History Main / RebuiltPedestal

* ''Literature/TheCalfOfTheNovemberCloud'': The boys and girls of the age-group of the Big Ostrich Feathers idolized and admired Konyek because of his kindness, wisdom and bravery until Parmet told them his cousin cowardly ran away when a band of cattle raiders stole the livestock which Konyek was supposed to protect. Several months later Konyek returned to his hamlet, having gone through many dangerous hardships to retrieve his father's stolen calf, and declared that Parmet fled and intentionally left him for dead when he was attacked and wounded by the raiders. When a witness verifies his tale, the kids shame Parmet and go back to look up to Konyek.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]] hides the AwfulTruth about the SecretWar with [[BigBad Salem]] because he's so used to friends and allies turning on him when they learn the truth; he's left [[HeroicBSOD shattered]] when the heroes [[BrokenPedestal do the same]]. It takes time and growth on both sides, but the damage done to Ozpin's image isn't irreparable. [[spoiler:Ozpin spends Volume 8 doing everything in his power to help Oscar while in captivity, both giving and receiving trust. Once reunited with the others, Oscar explains how Ozpin is the reason he's alive and Salem's temporarily incapacitated. Ozpin personally apologises to them for hiding the truth and running when they learned it; in turn, the heroes admit that trusting others isn't as simple as they thought, given their own recent mistakes, and forgive him.]]

* At the start of ''Fanfic/TheApprenticeTheStudentAndTheCharlatan'', Nova Shine loathes just about every figure he ever saw as an idol or mentor figure for various reasons, the notable exception being Princess Luna, his current teacher, to whom he has unquestionable loyalty. His father and mother neglected him, his first mentor betrayed him, Princess Cadance refuses to stop pestering him about making his peace with all of them, and so on. The first half of the fic features him making his peace with all of them and growing to love them all as friends and family.

* ''Fanfic/BlackbirdArrow'':

* ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'': During an argument with the [[CouncilOfAngels Valar]], Beren complains that he and his clan lost everything while fighting [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] in the gods' behalf. After a conversation with the heads of the pantheon and his patron goddess, though, Beren comes to the understanding that the Valar really want and try to do right for everyone. Nonetheless, they aren't perfect, so they're wont to make mistakes and then struggle to fix them... the same as his folks back home and even himself. Beren decides he can't stay angry after that revelation.
-->'''Finrod:''' But you were-- answered. What was the Answer?\\
'''Beren:''' What I said-- they're just muddling along like us, making it up as we go.\\
'''Finrod:''' That... is essentially what I've been saying. All along. For great years.\\
'''Beren:''' Yeah, but I didn't get it before.\\
'''Finrod:''' But-- how does that answer your outrage? How does that relieve your mind at all? I don't "get it," I fear.\\
'''Beren:''' Don't you, Sir? I thought for sure you would.\\
'''Finrod:''' ''(ragged laugh)'' I know what you're saying -- that we your lords made our mistakes and led you into danger and and failed to protect you when Bauglir struck, even as I erred and failed in my attempts to save you, and still despite all that you loved me no less, for being powerless, but --\\
'''Beren:''' ''(cutting him off, roughly)'' Not in spite of-- Because. And all the more. ''[clearing his throat]'' So. They're just a bunch of poor bastards struggling along to do the right thing, same as me. I can feel for that. Respect it too. Kind of makes it hard to stay angry, though.
* In the ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9666470/53/Break-Me-Every-Time Break Me Every Time]]'', Dexter and Debra experience this to a degree when they learn that Doctor Evelyn Vogel murdered Harry Morgan rather than Harry killing himself out of horror at seeing what Dexter had become. While it doesn’t excuse his other failings as a parent, they can at least now believe that he genuinely cared about them, where Dexter felt that Harry gave up on him and Debra saw this as proof that she just wasn’t enough for Harry to stay alive for.
* In ''Fanfic/CodePrime'', Lelouch had long since thought that Cornelia had abandoned him and Nunnally when they were exiled from Britannia. However in the chapter, ''Divided They Fall'', [[spoiler:when Lelouch uses his Geass on Cornelia, she tells him that if she had known that Lelouch was Zero, she would defect from Britannia and join him. When he asks why, she responds that it's because she loves him, and that she never stopped loving him even after he was exiled. This answer catches Lelouch off guard, and it makes him realize that Cornelia could be a potential ally. However, in order to protect her from the Emperor, and Megatron, Lelouch uses his geass to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia erase her memories]] of her encounter with him, even though he clearly doesn't want to]].
* ''Fanfic/DeadlyNightshade'': When a DNA test establishes Bruce Wayne sired him, Harry laments the fact he's related to such a vapid, air-headed person. He's quite startled when Bruce steps up to take care of him, no matter Harry being illegitimate, which makes him realize the man is more than meets the eye.
* In the fanfic ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', Harry slowly goes through this with Quirrelmort.
* Basically applies to Giles's reaction when Angel tells him about the Day That Never Was ("[[Recap/AngelS01E08IWillRememberYou I Will Remember You]]") in ''[[http://www.geocities.ws/debnockels/newadditions/homebeforedark01.html Home Before Dark]]'', struck at the idea that Angel gave up basically everything he ever wanted just to save Buffy's life.
* ''Fanfic/TheImmortalGame'': Celestia had become a BrokenPedestal for Twilight Sparkle when Twilight found out that [[spoiler:Celestia had been manipulating her for years]]. However, at the climax of the story, Twilight also discovers that [[spoiler:it was Celestia, not Luna (who she was disguised as) that comforted her the night before the FinalBattle]]; this gets it through her head that despite everything else, Celestia ''did'' love her. This allows Twilight to forgive her.
* ''Fanfic/LadyLuckMiraculousLadybug'': Marinette had idolized the titular hero ever since her debut, even using her as her inspiration to stand up to Chloé. When she finds out that Lady Luck ''is'' Chloé, she is so distraught that she ends up Akumatized to Mis-Fortune. [[spoiler:However, Lady Luck manages to convinces Marinette that she is genuinely working on improving herself from her AlphaBitch days, even risking her role as a heroine by nearly letting her powers run up. It's enough for Marinette to break free of Hawkmoth's control, allowing Lady Luck to purify the Akuma, keep her identity a secret, and gain the former as a confidant.]]
* In the first quarter of ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'', [[TheUsurper Prince Jewelius]] uses the events of "A Canterlot Wedding" to cause Twilight Sparkle and the citizens of Canterlot to turn against Princess Celestia, the Mane Five, Shining Armor, and Spike. The [[HeroWithBadPublicity now-disgraced heroes]] spend the rest of the story desperately trying to prove their innocence and earn back everypony's -- especially Twilight's -- trust. While [[EarnYourHappyEnding they first have to go through a considerable amount of physical and emotional pain]], they eventually succeed by exposing [[spoiler:Jewelius' secret crimes]], saving [[spoiler:Ponyville from his army as well as all of Equestria from the Changelings]], and publicly apologizing for their personal screw-ups that made it possible for the Changeling invasion to occur. Celestia in particular starts regaining her former subjects' and faithful student's respect during [[spoiler:her PublicExecution]], where she delivers a heartfelt apology speech in which she takes full responsibility for her failures, which leads to [[spoiler:everypony demanding her execution to be stopped]].

* In ''Fanfic/APrizeForThreeEmpires'', [[Characters/MarvelComicsCarolDanvers Carol Danvers]] stops looking up to ComicBook/TheAvengers after they allow her rapist to walk out with her. Later she accepts they had no way to know she was being mind-controlled, and the fact they made a terrible error of judgement doesn't mean they aren't her friends.
-->'''Carol Danvers:''' At one time or another, I was on the outs with a bunch of you. Sometimes the Avengers, sometimes the X-Men. Sometimes I had reason to be, sometimes... it was just my own stupid fault. Sometimes I was right, sometimes I was really, really wrong. But the thing... the thing I was most wrong about... was thinking that you, and you, and you, and all the rest of you, were anything but friends.
* In ''Fanfic/TheProdigalDaughter'', while Noah Lessing always had a low opinion of Janeway after the destruction of the ''Equinox'', seeing how far she's willing to go to save Marla helps him accept her as a captain.

