Line #23 PlayingWith/DarkMagicalGirl


1	'''Basic Trope''': A MagicalGirl with a DarkAndTroubledPast, who starts out as an EvilCounterpart to TheHero, but usually [[HeelFaceTurn switches sides]] after being taught ThePowerOfLove, [[ThePowerOfFriendship Friendship]], and Acceptance [[DefeatMeansFriendship after a big showdown]].
2	* '''Straight''': [[PlayingWithFire Ichigo]]'s {{Rival}}, serving under [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Sangria]], is [[SweetAndSourGrapes Budou]], an ElegantGothicLolita with [[AnIcePerson an ice-centric repertoire]] and a DarkAndTroubledPast, with the Queen serving as her ParentalSubstitute. Unfortunately for her, the Queen is also obviously a TreacherousAdvisor.
3	* '''Exaggerated''': Budou's past is a TraumaCongaLine of abuse, angst, suffering, and misery that would take years upon years of therapy to unravel. Her big fight with Ichigo causes tremendous damage and spills a great deal of blood. As soon as it ends they are the best of friends, never seen apart, and Budou is just as happy as Ichigo.
4	* '''Downplayed''': Budou is a child to loving, but poor, parents. Her childhood is troublesome instead of traumatic and allows her to become a magical girl using magic that's powered by {{greed}}. The nature of her power drives her to stealing and she is eventually stopped by Ichigo, whose magic is powered by friendship. The nature of ''her'' power leads her to be friends with Budou and help out at her place. They become good friends.
5	* '''Justified''':
6	** Queen Sangria has taken blood collected from one of Ichigo's battles with her and used her dark magic to construct a copy of Ichigo from it, who she names Budou. Although they share similar powers, the taint of evil has twisted her into something far more sinister. After being defeated by her twin, the dark magic's hold over her is exorcised, leaving her a more complete copy willing to join Ichigo's side.
7	** All of the Magical Girls are from a AlwaysLawfulGood Race. Budou was trained to be evil, but still instinctively knows she is not supposed to do what she is doing. When Ichigo defeats her, she offers her an opportunity to defect. She does.
8	* '''Inverted''':
9	** Budou is a [[LonersAreFreaks friendless]] AntiHero with a dark and troubled past, [[TheWoobie showing signs of deep depression]], [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior and generally not remotely acting her age]]. Ichigo is a naive servant of [[LightIsNotGood the Council Of The Sun]], [[EvilAllAlong unaware of its true nature]].
10	** The DMG defeats the light counterpart, causing her to lose her HeroicSpirit and join the villains.
11	** The DMG is TheHero and the LMG is TheRival.
12	* '''Subverted''':
13	** Ringo is Ichigo's EvilCounterpart and serves Queen Sangria, but she is cheery, peppy, and upbeat (though a bit worryingly obssessed with fighting...).
14	** Budou has all the traits and appearances of a typical Dark Magical Girl but Queen Sangria [[PetTheDog genuinely cares for Budou]], and because of this, Budou is completely loyal and well-adjusted.
15	** Budou [[TheDogBitesBack bites back]] against Queen Sangria, murders her, and [[DragonAscendant takes over her place as the final boss]]. Despite Ichigo's pleas for friendship, Budou decides that they will settle their rivalry via a DuelToTheDeath instead of higher causes, abstract ideals, or silly lectures.
16	** Budou portraying herself as being drawn to evil by a DarkAndTroubledPast beyond her control is [[BitchInSheepsClothing merely an act.]] As it turns out, her past was dark and troubled [[SelfMadeOrphan through her own actions]] and she [[DragonAscendant betrays Queen Sangria at the first opportunity]] and proves herself to be [[EvilerThanThou even more rotten.]]
17	* '''Double Subverted''':
18	** However, this genkiness is a [[StepfordSmiler facade]] that Ringo uses to conceal all her issues; she's actually [[WellDoneSonGuy seeking either approval]] [[DeathSeeker or death]].
19	** Turns out, Sangria's [[KickTheDog still willing to abandon Budou if necessary]], causing her to FreakOut and turn into a standard DarkMagicalGirl.
20	* '''Parodied''': Budou is an obviously blood-crazed psychopath, but after being beaten by Ichigo, she is tied up in a scene reminescent of ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' and brainwashed with friendship speeches until she breaks and starts espousing the power of friendship on her own.
21	* '''Zig Zagged''': Queen Sangria has two chosen champions, Budou and Ringo, whom she pits against Ichigo. Ringo gleefully [[BloodKnight lusts for battle]] while Budou is [[ShrinkingViolet quiet and withdrawn]], making her appear like a classic DarkMagicalGirl...however, as their pasts are gradually revealed, it's ''Ringo'' who has an incredibly DarkAndTroubledPast, while Budou is more of a HolierThanThou IceQueen. Both, however, ulimately serve as {{Evil Counterpart}}s to Ichigo, providing dark reflections of her HotBlooded and {{Pride}}ful nature. Upon their defeat, Ringo [[HeelFaceTurn switches sides]] while Budou simply leaves -- however, Ringo's turn is less about redemption and more about becoming a full-fledged DeathSeeker as "[[TheAtoner atonement]]'', while Budou is tracking down one of [[ThereAreNoTherapists those elusive therapists]], and eventually returns to pull a BigDamnHeroes.
