to drive a wedge between a reformed villain and his heroic allies. |
| 441 | * TomatoInTheMirror\ |
| 442 | "The villain was me all along!" |
| 443 | * TookALevelInCynic \ |
| 444 | TheHero becoming pessimistic can result in becoming an AntiHero, or having a full-on FaceHeelTurn. Vice-versa with the villains. |
| 445 | * TraumaCongaLine \ |
| 446 | When a hero or villain has so many things go wrong at once that they lose faith in their old ways and explore 'the other side'. |
| 447 | * WildCard\ |
| 448 | "What side am I on, you ask? [[Film/DickTracy The side I'm always on: mine.]]" |
| 449 | * YourTraditionIsNotMine\ |
| 450 | The character actively resists the tradition into which they are born and raised in favor of their own path. |
| 451 | [[/index]] |
| 452 | [[/folder]] |
| 453 | |
| 454 | [[folder:Specific Aversions/Subversions]] |
| 455 | ... where an alignment shift ''should'' occur but [[StatusQuoIsGod does not]]. |
| 456 | [[index]] |
| 457 | * CharacterCheck\ |
| 458 | A villain (or hero) who slowly drifted towards the opposite alignment ostentatiously reverts to their original persona in an attempt by the storywriter to show that they have ''not'' officially switched sides. |
| 459 | * EnemyMine \ |
| 460 | Even though the villain came and saved the day, it was only a temporary thing not caused by a change of heart. |
| 461 | * EasyRoadToHell \ |
| 462 | In universes with this in effect, it's impossible not to be defined as "evil". |
| 463 | * FalselyReformedVillain \ |
| 464 | A villain appears to have reformed, but it's actually a cover for their latest scheme. |
| 465 | * TheFarmerAndTheViper \ |
| 466 | A character is set up to be redeemed through kindness or ThePowerOfTrust, but it's shown that it didn't work at all. |
| 467 | * GoKartingWithBowser \ |
| 468 | ("Hey, Skeletor-- this is He-Man. [[VillainsOutShopping Wanna go to the mall this afternoon?]]") |
| 469 | * HeelFaceDoorSlam \ |
| 470 | The villain ''wanted'' to reform, but it was too late. |
| 471 | * HeroicHeelizationSpeech\ |
| 472 | The hero admits that they don't care if their actions are evil. |
| 473 | * IgnoredEpiphany \ |
| 474 | "MyGodWhatHaveIDone... Actually, come to think of it, I've done ''nothing''." |
| 475 | * TheIrredeemableException\ |
| 476 | Every prominent villain turns to good... except one. |
| 477 | * NeutralityBacklash\ |
| 478 | A character suffers the ramifications of choosing neither side. |
| 479 | * PostMortemConversion\ |
| 480 | A character who died a villain is remembered as a hero. |
| 481 | * RedemptionFailure \ |
| 482 | A formerly-evil character ''almost'' reaches redemption... and then stuff happens that forces them back into villainy against their will. |
| 483 | * RedemptionRejection\ |
| 484 | A villain refuses to be redeemed. |
| 485 | * RejectedApology \ |
| 486 | A character's heart-felt apology is rejected by another. |
| 487 | * SlowlySlippingIntoEvil \ |
| 488 | Gradually becoming evil without a marked alignment change. |
| 489 | * {{Superdickery}} \ |
| 490 | A hero appears to be indulging in some evil behavior, but it's just to shock you into buying the issue. |
| 491 | * VillainDecay \ |
| 492 | An ordinary villain has been foiled and humiliated so often that they don't seem all that evil anymore. |
| 493 | * VillainyDiscretionShot \ |
| 494 | A character is saved from BaitTheDog or [[MoralEventHorizon worse]] because their evil acts are glossed over by RuleOfEmpathy. |
| 495 | * WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism \ |
| 496 | The heroes KickTheDog (or worse) in an inexcusable way without experiencing a HeelFaceTurn, because WarIsHell and even TheHero can't maintain their goodness throughout it. |
| 497 | [[/index]] |
| 498 | [[/folder]] |
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