* This features heavily in Hiccup's relationship with Astrid in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13289918/1/The-Treasure-of-Eyja-Nott The Treasure of Eyja Nott]]'', a modern AU of ''Franchise/HowToTrainYourDragon'' based on ''Film/TheCountOfMonteCristo2002''; after spending most of the story believing that Astrid abandoned him and his disgraced father after his false arrest to marry the man who betrayed him, Hiccup learns that Astrid only accepted that proposal on Stoick's urging because she was pregnant with Hiccup's twins and Stoick wanted to ensure the safety of his grandchildren, Astrid acting as Eret's 'dutiful' wife so long as he took financial care of the children.
* In ''Fanfic/TruePotential'', [[spoiler:Itachi becomes this to Sasuke, and eventually to most of the top-ranking shinobi in Konoha after the truth of the Uchiha Massacre comes to light]].

* ''Manga/FlameOfRecca''. After [[spoiler:Mikagami fought against Kai, he's told that the one who killed his sister was his master Meguri Kyouza. Although utterly shocked, Mikagami already spotted some irregularities from that statement, and during the eventual fight with Meguri Kyouza, it was revealed that Meguri Kyouza didn't actually kill his sister, but failed to prevent her death by Mori's men, thus blames himself for it and becomes a DeathSeeker. Mikagami forgave him and once again respects him.]]

* Kawasaki from ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'' loses all of his respect for his teacher Shiitake once he comes to know that he uses chemical substances in his dishes. The pedestal gets rebuilt at the end of the episode when he comes to know that Shiitake never actually used the spice and everything was actually a ploy for Kawasaki to grow into a more capable chef. Even if Shiitake's reputation is now ruined, he's fine with it since Kawasaki has learnt from the experience.

** The same happens with Domon and [[spoiler:his older brother Kyouji. He believed that his brother had willingly betrayed humanity, sold out their family and become the pilot of the Devil Gundam; when he learned that Kyouji was TheScapegoat, that he was BrainwashedAndCrazy by the DG-Cells ''and'' that he had managed to use his last bits of sanity to "create" his clone Schwarz Bruder, Domon forgave him and started to refer to Schwarz as "Brother". And then he had to MercyKill both Kyoji and Schwarz to stop the Devil Gundam, [[ManlyTears crying as he did so.]].]]

-->'''Lucario:''' ''(Remorsefully)'' Forgive me for doubting you, Master.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Chibi-Usa was quite disappointed upon realizing Sailor Moon was the ditzy and whiny Usagi, and decided to take away her broach since she felt she didn't deserve it. After this backfires, Chibi-Usa [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone feels guilty for it]] and returns the broach to Usagi, in which Usagi is able to successfully defeat Rubeus. After this, while she still considers her a ditzy crybaby and likes to get under her skin, Chibi-Usa starts to have a better appreciation towards Usagi as time goes on.
* In ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'', [[spoiler: Van's AloofBigBrother Folken was allied with TheEmpire, so when he had a HeelFaceTurn he was ReformedButRejected and Van was unable to forgive him. Then Folken saved Van ''and'' himself from a Dragon that was around [[DistressBall when they were unarmed]], and Van re-accepted him. By the time Folken fell victim to a KarmicDeath, poor Van was screaming and crying for his brother's demise.]]

** Thea is hard on Oliver for most of the story because [[EntertaininglyWrong she thinks he's trying to hook back up with Sara]]. [[spoiler:Her opinion of him makes a complete 180 after he saves Laurel and she learns the ''real'' reason he was hanging out with Sara so much]].