22	* '''Averted''':
23	** There is no direct counterpart to the heroic magical girl; Queen Sangria just uses a MonsterOfTheWeek tactic.
24	* '''Enforced''': "The boys in merchandising want another cute girl to put on the merch. How about giving our heroine a dark counterpart, so we can just use a slightly different palette?"
25	* '''Lampshaded''':
26	** "Why couldn't I be a happy girl like you, Ichigo? Why does my fate have to be so harsh?!" "It doesn't have to be, Budou! I can help you if you let me be your friend!"
27	** "Oh, come on! She wears black, has a DarkAndTroubledPast, and is abused by her master! All you have to do is beat her up and rant about friendship, and she'd HeelFaceTurn in a heartbeat!"
28	* '''Invoked''': Queen Sangria intentionally sought out mentally scarred young girls that she could indoctrinate into her ranks and set against any would-be heroes. Likewise, Ichigo's goal in battle is not to 'defeat' but to 'befriend' because she wants to build allies while reducing Sangria's forces.
29	* '''Exploited''': Budou is jaded enough to know that a WideEyedIdealist like Ichigo would be easy to fool into thinking she's a DMG. She acts like one to gain her trust, so she'll be able to back stab her in the name of Queen Sangria- or use her to defeat Sangria [[TheStarscream so she can take the throne for herself]].
30	* '''Defied''':
31	** After the first fight between Ichigo and Budou, Queen Sangria sees hesitation in Budou's eyes upon her return, and, refusing to take the chance that her servant could be turned against her, she obliterates her.
32	** When she decides to recruit an opposite number to Ichigo, Queen Sangria passes over troubled approval-seeker Budou entirely, and instead picks Tamanegi, a cruel and violent young DarkActionGirl who [[PsychoElectro zaps people with lightning for kicks]] and thinks all this "friendship" bull [[TheSocialDarwinist is for losers too weak to fend for themselves. ]]
33	* '''Discussed''': "Sangria is just using you, Budou! You mean nothing to her! I'm going to [[Franchise/LyricalNanoha befriend you]] so we can get ice cream together! {{Finishing Move}}: [[ThePowerOfTheSun Sun's Fury!]]"
34	* '''Conversed''': "How does the heroine always manages to redeem a Dark Magical Girl in these shows?" "Probably done just to reinforce the heroine's status; she comes off savior-y if even the Dark Magical Girl becomes a better person because of her influence."
35	* '''Deconstructed''': Budou's emotional scars run so deep that they can't be healed just by [[DefeatMeansFriendship losing a fight with her rival]] and listening to Ichigo's claims of acceptance. Ichigo can ''claim'' to understand all she wants, it doesn't matter to Budou. She continues to antagonize Ichigo until she either [[TheHeroDies overpowers and defeats her]] or Ichigo is forced to [[ShootTheDog take her down]], sending the young heroine into a HeroicBSOD afterwards.
36	* '''Reconstructed''':
37	** Budou's emotional scars aren't just healed by [[DefeatMeansFriendship losing a fight]] but by [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure leaving her with someone who can help while they're defeating Queen Sangria]]. The heroes also visit her regularly, and, by the start of the next series, she recovers.
38	** Ichigo freely admits she ''doesn't'' understand... She can't imagine what Budou's been through, and how she can still find strength when she's hurting so badly. But she knows Budou is strong, and that she doesn't deserve to be hurting the way she is. Budou sees that Ichigo really does have her best interests at heart, and Queen Sangria doesn't, and accepts Ichigo's friendship.
39	* '''Played For Laughs:''' Budou is [[RedOniBlueOni Ichigo's opposite in every way]]; while Ichigo is HotBlooded, {{Pride}}ful, [[BrutalHonesty brutally straightforward]], and [[DeliberatelyCuteChild deliberately plays her cutesiness up to her advantage]], Budou is [[ShrinkingViolet soft-spoken]], [[ProperLady well-mannered]], [[NiceGirl thoughtful, and kindly]]. This leads to everyone questioning why ''she's'' a loner while ''Ichigo'' has [[TrueCompanions friends]], much to Ichigo's displeasure.
40	* '''Played For Drama:''' The constant battles push each girl, Budou ''and'' Ichigo, into an emotional crisis. When they next confront each other, they decide to join forces - to defeat Ichigo's mentor as well as Budou's master.
41	----
42	Let's go back to DarkMagicalGirl. Don't worry! As long as we're together, there's nothing we can't do!
43	----
44	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
45	%%
46	%%* '''Implied''': ???

Context PlayingWith / DarkMagicalGirl