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While most characters are introduced at the beginning of a series or story {{arc}}, sometimes somebody doesn't get to show up until the end of the last episode; they may not even get to speak. This can be a not-so-subtle way for the creative team to ask for another season: obviously, the fans will want this character to actually be in some episodes. Or it could be done when the team knows that another season is planned, and they will be able to incorporate this character in the new season. Occasionally, if the series has a larger franchise surrounding it, the character might be from one of these side-materials, whom the writers couldn't fit into the main work but still liked enough to give them at least cameo before ending everything.

If a sequel is not planned, the new character may act as closure via PassingTheTorch, more broadly showing the influence the main character(s) had over the course of their adventures, or simply showing that life will go on as usual, especially in the case of settings where characters (major and minor) tend to come and go.

Compare with GodCreatedCanonForeigner, EleventhHourRanger, EarlyBirdCameo under ContinuityCameo.

!!As this is an {{Ending Trope|s}}, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers abound]]. [[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned Beware]].
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!!Example subpages:
[[index]]
* LastEpisodeNewCharacter/AnimeAndManga
* LastEpisodeNewCharacter/LiveActionTV
* LastEpisodeNewCharacter/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': The series finale for the original series introduces [[AntiHero Captain Kaizo]] as the new antagonist [[BaitAndSwitchBoss when it seems that the heroes will be fighting Ejo Jo again]], only for him to be [[TheWorfEffect swept out quickly by Kaizo]]. However, he does reappear in the middle of ''[=BoBoiBoy=] Galaxy'''s first season.
* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'': The last episode of Season 1 introduces Careful S. to the team.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' Season Eight introduces a new character: a young villain with round sunglasses. Of course Season Nine followed soon after.
* In the ''Series/Charmed1998'' comic continuation, the finale hinges on a [[ISeeDeadPeople medium]] named Amelia Desmots, who only appears in the last three issues. It's also a case of RememberTheNewGuy, because she clearly knows the sisters. There was going to be a canon tie-in book explaining how they met her, but it's been put on indefinite hiatus.
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' introduces Pandora, with no fanfare or explanation of who she was. It was setup for the Comicbook/{{New 52}}.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'', of all heroes, was introduced in the last issue of ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'' (re-titled ''Amazing Fantasy'').
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/SupremePower'' introduces Shape, Inertia, and Emil Burbank, who would all become regular characters in the subsequent ''ComicBook/SquadronSupreme'' series.
* The final issue of the DCU version of ''The Web'' introduced Fly Girl and War Eagle, who were part of The Mighty Crusaders in their mini series!
* In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'', Hades and Persephone's first Pre-Crisis appearances as actual gods were in the last two issues of Wonder Woman before the reboot.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/DanganronpaMementoMori'': [[BigGood Hideo Otonashi]] makes his first physical appearance in the epilogue.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11772125/127/Metroid-Kamen-Rider-Generations-Full-Series Metroid: Kamen Rider Generations]]'': Similar to the last episode of ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'', Series/KamenRiderExAid makes an appearance in the final chapter when he gives Samus and Micchy a hand, fighting a horde of Bugster Viruses. After Emu de-transforms, [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee cue his reaction upon meeting Samus]]. In fact, [[WordOfGod the author]] [[ThrowItIn threw it in]].
-->'''Emu:''' Are you the real Samus Aran? ''The'' Samus Aran from Franchise/{{Metroid}}?\\
'''Samus:''' [[DeadpanSnarker You're looking at her.]]\\
'''Emu:''' [[FanBoy I'm a big fan!]] I used to play ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' when I was a kid, this what made me becoming a Genius Gamer today.\\
'''Samus:''' Appreciated.
* In ''Fanfic/NecessaryToWin'', Oarai's new Student Council is introduced in the last chapter.
* ''Fanfic/TalesOfTheUndiscoveredSwords'' series: Nikkō Ichimonji is teased at the tail end of the first story, but it's not until the next entry that he gets a starring role.
* ''Fanfic/WeightOffYourShoulder'': The final chapter employs a TimeSkip, bringing in Zoe Lee in order to show that she didn't suffer a KarmicMisfire due to being [[GuiltByAssociation Chloe's half-sister]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar'' is the GrandFinale of the [[WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse DCAMU]] but introduces Wallace West and the many members of the Green Lantern Corps in non-speaking cameos, while King Shark appears for the first time as a secondary character.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]
* Within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse's first MythArc, "The Infinity Saga", [[Characters/MCUCarolDanvers Carol Danvers]] only appears for the first time in her titular movie ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'', which is the penultimate movie of the entire slate (eleven years and twenty films) prior to the GrandFinale ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', where she also plays an important part.