'''Finrod:''' ''[ragged laugh]'' I know what you're saying -- that we your lords made our mistakes and led you into danger and and failed to protect you when Bauglir struck, even as I erred and failed in my attempts to save you, and still despite all that you loved me no less, for being powerless, but --\\
'''Beren:''' ''[cutting him off, roughly]'' Not in spite of-- Because. And all the more. ''[clearing his throat]'' So. They're just a bunch of poor bastards struggling along to do the right thing, same as me. I can feel for that. Respect it too. Kind of makes it hard to stay angry, though.

* In ''Fanfic/CodePrime'', Lelouch had long since thought that Cornelia had abandoned him and Nunnally when they were exiled from Britannia. However in the chapter, ‘’Divided They Fall'', [[spoiler:when Lelouch uses his Geass on Cornelia, she tells him that if she had known that Lelouch was Zero, she would defect from Britannia and join him. When he asks why, she responds that it’s because she loves him, and that she never stopped loving him even after he was exiled. This answer catches Lelouch off guard, and it makes him realize that Cornelia could be a potential ally. However, in order to protect her from the Emperor, and Megatron, Lelouch uses his geass to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia erase her memories]] of her encounter with him, even though he clearly doesn’t want to.]]

* ''Fanfic/TheImmortalGame'': Celestia had become a BrokenPedestal for Twilight Sparkle when Twilight found out that [[spoiler: Celestia had been manipulating her for years]]. However, at the climax of the story, Twilight also discovers that [[spoiler: it was Celestia, not Luna (who she was disguised as) that comforted her the night before the FinalBattle]]; this gets it through her head that despite everything else, Celestia ''did'' love her. This allows Twilight to forgive her.
* ''Fanfic/LadyLuckMiraculousLadybug'': Marinette had idolized the titular hero ever since her debut, even using her as her inspiration to stand up to Chloé. When she finds out that Lady Luck is Chloé, she is so distraught that she ends up Akumatized to Mis-Fortune. [[spoiler:However, Lady Luck manages to convinces Marinette that she is genuinely working on improving herself from her AlphaBitch days, even risking her role as a heroine by nearly letting her powers run up. It's enough for Marinette to break free of Hawkmoth's control, allowing Lady Luck to purify the Akuma, keep her identity a secret, and gain the former as a confidant]].

*** And even before that argument occurred, [[spoiler:the Furious Five, who weren't the most welcoming idols Po imagined, slowly began respecting [[{{Determinator}} his tenancity and willingness]] to put up with the hell they put him through. They (sans Tigress) even applaud him on the soup he made for them and start cracking up at his impersonation of Shifu. It also helps that Po's frustration in his argument with Shifu was more directed at him than them.]]

* A variation of this was done in ''Film/{{Inception}}'', as Cobb and his team’s mission is to plant the idea in Fisher Jr.’s head that his father wanted him to find his own path in life by causing him to once again respect his father.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:

* In ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'', the ''Enterprise'' crew meets Zephram Cochrane, the first human to conduct warp flight and make [[TitleDrop first contact]] with extraterrestrial life. While the crew is surprised to find that Cochrane is a boorish drunkard [[OnlyInItForTheMoney who was only interested in making a profit on his warp drive]] and [[StopWorshippingMe Cochrane is uncomfortable by the hero worship he gets,]] they eventually learn to accept him, WartsAndAll.

'''Riker:''' ''[grins]'' You did, ten years from now.

* At the start of ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'', the Autobots have lost faith in the human race, understandable given [[HumansAreBastards that humans have been hunting them ruthlessly and cannibalizing their corpses to make knock-off Transformers.]] Indeed, ahead of the final battle, the Autobots intend to abandon Earth after the fight. However, the Yeager Family's heroism alongside them [[RestoredMyFaithInHumanity reinvigorates their belief]] in how good humans ''can'' be. [[spoiler: [[Film/TransformersTheLastKnight If only the feelings were mutual.]]]]

* ''Literature/TheCalfOfTheNovemberCloud'': The boys and girls of the age-group of the Big Ostrich Feathers idolized and admired Konyek because of his kindness, wisdom and bravery until Parmet told them his cousin ran away cowardly when a band of cattle raiders stole the livestock which Konyek was supposed to protect. Several months later Konyek returned to his hamlet, having gone through many dangerous hardships to retrieve his father's stolen calf, and declared that Parmet fled and intentionally left him for dead when he was attacked and wounded by the raiders. When a witness verifies his tale, the kids shame Parmet and go back to look up to Konyek.

* In the finale to ''Series/TwentyFour'' Season 8, Jack has regained some trust in Allison Taylor after discovering that [[spoiler: she ultimately broke off her alliance with Charles Logan and has gone on to expose Russia's involvement in the attacks on New York earlier on as well as Logan's and her own involvement in covering it up even though it will mean the end of her Presidency. Dalia Hassan, having similarly lost faith in Taylor after discovering she's been protecting Russia despite them causing the death of her husband, is also shown to have gained some respect back.]]

* In Season 2 of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' Oliver loses virtually all respect for Laurel when he sees just how bad her addiction problems are, and dismisses [[CassandraTruth her warnings]] that Sebastian Blood is a VillainWithGoodPublicity. She eventually gets sober and finally acquires concrete proof that Blood is evil, and they reconcile after she finds out his SecretIdentity and urges him not to give up against Slade Wilson [[spoiler:after his mother's murder.]] In a partial subversion though, their relationship remains somewhat rocky [[spoiler:until her death.]]

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''. After realizing that [[spoiler:Sun Li masterminded the plan to steal the Water Dragon’s power, Princess Sun Lian]] wonders if this reduces her father’s culpability, but realizes he was still to blame. This is played straight in one quest in the Necropolis, in which the Open Palm solution is to convince the ghost of Mister Ren that his wife didn’t mean to poison him and feels terrible about it.

** Raine Sage resents her mother [[spoiler: Virginia]] for abandoning her and Genis. However, in a side quest, she eventually learns that the Imperial Research Academy had sought her mother for her intellect, and she did what she had to in order to protect them, [[spoiler: even if it eventually [[GoMadFromTheRevelation crushed her heart and mind]].]]

* [[spoiler:Mr. Hanekoma]], also known as CAT, in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou''. Neku is amazed to find out that he's CAT, the one person he admired, but is gradually shaken as signs seem to point to him also being the Composer, Neku's main adversary. It ultimately turns out that he isn’t.
** [[spoiler: It's hinted that he might be something ''[[{{Satan}} worse]]'' than [[{{God}} the Composer]], though. Which is a double subversion itself, seeing that, [[WellIntentionedExtremist despite his methods, he's still looking after humanity]]. A rare benevolent example of this trope, to boot!]]

* The penultimate episode of Season 1 of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' has the triplets losing their respect for Scrooge when [[spoiler:they blame him for the disappearance of their mother]]. They regain it back in the following episode after [[spoiler:some talking down to by Mrs. Beakley, with the return of Magica De Spell accelerating the reunion.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': "Not What He Seems" shows both the twins and Soos losing respect and trust for Grunkle Stan [[spoiler: after he gets arrested by government agents. They eventually regained it back when Stan told his side of his story, and that his years of deception and secretly building a dangerous interdimensional portal were for the sake of rescuing his brother Ford.]]

* In IDW's ''Franchise/TheTransformers'' comics, Optimus Prime becomes disillusioned with the legacy of the Primes and reverts his name back to Orion Pax after the conclusion of Transformers: Ongoing. During the events of ''ComicBook/TheTransformersDarkCybertron'', he's given a RousingSpeech about how he embodied the Primes not as they were, but how they were ''supposed'' to be by Rodimus. This convinces him to reclaim the name Optimus Prime.

** The same happens with Domon and [[spoiler: his older brother Kyouji. He believed that his brother had willingly betrayed humanity, sold out their family and become the pilot of the Devil Gundam; when he learned that Kyouji was TheScapegoat, that he was BrainwashedAndCrazy by the DG-Cells ''and'' that he had managed to use his last bits of sanity to "create" his clone Schwarz Bruder, Domon forgave him and started to refer to Schwarz as "Brother". And then he had to MercyKill both Kyoji and Schwarz to stop the Devil Gundam, [[ManlyTears crying as he did so.]].]]