* ''Film/SantaAndTheIceCreamBunny'': The Ice Cream Bunny doesn't appear (or even get mentioned) until the climax.
* A bit of an odd example: [[NeverTrustATrailer although the trailers seem to indicate otherwise]], Venom doesn't show up until shortly before the last battle in ''Film/SpiderMan3'', but Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote that make up Venom are both major players in the story as separate entities for most of the film.
* Although the character is shown throughout the movie, it's not until the last act of ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' that [[spoiler:Harvey Dent becomes Two-Face]].
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** General Grievous is introduced in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''[[note]] Technically, his first appearance was in the non-canon 2003 micro-series ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars''[[/note]], the final episode of the Prequel trilogy.
** ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'', the final episode of the Sequel trilogy as well as the Skywalker saga altogether, introduces Zorii Bliss, Jannah, Babu Frik and D-O.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' does this with The One, the mysterious entity that absorbs Ax and leads the others to the BolivianArmyEnding.
* ''Literature/TheShepherdsCrown'', the final ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel, introduces and is partly written from the perspective of an entirely new witch character. Of course, the afterword reveals that it wasn't ''intended'' as the final ''Discworld'' novel, because [[Creator/TerryPratchett Sir Terry]] simply didn't think that way, and indeed he had plans for even ''more'' new characters. Whether he also had plans to revisit this one will sadly never be known.
* ''Literature/DyingOfTheLight'' has Kirak Redsteel. A poet unconnected to any of the main players, he is oft-mentioned but never seen until the last chapter when a white-bearded old man strolls up to muse on some long dead Old Kavalar poetry. And he's even nice enough to arrange duels.
* The denouement of ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'' takes place as a DistantFinale after every other character has died in one way or another. As a result, the postmortem of Gilead is expressed through an entirely new character, Professor James Piexioto.
* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' introduces several new characters, most of whom had at least been mentioned before due to the series's very liberal use of ChekhovsGunman:
** Albus Dumbledore's sister Ariana is introduced as a PosthumousCharacter early on without ever having been mentioned before. Downplayed with his brother Aberforth, who’d been mentioned several times directly and indirectly and actually had brief appearances during ''Order of the Phoenix'' and ''Half-Blood Prince'' but wasn't properly identified until the final book. Harry even notes he looks familiar when he briefly meets him but can’t put his finger on why.
** Bathilda Bagshot is mentioned in passing as early as the first book as the author of ''Hogwarts: A History'' but appears for the first time midway through the book. She's a major example of OneDegreeOfSeparation as a long time resident of the quazi-Wizarding village Godric's Hollow. She's a family friend of the Dumbledores, previous BigBad Grindelwald's great aunt, and a neighbor of Harry's parents when he was a baby. She's also [[DeadAllAlong dead]] by the time Harry and Hermione "meet" her.
** Grindelwald himself is only ever mentioned in the first book on Dumbledore’s chocolate frog card, never to be be mentioned again until this book. He plays a significant role in the Dumbledore backstory b-plot but doesn’t appear in the present until about 2/3 through where he commits SuicideByCop via Voldemort.
** Luna's dad, Xenophillius, is known to own a conspiratorial newspaper but doesn't appear until Bill's wedding at the beginning of this book. He also appears a little later in the story when he tells Harry, Ron, and Hermione about the Deathly Hallows.
** Several characters who were born during the nineteen-year TimeSkip between the climax and the epilogue.
* Theo Waitley was introduced into the ''Literature/LiadenUniverse'' in the final chapter of what seemed like the final novel of the series, as part of an AndTheAdventureContinues ending. After a break of several years, the authors found a new publisher for a couple of novels about Theo, and the series has been going strong ever since.
* Lampshaded in ''Last Term at Literature/MaloryTowers'', where several new sixth-formers were introduced, and the main characters express surprise in seeing new students coming in so late in the school year.
* ''City of Heavenly Fire'', the last book of ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' introduces Emma Carstairs, hero of the sequel trilogy, ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices''.
* In Book 40 of ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' (which, then, was Christopher Awdry's final book) the final story features a new engine, who is named "Ivo Hugh" on the last page. Unfortunately, the publishers scuppered the plans to publish any more Railway Series books (they did eventually do two more), meaning that Ivo Hugh hasn't had his personality developed.
* Professor Moriarty, supposed to be THE nemesis for Literature/SherlockHolmes is introduced only in ''The Final Problem'', originally written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the definitive series ending. Holmes got better, though.
* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' series, Dovepaw and Ivypaw are born at the ending of Sunrise (the last book in [[Literature/WarriorCatsPowerOfThree the third series]]), with Jayfeather realizing that [[spoiler:one of them is the third cat in the prophecy]]. Both of them are main characters in [[Literature/WarriorCatsOmenOfTheStars the fourth series]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
* Surtr, the fire giant who is responsible for the end of the world in Myth/NorseMythology, is probably the UrExample. He doesn't appear in any myths except the one that tells of Ragnarok, where he and his armies invade Asgard, he kills Freyr and [[SetTheWorldOnFire engulfs the world in fire]], and even that myth gives him little description or characterization. Still, while he may not appear, he is referred to in numerous other tales of both the ''Literature/PoeticEdda'' and the ''Literature/ProseEdda''. Some have suggested that this is because Surtr was a late addition to the mythology inspired by the volcanoes of Iceland. When Iceland converted to Christianity around the year 1000 AD, the only real myth involving Surtr that had time to develop was him being added to the story of Ragnarok.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/TheEstonianThunderfrog, [[Wrestling/ArchibaldPeck The Latvian Proud Oak]] and Lithuanian Snow Troll: [[PowerTrio The Baltic Siege]], who originally only had one match in Wrestling/{{Chikara}} before it died. However, they played an important role in helping Icarus revive the promotion during the Ashes angle running through Wrestling Is and returned two years later for some more fights.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/CopyKitty'': In the 12th and final world of Boki's Hard Mode (a continuation of the Normal campaign), during the 3rd stage, the game abruptly [[spoiler:cuts to static with two unseen characters tracking her progress and spying on the simulation.]] The next stage barely has time to load before a character named Isotope suddenly breaks into the simulation to challenge Boki to the most serious encounter in the game and Boki's TrueFinalBoss. The dialogue strongly suggests [[WeWillMeetAgain a future encounter]] between the two will take place.
* ''VideoGame/FateExtra'': Most of the game is spent focusing on the Holy Grail War, in which [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Leo]] and his Servant [[KnightInShiningArmor Gawain]] are built up as the most powerful enemies the player has to face. It’s not until the end of the game that the audience is introduced to the hidden mastermind of the tournament, though [[FridgeBrilliance sharp-eyed players will remember seeing his name mentioned multiple times before]]: [[spoiler:[[OurGhostsAreDifferent Twice]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist H.]] [[FinalBoss Pieceman]], and his Servant, Saver]].
* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'', the final character available, Gotoh, joins in the last chapter. In the remake ''Shadow Dragon'', you can either get him as normal or get a different character (Nagi) by completing a secret level right before the final battle.
** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'':
*** The final character available (Athos) doesn't join your party until the final chapter.
*** [[spoiler:For bosses, it's possible to fight the gaiden chapter-exclusive Kishuna in the second-to-last chapter of the game, without having previously encountered him in one's play-through. When this happens, [[TheEmpath Nils]] gives the other characters a brief explanation of Kishuna's AntiMagic seal before the battle; otherwise, he'd use this moment to describe how much more sorrowful Kishuna's aura is, in contrast to the more hostile previous encounters.]]
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', the Laguz Royals become playable in the last part of the game and if the player fulfills the requirements, they can get [[spoiler:Sephiran]] for the final battle.
* In ''VideoGame/FreddyFazbearsPizzeriaSimulator'', the last installment of the main ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' games, there is one new animatronic called Lefty.[[note]]Molten Freddy does not count, as it's Ennard's remains from [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation the previous game]][[/note]] [[spoiler:Turns out to be subverted, as Lefty has The Puppet from ''FNAF 2'' inside of it.]]
* ''VideoGame/GrandChaseDimensionalChaser'' has Lapis (who got her name after being released as a new playable character), who appears at the end of World 9, after Decanee's villainous story arc. After the Grand Chase heads back home after defeating Decanee, the scene changes to Nelia, with Veigas and another demon resembling Dio, only to be interrupted by someone coming in. That person is Lapis, asking "what propositions does she have for her", which is the very last scene in the ending.
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'': Death's Hand can be recruited 5/6 of the way through the game if you are a MagnificentBastard.
* ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Shingo Yabuki, as well as the Orochi Team (Yashiro, Chris and Shermie) all debuted in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters97'', the final canonical entry of the Orochi Saga.
** Likewise, Ángel, K9999/[[spoiler:Krohnen]], the original Zero and Igniz made their first appearances in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001'', the end of the NESTS Chronicles.
* While he's briefly mentioned early on, King Mickey Mouse never actually turns up until the ending sequence of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI''. Also, Roxas's first appearances were in {{The Stinger}}s for ''Kingdom Hearts I'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories''. A similar thing happened with many of the new ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' characters, first appearing in TheStinger for ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.
* ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUsPartII'' got the Rattlers, a group of not better described slavers who serve the purpose of being the last bunch of psychos you have to walk over before the end of the game.