* A few cases from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.
** Itachi Uchiha. Sasuke looked up to him before he massacred his clan, but after realizing he was forced into it, avenging what happened to him becomes his motive for revenge. This is not a good thing, as the [[SanitySlippage Curse of Hatred]] led him to try to unleash his anger towards Danzo against all of Konoha, and it takes Itachi, the four former Hokage and Naruto to return him to his senses.

** Kakashi goes from being ashamed of his father Sakumo for breaking the rules to save his comrades, to believing he did the right thing in Kakashi Gaiden. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, his best friend Obito, who rebuilt said pedestal, went the opposite direction, due to the Curse of Hatred destroying his sanity after watching Rin die.]]

* In ''Fanfic/BabyWontYouPleaseComeHome'', Thea’s lowering opinion of her brother Oliver rapidly picks up once she learns that he’s the Arrow, justifying his previously inexplicable absences.

* Loosely features in ''Fanfic/PartOfTheNight: The Wayne Legacy'', regarding Bruce’s memory of Rachel Dawes. Able to move past his previous “obsession” with the idea that Rachel was his only chance for a normal life, Bruce reflects on how Rachel would have gotten along with Selina, and is pleased to think of how his children would call her ‘Aunt Rachel’.

* In Season 2 of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' Oliver loses virtually all respect for Laurel when he sees just how bad her addiction problems are, and dismisses [[CassandraTruth her warnings]] that Sebastian Blood is a VillainWithGoodPublicity. She eventually gets sober and finally acquires concrete proof that Blood is evil, but in a subversion Oliver actually ''doesn't'' regain his respect for her and continues to treat her poorly [[spoiler:right up until her death.]]

* In ''Fanfic/APrizeForThreeEmpires'', ComicBook/CarolDanvers stops looking up to ComicBook/TheAvengers after they allow her rapist to walk out with her. Later she accepts they had no way to know she was being mind-controlled, and the fact they made a terrible error of judgement doesn't mean they aren't her friends.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' :

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':
** In the anime series, Trip loses his respect for Alder after seeing him act lazy and foolish. He later regains his respect for him after Alder [[CurbstompBattle curbstomps]] him.
** Misty idolized the Water-specialist Nurse Joy who works at Lake Lucid. However, upon meeting her, Misty is distraught when she learns that Joy is actually so frightened of Water Pokemon that she refuses to touch them, wearing a special suit so she doesn't have to. However, once Joy manages to calm down an angry Gyarados with her bare hands after her suit was washed away, Misty realizes that Joy prioritizes her duty above her fear, and respects Joy again.

* ''Series/{{M*A*S*H}}'': This trope is at the center of the episode "Fallen Idol". Radar, when sent to Tokyo by Hawkeye to try and meet a woman, is caught in the crossfire of a battle and injured. Hawkeye blames himself, and after seeing Radar amongst the wounded goes and gets so drunk that he's too hungover to operate the next day. This failure leads to Hawkeye yelling at the injured Radar, which leads to Colonel Potter and [[BewareTheNiceOnes Father Mulcahy]] yelling at ''him'', which makes him go back and apologize to Radar, who ''also'' tears into him. Fortunately, by the end Radar has come to forgive Hawkeye, who's gotten over his guilt, and they reconcile.

* This features heavily in Hiccup's relationship with Astrid in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13289918/1/The-Treasure-of-Eyja-Nott The Treasure of Eyja Nott]]'', a modern AU of ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'' based on ''Film/TheCountOfMonteCristo2002''; after spending most of the story believing that Astrid abandoned him and his disgraced father after his false arrest to marry the man who betrayed him, Hiccup learns that Astrid only accepted that proposal on Stoick's urging because she was pregnant with Hiccup's twins and Stoick wanted to ensure the safety of his grandchildren, Astrid acting as Eret's 'dutiful' wife so long as he took financial care of the children.