* Valimar from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' ends up being introduced right before the two final bosses of ''Cold Steel I'', complete with a [[TacticalRockPaperScissors brand new game mechanic]] introduced to players just for those two boss fights. Valimar fights end up being more prominent from the second game onward.
* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] plays this role.
* Averted with Alia and Signas from ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' - the game they debuted in (''VideoGame/MegaManX5'') was originally going to be the GrandFinale of the franchise, but the release of ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' and its sequels caused them to have more appearances than originally intended.
* In the original ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', Jim Houseman, the Secretary of Defense and the person who authorized Solid Snake's mission, only appears during a CODEC call prior to the game's final boss fight with Liquid Snake.
* The all-important Madeline Bergman doesn't make her first appearance in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' until right before you've beaten the final boss, and she doesn't tell the player who she is until after the boss is dead. At which point she unloads a whole truckload of new plot exposition and character motivations. This is considered by most to be one of ''Other M'''s bigger missteps in the story department.
* [[spoiler:Brave Young Layna]] shows up in ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'' for only a few maps (storyline ones at least, not counting the random dungeons) when [[TheHero Revya]] and co. arrive in [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Drazil]].
* The final DLC character added to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is Luke, an American MMA fighter that Capcom notes will "play a big role in the future of ''Street Fighter''", which was another way of saying he was an EarlyBirdCameo for ''VideoGame/StreetFighter6''.
* Although calling it the last "episode" is not quite accurate, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s story mode, The Subspace Emissary, Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog makes his first appearance at the last possible second, showing up in the cutscene immediately preceding the final boss.
* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'':
** The mobile port of the first game adds [[TheStinger an extra image after the credits]] showing a then-unnamed girl (Tsugumi Matsunae) who would ultimately go on to show up in ''VideoGame/NEOTheWorldEndsWithYou''.
** ''NEO'' itself has [[spoiler:the Angel]] Hazuki "Haz" Mikagi. He doesn't show up until the game's final day (and then doesn't appear again until [[spoiler:TheStinger of Another Day]]), but he manages to have [[SmallRoleBigImpact quite an impact]] on the plot in spite of this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/CrescendoJP'', there's a route that can only be unlocked ''after'' all the others have been completed. The girl in said route is [[spoiler:the local DelicateAndSickly girl, Miyu Shizuhara, who barely appears in the other paths]].
* The mastermind of the killing game in ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', [[spoiler:the real Junko Enoshima]], doesn’t appear in the flesh until the final trial, with [[spoiler: the Junko seen beforehand actually being her twin sister Mukuro disguised as her]].
* Dennis's dad and Amy's mom both debut in the final episode of ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework''.
* The final chapter/episode of ''VisualNovel/HarvestDecember'' ends with the introduction of the children of the two main heroines.
* The very last scene of ''VisualNovel/LiarLiar 2'' introduces Nao. She is a childhood friend of Yukari's that reveals [[spoiler:Yukari has always been AxCrazy and has killed everyone she's ever dated ''[[EnfantTerrible since elementary]]'']].
* While she is mentioned all the way back in "Turnabout Sisters," Misty Fey does not make a proper appearance until "Bridge to the Turnabout," the final case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'', and by extension the final case of the original trilogy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'': A mysterious new character named Jenna is introduced in the final scene of the second season finale. Intended to be the villain of the third season.
* ''WebAnimation/NyanNekoSugarGirls'' normally has a MinimalistCast. However, the final episode involves Raku-chan's old college friends visiting her after [[spoiler:they heard on Facebook that she was sick from rabies.]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' does this extensively to build hype for the next season.
** In Season 1, Penny and Sun Wukong both debut in the final two episodes, while TheStinger reveals two new villains, Emerald and Mercury.
** In Season 2, [[BreakoutCharacter Velvet's]] team-mates Coco, Fox and Yatsuhashi debut in the lead-up to the finale.
** In Season 3, Weiss' father has a brief cameo, forcing her to return home to Atlas with him, setting up her Volume 4 storyline.
** Season 3 also has [[spoiler:Salem]], the series BigBad who doesn't make her first physical appearance until the very last scene of the third season.
** Season 4's last scene before the credits introduces the headmaster of Haven Academy, Professor Leo Lionheart. Not much of him is shown, [[spoiler:but his first onscreen appearance reveals that he's the informant Watts was ordered to meet at the beginning of the volume, and, according to Watts, he's been in league with Salem for a while now]].
* ''WebAnimation/XionicMadness'': Enid, Xero's apprentice who is entrusted with finishing what he started, makes her first appearance in the last pre-credits scene of the final episode.
[[/folder]]
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